Augusta County: D. V. Gilkeson to Gilkeson's brother
(probably Hugh Gilkeson), September 27, 1867
Summary:
Gilkeson delivers news about the crops and discusses the season's fruit. He
provides updates about the children and mentions that several local women
believe the boy Willie looks like his grandfather. Gilkeson also writes about an
upcoming church election.
September 27 th /67
Home
My Dear Brother
After 8 O'Clock at night and after helping to peal 2 Buckets of peaches since supper I set me down to answer your last which was
received several days since I am happy to inform you that we are all well, I
have been very busy for the last two or three weeks moreso I believe than usual trying to get through seeding finished yesterday
sowed about 50 acres of wheat, and 8 or 10 acres of ryes Must try and top corn
next week and then haul wood from white hill for two or three weeks which will
be about the last of October must then thresh at home [illeg.] and by
that time must go to gathering corn so my hands are full until christmas We have
a great quantity of apple this year and peaches too we are buying all we can
want to take some 8 or 10 Buckets to town tomorrow they
have been selling for a dollar a Bucket I understand
[unclear: J.] Culbreat was in this morning with about 20 Buckets which he sold for [illeg.]
[page 2]
I
have been trying to keep the fruit from wasting any more than I can help have
made about 5 [unclear:
Barrels
] of cider which I intend for vinegar which if I can sell for even
20
cents
a gallon which is a low price is better than to let the apples not want to
make 3 [illeg.] Barrels yet must put away 2 Barrels for drinking Mary
has made 1 kettle of Pear butter and one kettle of Peach butter and want yet to
make 2 kettles of apple butter my young orchard is bearing this year the Baldwin
and [unclear: Halawater] are a large fine looking apple the Domino is
also a fine apple the trees are full they grow in clusters I wish you could be
here to see them and to enjoy them this winter when they get good to eat The
children are well and seem to be enjoying themselves wonderfully I don't know what to do with them their heads seem to be so full of play I am afraid they don't get along so well with their
studies they think so much about play I proposed to them tonight to give up their Arithmatic some person
would cheat them Mrs Dabney was here several days ago was very much struck with
Willie's likeness to father said she has noticed
him at church [continued on side of page] and remarked that he must be a son of
mine or some near kin as he was the very image of father, he took a horse over
to [unclear: H G G.]
[illeg.] Mrs D to come over she said she knew him whenever he came from
his likeness to father, I think I shall take willie with me to town tomorrow
[continued side of first page] I believe I had better take him away as much as I
can when they are out of school to try and get their minds off of play so much
We have never had their linkeness taken yet [unclear: last] will the
first opportunity perhaps may have willie's taken tomorrow, they said yours was
not a good one Willie said at first he did not know it but I think he was joking
I think it was a tolerable good one the children I believe have written my paper
is about full [unclear: excuse] 1/2 sheet as I have been so busy that I
have not had time to write in daytime We are to have an election of elders in
our church next sunday but don't know who will be
elected [unclear: H.G.G] John Guthrie D. S. Bell and Mr Van Leas are the
present elders Mr Van Leas talks of resigning on account of his age I am afraid it will be hard to make a good selection
[continued side of last page] Will add no more but would pray that the richest
blessings both spiritual and temporal of our heavenly father may rest upon you
and yours
from your affectionate brother
D. V. Gilkeson
