Augusta County: Benjamin Estill to John H. McCue,
January 16, 1858
Summary:
Benjamin Estill requests that John H. McCue send the $100 dollars he owes Estill.
Estill also wishes McCue and his family Christian happiness in the new year.
J. H. McCue, Esq.
Staunton
Va
Jany 16th 1858
My Dear Friend
By [deleted: Mr. Hotchkiss] I beg to write you for the purpose of requesting you to [unclear: raise] me the $100 loaned you, in the course of next week so that I may set off for Ky (on a very "matrimonial enterprise" perhaps?) immediately thereafter. I hope it may not be inconvenient for you to comply with this request by next Wednesday, Thursday or Friday at fartherest. Allow me to present you my heartiest congratulations for your [illeg.] & happiest employment & enjoyment of this new year upon [unclear: whose] threshhold we have just entered. May you & I & all dear to us be [added: so] prepared for whatever events or realities may await us in the developments of the present year, that we shall bear them with the purpose & in the spirit of true Christian philosophy, and if called = as many of our beloved friends have been called in the year just closed = in the providence of God -- to cross the Jordon of death before the dawn of "59" may we be fitted & permitted to enter into the blessedness, the happiness & the glory reserved for the righteous in heaven!!
Your very sincere friend & kinsman =
B Estill
N.B. this note written
last week does not express my wishes just now. So you need not trouble
yourself to raise me this money till the last of next
week or the first of the week following or when I again call to see you.
Then I'll get you to look with me over the Miller decree & so settle
the matter of difference with your Pa & myself
yours
B Estill
