Clay Family Collections

Oakley, March 31st

My Dear Brother, I write to you for the purpose, of expressing to you my gratitude for your kindness to me, and my dear little Children, I have often heard it said a friend in need was really a friend indeed, but I never expected to realise it as I have, every thing we possessed in the world was sold, except the land my dear Father left me in his will and the megnoes, and you know the only ones of them that are now of much service Mother took, the amount of what was sold I believe was nearly ten thousand dollars, M. Rodes told me you had authorised him to go as far as my necessities required, that you would never see me suffer while you had plenty, he bought for me in your name 42 acres of land that M. Smith bought of M. Harris, and gave 210 dolls. and for the 308 acres where we live the watson land. 300 dolls. for M. Smiths wright of occupancy, and 10 for all of the land East of Muddy creek, and Cavalloe at 450 dolls. they ran him up higher than any negro that was sold because he was my carriage driver, and they expected some of the family would give him to me, and Louisa at 335 dolls. my Carriage horses at 90dolls. and M. Smiths riding house at 70 dolls. for which my dear Cassius I shall always feel under the greatest obligations, you have been one of my best friends. Brutus gave me Allifain and Cafs, Mother bought my furniture, carriage and a few stock, Corn, Bacon, for which I was so very thankfull, M. Rodes made the Children several little presents, but Sidney my Oldest brother, showed so little feeling for me, he never will feel like you and

E L Smith July 12. 1867 pajed ausd. July 12th 1876

My dear Brother, On Monday night the 1st our dear Mother was taken with Colera Morbus, was cramped in her feet and up to her knees several times for two days, after that we all thought she was a great deal better, she suffered very little still her bowels acted more than we wanted, Cunan was with her all the time, and Sister Rodes.

Saturday at 2 Oclock she died, she was perfectly at herself all the time bore her sufferings with a great deal of patience and resignation, was ready and willing to go, she said to her peacefull home, the greatest regret she had, was that she could not see you again, she wanted to see you more than every one else on Earth, and we all hoped so much she would, she was looking better than she had for a long time up to the night she was taken, the weather was excefively warm, and we have a great variety of fruit,

Dec 12th 1867.

My dear Brother, I received your letter of Oct 26th and feel very gratefull to you, for your promp aid to my necessities, you have ever proved a good and affec= =tionate Brother to me, for which I shall never forget. Speed carried your Notes to Mary Jane yesterday, and for your Check, she and all the Family were well, Sally expects to start to Chicago in a few days to spend several weeks, with Mary who is also very well. Sister Rodes' health is much improved, Sally Stone is teaching school in Missouri and has her two youngest brothers with her, she is trying to take care of herself, I understand here Father said his health was so bad, they must not expect him to support them, he is a strange Man. Brutus has been to Richmond and paid $ 200 for the Lott Mother is buried in, he had never, removed the remains of his

two little boys from Mr. Fields Garden he will now remove them in the Lott with Mother, I am so glad you intend haveing the remains of Father, and all of our dear ones put in our own Cemetary, there is great interest taken in improveing it, and it is looking so much cared for, our dear Mother felt indifferent about such things, and often reproved me for feeling so much interest about the resting place of the dead but there was a great change in her feelings in the last few years, she wanted you to bring your Monument over, and she wanted to be near her Children, that that was one reason she wanted to leave Frankfort, she did not want to be buried there I had not the least Idea I would miss her, and fell the loss of her so much, she was so blest with health, that she was so cheerfull, and company for every body, and she wanted me to tell you the great love she had for you, we are all very anxious my dear brother for the time to come when you will return to your home, and we shall meet again, Speed joins me in much love to you your Sister Eliza L Smith