The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-04-15
ANCIENT HISTORY.
Interesting Letter Written One Hum
dred Years Ago Found.

bS1O" uG I1Sl dlu Pi lhIo q AS|'NA
written to a Bamberg man one hun
dred years ago by kinsman in Ala
bama. The letter is quite interest
ing, and it will be found entertaining,
if not very pleasant, to contemplate
the prices of articles named in the
letter in comparison with prices Of
today. For instance, it will be noted
that cotton was worth IL cents a
pound, while bacon was worth six
cents, and -four $500 barrel. Veri-
ly, those were the good old days.
At the time this letter was writ
ten envelopes were unknown. The
letter was so folded that it served
the dual purpose of both letter and
envelope, being sealed on the back
with wax. In those days there were
no railroads, and the letter finally
reached it's destination, several weeks
after it was written by carrier.
The letter was handed to The Her
aid by our friend, w. D. Rhoad, the
addressee, John Road, or Rhoad, as
the name is now spelled, being an
ancestor of his.
estate of Alabama, Monroe County,
enar Claibourne- 22d,
1921.
Dear Brother:-I received your
letter dated the 4th of December and
am glad to hear that you and your
family were in good health, I trust
on your way to heaven. I and my
family are in reasonably good health,
thanks be to God for His mercy to-
ward us. AS it respects religion in
this part of the Country, it is to be
lamented that it is dull times-We
built good meeting house, and have
started preaching once month, but
there are but few professors of re-
ligion and I fear fewer possessors.
1 hope we are still striving for bet
ter world. I received letter from
Bro. Thos. Edwards dated the 18th
of November which I am thankful
for, he requested me to write to him,
but I hope this one may suffice for
both at present.
; Gas it respects my temporal af-
fairs, I have purchased Three hum
ired and twenty acres of Land, which
is half section. | got it at two
dollars per acre, paid one fourth
down, and have three years to pay
the balance in. I made very good
crop last year, and with the bless
ings of God can do very we'll where
have settled. We have had two
children born since we came here,
the first was born on the 18th of
May 1919 which lived only six weeks,
the last was born on the 22nd of
May last and is a fine child, we call
her Caroline The sixteenth section
in every Township in this state is
reserved for schools, and the rent
applied to pay Teachers. My three
eldest children are now going to
school. 1 have inclosed a Letter of
Attorney to you to settle all my
business with Brother Williams Es-
tate, but as it will be busy time
when you receive this l do not wish
you to go to Georgia until you find a
convenient time, as I can do without
the money until next fall, and you
may have an opportunity to go be-
tween now and then. AS soon as you
receive this I wish you to write and
let me know what time you expect
to go. 1 will now give you some
of the prices current in this Country.
Corn is from 40 to SO Cents per
bushel, Flour 8 dollars per barrel,
pork SO pr. hundred weight. Cotton
IL to 13 cents per pound, &c. Cof-
fee in Mobile and Blakely 37k
cents, and sugar to 10 dollars per
hundred W.T.. Accept my best wishes
and remember my love to all my
friends without my naming each
one. I remain your Brother &C.
"FREDERICK ROAD.
"Mr. JOHN ROAD, senr'