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October die 28th 1847

State of Alabama Lawrence County

Dear Mother I take this opportunity of writeing you a few lines to inform you that we are alt in tolerable
good health at this time Hopeing these few lines will find you enjoying the same Messing though we have
not been well Sarah was taken on fiiday die 10th of September with the chits & Saturday the next day
father and mother came to stay all night with us ft may was Bom taken sick ft never went home any more
thay lived one milesfromus Mother lived from Saturday the 11th till Monday week foloing & died and
was Buryed at uncle Ciemon Furgersons by her mother the Doctor said hers was die conjestive chils
Sarah ft the ole man had common chils St fever they are now nearly well day have Bin going about for
about three weeks George and Mary bom had die chils but not long thay are well now dierestof our
family has all Ben well But the people here have Ben sick die most of them But no deaths only the one
above mentioned the oldest settlers here say that in this neighborhood some of them has lived here twenty
years and have never had a case of the chils norfeverin their family. Before that have ben sick this fall
owing they say to the emense Rain all summer and Dry fall is die cause it is likely that we shal continue
where we now live I expect that I shal By this land from Mr. Jolly we have a good crop this year we have
made corn and oats plenty and potatoes enough if we can keep diem to do us til they grow again I have
fore acres of cotten it istolerablegood I dunk will make five or six hundred weight to the acre tell Brice if
He wants to move I would for him come down here and be us it wont cost him much nor lake him long
James Fruman stayed all night with us as he went on to mexico and I went with himtoflorenceand
stayed all night hetoldme he thought Wily would be down in aboutfourweeks Sally says she is as well
satisfied as she expected to Be ft I can say the same not withstanding our sickness I dont thing that is any
more danger of sickness here a common season than thare is dare especialy about die River and I can
make more here than thare I dunk Brlce could do Better here goodeal than where he is we want yon to
write to us when you get these lines tel us Whare yon are ft bow you geting along and tell us in your leter
the name of the county and Post office where William Bogart lives we want to here from them'But dont
no where to write Direct yourfettertoLawrence county, Mount Hope Father is living with us ft expects
toremainhere and we would like for you to Be here two if you could Be satisfied and if you should want
to come you can write I shal write no more at present only subscribe our names your affectionate Son and
Daughter

I Ponder
Sarah Ponder

To Mrs. Jane Bogart

East Tom. Roane Cty
Kingston Post Office

(note in pencil - Sarah is sister of Betsy Bogart Woody; her parents Abraham & Jane. Is Valentine Ponder
the father mentioned at end of the letter?)

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