1882 Letter from Rev. Moses Dutton To His Nephew Jack

                                                                                                 Goshen, Washington Co., Ark
                                                                                                                              Feb. 10, '82

Well, Jack, I received your letter today. Was glad to hear from you and learn that you are doing well. And I am glad you have not forgotten me. I have many things to write of, but can only mention a few of them at one writing. I am living at the same place. All the children are married but Moses -- he is living with me. Your Aunt Betsy is feeble, being worn down with age.

My health has been bad the last two years but it better at this time. We have a small town at Goshen. It was blown away by a terrible cyclone a little over two years ago. I had a large shop. It was blown entirely away; in connection with several houses. There was no lives lost. Our church house and Harbor was destroyed. The town has been rebuilt. We have built a church house, with a Masonic Hall on it. The building is worth one thousand dollars. We have a fine steam mill under way of construction at Goshen. It is being put up by Dr. Kelly, Tom Cannon and Jno. Tunstill. It will be running by harvest time.

I worked on our church house over one year all the time that work could be done. It was a gratis business on my part and has left me behind-hand but I will still live if it be in a hard way. I contemplate visiting your country in the fall on a preaching expedition. If my health holds good and if I visit your part of the country I will write you and let you know at what time I will be there. I am peaching almost as much as I ever did. I want to make a good end of my life.

Brown Sharp and Martha are living with me. Their oldest child died night before last. His name was Monroe. He was all the boy they had. He died with Rheumatism. They have four children left. Dick Dutton lives in Hindsville, is running a blacksmith shop and is doing reasonable well. Dick is a good smith. Nerva, her health is not good' she was well nigh dying a while back; she is in better health, now. Joe Phillips is in Texas some where. If you know anything of him write to me and tell me where he is as I have not had a letter from them for about two years.

I want you to write at once on the receipt of this letter and tell me how Cass is getting along and if you and him have enough religion to die with. If so, I shall look to meet you in the better land. I close by subscribing myself yours truly.

                                                                                                   Moses Dutton

to Jackson Dutton

**This is taken from page 47 of the Washington County Historical Society's publication FLASHBACK, Vol. XIV, No. 2 April 1964

Also a bit of additional information taken from Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site, by Kenneth Carter 

1. The letter was written to Andrew Jackson Dutton and was probably sent to him in Texas.
2. The Cass mentioned was Jack's brother, James Cassius Dutton, who accompanied Jack to Texas.
3.  Dick Dutton was Jack and Cass' brother who stayed in Arkansas.
4.  Brown Sharp and Martha are the Rev.s daughter and son-in-law.
5.  Jo Phillips was also a son-in-law married to the Rev.s daughter, Sarah Jane.