Joseph
King Walker
was one of the three children of Isaac
Walker, the others being Daniel Walker and Rachel
(Walker) Wolfe, who "went West" according
to Old Time Tazewell, with "west" meaning
Newton and McDonald Counties in Missouri in this instance.
The exact timing of the move is unknown, although this
and other letters of the period seem to suggest that
they had not been in Missouri for a long period of time.
This letter was written to his father, who still lived
on Straight
Creek in Claiborne County. He writes that he had
no plans to return even if he owned all of Straight
Creek, primarily because he was tired of climbing hills.
Letter and photos courtesy Bill Walker and transcribed
by Roma A. Walker. Click any page or photo for a larger
version.
July the 10 in 1887
Dear father and mother and brother and friends,
I drop you a few line to tell you that we are
as well as common. pap, we got your letter yesterday
and was glad to here from you all. It found us
well and well satisfied with the country. Paugh
[Pa] you wanted to no what house i live i one
Nuton's place I live in a box house between nutans[?]
and John Grimes. When I came here the people had
rented their land all out and I had to clear my
crops. I have cleared off crops. I have got 5
acres in corn and tators. My corn looks fine.
Hit will make 25 or 30 bus to the acre.
Bill [Isaac's
son] I will make more corn and wheat than I make
back there. I have got 10 bushel of wheat now. I
am a going to get some more yet. Wheat is 55 to
60 cents for bushel. I have work out $17 dol and
90 cts. besides making my crop. You ought to be
here and see the steam thrashers thrash. John Grimes
[unknown] has got his wheat thrash. He made 14 hundred
bushel of wheat thrash on his place. I help him
thrash. Papa, i got that money you sent me. I have
got a better cow than I had there. I have got 2
head of hogs and a Shepherd dog.
Papa, Mrs.
Murtaugh [? unknown] died this morning. She died
with the boun keats [?] Corn is 40 cts, bacon 10
cts, eggs 8 cts, butter 15 cts, chickens is $ 125
cts per dozen. If I could see you all I could tell
you more than I could write.
Bill, tell S.A.Walker and Ales Walker to write
to me [see note 1 below]. Neal [Joseph's only
son, Alfred Neal Walker] says he is a going to
grandpaps to get candy out[?]. Are the bees gone?
Papa, so far as i can tell I wouldn't come back
to state to live for the world. Give me all of
Strait Creek and bind me to stay there for I don't
have to climb hills every time I go nary.
[Note 1: Not certain, but he may be referring
to Silas Anderson Walker and Alice Walker, the
youngest children of Isaac's brother Jacob Shuff
Walker, who lived about a mile from Isaac on Straight
Creek and died a few months after this letter
was written.]
Bill, the cinch bug has damage the corn crop,
the oat crop pretty near failed here. The cinch
bug like to ear them up.
Bill, want you all to write so I must come to
a close for this time from
J.K.Walker
To Isaac and Mary and W.A.Walker and family
Write soon
(top margin)
Neal talk all day every day Wants to tell you
he is fat and sassy. [hard to read but that seem
to the gist of it, RAW]
