1855 LETTER, ELI GOIN TO ISAAC GOIN
Black text is from page 547 and 548 of "GOIN AND VARIANTS"
Red text is comments by Leon Meyers

The following is a transcript of the 1855 letter of Eli Goin (Eli GOIN born March 2, 1825, son of Levi GOIN who was born 1778) of Claiborne County, Tennessee to his brother, Isaac Goin (Isaac GOIN born January 25, 1806, son of Levi GOIN who was born 1778 and brother to Eli, the letter writer) in McLeansboro, Illinois.

May 28, 1855
Stae (State) of Tennessee
Claborn (Claiborne) County

Dear Brother and sister: I one time more take my pen in hand to write a few lines to you to inform you that we are all well at this time, but MOTHER (MOTHER, Elizabeth (STALLIONS) GOIN, born 1783, wife of Levi GOIN born 1778, mother of Eli and Isaac) she is unwell at this time an has bin very unwell but is some better. Hoping these few lines may find you all well and doing well.We received your letter some time in April in the year 1855 bearing the of Sept 4th 1854. Which make us glad to hear that you was all well an sorry to hear of your bad crops and dol (dollar) times. I have nothing strange to write you. I believe the connections are all well as far as I now (know). You requested us to answer your letter and give full satisfaction. I will do soe with pleasure. WILLIAM GOIN (William GOIN, born 1803, brother of letter writer) lives is doing tolerable well, PLEASANT (Pleasant GOIN, born 1808, brother of letter writer) lives on the river where he did wen (when) you left this country and he is doing very well. R.D.GOIN (Richard GOIN, born 1810, brother of letter writer) lives in Laurel County, Kentucky. He is doing vary well - ELIJAH (Elijah GOIN, born 1815, brother of letter writer) lives on the creek yet. PHILLIP KECK (Phillip KECK, husband of Rachel (GOIN) KECK, Rachel born Sep. 29, 1816 and sister of letter writer) lives over on little Baren Creek. LeROY (LeRoy GOIN, born 1821 and brother of letter writer) lives in Missouri. JAMIMA (Jamima Jane GOIN, born 1827, sister of letter writer) and her man live on the ridge. STERLING (Sterling GOIN, born Nov 4, 1818, brother of letter writter) and ELI (Eli GOIN, born Mar. 2, 1825, the letter writer) live on the same old place and we are all doing as well as now (know) how. This country has altered mitey since you left it. Thay is houses now whare you wouldn't beleve pepol would live. I think peopal is doing better now than thay was when you left this country. You requested to now (know) something aboute Unkle (uncle) URIAH (Uriah GOIN, born 1785, uncle of the letter writer) and his sons and sons in law. Uncle and his family live at the same place whar (where) they did when you left this country. LEVI GOIN ESQ (Levi GOIN, born 1810, son of Uriah GOIN) he lives whare (where) he did. NELSON (GOIN) (Nelson GOIN, born Nov. 18, 1818, son of Uriah GOIN) he lives on the same place. RIGHTE HOLTON (Righte HOLTON-James Righte HOLTON, born 1800, son-in-law of Uriah GOIN, husband of Martha GOIN, born 1809, who was daughter of Uriah GOIN) he has moved to Kentucky, Pelsky (Pulaski) County. I suppose he is doing very well in that country. RILEY HOLTON (Riley HOLTON-William Riley HOLTON, born 1810, son-in-law of Uriah GOIN, husband of Elizabeth GOIN, born 1817, who was daughter of Uriah GOIN) he lives on that little ______ thare (there) above KECK. WM DYKES (William Dykes, born Sep. 8, 1812, son-in-law of Uriah GOINS, husband of Sarah Alice GOIN, born Oct. 11, 1813, who was daughter of Uriah GOIN) lives on the old CAPPS place. WM KECK (???? was this Nancy GOIN, born 1817, husband ??) he is dead, he died laste fall. The widow and her family lives on the creek just below ware (where) LIGE ( ??? who is LIGE ??) lives. JOHN GREEN (John Green, husband of Mahaby GOIN, daughter of Uriah GOIN) is MEHALYS man, he lives near the widow KECK on a branch called Curr's branch. The old man KECK (John Keck, born about 1795 ??) lives on the same place, his children is all married, MATTHEW  (Matthew KECK, born about 1829 ??) lives with the old man. SPENSOR EDWARDS (Spensor EDWARDS ??) he is dead. He has been dead five or six years. his family live on the same place whare (where) they did. THE HARPER'S. HESIKIAH (Hezekiah HOPPER, born 1792, son of Harmon HOPPER born Apr. 1760) live on the ridge, JESSIE HARPER (Jesse HOPPER, born Oct. 18, 1787, son of Harmon HOPPER born Apr. 1760.  Jesse HOPPER married a Martha STALLENGS-possibility that this is a younger sister of Elizabeth (STALLIONS) GOIN) live at the same place whar (where) he did. THOMAS HARPER (Thomas HOPPER, born 1794, son of Harmon HOPPER born Apr. 1760) he lives in Kentucky. JOHN HARPER (John HOPPER, born Feb. 25, 1803, son of Harmon HOPPER born Apr. 1760) live on the Coots (????????) place below OLD JESSE (Jesse HOPPER, see above). LIVINGSTON HARPER (Livingston HOPPER, born 1800, son of Harmon HOPPER born Apr. 1760) lives with his son HUSTON (Houston HOPPER, born 1831, son of Livingston HOPPER). OLD GRANNY HARPER (Sarah (COLE) HOPPER, born 1763, wife of Harmon HOPPER born Apr. 1760) she is dead, she died last fall. ISAAC GOIN (Isaac Abraham GOIN, born 1783, uncle of letter writer) lives ware (where) he did. JOHN (John A.GOIN, born Dec. 22, 1814, son of Isaac Abraham GOIN) an MARTIN (Martin VanBuren GOIN, born 1818, son of Isaac Abraham GOIN) an WILLIAM GOINS (William James GOIN, born 1832, son of Isaac Abraham GOIN) are all in Missouri. OMA (Oma-Naomi GOIN, born 1820, daughter of Isaac Abraham GOIN) is married, she married the man by the name of RANEY (Ezekiel RANEY). OLD GEORGE FORD (George Washington FORD, born Jan. 10, 1789) he still lives at the same old place. All of his children is married but one. That is RICHARD, (Richard B. FORD, born Mar. 11, 1832, son of George Washington FORD) he still stays with the old man. WILA (Wila-Wiley Alfred FORD, born Feb. 13, 1815, son of George Washington FORD) lives on the ridge at the big house. ELIJAH (Elijah T. FORD, born Apr 1, 1817, son of George Washington FORD) lives in Kentucky. SPENCER (Spencer B. FORD, born Feb.25, 1819, son of George Washington FORD) lives in (?Arkansas). GEORGE LINCH (George LYNCH, husband of Peggy A. FORD born Dec. 14, 1810, who was daughter of George Washington FORD) and GREENBERY (Greenberry FORD, born Dec. 15, 1820, son of George Washington FORD and husband of Nancy LYNCH) lives thar (there) to. RICHARD HARPER, (Richard H. HARPER, born Feb 16, 1814, husband of Nancy Ann FORD, born Dec. 20, 1812, daughter of George Washington FORD) his wife died and he married one of THOMAS HARPER gurles (girls) (Thomas HOPPER's daughter Frankey HOPPER, was Richard HARPER's second wife) an went to the Missouri. WILLIAM (William Perry FORD, born May 20, 1825, son of George Washington FORD) and JAMES (James Preston FORD, born July 22, 1827, son of George Washington FORD) and ISAAC (Isaac Nicholas FORD, born Apr. 13, 1834, son of George Washington FORD) live on the old Harper place. Crops were vary (very) sorry in this country, corn is worth from 50 to 75 cents per bushel. wheat is worth $1 per bushel. All other produce is according to that. Good horses is worth $100. Mules sell very high. Cows and calves went from $12 to $18. I wante you to rite (write) to me as soon as you git this leter. Your leter was a long time coming to hand. I got it at last. Direct your next letter to Tazwell for they are more apt to get mislayed when they are sent to the little ______ offices. I answered the bigger parts of your letter. If I have not answered you satisfactorily I will in my next leter. If thar (there) is anybody here that you want to now (know) any thing aboute let me now (know) it an I will tell you. Write soone From ELI GOIN and family to ISAAC GOIN