SC1896_FF1_090

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We had passed thru'. W.m. on our way to Huntsville
It is handsomely situated on the West side of the Bow
ing fork of Elk River, a few miles from the Wes
tern [Western] base of Cumberland Mountain in the county of
Franklin. The County is level & elevated being in fact
a branch of the Mountain. I had a few, very few per-
sonal [personal] acquaintances in the County, the principal
of whom were George Gray Esy & his brother Thos. S
Gray, John W. Holder & Richd C Holder, all of
whom were Kentuckians & with the exception of
John W. Holder, were my particular friends, in
time of need -Thos L. Gray was elected Sheriff
at the May Court 1826 & kindly patronised me
in my profession _ The bar was respectable- con
sisting [consisting] of James Campbell, Thos H. Fletcher, Jacob
C. Isacks, Nathan Grain & others. } 1826
The next day after our arrival in Winchester
our son Thos. P. left, on a visit to his sick brother
in Kenty. His health had declined more rapidly
than we expected; His brother hoped to be able to get
him to the Ohio River, & descend it to N. Orleans
but upon his arrival at Winchester Ky, he was
barely able to get him to his Uncle Benjm. J. Taul,
distant only 10 miles. He immediately wrote to us
advising us of the low and dangerous State of his
brothers health. My wife & daughter, left Winches
ter Ten. the next day after receiving the letter &
travelled with all possible speed to Clarke County
Kenty. On his arrival at brother Benjamin;s they
found the poor boy alive, but past all hope of re
covering [recovering]. He died on the [blank] day of May 1826.
I was Compelled to remain at home; & had not the
melancholy satisfaction of being with my dear
boy in his last moments. Dear he was to me, being