File submitted for USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln Co. page by Russell M. Reid, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, 29 July 1998.

ENVELOPE:

Dear Sir June 21 th 1851

I have been thinking of writing to you for some time but had nothing worth relating also hearing from a weekly correspondence the general news but in your letter you give news. I knew nothing of you can now say I have as many sons as you have. This leaves us all well. Mother health a bout the same often complaining not feeling so well. The health of the country is good this spring. We have had a great deal of rain for the last some weeks and is raining this morning makes weedy cornfields. Some they can never fetch out to do much good. Provided it would quit raining now the ground is so full of water it would take several days to be ready for the plough. Do not understand me that I have not promising crop of corn or wheat. They both look on average provided the rains would hold up from now on for I am shure there is a nough of water in the ground to make any crop if it is a crop of Frogs. This is the year that will be remembered long by those that have suffered by the High waters on our large streams. The Cholera traveling the highways of our land and taken off some her and some their. There has ben several deaths of Cholera in Quincy. I have bin engaged for sometime selling property in this Town Concord. They also elected me County Supervisor. You may see by this that I am one of the noted characters. They pay more attention to me in the way of office than I care a bout. Look on the other side.

Our meeting House is not quite finished yet. The Carpenter is slow but not his work. Well I will then have considerable job of painting to do come over and help me and bring your boys. Irvin Anderson has settled down and is well pleased. Old man Miller and Lady has moved here from Bloomington Indiana and their soninlaw Hemphill and family. Hemphill is not satisfied owing to the price of the land being to high for his pride. He is a pore man and would like for a few Hundred dollar to go fore in buying land. Land has graduated on the average for some years and the country filling up by all sorts of people. They are progressing in the railroad again commencing at Quincy from that to Clayton thence to Marydota (Meredosia) if they can get anough of money. If not take up North hence too to the Lakes so they can come back in small boats or skifts and fetch all the produce down to Quincey in one tide (?). I have taken no shar in it some of the friends have. I am not don paying on the old Ill railroad yet. When I get through with that I will know better what I have to spend on such projects. I would like to ask you before I finish my letter when you are coming to see us and if not your Reasons why. Give our respects complements if you please to all and Mother.

Adaline Salem and Jim (???) Shannon Wallace

June 21 st 1851 Elizabeth Wallace

Contributor's Note:  Shannon Wallace, the writer of this letter, was born in Kentucky in 1799 to William Wallace and Sarah Shannon. He died in Adams County Illinois December 4, 1858. His wife, Elizabeth (Reid) Wallace was the sister of Thomas Shannon Reid, to whom the letter was sent. They were children of Alexander Reid and Jane Shannon Reid (see also their Family Bible) who moved from Kentucky to Lincoln County, Mo. ca. 1830. Elizabeth was born in Shelby County Kentucky October 7, 1804 where she married Shannon Wallace on Nov. 1, 1827. She died in Adams County, Illinois July 26, 1888. The Salem listed at the end of the letter may have been his brother Salem Wallace, but it is unknown who Adaline and Jim were. The names do not match those of Shannon and Elizabeth's children -- Sarah Jane Wallace, Reid Wallace, and Thomas Shannon Wallace. Salem's son-in-law was Irwin Wallace Anderson, mentioned in the letter. This letter now in the possession of Russell M. Reid.

File submitted for USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln Co. page by Russell M. Reid, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, 29 July 1998.

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