I could get it stopped I was at the brink of the grave. I had to stop
at a tavern by the way & send for Brother Jas. who came by the next
stage & attended to me for 8 or ... days, When I got sufficiently strong
to sit up he sent for his carriage & I rode to Hopkinsville where
I
Recvd. attention from Sister Eliza, I was for more than thirteen weeks
that I had no passage through my bowels except by physic or Injections.
I had a dreadful time of it no person can tell what I suffered &
after I got partly recovered the strength of my digestive organs
&
my Bowels were so impaired that I was unable to digest or pass off
the most simple food. When I got able to ride I kept going about for
change of air agreeable to the advice of my Physicians. I visited
various watering places for health & at times my thoughts were strongly
bent on home, I spent nearly twleve months not of business but as
I
had been economical my money still held out & I knew if it did not
I still could draw on my Brother But thank God I did not require it
I was threatened at one time with inflamation of the Bowels but I
got that checked & my diease settled into what is called Dispepsia
or indigestion & in fact my stomach has never yet acquired its usual
healthy tone but thank God I am comparatively well I suppose Jas.,
11 wrote you that we had moved to the this State in May I834, It is afine
State for making money but it is also in most places sickly & in fact
I should have beeen afraid to risk it had it not been that my health
was at that time so bad that I thought I could not be much worsted
& I have been agreeably disappointed for my health has been greatly
benefited by the change to a southern climate. Brother James offered
me an interest in his store last February which I embraced, He gives
me the one third of his profits for my part. I had one or two offers
of the same kind from some of my acquaintances who were acquainted
with my business qualities previous to Jas. proposal so notstanding
my long sickness which drained my purse I have still a fair chance
of making some money. I think we
3.
will sell thirty thousand dóllars worth of goods this year but the
are mostly all on credit and it requires a good while to collect
but we have fine profits upwards of IOO per cent. I am glad to hear
you have sold the Broomhedge land so well & got cash for it. I am in
hopes your circumstances will now be more easy, Br. Recd. two letters
one from Sister Dinah & one from Jane. you have now got a goodly
collection of grand children if they were all gathered around you.
My dear parents I am still in hopes to see you yet if we are all
spared a short time longer. I hope you will excuse my long silence in
consequence of my illness, thank God my health is now pretty good. I
find my constitution a good deal impaired.
I must address a few lines to Sister Amelia so farewell & blessing.
ever your truly affectionate
Son
Andrew Richey
M y Dear Sister Amelia
I Recvd. your truly welcome letter of last March & have to thank
sincerely for its contents. fr letter contained more news than any
you letter that I have had from home for along time. I was truly sorry
that you have had such a long attack of sickness, Br Robert in a letter I
I had from him a long time since spoke of your bad health he also
think mentioned your using Morisons Pills & having found them of
great benefit to you. Itried the use of the same pills in my case but
found them no
of your case must have been consumption. you speak of
Andrew Richey, Clinton, Mississippi, to his parents, Ireland, 29 October 1835
Description
While apologising for his protracted delay, Andrew Richey assures his parents of how much he misses them and home. Since his last letter of May 1833 from Nashville, he contracted cholera and moved from the city a couple of miles to "establish my health & use mineral water", thus making a slow recovery. He gives details of stopping at the house of an old Methodist and observing that his family were "the happiest folks that I have ever seen", with preachers often also visiting, including Mr Shephard, an Irishman from near Portadown — who knew mutual familial acquaintances. He graphically recounted of being so ill that his brother James and sister Eliza brought him to Hopkinsville to care from him until he recovered and he was nearly a year "out of business". Richey states that they had moved to Mississippi state in May 1834, which in hindsight risked his health "in a fine state for making money but it is also in most places sickly". Yet he thinks they will have $30,000 of sales this year — even if on credit but on "fine profits upwards of 100 per cent". Richey concludes with addendums to his sister Amelia (who he understand has contracted consumption) and brother Robert, with family news from America and that he is still unmarried.
Title and transcript by Professor Kerby Miller. This transcript includes handwritten corrections to original transcript from PRONI, made with reference to original letters. Letter description by University of Galway.
