Collier Family Letter 
24 Jan 1858
| Austin 24th Jany 1858 Dear Elizabeth, Another week has rolled round and I have not received a word from any of you yet. I learn that the water has been high, which I suppose has prevented letters reaching here for I can not believe that you have all failed to write, if I could believe so I should not write at this time perhaps. I have endeavored to prevent any great anxiety on my part to hear from home and have suceeded pretty well so far, or at least within a day or two past, occasionally now I find myself becoming impatient to hear from home. Wrote to Charles on yesterday and said to him that I should hardly write any more before leaving here, but as there is a probability that we shall not adjourn before the 15th of next month I have concluded to write you today. Health is a little improving though you see by my writing that I am very nervous occasioned by loss of sleep, fatigue and anxiety, as well as reading and studying too much, which I have been forced to do, to keep myself up with the business that I may know my duty on all occasions. Business is progressing slow and I have no idea that we can get through by the first of March, but the members are determined to leave before that time. There is yet some very important business to act upon and there is no telling how long it may require. A _______ of private business has accumulated and some of it will be certain to go undone, unless we remain here for some time to come. I have nothing very interesting to write more than a man was committed to jail here last night on suspicion of having committed murder. A week ago yesterday a citizen of this place started to go to the Capital and never returned home any more, that night his wife received a letter ?? proporitably to be from her husband saying he had started to Mexico and should never return to see her again, as they could not agree. Next morning a man of this place and an acquaintance of the woman, and a widorer, went to the woman and said I suppose your husband has written to you, she replied, he had, to which the man replied, you will marry again this spring. He has since been trying to get the woman to take care of his children and has acted in such manner as to enduce her to believe that he had killed her husband, and she informed against him yesterday evening and had him put in jail. What proof can be made I do not know, but time will soon disclose. The woman is to be pited, as she is thought to be inocent, and says that her and her husband never had any disagreement in their lives. From what I can learn, the murderer was in hopes to get the woman by killing her husband. Hoping this may find all well, ****************************** (above letter in possession of Clyde William Yancey family (great-grandson of Capt. Collier), of Beaumont, Tx) |
