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"The Howard-Smith Collection"

Transcription copyright: 1998, by Mrs. F. A. Augsbury; all rights reserved.
The originals are at the McClung Library in Knoxville.

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To: Charles J. McKinney, Rogersville, Tennessee
From: James McKinney, Allegheny
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                                                 Allegheny  August 2nd 1845
Cha's. J. McKinney
        Dear Cousin  it is indeed with sensibility of feeling that I hear of
the death of your worthy and dear father and in sympathy for your berievement
and sudden too and unexpected to his friends it was as any that went before
him.  I have felt that the suddenness of such a blow causes it to fall more
heavily because unprepared for it.  I had fondly hoped to have seen your
Father, which would indeed have been a great satisfaction, and more
particularly so when considering that he was the last of all our fathers
from whoom we might hear a word spoken as the last words of all that had
went before us, but all posability of this is now forever obliterated.  I
had writen to you Father in return to his kind letter which I received, 
and had hoped to have received his further news, and in which I mentioned 
most particulars that I thought of, but it may not have come to hand, but if 
it was through any fault of mine I would indeed be sorry.  I hope that your
amiable mother may be long spared to you for with such a one I have
understood you have been blessed and that she may be enabled to smile on a
prosperous and yet happy family.  I thank you for your friendly letter and
the particulars of information that you give.  I had before seen your Fathers
death notices in the Washington and Philadelphia papers and in words of regard,
the account that you give of his last is nearly as discriptive as that of mine
as I might almost give.  I think it was an affection of the heart that was his
complaint.  I have often heard my Father say that none of his relations ever
lingered on a death bed, and so it seems to have continued.  I believe I have
understood that Uncle Samuel did in consequence of a fall.  in relation to
Fathers family I may say we have all been doing well and are all in tolerable
fair sircumstances there are four of us and in order Elizabeth, Robert, Mary
& myself.  The Affairs of the estate not having as yet been finaly settled
Mother and sister Mary have continued to live on the old place, together with
a boy and girl that ware bound children brought up in the family.  This place
is twenty miles north of this in Butler county between this and Butler through
which is a road leading from the one to the other.  Sister Elizabeth together
with her husband and family whoes name is Orr lives on their farm about 3/4 of
a mile from the old place she has five children living  Brother Robert has a
farm about three miles distant and about the same distance from this place on
which he has lived since the time of his marriage he has five children living
two sons and three daughters.  at the time I first wrote to your Father he
was involved in family trouble his wife having been for some length of time
confined to a sick bed from which she did not recover.  I have for a number
of years past been engaged in the business of manufactureing french Burr
millstones in this place.  Sister Mary and myself both remain single.  I am
acquainted with Uncle Archibalds wid and two daughters they live in Pittsburgh
but a short distance from this they are well and ar comfortably situated.  I
have known that Uncle James's family lived at Albany but have no particular
acquaintance with them  I have thought that I might make it convenient at some
time to see them.  we would be glad to see you or any of the family that could
make it convenient to come this way.  I would be desireous to receive your
further correspondence and any more particulars that you might give.  none
of us here suffered by the fires by which these cities have suffered, although
some of my effects ware in very great danger.  I send my love to you all and
hope to hear from you & see you

                                                           Your Cousin
                                                              James McKinney