Letters to Henry Clay from his brother, sister, and parents

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	from Pocahontas, Jan 28 to Mr H C Harned Llanno Tex Mr H C Harned Esqr Dear Bro as I have not seen you for the last 12 years I expect you have almost forgotten me (Jim) I suppose I was quite a small critter when you saw me last but I am now 20 years of age way 160 lbs Henry I am in hopes you are doing well and enjoying life & good health. Great changes have taken place here since eleven years ago I am the only boy thats left in the country
	p2 Louis is in Virginia City Montana he went out with J B Hunter to heard cattle But on account of Indians he says he thinks they will have to lay over two months We are expecting Jes home We got a letter from Ben telling us that you had moved to Kimbol county Henry I am sick and can't think of anything to wright today now henry nothing would do me more good than to have a long letter from you Please don't go back on Bond Co. p3 But remember youre old tramping ground once more for tis true you have friends by the score Remember the Creator in the days of thi youth and forget him not when you are old I shal close Hoping you will right soon I will wright you a long letter then your friend who will not forsake the Jas M Harned
	from Pocahontas, January 22, 1882 H C Harned Esqr Dear brother I recd a letter from you sometime since have been some what dilitary in regard to answering I must confess but you will pardon me as I haven't been at home most of the time I took a trip to Hancock County this winter had a splendid time took a steam boat ride this was something I long since had wished for but this was my first ride I enjoyed it hugely Found Hancock a fine well improved county also the greater portion of our connection(?) fine people and good livers. Uncle William had just completed a good comfortable house but still he has a pretty hard roe to hoe his boys being married off (with the exception of ???) who is preacher one of his girls (???) married while I was there but he has three left yet too of them marriageble age Zona McKaig Silas'es youngest daughter and I were bridesmaid and groomsman on the evening of that pleasant event. I was up at Bethel the other day the folks there were all well Joseph N(?) was down just went home yesterday himself and family were well. We have had a dreadful failure in a crop here this last year feed is so scarce that a great many renters can't buy it at the price to raise a crop several have already let their land go back that they had rented. Early wheat looks very well but late wheat is about played out I am afraid the crop will be late this year Father went to Litchfield this week to see about them little boys Net has run out of money her connection up there says father must have them Thomas Billieu says if he can get hold ot them he will run them to East St Louis and teligraph to father to meet him the simpathy of the people is all against her she tells them that Ben aint dead aunt Sallie Billieu asked her if she didn't see him buryed she said yes they just took him out and threw a little brush over him Sam Horner(?) says she killed Ben Friday evening father is going to town so I am ..... after writing the above I took down with Lung fever have had it rough this week am just able to sit up Well Henry I must close for I want to mail this to knight So I will close giving yourself and family my best wishes as ever your brother J M Harned
	Pocahontas Mar 15 1881 Dear Son Henry I have just recd the sad intelligence of the death of Ben poor boy, Henry it seemed more than I can bear Did he kill himself intentionly write the particulars I hardly know what to say to you. I got a tellagram from Mr Carker(?) and have just written to him. I will do nothing for his wife but will look after the children. I wrote to Mr Corker(?) that it was best to send her to the insane assylum. As you live so far from this probably
	was better for him to dispose of what few effects he had but do as you think best. If you could make enough to bring the children back. I would be glad if you could bring them. Perhaps I will come out to Texas in May. If I should live. Henry this is a hard blow on me Write soon and all the particulars Your Father in Sorrow JWH
	March 19th 1881 Dear Son Henry This is a gloomy day. Not particularly that it is dark cloudy and rained all the from noon and is now snowing fast. It is poor Ben that casts this gloom over our home. henry I wrote you the 15th but hardly know what I wrote. .. that by this time I would of got a letter from you stating particulars. I do so hope it will turn out that it was accidental or that he did not kill himself intentionally. Henry do write and let us know how it was. He was living miserable with that woman. She was derainged before he left and I think not much better when we was there. Was likely to do anything for with his little sence and vicious disposition. She was not safe. Henry let us know where he was and how it was done. And all connected with it. Some one must administer on his little property. according to law you have the first right as his wife is not capable. the troub he is you line so far from there. if you think best yet Mr Corker to do so as I take him to be an honest man and a gentleman. I have written him on the subject. Take care of them little children till I can hear from you I would like to have that little spotted mare to keep for the boys. If you could make arrangements to take a wagon and bring them, I would be glad and pay you for your trouble.
	if you could come after you lay by your crop I would be glad. Henry James is going to town Must close or be to late for mail. Got a letter from Wm C he is confined to his room with rheumatism It had him very sick was better when we heard last Hoping to hear from you soon I close with all good wishes here and in hereafter J W Harned
	Burnet H C Harned Texas Aug 15th 1879 Dr Bro I recd your letter of the 5th was great to here from you and that you was all well you wanted to know if I would take your place or not I have not rented and will be glad to take your place if you will come down and fix it up in time for me to mow so as to commence work in time to put in a crop I was over there the other day not very much crop this year
	Mr Pruit(?) the heavy renter that was burning rails when we was over there. Run a way sold his crop to a Mr Jones(?) I sent Mr Jones word not to tutch the crop that it must stand good for the damage done by Mr Pruit. Grass is short here we had no rain after you was down to do any good until last week we had a pretty good rain. but getting dry again I am picking cotton have nearly a bale picked and nearly done my corn is not good I had 125 bus wheat to my part. Your house is vacant now and it would be a good idea to come down pretty soon to get your corn as it is about ready to gather will be 20 bus I think james says to tell (?) to bring him a (?) two pups quickly(?) with my best wishes to all I close hoping to here from you soon as ever your bro J ?Harned Netty sends her love to all did tell lou she wrote to her a short time ago and had recd no ans
	to Mr Henry Harned Burnett(?) County Texas Pocahontas June 6th 87 Dear brother Henry I will write you ... should have written sooner but have just neglected writing, we are at present all tolerably well, father is not very well nor neither is Joe, he is now staying here. Henry do you know any thing of ?, where she is or what she is doing we rec'd a letter from a gentleman and his wife by the name of Heeley(?) they sayed Net(?) was just going about from place to place with the little children, father sayes if you could get the little ?? and keep them until fall that he will come after them and will pay you for it. he is now not able to come during the hot weather, he thought of going down the first of May but did not know that he could get the children and did not want to ta ke the long trip and not get them Father sayes for me to ask you if you had seen anything about that coat which he sent Ben he sent it to the express at Round Rock He sayes for you to get it and keep it your self.
	Henry father asked me to write you some time ago He thought I had written you and when he found I had not he gave me quite a "browning up" but you will just consider I am a Harned and you know they are not much for writing letters. Jim is now down in the bottoms they are putting in some corn there Father was out at William's a few weeks since they were as well as usual Will is not able to plow on account of rhumatism Well I do not know of anything of importance to write you. Eda's youngest child died week before last is was a year old. Chas. harned uncle Ben's younger boy was married a few weeks ago to a Miss McCracken. We have not heard from Louis for some time Henry please excuse this disconnected letter as I have written very haistily I would be glad to hear from you and Lou soon would write some to Lou today if I had the time No more at present your sister Jennie
	Pocahontas February 13 My Dear son Henry and dater Lucinda I will write you a few lines to you we had two wreeks going to Wetherford We got their Sunday Knight we stid their til Munday week we got to st louis friday evning we staid with eda til saturday tenoclock we brau edays litel girl home with us we found all well they had verry cold wether most of the time we we war gon it is very cold hear it has bin snowing three days Janie started to geenville to scool this morning father took the soareys at wetherford he cant red much yet Joseph has bin very sick he is getting well again We hav not herd from William since we cam home theyr children had the mesels when last hard from Lannie(?) is well pleased with her ??? many thanks to all of you she sai she will write soon Louis has lef Denver we hav not herd from him since tell Charls his ant Jane sais she wished he was hear they all would be glad to see all of you Write soon I mut close ?? is to tow Mary M Harned ever short leter