This is a transcription of the letter, along with surname index, and some research on those mentioned in the letter. I'd appreciate anyone researching these guys to contact me! I'd love to find out what happened to the writers of the letter. (I can't locate Darius P. Owens and family in the 1850 census or anything later.) Also, the Anderson P.H. Jordan mentioned as "Cousin" is somehow connected to my Rebecca (Jordan) Owens, and I'd love to know how. Then there are the Samuel Tine Owen(s) family (father of David Owen). I wouldn't mind knowing whether there was any connection between this SC family and my TN one....

Elisabeth Green Streeter
807 Trotman Ave
Madison AL 35758-1332
egstreet@ingr.com

Palestine, Anderson Co, Texas
December the 3rd 1850
Dear sisters and farther and mother and aunt and brothers and conexionall. I take my pen in hand to inform you that we are all enjoying good health at this time hopeing when these lines come to hand they will find you all enjoying the same blesing of god Irecieved a letter from Emaline and farther dated Sept the 29th 1850 which gave us great satisfaction to hear from you all one time more and that you was all well and in the notion of comeing to this country I would be very glad to see you all once more if I could I would be glad to mete you all on Texas shore if it is youre will and gods will butt Iwould be sorry to see you come here and be dissatisfied I am bound to think this is a good country for a working man labor is a good price and every thinga man rases here he can sell it it isnear to market and one that I thinkwill bee a tolerable good one I think this is a very plesant country to live in we have very good societyin this portion of the country and that is some recomendation to the country thare is some parts of texas that there is bad society but thare is a large methodist church established at this place they have held there anuel conferance here which adjourned last knight thare was about fifty preachers here Cousin ANDERSON JOURDONs family is well at this time they have only one child liveing with them they are doing very well cousinis practiceing medicine and a mitionary baptice preacher thare soneinlaw lawabout 20 miles from here his name isWILLIAM STEWARD I think they have four children I have not seen MALISSA sinceI have bin here DUKEs family is all well at this time MARY DUKE recieved from you NANCY but a fiew days ago one of DUKEs sones was taken sick at my houson thare way from camp meeting he was taken speechless all of asudent and was three days and knights without speakingor knowing any body and he was two weeks before he was able to go home but he has recovered DANIEL HARELs family is all well tell cousin JAMES BURIER that he can do well if he was here but I will wright to hime my self in a fiew days a man of his profesion can do well here one of his brothersinlaws lives in henderson,rusk county I got acquainted with him thare it is JOHN DEAL my pen cannot describe how bad I want to see you all it fills my heart
with joy when I hear that you are all comeing here I hope that god will enable us all to meete one time more in this life and if on earth we meete no more I hope we will meete on canaans shore whare partingis no more I have lived a very wicked life since I left you all untill recently and
thank god that our lives has bin spared till this day and I am resolved to change my course and my walk shall be more godly I think of you all dailyand I preay to god if you come here you will bee satisfied I do not think this this is a good fruit country the wether is very changeable in the winter thare will bee a spell in the winter so warm it is allmost like summer time and some times will change in one hour to bee very cold the summer season is very hot but thare is moste allways a
breeze a stiring in this country that couses it to bee more pleasent than it would bee otherwise DAVID, A, OWEN has bin at our house since we have bin livingin palestine and him and KNIGHT andBRADLY is liveing about 25 or 30 miles northof this place in a new county they
call henderson county I see and hear of a great many acquaintences in this country I have saw ELIZABETH McCUTHEN She is Maried and liveing at magnolia the landing placewhare you will land if you come up trinity river She maried a man by the name of HAYGOOD FARROW is in
this country and I have saw BOB FRANKLIN he lives in rusk county PARSH MEEDE lives in this county old SIM PERRY has a sone liveing in palestine is a lawyier DOCKALLEN lives some whare not fare off and lots others to tedious to mention I will come to a close by ading but fiew more words as I have not got room on this sheet and it is bed time any how give our love to all the conexion an friends REBECCA KATHARINE can stan alone and will soon walk WALLACE and THEADORE is fat and ANN is in tolerable god health nomore but remain your affectionate brother andsister until death
Nancy J Owens D P Owens
NOTES:
1. Thomas OWENS married Rebecka JORDON on 22 DEC 1808 in Blount Co., TN
2. 1830 - Blount Co., TN, Page 276. Thos. Owens 1 male under 5 yrs
1 male 5-10 yrs 2 males 10-15 yrs 3 males 15-20 yrs 1 male
40-50 yrs 1 female 5-10 yrs 2 females 30-40 yrs 1840 - Randolph
Co., AL, Page 197. Thos. Owens 1 male 10-15 yrs 1 male 15-20 yrs
3 males 20-30 yrs 1 male 60-70 yrs 2 females 5-10 yrs 1 female
10-15 yrs 1 female 15-20 yrs 2 females 40-50 yrs 1850 -
Randolph Co., AL, Beat 16, 01 JAN 1851, Page 406. Thomas Owens 68 yrs,
Farmer, b. VA Rebecca Owens 57 yrs, b. TN Nancy Owens 24 yrs, b.
TN Rebecca Owens 18 yrs, b. TN Sarah Owens 15 yrs, b. TN Katherine
Jordan 50 yrs, b. TN 1860 - Randolph Co., AL, Page 573, Line 33,
Living with daughter, R. E. Danner. Rebecca Owens 68 yrs, b.
TN Catherine Jordan 60 yrs, b. TN 3. 1830 - Monroe Co., TN, Page
87. Anderson P. H. Jordan 1 male under 5 yrs 1 male 20-30 yrs 1
female under 5 yrs 1 female 30-40 yrs 1840 - McMinn Co., TN, Page
101 A. P. H. Jordan 1 male under 5 yrs 1 male 30-40 yrs 1
female 10-15 yrs 1 female 30-40 yrs 1850 - Anderson Co., TX, Town
of Palestine, 30 Sept 1850, Page 4, Line 25, Dwelling/Family
25. Anderson P. H. Jorden 48 yrs, Minister-Missionary Baptist, b.
TN Sarah R. Jorden 44 yrs, b. TN Pleasant A. Jorden 10 yrs, b. TN 4.
1850 - Anderson Co., TX, No TWP, 23 OCT 1850, Page 51, Line 31,
Dwelling/ Family 338. William Stewart 64 yrs, Farmer, b. NC Martha
Stewart 27 yrs, b. TN Isaoh Stewart 5 yrs, b. TN Martha J. Stewart 5
yrs, b. TN Leathy A. Stewart 3 yrs, b. TN Caleb Stewart 2 yrs, b.
Anderson Co. 5. 1840 - Benton Co., AL, Page 57, Line 10. Geo. W. Duke
1 male under 5 yrs 1 male 5-10 yrs 1 male 10-15 yrs 1 male
20-30 yrs 1 male 30-40 yrs 1 female under 5 yrs 2 females 5-10
yrs 1 female 30-40 yrs 4 male slaves under 10 yrs 1 male slave
10-24 yrs 1 male slave 24-36 yrs 2 female slaves under 10 yrs 3
female slaves 24-36 yrs 1 female slave 36-55 yrs 1850 - Anderson
Co., TX, No TWP, 07 OCT 1850, Page 34, Line 14, Dwelling/ Family
219. George W. Duke 50 yrs, Farmer, b. NC Darcus Duke 39 yrs, b.
TN James C. Duke 24 yrs, b. TN William W. Duke 22 yrs, b. TN Mary W.
Duke 16 yrs, b. AL Melissa A. Duke 14 yrs, b. AL George M. Duke 10
yrs, b. MS Albert P. Duke 8 yrs, b. Houston Co. Georgian Duke 1 yr,
b. Anderson Co. (female) 1860 - Anderson Co., TX, Palestine P.O.,
Beat 3, 18 JUN 1860, Page 23, Line 10. G. W. Duke 60 yrs, Farmer, b.
NC R. A. Duke 32 yrs, b. TN (female) Napolion Duke 19 yrs, b.
AR Albert Duke 17 yrs, b. TX G. A. Duke 9 yrs, b. TX (female) R. P.
L. Duke 1 yr, b. TX (male) Thomas Owens 9 yrs, b. AL R. C. Owens
7 yrs, b. AL (female) J. M. McKnight 58 yrs, b. TN G. W. Ledbetter 33
yrs, b. MS 1870 - Anderson Co., TX, Palestine P.O., Page 232 (116B),
Line 18, Dwelling 1680, Family 1661. W. J. S. Meadows 50 yrs, Farmer,
b. AL R. A. Meadows 42 yrs, Keeping house, b. TN F. S. Meadows 13 yrs,
b. TX (female) L. S. Duke 10 yrs, b. TX (female) 6. Rachael A. OWENS
married George W. DUKE on 22 DEC 1857 in Anderson Co., TX. 7. Mrs. R.
A. DUKE married W. J. T. Meaddo on 18 AUG 1870 in Anderson Co., TX.
8. Mary W. DUKE married James E. Woodard on 19 NOV 1851 in Anderson Co.,
TX. 9. Melissa A. DUKE married J. F. Dannica on 30 OCT 1852 in Anderson
Co., TX.10. R. C. OWENS married S. A. GARNER on 19 DEC 1866 in Anderson
Co., TX.11. Georgia DUKE married Winnett DEGRASSE on 01 JULY 1872 in
Anderson Co., TX.12. 1850 - Rusk Co., TX, Rusk District, 14 SEP 1850,
Page 242, Line 42, Dwelling/Family 82. John Deel 37 yrs, Gin Wright,
b. VA, attended school? Mary Deel 33 yrs, b. SC Sarah Deel 13 yrs, b.
AL John Deel 11 yrs, b. AL Peter Deel 7 yrs, b. AL 1870 -
Henderson Co., TX, Precinct 1, Athens, 06 JUL 1870, Page 23 (255B),
Line 29, Dwelling 153, Family 153. John W. Dill 45 yrs, Farmer, b.
TN Polly A. Dill 44 yrs, Keeping house, b. TN Rachel A. Dill 18 yrs,
b. Missouri Joseph A. Dill 14 yrs, b. TX13. 1850 - Smith Co., TX, My
Subdivision, 05 OCT 1850, Page 55, Line 20, Dwelling/Family
183. David A. Owen 33 yrs, Farmer, b. AL Samuel Owen 10 yrs, b. AL,
attended school (male) John Owen 8 yrs, b. AL, attended school
(male) Silas Owen 5 yrs, b. AL Dennis Owen 3 yrs, b. AL Mary M.
Owen 1 yr, b. AL 1860 - Henderson Co., TX, Athens, Dwelling
53. David A. Owen 44 yrs, Farmer, b. AL Lucinda Owen 25 yrs, b.
TN Samuel H. Owen 18 yrs, Farmer, b. AL John L. Owen 16 yrs, b.
AL Silas M. Owen 14 yrs, b. AL William D. Owen 12 yrs, b. AL Mary M.
Owen 10 yrs, b. AL Sally W. Owen 60 yrs, b. SC William R. Owen 19 yrs,
Farmer, b. AL 1870 - Henderson Co., TX, Precinct 1, Athens, 05 JUL
1870, Page 23 (253B), Line 40, Dwelling 127, Family 127. David A.
Owen 52 yrs, Farmer, b. AL Lucinda Owen 35 yrs, Keeping house, b.
TN Mary M. Owen 20 yrs, b. AL Jeff D. Owen 9 yrs, b. TX David R.
Owen 7 yrs, b. TX Stephen T. Owen 5 yrs, b. TX Jordin W. Owen 1 yr,
b. TX Sallie W. Owen 69 yrs, b. SC Wesley W. Brown 19 yrs, b. TX
1870 - Henderson Co., TX, Precinct 1, Athens, 05 JUL 1870, Page 24
(254), Line 9, Dwelling 128, Family 128. Silus M. Owen 25 yrs, Farm
Laborer, b. AL Mary C. Owen 27 yrs, Keeping house, b. AL Wm. A. Owen
3 yrs, b. TX Thos. L. Owen 1 yr, b. TX Emma Owen 1/12 yrs, b. TX
1870 - Henderson Co., TX, Precinct 1, Athens, 05 JUL 1870, Page 24
(254), Line 14, Dwelling 129, Family 129. Wm. D. Owen 22 yrs, Farm
Laborer, b. AL Cornelia M. Owen 22 yrs, Keeping house, b. TN Charles D.
Owen 3 yrs, b. TX Dora Owen 1 yr, b. TX14. David Allen OWEN was the
son of Samuel Tine OWEN (1795-1856)15. David Allen OWEN married Lucinda
WOODWARD.16. William Dennis OWEN married Mary Cornelia REID.17.
Henderson County, Texas, Cemeteries, Volume 1, Page 14 - 15. Owen
Cemetery, Henderson Co., TX, 5 miles south of Athens, TX: D. A. Owen 05
JUL 1817 - 03 JUL 1885 Lucy Owen, wife of D. A. 05 DEC 1834 - 27 APR
1925 Silas Monk Owen 12 JUN 1845 - 06 MAR 1873 (Texas Co. C, 34 Regt.
Texas Cavalry, C.S.A.) Luke A. Owen, son of J. D. & D. M. Owen 12 SEP
1882 - 12 Oct 1882 Dallas M. Owen, wife of Jeff D. Owen 22 AUG 1859 -
04 OCT 1882 Louis Grover Owen, son of Jeff & Jodia Owen 07 MAY 1888 -
07 DEC 1889 James Adolphus Owen, son of Jeff & Jodia Owen 07 MAR 1887 -
18 JAN 1900 Jeff D. Owen 04 MAY 1861 - 22 JUN 1916 John Miles
Owen \ 21 JUN 1901 - 13 SEP 1958 \ Same Florence Owen /
Stone 01 OCT 1908 / W. H. Owen 21 MAR 1879 - 08 JAN 1919 Della
Owen \ 07 JUL 1869 - 10 MAY 1914 \ Same Cynthia Owen /
Stone 05 MAY 1875 - 30 JUN 1904 / Cornelia Owen, wife of W. D. Owen 27
DEC 1847 - 26 NOV 1882 Wade Owen, Jr. 10 SEP 1914 - 09 SEP 1952 Wade
Owen \ 18 MAY 1869 - 19 FEB 1947 \ Same Cora Owen / Stone 01
JAN 1880 - 06 DEC 1967 / Lelah Owen, daughter of Wade & Cora Owen 01
OCT 1906 - 27 OCT 1906 Leah Owen, daughter of Wade & Cora Owen 01 OCT
1906 - 12 OCT 190618. Henderson County, Texas, Cemeteries, Volume 1,
Page 11. Frizzell Cemetery, Henderson Co., TX, near Pine Grove
community: W. Dennis Owen 16 JAN 1847 - 22 APR 1929 (Co. K, Dilleys
Texas Infantry, C.S.A.) Note: C.S.A. stone indicates birthdat 16 JUN
1847. Fannie Sheflet Owen 20 JUN 1862 - 08 NOV 194619. Henderson
County, Texas, Cemeteries, Volume 2, Page 66-67, 74, 76-77. Davis
Cemetery: Kindred K. Knight 05 JAN 1843 - 04 JUN 1923 William C.
Knight - 27 FEB 1928 Andrew Jackson Knight 25 APR 1851 -
22 SEP 1910 Samuel Tine Owen 1795 - 1856 Sarah Knight Owen 1800 -
1882 Infant Owen (Marked by rocks only) General Knight 1859 - 1939 J.
M. Knight, husband of Sallie APR 1859 - 07 FEB 1921 Sallie W.
Knight 10 AUG 1878 - 19 MAR 1916 20. 1840 - Lowndes Co., AL, Page 244,
Line 3. K. K. Knight 2 males under 5 yrs 1 male 5-10 yrs 1 male
30-40 yrs 1 female under 5 yrs 1 female 5-10 yrs 1 female 10-15
yrs 1 female 20-30 yrs 1 female slave 24-36 yrs 1850 - Smith
Co., TX, My Subdivision, 12 DEC 1850, Page 82B, Line 10, Dwelling
577, Family 579. Kindrid C. Knight 49 yrs, Farmer, b. SC Elsey J.
Knight 30 yrs, b. AL William C. Knight 19 yrs, b. AL, attended
school James A. Knight 17 yrs, b. AL, attended school Elizabeth M.
Knight 14 yrs, b. AL, attended school Benjamin F. Knight 12 yrs, b. AL,
attended school Kindrid C. Knight 10 yrs, b. AL Berenisa D. Knight 3
yrs, b. AL John D. Knight 1 yr, b. AL 1860 - Henderson Co., TX,
Athens, Dwelling 38. K. K. Knight 58 yrs, Farmer, b. SC Elsey J.
Knight 40 yrs, b. AL Kindred K. Knight 19 yrs, Farmer, b. AL Berrymille
Knight 13 yrs, b. AL (female) John D. Knight 11 yrs, b. AL Andrew J.
Knight 9 yrs, b. TX George W. Knight 9 yrs, b. TX Frances M. Knight 7
yrs, b. TX Thomas B. Knight 5 yrs, b. TX Martha R. Knight 4 yrs, b.
TX Jessie M. Knight 2 yrs, b. TX Judge Knight 1 yr, b. TX
(twin) General Knight 1 yr, b. TX (twin) 1870 - Henderson Co., TX,
Athens Precinct, Athens P.O., 23 JUN 1870, Page 1 (246B), Line 26,
Dwelling 5, Family 5. Elizabeth J. Knight 56 yrs, Housekeeping, b.
AL John D. Knight 21 yrs, b. AL Andrew J. Knight 18 yrs, b. TX George
W. Knight 18 yrs, b. TX Francis M. Knight 16 yrs, b. TX (female) Thos.
B. Knight 15 yrs, b. TX Robt. B. Knight 13 yrs, b. TX James M.
Knight 11 yrs, b. TX Jacob Knight 10 yrs, b. TX Gus Knight 10 yrs, b.
TX Sam'l Knight 8 yrs, b. TX21. 1840 - Pike Co., AL, Page 401, Line
13. Stephen Bradley 1 male under 5 yrs 1 male 20-30 yrs 1
female 15-20 yrs 1850 - Smith Co., TX, My Subdivision, 05 OCT 1850,
Page 55, Line 26, Dwelling 183, Family 184. Stephen Bradley 37 yrs,
Farmer, b. SC Polley N. Bradley 31 yrs, b. AL Melvin M. Bradley 11 yrs,
b. AL, attended school John F. Bradley 9 yrs, b. AL, attended
school Polley Bradley 7 yrs, b. AL Sarah Bradley 4 yrs, b. AL Hannah
M. Bradley 2 yrs, b. AL 1860 - Henderson Co., TX, Athens P.O.,
Dwelling 144. Stephen Bradley 46 yrs, Farmer, b. SC Melvin M. Bradley 20
yrs, b. AL John T. J. Bradley 18 yrs, b. AL Sarah F. Bradley 13 yrs, b.
AL Mildred Bradley 11 yrs, b. AL Melissa Bradley 2 yrs, b. TX 1870
- Henderson Co., TX, Athens Precinct, Athens P.O., 25 JUN 1870, Page
5 (246B), Line 37, Dwelling 6, Family 6. Stephen Bradley 56 yrs, Farmer,
b. SC Flem J. Bradley 28 yrs, b. AL Sarah M. Bradley 24 yrs, b. AL Mary
C. Bradley 22 yrs, b. AL Malissa Bradley 12 yrs, b. TX Sarah E.
Bradley 10 yrs, b. TX22. Rebecca E. OWEN married Stephen BRADLEY on 10
MAR 1853 in Henderson Co., TX. Married by K. K. Knight, JP.23. 1850
- Cass Co., TX, Precinct No. 7, 07 NOV 1850, Page 790, Line 36,
Dwelling/Family 15. William H. Haygood 40 yrs, Farmer, b. NC Eliza
Haygood 30 yrs, b. AL A. Haygood 12 yrs, b. TN (female) M. Haygood 10
yrs, b. MS (female) R. Haygood 8 yrs, b. MS (male) T. Haygood 6 yrs,
b. MS (female) Joseph Haygood 4 yrs, b. MS Eliza Haygood 2 yrs, b.
MS William S. Haygood 2/12 yr, b. TX 1860 - Anderson Co., TX, Beat 9,
Magnolia, 06 JUL 1860, Page 56 (70B), Line 32, Dwelling 383, Family
386. W. A. Hagood 41 yrs, Com'sn Busness, b. SC E. A. Hagood 27 yrs,
b. GA John C. Hagood 2 yrs, b. TX S. T. Tennyson 18 yrs, b. GA
(female) P. E. McCutching 56 yrs, b. GA (female) Rosie McCutching 17
yrs, b. GA Jeff Rose 20 yrs, Clerking, b. AL Thos. McClanahan 33 yrs,
b. MS Wm. Lang 47 yrs, C. Laborer, b. GA S. S. Black 44 yrs, C. S.
Teacher, b. Ohio Geo. Flanny 19 yrs, Mail Carrier, b. Mo D. H.
Fitzhugh 23 yrs, Clerking, b. Md 1870 - Anderson Co., TX, Palestin
P.O., Page 118 (59B), Line 39, Dwelling 884, Family 866. Wm. H.
Hagood 52 yrs, Dry Good & Commissioner/Mercht, b. SC Elizabeth
Hagood 37 yrs, b. GA John Hagood 12 yrs, b. TX Sam T. Coffield 28 yrs,
Physician, b. NC Charles Walker 40 yrs, Carpenter, b. AL Mollie
McCutchin 12 yrs, att school, b. LA Louisa Stibbins 18 yrs, Domestic
Servant, b. TX Samuel Dexter 26 yrs, Clerk in store, b. AL Celia
Crist 10 yrs, waiter, b. TX Permelia Conkle 43 yrs, Cook, b. AL James
Conkle 14 yrs, att school, b. AL Emma Conkle 13 yrs, at home, b.
TX America Conkle 11 yrs, at home, b. TX24. 1850 - Rusk Co., TX, Rusk
District, 14 NOV 1850, Page 292B, Line 25, Dwelling/Family 812. R. L.
Franklin 30 yrs, Farmer, b. GA Nancy Franklin 28 yrs, b. TN Mary E.
Franklin 3 yrs, b. TX Aron Franklin 1 yr, b. TX25. 1850 - Anderson
Co., TX, No TWP, 17 SEP 1850, Page 5, Line 32, Dwelling/ Family
30. Markus P. Mead 42 yrs, Farmer, b. TN Elizabith Mead 28 yrs, b.
AR William M. Mead 17 yrs, b. AL Mary E. Mead 16 yrs, b. AL Nancy S. J.
Mead 14 yrs, b. AL James R. Mead 1 yr, b. Anderson Co. James
Grigsby 21 yrs, b. IL Robert H. Grigsby 18 yrs, b. IL Hooper A.
Moore 25 yrs, b. TN 1860 - Anderson Co., TX, Beat 6, Ioni, 17 JUL
1860, Page 53B, Line 40, Dwelling 566, Family 567. Elizabeth Mead 34
yrs, Farmer, b. KY James Mead 12 yrs, b. TX R. A. Mead 9 yrs, b. TX
(female) V. E. Mead 5 yrs, b. TX (female) P. C. Mead 2 yrs, b. TX
(female)26. William MEED married M. B. MULLINS on 23 OCT 1862 in
Anderson Co., TX.27. Sarah J. MEED married John H. MORRISON on 21 MAR
1861 in Anderson Co., TX.28. 1850 - Anderson Co., TX, Town of Palestine,
26 Sep 1850, Page 2, Line 12, Dwelling/Family 6, William Rogers'
Hotel. James M. Perry 32 yrs, Lawyer, b. TN 1860 - Anderson Co., TX,
Town of Palestine, 21 JUN 1860, Page 26 (6B), Line 32, Dwelling 183,
Family 181. J. M. Perry 41 yrs, Lawyer, b. TN H. E. Perry 31 yrs, b.
VA Mozelle Perry 6 yrs, b. TX (female) D. J. Perry 2 yrs, b. TX
(male)29. James M. PERRY married Mrs. Hannah BRUCE on 08 OCT 1851 in
>Anderson Co., TX.