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- Letter addressed to Dr. Samuel Taylor Bassett, Louisville University (Med Dept) Louisville, Kentucky
Dr. Bassett was taking an advanced course in surgery.
Madisonville, Ky. Jan 12th, 1854
My dear Nephew
I rrec'd your kind letter yesterday with a great deal of hearth felt pleasure, and that pleasure us very much Heightened by the fact that you are the first of my brothers children that has written me a letter without my first writing them. My health has not been good for three or four years.
I have been troubled for that length of time with coal feet even in the very hottest weather, and a swimming head, but have appeared to be somewhat better for several weeks. I have been (as you have no doubt heard) very unfortunate wth my family.
Since I came to this country having lost your Aunt your cousin William, and your cousin Elizabeth Pearl - no Susan Niblick has been lying with rheumatism for some four or five years. She has not walked a step, and for a long time she has not been able to move an part of her, anymore than if she eats is fed to her like feeding a baby. She suffers indescribably everyday. We have set up with her every night for the last five or six weeks.
Amos has the chills all the Fall and Winter with some interruptions.
The other children that are here are in common health. Elijah had gone to Bracken County and so has Mr. Pearl, Elizabeth's widowed husband. Amos lives two miles from me, James 20 miles, Susan 5 miles, Emily lives with me, Jan 3 miles.
I have not rec'd a letter from any of your family since I have been in this country. About 3 years ago I saw a letter from your brother Wlliam in which he requested my son James to tell me to wrote to him a letter of my own inditing. In compliance with that request I wrote him a lengthy letter giving him a brief history of my family from the time I came to this country but I regret that I have not rec'd any from him since.
A young man from our Country (Mr. Ashby) informed me that he fell in company with your mother last Spring am brought me a very satisfactory account of your family.
I wrote to her shortly after he returned but have not rec'd an answer from her since. I regret exceedingly that it was not convenient for you to visit us before returning to Missouri but would request that you correspond with me and my family by letter and visit us early as practicable. Tell your mother and brother and sisters to write to me and my children, and visit us if it is possible they can, as persons as nearly related as we are should not neglect a practice through whith there is so much pleasure to be dreived at that is not completely in our power.
Your Uncle Affectionately
John Bassett
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Bassett Family Association Database
1815 - 