To:  Margaret Barnard Young (living in then Burnsville, Yancey 
County, NC)  now, Madison county, NC
From: Elizabeth Barnard Love 
(Living in Henry County, West Tennessee)
Date Written: August 1st 1841
       ----------------------------------

Dear Sister
     I once more take my pen in hand to write to you to let you know we are 
all well at present hoping these lines may find you all enjoying the same 
blessing I have no news of importance I must confess I feel some what 
ashamed of not writing to you before allthough I think I can with justice 
complain of your not writing to me since I saw you I have had three 
daughters Dorcas, Dicia and Lettishia they are all fine little girls Lettishia 
is five months old I expect you have no doubt heard of the death of our 
little Polly it will be three years this fall since she died it was a severe 
trial to give her up but oh Sister, if I could  have her back for asking for 
worlds I would not ask it if I had of died at her age how much sin and 
hardship would I have escaped you will probably be surprised when I tell you 
we are making preparations to leave Tennessee we are going to move to Missouri 
between four and five hundred miles from where we now live. 
Mr. Love has been and looked at the country he likes the appearance of 
the country much better than he ever did this country the land is very rich 
and fertile but scarce of timber in places the water is plenty and very good 
but limestone he is going to settle on the Ozark Mountain he says the 
range is as good as it ever was in Buncombe He was at William Dillards 
he has been living in that country four years and is very well pleased he 
says he believes it to be equally as healthy as Buncombe is at this time 
Mr. Love sold his land here for thirty six hundred dollars he says for half 
the money he can settle himself much more to his notion in Missouri and 
be where his children can settle to advantage you may think strange of 
my being willing to go so far from all my connection but I am very willing 
to go as I hope it will be to the advantage and satisfaction of my own 
amily but it would far exceed the bounds of a letter to say all I would wish 
to say I must therefore conclude after begging of you not to forget me 
when I am allmost a thousand miles from you do write to me as soon as 
you receive this letter if you should not receive it in time to give me an 
answer by the middle of October write to Missouri Green County Springfield 
Mr. Love joins me in sending our best love and respects to you and Joshua 
in particular give my love to all the children and all inquiring friends
                                             I am my Dear Sister
                                             Yours most affectionately

                                             Elizabeth Love

NB: I heard from John and Nancy a few days ago them and their familys 
was all well John's wife has no child nor no prospect of having any