Missionary Letters from Alexander Bills to Wife, Rachel

Dear Wife,
With pleasure I once more embrace the present opportunity of penning you a few lines hoping when they come to hand they will find you all well and in peace.  Since writing from Sunshine P.O., I have done some hard walking, a portion of the time in a neighborhood when a short time previous to my coming, the citizens had said they intended to hang the first Mormon to a tree that came through there but I quietly distributed my tracts, talked to the people; found friends to minister to my wants and got back into Burke fairly well worn out, but

Elder Alexander Bills, born September 4, 1857, left for the Southern States Mission, October 16, 1882.  He returned from this mission, October 8, 1884.  He left two wives he married in a plural marriage in Salt Lake City, Utah, Endowment House.  (Married Wife #1) Emily Bathsheba Beckstead in 1875.  (Married Wife #2) Rachel Clemency Neel, February 5, 1880.  He also left four children, three of them belonging to Emily, two boys and a baby girl.  William Henry, (Willy) age 6, Royal, (Roy) age 3, and Ressy Arabelle, age 3 months.  Another little baby girl named Ella Myrtle was born to Emily, January 27, 1883, and died December 19, 1883, while Alexander was in the mission field.  Also a little baby boy named Alexander was born to Emily, March 23, 1878, and died September 21, 1879.

Rachel was left with one beautiful little girl named Lilly May, born March 14, 1881. He mentions Little Lilly and his love for her quite frequently in his letters.

October 27th 1882
Sigmanburg, Burke, Co., N.C.

Dear Family:

It is with the greatest of pleasure I take this opportunity to write to you.  I am very tired; I have just walked 10 miles through hills and timber.  There is nothing else here.  There is no level country here nor within several hundred miles of here.  This is the first chance I have had to write since I got here.  I arrived here in Sigmanburg, Tuesday, the 24th at 12 o’clock, met two of the Elders.  I walked 1 mile, had dinner, walked 6 miles, had supper, walked 1 mile more; stayed all night and have been walking every day since.

It is very warm here for this time of the year. This is a dirt country hardly fit for a name; the worst forsaken country I ever saw and the people are still worse.  Niggers and whites all mixed up, a good many half-breeds.  Talk of wickedness; you couldn’t imagine the wickedness that is here.  Still I guess the Lord, has a few people here so we will try to find them.  I am a stranger in North Carolina; there isn’t anybody here that I ever saw before.  But I trust the Lord will enable me to do right and to ward off diseases because Carolina is full of corruption of every description.  Some of the Elders has got the chills and fever, two of them had had the itch.  There are lively times here, it is close to election, the Devil is let loose.

There was a gang of men or devils surrounded of the Elders the other day and wanted to fight and finally threatened him pretty heavy and gave him twenty days to get away in and also broke up the meeting.  Well, I am here in one of the most forsaken places I ever saw, 2500 miles from home where my comfort, my hope, and my joy is.  But remember dear ones; this is our Father’s work.  Remember the promises attached to the saying; “He that will forsake all for my name shall not lose his reward.”  I wouldn’t stay here one year for all there is in this state was it not for the gospel.

Well, my dear family, I would like to hear from you, let alone seeing you.  I hope are all well and doing right.  It is necessary for us to live right, that our prayers may ascend to our Father, in one another’s behalf.  That you may have the assurance that I will not violate my covenants, nor do anything will bring disgrace to my family or friends.  We were strictly told to keep women at arms length, or from taking our arm.  I trust that I will carry this out and I want you both to also carry this out.  Keep yourselves clean and pure and virtuous that you can enjoy the spirit of the Lord.  For I tell you I need your prayers.  Give my love to father and mother, brothers and sisters and to all of yours both of you.  I will write to all as fast as I get time.  Tell them all to write and not wait for me, for I will write as soon as I can.  Both of you write once a week sure.  Goodbye, God bless you, be faithful and honest that when we meet it may be a happy meeting.   From a true husband and father,

Alexander Bills

November 13th 1882
Sigmanburg, Burke, Co., N.C.

Dear Family:

With great pleasure I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know what I am doing and how I am prospering.  I am not very well, nor haven’t been for two or three days.  I have caught a cold and it settled in my head and chest, but I hope to be better soon.

I hope this letter will reach you finding all of you well.  May God bless you my dear family.  May his kind arm be over you to preserve your lives, that I may again behold all of your faces and enjoy your sweet society again.

Be faithful and true to the covenants that you both made with me in the House of the Lord and before Him and angels, for they are recorded in heaven and will stand forever if we be true.

I want you both to listen to my counsel as I write from time to time and not only listen, but put in practice.

The Lord is merciful and forgiving, full of charity and in order to us to receive these blessings from him we have got to begin with them at home and so on wherever we go or else we need not expect them from our Father in Heaven.

Then my dear family let us begin right at home.  You know of the little jars and contentions we have had, blot them out of your memories as I have done.  When you separate, separate in peace and good friends.  Write to one another and let’s be united although we are a long ways apart. God knows there is enough of our enemies fighting against us, without us fighting against ourselves.

How long I will be required to stay in this forsaken state I don’t know, but I would rather die here than to leave before I am released or sent somewhere else.  And I tell you it looks almost like death sometimes even to those that have been here for some time.

We are threatened of being whipped, mobbed and killed.  One man right here in our district two or three days ago said with an oath, “That he would shot every d--- one of us and leave us for the buzzards to eat if he had the power.”  This looks a little rough to leave a good home and what is still more a family that is dearer than life itself and travel 2500 miles to live on corn bread and bacon and to be abused worse than a dog.  But we will stay with them, God, being our helper until the Lord says, “She is fully warned.”

I had a dream last night given I believe as a warning.  I expect I will have to face this dream here in this land.  We have got to prepare to meet everything.  But for all this, there is a just and able God, whose hand is over us and also our enemies and they can go no father than he allows them to.  But he has said, he would have a tried people and how are we going to obtain the choice blessings except we prove ourselves worthy of them by our faith and our works and also by sacrifice.  For I tell you if it don’t take all these to stay here and preach the gospel to so corrupt a people, then I don’t know my own name.

Give my love to father, mother, brothers and sisters, and also to yours, both of you.  If Rachel has gone to her mother’s, mail it to her so she can read it.  It is for both.  I walked 8 miles Friday to the post office for a letter and then didn’t get one.  I am going again today and post this.  I hope there will be one there for me.   Write regular once a week so I won’t be disappointed after walking 8 miles, for I will go once a week if I possibly can.  Give me all the news.  Goodbye, God bless you.

From a true husband and father,
Alexander Bills

To Willy, Roy, and Lilly, my dear little children.  How I would like to have a good play with you.  And have some those sweet little kisses like you gave me when I left.  I remember you hollering at me, Willy, when I started saying, “Goodbye Pa.”  Bless you my children, do what you are told to do.

Goodbye from Pa

November 14th 1882
Sigmanburg, Burke, Co., N.C.

“Neel Family”:

Father and mother, brothers and sisters, wife and daughter, if they be with you.  With pleasure I write to you to inform you of my situation.  In the first place I am not very well.  I have a bad cold and in the second place I am in one of the worst and poorest and corrupt places that I ever saw or ever want to see.  The people are the dirtiest, slovenest, filthy people I ever seen.  Niggers and whites are pretty well mixed up and illegitimate children by the dozens.  I don’t know as I would miss it if I say by the hundreds.  And as far as their honesty is concerned, they condemn themselves.  They don’t put any confidence in one another.  They all use tobacco, all that are big enough, women, girls and all. Wriley, if you and Tom was here one week, I don’t believe you would ever chew any more tobacco.  To look at young women with their mouths all daubed with tobacco; I tell you I would have to be hard up for a kiss before I would take one.

This state is a mountainous one, covered with all kinds of timber, no level country here.  They raise some sweet potatoes and a few Irish potatoes, a little wheat and lots of corn and hogs.  Their chief living is bacon and corn bread and coffee and sour buttermilk.  They don’t take any pains in their cooking or anything else.  I didn’t think I could ever eat pigs’ feet.  But we can do lots of things especially when we have to.

Flour is lighter there than in our country and corn heavier.  Flour weighs one ounce to the pound.  Corn, one pound to the ounce.  The corn is mixed with water, no soda, sometimes hard and sometimes soft, and the longer you chew a bite of it the bigger it gets, unless it is pretty well mixed with faith.

I have told you a few of the truths of this state.  We are threatened of being whipped, mobbed and shot, but we will stay with them.  God, being our helper, until our work is done here.

Write often, goodbye from your son and brother.

Alexander Bills

(My directions is at the head of this letter).

November 28th 1882

Dear Wife and Child:

I received your kind and welcome letters and was pleased to hear from you and to know that you were all well.  I have received three letters from you since you got to your father’s.  I got them yesterday and was glad you got there safe.  I was a little uneasy about you starting in such cold weather.

You wanted to know if I was well and if I had preached any and who I was traveling with.  I am well, I have preached four times, that is if it could be called preaching and I am traveling with James Jenkins from Juab County, Nephi.  You said for me not to get made because you didn’t write more.  I tell you Rachel, I have plenty to do without getting mad.  There is a great and a good work for all to do and the better we do our and the nearer we live to the Lord and the stricter we keep his commandments; the greater will be our reward.

O’ dear, it almost makes my heart bleed to see the wickedness, corruption and adultery that is carried on here.  I don’t hardly know how the earth holds them up.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see the earth open and swallow them up.  Oh, Rachel, we may thank God that we were raised with the Saints and were taught honest and virtuous principles.  Well can we say, “O virtue thou are a jewel.”

I don’t honestly believe that there is one out of every ten in this state that has led a virtuous life.  I was told by two different persons that from one woman sprang 24 and that to, without being married.  The woman making a start and her daughter and granddaughters following suit until there were 24 of them in one house and some of them half-breed niggers.  And in one township, in this state there is said to be over 300 illegitimate children.

I guess I have written enough on this subject.  For once I feel thankful that I have been counted worthy to bear the gospel message to the nations and hope that I will be able to fulfill the mission that has been assigned me to the honor and glory of God.  And if it be his will to return to my dear family and friends with a clear conscience, that I may embrace you with clean hands and imprint a kiss upon your lips, with lips that have not be defiled by women.

May God, grant that we may so live, that we can shake off the filth of the flesh and arise and trample wickedness and corruption under our feet, that when our earthy mission is complete that it can be said, “well done thou good and faithful servants, enter into the joys of thy Lord, that our family ties that we have made on earth may last through eternity.”

Give my love to all and tell them all to write.  Tell mother I would like to be there and have a good meal once more with her.

Goodbye, God bless you and protect from all evil.  Be virtuous, be honest and humble yourself before the Lord.  Keep foolishness and light mindedness far from you.  Hold sacred your covenants with me.  Improve your mind with usefulness and let alone that which is likely to make you unhappy in after years.  Kiss my dear little daughter for me.

Goodbye from your truest friend, husband and father.

Alexander Wills

December 2nd 1882
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Mrs. Rachel and Lilly Bills

Dear Wife and Daughter:

I received your kind and welcome letter of the 23rd on the 2nd of December and having a little time I sat right down to answer.  I was pleased for the way you wrote.  Don’t feel hurt for not receiving word from me, things don’t always work as they ought, but never fear, do right and God, will reward you.  You have my love, my faith and my prayers and I thought you had me last night, but I guess it was a mistake.

I just wrote to you about three days ago, so I haven’t any particular news.  I am well and I hope this will find you and Lilly and all of your folks well.

You said you felt bad to not even hear from me.  You thought I had nearly forgotten you.  Rachel, can a man forget his own flesh, his own life, his own heart?  Remember the man that married you, entered into that covenant for time and all eternity and may we so live as to claim this great and mighty blessing.  For it is the greatest blessing that God, ever bestowed upon his children.  You said you would be faithful to me if I never wrote to you.  Pretty good, love or grit shall I try you and see?

I got the children’s likenesses but not yours yet.  I had mine taken.  I have just received the, here is one for you.  This will pay you for being patient.  I have my Bible in my hand, my tie isn’t straight, don’t think that I have been painting.

Give my love to all the folks, tell them to write.  I guess you had better not sell the colt, it is plenty for him, but I guess we had better keep it.  I thought I would cut this into, so as to have it as small as small as yours.  I mean, so I can put the likeness in.

Excuse a short letter; I will try to write once a week.  Sometimes I may fail on account of traveling, but don’t you fail to write that often and as much oftener as you love me.

Things look pretty blue here sometimes, our God is at the helm and if I hold onto the ship and prove faithful I will most assuredly hold you in my embrace again.

Goodbye, God bless you and keep you from sin and distress is the prayer of your loving husband and father, Alexander Bills, that longs to look out of these infernal hills.

Kiss Lilly nice and sweet for me.  I kissed you for myself last night, but don’t feel mad cause I didn’t stay longer.  I had to hurry back to finish my work here, then I will come again.

Alexander Bills

December 8th 1882
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Mrs. Rachel and Lilly Bills

Dear Wife and Daughter:

I received your letter of the lst today.  I was pleased to hear from you as I always have been since we first met.  I feel sorry to hear you were not well.  I hope this will reach you soon and find you in better spirits.

Think not of your past follies, neither of mine, look forward with pleasure.  Serve the Lord in spirit and truth.  Let no evil communication proceed from your lips.  Be sober, do not run around to dances and think too much of what seems pleasure. For dear one, a great many have brought damnation upon their own heads through what once seemed a pleasure.

Rachel, I want you to so live that your sweet lips can whisper a humble prayer in the still darkness of the night and be answered in heaven in behalf of the man that won your heart and till holds it with pure love.

You wanted to know if you could do anything for me.  Bless you yes, but not the way you thought.  Don’t you go out to work, but please O’ please Rachel, will you take my counsel?  This is what I mean you can do for me.  You wanted to know if I suffer.  I did not leave my family, my friends and my home to come out here and expect to live in luxury.  But I must say I couldn’t have imagined the wickedness, the corruption, the filth and dirt that is here.  As for suffering, I don’t know as I really suffer, but we put up with a slim fare.  Part of the time we have good beds and bad ones, some of them smell terrible.  Their houses are no better than your father’s stable and I don’t believe as warm.

Our food part of the time is tolerable fair for this country.  We get wheat bread once in a while, sometimes bran bread, but mostly corn.  Nevertheless, I feel thankful to God, that I have been counted worthy of so great and important calling and I hope to be an honor to my calling and faithfully perform my labors before God, realizing it is through Him all blessings flow and through His goodness that we have been brought together and can realize that we never will be separated through time and all eternity.  O’ Rachel, isn’t this worth everything?  Sometimes we feel bad to separate this would be more than I could stand if I did not know that this was the Lord’s work and that he has promised celestial glory, to those that are worthy.  These blessings are within our reach if we will only lie for them.  The Apostle Paul says, “The gospel of Christ is the power of God, unto salvation to all those that believe and obey.”
 

Give my love to all your folks.  Tell mother I hope to see her dear old face again and have a good warm breakfast with you all again.  I tell you Rachel, I am the boy that could appreciate home and friends.  But never mind, I have a work to do and I will try to do it to the best of my ability and knowledge that is given me.

God bless you Rachel and Lilly and help you to do right and keep sickness and distress from you and lead you in the path of truth and virtue, that when I again meet you, I can put my arms around a virtuous wife.

Goodbye from your husband and father,
Alexander Bills

P.S.

Kiss Lilly for me and teach her to love her Pa.  How I would like to hear her cry and kiss the little tears from her cheeks. And also hold her mother to my aching heart until I could take some of the sweetness from her sweet lips.

    “Oh home, sweet home, no place like home.”

December 16th 1882
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Mrs. Rachel and Lilly Bills

Dear Wife and Daughter:

With pleasure I seat myself to answer your kind and welcome letter of the 6th that I received yesterday.  I was thankful to hear you were well, as I am happy to say this leaves me in tolerable fair spirits considering our circumstances.

I am now writing with my overcoat on and my hand is so cold I have to keep stopping to get it warm.  I could almost throw a cat through the cracks of this house.  The door has no hinges, they just lean it up.  The floor is all loose so the wind and storm can come in from all directions.

Their tobacco is hung up overhead and the dust from it makes a feller cough as bad as pepper on a hot stove.  And to make things complete, the old fireplace smokes things black, one side burns while the other fries cornbread and become with some other mixture that turns the stomach.

But I am just as happy, as happy, as happy, as you can imagine I would be in such circumstances.  This is a hard pill, but I feel thankful to God, that he has thus far made me equal to stand what I have passed through and has heard my prayers for your health at home.  I still put my trust in his all powerful arm to bless you at home that you may all be spared to again behold the face of your husband and father, but not until I have fulfilled my mission to the honor and glory of God.

Then Rachel, I think when I stand before you; you will behold one of the happiest men you ever saw to get home.  There isn’t enough money in this state to keep me here if I was working for money.  But I am not here for money.  I am here to serve God and lift up a warning voice to all that the Lord sees fit for me to warn.   

You must read the Bible and all the church works that you can.  For a starting you can read Ephesians, it is in the New Testament.  There are 6 chapters, but take particular notice of the 4th and 5th chapters.

You wanted to know about Byram, he is several hundred miles from me, and is in Alabama.  I wrote to him soon after I got here and he answered saying, “He was well except he was homesick.”

Barlow is down in the eastern end of this state in Pit County.  He had the chills and fever I believe, the last account we had from there.

And as for myself, your sweet little honor shall know my partner’s name is James Jenkins from Juab County.  Up till now I have just returned from a trip to the east end of this county with an Elder by the name of Robinson.  There is only three of us right here in two districts, an Elder by the name of Brain has been released from here.  No one has come in his place so we will have to change around, one of us traveling alone at a time.

In regard to the rain, we make our appointments ahead sometimes a month.  So sometimes we have to walk several miles through thick and thin to fill our appointments.  But don’t worry about me little Blackeyes; I am neither sugar nor salt.  I have faced many a hard storm and never flinched from them.  But I tell you Rachel, this tries the nerves, but God is able to bear us up if we do right.

You said you sent me all the money you had.  Many thanks for it as much so, as if it had been $10.00.

Excuse bad writing and spelling for this is someplace to try to write I tell you.  Don’t fret about me, God bless you.  I know you want to do all you can for me.  Give me your faith and prayers and do right do as I have kindly asked you to do.  And this together with your kind love is all I want you to do just now.

Kiss my little daughter for me.  Goodbye, God bless you with health and strength to do right is the earnest prayer of your affectionate husband and father,

Alexander Bills

P.S.  Keep account of all the letters you get from me.  When you write, tell me the day of the month that my letter was written ever time you receive one.

It is very cold here just now.  There was a man froze to death here a few days ago.  He got too much liquor and laid outside.  Give my kind love to all.  Tell mother, I am coming to see her someday and to have a good dinner ready.  But I don’t think I will hardly know what a good dinner is like again until I get there.

December 28th 1882
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Mrs. Rachel and Lilly Bills:

Dear Wife and Daughter:

I received yours of the 12 inst., on the 23rd, and was pleased to hear from you and especially to hear that you were well.  The reason I didn’t get your letter sooner was that it stormed nearly all last week and made it awful traveling.  Saturday afternoon, 4 o’clock, I started for my mail.  I had 8 miles to walk through the mud uphill and down and over creeks.  One large creek had risen so that the water was running over the foot log so I had to wade along on the log; the water running nearly swift enough to take me off the log.  I made the 8 miles in 2 hours and 4 minutes.  So you can see how much I think of a little word from home.

Sunday, we walked 7 miles, held meeting at 11 a.m.  After meeting, walked 1 mile, took dinner, then walked 10 or 12 miles further through the mud.  We were pretty well worn out when we stopped for the night.  Our lodging place was an old log house full of cracks.  The floor all loose, no hinges on the door and everything else in nice order the same way.  Well, we lived through the night.  Next day, Christmas, we walked 9 miles, held meeting night.  Today we have walked about 2 miles and are taking a little rest and writing. Tomorrow if all is well I will start to Turkey Tail, 9 miles from here.  I am now at Brother Foxes on the north side of the Catawba River.  Brothers Jenkins and Robinson will stay on this side to fill an appointment next Sunday.  So I will cross the river alone tomorrow and travel around a little.

My health is pretty fair with the exception of a little cold and I feel a little sore after my walk.  It is very hard to keep from taking cold.  We have to walk until we get very warm and then go into the open houses; the wind blows in through the cracks. But all these things seem necessary in order to bring us to a full sense of our duty and to show us what we are and who we are, depending upon the Lord, our God, who has said, “He would have a tried people.”  And he is going to prove us to see if we are worthy of his blessings and if we are able to stand the test and praise his, great name through all our afflictions and call on him in faith.  He will make us equal to all that we are called to pass through in this life and not only this, but eternal life in the world to come.

I feel thankful to my heavenly father that I have been counted worthy to be chosen for so great and important work as this and to suffer for the truth of this gospel.  For I know it is the work of God, that is again established on the earth.  And that the end is drawing nigh, when the wicked shall be burnt up as stubble and few men left, but the gospel must first be preached to all the world, to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, as a witness to leave them without an excuse.

I hope that I may be blessed with health an strength and faith to fill my mission in honor, for I don’t want to see you until I have done my duty and have been faithful to my trust.  Not but what I love my family, but because I love the Lord and the pure principles that will save both you and me if we are faithful to our callings and to each other.  I love you well enough to spend my life here on this earth in usefulness and to the service of God, in doing good in order to receive an everlasting crown for us in the world to come.  This is what I am working for.  I want a through ticket.

Charles Horn that came out when I did went home.  He said “It was too hard living for him.”  I tell you we have got to have the spirit of God with us or this is too much for us.  This is trying but is the servant greater than the master?  I don’t know what I may do, but I hope to stay right with it through thick and thin.  Even if it takes my life, for it is God I am serving and it is to him I look for my reward.

Rachel, do right, be humble, honest and virtuous, that the Lord will hear your prayers.

I got a letter from Byram a few days ago.  He says he has the chills and fever very bad and probably will go home if he doesn’t get better.  This is what I call a God forsaken country.  The itch, the chills and fever, and everything else that is bad.  Some of the Elders here have had the itch and a great many, the chills and fever.  I will have to quit.

Kiss Lilly for me.  Goodbye, God bless you and help you to do right is the prayer of your,

Affection husband and father,

Alexander Bills

Give my love to all.

January 1st 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke, Co, N.C.

Mrs. Rachel C. Bills

Dear Wife:

I received your kind and welcome but short letter of the 10th on the 28th.  I was pleased to hear from you and to know that you was so well, as it found me and as this leaves me.

We have a great many uncomfortable things to contend with and we are in the midst of a wicked and contentious people.  The wickedness and abomination of this land is just horrible to think of, but I don’t wish to get discouraged.  I hope to turn a few of them from their wicked ways and bring them to a knowledge of the truth and fill my mission in honor and return with clean hands and pure heart to my family and friends and fill up my time in usefulness here on earth.

I hope Rachel that you will spend your spare moments in improving your mind.  Commence with the first principles of the gospel and study upon them until you can explain them.  You need to understand the principles that you have embraced.  Suppose you were asked what you believe in, do you think you could answer the questions properly?  And in your studying if you can find anything that you cannot understand or that you think will puzzle me, send it along.  Which one of the disciples was the Lord’s brother?  You will find it in the New Testament.

Tomorrow if all is well Brother Jenkins and me will start for the eastern end of this county, we will be back in a few days.  We are thinking of taking a trip back in the larger mountains before long to give them the chance of hearing the truth, for I doubt if some of them know what the truth is.  They are a rough set back there, but they must be left without an excuse.  The Elders went through there last fall and they could hardly find a place to stay all night.

It is cold weather here, considerable snow; my fingers are nearly froze, so please excuse this short note.  I will write again in a few days.

Goodbye, God bless you and help you to be honest and true is the prayer of your truest friend and husband.

Alexander Bills

Tell Lilly, to not forget her Pa.  Give my respects to Tom and family, your mother, father, Wriley and Jack and family.  I have received a letter from Jim and Mayne and have answered it.  I have almost got the chills it is so cold here, but the fever isn’t with it.

January 7th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke, Co., N.C.

Mrs. Rachel C. Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I answer your kind and welcome letter of the 24th, which I received on the 2nd.  I was pleased to hear that you was well as it also found me, but leaves me with a heavy cold.

My main field of labor is in the southwest end of Burke County.  On the 3rd, I started for the east end of this county.  There was considerable snow when we started but it started to rain that night and has been raining nearly every day since, making it very bad walking.  But we made our point after hard walking through rain and mud.  Yesterday we crossed Catawba River in a small boat through a heavy rain.  We expect to start back tomorrow.  This is a hard country on a person’s lungs.  It is so damp and foggy the air seems heavy.  It is not like our sweet mountain home.

I feel well in regard to my labors and still have a desire to finish the work I was sent here to do.  The people here seem pretty well hardened against religion.  Some of them don’t care for anything except doing wrong.  Some of them have some very curious ideas.  We have got all manner of people to deal with, from jet black all the way down to a tolerable fair white.  They are something like the nigger with the sugar. He said, “They take dark brown sugar and keep refining it down until they can hardly tell it from white.”  It is the same way with some of the people here.  They are so refined it is hard to say what they are.

Well, Rachel, you said you felt bad to think I had to be so far from you.  I could feel more than bad if I would give way, but we must be humble and seek for the spirit of God, to comfort and strengthen us.  This may seem a hard row to hoe, but let us be careful and make sure work that when we do get to the other end that we will not have to go and hoe the same row over again.

Rachel, I think you are a little selfish about being nearest my heart.  Don’t fear about my confidence in you.  Do right and the Lord will reward you and I will recompense you with love.  I would like to have a glimpse of you and Lilly for a few moments. I hardly know how I will contain myself when I am released from here.  I am afraid the train won’t run fast enough to suit me.

There is lots of wickedness going on here all the time.  There was a young fellow here married a woman that had a daughter.  He has lived with her until her daughter has grown up, so now he uses the daughter.  His wife and him got into a fuss two or three days ago.  He drawed a gun on her, but was caught and kept overnight and tried day before yesterday in the next house from where we was.  They fined him $12.00; I believe and let him go.  A terrible punishment for attempt to murder and committing adultery.

Ever praying for your welfare, I remain your husband, as ever.

Alexander Bills

January 15th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills

Dear Wife:

I now answer your kind letter of the last that I received on the 12th.  I was pleased to hear that you were better and that Lilly was doing so well.  When I wrote before I had a very bad cold.  The next day after I wrote I walked 14 miles through the mud and that complicated my cold.  I was laid up till Friday; I then walked to the office and back and received the letter that I am now answering.

Yesterday, I walked 1 mile and assisted in holding meetings.  Last night I lay awake with the headache nearly all night and it hasn’t ceased yet, so you will please excuse a short letter for I am not fit for anything today.

You said you would be happy if you could be with me and help bear my trials.  Dear wife, you are very kind, your sympathy and love is worth more than gold to me and your sweet memory is cherished near my heart.  O’ how pleasant it would be if all were trying to serve God.  That he, might pour out his blessings upon the earth, that all might be at peace and live under the direction of the spirit of God.  But it is not so; there, it seems necessary for those that have received the gospel of Christ, to labor faithfully for the salvation of others.  And in so doing, if we are faithful to the end of our days we will receive an inheritance in the kingdom of our Lord and Savior to dwell together in peace forever.

Give my love to all.  Don’t feel hurt for this short letter; I hope to be better next time.

Goodbye, God bless you and help you to do right is the prayer of your loving husband.

Alexander Bills

January 21st 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I write you a few lines to let you know my situation.  When I last wrote to you I was very sick and still got worse until I kept in bed part of the time.  Last week I suffered terrible with pain in my head.  I have taken so much cold since I came here one after another until I was compelled to nockunder.  I have had two pretty hard weeks of it.

Today is Sunday.  My companion Brother Jenkins left me Friday and I was to meet him at Turkey Tail, 4 miles from here in two days providing I was able.  So feeling some better this morning I thought I would go and help to fill the appointment that is to hold meeting.  It has been raining for nearly two weeks and the streams are very high and I had a large one to cross 1 mile from where I have been staying while sick.  So two of the little boys went to the river with me to get me over, as the foot logs were overflowed.  When we got to the river I got on one horse, the two boys on the other.  I rode in but had not gone but a few steps when the horse went in out of sight.  He swam to the opposite shore but the water was so swift we went below the landing and couldn’t get out and was still in swimming water.  I got him turned and we made back to the same side we started from.  After a very cold bath I returned to Brother Mooney’s where I had just left thinking I had done my duty in regard to that meeting.

So I thought I would write you a few lines.  Don’t feel slighted because they are few, I am not fit for writing at all.  I haven’t been able to go to the office last week so I haven’t received a letter from you last week.

Goodbye, God bless you and protect you from evil, harm, accident, and danger is the prayer of your true and loving husband.

Alexander Bills

Give my love to all, kiss Lilly for me.

February 7th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I answer yours of the 22nd, which I received the 30th.  I was pleased to hear that you was well and that you was enjoying yourself and having plenty of fun.  I got a letter from James and Ramona Beddo yesterday; they were well.  I was sorry to hear that mother was sick; I hope she is better by this time.  Health is a great gift and blessing from the Lord and I tell you it is appreciated by those who have suffered so much with sickness.

You said some of the boys say that Jesus never had any relation, only his mother; they are badly mistaken.  You said you would do me all the good you could by being faithful.  If you will do this, it will do me more good and make me feel better than big pile gold would.  Be careful and prudent in all things.  Pleasure and fun is all right in its place, but there are a great many things that seem pleasure and enjoyment but in the long run has brought many a soul down to hell.  What is the pleasure of this world?  We had better be looking after something that will benefit us hereafter.  We did not come here upon this earth for fun, but we came here to take upon us bodies and enter into family ties that may last through eternity; this is, if we are faithful not only in this one thing, but in all things that God has commanded us and that he will yet command us.

We must use our time and talent for the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth.  All may spend their time in foolishness and fun that wants to but my business is in another direction.  I know if I serve God and keep his commandments, my salvation is sure and if my family will obey me as long as I am in the line of my duty, they will receive the same blessing and our joys will be complete.  But on the other hand we are promised damnation.
You spoke of the gentiles ridiculing polygamy.  They are at the same thing here.  We have them to contend with but I tell you we wind them up in good shape if we get a chance at them.  There are hundreds of children here that don’t know who their father is and I doubt if a heap of their mothers does.  The poor miserable devils that holler the loudest more than likely have children scattered all over the state and I don’t know how much further.

The Lord’s work is increasing; the devil is howling; his time is short and he will upset all that he can.  It is necessary for us to have the spirit of the Lord with us and be firm and resolute for many will say, there is no use living so strict and being so religious and all this.  But let us serve God and let others have their own way.  All has a right to do right and none has a right to do wrong but many does it.

Nevertheless you said you dreamed that you had another girl.  You want to be careful how your dream especially with your eyes open.  I have heard President Taylor’s vision read, it was mostly concerning the Indians.

Also for the Saints to set their families in order and live near to the Lord; also if Seymour B. Young would obey the law of the Lord which is the celestial law according to the reading, he was to be placed in a certain office in the high priesthood.

Goodbye, God bless you and keep you from all harm is the earnest prayer of your true and loving husband.

Alexander Bills

Here is a half leaf of tobacco just as it grows.  I haven’t sent it for you to learn to chew.  This letter will smell strong when it reaches you.

February 14th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills:

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I answer your kind and welcome letter of the 29th that came to hand February the 12th found me well.  I was sorry that Lilly was not well.  I hope she is better by this time and I trust the blessings of God will be with you to enable you to do right and as you said in your letter to be faithful and true to me; that where I am that you may be also.

The first part of last winter a man by the name of Fox went from here to Salt Lake leaving his family here expecting to send for them this spring.  He went out with Brother Brain who paid his expenses to Utah.  He has a good place here.  His folks expected to sell and then go out and, of course, pay what he borrowed.  Well he got there and he borrowed $100 of Brother Morgan, $100 of Brother Parks, and $10 of another party pretending he wanted to go down to Nephi and put up a blacksmith shop.  But instead of that he arrived here in Burke a few days ago drunk.  I understand vilifying our people and telling things that are not true.  If this be the case you may pity us for our path has plenty of thorns in at the best and if he has fallen from the truth and turned over into the hands of the evil one, we know not what we will have to face.  But one thing we do know we know that God lives and that we are in his service and may his will be done.  I trust that I may have strength to do my duty and fill my mission and fear no man but fear God and keep his commandments.

Well, the people here are in a perfect uproar.  They say the smallpox is in Morganton, which is in our district of labor and they say they have it at Warm Springs and on the side of the Catawba.  If this is so, it is almost all around us.  They say they are stopping the traveling.

You spoke of a snake being after you and was afraid it was someone trying to injure you.  It may be, but do as I have told you keep out of bad company, be careful and prudent in all things.  Give no one the chance to take advantage of you.  You need not be afraid of anyone injuring your character if you do not injure it yourself.  For if you will do as I have counseled you and attend to your own business and let others attend to theirs; keep your own counsel and love to do good and never allow your tongue to tell all you know, for a tattler will tell all they know and sometimes more too.

Give my kind love to all your folks and accept the same yourself.  From one that will stand by you through all trials, if you will be honest and may the blessings of the Lord be with you and your little daughter that we may all meet again in peace and enjoy each other’s society is the earnest prayer of a true and loving husband and father.

Alexander Bills

Caty has got a girl.  It was born the 24th of January.  All is well in Jordan when I last hear from there.

February 20th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know how I am prospering.  I am in tolerable good health at present and I hope when this reaches you it will find you all enjoying the same like blessings.  This is two letters I have written you without an answer, the last one that I received from you was written on the 30th of January and it was two weeks between it and the one before it.  If you haven’t time to write once a week, we can put it at once in two weeks, but write as regular as you can.

In my last letter I told you of the smallpox.  Since that, one boy has died with it and I don’t know how many more.  Schools are stopped and guards are posted in the section where the smallpox has broke out.  People are nearly scared to death.  I have understood that they would like to accuse us of bring it here.  If anything is done, of course, it is those Mormon preachers that is if it is anything bad.  Paul says, “He that liveth Godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.”  We, of course, are not perfect, but we have the perfect plan and may we be true to our calling and true to each other and serve God and keep his commandments and let the wicked howl for their end drawth nigh.

We are told that judgment must begin at the house of God and if it first begins with, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  It is really necessary for us to enjoy the spirit of the Lord, in order to please him and to enable us to pursue the right course and also to be as a mantle about us to guard us as it were from the hands of the evil one, for I tell you Rachel, the Elders see some tight corners and by the spirit of God to direct us, we miss many trap that has been laid for us.  It is our duty to obey the commandments of God and when we do that then it is his business to protect us for he has promised and his word never fails.

I am now traveling alone as Brother Jenkins has been exposed to the smallpox.  I don’t think he will take them, but to keep from scaring the people to death, we thought it advisable for him to remain at one place for a week or two and I will dodge about amongst the Christians and speak to them as I feel led.  I sometimes think that people here has had nearly as much of the gospel as they want or as they will receive My opinion is that the Lord will shake them up before long.  But that is not for me to say.

Give my kind love to father and mother, Wriley and family, Thomas, Analiza and John and family and accept the same for yourself and daughter.

Kiss Lilly for me, Rachel.  May the peace of heaven be with you all is the fervent prayer for your husband and father?

Alexander Bills

 

March 4th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I answer your kind and welcome letter of the 18th that came to hand the 27th.  I was pleased to hear from you and especially to hear that you and our little girl was well and that she is growing so fast, bless her sweet little soul.  How I would like to play with her and kiss her sweet little lips.  Her little sniffing and crying would be sweet music to me here in these lonesome woods.  I haven’t found anybody that I wanted to kiss very bad yet or at least I haven’t improved the opportunity.  I would be pleased to take up the little fellers and get a kiss but the dirt is stronger than my desires.  If it was Lilly, I could kiss the dirt off.

You thought I had a purpose is saying that I was pleased that you were enjoying yourself.  I did it with no motive or at least no bad motive.  I heard that you were and I mentioned it and I meant it.  I wish to see one that is so dear to me enjoy life and be happy in a right and proper way but I despise the principles that some of our good folks work under to enjoy themselves.

Rachel you know me, I have tried to do right.  I have tried to serve God and keep his commandments and hope to be true to my calling until I have finished my course upon the earth and I hope to be kind and true to you that you in turn may be a true and loving wife to stand by my side and be a helpmate in every deed.  Oh what comfort is a virtuous sweet wife.  You spoke of having someone to live for and hoped to live better in the future than you have in the past and you wished you could live without doing any wrong.  We are not perfect.  We are liable to our little besetments but if we wish to do right and seek for the spirit of God we will not commit very big wrongs for the Lord will help us if we leave off our light mindedness.  We have something else to do besides sleighing and doneing and drinking and swearing and defiling ourselves and committing adultery for this last we understand is the next thing to shedding blood.  True happiness and the spirit of God can only be enjoyed by those that live honesty and virtuous lives.

You said you were willing to put up with anything for me.  I hope you will never have cause to regret what you have to pass through for me.  You said you would try to do right and earn my love and good feelings.  You cannot do that; but being as you have earned it before or won it by fair means, I hope it will not be taken from you by foul play.  You may rest contently as long as you do right.  Your question, it was John.  For proof, read the 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 verses of the 21st chapter of St. John.

Byram is home I suppose.  I received a letter from him written nearly a month ago.  He had his money and release then and calculated to start as soon as possible.  Just what I would do if I had my release, but I ain’t looking for my release just yet.  I have no idea how long I will have to stay but God being my helper; I will try to fill my mission.  God sent us here to do a work and I believe if we put our trust in him we will accomplish that work but it takes a firm resolution and the spirit of God to back it.  For it is no joke I assure you.  It is plenty to make a weak heart beat a hasty retreat.  My likenesses cost $2 for three.  I believe I answered this before.

You wanted to know about the baby.  She was born January the 27th.  She weighed 9 ½ lbs. Her hair is dark, her eyes are blue.  You say you feel sometimes that you haven’t a friend on earth.  Have I ever failed to take you to my bosom and with a sweet kiss bring back a smile and remove sorrow from your heart and place joy and love in its place?  Have I ever given you cause to lose confidence in me?  If not, trust me until I do and you will find in me a true friend.

Give my respects to all and kiss our little girl for me.  Goodbye, God bless you and help you to do right is the earnest prayer of your affectionate husband and father.

Alexander Bills

I forgot the name, so here it is, “Ella Myrtle.”

March 12th 1883
Turkey Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well with the exception of a little cold.  I hope when this reaches you it will find you all well.

Brothers Clayton and White came to Burke on the 6th and it was thought best that Brother White and myself take a trip into the big mountains.  So we started the 7th and have traveled though some of the roughest country I believe that people ever lived in.  The mountains are very high ad covered with heavy timber.  The mountains are cut up terribly with gulches and hollows, the people live all over them and in the gulches and farm all over the steep mountains in amongst rocks, stumps, and trees.  I tell you there are some hard cases here; imagine people living with pigs, dogs, and fowl.  But that ain’t the worst, I guess I will quit on that subject for it looks too bad, but nevertheless it is true.  To make a joke of, pity the fate of a poor tramp.

We have held two meetings on this trip so far.  One yesterday and one the day before in different place.  We had our appointment for yesterday at a school house, so yesterday morning we started to fill the appointment, but before we reached the house we were stopped and told that there were two padlocks on the house to keep us from preaching in it.  But that didn’t hinder us from preaching for we went to a private house and held meeting.  Some has an idea they meant to harm us, but as I told them in meeting, we hadn’t come to please man neither did we depend upon man but we came trusting in the Lord and sought to please him.  And told them if they ever got salvation it would be obeying this gospel that we are teaching.  Give them to understand the necessity of revelation and told them to repent of their sins and turn to the Lord that they might be saved.
We stopped at a house a few nights ago and there was a surveyor stopped at the same place.  We talked and sung awhile then he and I got into a conversation.  The rest go tired and went to bed and left us by the fireplace talking.  We talked till about midnight when he said, he guesses he would go to bed.  He told me where he lived and invited me to call on him if I ever came that way.  He told the woman next morning that he thought well of me and liked my talk and would like to hear me again.

I haven’t had any mail for some time and it will be several days yet before I get any for we expect to travel through a portion of one or two counties besides this before returning to Burke County.  You know our duty is to preach the gospel and warn the wicked and ungodly to flee from the wrath of God by yielding obedience to his laws and commandments.  We have to take things just about as they come; you know Paul said, “Eat what is set before you and say nothing for science sake.”  I don’t know as we do it for conscience sake but for life sake.
 

Give my love to all.  Goodbye, God bless you and help you to do right is the daily petition of your husband and father.

Alexander Bills

March 20th 1883
North Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I again take my pen in hand to inform you of my welfare.  I am well at present and hope when this comes to hand it will find all well with you.  Since I wrote you last I have traveled through a portion of three counties and am now on my way back to Burke County with a light heart hoping to soon get my mail for I haven’t been able to get any for about three weeks.

We have held three meetings on this trip and have done considerable fireside preaching and singing.  My partner is no better at singing than I am so don’t laugh because I said we sing.  The people think we can do most anything and we couldn’t well get out of it so we dig right in.  Sometimes I would lead and sometimes my partner and they think we do fine and I guess we do or at least it will do where there are no singers.  It might make a singer laugh to hear us.

Remember me kindly to all the folks and excuse a short letter for it is too dark to write and I have been traveling through the mountains nearly all day.  I saw a peach tree in bloom two days ago.  Here is a piece of mica as it is dug out of the earth.

Direct your letters the same as usual to Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C., unless I say different.  Do right and live near to the Lord that your prayers may be answered and may the Lord bless and protect you from all evil and spare your lives to again behold the fact of your husband and father.

Alexander Bills

 

March 26th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I answer your welcome letter that came to hand about 2 hours ago.  I was pleased to hear that you were all well but sorry to hear of John’s death.  I feel to sympathize with his family and friends.  It is a great trial for us to lose a husband, a father, a brother or friend, but do we really lose them?  Let us examine the Apostle Paul in speaking to the Saints.  I would not have you to be ignorant brethren, concerning those that are asleep; that you sorrow not as other’s do that have no hope, “For said he, when Christ descends from heaven with a shout with the trump of an arch angel the dead in Christ shall rise first and we that live till he comes will be caught up with them to meet the Lord.”  Well, says one, “What is to be done with the other party that does wrong?”  Christ says, marvel not for the hour is coming when all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth, those that have done good to the resurrection of life and those that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.:  John the 5th Chapter 28-28 verses.

Therefore, let us not think that those that die in Christ are lost, for as by one man come death, so else by one come life.  Thus came the saying, “Oh, death, where is thy sting, Oh grave where is thy victory, for death is swallowed up in the victory of Christ.”

Since I last wrote I have got back into Burke County.  The next day after I wrote I walked about 25 miles; the last 15 miles alone through the mountains and timber.  I got lost on my way and traveled about 5 miles in the wrong direction thus making me in the night reaching the point that I was making for I had a large river to cross just before arriving at my stopping point.  I came to the river after dark.  I was alone and did not understand poling a batoo as I had never tried one but once before and again there were rocks close to the surface of the water in places and the batoo had been capsized on them and drowned some niggers awhile back so I had heard.  I had my choice, lay out the remainder of the night or unchain the batoo and try my hand at poling.  I soon came to the conclusion that I was working for the Lord and if I did my part I would receive the necessary assistance.  So I got into the batoo, unfastened it and started across; had a nice moonlight voyage, landed safe, tied the batoo and went on my rejoicing but very tired.

I expect to soon change my field of labor to another part of this state but it may be two or three weeks as I have some appointments to fill before leaving.

We walked 4 miles yesterday through a snow storm; held meeting at 11 a.m. in an old log school house with two door holes, but no door and the chinking partly out.  The wind and snow jus whistled in. Our words would nearly freeze before reaching the hearers.  We have to labor under a great many disagreeable circumstances and we do it with satisfaction knowing it is for the salvation of those that obey and if we are faithful for our exaltation.

After meeting, we walked 7 miles.  It still continued to snow very hard.  It snowed all last night and part of today.  I walked 7 miles today through snow about a foot deep in order to assist some of the Saints in starting from here this morning for Utah.  Ephriam Branche and sons are the ones that left here this morning for our country.

Remember me kindly to all your folks.  I trust that the blessings of the Lord will be with you to enable you to do right and enjoy good health and peace and contentment of mind and feel happy and cheerful in your labors is the prayer of your true and well wishing husband.

Save me some sweet kisses for I expect to come home sometime, maybe a year from next fall.  Is that too soon?  Excuse all mistakes for I have written this on my knee.
 

A good kind wife, with a good kind heart with several little children, has a good start.  Excuse foolishness and consider the source from whence it came.

Yours truly,

April 2nd 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I pen you a few lines to let you know of my welfare.  I have a very bad cold at present.  The weather has been so changeable lately; it is very unhealthy.  It is quite cool here at present.  We had a very heavy rain Friday and Saturday.  It makes it disagreeable traveling.  I had to pull my boots and socks off yesterday and wade across one large creek on the foot log.  The water had raised so that it overflowed the logs.

A missionary’s life is well missed up with trials and curiosities.  The bitter must be tasted in order to appreciate the sweet.  This is a splendid place to get the bitter that is in my way of thinking but I don’t wish to grumble.  My duty is to fill this mission and keep myself free from the wickedness by which I am surrounded.  There is great work for the Elders of the church to do.  Little do a great many of us realize our true position and the work that we should be preparing ourselves to accomplish.  We have to pass through a great many trials in preaching the gospel but what are we laboring for?  We are laboring for the souls of our fellow man that they might know the way of life.  And as the scripture says, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel and bring glad tidings of good things.  “Woe unto those that reject the servants of God and the gospel that they teach for they are not only rejecting men but they are rejecting the council of God against themselves.”

On my trip through the big mountains a couple of weeks ago, I think I made some few friends as they were very anxious to have me come back.  I didn’t know than as I would ever go back.  Some of them wanted me to promise to send my likeness to them if I couldn’t bet back, but since then I have got word to go back there and labor.  I expect to go back if all is well in about two weeks.  It is a very rough place, the mountains are very high.  There are no wagons there to speak of.  I haven’t had but one ride since I arrived here and that was one mile on horseback.  So you see I haven’t worn my pants out in the seat riding.  But I have worn them out on these rough hickory bottom chairs.  I guess your father and mother have seen many a hickory bottom chair; well, they are hard on the sit down anyhow.

Give my kind regards to all your folks.  Tell Tom Neel to prepare himself for a mission.  I would be pleased to travel with him.

Kiss Lilly for me.  May the peace of heaven be with you all and help you to do right is the earnest prayer of your husband and father.

Alexander Bills

You thought I was awful quick to chastise you.  You know the scripture says, “He that the Lord loveth, He chastiseth.”

Goodbye dear wife and child that render life so sweet
Dry up your tears; be faithful till we again shall meet.
 

April 4th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills

Dear Wife:

I posted a letter to you yesterday and also received one from you.  I don’t think I put my direction in your letter.  I expect to be in my new field when this is answered.

I am going to Morganton this morning to get some summer clothes as there is no clothing store where I expect to labor this summer and I don’t know as there is much of anything else except corn and bacon.

You spoke of going up where Maney is; you have already got my opinion on that.

Stay at your mother’s or at home; take care of yourself and don’t be taking medicine unless you know what you are taking.  Do right, humble yourself before the Lord in faith and he will heal you, but be sober, live near to the Lord and be obedient to my counsel.

God bless you from your affectionate husband.

Alexander Bills

Here is my P.O. office address:  North Cove, McDowell County, North Carolina

April 9th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills
Pecoa, Summit Co., Utah Territory

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I answer your welcome letter of the 2nd that came to hand today.  I was pleased to hear from you and thankful to hear that all was well as I am happy to say this leaves me in fair health and spirits and with a strong desire to accomplish the work I was sent here to do.

I love my family as I love my life for they are my life.  My joy and my hope both in this life and in the life or change to come for it is not another life but a change of the body from mortal to immortal.  But it is the same life, the same spirit that gives life to the same body after the body has been raised from corruption to incorruption and from mortality to immortality.

But dear wife, it is necessary for to seek first the kingdom of God or the mind and will of God.  And when we have found it then it is our duty to comply with the requirements of the same; that is if we wish to obtain eternal life according to the way I understand the gospel of Christ.  And the different degrees of glories and the way we have to live to attain to each of them.

It appears to me that a great many if they ever attain to any glory at all, it will be the very lowest.  Don’t think that I am trying to judge the people for that is not my business.  But I hear and see so much of their wickedness and damnable practices that it warms my blood up sometimes.  And then for them to talk about polygamy and the poor deluded Mormons, I will tell you it grinds.  But we have got to take their scoffs and scorns and their abuse.    But remember, he that endureth to the end the same shall be saved.

You know Rachel that I have a little blood that is easily riled and when we are traveling and tired and trying to do the people good and teach them the truth.  And then to be slurred and made fun of as we pass them, it looks hard.  But may God forgive those that do this ignorantly and enable them to see the truth is all the harm that I wish them.  It is now dark; I will finish this in the morning.

“Good Morning, Rachel.”

I will now finish your letter as light has once more appeared.  It has been raining very hard yesterday and last night and is still cloudy.  You spoke of my living on corn and bacon yet.  Yes, that is the main living; we get wheat bread occasionally here in Burke.  But I will be off for my new field on Monday if all is well and then the chance of wheat is slim.  But I wouldn’t mind it so much if it was clean.  Never mind there is a good time coming.

I hope you and Caty will keep up a correspondence with each other.  Remember charity and be kind and do as you would wish to be done by.

You said you would feel better if you could earn some money.  Are you in need of anything?  If so, let me know.  Don’t worry about me for I am in God’s service and he is able to bring me safe back to my family after my work is completed here.

You have my faith and prayers and love.  Obey my counsel no matter what others say.  Be a good and faithful wife, leave off all light mindedness; be sober and seek the spirit of God.  May the peace of heaven rest upon you and keep you from all harm and danger and enable you to do right, is the daily petition of your true and loving husband.

Alexander Bills

Remember me kindly to all of your folks.  Kiss my little girl for me and let the big one go unkissed till I come and I assure you I will do it up satisfactory.

Note:  Yes, I went through Echo Canyon.

April 16th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co., UT

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know of my welfare and my whereabouts and so on.

I am at Brother Branche’s.  I came here yesterday to fill an appointment but there was only two or three come, so we didn’t hold meeting.  I expected to start this morning for my new field but it rained so hard last night and this morning that I gave up the notion and went to writing.  I will start tomorrow morning if the Lord permits.

I am feeling first rate in my labors and have no desire to return home until I feel satisfied that my mission is complete.  Then I can return with a clear conscience and Oh how happy a person feels with a clear conscience.  And to have the spirit of the Lord bearing testimony to us that our labors are accepted of him.  There is joy and satisfaction in this labor providing we get the spirit of our mission.  But if we do not, it is an uphill business and ten chances to one they will return home without accomplishing the work the Lord required at their hands.  It is most assuredly a trial that can be felt in every nerve; a trial that I wouldn’t endure for money.  But I am pleased to endure it for the salvation of souls and for our future happiness.

On the 23rd day of March, I assisted to baptize five persons.  Last Saturday, I baptized two.  I hope by the help of the Lord that I will be able to do good work and in due time return to my dear family and friends and find all well and in peace.

It is six months today since I left my dear family in tears.  “Oh, who can describe the feelings of such a parting?”  Never before had I experienced or felt the keenness of a parting as I did at that time.  Every nerve seemed to have all they could bear.  To take a man’s family from him, it is like taking his life.  But let us be faithful for we will receive our reward for all that we to pass through for the gospels sake.  I don’t know as I will hardly know my family if I am gone from them two years.

Some of the folks here think Lilly is the prettiest little girl they ever saw.

We have had considerable rain here lately and a terrible hailstorm.  The hail was the biggest I ever saw.  I saw some as big as pigeon eggs, others said, they saw them bigger.  They came down on the house like rocks.  Brother Belnap and I was on the wrong side of the creek and in order to get on the right side, we had to unstrip or partly so and wade across on a log that was across the creek and it was covered between two and three feet deep with water and there were several feet of water under it.  So you see if we had made a misstep, we would had to sink or swim.

Remember me kindly to all.  May God bless you all in doing right is the prayer of your husband and father.

Alexander Bills

Here is a North Carolina song.  I will probably send the tune some other time or fetch it.
 

 

 

April 25th 1883
Turkey Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co., UT

Dear Wife:

I now take this opportunity of penning you a few lines to let you know of my welfare.  I am well at present and hope when this comes to hand it will find you all enjoying the same like blessing.

I left Burke a week ago yesterday and traveled 20 miles and met my partner, Brother White, in North Cove; that was on Tuesday or Wednesday.  I laid off land for planting corn with a mule and a little bull tongue plow, Thursday.  I planted corn till noon, covered corn part of the afternoon and the other part helped prune the orchard.  Friday, walked 7 miles and carried one of my valises part of the way.  Saturday, Sunday, held meeting, Monday, we went to Mr. Schisms and stayed all night.  I had a little set-to with the girls on celestial marriage.  The old lady is a Mormon as they term us here but none of the rest of the family have joined.  Tuesday afternoon we came to Mr. Holyfield and helped him roll logs till night.  Stayed with him all night and am now writing to you from here.

I didn’t get any mail last week on account of my changing and I don’t expect that I can get my mail as regular here as I did in Burke.  And I don’t know as I will be able to post letters as regular so don’t think that I have forgotten you if you don’t get a letter every week.  But I will do the best I can for you under the present circumstances and when I come home, the probabilities are that I can do better.  Now don’t attach anything bad to this for I mean well.  I will feel thankful to the Lord when my work is finished in this land.  Not that I wish to shrink from my duty but it is heart aching and discouraging to see the corrupt actions of the people.  I sometimes think that there is no virtue in this state, but I won’t say hardly that bad.

Well dear wife, be patient and keep in good spirits and don’t feel down-hearted and try to pass off the time in doing good.  Be kind to mother and do all you can for her and your leisure moments spent in reading something is good and that will be useful to you.  Do you read any story papers or books?  If you do, I hope you will listen to me and quit reading any trash.

I have got to lead our singing now I guess as my partner can’t follow a tune and it is as much as a bargain for me too.  It is no joke I tell you, this is the tightest place that I ever got into, but by the help of the Lord, I’ll try to do my duty.  We have a large field here to labor in.  We travel over a portion of three counties and they are situated in the midst of large high mountains.  Now I would like to see some level country once more, it is almost like being in jail here.  There is no getting out of this timber and mountains without leaving this state.

I leave it sometimes in my sleep and go over and see you and take what kisses I can carry and hurry back before day.

Give my regards to father and mother, Wriley and Lady, Thomas and Analiza and John’s family.  And may the spirit of the Lord be with you to enable you to do right is the earnest prayer of your loving husband.

Alexander Bills

(Notes in Letter)

Here is my card.  Call on me whenever you can.  The last word of the name was put wrong, it is ¬a instead of s.
Take no notice of the heading of my letters, that is to direct from me.  But direct all my mail to North Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

I attended to the colt last spring.

 

April the 26th

I am now at the Post Office and have just read two letters from your sweet hands. I have no time to write anymore.  I have just walked 6 miles.  I am pleased to hear all is well.  I would be as pleased as you would be to have your arms around my neck.  I am pleased that you are saving all your love for me. God bless you, goodbye for the present.

May 2nd 1883
North Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co., UT

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I answer your welcome letters that came to hand last Thursday.  I spoke in my last letter about receiving them.  I was pleased to hear from you as I haven’t heard for two weeks.  I was pleased to hear that all was well and more than pleased to hear your desires were to do right and remember my counsel and obey me.

So you think you would like to be a missionary as long as you could be my companion to help me sing and so on.  God bless you, I would be pleased to have you with me but you could not stand the fare and hardships that we have to endure.  I have stood a great many hardships with the sheep but they would be pleasant compared with some that I have experienced here.  But thank God with his assistance I have thus far tried to do my duty and with a continuation of his spirit I will try to fill my mission to the best of my ability and hope to return to you in honor, with clean hands and a pure heart for God knows I don’t want any stain on my hands or character.

I would rather my body would molder in the dust of North Carolina than to return in dishonor and bring reproach upon my dear family. Oh, I would to God that all could see the necessity of doing right and keeping the commandments of God and being virtuous and also clean.

We held meeting last Sunday where we had never held before.  We held in a private home.  The home was very poor but the family had it decorated nicely with flowers.  There was a table in the room with a large bible and prayer book on it and a nice bouquet of flowers on each end of the table.

We commenced our meeting by singing, “Ye Elders of Israel.”  Brother White offered prayer; we continued by singing, “Come All Ye Sons of Zion.”  I then spoke for a few minutes upon the personality of God as a great many here believe in a God without a body or parts.  I referred them to different passages of scripture to substantiate what I said.  I wound up on the first principles of the gospel, Brother White followed.  We closed by singing “Do What is Right.”  Benediction by yours truly.

Mother said for me to keep in good heart.  Tell her I will do the best I can toward it and for her to be careful of her health and not do too much work.  And tell Rachel, to be a good girl and help her all she can and not be cross.  I was the last man you kissed and I will be the first, so you say.  Well, I think I will be prepared to take them all, so hold to them.

No, the Seventies have not sent me anything.  I have had no money sent to me, only from you.  It is big George that is called on a mission.  My health is good with the exception of a pain in my breast that has been bothering me for a few days.  It feels some better this morning.  I think it is caused from so much damp weather; it is very hard on the lungs here.

Remember me kindly to all.  Kiss my little girl for me.  May God bless you and help you to do right is the earnest prayer of

Alexander Bills

My partner has too many tunes to one hymn and the same strain to all.  So I do the leading; it is rather hard on me but I am willing to do all I can.  And I hope you will live near to the Lord that you may assist me with your faith and prayers and you cannot do this without being honest and sincere.

I will put some lilies in this letter to scent it for you.  The girls carry them here to make them smell sweet.  I am going to the office tomorrow if all is well.

 

 

May 8th 1883
North Toe River, Mitchell Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co., UT

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I take my pen in hand to answer your welcome letter that came to hand last Thursday.  I was pleased to hear that you were all well and desiring to do right.  It pleases me to hear you say even by letter that you are willing to listen to my counsel and live as near right as you can.

We have considerable traveling to do, rather too much I think.  It is very warm here; it nearly melts us climbing these mountains.  I am about as light as I generally get, I only weigh 150 pounds or a trifle over.

We held meeting last Sunday in Cedar Cove situated in a deep hollow or gulch with large rocky mountains on each side.  The land they till if it can be called land; is so thickly covered with rock that they have to pile them up in big piles around in the field and then it is almost a match to get enough soil to cover the corn.  I have heard tell of people carrying the soil around to make hills for corn.  It may be fiction but some of their farming here is the next thing to it.

Yesterday, we visited what is called the Linville Falls.  The mountain on one side of the falls is not very high but the side we were on was high and steep and is covered with laurel and timber.  The face of the mountain looks almost like solid rock.

We found it quite steep and rough in descending the mountain.  We wound around through the brush and over rocks until we got within about 100 feet of the falls where we had a nice view of them.  Before the water reaches the falls, it runs almost like lightning through the rocks and above and is all of a foam when it reaches the top of the fall.  Then it falls about 50 feet straight down; it falls with such force that the water is scattered in every direction  We were 100 feet or more from them and the water dropped around us like a mist of rain.  It was a grand sight but I must say it made me feel a little lonesome.

This is a rough, hard country but I believe some of the people are worse than the country.  There are a great many diseased through their cursed work.  I sometimes feel that I would be pleased to get away from amongst them, but I did not come here for pleasure, I came here to fulfill a mission, to teach the gospel of Christ and God being my strength, I will fill it to the best of my ability.  And hope you will all do right at home, so that when I have completed my labors here we can all meet without any guilt or stain on our conscience.  What joy and satisfaction it is to us although we may be a long way a part to have full confidence in each other.

Remember me kindly to all of your folks.  Kiss my little lady for me.  May the spirit of the Lord rest with you to keep you from all danger, sickness and distress, and help you to do right and accomplish good is the daily petition of your ever loving husband.

Alexander Bills

I expect to get back to the Post Office again Thursday to get my mail and post my letters.  We have to write whenever we can and wherever time permits.  Remember my address – North Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

May 10th 1883
North Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

Dear Wife:

I thought I would say another word or two this morning.  I arrived here yesterday.  I have traveled over some rough country since I wrote in Mitchell and done a heap of sweating.  I feel tolerable this morning with the exception of a large boil on my neck which bothers me terrible.  My partner says I must remember Job had boils.  I am now waiting for the mail.  It only comes on Thursdays.  Post your letters on Tuesday if you can and that will give them a little over a week to come.  For you know it ain’t pleasant to walk 14 miles and get no mail.  Give me all the news you can every time you write.

Read the last chapter of Proverbs; also First Timothy, 2nd Chapter, more particular from 9th verse to the end of the chapter.  Goodbye for the present.

Yours truly,

Alexander Bills

May 15th 1883
Yancy Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I answer your welcome letter that came to hand last Thursday, the 10th.  I was pleased to hear that all was well.  It gives me joy to hear good news from home and to hear from your pen; that you mean to do as near right as possible.  I am well at this time and am trying to do my duty and I hope to be faithful and true to my calling and to my Heavenly Father, and my family.

Satan appears to be arousing up his emissaries in this part.  A few days ago in Burke, the Elders expected to hold a meeting at Brother Foxes on Sunday afternoon; so they took dinner a short distance from his place.  While at dinner, the Elders received a notice to get out of that vicinity in a short time and that they would not allow them to hold their meeting.  The Elders took no notice of it, but started to fill their appointment but had not gone far before they saw what they term here a deal fall, not far ahead in the shape of ten or twelve niggers and whites.  What shall I call them, emissaries of Satan, armed and ready for business?  The Elders retraced their steps (in time to escape them) to the house they had just left.  Late in the evening they started across lots through the woods for Sigmanburg thinking to escape the mob but the mob was on the lookout and followed them, but in the dark they lost track of them and the Elders also lost their way and stayed in an old school house all night.  They arrived early Monday morning at Sigmanburg, safe.

We expect to hold meeting in Yancy next Sunday if the Lord permits.  We understand that a mob expects to meet us there to teach us a lesson.  We will be pleased to meet them; we like good turnouts at meetings.  We will try and teach them a better way to serve God than to mob and persecute his servants.  We are not trusting in men, neither do we fear them; in this respect the Lord will overrule all for the best good of his children if they will obey him and keep his commandments.

(Note, he did not finish or sign this)

May 27th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills
Summit Co., UT

Dear Wife:

Feeling grateful for this opportunity of penning you a few lines in answer to your kind favor of last month which came duly to hand and was read with pleasure and satisfaction.  I also feel with you in regard to the time seeming long between our letters and would like to write oftener but could not very well as we are doing considerable traveling.  And since writing two weeks ago, we have been over through Rutherford and one end of McDowell counties.  Had a very fair trip considering the prejudice and lies that were afloat in those parts.

I am in hope the seeds that we have sown will spring up and in due time bring forth good and wholesome fruit.  It is quite a task to remove prejudice from the breasts of the people for we have been so misrepresented that the people are afraid to even investigate and if they feel inclined to investigate, their ministers will do all they can to prevent them from doing so.

They remind me of the saying of the Savior which reads thus, “Oh, ye hypocrites, ye seal up the heavens against the children of men.”  You will not go in yourselves, neither will you let those enter that would go.  They are honoring the Lord with their lips but their hearts are far from him.  They are teaching for doctrine the commandments of men.  They are laying aside the commandments of God and they are cleaving to the traditions of en and as Paul says, in second Timothy, 3rd chapter, “They have a form of Godliness, but they deny the power thereof,” and also Titus, 1st chapter, “They profess that they know God but in their works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobates.”

We have only just returned from Rutherford and expect to start for McDowell this afternoon and from there we intend to go over intoYancy County.  We will be gone two or three weeks I expect, everything is in full blast.

Now about here; wheat is heading out, corn is up and the flies are bothering me so I can’t hardly write.  I had all the strawberries I could eat the other day; it is some earlier here than where you are.  I hope all is peace with you.  I guess the snow is all gone by this time and everything begins to look cheerful.  Don’t get discouraged but keep up a cheerful countenance for you know I will be with you after awhile to cheer your sad heart and bring new life to the tired and weary patience which you have been though those long weary months. Above all, keep the spirit of God with you and don’t neglect the duties that are devolving upon you.

Give my kind regards to father and mother, also to Tom and Analiza and Wriley and John’s folks and accept of my sincere love for yourself and my sweet little girl.  I will close praying God to bless and preserve your lives and keep you from harm, accident, and danger that we may meet in due time.

I am as ever your husband.

Alexander Bills

How is the colt?

 

May 30th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Dear Rachel:

You thought man’s love would be forgotten once in a busy world but a woman’s never.  Here is the verse you wrote me; I suppose it was your love.  It is very good but only lasts till death.  My love is in the poem called “Man’s Love.”  Examine it and see which is the deepest love and the most lasting.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander Bills

I have just got shingled.  So here is a lock of my hair to remember me by till I come home and if I don’t come.  I remain as ever your true and loving husband.

Alexander Bills

Send me a little lock of Lilly’s hair.

June 1st 1883
North Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I answer your welcome letter of the 9th that came to hand the 18th.  I was pleased to hear that you were all well, as I am happy to say this leaves me.  I will have to give you a short letter this time for I have just written a long one to father in answer to one that I received from his, the same time that I received yours.  It is the first one from him since I left home and I also have one to write to Caty after I get through this and it is late and they must be posted tomorrow

You wanted to know if I got pay for work.  No, we dig in and help when we have time.  The people are very poor and some of them live very hard and, of course, we have to take it with them.

But that we are able to stand all this and their lies and abuse and persecution too, for the truth, that is if we have the spirit of our calling.  I am now traveling alone for a couple of weeks.  I baptized a young lady last Sunday; had quite a number of spectators to see an awful Mormon baptize.  They tell some of the most unreasonable lies about us that ever was told but the Bible says, “Do good for evil, bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you.”  Our motto is peace and goodwill to man.  We need not love our enemies enough to stoop to their level but try to raise them to ours.  That is if our level is not below what it should be.

You wanted me to direct your letters to you if you went home; I will do so.  But Oh, Rachel, be careful of each other’s feelings.  Suffer wrong rather than do wrong.  Do not give any room for talk.

May God bless you and protect you from all evil and lead you into the path of virtue is the earnest prayer of your true and loving husband.

Alexander Bills

Kiss Lilly for me.

June 8th 1883
North Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I take my pen in hand to say a few words in answer to your kind letters that came to hand yesterday and day before, two weeks mail at once.  I cannot get my mail regular as I cannot get to the office.  I was pleased with your letters; it appears that you mean to do right and listen to a husband’s warning voice.

Oh, how pleased I will be to see you take a straight forward course and leave off all folly and language, do not blackguard.  Oh, Rachel, be prudent and careful.  Be kind at home and abroad, do good wherever you can but never allow yourself to become so entangled with any class that you will get a bad name; or drink into the same spirit which they themselves possess.  I hope you will understand me.  I hope to meet you when my labors in this land are completed as a man of God, with a clear conscience.  And I hope this will be so with you.  I entertain no fears but what it will be.  And then, Oh then, who can describe the joy of a Mormon missionary boy.

Do as you please about staying home or at your mother’s.  My home is your home as much so as the rest and the rest as much as yours and we should be united.  I do not want you to be running around to every place people ask you to.  You don’t interfere with anybody’s affairs.  Tend to your own business and mine, when you can conveniently in a proper manner.

My opinion is that you will do better and feel more to home at your mother’s until I return.  If you intend to go back to your mother’s, I think you can get a cow and calf reasonable.  You can get the money from Will, and a cow; one that will make a good milk cow.  Stock appears to be getting higher from what I can learn.  So I think it will be well if you can have her taken care of without being too burdensome on your people, alright?  Either stay at home or your mother’s and don’t make any blunders.

Remember me kindly to father, mother, and all my brothers and sisters and friends.  If you see anyone grumbling because I don’t write, tell them I am so busy that I am thinking of writing only once in two weeks to you and Caty.  It is awfully warm climbing these mountains.  My clothes were so wet with sweat last night with yesterday’s walk that they were still wet this morning.

I will have to close.  May God bless you dear one with every needful and necessary blessing and enable you to do right is the earnest prayer from the heart of your lovin husband.

Alexander Bills

Kiss little May for me.  I was pleased to get a look at her sweet little hair.  Can’t forget the words, “That I was the last man you kissed and would be the first.” 

Note:  Here is a green heart.
 

June 15th 1883
North Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

R.C. Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I again take my pen in hand to answer your welcome letter that came to hand yesterday.  I was pleased to hear from you but sorry to hear that Lilly was sick.  I hope she is better.

You must be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God and do your duty so that you can call upon the Lord in faith for those blessing which are necessary for you to receive.  How happy and pleased I would be to see my little family agree and realize the weight of their calling, not only because I want you to do right and live in peace, but I want you to have a testimony of these things and know for yourselves that those principles that you have embraced are of God and do these things because you know them to be true.

Our whole duty is to serve God and keep his commandments.  We should love to do right.  We should love to live in peace and try to make each other happy.  And when we do this, it is bound to bring joy and satisfaction to us.  There is no true happiness and enjoyment that will last except it comes through yielding obedience to the requirements of the gospel of Christ for they are pure from beginning to end.

I will now finish your letter as it was too late Saturday night and no light but the fireplace.

And any person that will live up to them will receive more peace and contentment of mind than any person can possibly do.  On the other hand, although we may be severely tried, we may be persecuted and have our rights trampled upon.  Yet there is the sweet peaceful influence of the spirit of God burning without our bosoms and whispering be faithful and your salvation is sure, no power on earth nor in Hell can rob us of it for it is the free gift of God to his children that obey him.

My little family is my hope and my pride.  They are the richest blessing that God has bestowed upon me, together with the light of the gospel.  For our family ties are completed together with God’s revealed will to man.  And without our families our salvation would not be complete.  Neither can we attain to the fullness of the higher glory without obeying the higher law.  These are principles that are often made light of and trampled under feet and that to, by those that profess to be Saints that ought to uphold and sustain them even with their lives if necessary.  But are these things to always continue so?  No, they will not.  We cannot serve God and man and the time will come (and has already in part) that all will have an opportunity of showing their colors.  There appears to be too many trying to hide their wicked and evil deeds under the cloak of religion.  But this will never do, they cannot always hide them under a cloak, it will take the pure in heart to face the storm.

Brother Farmer and I expect to hold meeting tomorrow in Yancy County.  And a week from tomorrow we expect to go and fill our appointment in the new part where the Mormons have never preached yet.  I hope that I will have the unceasing faith and prayers of my family and of the Saints.  For I feel without the spirit of God to strengthen me, that I am not able to accomplish the work that is required of me in a proper manner.  But with the assistance of the spirit of God, I will try to faithfully discharge the labors assigned me.

I dreamed last night my mission was ended or at least I was coming down the hill by the meeting house and you and Caty saw me and both came together to meet me.  “Oh, the joy that filled my bosom is impossible to express!”  I trust that we will all be true to each other.  True to our calling and be permitted to meet with the same pleasant feeling that filled my bosom last night is the earnest prayer of your husband.  As ever remember me kindly to friends and my relatives.  I will write to mother as soon as I can.

Alexander Bills

June 27th 1883
Georges Fork, Yancy Co.,  Burnsville District, N.C.

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I take my pen in hand to say a few words.  I am tired as we have walked 15 miles today through the mountains and have just eaten a bite of dinner and thought I would take time to write you a few lines.  We have been traveling in a strange country lately where a Mormon Elder was never seen before us.

Yesterday about noon, we met up with an old gentleman, a free-will Baptist, and is generally known by the name of Big Tom Willson.  We told him where we were from and our business here.  Well, said he “You look like young chaps for ministers, that fellow said; he (pointing at Brother Farmer) can’t preach.”  And looking at me, he said “You may do a little,” and then he busted out in a big laugh and said “come go up to the house and take dinner with me anyway.

We accepted the offer with thanks.  We went to the house and again at dinner time I had the old fellow pretty well wound up.  After dinner I wound him up so tight that he quit and said, “Mister, you are too smart for me.”  I asked him what the change was for us to stop over night as we didn’t wish to go any further up the river.  Well, he said, “if you stop you will have to preach to us.”  I told him, we were ready and to gather a crowd.”  I’ll do it, he said, “I am going down now to the store to give in my taxes and I will gather a crowd.”

When he got to the store, there was a huge crowd there and he told them that he wanted them to go up to his house and hear a couple of Mormons preach.  Most of them were anxious to hear us.  But one man railed out considerable against us.  Well, said Big Tom, “Go and hear them and cut them off right up to their knees, right square off if you can, I can’t do anything with them, too smart for me.”  I have asked them all I know and they answered me from the Bible.  Our preachers, he said, tell us that we can’t fall from grace after we have received it.  But, he said, “One of them Mormon’s showed me a passage and read it to me and he will read it to you, or show it to you and you can read it for yourselves, that will knock that all to pieces”.  Yes, said the other man “I know they are smart, they are well-read.  There is no use to try to head them on the scriptures.”  Well, says Tom, “By thunder if they preach the scriptures we can’t get around it.”

Well, there was a good many coming to hear us but it clouded up and looked very stormy so they didn’t come. We talked till late in the evening.  He then wished me to pray.  I read the first chapter of Galatians and prayed and went to bed.  We slept in an adjoining room from him, but our beds were both against the partition wall so we could hear very well what was said.  He was talking to his wife about us.  He says, “Them fellows has got the right foundation.  They have got the Bible on their side and there is no use trying to overthrow them” For I tell you, he says, “That one feller is smart, there is no use talking.”

Before leaving him, he wanted me to read him that passage again that showed that a man could fall from grace.  So I read it and put it down on a piece of paper for him.  And he said, “Oh, if I just knowed the bible like you do, I would cut them up, (meaning their preachers.)”  We partly promised to write to him in August and let him give out an appointment for us and we would go and fill it.

Well, you see the old man changed his opinion about us boys as he termed us, from the time we met till we parted.  The Lord, is ready to help us if we will help ourselves.

Remember me kindly to all my folks and friends.  Let Caty read this as I wrote her a letter a few days before this.  I will close by saying “Do right and keep yourself pure that you may have the spirit of the Lord to direct you in all things” is the prayer of your husband.  As ever.

Alexander Bills

Remember that I can’t write and post letters whenever I please.  So if I miss, have patience till the next time.
 

 

July 9th 1883
North Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

R.C. Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I answer your welcome letters that came to hand Saturday.  I was pleased to hear that you and daughter were both well.  We was without our mail a little over three weeks so it was quite a treat to get it.  I got eight letters; one from James Beddo in answer to one I wrote early last spring.  He said, they were well and that’s about all there was in it. Maney, didn’t even send her regards.

We held meeting here yesterday.  Had tolerable fair turnout.  It is the first meeting we have held since we have returned from our trip.  We enjoyed ourselves tolerable fair considering our circumstances in the midst of strangers.  We understood that they mean to stop us from preaching but we held our meeting and had a big turnout and no one disturbed us.  But that was our first meeting in that part.  We don’t know how they will take it the next.

There appears to be a considerable excitement in some parts of the southern states.  I suppose you saw the account in the paper of that young man getting shot at and stomped.  So in Georgia, they have been after some of the Elders; in Tennessee, and also in this state.  Two of the Elders that traveled in Burke, the same time that I did, and traveled together some of the time, they left Burke about the same time I did and went into Belaford County adjoining Burke.  I heard from them Saturday.  They had to leave Belaford, or be tarred and feathered by a blood-thirsty mob.

It appears that Satan is doing his best to overthrow the work of the Lord and I suppose everything that can be shaken will be for the time seems to be drawing nigh for the judgments of God to lay waste some of these states for they are about as corrupt as Satan wants them.

It stands us in hand to be wide awake to our duties and if we are going to serve God, let us serve him in spirit and in truth and be what we profess to be.  The time is nigh when we will have to show our true colors.  We cannot serve God and mammon.  I have hard people talk about me being just about on the stand still.  I tell you there isn’t much stand still to my notion.  A person is generally moving slowly along or slowly backward and some not so very slow either.  I tell you there is some sickening cases here in this part. Virtue I think would be a rare jewel around here.

We stopped at a place the other night were we were acquainted and there was a man there being doctored for a disease that he had caught; he was a man with a family too.  But that is nothing new in this country; they don’t appear to think anything of their wicked and corrupt practices.

There was a white woman here had a yellow or a half-breed nigger baby a few days ago so I understand; she was a married woman too.  I was told she tried to screen herself in this way.  About nine months before the child was born there was a negro staying with them and the man had the bowel complaints and had to get up and go out very often during the night and she said if it was a Negro child, the Negro had crawled into bed with her while her man was out and she didn’t know but what it was her man.  I thought of all the excuses I every heard that one beat them all.

I was pleased the way you wrote and I don’t only want it printed on paper with ink, but I want those things you spoke of imprinted on your heart so you will remember them and do them.

We expect to hold meeting in Yancy next Sunday and then start for conference. We are going a foot; it will be about 240 or 250 miles there and back.  It will be a warm walk and right in the warmest part of the season.  I may be able to spend your quarter for corn bread before I get through.  It is a long road and we don’t know the way, as we inquire through these rugged mountains and timber.

Remember me kindly to father and mother, brother and sisters and all friends and to your folks when you write.  Kiss Lilly for me.  May the spirit of the Lord be your daily companion is the earnest prayer of,

Yours truly,

Alexander Bills

I spoke about sending me a song.  Never mind it.  I don’t want it now.  If you get that money from Will, do just as I told you with it and nothing else and send word how much there is of it.  I will get my next mail and then no more till in August, sometime before we get back.

July 17th 1883
North Fork, McDowell Co., N.C.

R.C. Bills

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I answer your welcome letters that came to hand yesterday.  I was pleased to hear that you and Lilly were well as I am pleased to say this also leaves me with the exception of being a little sore from a hard walk we had yesterday afternoon.  I changed partners with Brother White yesterday at 4 o’clock and we had 9 miles to go after that.  I had never been the route we had to take and Brother Christenson had been that was once but had forgotten the way and we took the wrong route and we had a long hard pull over the mountains and arrived at our point at dusk almost as wet as if we had swam the river; even my coat was wet right through with sweat and my shirt is not yet dry today.  Talk about warm weather; this is nearly melting here, we are now on our way to conference.  It is a long warm walk and it is still warmer the farther we go east as it is lower.  I will not be able to get any more mail until I return from conference and that will be sometime in August.

When you return home, do as you said, stay with your mother and don’t be running about.  I never could bear the idea of seeing my folks go gadding about and tattling.  I haven’t time to say much more at present.  I wrote to Nephi and Catherine a long while ago and haven’t received any answer yet

Remember me kindly to them.  Tell Nephi to remember me to his brother Joseph and family; also to Brother Krogue and H. Pearson.  How did him and Steward come out?  Also Louis Garf and Joe Nose?  I will have to close; excuse a short letter and bad writing for I ain’t in good shape for writing I am looking for Brothers White and Farmer here every minute and then we will continue our journey.

May God bless you with his holy spirit to guide you into all truth is the daily petition of your husband and father.  Never step aside from the path of truth and virtue. No, not even think of it.

Alexander Bills

Learn this bible piece by heart.

August 1st 1883
Jonesville, Yadkin Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills

Dear Sister:

With pleasure I drop you a few lines to let you know that I am still alive but very tired as I have walked 15 miles this forenoon and have just eaten dinner.  I received a letter from you two weeks ago tomorrow just as I started for the conference. I was pleased to hear that all was well and trying to do right.

I was pleased to hear that all was well and trying to do right.  Since I started to conference I have walked nearly 200 miles, waded several rivers and haven’t had but one ride and that was across the Arrarat River.  We had just prepared to wade it when a boy drove up with a little wagon and a little jinney hitched to it in shafts.  We got into the wagon and we all had a ride across and pretty near got stuck.  That is the only ride I have had on the trip and it was a jackass ride.

We held conference three days, two meetings each day.  The 4th day or forenoon of the 4th, we held a counsel meeting.  Let out at about 1 o’clock.  Walked 15 miles and held meeting that night.  You will see the minutes of our conference in the news.

I haven’t time to say much more.  We are now on our way back to our fields of labor and expect to arrive there in a week or a little over.  When the trip is completed I think we will have walked 300 miles.  It is wearing on a fellow but with the help of the Lord, I suppose we will come our right side up.

I hope you will be kind enough to excuse me for not writing last week for by looking over what I have done in the last two weeks you will see I have no spare time.  I feel like an old man in my joints and I don’t know what I will feel like when I get back.

Remember me kindly to your folks.  Be kind and do right.  May God bless you with his holy spirit to enable you to do right is the earnest prayer of your brother.

Alexander Bills

Direct my letters to South Toe, Yancy Co., N.C. and oblige your brother remember.

August 22nd 1883
South Toe, Yancy Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co., UT Territory

Dear Sister:

With pleasure I again seat myself to answer your welcome letter that came to hand last Thursday.  I was pleased to hear from you but sorry you had bad colds.  You must take care of yourself for you know I can’t always be with you.  Just wait a little longer; only a year or a little over.  Shaw that ain’t long is it?  Just think only this fall and next winter and then it will soon come for spring will soon pass and summer will come right after that and, of course, there are only three months in summer and that is almost gone before you know it.

Just be patient for September comes next and when that is gone and October gets there before you know it.  Just imagine maybe I will be there too.  Don’t it make you feel happy to think of it?  Just look you could hardly have thought the time would have been gone so quick if I had not drawn your attention to the fact.

Well, I am on way now to the West.  I may not have time to call this trip, but be patient, learn to love and to wait.  We are now on our way to Cain River in the midst of strangers; it makes me feel about this way.  I have no home where shall I do?  Oh, how I would like to see you and your dear little daughter.  Who can describe the feelings of a man from his family for so long a time?  When these thoughts run through my mind it is enough; it is a test.  But dare we flinch from our duty, no never.  I expect to fulfill my mission if it takes me three years to do it.  I don’t wish to boast but I feel that this is God’s work and that it is not to be passed over lightly and if we will not do our duty as servants of God, we will come short of his blessings.  We know not our own strength but this we do know, that only God has promised his spirit to those that obey him and make them equal to every duty and labor that he has assigned them.

The mail has just arrived here on South Toe and I haven’t got a single letter which is too bad for we will not get back for about two weeks.  But it is all in the life time.  I am getting use to disappointments and a great many other appointments.

Well Rachel, it seems a little rough living on corn but from the appearance of things, it looks like we are not going to get enough of that.  The people here begin to feel a little blue.  The old residents say this is the worst drought they ever saw in this part.  It has been tremendously dry; they can’t irrigate here, too many mountains.

I don’t feel like writing much more this time because I didn’t get any letter and you know about all you said in your other letter was that you were middling well except for bad colds and hope I was the same or well maybe, that was it.  How are the crops in Weber?  I might get a biscuit.  Would you get supper for me if I would come over and what else?

How does the colt look and how big is he?  Give my love to father and mother, brothers and sisters.  Tell mother I would be pleased to come over and eat dinner with her on my birthday.  But I guess I will wait until that short time is up.  Don’t it seem to you that time flies awfully fast dear one?  Well, I must stop and say goodbye with my kindest love to you all.  Ever praying for your welfare I remain.

Yours truly,

Alexander Bills

Remember my Post Office address – South Toe, Yancy Co., North Carolina
Remember and don’t forget to write longer letters,

Your Brother
 

 

August 29th 1883
South Toe, Yancy Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills

Dear Sister:

With pleasure I once more seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I am still able to write but quite disappointed as I haven’t got any mail the last two mail days.  I wrote one month ago telling you to direct my mail to South Toe but there hasn’t any come yet.

We have had quite a trip since I last wrote.  We have traveled through a portion of three counties; two of them we had never been in before, Buncomb and Madison Counties.  We met some opposition and Oh, the prejudice; you can’t imagine, some of them are afraid of us or appear to be.

We took breakfast one morning and then journeyed along until afternoon when we met an old gentleman and finally got into a conversation with him and it started in raining and it rained one hour or more about as hard as I ever saw it rain.  And we stood and argued until the water rain in streams around us.  The old fellow got tired of it and left for shelter and we plodded along through the mud until late and then began to inquire for a place to stay at.

We kept on until we were turned off eight times and it was 9 o’clock in the night.  So we came to an old stable to the side of the road and being very tired, we thought it our best chance and climbed up into the loft and was soon asleep on the bare boards.  We got up next morning at daylight and traveled a few miles and got breakfast.  But this is not all we have to contend with.  They will lie about us and misrepresent us in every conceivable way.  And it if anyone befriends us, others will do all they can to turn them against us.

Someone told a man here the other day that they saw us sitting by the side of the road with a bottle of whiskey by our side.  I sometimes feel like saying “Oh, ye hypocrites.”

I feel thankful to Heavenly Father for strength thus far to enable me to try to fill the mission assigned me.  And as the Apostle said, “we have endured many things and hope to be able to endure all things.”  Oh, how I would like to see you.  God bless you; be faithful and live right.  The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.  Though our trials may be ever so grievous and our pathway rough and thorny, let us never step aside from our duty for pleasure, for that kind of pleasure will not last but will vanish like a vapor of smoke.  But the time will come when those that keep the commandments of God will reap their reward and their sorrow and mourning will be turned into joy.

It appears that the people here care but little for gospel or anything else that is pure.  They have a form of godliness but they deny the power thereof.  Their ministers preach for money and divine for hire.  They are turning the people from the truth and unto fables but their time is short.

I haven’t anything to say this time about that year passing so quickly.  We just came over yesterday to South Toe for our mail but never got any.  Too bad, but I suppose it can’t be helped.  We have got to go right back where we just came from in order to hold meeting next Sunday to let some more of the scared people hear the voice of a Mormon.

I hope when this comes to hand it will find you well and trying to live right as I really believe you mean to do.  Remember me kindly to all your folks. May the spirit of God cheer your heart and enlighten your mind is the earnest prayer of your loving brother.

Alexander Bills

Here is a little flower.  Kiss Lilly for me.

 

September 14th 1883
South Toe, Yancy Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency

Dear Sister:

With pleasure I seat myself to answer your welcome letter that came to hand today.  It was read with pleasure and I was pleased to hear that you was well as this leaves me.  I had not heard from you for two weeks and I expected to get two letters from you today, but to my disappointment I got one little small thing.  I don’t think I will call it a letter, you must get rid of those little no account envelopes and get some that will carry a letter.

I don’t get my mail as regular as I did awhile back.  Maybe you are getting like a young Elder’s sweetheart that is here; he got a letter yesterday asking the privilege; providing she saw anyone else in his absence she liked better than she did him, to be released from her promise to him.  Pretty tough wasn’t it?

One of the Elders here, Brother White, has been released to return home and another green Elder, as the most of us are, is here to take his place.  So I suppose that he will travel with me and Brother Farmer will travel in Brother White’s place, as I have been here long than the others.  I guess I will have to take the colt to break.

Well I haven’t any particular news unless it is the people here are looking for a very tight time this coming year.  They say their corn is the poorest they ever saw it in this country.  It looked pretty rough to live on corn and bacon when I first came out but from the looks of things, it is going to be hard to get that.  Nevertheless, I am not fretting about that for that ain’t my business.  I am here to preach the gospel and although it is a poor preach, I will endeavor to do all good I can.

I think you can look for me at next Fall Conference 1884.  It would be an unspeakable joy to see you and your sweet little Lilly, tonight if it could be honorably; but duty before pleasure.  I dare not think much of home for fear I might neglect my duty.  I am not here merely to pass away time, but to do all the good I can.  Give my love to all your folks.  Excuse bad writing, for this ink is no good.

From yours truly,

Alexander Bills

Kiss Lilly for me.  Do right and abstain from all evil.  My earnest prayer is that the Lord will bless you with every needful blessing that I may again behold your sweet faces.

September 16th 1883
North Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

R.C. Bills

Dear Sister:

With pleasure I once more take my pen in hand to tell you that I am well and I hope when this comes to home it will find your family all well, enjoying yourselves in doing right.

I am now in North Cove and expect to go up into Cedar Cove today about 10 miles from here. And then we will come back and be to meeting next Sunday.  And go over the big mountains and take a trip through our new counties again or at least make a start for I don’t know how far they will let us through.

It seems that truth and virtue are very little thought of by the majority of the people here.  It makes me shudder to pass some of their hell holes and see the poor children that is the fruit of it.  Almost makes us as dirty as pigs. Oh, it is a sickening sight for me and some of those diseases are too bad to relate.  Oh, how thankful I feel that I have been blessed with a nice family of little children and that I can say and that truthfully, that I have never known any woman but my own.

I do not say that I am perfect.  Oh no, not by a long way, but I am clear of that evil for it is a curse and abomination in the sight of God.  It is the leading evil of today and it will rot and crumble the very strongest of societies and even nations it will cause to totter and fall.

Well I must soon close for this time.  We are making slow progress.  At present, there isn’t much interest taken in the principles of the gospel, but I suppose it is our duty to warn them and leave them in the hands of God.

Oh, Rachel, above all keep yourself clean and pure.  May God bless you with health and with purity of thought is the earnest prayer of your brother.

Alexander Bills

P.S.  Remember me to all the folks and kiss Lilly for me.

October 6th 1883
South Toe, Yancy Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills

Dear Sister:

With pleasure I take my pen in hand to answer your welcome letter that came to hand Wednesday.  I was pleased to hear that you and Lilly are well as this also leaves me.

We are having a tremendous rainy time here; it don’t seem like it intends to let up this fall.  I had to wade the South Toe River yesterday to get to the office and have got to cross it again today.

I have been alone for a few days but expect to meet my partner tonight if I can get back across the river.  It is up pretty well now.  It is not very nice wading these rivers and streams but we have considerable of it to do.

We intend going out where we have been trying to open up a new field of labor on Monday if all is well.  We don’t appear to be making much headway in that part.  It seems that they are fulfilling the words of the apostle when he said, “The time would come when they would not endure sound doctrine but would heap to themselves; teachers having itching ears and they would turn them away from the truth and turn them unto fables.”  They don’t want the truths from heaven.  They don’t want any revelations.  They don’t want inspired men. Men that come with a message from on high; Oh no, away with such men, mob them, run them out of the country, they had all ought to be hung.

“Oh, ye hypocrites,” I must say, go on fill up your cup of iniquity.  Go on in wicked and corrupt works for the judgments of God are at your very doors.  He has heard the cries of his people for their cries have reached unto heaven and he has looked upon their sorrows and afflictions and he will avenge their blood upon the heads of their enemies.  We have been sent to them with a message of salvation.  We have cried unto them to repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord.  But for this very message and the testimony of Jesus, which we bear, we are cast out, we are lied about, we are persecuted, down-trodden and forsaken.  But thank God the day will come when all will be judged according to their works and be rewarded accordingly.  I do not glory in the downfall of anyone.  No, not even the wicked but I would be pleased to see them brought to a sense of their duties and cease to do evil.

How are you fixed for winter?  Do you need anything or can you get along?  Let me know in your answer to this.  Did you get the heifer you spoke of?  How is the colt?  Give my regards to all.  I wrote to James Beddo and wife several months ago but haven’t got an answer, I can’t know the reason.  I am in hopes the way will be opened up for us so we will not have to travel so hard through the rain and snow this winter.

Well Rachel, one year has nearly flew since I saw your sweet face.  And if it be the Lord’s will, I hope one more will bring us together as free from sin as we parted and better prepared to live right in the future.  May God bless you with all needful blessings is the earnest prayer of your affectionate brother.

Alexander Bills

October 24th 1883
South Toe, Yancy Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co., Utah Territory

Dear Sister:

With pleasure I take my pen in hand to answer your welcome letter that has just come to hand about five minutes ago and I haven’t many minutes to answer it in, for the mail will soon go off.  I was pleased to hear from you as I didn’t get any mail from you last week.

My health is good with the exception of a pain in the breast which bothers me, similar to what I had last winter.  I think it is caused from the damp foggy weather, but with the help of the Lord, I think I can pull through another winter here.  The Elders have all left Burke County excepting Brother Jenkins, the president of this conference and he starts for home the 12th or 13th of next month.

He is now here with me and he thinks my partner and I had better go back down into that county and labor partly in Burke and try and make an opening in the adjoining counties.  So I suppose we will make another change and you can please direct all my mail to Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C., until further orders from your headquarters.

You wanted to know if I had received any money.  Yes, I received $10.00 in cash and 80 cents in stamps from G.S. Bills.  It was acceptable as I was in need of it.  When you get the other money from Will, pay your mother $5.00 and send me what you can of the rest.

You can do as you please about staying with your mother or going home.  But if you can help your mother and she wants you to stay with her, you had better stay until I come home or near the time.
Tell Wriley there is no sage here but lots of things far better than that.  So, Lilly has found her Pa has she?  I would like to write more but time won’t permit.  Give my love to father and mother and Wriley and also to Thomas and Analiza.  May God bless you with strength to resist evil wherever it is presented before you.  Stand aloof from that which is wrong and keep yourself clean and pure before the Lord so you will be worthy of his blessings and the love that is born for you by one whose desire is to serve God and live a virtuous life and to see his family do the same.  Goodbye Rachel and Lilly for this time.

From,

Alexander Bills

Enclosed you will find a curl of my mustache.  It is the nearest to a kiss I can send you.  I took a clean shave the other day.

November 2nd 1883
North Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills
Peoa, Summit Co., Utah Territory

Dear Sister:

With pleasure I seat myself to answer your welcome letter that came to hand on Wednesday night.  I was pleased to hear that you and Lilly are well but sorry to hear that your father was still in bed.  Health is worth more than gold but its value is not appreciated until we taste the bitter sting of sickness.

I expected to be in Burke Co. before this but am still in McDowell County.  I expect we will start for Burke on Monday if not before.  My health is tolerable; we are having a cold spell at present.  The wind just whistles through the cracks of these old log cabins and blown the smoke from the fireplace in every direction.  I think I will get smoke enough to keep me from spoiling until I get home.  You don’t know how nice it is to have the wind steal softly through the floor and cool your feet off and another coming in so calm and steady on your back while another more peaceful brings the dirt from the ceiling and other vacant places and settles it gently on your head and occasionally in the eye.

I expect you will say what nonsense but I don’t think you would if you was sitting here trying to write with the tears running down your cheeks and the water out of your nose.  What do you think about it?  I know about what I would say if I was herding sheep, but as I am not, I will just say, “Bless the wind and smoke, there is a good time coming, wait a little longer.”

Don’t blame me for your irregular mail matters, mine have been the same; it is the fault of the mail.  Don’t think I am forgetting you; you were too bad for me to forget right soon.  Excuse jokes, I expect I love you about as well as most anybody or at least as well as could be expected from me that is no kin.  If there is anything wrong about this letter lay it to the smoke.

Give my love to father and mother and to Thomas and Analiza; also to the bachelor and Lydia, and if any is left have it yourself.  Well Clemency, do right and may the peaceful influence of the spirit of God rest upon you to keep you from harm, accident and danger, and lead you into the path of truth and virtue is the earnest prayer of your true friend.

Alexander Bills

You know how Lilly use to vex me.  How I would like to hear her little sniffles now.  Kiss her for me and keep that one you promised me.  Remember my address.  Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

November 12th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

R.C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co., Utah

Dear Sister:

With pleasure I take my pen in hand to answer your welcome letter that came to hand Saturday.  I was pleased to hear that all was well as I am also happy to say this leaves me.

I am now in Burke Co.  We held meeting yesterday.   After meeting, Brother Jenkins and I walked 4 miles to Turkey Tail or one mile from there.  This morning I got up and walked 1 mile to the cars before daylight with Elder Jenkins to see him off for Utah.  He was one happy Mormon; he was singing and whistling from the time he got up until he started and I expect he is now wishing the cars would run a little faster or let him off so he could walk onto the next station and wait till they come up.

I expect I had ought to quit for I think I have written as much as you generally do.  Maybe I had better set you an example, so I will write a little more.  What shall I say?  I guess I will say, “Rachel, have you done any round dancing since I left home?”  Please answer correctly.  I don’t know whether you are worth $10.00 or not.  Do you think you are?  I don’t think your mother thought you was worth anything for she didn’t charge me anything for you but willingly gave you away.  Maybe she thought you was dear enough as a gift and I think you are dear enough too.  I guess I will let you have the $10.00 not that you are worth it, but for pity sake, being that you haven’t got any man to help you.  If you can’t do any better when I come home, you may come and stay with me awhile.  I am tender-hearted and I live to help the needy and I will do all I can in reason for you.  I will give you 50 cents a week and your board and take you one month on trial; if you suit and are suited, you can stay longer.  When the money reaches you don’t use it foolishly but get what will do you some good.

Well maybe I have given you enough items to help you fill out your next sheet of paper.  You have often said you didn’t know what to write about, so I thought I would touch upon enough points to help you fill out your paper.  I don’t like blank paper sent so far; it is too near like some of the people here.  They are blank or void of good works and full of all manner of evil.  If I was called upon to find a virtuous girl in North Carolina as long as I have been here, I wouldn’t know which way to go to find her.  It is the truth; it is worse than one would believe without knowing something about such for themselves.

Well Rachel, take a straight forward course and serve God and keep his commandments and don’t be running around to dances.  You may say there is no enjoyment otherwise.  I would also ask you, can you enjoy yourself doing wrong?  One might say it is wrong to dance; I say it is in one sense and in another it is not.  It is owing to way they are conducted and the feelings of the individuals that go to dance.  For I believe in my heart that some go for mischief and at times we have to mingle with the whore monger and thief and adulterer in a dance.  As for myself, I will not join hands with them if I can well help it.  Neither do I want my family to.  I hope you will be pleased to obey your truest friend on earth.

Lay all my jokes aside or receive them as such and take the truth to heart.  Remember me to all your folks.  Kiss little May for me and may God bless you dear one with good health and above all, his spirit to guide you into all truth that you may shun the very appearance of evil.

I remain as ever your loving,

Alexander Bills

November the 19th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills
Peoa, Summit Co.

Dear Sister:

With pleasure I once more take my pen in hand to answer your welcome letter that came to hand a few days ago.  I was pleased to hear that all was well and I am thankful to say that this leaves me in splendid health; I now weigh 165 pounds.  I feel well in my labors and have no desire to leave my post until I can do so in honor.

We walked 5 miles yesterday morning and held meeting at 11 o’clock and after meeting we walked 8 or 10 more and it raining part of the time.  You people at home grumble if you have to walk a mile and then you have a good comfortable house to sit in.  But ours is right to the opposite, we nearly freeze sometimes, the wind just whistles through the cracks.  Oh, how nice, but we are pleased to have even that good.

You wanted to know if I received those papers.  Yes, my partner’s name is Garner; he is inexperienced as the most of us are when we come out.  It is hard work for him to occupy five or ten minutes in meeting.  Yes, father has written to me lately.  I wrote to Caty to see about getting that money from Will or Nell as she is there and can see about it so you don’t need to bother about it anymore.  I want to know how good a girl you are.  Do you read any novels or any story papers?  Oh, if you do, stop right short of, I have good reasons for not wanting you to read them.  And Oh, do not forget what I say for I know what I am talking about.  And also remember what I said in the letter before this about dancing and rodyism.  If you earnestly wish to please me and keep the love that I bear for you, obey my counsel and do right and you will keep it forever.

The folks here think Lilly is the prettiest little girl they ever saw, but they say Caty is better looking than her sister.  They think I made a good choice.

Well, I must stop for it is getting late and I am tired; I have been up pretty late the last few nights.  Sometimes we get into a big talk and it lasts till late.  Remember me kindly to father and mother and to Wriley and Thomas and Analiza and all friends.  I will now close with my sincere love to yourself and daughter.  I remain as ever, your brother.

Alexander Bills
 

December 4th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills

My Kind and Faithful Friend:

With pleasure I once more pen you a few lines in answer to yours of November 20th that came to hand on Friday, the 30th, and was read with pleasure.  I was pleased to hear that all was well as it is quite consoling when one is tired and weary to hear good news from home.

I was pleased with the piece entitled, “Woman’s Love.”  It is very nice but I am sorry to say that it will not do to apply to many of our women today.  It will only do to apply to the true and virtuous wife.

I have just received a letter from a friend with bad news in it.  The news is that Etta, my brother’s wife, has applied for a bill of divorce and Will knows nothing about it as he is herding sheep.  She has sold his harnesses to dress high and he has lately drawed his wages and sent them all to her, so she thinks now is her time.

I don’t know hardly how I would feel.  I hope I will never have that kind of a trial but under those circumstances I believe I could say good riddance.  She certainly ain’t one of those women your little verses spoke of.  Well, so much for the good and bad women.  See to it that you don’t put on too many airs and be found mingling with society that is not what it ought to be.

I am feeling well in spirits today and some better in body.  My cold is some better I think.  I haven’t been hardly fit for traveling but our appointments are out and my partner is inexperienced and could not well fill them alone so I have kept a going.

My letter will be short this time but maybe you will think it is better to get a little than none.

Well Rachel, be a good girl and remember my counsel in times past and I think my love will be equal to the “woman’s love,” your verses spoke of.  Give my love to all the folks, kiss little May and keep yours all for me.  Goodbye for the present.  God bless you dear one.  Keep yourself clean and pure and seek for the good spirit to lead you.

From your loving

Alexander Bills

Remember last May I wrote the verse “Man’s Love,” in answer to our verse, “Woman’s Love.”

I would rather you would not have the colt rode if you please.  “Blackeyes,” my boyhood name.

December 19th 1883
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

To Rachel C. Bills
Summit Co., Utah

Blackeyes:

With pleasure I now take my pen in hand to answer your welcome letter that came to hand a few days ago.  I was pleased to hear that you was well as I am happy to say this leaves me.

We have been up to Brindle Hill about 10 or 12 miles from here and just got back last night.  We intended to hold meeting there last Sunday but our appointment was not fairly circulated and there was but few out, so we didn’t hold meeting.  We talked to them around the fire and gave them some tracts to read and made another appointment for the fourth Sunday in January.  We walked 11 miles on Sunday and then never got to hold meeting, but we are not out of heart yet, not by a long shot.  The scoffs and scorns of the world and disappointments is our heritage or at least we receive a vast amount of them.  But if we are true servants, they will only have a tendency to strengthen our faith in our Lord and Master.

We had had some tremendously cold weather here for a few days and some of the houses here are so open it is awful.  I stayed at a place the other night and I believe that a dog could have gotten through one place or crack between the logs.  And the woman of the house had only just got up and about from her bed after being confined.  It would certainly kill our Utah women.  It almost gets away with me; that together with other things that I am not use to.  But I have learned by experience to be patient and abide the Lord’s time although our trails are grievous and hard to bear.  Yet we should remember the grace of God is sufficient for us and he will make us equal to every labor that he requires of us if we will obey and serve him.

We helped to kill hogs last Monday.  The man we stayed with Sunday night didn’t have enough help and it was very cold so we put on some old clothes and we killed the pigs and helped to clean them; cut them up and salt them.  The folks cooked us a nice dish of liver, heart, lights, and melt all mixed up together for dinner.  How is that?  Well I assure you, I didn’t eat any lights or melt.  Anyhow, I have got accustomed to the corn bread and can go it alright sometimes.  There is a Danish man our here who says, “It makes him feel good all over to get a good bite of warm wheat bread.”

You wanted to know when I hear from Mayne.  I wrote to them in the summer and have had no answer, probably they have forgotten me.

So you are jealous about the girls at home are you?  Don’t be alarmed, I am too far away. Ask Wriley if I should bring him a girl with big black eyes?  There are lots of them here with nice white teeth too but I suppose that is all the white there is about them and probably not all the black.  I would love to know what you meant by those little dots on the bottom of your letter and the following words jut above them.  (Here are some for you.)  Those are the exact words, nothing added nor taken from.  You must explain yourself for I find it hard to understand.  Some parables are hard to understand, especially when the speaker is so far from the hearer.  Well, so much for that.  Know something else?  (Call me dear instead of Sister.)  “Oh, what a funny girl you are!”  How do you know that I love you enough to call you dear?  I hope you won’t try to get anyone else to call you dear, or somebody else might be jealous.

We intend to start for McDowell tomorrow if we can.  It is raining today and there is no telling when it will quit.  The weather has moderated or it couldn’t have rained for it was too cold.  I expect you will be gone from our Post Office about two or three weeks, so if you send some more letters I guess they will keep that long.

Give my love to all your folks and excuse my nonsense.  Kiss Lilly for me and save that kiss till I come.  And Oh, Rachel, above all do right and obey myself in my last letter and all the rest and you will never have cause to regret it.  Do not think I am far away and you will deceive me.

May God bless you dear one is the earnest prayer of yours.  As ever.

Alexander Bills

December 25th 1883
Turkey Cove, McDowell Co., N.C.

To Rachel C. Bills

Dear Sister:

With pleasure I once more take my pen in hand to answer yours of the 11th that I received a few days ago.  I was pleased to hear that you were all well as it also found me and I hope when this comes to hand it will find you well and enjoying yourselves through the holidays.

This is Christmas so I will say “Christmas gift Rachel.”  I was just about to say “Remember me when you eat New Year’s dinner,” but ere this reaches you, it will be eaten.  So we will wait patiently until next New Year’s and very likely I will be with you and help you eat or rather help myself.

You wanted to know if I had any idea when I would be released.  Yes, I think it will be later than now and next October, but not much before September or October.  I don’t think or at least I don’t look for it before then.  But cheer up dear one and be faithful until we again shall meet.  There is no use getting discouraged but we should always try to be cheerful and take a straight forward course and we will feel cheerful under very trying circumstances.

We are in McDowell and will stay here in Yancy for two or three weeks.

We have had very bad weather for a few days, it has been very foggy and raining most of the time; either one or the other all the time.  If there is anything in this letter that is wrong, look over it for the old cabin is smoking so.  I have to almost write with my eyes shut.  This piece of paper is so big I don’t think I can fill it as I haven’t got that news from home yet to fill two or three sheets.  Now don’t you feel a little bit ashamed for writing like that?  Oh, how cold those words were Rachel; is that your confidence in me?  If so, I hope to strengthen it by good works in the future for there is great need of us having implicit confidence in each other.

May the sweet influence of the Holy Spirit be your guide through life that you may live long to be a comfort unto me and to your family.  For you will yet be blessed with other children in as much as you will seek to do right and serve the Lord.

Give all my love to all your folks and accept the same for yourself and little daughter.  I will now say good night Rachel and Lilly, may you sweetly slumber and dream of me.  From your true and loving friend,

Alexander Bills

***”New Year’s Gift!” or a Merry One to you.”***
*”Rachel & Lilly Bills”*

January 1st 1884
Seven Mile Ridge, Yancy Co.

Rachel Clemency Bills

Dear Sister:

With pleasure I now take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well and enjoying myself first rate in performing my labors in this fair and happy land and hope when this comes to hand it will find all well and enjoying the blessings of good health and surrounded with the luxuries of life.  I trust you all have enjoyed yourselves during holidays and are none the worse for it.

I must tell you of a joke that an old gentleman has just been telling us on the preachers of this county.  They get up big meetings or as they call them revivals or protracted meetings and they keep them two and sometimes three weeks and they holler and shout and clap hands and faint or as they call it under conviction and have a fearful time.  Well, the joke is this, the old gentleman says they keep them going on as long as there is any chicken to eat near by where they preach for the preachers don’t go home but stay where the most chicken is dished up.  Well, they had been hold one of these kind of meetings here and they kept it up until the chickens were all eaten up in the meeting section, but one rooster who appeared to be too sharp for them, for as soon as they would start after the chickens, the old rooster would make for the swamps and thickets.  So they finely concluded to all give him a race but just as they were going to start after him, they heard him crow the following words, “Has Joe Boleck gone home?”  This was the name of one of the men that was so hard on chickens and the rooster pointed him out so plain by calling his name, he changed his course and said he was going home.  How true this story is I am not prepared to day but I have seen the man and he looks like he could eat his share of anything.  Well, so much for preachers.  As for myself, if it was good food I was hunting after, I would leave this country very shortly.

I have not had any word from home for nearly two weeks and it will be over one more before we get back into Burke on account of some business we have to attend to.  We intended to settle it last Sunday but the parties did not appear and we have given them one more chance.

Well Rachel, be good to yourself and do right and keep all those pretty charms to bestow upon the one you say you love. Kiss my little May for me and give my kind regards to all your folks and accept the same for yourself.  Goodbye for the present from your true and loving.

Alexander Bills

January 11th 1884
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co., Utah Territory

Dear Friend:

With a sad heart I drop you a few lines in answer to your kind and welcome letters which came to hand last night.  I have been three weeks without mail and just arrived at Sigmanburg last night after two days hard walking through the snow and ice with the exception of having a nice lot of mail to read while I rested my weary legs.  I did have a lot of mail, 12 letters.  Three of them from you but Oh, the sad news that was concealed in one of my letters from home, it was the death of little Myrtle.  She died the 19th of December.

It is a very grievous trial to part with our little children even when we can be with them but Oh, the burden that rests upon me.  Oh, may the Lord have mercy upon me and make me equal for the trials that I am called to pass through.  I have no thought or desire to shrink from my duty.  I have enlisted under the banner of Christ and I hope to do my duty and serve him faithfully and be true to my calling, even if it costs me my life.  This life is full of trials and it matters not as long as we are in the service of the Lord.  How short our lives are; that is if we have filled our missions on the earth.  I believe it is possible for a man to die before his labors are completed on the earth and this because he transgresses the laws of God and allows Satan to get a hold of him and destroy him through some evil habit which he will lead him into.  May I be delivered from his grasp.

You say you want to see me so bad.  “Oh, would I not love to see you!”  But my labors are not completed in this land yet. My weight is 164 lbs.  Yes, corn bread and bacon.  Yes, we get papers from home.  I sent word home to have some money sent you.  Let me know if it doesn’t come soon.  Don’t let my little May forget me.  Bless her; take good care of her.  Give my regards to all.  God bless you dear one, do right.  You know you said, “Blackeyes would obey me.”

Yours truly,

Alexander Bills

January 16th 1884
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co.

Dear Friend:

With pleasure I once more take my pen in hand to let you know that I am in tolerable fair health considering what I have to pass through.  And I hope when this comes to hand it will find you all in peace and enjoying the spirit of the Lord.

It is 15 months today since I gave you my farewell kiss and no doubt it will be several more before I give you another.  But when I again have the privilege of imprinting a kiss on your lips, I hope it will be pure and not tainted with evil.

I am in the midst of an adulterous people but thank God, thus far in my labors I have no guilt nor stain on my conscience.  No woman has come nearer than to shake my hand.  I would rather the red clay of North Carolina would cover this body of mine than to come home defiled and disgraced.  Oh yes, ten thousand times over.  I did not leave my home and my dear family to do wrong, nor to do my own will, but to do the will of my Father which is in Heaven.  I hope that I may enjoy his spirit to fill my mission in honor and in due time return to my home in peace and find my dear ones all well and with a hearty welcome for me and with clean hands and pure hearts which I have faith will be the case.

Not withstanding my counsel has not been heeded in the past by my family.  Yet I have great hopes of them doing right and obeying in the future for I think you all will learn obedience by the things that you suffer.  It is very painful to me when my dear ones will not take my counsel for it is far from my thoughts to give them counsel that would harm a hair of their heads.
I don’t know as this kind of talk will be interesting to you, so maybe I had better talk about something else for I wrote a letter sometime ago giving you counsel and asking you to take my advice concerning certain matters.  But have received no answer in regards to those points.  So I suppose you will understand me by the expression, that it would not be interesting to you, or at least not enough so for you to consider it worth mentioning.

You said you expected you would get it for the short letters.  I guess not just yet.  So you think I can’t read your letters right.  Oh, yes, I read them exactly right and what I wrote back was straight according to yours.  Well Rachel, I hope you won’t get out of humor when I write a little crossly, but if there is any good in my letters, accept of it and try and profit thereby.

We have had some very bad traveling since we came from McDowell and also in coming down from there.  The snow in the mornings would be froze so a person would slide like they were on ice.  The other day I was walking along on the edge of a small slope, my feet slipped and I slid about 20 or 25 yards before stopping.  My partner lamed himself slipping and breaking through the s now.  I think from all appearances of the weather we are going to have more snow or mud, I don’t hardly know which.  It is quite rough but we expect a just reward for our works.  And if we prove faithful to the end, an inheritance in the Kingdom of God forever.

We expect to cross the Catawba River tomorrow and hold meeting on yon side next Sunday, if it be the Lord’s will.  We have a large scope of country to travel over which makes it very bad in bad weather.  And then the houses that we hold meetings in are very bad and some of them awfully cold.  So are some of the houses we have to sleep in and a fellow nearly freezes getting into the cold beds.  I sometimes wish you was in mine.

Well I guess I had better say goodbye for the present.  Give my love to all your folks and to John’s folks. Kiss my sweet little Lilly for me and say to Rachel, “Be patient till I come and be a good girl and do right my dear one.”  From yours, as ever.

Alexander Bills

 

January 22nd 1884
Irish Cree, Burke Co.

Rachel C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co.

Dear Friend:

With pleasure I once more take my pen in hand to answer your kind favor of the 8th which came to hand in due time and found me well.  I was pleased to hear that you were all well which is great satisfaction to me.  This letter leaves me in good health and I hope when it comes to hand it will find you all well and enjoying yourselves in a peaceable and prosperous way.

Since I last wrote, it has rained quite hard and has melted most of the snow and left it very muddy.  Until the night before last when it turned cold and has been very cold ever since.  It is so changeable here that it is quite disagreeable.  We held meeting here where we now are last Sunday.

We are nearly on the north line of Burke or in the neighborhood of the north line and we have got to make nearly to south line to hold meeting next Sunday.  We expect to go to the post office tomorrow if the Lord permits and we get our mail and post our letters.  We will then make our way to what is called Brindle Hill where our appointment is.  We have quite a large circuit to walk but that is alright and I feel like doing my duty as long as the Lord will give me strength to do so and that should be the desire of every Latter Day Saint; but we find that it is not which I am sorry to say.

I am now writing at Brother Fox’s; he has a fine daughter or at least she appeared to be.  She is a little over 16 years-old and belongs to the church.  She was at meeting on Sunday and on Sunday night unknown to her folks she slipped her clothes out of the house and eloped with some man.   Her folks thought she was in bed until next morning when they found a note on her bedroom door stating for them not to be uneasy about her as she would be about 60 miles from them next morning at daylight.  So she is a ruined girl as a big part of them are in this country.

Well, I suppose I have said enough on that for I sometimes get warmed up talking on that subject and say a little too much.  Probably I don’t know what more to say this time unless I say I nearly mashed my finger putting on a back log; it was a little too long and pretty heavy and it struck the side of the fireplace as I throwed it on.  I fell back and caught my finger on the fire dog and mashed the blood out of both sides of my finger and it swelled up in a few seconds.  It is very sore but I don’t think my case is dangerous.

You spoke of going home in the spring to stay.  Do as you please about that, but if you go home, I would like you to go and stay with Caty.  And both of you stay at home and tend to your business and let other people’s business alone and keep a still tongue and do right.  And remember the last promise you both made me and that was that you would do right by each other and live in peace.  Oh, do remember my counsel and keep your own tongues still and live in peace no matter what others say.  Do your duty and don’t be so easy to break a promise.

Give my love to all your folks and accept a portion for yourself and my little May, bless her.  How I would like to kiss her sweet little lips.  You must not let her forget me and also that I am coming home to see her some day.

Be faithful in keeping the commandments of God that you may claim his protection is the daily petition of yours as ever.

A. Bills

January 29th 1884
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co.

Dear Friend:

I now pen you a few lines in answer to your kind and welcome letter that came to hand in due time and was read with pleasure.  I was pleased to hear that you and sweet little May was well.  My health is just tolerable.

We walked 4 miles Sunday to a meeting house where we had an appointment for meeting.  When we got there we found the door locked and no one come to hear us.  We then walked 9 miles and stayed all night with a friend.  The ground is awfully muddy.

We received a circular from President Morgan desiring all the Elders to move with caution for the President of the United States has sanctioned some severe bills against us and probably the wicked and ungodly would take the advantage of those measures and try to do us harm, and if they did in one place, we were requested to flee to another.  Well, we are in the hands of God and have no need to fear.

You spoke in your letter of getting fat.  I am pleased to hear that you are doing well.  I hope you will be blessed with good health that you may be happy and cheerful and be patient and do right.  Remember me kindly to all your folks.  Kiss little Lilly for me.  Excuse so short a letter, my partner is going to the office today and is now waiting on me.  Be a good girl and take a straight forward course and do nothing that you would be ashamed to do before me.  No more at present, yours as ever.

A. Bills

 

February 6th 1884
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills
Peoa, Summit Co.

Dear Friend:

With pleasure I now take my pen in hand to answer your kind favor of the 22nd of January which came to hand in due time and was read with pleasure.  I was much pleased to hear of your continued good health and truly hope the blessings of God will continue with you; to keep you from all harm and danger and that our lives might be spared to again meet in this life.

I was sorry to hear that your father and mother was not well when you wrote.  But I hope by the time this reaches you it will find them well, likewise yourself and the rest of the family.  Be good and kind to your parents and do all you can for them.  You may be old and need waiting on someday.  Remember the commandment, “Honor thy Father and thy Mother that the days may be long upon the land which the Lord, they God, has given thee,” a commandment with a blessing attached.

We held meeting last Sunday 11 a.m.  Had 7 miles to walk to get there where our appointment was on Sunday morning.  You would think that a nice little walk on Sunday morning to get to meeting wouldn’t you?  Especially if it was nice and muddy like it is here part of the time.  Well, we don’t mind that if we can only get the people to come and hear us when we get there.  But is not very nice to walk 10 or 15 miles and then have no one come to hear.  Nevertheless, it is our duty to offer them the gospel, that they may be left with an excuse.

We don’t expect all will receive the truth for it is written, many are called, but few are chosen.  So it seems necessary offer the truth all and leave the consequence in the hands of God.

Give my kind regards to all your folks.  Kiss little May for me.  Please excuse a short letter this time.  What I leave out now I will put in some other time.  Goodbye for the present.  May God bless you with all necessary blessings is the daily petition of yours, as ever.

Alexander Bills

February 12th 1884
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills
Peoa, Summit Co.

Dear EFWI:

With pleasure I now take my pen in hand to answer your kind favor which came to hand a few days ago and was read with pleasure.  I was pleased to hear that all was well, but sorry that the snow was so deep that you couldn’t get out without getting your feet and legs cold.

We are having a very rain, foggy time.  The fog is very heavy and smells almost like burnt powder and stagnant water.  It does not agree with me; it chokes me up and causes considerable pain in my breast and lungs.  But when the weather is clear and dry I feel better.

Well, Rachel, spring is fast approaching and summer is drawing nigh.  So probably you will feel better contented when you can go and pick strawberries, currants and so forth.  But you must be sure and not pick like you and I use to or rather way you learned me to.  Whatever you do, keep free from all evil.  Enjoy yourself but let it be lady-like in a way that it wouldn’t make you blush if I should see you.  You know I ain’t jealous don’t you?  I mean alright, if you ever learn me, probably you will say the same.

How I would like to see little May, just a minute or two, bless her little soul.  Tell her I will take her riding when I come home.  Tell her to not be a naughty girl but mind Ma and Grandma and when I come I will fetch her some candy and you a stick too, if you are a good girl.

You wanted to know what my partner’s name was.  It is W.F. Garner from North Ogden. He just came out last fall.  We held meeting last Sunday in a private home.  We intend to cross the river tomorrow and hold meeting on the other side next Sunday if the Lord permits.

I don’t know what to say next, I believe I am like you say you are, if I could see you I could tell you lots.  Is the heifer you bought from your mother going to have a calf this spring?  Is the colt going to be big enough for a work horse?  Let him have a good chance this summer as you can.  Did you pay all up for the heifer?  I think I have said pretty near enough this time don’t you?

“Advice to Men”

Do not tattle; do not gossip from one family to another.  If you have a wife let out the job to her, she will do it more effectively.

Give my kind regards to all your folks and accept the same for yourself and little daughter.  Kiss her sweet for me.  I will now say “goodbye” for the present.  Take good care of yourself and little May.  Do right that you may claim the blessing of the most high.  From your loving.

I will do the best I can about posting my letters on Wednesday.

February 18th 1884
Sigmanberg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills
Peoa, Summit Co.

Dear Friend:

With pleasure I now take my pen in hand to answer your kind favor of the 5th which came to hand in due time.  I was pleased to hear from you but sorry to learn that you and Lilly was not very well, but I hope when this comes to hand it will find you quite well.  My health is not altogether the best; we have been having some very heavy rains here.  We held meeting yesterday; didn’t have a very large turnout, the streams were up so high it was hard for people for get across them.

Well Rachel, I don’t know how about the girls.  You said for me to let them alone.  I have done that to the very letter but how about it if they won’t let me alone?  Several have already passed sentence on me.  They say they don’t care if I am a Mormon; I am pretty and they intend to catch me.  This sentence has been passed on me in several of the neighborhoods where I have traveled.  And others say I am a little high headed or rather proud.  Probably this is so; I mean to carry my head high enough to keep it out of water at least filthy dregs.  And I want enough pride or self respect to keep my name or character free and clean from those deep and damning stains which are so prevalent here.  And thank the Lord I can say and that truthfully that there is not a single person in this country that can speak one word disrespectfully of me and tell the truth.  I have tried to do my duty as a servant of God and if I have not done it, it has been because I did not understand it.

You said the reason you spoke of going home was that you wanted to be sure and be there when I came home.  If that is it, you need not fret about that for I will write and let you know in time.  If you are there before the first of September you will bear me home.  I think you wanted to know if people used wagons here.  They do where I now am but in some parts where I have labored they do not.  And as for the doctor book, I don’t think I would bother with that just at the present.

Well, I must now answer your other letter.  I forgot to state at the heading of this that I received two letters at the last mail.  The one that I am now going to answer was written October 4, 1883.  It has been a long time somewhere for I just received it last week.  I don’t think I would have cared if I had never got it, for it is rather bitter.

You said I spoke of small letters and poor writing but you considered they were as large and written as good as the ones you received for no one there could read my letters only you and you had hard work to make them out.  Well Rachel, I am sorry that you cannot read my writing but I cannot help it; I sometimes have to write on my knee and at others times on an old rickety floor and sometimes in a hut that there is no window in and it is very dark.  I have written nearly 200 letters and you are the first to say you could hardly read them.  I was not making light of your letters, only I knew you could do better than you was doing at the time and you have done better since.

You accuse me wrongfully and say I believe all I hear.  I have stood by you as a true friend and if you will stop and consider, you cannot say otherwise.  And as for others talking about me; if you know anything what others have said, please write it in your answer to this.  You said it seemed as though you didn’t have a friend on earth.  Rachel, have I ever proved otherwise?  If so I am sorry for it has not been intentionally.  You said someone told you that I cared more for their little finger than I did for your body.  Probably they was like you when you said, you did not have a friend on earth.  They didn’t know what they were talking about.  You said if I couldn’t read that letter to send it back.  It is alright.  I can read your writing when you take pains with it, fast enough.  So with this if you can’t read it, keep it until I come or until you get home and you will find plenty there that can read it as fast as they could point.  I guess I will have to close; if you had of said anymore I surely couldn’t have got it all in this time but maybe I could.

Well, give my kind regards to all your folks and accept the same for yourself and little May.  May the spirit of God rest upon you to guide you into all truth is the earnest prayer of yours truly,

Alexander Bills

Kiss little Lilly for me.  You said for me not to scold.  Well don’t take any offense and we will settle when I come home.

February 25th 1884
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills:

With pleasure I now take my pen in hand to answer your kind letter that came to hand a few days ago.  I was pleased to hear that you was well and I hope when this comes to hand it will find all well and in peace. My health is not very good and if my letter is short and writing bad please look over it for I am not fit to write.  It hurts my breast in learning over so that I can hardy raise up or at least all of a sudden.

We had quite a time in crossing the river the other day.  It was up very high when we got to it and very muddy and the wind was blowing tremendously hard down the river; but I thought I could take the batto over and so we got in and started but the wind and tide was too much for me and it took us down a ways.  I feared for my partner more than myself for the batto was likely at any moment to turn us out and he couldn’t swim a lick.  So after a hard pull I fetched the front of the batto against the bank and at the same moment told my partner to jump which he was pleased to do but being excited, he jumped before he got fairly ready and the consequence was he went into the river.  But as he was going down, he caught hold of the canes and brush on the bank of the river which kept him from going out of sight for it was deep.  I could not help him for it was all I could do to manage the batto unless I let it go and swam to him; but after a hard scrabble he got out and I finally got where I could fasten the batto and I got out and then we had 7 miles to walk, pretty tough, but such is life.

There was three men shot dead and one wounded Sunday before last in a quarrel not far from here.  Some of the people are living pretty hard here now.  Corn is getting rather high and bacon is scarce.  They are looking for hard times this summer; some families are living on corn bread almost altogether without anything to go with it.  I know this to be a fact for I am one that fares with some of the poor.  You wanted to know about that money I sent to have your $10.00 forwarded to you, but Caty said, she didn’t have it, but would send it as soon as she got some for the hay.  Soon after she said she sent $5.00 and then I told her that would do for the present as you was talking of coming home.

I haven’t said I knowed what you needed better than you knowed yourself but I don’t know as I would miss it much if I did.  Are you satisfied with that explanation?  It is now midnight; I have to write when I can.  Be a good girl and don’t send anymore slurring letters, I have enough to bear already.

Goodbye, God bless you and little May with good health is the earnest prayer of yours truly,

Alexander Bills

March 4th 1884
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

R.C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co.

Dear Friend:

I once more seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I and partner are still sounding our gentle voices in the ears of the gentiles by way of remembering them of their duties.  My health is some better than when I last wrote and I truly hope this will come to hand in due time and find you all well and in peace ad striving to observe the laws of God and keep them as all good people should do.

In my last letter to you I think I mentioned about high water, in the time of it, there was a Presbyterian minister and daughter, age 14 years, got drowned n the Catawba River and also a Baptist minister came within an ace of drowning and just previous to this, he barely escaped death in another form.  He has done all he could to injure us and that too without a cause or in other words for teaching the truth.  Nevertheless, we wish them no harm and we will certainly try to endure the persecution and falsehoods they try to heap upon us.  If they can stand it we will be found trying to at least.  But they must remember the scripture which saith, “It is an awful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

In watching these people, my mind is often led to reflect upon the prophesies of Joseph Smith which are being fulfilled very quickly.  I will mention one which is so plain that even some who are not of us have noticed and that is “No weapon that is formed against Zion shall prosper.”  This prophecy has been noticeable here.  Some of our won’t persecutors have felt the chastening hand of a just God and one that is long suffering and patient.  But woe unto those that rebel and fight against his work.  Instead of a virtuous, God fearing people in this land, we find a wicked and corrupt people for they have transgressed the laws of God, changed the ordinances and broke the everlasting covenants.

Therefore the earth groans under the sin that is upon it for the people are full of murder, drunkenness, adultery, and all manner of wickedness that can be imagined.  You might suppose that I was stretching things a little but I am not. God, hearing me witness the judgments of God are hanging close over this people’s head and except they speedily repent; awful will be their doom.

I am sorry to see the condition of this people.  The man-made system of religion is beginning to decay and totter and Satan is working hard through his agents to patch and prop, to keep them up as long as they can. Oh, the poor tottering, corrupt systems of men built up to get gain, how great will be their fall.  Do we rejoice in their downfall?  Oh, far from it.  I would to God; they would see the necessity of repenting of their sins and receive the ingravescent word of God which is able to make them wise unto salvation.

I must close.  I didn’t mean to give you a sermon when I started.  Please give my regards to father and other, also to Wriley and Thomas and Analiza and to John’s folks.  Excuse bad writing for it is so dark I can’t hardly see to write.  Take good care of yourself and little May.  Do right and be a good girl and keep yourself free from sin.  And may God grant you strength to do so is the earnest prayer of your truest friend.  Do not doubt it.

Alexander Bills

I ate a possum’s hind leg yesterday and the thoughts of it nearly made me throw it up again.  Your father can tell you what they look like.  No doubt he has eaten them.  I will have to quit or take another sheet and that would tire you.

Note:  I would just as soon you would burn your letters if you choose.
 

 

March 10th 1884
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills
Peoa, Summit Co.

Dear Wife:

I once more seat myself to answer your kind and welcome letter that came to hand a few days ago and was read with care.  I was pleased to hear of your continued good health but sorry to hear the snow was so deep which, of course, is very disagreeable.  But you wouldn’t mind that if I was with you, would you?  Be patient and all will be right.  Don’t get downhearted but keep your spirits up enough at least to keep you awake to a sense of your duty.

I dreamed of seeing you last night.  You was in bed and I came within one of getting in with you, pretty dangerous wasn’t it!  What would you have done with me if I had?  I guess I had better be a little careful in my sleep don’t you think so?

We had a tremendous cyclone pass through this country and extended through several other states; it just fairly swept things as it went.  It swept big heavy timber and houses as clean as a mowing machine would hay.  A great loss to both life and property.  It is heart rending but the wrath and indignation of the Almighty is kindled and as John, the Devine says, “It will be poured out without mixture upon the wicked and ungodly.”

This reminds me of a conversation I had with a gentleman last summer in regard to tornados, cyclones and so forth.  He said they had never had any through here and intimated that there never would be as it was so mountainous here.  I told him the judgments of God would certainly come upon this people and that cyclones would yet sweep through this country and lay waste towns and villages.  I further told him as I have told this people in public that these things were at their doors but, of course, we are called imposters false teachers and so on.

Let them fill up their bitter cup of poison which they themselves sooner or later will have to drain to the dregs.  Our duty is to warn them of the judgments that are approaching and to call upon them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and have hands laid on them for the gift of the Holy Ghost, with a promise of great blessings, if they will live pure and virtuous lives and keep the commandments of God ever afterwards.  And if after we have faithfully borne our testimonies, they reject us, and then the promise is, “I, the Lord God, will bear my testimony with fire, with earthquakes, with famine and other pestilences.”

Oh, the misery that awaits the wicked and ungodly and I fear that the Latter Day Saints will get a severe scourging until at least they will appreciate the blessings of God and learn to obey the word of the Lord as given by his authority, President Taylor and the Twelve.

I must cut this short with a sweet bye-bye, remember me kindly to all your folks and accept for yourself and little May my sincere love which although so long from you has not faded. Goodbye for the present.  Obey me dear Rachel in all my former petitions.  Yours as ever.

Alexander Bills

 

 

 

March 26th 1884
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills
Peoa, Summit Co.

Dear Wife:

I once more take my pen in hand to let you know that I still alive and hope when this comes to hand it will find you all in good health and enjoying that good spirit that leads into all truth.  I was sorry to hear that Lilly was sick when you last wrote but I hope she is well now.

It is very disagreeable here; it still continues to rain and keep the waters up thus making it very hard to get about.  We are now on the north side of the Catawba.  We came over here day before yesterday and intend to go back tomorrow if all is right and we can cross the streams as we have an appointment to fill on the other side next Sunday and then we are intending to start out and see if we can open up a new field of labor.  The gospel is for all and we must spread it as much as possible.  Charles M. Nokes is with me but only intends to stay a few days.  I am looking for a new Elder from Utah to travel with me or else I will have to take it alone.

I dreamed a very singular dream last night.  I thought I was in an old house that was rather dark and I saw several snakes, some of them were harmless and others were very poisonous.  One of the poison ones got into my back or inside of my shirt and crawled down into my pants leg and into my boot.  I tried to get my boot off carefully before he would bite me.  But in getting it off, he bit me on the foot and it began to swell; just then someone reached me a bottle of liquor and I drank it all.  It seemed to stop the swelling some but had no effect on me otherwise.  I finally got onto one snake just back of his head with one foot and with the other foot mashed snake’s head.  I awakened several times during the night and the first thing would appear to my mind was the snake biting me.

It sometimes looks useless to preach to these people for they take but little interest in the truths of the gospel.  But I suppose it is necessary to warn all the human family both good and bad that they may be left without an excuse and that we may rid our garments of the blood of this generation.

I haven’t heard a word from Romania since last summer.  I wrote to them or answered their last letter but never received an answer to mine.  That is a quilt pattern I sent you.  You say you have full confidence that I would not forsake you.  Bless your soul, I would be parting with part of my life to part with you, for you remember we are no longer twain, but one.  You wanted me to keep away from the girls and be a good boy.  I will certainly do those two things to the best of my ability.  And you said you would be a good girl and mind me.  Bless you for the sayings.  If you keep aloof from men as I have women, I will guarantee for your purity in that respect.

With kind love to you and all your folks and to my sweet little May.  I will close praying God to bless you.  I am your husband.

Alexander Bills

April 1st 1884
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co.

Dear Wife:

I am pleased to once more have an opportunity to write you a few lines in answer to your kind favor of March 18th, which came duly to hand and was read with much pleasure as are all of you letters to me.

We held meeting day before yesterday at Rainhill and intended to make a start into Rutherford Co., yesterday and see if we couldn’t open up a new field.  But circumstances has altered our course and we are now on our way to McDowell Co.  I do not know as I will go all the way but if I do I will soon return again to Burke. And if all is right, we will make a start for Rutherford on the first Monday after the 3rd Sunday in this month.

I am pleased to hear often from home but I don’t think I will be able to write more than once in two weeks after this.  Don’t think it is because I am forgetting you but it is because my time will be occupied in my studies and in traveling.  I guess you will say, “Is that all you will write home, or rather to Caty?”  Remember I show no partiality.   Excuse a short letter as I am in a hurry.  Give my kind regards to all your folks and accept the same for yourself and our little daughter.  Ever praying for God to bless you and to cheer and comfort your heart, I am as ever, your husband.

Alexander Bills

April 14th 1884
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills
Peoa, Summit Co.

Dear Wife:

I now seat myself to answer your kind favor of the first.  Was pleased to hear that you and my little May was well, which blessing I pray the Lord will still continue to grant you.

Since I last wrote you, I have been up into McDowell but am now in Burke.  Brother Nokes and I held meeting here yesterday.  He expects to start for another part of the state tomorrow.  Probably I will go the first day with him and then I will be alone again until an Elder comes from Utah.

We are thinking of visiting the asylum, the State Asylum.  It is a large building.  I have heard that it is one mile around it.  That is to follow around on the foundation.  There is quite a number of insane in this country.  They have taken a great many to this asylum since I cam here.

The peach and apple trees are in bloom and the woods have begun to leaf out.  But it is still disagreeable on account of sudden changes from warm to cold and cold to warm.  It looks like we are going to have a heavy rain for it has just started and is thundering and getting good and ready.

I couldn’t say how long I will stay in Burke.  I expected to have left before this.  That is for a short time to open or extend the work and give all a chance to hear the gospel.  For without obeying it none can be saved.  For thus sayeth the Savior, “Except ye, are born of the water and of the spirit, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”  Which means unless they are baptized in the water and receive the Holy Spirit.  They cannot enter the kingdom.

You wanted to know if I was still eating corn bread.  Yes, I expect to as long as I stay here and from the appearance of things will be doing well to get plenty of that.

I have received a letter from J. Beddo and Maney.  If they are coming to Weber I will not answer it until they get there.

Give my regards to all the folks and accept of my sincere love for yourself and my little daughter.  Goodbye, God bless you dear ones; continue the course you say you have heretofore pursued.  That is to be true to me, to yourself and above all to God.  Your loving husband.

Alexander Bills

Excuse bad writing for I have done this on my knee and the children are hollering and running all over the floor.

April 22nd 1884
Pattens Home, Rutherford Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills

Dear Wife:

I drop you a few lines to let you know that I am in the land of the living, alone in the midst of strangers and in a strange country to me.

I held meeting day before yesterday, had a good congregation.  Traveled yesterday through the rain.  Stopped last night and discussed doctrine with a Baptist.  Started to my journey this morning, traveled till noon, stopped at a house to inquire my way, was asked in, was pleased to accept the offer.  The lady of the house got me some dinner. I then told them I was weary traveling through the rain and mud and if I would not be imposing I would be pleased to stay with them till morning if they would trust to the Lord, as I did for their pay, for I was traveling without purse or scrip.  They consented and I am now dropping you this short epistle.  I expect to continue my journey tomorrow if nothing hinders.  This is my first trip in this part and was it not for the gospel, I think would be my last.  It is a rough place.

When are you going home?  Well, I suppose this will beat nothing.  I will have to quit.  With kind regards to all your folks and sincere love to you and little May.  I will close praying God to bless and preserve your life that I may again imprint kisses on your sweet lips.  I am as ever your loving husband.

Alexander Bills

Be a good girl, God bless you.  We will meet by and by.

 

May 5th 1884
Sigmanburg, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel Clemency Bills
Peoa, Summit Co.

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I once more embrace the present opportunity of penning you a few lines hoping when they come to hand they will find you all well and in peace.

Since writing from Sunshine P.O., I have done some hard walking a portion of the time in a neighborhood where a short time previous to my coming, the citizens had said they intended to hang the first Mormon to a tree that come through there.  But I quietly distributed my tracts talker to the people.  Found friends to minister to my wants and got back into Burke pretty well worn out, but not hanged.

When I arrived in Burke, I met Elder Hobson, just from Cache Valley, Utah, who had been sent here to travel with me.  So we made a start for another part of the country that we had not before visited.  After walking a part of the first day, Brother Hobson, began to get tired and said he didn’t think he could walk to where we was intending to go that day.  So I told him to go to the station which was not far off and get on the train and ride to the next station which would give him a rest of 11 miles and I would walk on as I was use to it and meet him at the station where he would get off and we did so and have been walking ever since until yesterday we arrived here in our old field.

Night before last we had hard work to get a place to stop at.  Brother Hobson was completely give out and still they would turn us off.  But we finally succeeded in getting to stop at a Methodist Minister’s place.  The minister himself was gone from home to a big meeting and his wife took us in not knowing who we were until after consenting for us to stay.  But as soon as she found out she tried to get rid of us by making excuses about her husband being gone and so on.  But Brother Hobson was not going to be put off so easy for he was give out completely and it was after dark, so he argued the point awhile with her.  Not so with me.  I felt different, I didn’t mean to insist on staying where I was not wanted; I would rather a thousand times lay out in the woods than to knuckle to any such people and I wasn’t long in giving her to understand it and told her if she said so we would go for we didn’t intend to force ourselves on anyone.  She then said we might stay and she treated us all right.  Thanks be to the good spirit that animated her rather than her own soft heartedness.

Well such is life; if we taste the bitter awhile we then can better appreciate the sweet when it comes.  I didn’t get any mail last week.  I think we will go to the office today.  Remember me kindly to father and mother and Wriley and Tom and family and all the rest.  With my sincere love to you and my little May and praying God to bless you, I will close for the present hoping you will always remember that.  I am as ever, your truest friend.

Alexander Bills

Here is a rose that I have just picked for you; when your eyes behold it, please give your sweet thoughts to the one that plucked it.

            My home is cheerful for your sake
            My door yard brighter blooming
            And all about the social air
            Is sweeter for your coming
 

June 5th 1884
Paddys Creek, Sinville, M.T, N.C.

R.C. Bills
Peoa, Summit Co., Utah

Dear Wife:

As another opportunity has presented itself, I with pleasure take advantage of the same to inform you of my welfare.  I am in fair spirit and truly hope when this comes to hand it will find you and my little May well and happy.  It seems a coon’s age since I heard from you.  It is going on three weeks since I was at my post office but expect to get to it day after tomorrow.

Since last writing I have been back into the big mountains in McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey counties where I traveled last summer.  When I left there I promised to come and see them before I went home, so I have been to fill my promise.  I made some firm friends in those parts although I only traveled there a short time last summer and fall.  In bidding the folks goodbye, I was sorely touched with the scene.  It reminded me of my departure from my dear family and friends nearly 20 months ago.  They wept bitterly for having to part with me, so great was their confidence and respect for me, though so short an acquaintance.

One old lady who said to be bitterly opposed to our principles said as I was leaving, “Mr. Bills, the people in this neighborhood thinks well of you, for I have heard them say as much and I love to hear you talk.  But I can’t believe it is right for a man to have more than one wife, but I don’t say you are wrong.”  I then bore my testimony to her of the divine work that the Latter Day Saints were engaged in and not withstanding the persecution and oppression we were receiving, we intended by the help of God, to do our duty and leave the result with him.  For we had been called to warn this generation and call them to repentance and if they saw fit to reject us or our testimonies, that was their lookout and not ours.  And that the day was coming in which all would stand before the judgment seat of the Almighty to be judged according to the deeds done in the body.  And at that time if not before, she as well as others would know who had taught the truths of Jesus Christ.

I hope you are feeling more contented now that warm weather has come and everything is putting on its cheerful look.  The weather is very fine here at present, but rather dry.  The farmers will be harvesting in a few days.  I hope father and mother will have better health now than they had through the winter.  Remember me kindly to them, also to Wriley and Thomas and Analiza.  I would be pleased to see you all and probably will before another year if we are all permitted to live.

My post office will change its name the first of July from Sigmanburg to Glenalfine, Burke Co., N.C.  So remember it from the first of July.

I will now close this short epistle for the present.  With my sincere love to you and praying god to bless you with health and fortitude to do right and despise the evil that you may be worth of the pure mercies of Christ.

I am as ever, your husband and friend.

A. Bills

June 27th 1884
Burke Co., N.C.

R.D. Bills

Dear Friend:

With a confused mind and a discouraged feeling I drop you a few lines hoping they will come to hand in due time and find you and little daughter well and better contented than when you last wrote.  The letter which I received today, you said, father and mother was talking of taking you home and as you had not heard from me so long, out thought probably I was at home.  Do you that that I deserve such compliments?

I am not home yet and it is hard to say when I will be for this community or a part of it is preaching our funerals and others proffering to dig our graves.  There was a mob assailed the house we were staying at a few nights ago; about 9 o’clock with their tantrums.  We went to the door and they wanted us to come out but we told them we could wait on them from the door.  They then read an article giving us a limited time to get out of the neighborhood.

We stayed on just as we would if they had not come and have stayed one night since and are now here in the same place.  About a half-hour ago, a crowd of men passed the door where we now are and the leader stopped and said, “Here is a good place to dig their graves”, putting his shovel to the ground.  In another pat they are talking of riding us on a rail and I understand the County Commissioners are taking steps to prevent us from preaching here.  A fine lot of Christians; they profess to be followers of Christ but they are of their father the devil and would be as willing to crucify the Savior as the scribes, Pharisees and hypocrites were anciently.  Woe unto them for their cup is about full and the chastening hand of a just God will be felt upon the heads of these long faced hypocrites.

Probably I am not in a very good mood for writing for I have walked some distance this morning and my health is rather delicate and all the rest puts a fellow in a temperature that is nowise cold.  You will please excuse bad writing as I have done this on my knee and in a hurry.  I am afraid my letters are meddled with.  Head your letters as I have, the name I mean.  If you can, take the colt when you go home.  I will now close praying God to bless you and help you to live right.  Be careful when you get home and do your duty and consult each other and live in peace and stay at home.  Remember me kindly to your folks.  I am pretty near ready for that which you have saved for me.

Goodbye from yours as ever.

A. Bills

July 28th 1884
Glenalfine Station, Burke Co., N.C.

Rachel C. Bills

Dear Friend:

With pleasure I now answer your letters which came to hand Saturday.  Was pleased to hear from you and to know that all was well which is consoling.  In your first, you spoke as though everybody was deceivers; which, of course, means me.  That’s right; I haven’t enough to contend with from my enemies and the world but need a good shaking up by bosom friends.  I expect I can stand it all.  I could explain about the nuts but probably it would not be relied upon as my word is not worth much so I will wait till I come home.  You wanted to know when that would be and which way I would come.  I don’t know when it will be, but think it will be between this and October and I expect to come on the Denver and Rio Grand and get off in Salt Lake.

As you didn’t take the colt home, I would rather he would stay where he is until I come.  We have just returned from where we have been trying to open a new field.  We have had a warm time both with the people and the weather, but came out right side up in argument.  Was abused and slandered considerable.  We are feeling tolerable well but rather worn and weary with the hot weather.  I understand the thermometer has been over one hundred.  I am standing the heat better than I anticipated.  I hope when this comes to hand it will find you all well and in peace.  Kiss little May for me.  Give my love to father and mother and all my brothers and sisters and friends and accept the same yourself.  And don’t think next time that you haven’t got a true friend on earth and that all is deceitful.  May God bless you and help you to live right is the earnest prayer of yours, as ever.

Alexander Bills

 

August 12th 1884
Glenalfine Station, Burke Co., N.C.

R.C. Bills
South Jordan

Dear Friend:

With pleasure I now pen you a few lines in answer to your welcome letter of the 31st July which came to hand today.  It found Alexander well and hardy and I hope in due time this will come to hand and find you all well and serving the Lord.  It has been so long since I saw you that I have most forgotten how you all look, more particularly the children.  Brother Hobson thinks that they had ought to keep me here until next spring.  What think you?  I received a letter from James Beddo today, all is well with them.  He has not put in any crop, only potatoes.  “Times is tight he says, and work.”  Mary didn’t even say “Howdy.”

From the way you are going it on the currants; I suppose you are laying up the cash by the handful, “Ha, Ha!”  Well, that’s right fix for a rainy day.  I hope things will be half way decent when I come.  I will straighten with father when I come.  I meant the wool money from Uncle Henry to fetch me home, but alas, I fear.  Was the colt running out when you left fathers?  How much has he been worked or rode?  I must stop as I am at the end.  Kiss little May for me, be faithful and do your duty.  Give my regards to your folks in writing.  May the peaceful influence of the good spirit be your guide is the earnest prayer of yours, as ever.

A. Bills

You wanted to know all about my coming home.  I can tell you better when I get there.  I have been there a time or two.  Why didn’t you keep me?

August 27th 1884
Glenalfine Station, Burke Co., N.C.

My Dear Family:

With peculiar feelings I pen you a few lines this morning, having received the sad news of the cold-blooded murder of two of our Elders and two of the Saints in Tennessee.

I sometimes feel like those of old, how long, Oh, Lord holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that are now perpetrating these deeds.  Yet a little while and then woe unto this nation and all others that reject the servants of God.  It looks as though they were ripe for destruction.

But as President Roberts said in a letter to me a few days ago, “Their cup cannot be termed full until they have heard the gospel.”  And said he, “It seems as though we have to preach it under very trying circumstances, which is most assuredly a fact that cannot be controverted”.  I cannot describe my feelings when I hear and see our people abused, whipped tarred and shot down like dogs without any chance of defense.  But we cannot expect it otherwise, for as the  Savior said “If they call the master of the house Beelzebub, the prince of devils, how much more those of His, household.”  If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.  If they receive me they will also receive you.  If you was of the world, the world would love you, but you are not of the world for I have chosen you out of the world.  Therefore, the world hath you, but if it hates you, you know it hated me before it hated you and so forth.

Woe unto you hypocrites!  Because you build the tombs of the prophets and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous and say if we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

Fill up then the measure of your fathers.  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of Hell?  Wherefore behold, I send unto you prophets and wise men and scribes; and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues and persecute them from city to city; but says the Savior, “This gospel of the kingdom must be preached to all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come.”

So as I before stated, we must expect such treatment.  The gospel has got to be preached and no doubt that many more of the Saints and Elders will seal their testimony with their blood and not withstanding that it is a deep and sore trial for the bereaved ones that are left to mourn their loss.
 
They have this assurance, their reward is certain and their salvation is sure; they are beyond the reach of those demons who are thirsting after the blood of the Saints.  They have finished their course; they have kept the faith, therefore, a crown of righteousness awaits them.

Since last writing we have been visiting around considerable and just returned to our office yesterday.  Times are pretty lively with the people at present.  They are now having their big camp meetings and protracted or distracted meetings and also political speeches.

Some seem to think that it is honorable to insult and slur us.  We were in the neighborhood a few days ago when the Elders were run out by a mob.  Last summer, we were sitting in front of a house close to the road when the leader of the mob above mentioned came along and seeing us exclaimed, apparently in astonishment, “There is them damned Mormons again!”

It seems to be astonishing and pass the comprehension of this people to know what induces us to face the world and its dangers so boldly.  The cause is simple and easily answered; we will use the words of the Savior.  “He that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father or mother, or wife, or children or lands, for my namesake, shall receive an hundred fold; and shall inherit everlasting life.”  And again, he that seeketh to save his life shall lose it, but he that loseth his life for my name, shall find it.”  If we are serving our Master in spirit and in truth, we are safe in life or in death.

May God bless you my dear family and spare our lives hat we may again meet in his own due time.  Live right and in peace.

I will close with my love to you.  Kiss my babies for me and tell them to be good children.  From your husband and father.

Alexander Bills

P.S.    We expect to start for conference about the 5th or 6th of September.  Will not get back to our office before the 20th or later.  You wanted to know how many days I was coming.  I think I was traveling six days and nights.  You will please excuse bad writing and mistakes, my pen is very poor and my hand a little out of tune.

September 23rd 1884
Glenalfine Station, Burke Co., N.C.

R.C. Bills

Dear Friend:

I once more pen you a few lines in answer to your kind and welcome letters that came to hand yesterday.  It had been some time since I had heard from home and, of course, I was more than pleased to get back to my post office.  We have had a long weary walk.  We started on the 17th from Surry County and arrived here yesterday night worn and weary.  I have no time to rest; it will keep me busy to wind up my affairs.  I start for Rainhill today, will be back tomorrow.

My health is good; we escaped the mob in Wilkes County.  Had to sleep in an old church one night.  If all is well I will start for home on the 30th of September.  Will arrive in Salt Lake on the 7th or 8th on the Denver and Rio Grand.  Can’t say what time in the day the train arrives.  When this comes to hand I will be on my way.

I guess this will be my last from North Carolina.  Tell father and mother not to feel slighted because I didn’t write to them.  I have been so busy and I thought you could tell them.  Give my love to all my folks and don’t forget Rachel and Lilly.  You won’t have to wait much longer so be of good cheer.

Thanks love for the $2.00.  You said for me not to get homesick.  I haven’t had time to get homesick.  No more for this time.

From yours as ever,

Alexander Bills
September 25:  Was at Rainhill yesterday.  Baptized six persons.  I am very busy.
NOTE:  the following are miscellaneous letters written to Rachel Clemency Bills by Alexander Bills, before and after his mission.

February 27th 1881
Juab County

Dear Wife:

It is with pleasure I embrace the opportunity of letting you know how we are prospering. We are well at present and hope this will find you the same.

You don’t know how well I would like to see you; this has been a lonesome winter for me.  I haven’t heard from home but once this winter.  I would have been awfully glad to of come home this winter but I have got a big responsibility on me for every sheep that is lost comes out of my pocket.

You know if a man loves his family, he will provide for them even if he has to make a sacrifice against his feelings.  But my little family is never off from my mind nor forgotten in my prayers, for they are my life, my hope in this life and in the life to come; our future happiness depends upon this life.

I haven’t much time for writing at present.  I hope you will do right and live in peace at home and try to please me and take a straight forward course.

Samuel Butterfield is here for some mutton and it is just luck that I got to write a few lines to you.

Robert Dansie is coming out here I expect right away.  And if you wish to write to a lonesome husband, get it ready as soon as this comes to hand, as Rob is likely to call anytime for to see if you have anything to send to me.

Excuse a short letter for this time.  I have no particular news as we don’t get to hear from any white man hardly.  I would like to hear from you awful as I can’t see you at present.  Be of good cheer; remember your covenants with the Lord, in the house of the Lord.  May the Lord bless you and protect you from evils is the prayer of your cold-hearted husband.  (For R.C.)

Alex Bills

July 19th 1881
Chock Creek

Dear Wife:

It is with pleasure I embrace the opportunity of writing to you to let you know we are still alive.  I hope you are all well.  I have been very sick since I cam back.  George and Lew has got over here.  They lost 200 head of sheep coming over; I went back to help them hunt.  We rode a part of one night and slept out without any bed clothes worth speaking of and rode hard all next day with one meal.  I caught a heavy cold and riding in the hot sun I think was the cause of my sickness.

I lay or two days and nights hardly able to move a quilt around to keep out of the sun.  The tent was not set and everything upside down and I couldn’t do a thing and no one to do anything for me until Frank heard I was sick, then he came over and done all he could for me.  I began to wish for my little cross girl again so I could hear her cry.

If you hear of any sheep being found, send word over here by mail or someway.  We only found 25 or 30, some of them had been shot and the rest shut up in Robison’s corral and I went to get them.  I had quite a time with him.  I jawed with him about an hour then I started to get on my horse to go to court.  Will and I told him if I went, I would make it cost him something and the old chap let them go.

I guess I have wrote enough sheep business and sickness, so now for love.  I am all alone; I had a heck of a time to get my supper last night.  Just as I got my old bake kettle hot, the rain came pouring down and cooled it off again and put my fire out and if I hadn’t been of a mild disposition, I don’t know what I would have said.

Well, I haven’t got much more to write on so I have to get at the last of it.  Give my love to father and mother and Lydia and Ruby and Avarilla and that other little sister and the rest of them if there is any.  Take good care of my little ewe lamb for me and kiss her for me and I will pay you for it.  From your affectionate husband.

A. Bills

December 18th 1881
Rush Valley

Dear Wife:

It is with pleasure I write you a few more lines to let you know how I am getting along.  We are well at present and hope you are enjoying the same blessing.

I heard they had a nice party to Will’s and disfellowshipped some of them.  Well, the time is near when we will show our true color, whether we will serve our Father or the adversary.  I hope we will stand firm to the cause of truth and keep ourselves pure before the Lord; that we may gain eternal life and enjoy ourselves in a family circle.

Hereafter keep away from all dances and company that is not right.  Help to do good and live in peace at home…be what you profess to be; remember your covenants in the House of the Lord.  They are worth more than you can anticipate gold and silver or all the precious things of this earth is nothing in comparison to eternal life.

My earnest prayer morning and night is for my family that they may do right, live in peace and keep from that which is evil.  If you do this, you will be happy and at the same time make a pleasant man out of me.

My letters are small but do not bawl, I haven’t go much paper so don’t care a tater no more.  At present, goodbye from your true and loving husband.

Alexander Bills

1881
Rush Valley

Dear Wife:

With great pleasure I sit down in our great house in this great valley to write you a great big letter.

My health is excellent, my spirits high and temper calm and serene, so I don’t think I will say one cross word, hain’t that nice?  Just like I always am, couldn’t help being that way could I?  For you are always so good and kind and loving and true and obedient and tender-hearted and all other good things.  I don’t know what I would do if I had a woman like some that are so cross and disobedient.  Well, I couldn’t help liking you I guess if you was like that.  But, of course, as you ain’t, it makes me fairly love you, couldn’t help it if I should try.

You like me a little for loving you so much don’t you dear?  I hope when this comes to hand it will find you and Lilly well.  Also that you are trying to do your part to keep peace and doing as you would wish to be done by.  Remember if you do this, God will bless you and Rachel dear; I will love you with all my heart.

It is now about 8 or 9 o’clock in the night and I am here all alone.  Frank intends to start home day after tomorrow.  I am looking for Henry tomorrow and then he will herd with John until Frank returns and that will be 10 or 11 days and poor Eckey, got to stay all alone.

This is a poor place for news so I guess you will have to give me the news and when I come home I will give you a-a-a, the sweetest kiss is what I was trying to say.

Our sheep are quite poor but the weather is very favorable which is a great blessing to poor sheep and for sheep men.  Frank and John were over and ate supper with me the other night.  I made a bean soup; wouldn’t you of like some of it?  Or would you like some of the other best?  Well, well, excuse jokes for I get a terrible LLL full of them, I mean sometimes.  Golly, I can’t think of anymore to write tonight and it is bedtime so I guess I will have to finish tomorrow if the sheep herds good.

Well, goodnight Sally dear.  I am sadly disappointed tonight.  Frank came over and I got supper and waited some time for Henry.  We expected him sure tonight but he has disappointed us. I thought I would hear from home and then answer this.  Can’t do it now for Frank is going to start home tomorrow.  He is waiting for this so I will have to close by saying, God bless you, do your duty.  Good night and goodbye for the present Rachel dear.  From your affectionate husband.

Alexander Bills

March 2nd 1885
South Jordan

R.C.N.B.

Dear Friend:

I now drop you a line in answer to yours which came to hand Friday.  I was pleased to learn of the welfare of you all and that all was well as I am happy to say this also leaves us.

You spoke of coming home and paying us a visit soon.  Stay where you are for a while.  I think I will come out sometime this month or the first of next.  Several of our people of both sex have left for a season.

Be careful and do your duty, the devil isn’t dead yet.  I have bought Wese out, have four head of horses and have traded out.

So with my love to you all I will close.  Respectfully your friend.

Note:  This letter was not signed.

November 9th 1887
Utah Penitentiary

Rachel C. Bills

Dear Wife:

Once more I pen you a line.  I pen you a line to inform you that I am well and hearty and enjoying myself the best kind under the circumstances.  This, of course, is a new life (or a change in the old one) that is not altogether pleasant as I have always been use to an active life with unlimited grounds to roam upon.  In saying this, I am not finding any fault with any officer of this place as I haven’t had the least cause to complain in that direction.

My time so far has been pretty well occupied whether profitable or not.  I have just finished a tidy for mother and started on one for Mary Hannah and as soon as that is done, I will make one for Aunt Emily.  I would like to finish them by visiting day.  Uncle is furnishing the material for the two last names and I will make them so they will be a present from both.  How did you like yours?

Your letters are rather too far apart. Don’t be afraid to write if the Warden does have to read them, he is a whole-souled fellow and has wrote, I suppose a great many letters to his wife.  Cheer up and be good to yourself, you have no room for a doubt.  Kiss the baby for me.  My kind regards to mother and grandmother, also to my brothers and sisters if you see any of them.

If you can get word to Will, tell him I am owing Carson about $3.00 and Snider between 50 cents and a dollar and for him to settle with them if he can as he goes out.

I shall have to quit making tidies as I haven’t got time to attend to my studies properly.  I have been studying in daytime and working at the tidies on my bunk at night.
With kind love and best wishes I remain yours as ever,

Alexander Bills

December 17th 1887
Utah Penitentiary

R.C. Bills
South Jordan

Dear Wife:

With pleasure I once more take my pen in hand to answer your welcome letter that has just come to hand; also one that I received last week.  I was pleased to learn that all was well.  My health has been excellent most of the time since I came to stay with Uncle Sam but for the last two days I have been troubled with the cramp.

If Nephi can make my boots against next visiting day, send them up with mother.  Tell him I want a good pair of French hip boots with tap soles.  I am well pleased with the price and more for I feel he is making them partly as a favor.  Please say as much to him for me, also my regards to himself and wife.

You wanted to know how many balls of cotton there was in your tidy.  There was 10 balls in each of those large ones and 3 in the small ones.  I think I will be through with my studies, or at least far enough when my release comes so that I will be able to come home.  Or do you think I had better stay the balance of the winter?  In writing to your folks, remember me to them.  Also my kind regards to Berta and Mary Hannah, with many thanks for their remembering me with a welcome line occasionally.  They will pardon me for not answering as they know our writing out is limited.

I guess I have said enough for once.  I will close by saying be kind to yourself and remember me as oft as you please.  With kind love and best wishes, I remain yours as ever.

Alexander Bills

The following is a note broken off from a letter written at the penitentiary.

We have only about five days work to finish and then we will be through with the bookkeeping.  I am now working in mathematics and will continue in that branch of studies until my time is up.  I was rather under the weather last Saturday, therefore, neglected writing.

I will now close with kind love and best wishes to yourself and children and truly subscribe myself, yours as ever.

Alexander Bills

P.S.  Tell Lilly to be a good girl at school and learn as fast as she can, and tell Pete to kiss the baby for me and here is a kiss for the baby. XX

January 28th 1891
Gale

R.C. Bills

Dear Wife:

Once more I pen you a line in answer to yours of the 20th that came to hand yesterday.  I was pleased to hear from you and to learn that you were all well.  There has been more sickness here this winter than I ever knew here.  Jim Beckstead was buried last Saturday and there is quite a number of children and some older ones very sick  Several of the boys has come in from the herd sick.

I was out to the herd last week and I think I will go again next week to bring in poor sheep.  Tomorrow night I will be in Salt Lake before the high council to answer to Raleigh’s charges.

I have been in the habit of writing from two to three letters a month to you, and last I wrote three and our answer to all of them was only once a month and then full of slurs.  And you said you did not like to stay on the ranch this winter, so I wrote for you to rent a place at Manassa and then you grumbled and did not want to go to Manassa.  And again, you told me and also wrote “That you couldn’t stand it to live down in Colorado, you had rather go to your folks or do any way than to stay there.”  So when I spoke of a change or a likelihood of one, you went on at a terrible rate and insulted and slurred me as much as you was well able to do.  So taking it all into consideration, I concluded I wouldn’t write for a while and see if you would come to your right mind and not be so contrary.  For whatever I said, you would find a different way.  But I don’t wish to quarrel; I have enough to contend with but from your letters, I have a pleasant smooth road to travel.

You must remember that I must stick to business until I either sink or swim.  If you will stop for a moment or two and consider what I have had to pay out and the expenses, besides my loss in sheep, and the losing of my homes and my debts must be paid and the sheep must be made up.  And to have a woman think this is pleasant.  It is an easy matter to spend money and get into debt and trouble but to extricate oneself from those things are far from pleasant.

I have labored earnestly and been against a good many disadvantages and have been saving to try to make ends meet.  I have considerable to meet this spring bit if I have good luck; I hope to get through the half of it.

My mind is worried tonight and I am not well so I will try and write again in the course of a week.  I cannot collect my thoughts enough tonight to say all I want to satisfactory, so I will wait.

Kill the calf if you think best and do what is best with the pig.  What are you paying Will for getting wood?  I don’t want him to work for nothing; I will write him as soon as I can.  Tell Lilly to be a good girl and Marve to be a good boy so he can help me do lots of work.  Willy and Roy are both staying at home.  There is too much to do here to let them go to school.

Goodbye, my love to all and to Will’s folks, as ever.

Alexander Bills

Note:  I thought you said Will moved to Joe Draper’s last fall.

May 24th 18??
Sheep Camp

R.C. Bills

Dear Wife:

Today is Sunday and it is the first day that we have stopped pulling wool since we started.  I tried to hire help but could not, therefore, we are doing double work ourselves tending the sheep and pulling wool.  The sheep smells so bad that it is simply awful and they are so hard to pull.  We are all worn out; our fingers and hands are swelled and lame.  I tell you it takes grit and nerve to stay with it.  We have pulled the wool off a little over 400, and tomorrow if nothing hinders, we will continue until they are done.

My losses this year is almost enough to make the strongest heart ache. But for one that is as use to losses as I am, a few cows and a few horses and a few hundred head of sheep don’t cut much figures.

Up to the 19th, there was but one day but what it blowed and snowed and drifted and covered up lambs and froze them to death as fast as they would come.  It sometimes looks as though earth and hell was combined together to destroy all that was on the face of the earth.  I never saw anything to equal it and now while I write, the wind is blowing a gale such as is seldom seen only in this hell hole.

Well, Rachel, I suppose we have got to keep on digging away.  It seems the Devil is determined to hinder me from prosperity.  But by the help of God I will rise and pay my debts and stand a free man.  It requires more than ordinary patience and firmness but I will not give it up.  God, being my helper, I will stay with the sheep until they pull me out of debt and have a home that my family will not be ashamed of.  I am no milk and water kind even if I am pretty well stirred up.  The sheep owes me and it is going to come out of them.
I may be at home about the 12th or 15th.  I did not notice this is a count of mine and G.S. Bills, sheep and crops on this side of my paper until I had written on the other side.  Kiss the children for me. Keep the spirit of truth in your heart that all will be well with you.  With kind love to all, I remain as ever yours.

A. Bills
 

Alexander Bills died of natural causes, age 73, February 20, 1930. 

Rachel Clemency Neel Bills died two years later of natural causes, age 72, January 15, 1932.

They were blessed with eight children, two boys and six girls.  Lilly May, Cyrus (Marve), Florence (Flossy), Katherine (Grace), Hazel (Blanche), Merle Clemency, Claude, Hattie (Leone).