From the papers of Juanita Duncan. The retyped pages from the original letter to Penelope Wells Duncan from her brother Peyton Wells who was believed by Juanita to be a "prominent political figure in the State of Tennessee". Penelope was widowed and living in the State of Texas with her son, John Bruce.

Shelbyville, Tennessee
April 18, 1860

"Dear Sister Penelope Duncan,

"Your letter the 7th of April 1860. I was glad to hear that you are well and doing well. I can't say that I am well. I am far from being well. I am in a very feeble state of health at present.I have almost lost my sight, my head has a giddiness in it and sometimes I cannot walk without. I am in a bad situation at this time to write. The connection is all well. I believe you said you wanted to know where your Frankie's two girls live, and their post office. They live in Bedford county somewhere but their post office I do not know. I expect if you would direct your letter to Shelbyville, Tennessee, they might get it. Direct it to Thomas Hazard (possibly this is Lazard, handwriting has faded) as Penelope married him. Their county is Lincoln".

"Provision is plenty enough for him that has money. I will just say everything is high. I never have been as scarce of corn since I lived on Wells Creek and it was 53 years age, 8th day of April, this month. Corn is a dollar a bushel most everywhere through the country. I sell at $1.50 on the road".

"I shall now turn to politics. John wanted to know how Tennessee stood. I shall tellhow she has voted for several years. In Tennessee we have had an election, or a count, between the democratic and independent parties as Selarates. From the admission of Tennessee into the Union in 1796 to 1836 there was but one regular or organized party in the state. That was the old Republican or Democratic party that voted for Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Madison, James Monroe and Andrew Jackson. In the 1836 the state was divided between Judge Hugh L. White of Tennessee and Martin Vanburen of New York for President. Each ran as a Democratic. In 1840 the state became permanently divided into the Whig and Democratic parties. The State voted that year for Harrison the Whig candidate for president. In 18__ (1844?) Henry Clay was the candidate for the whigs and James K. Polk was the democratic candidate for President. Tennessee voted that year for Mr. Clay, a 119 majority. In 1848 Tennessee voted for General Taylor, the whig candidate over General Cass the democratic candidate. In 1852, General Scott the Whig candidate for President. Tennessee voted for General Scott. In 1853 Andrew Jackson was the democratic candidate for governor of the state. After that the Whis party disbanded. In 1855 the Know-Nothing Party appeared in the field as the adversary of the democratic party. Colonel Meredity P. Gentry was the candidate of the Know-Nothings for governor against Andrew Johnson, the candidate for the democrats. Johnson was elected. The canvass in Tennessee was between the two parties, James Buchanan the democratic candidate and Millard Fullmore the Know-Nothing candidate, or the American as the party was sometimes called.Tennessee voted for James Buschanan. In 1857 Isham G. Harris was elected governor of the state over Robert Halton, the Know-Nothing candidate. Last year the Democratics nominated Isham G. Harris for re-election and theKnow-Nothings or American dropped that name and called themselves the Opposition, ranJohn Netherland as the opposition candidate. Harrison was elected by 8,000 majority, so you see that since 1852 Tennessee has uniformily voted the Democratic ticket. But I am not able to say how the state will vote for President next November, but I believe it will vote for the nominee of the Charleston Convention which will meet in about two weeks from this time".

"I have no doubt that the nominee will get the state. Tennessee is now a democratic state. I believe it will stand firm in the faith as long as the black-hearted Republican party shall remain the the field, the only formidable foe of the Democratic party and of the South. The Democratic party is now the National party in the country and will be able to administer the general government upon the principles of the Constitution and protect the rights of every section of this great country and preserve the Union. At least, such are my opinions".

"Well, John Duncan, I have given you a small history of Tennessee and of how she voted, so I shall say no more on politics."

"If you receive this latter I want you to write again. Write what has become of Percy Duncan and John Painter. Sister Penelope, we are both getting old. I have been in 74 since November last and you will 69 the 20th of Septemeber next. We cannont have correspondence much longer unless it is the Lord's will to preserve us and help us in our old days. Anthony will be 79 the 15th day of June next. Of course, our days have been many. We should read the 24th Chapter of Matthew, 44th verse and keep it in memory". "There be ya also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh".

"I want you to be sure to write.

(Signed) Peyton Well"

The last paragraph of this letter states that Penelope will be 69 the 20th of September next. With the letter dated April 1860, Penelope's year of birth would be 1791. Could Peyton be wrong or was she born as of the year found on her gravestone?

Gravestone inscription in Pecan Cemetery, Llano Co.:
"In Memory of Penelope Duncan, Born Sep 20, 1788, Died July 1, 1862, Aged 74 yr, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever".

May2008 Update: From Mike Wells copies of Peyton Wells family bible confirm year of Birth for Penelope Wells as 1791

• Married: ABT 1810 in Tennessee

1. George Washington Duncan II b: 12 Feb 1813 in Tennessee
2. John Bruce Duncan b: 22 Apr 1822 in Alabama
3. Rebecca E. Duncan b: 7 May 1826 in Tennessee or Georgia
4. Julian Duncan b: 1824 in Tennessee