“Esstemed
friends many years passed but not forggoten through that great blessing I am numbered
among the liveing we had almost
come to the conclusion that one or both of you was gone to that long home from
were no traveler returns. I rote you a full large sheet about 7 or 8 years ago
directed it to
“Dear Friends I will now try to address you by way of pen
and ink I received your most welcome letter was glad to hear of your health and
whealth I expect we are both better off than if we had of moved to Iowa we gave
up our first tract of land to old Tom lost the first payment, bougth this
Gividen 80 acres for 1.33 dollars 14 years ago 50 or 60 acres under cultivation
and a variety of fruit, in the year 1846 built a frame barn 30 feet by 54 last
summer had to stack hay and wheat out wheat here was very good last year we sold
wheat to the amount of 134 dollars and 4 cents cash, 110 and 115 when we sold
ours now it is 140 cents at Scipio our house was put up as soon as we bought
built out of some of those large poplar hewed down to ten inches we had to give
possession so we moved in your house one month wile they was building the
neighbors volunteered on sunday put the shingels on one side the same is on yet
the other was covered with boards till they could put it on 20 feet by 30 one
story and half three rooms down two up, kitchen on the east end 12 feet wide
seller under it 3 twelve light windows in it but we expect to rebuild after
harvest the seller is walled up with logs they are on the decay 5 years ago we
had a new brick chimney built house wheather boarded and painted white, in side
is all plastered and painted downstairs on the south side a porch the whole
length A nice bed room on the west end A good well of water at the kitchen door
pump in it A lattice work all around it and the side of the porch we don't have
to go in the sun or rain to get a bucket of water also portice at the north door
all white it is decorated now with the snow ball and sweet brier nice green yard
boarded in garden on the south I have four biervaues in the house one is because
one set of cane bottom chairs cost 8.50, carpet all over the floor downstairs. I
am making more, for up stairs six beds and give two away and feathers enough for
another two cupboards one with a set of 7 dollar dishes in, also one glass jar
of cand blackberries. To step oven and I will soon have the cap of [written on
side - don't forget to rite Mrs. Powel sends her love to you. I hope this may
find you all well as this leaves us]
I have 25 head of cattle in the woods 3 yoke of 5 year old
steer 6 young calves soon have two more sold one for 20 dollars. I have 2 horses
and a young colt our cattle doe not do us well now in the woods as when you was
here 17 head of hogs and only 3 head of sheet 3 years ago I bought 100 acres
lying south of this 80 ware we lived. I am now paying tax for three eighty every
poplar tree was taken off and some oak was to pay 13 hundred dollars. I cannot
say like Polly that I am out of debt I am in debt for the land 95 or 97 dollars
near as I can remember 20 acres partly cleared when I got it the next year had
it in corn it made a fine field of corn last spring it was wet John only got
about half in corn now in wheat and oats on the east side we have ten acres in
corn this spring of new ground. John got done yesterday planting corn we have 22
varieties. John tends the farm for a share of the grain and hay he has one horse
one colt one buggy three calves is all the stock he has and four forty's in this
state one eighty in Iowa with James 200 and one eighty in Kansas with James 228
acres. Hughes is no more here I guess I told you the price he sold for but I
will tell you again 230 acres for three thousand dollars. John got a letter they
say they like better than they ever did here but I think when the ague and milk
sick gets them down they will think of their old home they are near Paletine Ill
not far from Vincenees. I said all Susan is at T. Wilkerson's David is married
liveing at a saw mill by David Forces. Oh Polly waht a family they have been
more than I want to put on paper perhaps you seen or herd of
[22 May 1859] John Hobbs burried his wife and I think they
say he is in
“Dear Friends, it has been a long silence between us
but I hope you will forgive me when I give my reasons for not answering your
very acceptable letter. I have wanted to see Phebe but have not saw her yet and
other household affairs that I have not felt like riting. Dear Polly we have
pretty near to be connections by marriage as I will tell you hereafter, Charles
told John they know nothing of your brother's widdow your Sister Mary is married
the third time to a neighbor an irishman married by the Irish priest So is the
story your nephew Frank Sprout has been boarding and going to our school he i
reading in the 3rd reader he is now going to the uper school the man he was
boarding with moved from here I have not saw him his sister I expect has a good
home she is or was at J. Smiths his wife was a Peabody. Poor Mrs. L. is no more
she departed this life in August 27. John and me went to Ohio three weeks before
she died she had had her reason till the last but oh what a poor skeleton she
was she requested to be burried here in our burrying ground by Peter Hulses,
also your sisters Matilda's mother is enterd there her Tom is liveing down on
the Wiliver land she died the 4th of July last Mary McConnel I expect you knew
her she went to the Eastern states married a James Kelley moved back here again
she has one son and daughter. Father Snowden has got to be quite young he goes
without his cane and carrys a watch in his picket, I think told you nothing
about Bikelys they are here yet their oldest daughter is married. I oft times
think of the time we have had together in our visits. Down there they have a
large family and neighbors near the irish has settled in south of Millers. I
must tell you we have got a road up the stoney branch after harvest we expect to
open it on through to the township line. Mrs. Hughes has been back for money. I
did not see her but oh they are so well pleased with their new home they are
sorry they did not sell sooner. Old John was very sick they did not think he
could live all the family was sick but Mary and she had the chills wile here
Susan went out there had a spell of sickness came back she is at T. Wilkersons
again she is a good looking and a smart it will not do to say girl, their dead
daughter was brought home a corss from Cincinnati next day after she was burried
they made snoe confess the old man run Dave off he was gone about two years his
mother herd ware he was went and got him home such child and her mother look as
though they were twins one 3 weeks older than the other both girls Dave never
saw the child it died at about 15 months old even after that they all went down
one thing after another then two years ago this winter Vick's case was in the
papers after Dave came back he acted very prudent all seem to pitty him but such
was just the other way every one talking about her and all their own opinion
about her it seems the girls is all inclined to do bad or at any rate that is
the chat of them that is liveing and the two that is dead and gone. I thought of
sending you the paper but I do not know as I can find it. A number of times old
Jony would get drunk run his wife and 3 or four of the children she would go to
Toms and Eveleth's stay 2 or 3 days he would send or go for her most generaly
they have I guess lived an unhapy life them and us never had a word she used to
tell me all her troubles concerning him before they came, Margaret is in
Cincinnati some says Vick is at St. Louis Elviry the baby when they came here is
with them or with her parents they have 3 sons at home and 2 small girls they
have found burried here. Do you know what has become of Ann Eastman she went to
Queensville to wait on a sick woman the old man Rich's wife she died, in a very
short time after her death Ann married the old white headed widdow she is now a
widdow with a good home liveing in a brick house or I have not herd of her
leaveing or marrying she has buried one of her children since she went out
there, this morning made a serch in a pile of papers for Vick's case but did not
find it her mother went up to Cincinnati three times to attend court against a
married man he came out clean and she got nothing. I guess I will quit or I fear
you will be tired of hearing so much about them. Rowly you would not believe the
wheat that we harvested here now I formly had an idea it would not grow on this
poor land, wheat is worth 115 corn 45 to 50 cents oats 37 to 40 cents butter 15
cents egg 12 ˝ pork 550 to 600 one hundred cash for it now turkeys 50 cents cash
yesterday 23 John been and myself went to Queensville to see Roderick Griffiths
wife she is not expected to live but a short time she cannot sit up but a short
time she has 6 children the youngest only 14 months old. I expect you will know
who she is the one you went to your uncles to see baptised, we had forgotten
about your children. I well remember your dear daughter, Mary. I must now tell
you of my heart troubles it was and is tryal my babe my youngest daughter was
married on the fifth inst. to John M. Green an uncle to Tom's wife he is called
a very nice man he is teaching school in the Dean school house Mary Toms and
Horris Eastmans children is going to his school he is a carpenter by trade I
thought it hard to part with my other girls it was hardly no comparison as I may
say. I do not know how I can see them move away from me she has always been more
company for me than either one of the others. They do not know yet ware they
will get to move when his school is out. Egbert's wife was only about 15 years
of age when they was married she is a granddaughter of Aaron Green he did live
when you was here west of Vernon he sold out bought near North Vernon. I would
like to send you a
Respected friends I will try to answer your welcome letter
received a few days after date was glad to hear you was all well I intended to
answer it immediately but I did not we have had so many work hands all this fall
they have left now on the account of cold wether the carpenter not done neither
is the plastering done he put one coat on the kitchen and made me a cistern then
left till warm wether our kitchen is 16 by 20 feet but my on the north 5 feet a
seller under the kitchen with a good stone wall a foot thick our house is now 46
feet long and two storry high the room over the kitchen is one room, over the
old house is divided in three rooms upstairs two 12 lighted windows on each end
and four on each side of three lighted windows possibly 16 inches makes a long
window. They do very well and look better than I expected we have good corn this
fall 9 acres of new ground, our wheat in general was pretty good although some
had plenty of deat, we had 290 bushels, billy Beaty bought the section he died
last May they have a nice farm now and a never failing spring the widdow had 234
of wheat Wm Waldorp had some over four hundred bushels of wheat, the Snowdan
farm is vacant this summer it is to be sold next spring the old man is at his
sons James out North, none of the Dividens has been here to see any thing about
the property, Peter Hulse is the only near neighbor that is left when we came
here, and he has very poor health his daughter was married last spring John
Dutch has two daughters married, Mrs Roderick Griffith died last April he has
got a young wife of 14 summers one year ago Mary Waldorp married an old widdower
with 6 children their oldest is 21 married lately, your uncle Rowely [Eastman]
looks about like he did when you was here. I see him at Scipio church he came
and chated a while with me him and J Griffith was there together in a buggy your
aunt Sally has got a new addision to their house, I have not seen Phebe only at
meeting so I have not heard Mary name yet Charles could not recolect her name
Egbert is pap they have a daughter 6 or 8 months old, among the rest my daughter
Sary is mother she has a girl 5 weeks old they call it Lucy bell Green they live
in Redington in Jackson County about 6 miles from here he has been to work at
his trace this summer, my daughter becca is teaching school over on sand creek
by George McConnels she get publick money 70 dollars for four months boards
herself last spring she taught a three months school for 2 dollars a school and
at Redington she teaches about 6 months in a year if she does not go to school
she has been in the same house two or three times before, she went out to our
state fair was gone 3 weeks visiting one place and another connections and
friends, Hannah and myself has had quite a hand through this fall haveing so
many to cook for they have been so long at work here. Oh I do miss Sary so much
she was my best company she was always very kind and affectionate lively and
cheerful also her tunes in the kitchen. John and hannah has no voice for
singing. Miran Eveleth is teaching he get 20 dollars his first school in our
school house on the section this side of the creek, there is quite an addition
added to old Scipio. Joel Amick and brother has built a large two story apart of
it story and half store house for John T. Butters son manlove. I expect you have
not forgotten him, every one seems to like him he makes all trade goes to buy
all the goods and gets the most custom he is a very smart turned fellow his two
brothers is not here one of them went off and left his wife, this fall John sold
21 head of stock hogs for 1:17 dollars all cash I have 8 in the pen for our meat
yesterday the boy went to Queensville with 21 turkeys 50 cents each dozen hens
150 cents butter 16 cents in North Vernon it is 12 and 20 cents North Vernon is
geting ahead of old Vernon, we have two young gents here from Ohio on a visit
John went with his cousins to my soninlaws last night on their way to Charles
Wilkins I commence this thought I would have it done in a short time they come
steping in so I laid it by Polly do not scold and I will try to do better next
time I had no idea but I should have wrote sooner, before I got answer from you
I thought you had not received my letter, I expect you will think so again, it
appears as though I had every thing on my mind that a woman would have you have
not had the management of all in door and out I hope you may not have it ever to
do, it is a tryal to manage, many tryals and troubles in this world that I hope
we may be prepared to meet in another world ware parting is no more, we have had
some sickness through this fall but no deaths, when I think of your
huckleberries how I would like to have some with you I was so fond of them when
I was young in New Jersey many years ago we have plenty of blackberries I have 8
or 10 gallons cand up, grapes and tomatoes last year we did not use all we had
cand we had but few apples in our orchard not a peach any ware about here this
fall I would be glad to see you one and all but I do not expect to, your sisters
does not visit after two years this summer since Mary was here to see Phebe then
Egbert went for her, Egberts motherinlaw and Phebe has been coming here all
summer not come yet now I do not look for them I guess your relatives is all
well as far as I know I must tell you there is another young Muster, I believe
did not tell you John McGehans son and only child has been to the asylum but he
is home again some time since his stepmother is very kind to him they say she
was very much concerned about him she is Charles Griffith daughter Margaret.
John is in business on the rail road I see Margaret but seldom she is dressed
fine she taught school here she does seem so glad to see me they live up at
Franklin now I believe. Now this is the last page and nothing of importance
passes my mind since I can now go up stairs and see Waldorfs house and barn ware
you know it was all in woods when you left from the Snowden farm hardly a tree
up to Hulses all cleaned up on the North sise of the creek. Simon Wimple farm
ware bill Brown lived he has no more to clear, P. Clark has deeded 20 or 30
acres on your south line to his west line joining mine the land you sold Hughes
the Stogel (?) 40 is nearly all cleared, James Rogers has moved back he has been
living ware or by his uncle Prewett he says he is bad of[f] in that place or
country no land for a home in his latter days two of his girls at home yet here
he sold out to Tom Wilkerson it is rented yearly the same old house but not
alight of glass in it only one room 8 or 10 in family.
Now the 5 day of
December and almost night I must soon come to a close Joseph Powell traded land
with his brotherinlaw M. Dean to get out of debt got I believe 18 acres now
apart of that is taken from him for a stove debt and some other property also
Now friends please excuse all mistakes and enditeing and rite soon. So farewell
with my best respects to yourself and family, Rachel Wilkins
Dear friends I will try to answer your most welcome
letter was glad to hear you was well we are enjoying that great blessing at this
time. I'd not know as I can write anything very interesting to you. I had a
short spell of sickness last January the doctor was to see me twice I was quite
feeble some time after my appetite is very good but not able to do much, becca
is now at home she has taught another school this spring in the same house ware
she taught last spring she is doing up bonnets Mary if your bonnet needs
bleaching just bring it over and it will be nicely done you may think I am
boasting if you see them you would think as I say perhaps, Egberts motherinlaw
and Phebe has been here on a visit some time ago. Egbert has built a hewd log
house on one corner of his fathers farm the word is he has a deed for half 10
acres they call their girl Ida Mary Toms is by here going to school on the
section your sister Mary was very poorly with consumption when Phebe herd from
her last she had rote letters to her but got no answer her stepson said he often
herd her speak of her brother in Michigan he said to me she got a letter from
her neace, Phebe thought not, they have rote to try and find Charles daughter is
but they get no word of wareabouts she is J Griffiths has moved back to ware he
started from they say I expect you will know better than myself now C Griffiths
farm by Queensville not the tavern stand J McGehans brother George lives there,
John Mc[Gehans] son is well as far as I can hear home with his parents, father
Snowden is very feeble they have to help him out of bed he is at his sons Joshua
2 miles north west of Scipio. Simon Wimple our neighbor that lives on the farm
ware you first moved to purchased the Snowden farm at 16 dollars 3 cents per
acre, he put fire to the house it looks quite lonesome over there, two weeks ago
this morning about sun up B R Sultons mill was burned down on Mutton Creek
supposed to be set on fire rebuilt but a short time ago but our neighborhood and
country, on every side both young and old has had the measles several deaths
some mothers have been called away to their lasting home. I never knew so many
to have them before down at Remington now in many families, my house is all
plastered this spring it cost 42 dollars and 80 cents four nice rooms upstairs
and a good warm kitchen in winter our seller keeps our milk and butter good and
cool, our spouting put up around the house it cost 22 dollars and 15 cents 12 ˝
cents per foot I guess we will have cistern water in abundance if it will rain
every other day as Rowly used to say. Oh Polly if you could or would stop over
and see the old place and the improvements since you left we have 8 or 10 acres
more new ground in corn this spring we have near 100 acres land under
cultivation all in the woods when you left here our wheat about here has a great
deal of cheat some has cut it for hay ours is light also our grass is thin on
the ground our corn looks fine they have worked it over twice we are feasting on
cherry pies have more now than ever before in the state I have 32 young turkeys
Some is cutting wheat today if it is sunny my boys is out today after our
houseware. John and myself went to North Vernon and got some furniture 2 steds 7
˝ cash set of chairs 2 rocking chairs one lounge one wash stand and a lot of tin
ware got 15 cents for butter, it only 7 and 8 cents now in Scipio but oh such
times now wheat 50 cents for new wheat I have felt so bad about the war that I
could hardly sit down with needle in hand to do a little sewing so many of our
neighbors and acquaintances gone to the field of battle David Days only son has
gone Aunt Sally Harders son Wilders son young as he is has gone Titus Hentons
oldest son I expect you will remember their parents I got a letter from one of
my nephews at Camp Dennison he had enlisted for 3 years he was to see us last
winter poor fellow I may never see him more, now almost knight so I must quit
now Thursday morning believe becca is going to Scipio my children well I believe
our neighbors also we had a very open winter no snow of any use to slay ride but
plenty of ice our rode is open to the township line we have built a house on the
south line for a tenant Dear friends good bye my best respects to one and all
rite soon. R. Wilkins
we have hived 40
swarms of bees in 11 days.
“Dear friends I will not wait for answer from you. I expect
you would be glad to hear from your Sister Mary she is very poorly the 10 of
last month they got her here to Toms, Charles Phebe and Egbert all went and
moved her I went to see her the next day on the 11 we expected she would get
better in a few days after she got rested and good nursing but Oh Polly we are
all born to die. I was to see her this week again. I took her two ripe apples
she scrape half of one and eat it she craves vituals to eat when she gets it oh
I cant eat as I did Phebe says she had no appetite to eat she is very poor in
flesh she has failed since she has come here she talks in a wisper her oldest
girl is 15 the next one is six this month he has sandy hair curls all over her
head her other girl is 8 or 10 months old the Irish man keep it she said she
could not wait on herself so they give up the child the Satterday night before
she came here her man got mad and abused her and the oldest girl was in liquor
that you know is nothing for the irish Egbert went on Sunday the constable had
him in custidy for his ill treatment poor Mary got up out of bed to save her
daughter forgot she was sick he turned upon her the neighbors came to protect
her she was so frighten she has been worse ever since he was willing for them to
move her away the two Thadama boys is makeing their home at Toms' one of them
has been to the war three months volunteers is all to meet at Vernon today to
march my folks is all gone Oh is it not heart rending to think or hear about so
many deaths on the battlefield J Waldorf has enlisted this very week another
went to Indianapolis so many mothers left to mourn their absence Betsy Waldorf
now had 3 little children they all three died with the flux the two last was
both burried one day several cases around there old L. Miller has burried two,
three more of the family has it Mrs. Waldorf has been quite sick but is better
our neighbors are all well I believe as far as I know we have had a long droutt
corn is backward now for a week past we have had several showers my cistern is
full our cattle in old Jennings has a disease among them that is pretty bad they
get very poorly doing without food but I have not herd of but two or three
dieing with it none of ours has it yet this trouble with us has put a stop to
all kind of business and ware or when will it come to a close none an tell has
your son gone to the thick of battle, Davis Days only son is gone again and many
others of the three months volunteers Egbert is talking of going but has not
gone yet. I have got some apples and nine gallons of blackberries canned up this
the 2 of you must not scold because I did not send this sooner I was waiting to
see how Mary got and she is better for 4 weeks past John and becca went to see
her last night becca staid til this morning she is up and can walk about some
please rite soon my best respects to one and all. Rachel Wilkins”
“Dear Polly I will now try answer your welcome letter wich
I receive a few days after date we have all been to meeting today John and
Hannah gone to set up with a sick child on your old farm some 8 or 10 weeks they
have been watching her we had a very good meeting today Mrs. Silver and Sally
Handenon Silver and Lilus Silver came home with us to dinner John Griffith leads
in singing if you would come to our meeting for one week from today you would
see a great change in Scipio or the people we have a very excelent minister now
a Presbyterian to that church I am a member Polly will not you think strange of
that, for it was news to my self but it had to be so or is so I feel at home and
sattisfied with the change but oh it was a tryal I do know Thought to have rote
sooner but time rolls along so fast I have been in trouble of mind both my son
in law and grandson enlisted.
Dear Polly I will now try to answer your most acceptable
epistle I was glad to hear you was all well wich I cannot say we are all well 10
of March John Green came home from the army sick he was very sick none of us
thought he would recover her is now most well again after he got better Hannah
was sick but no fever the Doctor was to see her three times and before she got
up my grandson John Lefevers was taken down with the typoid fever same as his
uncle J. Green had he is up now and has a craving appetite I don't know as we
ever had such a time before in my family we hear of sickness and deaths. I have
a sister liveing over Sand creek she buried their 2nd son 7 of last month. I was
there when I got your letter J. Green buried a brother last week of fever
yesterday he was to of been married yesterday I went again to visit the sick at
C. Toms. I found some 6 or 8 of our neighbors there I thought to rite after they
got better the doctor was there said they was all better but they all look bad
enough to me Egberts wife has been quite sick five weeks to day the doctor first
went to see her Mary Ellen White lay in the other corner. Mary Toms on a trunnel
bed Egberts little Ida has been very sick got better was worse yesterday their
baby John Charles Toms is fat and hearty and so is Marys little Josephone they
have both been there since their mothers death and poor Phebe was on another bed
she seems to be worn out and had some fever she has had hard time sure and will
have I guess I could tell you but I guess not by pen and ink you wish to know if
E had gone to war you will be a little surprised to know his father is gone E
was home on furlow 5 days last week they have been gone 5 months they are in the
fiftieth regiment they have no garden products in at all except a few u[o]nions
they have a little plowing done their man is sick now cannot put his own corn in
F. Sprout [Amos' son] is in the same regiment he is now here not able for duty
he has something like a tumor growing on his neck not well otherwise his mother'
farm has no improvement what ever I guess your aunt Saly [Eastman] is quite spry
in her old days she can walk up to Toms and not complain of being tired her
girls all married and died they have no heirs living. J and his wife parted Wm.
Tyler is liveing about
Dear and most respected friends I am now seated in my room
to answer your most welcome letter. I had to think you did not got my last
letter we are all well except bad colds I expected to of answered your letter
before now but it was put be to let you know about the wedding John Wilkins was
married to Susan Sturges last
Monday at 6 oclock in the evening
she is a sister to P Clark they own your old farm the Hughes farm 8 or 10 went
from here started early in the morning was knight getting down to her fathers
about 26 miles in Jackson County next day they was dark coming back to my house
they had a merry time for they played all knight several did not get any sleep
for two knights 47 or 48 eat supper here N Eveleth wife and son was here also my
nearest neighbors both young and old Polly is not John old enough to marry he
was born in June 1827 his wife is about 28 I believe they say she is last one
taken from her parents none left at home with them, I expect they will stay here
with me. I cannot tell how we will get along together it had been a trial for me
to think of my soninlaw J. W.
Green has got his discharge from the service is teaching our school four months
one dollar per day he has bought the place ware John Brown lived when you ware
hear 80 acres 1000 log and frame house 5 rooms frame barn about 30 bearing apple
trees 50 acres cleared they moved up there last week Sary has got the smartest sweetest little girl,
Rebecca is teaching a four months school 1˝ miles from Queensville 95 cents per day she has a full school
John also had a full school 50 odd names on his list, on the 15th inst poor old
father Snowden was burried here
by Peter Hulses he was quite
helpless through the summer none of us neighbors went to the grave yard it
snowed very hard all day and knight a foot deep on the level that you know is a
deep snow for us it fell after raining pretty hard so it soon disappeared, now 1
oclock in raining all day and all
knight we have a very open winter so far, we had a dry summer but a very wet
winter some could not get their seeding done till very late in the fall although
our corn crop came in good we had 3:11 bushels of wheat this summer. Phebe has been here twice lately her
and myself both shed tears over your letters she was glad to hear of your doing
well she is in trouble about Charles he has been in Indianapolis at the Soldiers
home a long time with a lame back three weeks ago she came here to have John to
go with her to see him he was better then a short time since he had orders to go
in the gard house or go to his
regiment, Egberts father and F
Sprout with some others was taken prisoners perhaps you see it stated in the
papers that a part of the 50 Ind
was taken prisoners they have been home since Egbert and wife was here on a visit he said he saw a
man in the army that had been at your house and was well acquainted with you
Egbert is a fine looking man
since he has been in service he is several pounds heavyer than before he favors the Sprout family, he
has a good looking little woman for a wife they have two children Ida and John
Charles she has lately united with the babtist church at Queensville with several others in their sickness
last spring they all got well again I thought maybe I was saying too much about
them so I did not tell you quite all Phebe was in a good deal of trouble about being put
off their little home wich is
only as I have said before only 10 acres three claims on it more than it will
pay I guess she expects to be turned out to look a home someware. I have herd nothing about it for along
time they came home with money perhaps they have redeemed it I guess they are
geting along very well now. Mary
Ellen White left there last fall and is liveing with her father's sister she rites she is
very well satisfied with her new home, Phebe Sprout has left Joseph Smiths her mother
wanted her to stay there she went to uncles one of the Jaynes she is staying with a stranger she is about
15 years old F Sprout 17 years old Harris Eastman buried their babe last fall
they have 3 sons living buried 4 children their eldest girl was burnt to death
by her clothes taking fire at her grandmothers while she was gone to the spring
for a bucket of water I cannot tell you their ages two of them is going to
school.
Thomas Johnston
died last August he owned all the Johnston tract of land about 5 hundred acres
he willed Peter Hulses brother
Davis 100 acres here on the creek west to Simon Wimple the balance goes to James
Johnston Jane Griffith and Peters children old Joseph Edminster is liveing yet he has got a buggy he drives that bald
face horse that you have seen running about here when you ware here some four or
five years ago he united with the babtist church here I also have that gray horse the
boys bought of Mrs Dean he does
his share of plowing corn last summer I have drove him to the buggy a great many
times and has been my riding horse Oh Polly I must tell you some about our
neighbors old aunt Judy used to say what a good neighborhood we had long before
she died she says I cannot say so now I never knew the likes in a place, Mary
Lithtect a sisters daughter to
Mrs Waldorf 24 years old had an
heir on the 26 of last month and here is Het Baty on the section has her second one, and the Dean
family a connection to the Baty
family two of them has had 3 apiece since they came here from Ohio that tribe
has left here last spring but not so far but what we hear from them and no good
report is heard of one of Clinton Deans daughter Mary east of us she is away
from home and has been for some time her father is in the same reg the fiftieth with Charles and Egbert my grandson left us last August
my soninlaw a W. Brown and nearly
all of our neighbors left for the battle field they are the 82 they was in the
battle at Murfreesboro but not one of them hurt Waldorf soninlaw ben George had his hat blowed off John Green brother was wounded in the
shoulder he is in the 37 it was made up about Vernon Oh my boy I do miss him so
very much he was always such a good boy always willing to do and was always
interested as much as his uncle John Allen has been home 2 months or more he has
been very sick and is not able to go back now, but he says he is going next week
Oh dear is it not to bad to think of so many young and inocent to fall on th battle field that hardly know what they are doing
or what they are fighting for but oh how glad I would be to hear of peace some
way or other so many mourning their near and dear relatives gone never to return
to their once peaceful homes. Polly the old grave yard is under fence at Queensville now full some time ago
several tombstones set up in it, the railroad is a little north of the pond of
water but it is dry two years past in the summer season the town exteries on north, I saw Mrs John McGehan their son would go to the war he got the
fever he got some better it fell in his head he was taken to the asylum she was
afraid he would never be any better I have not herd from him since I would like
to tell you I had a new carpet I have rags cut and sewd to make a long peace but cotton is too high I
made a short peace of janes and
17 yards of flannel, wheat is up to one dollar now we have sold none yet corn 40
cents pork 425 butter 15 cents eggs 10 to 15 cents potatoes 50 to 60 cents per
bushel we cut no oats last summer two years they have been injured with the rust
that they was not worth cutting I am glad to hear you have abundance of fruit it
is not so here yet I have seen better cherries here the last two summers than I
ever seen before I did used to think we could not raise wheat here but it is not
so for we have good wheat. B. R. Sulton said there was over two thousand bushels of
wheat raised here in view of your old house on the hill this last summer, now
past 9 oclock I am left in
silence except the sound of the clock, the cessor was here last week John personal property was
over 12 hundred dollars my own nearly 8 hundred it has not varied much since I
have been left a widow our taxes is not as high as last year by 8 or 10 dollars
Oh Polly what must I quit for I guess you will get tired of reading if I cant
rite as some do I would like to rite better Polly I can say thee and do
generally talk that way to my children I can truly say it was a trial for me to
leave my good old church to join another then neither would have been so had I
been in their settlement I did not feel satisfied as I was I am very well
satisfied as I am Do you belong to any church I think you have not told me when
you spoke of Rowley going to it minded me of my dear son that is gone before me
So I bid you good knight with my best wishes and rite soon Now 10 oclock and the 28 from R. Wilkins to
Polly Sprout.
“Dear friends I will now try and answer your letter. I am
now left in silence except the sound of the clock. John and wife has gone to visit her mother. Hannah and
little James has gone up to Seth
Greens. Becca is there - she has
been sick two weeks tomorrow. She had to leave her school - she is teaching in
the same house ware she taught last winter. She gets 1.20 per day - nearly all
in this township gets 1.25 per day. Polly I have been visiting this fall. Hannah
and myself had a long visit in Ohio - we was there when your letter came to me,
Becca and me went to the Ohio
State fair - was gone one week. Visited
several familys and only one half
day in the fall. We had a very good time and the wether was also fine - from Warren Co., Ohio I was
up in Clark Co., Ohio to see our old farm and neighbors - quite a change in 25
years, many gone never to return - our old farm is worth 50 dollars per acre -
it did not look as though I had ever lived there - the hazel brush is all gone
it is all in timothy meadow except the timber 268 acres. I expect you will know
that our land here in
“ Dear Friends, as I am left to keep house today I woul
try and pen a few lines to far away friends but nothing very interesting but I
am always ready to brake a seal of a letter my health has been quite poorly all
the spring two weeks past I feel much better my children is all well Euphemia
has a son four months old we had good staying last winter I was not out all
winter not off the place for six months. Oh Polly you spoke of robberies in your
state I never heard of so much meanness as we have with us four men or boys went
and destroyed Toms bees upset the hives they do not know as they will have 2 out
of 4 bert says we will know who they are when court comes on, Tom Wilkersons
store has been broken open twice about 3 weeks ago. A drunk man in day light got
to throwing clubs at his store one of boys shot to scare him he still pelted
away so they shot to kill with shot gun but he is yet liveing they say he will
not see if he gets up again, no body blames them for shooting, we have so many
little dirty tricks in our neighborhood it is not so it was when you ware here
and for 10 years after you left and here is our neighbor Sutton that lives ware
you did on the hill got a letter before they burnt his mill now just got another
letter that he is to die in 6 months if he does not leave we have a set here
that has got mad at him I guess they will suffer before they are aware of it
perhaps, Fulton is a man of property and a great trader in stock. George
Swarthout that owns the big new mill at Scipio got a letter to the same almost
that his property would be burnt if he did not leave in 6 months he gave John
the letter to read he has no idea what it was come for. I thought I would say no
more about mishief but tell you about Sarah Galtrys she was now Mrs. Wm. Dean
them and the Hulses cant agree no way Dean is accused a great deal of bad doing
their children went in our grave yard and broke C. Hulses tombstone down and
tried to turn over Old Tom Johnston monument it cost 125 dollars Peter Hulse saw
them doing what they done they live on the hill the land you sold to Powel old J
Powel has been back to live with his wife again but she said she supported him
as long as she expected, their acres is sold for taxes your aunt Nancy had quite
sick spell this spring last for some time and poor George McGchon is no more
died in the asylum he was burried here at Queensville the 15th day of May last,
we have several deaths time back I believe it is quite healthy now four grown
people died in Scipio, billy Waldorf is very feeble has made his will their
girls is all married their youngest Jack Brown so they have two Brown girls
married brothers. I hear Frank Sprout says this the last year for the Muster
family on the old place. I have got my bit of dinner today is the sabbath school
celebration out to Burnsville 9 miles north of Scipio 5 or 6 schools to meet
there the Scipio brass band to accompany them oh my pen T Wilken has a piano for
his daughter she has been 2 years at college They all say we have good wheat
this summer our meadow very heavy and good oats we need rain now to bring out a
good crop of corn corn in general looks very uneven and a bad color, I forgot to
tell you Mrs, Egbert has they say a big girl call her for both grandmothers
Phebe Elizabeth the 2 familys is all together in bert's house. Mary tried to get
a school but did not succeed I think she is too near sighted she was capable
other ways poor girl she does not look rite out of her eyes holds her head side
wise to read she is not a bad looking girl. I hear nothing of Phebe. I guess she
is in
Dear Friends, I will now commence to answer your letter. I
was glad to hear you was all well except bad colds. I don't know as I have
anything of very much importance or interesting. I have been visiting distant
acquaintances and relatives. I can't knit or sew yet with my lame hand I hurt it
last fall about 3 weeks that I lay on the lounge without endjuring myself no
rest day or night with pain in my left hand it is quite crooked now and smaller
than the others my hand has been very stiff but they are much better except the
one fore finger my hired girl was back to see us she said it was a fine thing
something had happened to me to keep me from work but Oh I had rather work all
the time than to suffer as I have my hired girl left in the fall about 3 weeks
before I hurt my hand I done all I could to far [spare] our hannah we was afraid
she would get sick again then she had all to do and me to wait on besides but
she got along very well she is not stout as she was before she was sick her
doctor bills was 57 dollars I hope I may never experience another such a summer
we have had a number of deaths old Charles Griffith died about one year ago his
widdow died this summer with the flux Mrs Cone also died this fall they both
lived in Queensville The old man Kilden died some 3 weeks ago and Mrs Maynard
four weeks ago some 3 or 4 in Scipio, and now Peter Hulses only child by his
present wife is in a very singlar case of sickness. I was to see her today I
never saw the like some say it is the St. Vitus Dance one week today she began
to jirk she is 17 years old, old drunker French of Scipio has been tending on
her 6 weeks, today the water doctor was there again now Monday 6th yesterday at
2 oclock we all went to Peter Hulses to pay the last respects of their daughter
quite a number there for the roads is almost impassable we have had considerable
of snow here this winter. I was out twice to our big meeting 12 united with the
church we had a very good meeting our minister was called to preach uncle Ethen
Wilders funeral they all liked him so well at Handenburg the corpse was taken to
the old babtist church so he could preach 3 or more there before he left, Joseph
Edminsten is yet numbered with the liveing but he is very feeble. I saw both the
Mrs. Tombs yesterday at the burial they were all well their men got home on New
Years day well and hearty, both holidays I was at J Greens waiting on Sary she
has her 2nd daughter born on the 25 of December. I saw her yesterday her babe
name is Laury Amy she looks fat and sweet they have 3 little ones now it does
not seem possible does it Polly here just the other day as it ware she was in
our arms my soninlaw Brown was in the army over two years he could not stand the
marching got his discharge moved to Scipio partner with M. Butler selling goods
June 64 the officers was sent to Nashville for rest then sent for their wives.
Mrs. Brown with others was gone about 3 weeks at 7 dollars per week. Euphemia
has a daughter one week old I have not saw it yet Her other little girl would of
been now in her 9th year if she had of lived they only have two now their son is
a big boy becca hardly knows what she will do this summer or rather locate
herself as they have left Handenburg she has bought two lots there but no house
on either she has had all she could do the two past summers she is geting tired
of teaching school we had nearly all female teachers here this winter 125 per
day and board themselves all publick money all ready for them as soon as their
scool is out old Tom Wilkerson built a stileish looking brick house he says it
cost him five thousand dollars it is now standing idle his son lived in it a
short time the house he built for himself is only one story built some years ago
since you left.
Charles Griffith is no more John Griffith has burried one
of their grown daughters in Ill Harris Eastman has burried his wife she was a
Cavell down by Vernon her father lived Harris married a woman with one child in
six weeks lacking one day after his wife died the old folks thought every thing
of her they lived in the same yard with his father and mother the one he married
they say has got the Tillman spunk Roderick Griffith married sister I suppose
they do not live as they aut to by a good ways but that is no reason for why
Harris should not live agreablely with his wife his youngest child is sick but
it is out of danger now so the doctor said yesterday she was not sick but a few
days her children was all sick when they got better she was taken with the same
disease and died very soon I think there is not much sickness with any of our
neighbors at this time my sister and my son and his wife and two of theirs was
here last month from Ohio on a visit to see they was sent for to see hannah wile
she was so low but we did not have much good of their visit in such a time I
will try and get my picture this fall as we have no chance nearer than Veron I
will try and send it when I get it if I live to have it taken we have been very
dry her corn is very short and great deal of it is fired we have had some rain
now of late but to late to help corn much I guess it is not done yet or at least
I hope not our garden is all burnt up in a maner we have very good oats, what
prices and as you say every thing geting higher wheat 160 corn 100 dollars
butter 25 cents eggs 12 ˝ Muslin and prints high enough sure harvest wages
generaly 2 dollars per day in my last letter I forgot to boast over my nice
quilt it is called very pretty but I guess it will not get quilted under these
present circumstances I've quilted a compass work one before Susan got sick I
have 5 more ready to join but they will be as the other my fancy one some calls
it the bewildered star it is all put together as you go, wool is 90 to 100
dollars they say I have not sold any yet but I have not got much but I will have
several pounds for I have used but very little in 3 years I have it put away
never expecting it to be the price it now is John and becca has gone to Columbus
and every one else nearly and it is about for the boy to go and meet the train
so I will bid you good afternoon with my best wishes to one and all hoping to
hear from
you again R. Wilkins I forgot to tell you all
my children took your picture to be my dear cousin of Iowa she was her last
summer about 3 weeks, a good old Methodist and her dear little Jon of 13 summers
was a member. Oh he was so good he would scold his little sister when she would
do wrong and did not mind her mother.
“Absent friends, I am yet numbered with the liveing I will
now try and answer your letter of September 24th time passes so very fast I did
not expect it would be so long before I should rite I was looking for a time to
go to Vernon then had to wait for my pickture to come by mail and then had to
send for them they all say they look very natural my boys has gone to an Irish
funeral at Scipio poor man was cut in too by the saw I cannot say as you did
about the health of our neighbors almost every family had their share in fact
some families every one had the chills and fever and some the billious fever my
family all kept well except my little grandson had fever I do think we never had
so much sickness before since I knew the place none proved fatal in this
neighborhood my daughter Mrs. Brown was very sick a long time her husband Tom
had the chills and her the fever my children is all well and doing well I
believe Charles has bought the old James Whitcomb farm it joins him on the east
side there has been quite a stir of people selling and moveing west the old
Paggett farm was sold this fall at 50 dollars per acre I expect Rowly will know
ware it lies this side of Vernon. I believe the lots of
“Now there is no one going to the office. I will rite
more....... Little Dave Hughes @ war when you knew him he is putting up a steam
saw mill on the section so call I when you were here it is his now it is quite a
good farm and a noble never failling spring. Oh Polly, what sisters he has. We
never hear any good of them. I guess they live or may sometimes we hear of their
being in Cincinnati and then in Indianapolis short time since the old folks had
a fuss about one of the gells the
old man left home came up here to Dave's just in his dirty clothes said he did
not want to see his old neighbors as he was staid about 3 weeks so none of us
did not see him. Dave has been in a mill south of Six Mile. Oh I must tell you
about Mrs. Powell she left her old man last spring her son in law moved her
things. Away he went to see told her he would die if she did not go back but she
did not go his brother's son came and took him away I believe to
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