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Only tolerable well. Nobody expected to get out some days ago. In hands of party of traitors. They must have documents or records from Harrisonburgh. Moses Walton sent up and got them. Sent them down. John F. Lucas to attend to it. Send for the papers again. The district attorney in Harrisonburgh wrote to Mr. Waltham (?). James said he should be out in 10 days from the 16th day of November which is 40 days ago and not much prospect now then that was then.

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Relationship: Son to mother Still fighting the good fight for God. Likes the new preacher. Very kind and friendly. Awful that boys were so bad. Ought to take them to Woodstock, might do them some good. Come home at Easter. Fix black pants. Patch them good. Does not expect to stay long. Got letter from Henry. Had a great deal of sickness.

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Relationship: Son to mother Aunt Cate’s house sold. Got $345.68 and holds possession of garden and stable for six months. Aunt Cate and Dora tolerably well. Have not heard from Cousin Ellie. Saw Mr. Frederick.

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Relationship: Cornelia is Bettie's aunt. Emma not well. Ma not started on box. Paid for freight. Pay when box is received. Ellie in Jamesville. Amie not well. She has not been very well herself but getting better. Ma is well. Trip to Virginia did her good. Willie and Annie got the muslin. Ma and she made two shirts for Willie and Eddie. Henry sent other two to Uncle Will and summer coat. Brown dress for Emma. Pieces for Cornelia and Aunt Catherine. Ma and Ellie talks about C (?) so much.

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Good season now. Vegetation growing finely. This week will cook first mess of beans. Hope gardens are doing fine. Had fine rain. 4 o’clock and thundering. Hard rain passing through. Has she heard of death of Polly? Another sad burial of Daniel Stickly (?). Fell from his horse. Life is short. 5 o’clock pouring rain.

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Did not get letter from Ed yet. Ed coming home. Last letter wished that she include price of Mr. L/F’s lot. Forest Vile (?) lot at $450. Does Dan know about the lot at Srouds barge. Written to Mr. Joseph Crabill last week.

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Last Tuesday the editors went to Orkney. There were stages and carriages and spring wagons. Never saw so many at a time. Charly got 10 cents. Jimmy and Emmy ought to write. Les’ sister and father here yesterday. Ate mulberry’s together.

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Got an invitation to the wedding but impossible to come. Would like to see Lizzy once more before she gets married. Impossible to get off for 100 barrels of flour to make from now till Christmas.

Scope and Contents Has not butchered anything yet. Does not plan on butchering until she comes. House keepers are extravagant. Do not attempt it. Cannot come down for it is too much work and the emigration too large. Also people in that neighborhood he does not wish to see. Give best wishes to Mr. Frederick’s, Aunt Bettie’s, and Fiagls’ (?) family. But the young Ridgeway a scandalous shame. Looking for her on Saturday the 21st on train. Do not fail to come. Want to butcher before Christmas. Grandma’s been here...

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Relationship: Cousin Cornelia at Holtes Mill, closer to home. Could not stand the three dollar job. Severe weather where Cornelia is staying at. Mercury ran as low as 20 degrees below zero. Lem Brance and she bought a saw mill second hand. Does its sawing along the Ohio and Erie Canal. Going to build a boat to board on. Received letter from Anna Hanson, a widow who pursues Ed.

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Relationship: cousin Sorry to hear death of Phillip’s mother. Offers words of consolation. History of parents. They live with sister Rachael. Owns two small homes, one in Rocking Horn and the other in Zorkles Farm. Lived there for 22 years. Three children married, one son, two daughters. Noah has 116 acres of land. Daughters live in Tyslvania County and Culpepper Court. Has six single children, five boys and a girl. All living at home.

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New home. Likes new home and people there treat him like family. At Winchester on sixth of June. Going to shut down on fourth of July and go to town. Is Ed and Fannie down. Ed doesn’t want to write. Offered $2.00 a day to cut. Best place at mill, so he staid there. Otis Smith went out today. Running the mill today. Sam and Josey at mill yet?

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Sammie’s shirt came. Joe can come up again if he wants. Pap not to neglect the wall under house. Put the upper floors in. Will pay him for it.

Scope and Contents Relationship: cousin Emma to receive invitation to the wedding. Charlie Long to marry Barbra Stick (?). Has been crying because she didn’t receive a bid to wedding. Dr. Galt (?) Bowman from Woodstock speaking at the hall. Will not go because Emma won’t be there. All well except Pap. Quarreling with George about Pap. Is mad because he has to give Pap a home. Others don’t want to do anything for him. George came home drunk. Swore he would burn the house down. Ordered her out of the house. Is...

Scope and Contents In splendid health. Anxious to her the news of the election. Hopes Daniel will be next governor. Took trip to Frederick. Got back Sunday evening. Had the best time in his life. Has Joseph started school. Mandy walks most everywhere now. Emma should take up Ben and not have anything to do with that Tim (?). Ben is smart and will treat her well too. From a kind family. Worth a fortune to be treated well and well provided for. Tim is a poor fix, knows bad tricks, and is lazy. Is pap still...

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Just wrote to Aunt Catherine. Will send pictures. Where is Will this spring. Are other boys at home. Emma married. Where does she live. Edward sent family pictures. Ma not looking well this spring. Has a baby who is 13 months. Only has four teeth. Will get most her teeth during the summer season.

Scope and Contents Valise sent to mother and father with shirts, shoes, pants, and coat. Undershirts useful for winter. Four yards for the little girl. Had long talk with brother Ed and they are all well. Mandy sick for a while but better now. At camp. Didn’t see Josey or Emma. An Isaac back from Fort Collins. If out of a job would go back with him. Cannot make money where he is at unless it is a lot of it. He must go soon to make money with capital. Will soon be an old bachelor with no child and that must do....

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*Postcard* Fannie, Mandie, Mrs. Robinson, and he coming down next Saturday morning. Making arrangements to build. Road is bad and long.

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Relationship: Cousins Confined to bed since 1882. Wheat crops looks bad. Wheat only $1.23. Will she sell her four dozen of the blue turkey’s eggs. Glad to hear that she is coming out this fall. Sorry that Uncle Dave has got no home. Would be glad to see Uncle Dave come out. Sends love to all.

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Relationship: Cousin Writing by lamp light due to darkness. All well except Alice. Not gone to school due to sickness. Has been a lot of sicknesses and deaths. Only fourteen years old in April. Will send her cards. Write her back.

Scope and Contents Relationship: Brother Why has he lost touch with him? Having good health extremely important. Worked up to 24 hours without closing his eyes. Is a common thing for them to work 20 hours. Only weighs 148 pounds but ought to weigh 160 pounds. Wants to get married to his sweet girl. Wants to bring her to their ma to see if she approves. Does he intend to farm for a livelihood? Brother Sam learning the milling business. Tried to get him into another good trade for this is a slavish business....

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Snow last night. Very cold. Got 16 eggs yesterday. Does not get less than 12/13 eggs every day. Only 10 cents per dozen. Have been selling for 13 cents per dozen to some negroes working on railroad. Thinks Mandee and others write real well. Nellie and Guy learning a little. Bad luck just now with ink spillage over her new apron. Talks farming matters about chickens and sowing tomato seeds. Will not have much to tend to this spring.

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Expects to come home Saturday afternoon. Meet with him to pick him up. Might have a little load.

Scope and Contents Lonesome ever since husband left. Hard time with children. Especially John who is sassy and disobedient. Cannot sleep or eat but must. Willie hard at work and comes home regularly. Attends to his duty. Will he send John a card? Ida playing on floor. Is her only comfort. Potatoes coming up nicely. Charley Spiker buried a child of his Sunday. Had a very bad sore throat. All other children doing well. Will make him a shirt and send it to him. Will he send back his dirty clothes for her to...

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Wants to come home soon to introduce his lady. Wants her opinion. Pa introduced to her when he stayed over. Is as smart and good as she is pretty. Will she reprimand brother E.A. for being the slowest correspondent ever? Work hour shifts. Leaving his current job soon. Doesn’t know what to do next. Wants to make money. Marriage in two or three years. Will be twenty-six soon. Sends his love. Keep his lady a secret from the family for now.