Kate Russell & family

Letters From Kate Russell & family

F is a letter from Kate (Edwards) Russell to her sister Cornelia (Edwards) Bond.
She seems to be staying with her sister Mary Elizabeth Brooks, in Iowa, whose husband had died 22 Sep 1865
Sallie is her sister Sallie Edwards.
Simpson is her brother John Simpson Edwards.
Lizzie is her sister Mary Elizabeth (edwards) Brooks.
Ma is her mother, Sarah (Bolton) Edwards.

[F] [some damage to letter] post mark IOWA City
June the 24th / (18)66
Dear Sister, Nellie
I received your
letter of the 3rd some time ago and have been waiting ever since for some thing to turn up to write about but as it has not turned I suppose I will have to write about nothing and if you have ever tryed it as I have for the last six or eight month you must [know] that it is no very easy job I had a letter from Sallie last evening which informs me that the folks are all well there they are well [ ?] also all except Simpson he is troubled with the rheumatism so can not work much I was at sabbath school and meeting this morning there is sabbath school this evening ne[ar h]ere but it is so warm I thought I would not go this is the warmest day we have had this summer it is so sultry I feel as though I can hardly breath if I do not go out and get some fresh air pretty soon I am afraid I will sweat all my beauty away. Tuesday evening

Two days have passed since I have had a peep at these pages and I am going to try and write a wh[ile ]but it will not be long for it[is al]most night and as I have been washing all day I do not feel much like staying up late Lizzie has been sick for the last two days and I have had to be housekeeper and I do not like the business very well especially when there is so much to do if Ma was here I rather think she would soon get some of the abom[ ]albe lazyiness worked off I thin[k sh]e might put in all her time taking care of the little ones are they all digging in the sand this summer as usual I sometimes imagine I can see [them?] throwing sand on each other heads what are you going to name the baby I would like to see it and all the rest of the folks there this evening I must quit writing for it is getting so dark I can not see and if I get a light the musketo[s wi]ll take me

Thursday Nellie you must not move away until I come home I am not coming as soon as I expected Lizzie does not want me to leave until she gets settled in her new house and I do not think I ought to for there will be much to do I think I can stay a little longe[r ]ery well school closed yesterday and all the young folks that were attending are at home and I think it will be much pleasanter here than it has been I can not tell any more about Lizzies business affairs than I told Sallie and as to getting her to write about them herself I find that is an impossibility she reads all the letters I get and she seems determined not to write as long as she can hear from home wi[ ]t it I must quit writing a[ ]o and see about the supper I am getting to be quite a cook I can make light bread and sorghum cake almost as good as Ma can
Good bye

G is a letter from Kate Russell to her sister Cornelia Bond.
Sebe is Kate's husband. Ma, Carrie & Sallie are her mother & youngest sisters. Bob is her brother Robert. Simpson is her brother John Simpson. Lizzie Edwards is brother William Edwards' widow. Charley & Eva are Brother & sister-in-law. Jack Trittipo is married to Drucilla Brooks, Eli Brooks' sister. Lizzie Brooks is her sister, married to Eli Brooks. Willie Brooks is son of Lizzie & Eli Brooks. Mother brooks is Sarah Elizabeth (Heath) Brooks, mother of Eli.

[G] [has some damage]
Fortville Ind december Sunday 29th 1867
   Kind and good sister Nellie
   Your letter of the 15th instant is before me received Christmas Eve. Sebe went out to town after dark to get some presents to put in the childrens stockings and my share was from letters which was better than all the rest, and was indeed quite a treat I wish I could get one every week. we was glad to hear that you were still all well, we are in usual health, since I last wrote Ella has had two chills and Lona had the jaundice but both are well again except Lona is troubled with a cough but is quite rosy and hearty and is not half the trouble she was a few weeks ago.
  I wish you could see her since She has got so fat and well She is better looking than ever, her eyes are just as large and blue as ever. her cheeks are rosy and her hair curls so pretty around her neck. She has got to be quite a reader. you would laugh to see her, she looks in [ ? ]earnest and almost deafens us she reads so loud, last Sunday she wrote a letter. She had a paper and pencil down on the floor, would make a few marks and the read it to us with out a word that could be understood. She kept it up untill She had her paper full then folded it and gave it to her Pa to send to a babie. She was greatly surprised Christmas morning when she went to put an hen stocking to find them full of candies nuts and toys, she calls all kinds chicka dee dees and she got a pretty little red chickie dee dee that can sing and a dog with a little pup laying by it for Christmas gifts, Ella got a yellow bird and uncle Simpson gave them a set of candy dishes, they enjoyed christmas greatly and are waiting anxiously for new years. I have writen this more to interest the children than yourself Nellie they were not forgoten here Ellie wished she could send Myrtle something and often wishes she could see her. I would loved so much to have been at your christmas dinner, if I could have been there I would willingly have done with out any of the dinner. we had nothing of much interest going on here, we eat dinner alone but had oysters for supper with Ma Carrie and Sallie to help eat them. Sue and Asbury was invited but she was not able to come She has been almost down sick with cold for several weeks, Christmas was a gloomy looking day here in the evening it thundered and rained quite hard we have had quite warm weather for two weeks,two or three days we had the door open most of the time with not much fire in the stove. there has been very little cold weather here yet. perhaps living in a new house makes a great deal of difference but I have not suffered ten smiles with cold yet, it is some colder this morning than it has been for some time and cloudy looks like it was going to snow. the health is good I know of but two or three sick. Mrs Annett has been very bad sick for several weeks they don't think she will get well, we heard a few days ago that cousin Beck Cohee was dead, we did not learn the particulars as the word came from strangers, a gentleman living at Alfont that came from the neighborhood where she lived received a letter from some of his friends there that told of her death, the boys both being away from home I suppose is why we have not had word from them you know Aunt never writes what trouble must be hers. Ma wants to go in there and we all want her to go, but I expect it will be like all her visits off a distance the more she thinks about it the more she thinks she cant go, when Will was here Beck had five little boys, her health was not good then but She had a doctor that She had great faith in and thought She was getting better I hope we will hear from some of them soon.
  Ma and the girls are well, Ma does not stay at home much since the girls are teaching. Sallies school is just half out, they each one had fourteen weeks to teach. I see Bob in town every few days. his folks were in usual health last evening but I don't know how they are now, for there is no telling what a day may bring [ ? ] there these times, I also see Simpson often Row was not very well a few days ago and [Io?] has been nearly down with cold for a while but was better the last time I heard from him, their Willie boy is a great big fat fellow can move all around is not ten months yet, Laura goes to school here in town. Lizzie Edwards was over here two weeks ago her folks were well when we were over there She said She had sent you a letter a few days before I suppose it was the one Nolie wrote. I thought perhaps She had sent you one of Williams photographs but She said all was gone except what they wanted to keep but more could be taken at any time from the same plate I will tell him to have some more taken when I see him again. She has herself and family all taken in one frame which is very nice.
  Charley was here a week ago, Eva has been complaining considerable for some time, he was on the hunt of a girl and got Nan Chitwood to work for them. India Chitwood and Fannie Shafer was married last wednesday week. quite an accident happened to Jack Trittipos family a few weeks ago. they were aroused in the night by fire and was out of the house but a few moments untill the whole building fell in the little boys were sleeping up stairs and they missed Lafe Jack ran in and stumbled over him on the floor he had start down but became strangled with the smoke and fell about every thing they had was burnt they did not even get out clothes to dress themselves that night and four hundred and four dollars in money was burned. a short time ago Jack owned three farms now he does not own a foot of ground. they were sold for debts and still not half his debt are paid, Nellie since I commenced writing this it seems to me I told it in my last but I cannot think whether it was to you I wrote it or to some one else if it was to you just pass this on and don't read it.
we have not yet had any word from Lizzie Brooks there has been two or three letters writen to her since any has been received from her.
  Nellie you must have a little more patience with some of them about writing they are rather lazy about it I know but they are all anxious about your wellfare and want to hear from you after I have often told the girls to write to you but they put it off untill it is never done. I always try to tell all the news about the different families sometimes I am a little slow about writing myself and I find the longer I put it off the harder it is to write but sometimes it seems as if I cant take time to write I always have so much to do but then I know I cant get letters unless I write and I always love so well to get them especialy your good long letters, and it is a pleasure to write too when I can sit down by myself with a good letter before me to answer and not be pulled at and teased every few moments by a little misschief of a girl Lona is in one of her funny moods tonight and wont go to bed, all have retired but her and myself and she is doing all kinds of funny things when I laid my letter down a moment She had it up pretending to read it. Ella was learning her to say Iona and Myrtle She says Myrtle and Ione as plain as I can has said it over twenty times I think. Ella was to Sunday School this afternoon then called on her friend Lizzie Brewstin this evening the little girls here have got up what they call charm strings they try to see how many pretty buttons they can get on strings Ella has seventy five buttons big beads and rings of all colors and kinds. She thinks it would be nice if Myrtle and Iona could send her one.
  Lona has concluded to be dressed for bed and the fire has burned low so good night;
Monday morning
   the sun is shining bright and looks as if we were going to have a pretty day the air is quite cool. Sallie and Carrie stoped in this morning on their way to school Carrie wanted some Asifidity to keep the itch away. Ma was in this morning also She said to tell you a great many things for her but she didn't know what. She was going to wash some Willie Brooks called in a moment on his way to school he had been down to his grandmother Brooks to stay over Sunday he is going to board with Ma this week.
  Yesterday I told you we were all well but this morning Ella seemed quite sick She has some fever and was complaining very much, She did not rest well last night said she felt sick and could not sit up much this morning untill she took a sleep is now sitting up but does not look well I am afraid She is going to have the chills again.
  But I must quit for this time write soon and again good by with a wish for you a happy new year Kate Russell

[#H]
Iona Luella Bond Myrtilla Leona Bond Fortville Ind April 5th 1868
Sunday
Kind Sister Nellie    Your letter was received friday evening late and read with much good feeling towards the writer, you said you fell down cellar but did not say you had got up again I hope have got up before this and are quite well again, if you could just see me now you would think I looked as if I had fell down a cellar two or three times. I took cold the first of last week and it settled in my head and teeth and for two days and nights I suffered very much.
  I was not free from pain one half hour in that time, my face is almost blistered with mustard drafts and hot [?] and one jaw is just about as large again as the other one, my teeth is still [?] [?] that the pain is gone I tell you I look pretty. Simpson was here yesterday and said I ought to have my photo taken. Speaking of photographs reminds me of what you said about one. I have often felt ashamed about not getting them from you and several others that we [?] them to, but it seems as if we never have the money to spare, we have had so much to buy in fixing up the house and money seems to be hard to collect for some time, but I do want them taken this spring or summer if feasible. Lizzie Edwards was home last evening a short time and if I had thought of it I would have asked her for one of Williams photographs for you. I will try and remember it the next time. Lizzie and Lee staid at Ma's last night and went to Simpson's this morning. Bob and Beck are also in town. Bob brought her down with Ollie and Sammie several days ago to stay awhile as she is still not able to do much and their girl had to leave, their boy is just eight weeks old today and quite a fine looking fellow. Bob came down to take them home yesterday but it was so windy that they concluded to stay all night, he was here this morning and said they would all have come but Becks breast was troubling her again and she was afraid it was going to gether again. She has had rather a serious time with it, they were over at Ione¹s but had their wagon and horses out I see a short time ago to stand home I suppose Charley was here the first of last week, he said they had a little girl babie at their house, it had just came the night before, we have not heard from them since. Ma wants to go down as soon as she can. She went with Lizzie to Simpson's this morning. She has been improving in strength the last week I think, and looks as well as usual , has not been troubled with that old complication of hers this spring. She has not made any garden yet but has been out digging or trying rather to dig some but soon found she could not she [?] it And had to quit. We have had some very pretty spring weather some have been out working in their gardens and clearing off their yards and some have planted seeds but I don't believe they will do much good, week before last it rained from monday untill saturday last week was pleasant had the last few days rather cool sometimes quite chilly
  Tuesday evening the twenty fourth while you were writing you wondered what we were all doing, well we were all quietly getting supper on eating just as if nothing unusual was going to happen but after dark when no one could see us we put on our clean aprons and Sebe his over coat and went down to ma¹s. Ma was sitting by the [?] [?] a [?] and had on a clean cap. Carrie had on her dandy green dress and was looking through a new note book. Sallie came out of the bedroom with a white ribbon tied on her hair and an old callico dress on with no hoop and asked if we had come to stay till bed time. There was a political meeting up in town and Sebe went and [?] was there untill nine oclock. Wright said the boys around town had been watching him for several weeks and he was anxious to play off on them, he staid in the drug store untill his usual hour of leaving and as it was very dark and raining he thought no one would notice him, but they seen Sebe and [?] go home before meeting was out and the boys guessed something was on hand and followed them. Wright did not tell his own brothers what was going on and they did not like it very well and Ivan got up a crowd to serenade them. They were married at half after nine and left for Cincinnati on the ten oclock train, but just as they were getting ready to start the roll was called out [?] and [?] such another [?] as commenced I have not heard for awhile. They tried to slip out the back way and get to the train but the serenaders found them out and surrounded them and [?] up the music untill they were in the train. Found out Wrights brothers were in the crowd.

Monday evening    It will be two weeks tomorrow night since Wright and Sallie left and they have not yet got back nor wrote. Sallie told Ma before they left that Wright did not want to stay away longer than a week, they were going to Mace Duncans he has been [?] two or three years and living at Cincinnati, they thought calling at Aunt C Young's and Uncle Samuel Boltons on their way home. I don't suppose Wright will want Myrtle to call him Dr as he doesn't like it at all and wont be a Dr. his father had him studying medicine for a year or two but he always seemed to be ashamed of the business, he and his father has a drug store here and Wright attends to the store and his father to the patients, he thought some of selling out and going somewhere else to set up for himself but his father seemed to think different and I guess he does not know just what he will do yet. I forgot to say they made no wedding at all. Wright two sisters Io Edwards and our selves was all that was there.
  Nellie do you want to [?] a [?] of drawing a nice prize in a lottery? if you do just send a dollar and buy a ticket in I H Thomases [?] gift enterprise and you will stand a slim chance of drawing a nice little fortune or a great chance of lossing your dollar, he has put up everything he owns here into a lottery except his wife and two children. to be drawn the 26 of May. There is 30 000 tickets to be sold and every ticket draws a prize the lowest prize worth 30 cts. the first ticket out draws the highest prize which is his dwelling house believed at 3000 dollars the next his store house which is indeed a nice building, then he has another nice lot in town, his goods in his store all their furniture and everything in the house a gold watch and I don't know what all. a great many one going into it some buying a hundred or some tickets, there is three or four fellows busy making and selling tickets, Sebe says he [?] Thomases two [?] Mr Staats and William Baker goes with the stove house, but enough of this I must close. Ma was here for a few minutes ago and said she couldn't write this time to give for her love and well wishes, we are in normal health. I [?] [?] to say anything to the children this time, from letter [?] Ella very much
  Ella and Lona have a little visitation this evening and are in the kitchen playing. Tell Myrtle and Iona about their Aunt Kate and give them kisses from me.

J is a letter to Pelatiah from his wife Cornelia, who with the children are staying with family in Indiana.

[J] [ envelope: Pelatiah Bond, Minneapolis,Minn. post mark: FORTVILLE IND , Jan 4]
1st Month, 2nd 1870
First day almost noon.
My   dear husband,
  I want to tell thee first, why I always write with a pencil there art [?] many children around that it is dangerous to have ink open. I have a pencil not more than an inch long, to write with today, would not attempt it only that I don't see how I can line through the day without writing something to thee since I can't put my arms about thee and talk, sweet words of love, to thee. Charlie came home last evening and brought thy last sweet letter of the 20 of last Mo. I was so glad to here from thee but it did make one so home sick that if I were to [consoled] my own feelings I would start home tomorrow but it will not do to go without going to see Edward unless, there is something very [?].
  And now for a little business [?]. The old homestead is saddly on the decline. Charlie has alone no good farming for several years, because he has tried to do to much, he is very weekly this winter, with dispepria and liver complaint, has not more than half his corn in now, and is not able to work. Eva is sick all the time and her father is more helpless and expensive than [?] I did not expect to send home for money, but under the circumstances, I could hardly accept it from him, if he were to offer, I know he is strapt now. Ma said I should not let thee send it, that they would let me have it but they are nearly all sick as not well, and not getting along very well,(this is all private) I had to spend considerable coming down $35. will take me home and perhaps a little more, but I do not like to start with any less, I will have enough to take me up to Randolph then I will be through with my visiting and ready to start home. I want to go up next week Ma will not hear to me going home untill approving, but I must go I love her but, thee more.
  Send the check or money to Fortville, by the time I get back from [Lynn] , I will go home by the way of Noblesville and visit Dan on my way homeward. I want to see a news paper from the upper country to know the condition of things, whether the rail road is open and so on. I will not get to visit all the acquaintances that I had hoped to but the roads are so bad that it is impossible to go much. Charlie said he will take me where ever I want to go, we were going to [Tansett's] today if the weather was fit, quite a snow is falling I expect to attend meeting here next first day, then go back to Fortville.
  I will write to [?] today to let them know when I will be there. I am through with business and now will tell thee that I love thee very very much, and would be happier with thee today than I am here. The [?] and [confu] is terrific; [?] it is in desirable, how can I live through another week
[have two halves of pages that do not seem to go together. Pages missing? may be from different letter(s).]

  I love thee and will try to be more [?] & enduring than I have ever been and will [?] to thee on this baby [?] when I get there I think we had better time where we are I mean where than art. I don't like the idea of living so far from thee but I will be there in time to [?] before spring
love us and pray for us, the children have sores on them I have been using [Oxsole] of [?] on them but they don't get well they are not enjoying themselves very much. Myrtle is home sick now, write again
  I will write a line or two more, I sent a letter to the office yesterday that I trust will reach thee soon, and cheer thee. Thy last letter was one of the sweetest I ever read, I cannot reply to it as it desire us. I will not expect to see the horse fixed up well I know you will not have time to I can clean it when I come do not be [disturbed] about the way it looks when I come. oh I wish I could go this week. I do want to see thee but I can scarcely visit thee here under the circumstances, there is no chance for enjoyment here.
  Charlie is going to take us up to [Tansett's] this evening I can write no more. Ever thy own Cornelia
My love to all the friends

Tuesday evening.
  The children all went out this evening and I thought to look over my letter and see what I had written in the confusion I think it is the worst letter I ever wrote but here they all are on [?] again and I can do no better. I would write another if it were possible.
  I have not had a good nights sleep since I left thee and my eyes are beginning to burn.
  Myrtle is wanting me to send thee a kiss. Oh how glad I will be to get back to thee again. I can¹t keep warm at night and I long and think of thee and wish I could lay my cheek against thine and rest sweetly.
  I wish I could see Dan more I do not feel [?] when I am with him. He is so much like thee and Ben.
I can't I can't write
Good night
Cornelia

strife
Through all the [tumult] and the
I hear the baby [synalling].
It send and echo through my ears
How can I keep from scolding
original C E B

A & L are letters from Pelatiah's two daughters Myrtle & Iona. The baby they talk of is Katherine Cornelia who was born Dec. of 1870.

[A]
Dear papa
I have wanted to write to thee every evening since thee went away, but mama could not leave baby long enough to help me the baby was laughing this morning so nicely that we all wish thee could see her she is growing every day and is getting so white we are so lonesome without thee Iona wished thee was at home so she could climb on thy lap and we all wish so too if we get a diamond [at school] and then when we get five diamonds we get a green star and when we get ten diamonds we get a yellow star it is snowing today it has not quit snowing today it snowed last night I do not know whether it snowed all night or not
goodbye Myrtle Bond

[L]
Dear papa
come home
and come see how sweet
little sister is, and I
want to see thee
Iona

C is letter from Ella Russell to her cousin Myrtilla Bond.

[C]
Noblesville Ind. Dec.31st 1876
Dear Cousin Myrtle
   I know you are wondering why I do not answer your letter but you will excuse me while I tell you that we were studying for examination when Ma wrote and so I could not write. We are having two weeks of vacation now and I will have plenty of time to write.
The next Tuesday after school was out we had a Dickens Party and festival at the Tily Hall for the purpose of raising money to buy a chemical apparatus for the High School. All the pupils were dressed up to represent some of Dicken¹s characters. Mary Bunis and I were the Misses Keniwigs the twin sisters. We were dressed in short blue dresses, made plain with white aprons on and white handkerchiefs pinned around our necks. We had to act very bashful they had a few dialogues and songs. Then came the wax works. I wish you had been here then to have seen them. There were about a dozen ladies and gentlemen dressed up and powdered and they sat so still that they looked like wax. Madame Farley (a lady dressed in a plain waisted dress, and a big old fashioned bonnet on her head) possessed the wax works. She had a man (Slume?) to wind the figures and tend to them. There was one young man there to represent a preacher and when he was wounded up he commenced making the gestures a preacher would make. Then after a while he would stop as if he had run down. Then he would be wouned up again. The last one was a little negro sitting on a box with a brush in his hand and when he was wound up he commenced blacking his boots. One lady was sewing another was singing and there was one who would say P. P.&c. There was a man who represented a shoemaker and one was reading. After this came the supper. There was a large crowd there and they raised a little over $119. There was a festival at the Chapel a few weeks ago and my Sunday School teacher sent all his class a ticket to go in and one to get their suppers with. Last Sunday evening Belle Brendon and I went to a r() at the Chapel. The little girls and boys spoke pieces and sang several songs. Belle came home with us and staid all night.
  I did not get to go out in town a Christmas but had a pleasant time at home. We had a large turkey for dinner and Mr. Hunter¹s folks were here almost all day. I found a nice dress for my Christmas gift. It is a new kind of goods what they call invisible green. I will send you a piece of it. Lona got a pair of shoes. a pair of mittens some pink ribbon and some candy. Eddie got a pair of boots a flute and a ball. Ray got a ball and some candy. and Robbie got a pair of stockings and candy. Christmas night they had a small tree at the Methodist church. A man was dressed up for Santa Claus and he had two little boys with him. Santa Claus would take the presents off and call the name and the little boys would take it to them. They had put flannel, muslin and things of that kind our for the scholars under twelve and for the from boys and girls that could not come to Sunday School. Louie got two yards of flannel.
  We are all well at present except Pa who is almost sick with a carbuncle on his neck. I suppose you have not heard that Charley McCarty is married. He was married several weeks ago to Mattie Couklim[?] . I do not know whether you remember her or not. Tell Iona of course I have not forgotten her and would like to see them
But good bye write soon ta Ella.

B is a letter from Kate Russell & her mother Sarah (Bolton) Edwards to Cornelia Bond.

[B]
Noblesville Ind. Jan 7th [18]78
Dear Sister I had thought that I would not write this time but let the others answer your letters as they were written to so many of us but I have looked over Ella and Lona's letters to the girls and find they have not told the most particular new so will add in my [?] , but oh what fun it was so good but after looking at Lona¹s letter I guessed how I would find it. This is monday and we are at last having winter but the sun is shining bright and warm a good many are prophesying that we are going to have a cold time the rest of the winter, we are in usual health the children started to school this morning after a two weeks vacation there has been several deaths in town the last week or two. Yesterday morning George Wainwright died him and his son kept a hotel here his funeral is to be [?] this afternoon at the M E church, there was a man killed at Strawtown last week his murderer is in jail here awaiting his trial.
I have had no letters since I last wrote to you except yours but look every day for letters from Lizzie, Sallie and Carrie We heard from Bob¹s folks a day or two after Christmas, Sammie was very sick hardly expected to live they sent over for Simpson Charley was here last thursday he came from Bobs the day before and left Sammie worse than when he went, but [?] Edwards came from Fortville yesterday he seen Bob the day before which was Saturday. Sammie was better then, they had hopes of him, they thought he over heated himself swimming at school, hemorrhage of the kidneys was part of his ailments. Minnie¹s Christmas gift was a boy baby Simp Brooks left the day after New Years for his uncle Walt's he is going to visit you before he goes home wanted Ma to go with him to visit you and at first she thought she would but got out of the notion again I dont know just where he is going he said he would be back here before he went. Robert Heath folks talk of moving to Iowa in the spring Simp thinks of going home with them. I should have spent Christmas with you and been at your fishing party about the best company we had was a fat turkey for Christmas and an old hen for New Years. Roy says dont forget to tell Aunt Nellie about his red top boots that Santa Claus brought him and his mittens too. Ma hooked several pairs for Christmas gifts. Ella and Bell Brandon got alike seal brown with blue cuffs. Ma took dinner at Simpson's yesterday She will write home to Grandma Bond and I have not much news to write will let her have next page

Dear sister Bond    I must tell you how glad I was to get a letter from you and your letter certainly deserves an answer but I have depended on my children doing all the writing for me that I can hardly write at all and will be very short but if my life and health is spared I hope to see you all before very long Simpson Brooks goes but the weather is very cold now and I have given that up
  my health is tolerable good more but I feel the infirmatics?) of age fore?) heavily on both body and mind
  I hope to hear from you often and that you are all well and prosperous & give my love to all that you love and except a large portion yourself, yours with sincere affection
Sarah Edwards

Our love to all the folks glad to hear you have good neighbors and are enjoying your selves dont put off writing so long again and tell all your news remember aunt Kate to the little ones. My well wishes to Grandma good by from

E is a letter from Eva Edwards & her mother-in-law, Sarah Edwards to Cornelia Bond.

[E]
Oct 8 (18)82
Dear Sister

we received your letter some time ago have neglected to write until now you said I must write you a letter but you need not look for such for I never could write a letter in my life but I will scribble you a few lines to inform you that we are still in the land of the living all gone to church but Ma & I & Fred & Ottie Ma,s health is tolerably good now i think for one her age Charlie has been troubled with his stomach again Annie & I have colds the rest of the is well Bobbie commenced teaching last monday at the Kimberlan school house he thinks he will like teaching pretty well, Ellsworth talks of going to school at McCordsville this winter, so we¹ll have no big boys left but Billie, Fred & Ottie has gay old times I never seen to such romps never sick out all kinds of weather rain or sunshine nothing hurts them, May & Nelse & their Children are well they have to sweet little girls, I was down their last week making apple butter made 21 gallon, we have no apples here our orchard is all gone but Nelse has a good one so we help them every year for apples & applebutter, Aunt Sarah & Kate lives as McCordsville they are well and like to live there very well, Sallie is just the same old sallie if she did marry a Beaver, Lafe & Rach are on their way home now they moved to Missouri last fall don't that sound like lafe, Fletch Heath has come home to stay on account of poor health Bob & Beck was down a few days ago they are going to move to Fortville next week so they can send Sam to school, Sebe's are all well also Ro Laurie & Willie Charlie just came from there last friday Ma went with him as far as Carries Will has been very sick he is able to be about now but the doctor thinks it is doubtful about him getting well they have bought a farm just across the creek from us the old Patty Lacky farm if you recollect they talk of building this fall it is a real nice place if they can only pay for it poor Carrie P feel so sorrow for her she has to work so hard now this is enough of this terrible scribbling for one time if you make fun of this ill never write again
Ma wants to write some my Love to all write soon Eva

Dear Nellie I did think of going to see you this last summer but I was so helpless and crippled with rheumatism I could scarcely rise of my chair I am much better now but cannot think of going now for I do not think Carries husband is going to live but a short time and what is to become of her I cannot imagine! oh Nellie I do want to see you so much there is so much I want to tell you but I cannot write but be assured I love you all as much as if I wrote every day! Tell all the girls grandma wants to see them very much

goodby grandma also in same envelope-

Dear Nellie
You must not think because I do not write that I ever forget you I think of you and pray for you every day and will long as I live you can never know until you have children away from you how anxious I feel about you and Sallie if I had money I would send you some but I have none at present my health has been very poor this summer I feel as though I had not much longer to continue write the cares and troubles of this [?] I scarcely expect to see you or Sallie again in this world but oh let live so that we may meet in that world were no more sorrow will ever come now you see that I cannot my hand trembles so I can scarcely hold the pen

goodby your mother