May 29th 1865

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Dear Brother

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Mary has been writing you and says I can put in a little, so I will try and write a few words, it seems almost useless to write you get so few of our letters, I suppose Mary has told you all the news, so if my letter is not interesting you must excuse me and take the will for the deed.

I have been west about two years and a half consequently know but little about our old friends at the east. Our neighborhood has changed much since you left home, there is but two or three of our old neighbors left, Orin Houghton and Nathan Fordsall’s family still remain, Avery Northrup has moved to Franklin he lives in a house with uncle Henry Edwards, the one formerly occupied by Mr. Colman. Mr. Reynolds is still in F. he has sold out the Visitor, the press has been moved to Delhi.

The Franklin school is not very flourishing since Mr. Kerr left, I have understood that he was in Cooperstown, if so I think the F. school will be still less. Mr. Thrals still lives in F. were well the last I heard. Marion is married, Edward is dead. I saw Mr. Maxwell, the man you worked for, last fall, at Mr. Waterburys he was in pursuit of a farm for rent and he didn’t succeed in finding one, so do not know where he is now.

Otego grows slowly, they expect to have a railroad along there soon, it is nearly completed as far as Oneonta, they have also worked on it some at Unadilla.

There has been several deaths among our acquaintance since I left home. Dev Arnold is dead also Mr. Broad, Mr. Hughs, Barlow Merwin is dead, Milton and Austin are in the army. Henry is at home with his mother. Those who were children when you left have grown up and being married it makes one feel old to see those people you have known from infancy heads of families.

Dear Whit I wish and not only myself but all of us wished that you would come a little nearer home. If you do not wish to settle among us go to some one of the places that this war has opened for the enterprising Yankee. We would like to hear from you at least once a year, you can imagine the anxiety we have when months pass into years and still no letter from you. Sometimes the family pictures you, torn and bleeding by some wild bear or by some still more savage Indians that perhaps some dusty chief may have your scalp hanging at his belt as a trophy or you might be lying in some lone grave unknown and unmourned. Write often and may the smiles of Providence follow your footsteps is the wish of your sister.

E.T.C. 

I have not yet determined when I shall return east perhaps next fall, our home is so changed that it does not seem much like home. I expect to go to Ade’s by Sept. certain. She now lives in Polo. Steve is in Honesdale, Penn. teaching. Maria is at home.