Scranton Oct 10th 1866

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Dear Brother

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Sometime last spring I received a very welcome letter from you, the first I had had from you for the last six years. In fact I have despaired of ever getting another, though I repeatedly sought for one. Since then I have from one cause or another neglected to write to you, partly from a constitutional reluctance to writing and partly from the want of anything of interest to say.

I am still living in Scranton and shall probably end my days here. My business is tolerably good but the cost of living is so high that we have to practise the strictest economy, and then cannot get through the year for less than $1000, to $1100.00. I have a lot which I expect to sell and make something on, so as to be able to build a house, thereby saving house rent which will be a material item.

Our town has been erected into a city with a population variously estimated fro 25,000 to 30,000 but I am sorry to say that we have so many “Sons of Erin” that have the faculty of voting so extensively that our first mayor is the meanest Copperhead in the whole City. A Rebel sympathiser from the very first.

Our State election came off yesterday. Perhaps you will learn the result from other sources before you get this. From returns received the result appears to indicate that though we failed to elect the congressman in this District from the same cause that we lost the City election, we have gained two in the State and carried the Governor by 20,000 to 30,000 majority.

In your letter to me in reply to my invitation to return East you give as one reason for not doing so that you have not sufficient means to live independantly. Now I think with $2000.00 one can put himself in a position to live easily and comfortably at any rate. With $2000.00 one could take up quarter section under the Homestead Act and commence life on it free from debt and what should hinder one from living independently under such circumstances. I’m sure I can’t imagine what “expensive habits” you should acquire in a semicivilized country where the fashions and luxuries of fashionable life cannot prevail to any considerable extent. As to labor a good mechanic can now get $3.00 per day. 

I have not heard very recently particularly from the rest of our folks, except I got a letter from Mary the other day. They are well, and our Mother is with me now. They are all well at the old home.

Truly your brother

George