Letter 57
GETTING NEWS NORTH
Marion, January 17, 1862
Dear Mother,
I have lately learned that we can send letters to the North by way of Norfolk and accordingly take this opportunity to write and let you know how we all are. We have all been well except Dorothea (Woodward) she has been sick with pneumonia for about a month, is so far recovered now as to be sitting up most of the time. Tell Willard and Ellen that Mr. Reck buried his wife in Oct. last, she was sick with the fever for about a month. She left a son about two months old. Mr. R takes it very hard, is here stocking plows. His mother from Botetcourt took the child home with her. Mr. Currin has been sick for about a month, is just getting about again. Business is good here, we have been making a hundred shingles for the Salt Works and have orders from Memphis for 300 plows to be sent as soon as possible. I suppose Willard or Ellen wrote to us last summer after they got home, but we did not get their letters, but heard from them through Mr. Dunkly saying they called on him and again in Nov. through Mr. Bradly of Rockbridge. He has been to N.Y. and called on Mr. Look's family in Wyoming. he brought letters from them to Mr. Look. Laura had heard from you a short time before. She said Willard was going to teach school in our old neighborhood this winter. This is all we have heard from any of you since they left. Am anxious to hear and hope when you receive this you will write how you are doing during these war times. Suppose you can send a letter here in same way I send this, subject to inspection by both armies. It will not do to write a long letter as they might not let them go through. Accept this with much love from all to all,
Your affectionate son,
C. F. Lincoln
Letter 58
MORE FROM lAURA
Hillside, Wyoming Co., Feb. 18,
Dear Auntie,
Being in here alone, Grandma and pa gone to meeting, Sarah in the kitchen, I began to think of all my friends. I thought of your kind (letter). I found that I had not answered it, so think I will do the best that I can towards it. Grandmother received a letter from Mrs. Ruchman of Pa. She says a gentleman from Oneida Co. called to see her regarding Father. She wrote to Grandma if there were vacancies in our Academy. She says if there is one she would like to fill it. She teaches French and Latin, Mathematics and all English branches, music, painting and drawing, but as there is no vacancy we can not have her. Our school closes next Thursday. We have an examination which I dread very much indeed. I have to be examined in all my studies. We are examined before the whole school. Sarah has to present a rehearsal before the whole school and be examined in her arithmetic. We are having very pleasant weather, we have had some snow but it has gone and it is thawing and very deep, which is very annoying to us school girls to trip through the mud to school. Grandmother saw an account of the arrest of Joel Mann and A. T Miller. They were arrested at Berlin, Md., $9,000. of confederate money upon them directed to the Rt. Rev. Magee at Richmond and $8,000. worth of contraband goods in a wagon. They came from Baltimore with a pass from the military authorities there.
Grandmother’s brother was here a few weeks ago. He had been to see his mother, she is not as well as usual. Sarah says tell Anna that we have a little puppy, he is a fine little fellow and loves to play with little people. I have not heard from any of our friends in Mass. lately. I intend to write to Ellen after school is out. Auntie, are you acquainted with Miss Mary Everist? She is teacher in the Union school there. Her father was here a few weeks ago and told me she was there. She is a very nice girl, everybody that knew her liked her.
We had a letter from Aunt Julia a few days ago, all are well there and the children are impatient to come back. I suppose they will come the last of May or the first of June. Also we had one from Uncle Avery, they do not say when they will come. Uncle is making plows again. Oh, how I would like to know what Father is doing. I believe I have nothing more to write. Love to all. All send their love.
Every your affec. niece, Laura.
Letter 59
War Anxieties
Mrs. Polly Loomis Look to Mrs. Willard Stone. Wyoming, Wyoming Co., April 15th, 1862
My dear Mrs. Stone,
Your very kind letter was received by due course of mail. We were thankful to hear a word from Va. What you wrote is every word we have heard since you were here. Our anxiety is very great indeed and we have strong hopes that we may soon hear, but if a letter were brought with fear and trembling would we receive it. My second brother has not been heard from since the battle at Bull Run. He was not in the army but on the ground. He resided at Fairfax Court House. We sometimes hear from there. Laura and Sarah commenced going to school the spring term. They appear quite happy, they like the teacher and school very much. Their anxiety is very great about their father particularly Laura, but they both bear it better than I should expect. Please remember me with much respect to your mother and all the family. How I wish we could all visit together. How it would relieve our aching hearts to talk of our dear departed Sarah. Our little Sarah is , we think, almost a perfect likeness of her mother. She is a sweet child. She has the attention and affection of all that know her. Laura too is a nice girl, very much loved by all. I sometimes fear they are petted by all to much for their own good, but I hope they may bear it well. We expect Mrs. Avery and Mrs. Capwell with their families after a little time. Mrs. Avery has spent a great part of her time this winter at the hospital trying to relieve some of the sick soldiers. She said there are plenty of nurses but she could carry from home such things as could not be had at the hospital.
I have been telling Laura to write you before Mr. Stone would leave for Cleveland and ask him to come by us and we would take him to the R.R. again. She has neglected writing and I fear he has gone. If not, ask him to come without fail. I shall direct this to Petersham, perhaps to the care of your sister, not knowing where you may be. The girls send much love to each and all members of the family. I think Laura will write, she often speaks of writing but defers if for a very convenient time. I hope you will write us soon and we will answer promptly, please try us.
Yours with much respect, P.L. Look
Letter 60
JANETTE'S BABY
Petersham, May 1st, 1862
Dear Sister Ellen,
I received this letter from Mrs. Look addressed to you, but sent in my care. Also one from Mother informing us of the birth of J’s. baby. At the same time, a fortnight since, and on Monday last I got yours accompanied by a short one from Janette - was glad to hear from you all. Your Aunt Lucy Willard called here one day last week to inquire about you. She said some of her brother’s folks told her that one of the Harris girls heard that Mrs. Taylor had a letter from her and she had a baby. I told her it was Janette and not Ellen that had the baby.
Dr. Temple has left Belchertown and is going to settle in Ashburnham. They are moving this week, called at the door last evening on their way to their father’s where they were going to spend the night. The physician he left in his place last winter, while he was in the Army, wanted to buy him out. Offered him 125 dollars and paid him down, so he thought he would take it and leave. They never liked the society in Belchertown. I made about three quarts of maple syrup from our trees that Willard tapped when you were here. We have a new landlord in our hotel, Mr. Andrews from Enfield or Amherst I am not certain which. We narrowly escaped having a fire here this A.M. Mr. Adin Tolman’s splitting shop took fire on the roof from sparks from the blacksmith’s shop. It was seen and extinguished before doing much damage. Our schools commence here next week, Mon. I haven’t got the children ready, but must let them go without being ready. Lucy Shumway teaches the large one and Ellen Cook the small one. Lucius folks are well, or were last Sun. We are well here as when you left. I should think from your description that you have got into a very good place now. Hope you will get along well in all respects.
Must let this answer for now. Yours affectionately,
Olivia H. Taylor
Olivia and Dr. Taylor's House in Petersham
Letter 61
DAYS WITH GRANDPARENTS
Laura L. Look to Mrs. Willard Stone.
Hillside, Wyoming Co., N.Y. Nov. 1862
My dear Auntie,
As you know a girl of my age has a few leisure minutes to spare, so I think I will improve them by writing to you. As I have not written to you for so long I will give you a description of everything outdoors as well as in that I think will interest you. In the first place I will begin asking your pardon for not writing before, but what made me think of that now is I have just come across your last letter dated Sept. 24th. No Auntie, this is too bad to have not answered your letter before but excuse me this time and I will do better next time &c.
Our school begins next Tuesday. School was out last Thursday, so you see we have a week’s vacation. Now I will tell you how I have spent it. Friday I spent most of my time in sweeping, dusting, making and covering up beds for the winter and knitting in the evening. Saturday Grandma, Grandpa, Sarah and myself went visiting. Sunday it was stormy and we did not go to church as usual. Monday was washing day and I washed the dishes and sewed. Tuesday sewed, knit, popped corn, in the evening finished Grandpa’s sock. Auntie I can not tell you much about the outdoors management. Grandpa has got most of his carrots in the house, a few out that he has not dug and he thinks he will leave the rest in the ground until spring. We have three cows and get between sixteen and eighteen quarts of milk a day.
Auntie, it begins to look like winter again. It is so lonesome since the Aunties went away. We anticipate a happy winter, Sarah and myself will go to school, Grandma says we will have a good time piecing and quilting bed quilts. Sarah has just popped some corn and called the chickens, to help her eat it I suppose.
Grandma received a letter a few weeks ago from her niece in Ohio. She had a letter from Grandmother’s (brother?) in Washington. He said that a man came to his office one morning from Prince William Co., Va. He said that Uncle Josiah Loomis was there, he was afraid to come to the city for fear he would have to take the oath of allegiance. He also said that Uncle saw my Uncle Josiah Look. He is a commissary in the confederate service and don’t wish to be under the federal government. Father was well.
Uncle Samuel and his wife were here this fall. Auntie Jennie made me a present of a dress and a very handsome black shawl. She gave Grandpa and Sarah each a dress and Grandpa a dressing gown. Uncle Sam gave Grandpa a splendid overcoat, he wore it to Thanksgiving for the first time. By the way, how did you spend Thanksgiving? We were invited to take dinner at Dr. Dean’s, we went of course. Grandma went down to Grandma Capwell’s to double some yard, Grandpa to Mr. Brooks’ to see about some wood, so Sarah and myself are alone. Tell Maria and Sarah we have a Newfoundland dog. He is very large. He shakes hands and when he wants to come in he strikes against the door. Ask Maria if she remembers Alice. Give my love to all and kiss the little ones. Write right soon. I remain as ever your affectionate niece,
Laura L. Look
TO: 1864
