Letter to Frank

Full Title

Letter – To Frank Sunday April 23 1865 pt 1

Description

Personal letter discussing the happenings in the author’s life at the time of Lincoln's assassination. The letter discusses news of Abraham Lincoln’s death reaching large towns and the reaction to the news.

Transcription

1865
Sunday April 23

Dear Frank
This evening finds me seated in the house of Tom Curt of Cass Co Ill
I left Mothers April the 7 came to Edinburg.
Staid [stayed] Saturday night at phillipses
went to your Fathers Sunday
Staid till Tuesday the 18 had a very fine time
the two boys and Miriam enjoyed themselves the best I ever saw
Childre Amity Miriam and me went to Joes
they sent the horse and buggy for us
we staid all night
went home in the buggy
kept the horse and John went with us to Edinburg
I asked Father to go with us to youngstown
he said he would if he had money to pay his pasage [passage] their [there] and back as his feet are so sore he could not walk
I toald [told] him I would give him the money if he would go and help us to the cars
we started from Edinburg at nine tuesday night
staid on the street till morning
the cars left at six in the morning
got to Cleavland [Cleveland] at ten
Staid till four
got to toledo at ten at night
left at four in the morning
got to Jacksonvill at nine at night
went to the manchion house
had to wait till friday evening
came to Ashland found two letters from you
was glad to hear you are well
Mr Hunter said we could not get across the prairie on foot and that their [there] was wagons sticking in the mud that could not be got out untill the mud would dry up
I did not know what to do
John Jackson was at the store
he said he would take me to auld Samey St Clairs
then he said I would be two miles from Toms
I told him to get my trunk and of we started
it was raining and very cold
it soon comenced [commenced] to snow
we had a great time
the horses could hardley make the trip
the mud is truley awfull
they tell me this is the wettest Spring that ever was
we staid all night at Sameys
in the morning he got his mules hiched [hitched] to the wagon
we came as far as we could by the roads
got in to the field
came as far as we could for the post fence
unloaded the trunk
set it over the fence
he went home
we walked to toms [Tom's] which was half a mile then Tom and his hand went and carried the trunk here
So you see we have made the trip at last
we had a very gloomey journey
it was more like Sunday than aneything else
no buisness [business] going on
Everything your eyes would rest on wore the Emblems of a nations grief
when the word came to the large towns that the president was dead the n---s droped [dropped] on their faces in the streets crying
we have lost our best friend
well it is allmost [almost] dark and I have not got this letter finished
I wrote to Father and to mother to let them know I have got home
Mr tubs was here a short time ago
he is well
Monday morning before breakfast I have a chance to send this and I will do so
I will rite [write] to you shortley and tell you the rest
have to go
good by
I will send you one dollar this time
write soon
S B H F Brian No of letters 1 of

[Transcription by: Mary Cotterman]

Source

Tucker Collection care of Museum of the Grand Prairie

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution to the Museum of the Grand Prairie, Champaign County Forest Preserve District. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast, or commercial use requires written permission. For permission please contact Museum of the Grand Prairie, Champaign County Forest Preserve District.

Tags

• transcribed

• man

• first reaction

• grief

• mourning

Cite this Item

SBHF Brian. "Letter – To Frank Sunday April 23 1865 pt 1". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed November 22, 2024. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/437

Item Type

Letter

Creator

SBHF Brian

Date

April 23, 1865

Region

Union states