Transcript:Reece and Dunn Family Letters, Indiana and Missouri, 1863-1878

  Featured Page: Week of August 17, 2015

This page provides transcriptions of twelve family letters from the Reece and Dunn families that descended to Basil Coffrin and were transcribed July 1979 by Nedra Brill. (Their present location is unknown).

Individual letters provide information about events in individual's lives. As a collection, the letters also provide a glimpse of how families maintained contact with each other, through writing and through visits. Early letters provide insight into people's feelings and differences of opinion during the American Civil War. Later letters provide insight into the migration process, as individuals discuss moving and then move (or not). Many letters hint at health problems (including "lung fever" and consumption) that apparently were wide-spread at the time. And one letter provides a reminder that not all families benefitted from the California gold rush.

Juliet A Dunn to William & Lisa Reese, 12 March 1863

Written in Clinton County, Indiana; sent to Shelby or Johnson County, Indiana
Persons mentioned:
Julia Dunn in Clinton County, Indiana; her sister Elizabeth (Dunn) Reece in Johnson or Shelby County, Indiana; Mother (Nancy Miller Dunn), sister Jane (Dunn) Dick, her husband Joseph Dick and daughter Mary Dick, all in Clinton County, Indiana; Levi Clark (husband of Lavinia (Dunn) Clark, his daughter ) Dosha Clark (in Missouri); "cousin" Hiram Harrison (in Missouri), husband of Robert Dunn's daughter Jane
William Reece in Johnson or Shelby County, Indiana, his sister Aunt Tilda (Matilda (Reece) Goff) in Shelby County, Indiana
Neighbors in Clinton County, Indiana, Elijah Thurman, son Ephraim, son Joseph; Sol Stafford, H C Amos (teacher)

March the 12 1863

Dear Friends this is to inform you that I landed home safe and found them all well; but of all the bad roads you never saw them any worse I know for it was just froze hard enough to make it rough and broke in ever step. Lisa I think this would be a good time for you to come I dont think you would ever want to see old Clinton again if you was here now! I would be willing to bid it a lasting farewell if Mother was not here but for her sake I shall have to stay a while longer!! no more on that subject I must tell you I have been to ringing once and to church twice since I came home and I know you would have laughed if you had seen my Beau for I was about a foot taller than him and you may know that we looked comical but he is all rite what little their is of him! so I shall not tell you any more about him now

I can tell you this country is full of infernal democrat traitors they hold their lodge and steel ever thing they can get their hands on, Sol stafford deserted and came home and he says that if they was to try to take him back to the army he could raise five hundred armed men in a fiew hours to defend him so you may know that they are plenty and them of the meanest kind their is nothing to mean for them to do I heard that old Elijah Thurman and Eph was about to kill Joe Thurman old Lijah say Joe is a dam secesh and if her comes about him he will shoot him old Elijah and Ephraim is all rite.

Mother says that she would like to see you all but she cant go now she says if she lives untill next fall if you cant come to see her that she will try and go to see you all once more. Jane says for me to tell you that she is what you mite call an abolition and Joe dont lack much of it I tell you Joe is all rite for the union. Mary has just come home from school and she says for me to tell the children that she got the head mark to knight and she can spell like everything she says to tell them her Teachers name is H C Amos and she loves him for he has the stars and sripes waving by the side of the school house and it looks so nice. Joseph says for me to tell William if he has any notion of kansas to let him know and he will be on hand for the kansas fever is rageing here and their is a great many talk of going next fall, but I think that they will have something else to attend to before that time unless their be great change they will all have to fight certain; I have heard from R Mc^[1] he is well and still in the notion of fighting he says he had his horse shot from under him once but still he does not want to give it up. he says victory or death I think he is as spunky as a rat dont you think so that is all I will tell you about Reasonable this time I received a letter from Dosha Clark and she stated that cousin Hiram Harrison was murdered for his money about twenty miles from their house he was buying cattle for the Government he was killed the 23 of October 1862

I want you to write as soon as this comes to hand and let me knowhow you are all getting along I want to hear from Aunt Tilda whether she has got well or not I should like to see her and all of the rest of you if I could I am getting homesick a ready I want to see my Babys^[2] pretty bad you must take good care of them

Write as soon as you get this dont put off two or three weeks or month excuse my scribbling for I have nether pen or ink no more at prsent good by
Juliet A Dunn to William and Lisa Reese
Juliet A Dunn Nancy Dunn
William and Elizabeth Reese
William write to Levi he want to hear from you

References and Notes

1. ↑ Possibly Reason McKinsey, son of Nehemiah and Lena Wagoner McKinsey
2. ↑ Probably William and Elizabeth's children Martha age 3, and Ferdinand, age 1.

Julia A Cunningham to Juliatt A Dunn, 4 April 1864

Written from Waverly, Morgan County, Indiana to Clinton County, Indiana
People: Julia (Snowden) Cunningham, her father James Snowden, sisters Sarah and Alyzan, brothers Jesse and William Riley
Julia Dunn (a former neighbor in Clinton County)
Augusts and Morris Wentz (neighbors?)
Elizabeth Froner and Jimmy (possible family members)

Waverly Morgan Co state of Ind
April the 4rh 1864

My Respect friend
It is with plasure that I sit down this rainy Morning to wite you a few lines for the purpose of leting you know how I am getting a long I am well at this present time and I do hope that when these few lines reaches you they may find you well an harty I would lik to see you the best in the world but can not at this present time and if we never meet ine this world again let us try and live so when we die we will meet in heaven where parting will be no more and where we will meet all of our fiends which has gone be fore us. I received your letter on the second of this month I was glad to hear from you and was glad to hear that you was well you said you got a letter from ham a few day ago I was glad to hear that they was all well fathers falks is all so they can go a bout none of them very stout except Elizabeth froner's and Jimmy they are as stout as they was was before they was sick Sara Emily is very porly yet is not able to do any thing Cant sit up all the time and Alyzan is not stout but is running around Jesse has been very sick with the lung fever but is going a bout but cant work any yet him and Sarah and Elizabeth froner's and Aleyzan went to Willim Rileys last Saturday and was to came back to day but it is raining so I dont much look for them Rileys was down on easter Sunday they was well and well satisfied I be lievs I have rote all I can think of at present O yes I fer got guss wentz Came hame last wednesday and started to philidelphi this marning and expect to be back a gin the twenth of this mont he has thirty days furlough Marras wentz came hame last Saturday he has thirty days furlaugh^[1] I guess I had better my letter to a Clase for this time you must Wite soon and not wait as long as you did before

So no more but still remains your affectunate friend until death Wite this to Juliatt A dunn fram
Julia A cunningham^[2]
please Wite soon and tel me all the news
so fare well

References and Notes

1. ↑ Augustus and Morris Wentz were living in White River Township, Johnson County, Indiana when they were registered for the the draft on 13 March 1863. Both were born in Pennsylvania, Augustus about 1837, Morris about 1843. Augustus served in the 33rd Indiana Regiment, Morris in the 26th Indiana Regiment. (Source: United States. Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865)
2. ↑ Julia was a neighbor of Julia Dunn in 1850 Census. She married Adam A. Cunningham on 13 Nov 1863 in Morgan County, Indiana.

Joseph Dick to Dear friends, 4 August 1864

Written in Clinton County, Indiana
Persons named: Nancy (Miller) Dunn (Mother), her daughter Julia Dunn, her son-in-law Joseph Dick (husband of Jane Dunn)

August 4th 1864
Dear friends
I take the earliest opportunity of informing you that Mother Dunn is no more. She died this morning about sun rise. Julia and I got home last night about sun down. It is hard to tell whether she knowed Julia or not. She Spoke her name once after we come. She will be buried in the morning at 10 Oclock. We all feel sad and know that we have lost our best earthly friend. I will write no more now
In hast
Yours
Joseph Dick

James and Mary Ann Snowden to William and Elizabeth Reece and Julia Dunn, 21 May 1865

Written in Marion County, Indiana, sent to (Franklin, Johnson County?), Indiana
Persons: James Snowden (former neighbor of the Abner Dunn family and friends of William and Elizabeth Reece), his wife Mary Ann (Hopkins) Snowden, daughter Sarah Emily Snowden, daughter Elisabeth Snowden, daughter-in-law Catherine (Terhune) Snowden (wife of William Riley Snowden)
William Reece and his wife Elisabeth (Dunn) Reece
Julia Dunn (sister of Elisabeth)
Alfred Fear and Hannah Fear, presumed relatives of James Snowden through his first wife, Elizabeth Fear
Clusses(?)

May the 21 1865
Dear Friends I tak my pen to let you know that we are all well hoping that you May all be ingood helth we want to see you all badly and you must Com and see us as soon as you can you dont know how bad We want to See you I thot I would Have came and Seen you be fore I Moved but I couldnot come
I am living in 3¹/₂ miles from Indinopolis near Beelers and Fletchers mills I am hawling Flower for Beeler and Fletcher I make 2 loads per day William the ware is plaid out and traitors will be gin to See where tha are I think that Some of them will have to pull hemp down wards I have pulled hemp upward and that made my hands sore but pulling downwards will hurt the neck elisabeth you must come and fetch all of your children to See us for I would like for us all to be together onse more Julia you didnot come as you promist we was looking for you had all things for a fine time but ware disappointed and if you dont Come and see us you may look out for a Scolding if I See you a gain the wore is dride up and the Soldiers is going to come home we are looking for a great many in 10 days from this time I dont know but your man will be at home Soom Elisabeth mary ann wants you to come and See hur for She wants to See you badely be Sure and write soon as you get this leter dont neglect Julia Mary says you must be sure and come
from James and Maryann Snowden
to William & Elisabeth Rease and Julia dunn in hest

[different handwriting]
your friend i seat my Self to rite you a lines to let you know that i an well and harty and i hope you the same Julia i want to see you and you must come and see us we are looking for some of our friends at home from the army catharine Snowden was here about 5 weeks i ges she went home a thursday we was at the Clusss a few weaks a go i supose you had heard that Jef Daves is captured ant that god i think that they ought to put him wher he would Starve to deth merly ant go and tant him a while and then killed him
i ges the war is over and i ges nobody is Sory thare is to be thre or so more hung in next month the rebles lost thar bes friend when they kiled the president So, he had mercy on Men daves trid to make his escape by his wife dress but he run to fast and his boots heals betraid him iwill close for my pen is bad
this from Sarah e Snowden to July dun
so rite write write write god by good by

[different handwriting]
May the 21 1865
Dear friend I sit down this Sabath bening to drop you A few lines to let you know that I hav not forgotten you but I thought you had forgotten me a I had rote you aletter and had got no answer yet I am well and harty and I do hope that you may be well Julia I wnt to see you and you must come and see us I suppose you have heard that Jef Deaves is taken hant that good I think they ought to put him at a apole and let the soulders shot at him. we heard that Alferd fear was dead and we also heard that Hana fear^[1] was kild We are itgoing to Singer School hear I will close as I cant think of any thing to write now Julia I want you to write assoon as you getthro this from Elisabeth [E?] Snowden to Julia Dun give my love to Mr and Mises reas pleas rite case good by in haste

References and Notes

1. ↑ Exact identification of Alfred and Hannah Fear is unclear, but they were probably cousins of some sort to Elizabeth Snowden. Elizabeth's father, James Snowden, married Elizabeth Fear as his first wife, about the same time that his sister Sarah married Elizabeth's brother, George Fear. George and Sarah Fear died relatively young, and James became a guardian of their minor children. Alfred may be the oldest of those children, but there were other cousins, as well.

Julia Dunn to William and Elizabeth Reece, 19 March 1867

Written in Clinton County, Indiana, sent to Johnson or Shelby County, Indiana
Other places mentioned: Tipton, Indiana
People: Julia Dunn, her sister Jane (Dunn) Dick
William Reece, his wife Elizabeth (Dunn) Reece (sister to Julia and Jane), their daughters Annie, Nancy and Julia; William's sisters "Aunt Tilda" and (Aunt) Jane (Reece) Dunn; Jane (Reece) Dunn's children Duck (Sarah) and Nan
Pres Ryan

March [19?] [1867?] [on a fold and very dim]^[1]
Berlin,^[2] Clinton Co Ind
Dear Friends,
I again take the opportunity to address then a few lines in answer to your long looked for letter . . . . [on the fold and unreadable]
I was glad to hear from you once more and learn you was Well and had a place to moove to for their is no place here to be found close to the mill^[3] I hope you will do well as if you had a come here for I knw that theire is more money their than here but I would have bin so glad if you could a mooved out here as long as I am doomed to have to spend my days here or it looks very much that way to me and you know that I am not satisfied here but I have to be content but I do think I have always had a hard time to live and I may see harder time yet but if I thought that I ever would life would not be desireable but everything happens for the best. [faded word] I wish if you plese you would box my bed and what things I have their and send them to tipton for me Elisabeth I always thought that I never would have to take by bed from you but I recon I will have to have it for if I Marry I am not going to mary that retch fellow that was talked a bout Sis you know that I hant got quilt nor nothen else and I want you to send ever thing in the shape of a quilt I want you to write when you start the box so I will know when to go to tipton after it if you possible can send them you will oblige your sister verry much

Well Annie what must I say to you I will tell you I get a letter from you a few days ago dated a bout new years and also one from your Aunt Jane dated January the 20 I can not tell what was the cause of them being detained on the road so long but not withstanding I was glad to read them Annie their is some of your letter I cannot understand about that Pres Ryan going to grass I did not know ther a was but one Pres Ryan and he is here and was Married this winter^[4] please lead me in the light of the matter dont go wild about little mac but you can go for him if you want to but do pray let dupon a lone for mercy sakes^[5] you said for your Aunt Jane to send you one from here but she cant do that for their is but one here and Janes^[6] a going to have him. so your cake is doe in Clinton but however come and see for your self for I did not think their was anyone here when I come but I was mistaken^[7] Ann rite just as soon as this comes to hand and tell me all of the news tell me about you Mothers eyes if they have got well and how Wills eyes is and how they are all gitting along and how your Aunt Jane folks is doing Duck and Nan Doing tell Duck I will write to her one of these days if I live I did promice Aunt Tilda to write to her but I have dela oit so long that I recon she dont care any thing about hearing fro me now but I would be awful glad to see her and all of . . . . [faded line] Aunt[?] I can come soon to see you but I want you all to come and see me sis I would be so glad to see you comeing cant you com this spring when the roads gits good do come Jane says for me to tell you thet they will be reddy to go west with you in the fall but I guess it will be as it always has bin all talk and no go I cant tell you one thing what I will do for I cant tell but I will do the very best I can I must quite scribling for I know you cant read the half of it Send them things just as soon as you can and I will pay the frate when they come to tipton I want you to write as soon as this comes to hand Nancy I want to here from you an Julia have you forgoten the time I run you to get to whip you I expect you are mad at me yet tell me if you are I want see you all any how I am not mad at you any how Jane says for you all to come soon as you can and she will do the same I shall quit writing after tell you we are all in common health and hope those lines may find you well and doing well.
Anie I will send you a Ring for a New years gift it is not a very valuable present but it is the best I have to send.

Julia to william and Elisabeth Reese and all of the Children

write soon as you git this with out failplease excuse all the mistakes and ill composed letter for I am in a hurry

good buy to all

References and Notes

1. ↑ Given Julia's talk about marriage and the date of Julia's marriage, the suggested date of the letter is probably accurate.
2. ↑ Berlin is an extinct town in Johnson Township, and was "off the map" by 1900. (Source: Wikipedia, Berlin, Indiana, accessed 9 March 2013.
3. ↑ William Reece was a miller and would need to live close to a mill.
4. ↑ Not identified in either 1860 or 1870 Indiana Census record; not found in Clinton County marriages between 1866-1868.
5. ↑ Ann was about 15 years old and apparently exercising the teenage interest in persons of the opposite sex.
6. ↑ Who is this Jane? Julia's sister Jane was already married.
7. ↑ Julia Dunn married John Mullin on 7 April 1867

Docia Clark to Julia Dunn, 29 March 1867

Written from Genoa, Wayne County, Iowa (just across the state line from St. John and Unionville, Putnam County, Missouri) to Clinton County, Indiana
People: Docia Clark, daughter of Levi and Lavina (Dunn) Clark, her sister Nancy and brother-in-law Martin Loomis, their daughter Leona Loomis; Docia's brother Thomas Clark
Docia's Aunt Julia Dunn, her Uncle and Aunt William and Elizabeth (Dunn) Reece, her Aunt Jane (Dunn) Dick
Pleasant Hodgen and Mrs. Thurman, neighbors of the Dunns in Clinton County, Indiana
James Miller

Genoa Iowa
March 29th 1867
Dear Aunt
I once more take my pen in had to drop you a few lines informing you that we are all well at this time and sincerly hoping / when these hasty remarks come to hand they may find you all in good health. I dont hardly know ho to address you for it has been so long since we have heard from you that we do not know whether you are dead or alive we havent heard from you since in june and we dont know whether you have wrote and we have not got your letters or what's the reason we do not hear from you I want you to write and tell us why you have not wrote before this time I have wrote you twice the last time I wrote was in December last and I have not had an answer yet Nancy and Mart was well two weeks ago to day we have not heard since. well I wrote about Nanies baby in my last letter but I expect you did not get it. she is five months old I think she is pretiest and the sweetest little think I ever saw I with you would see her. her name is Leora Loomis

pap seen James Miller the other day he said they were well and that his Mother and sister were liveing with him. we heard that Plesent Hodgoins has bought afarm down in Missouri^[1] we want you to write and tell us if it is so
Mother want to know if old Mrs Therman is still alive and liveing on her old place
tell uncleWilliam and aunt Beth to write us and tell us if they are comeing out here or not and tell aunt Jane to write we wrote to her some time ago and if she got the letter she did not answer it
Thomas says for me to write some thing about him well he is atolerable bad bad boy and does not like to mind what is told him all the time I put in bad twice he says I mist rub out one so you wont think he is to bad
I will quit for this time for I am in ahury wite asoon as this comes to hand
Docia A Clark
to
Julia Dunn

References and Notes

1. ↑ Pleasant Hodgen was the son-in-law of Elijah and Mary ("old Mrs.") Thurman. As far as is know, there is no biological connection between the Thurmans and the Dunns, although they apparently were good friends. And the rumor that Pleasant Hodgens had bought land in Missouri apparently was untrue, as he and family continued to live in Clinton County, Indiana until their deaths.

J Mullin to William Reece, 10 September 1867

Written from Clinton County, Indiana to Johnson or Shelby County, Indiana
Other places mentioned: Lafayette, Indiana; Lewis County, Missouri; Missouri, Illinois
People: John Mullin, husband of Julia (Dunn) Mullin; William Reece, husband of Elizabeth (Dunn) Reece; Joseph and Jane (Dunn) Dick; Ida Reece, youngest daughter of William and Elizabeth Reece

Berlin^[1] Clinton Co ind
September the 10th 1867
Well william i take my pen in hand to let you know that we are all Well at this time and i hope when this comes to hand it may find you enjoying the same blessing i have no news of any importance to offer. We got home same and found the folks all well Jo and Jane Were here this evening they start for Missouri to night they are agoing to lewis and and around to see all of their friends they say they are agoing on a visit but if they like the Country i dont think they Will Come back soon Well i suppose you think strange of us not writing before this time but i did not know what to Write Julie has been sick ever since We got home and the doctor has has been tending on her for the last two Weeks but she is Considerable better and i think We Can start in a fiew days We intend going to illinois and if i like the country i Will stay until next fall and then go farther West. i dont suppose we will get to go that way by going by lafyette^[2] We will have Company all the way to where we are agoing. mothers folks^[3] are agoing with us i have been trying to arrange matters to let you have that horse but i dont see how i can do it under the circumstances i had to pay a big doctor bill that i was not expecting when we were out there but i dont want you to give out going if you can help it and if you dont get to go now as soon as we get settled i will do all i can for you We will write to you as soon as we get out there and tell you where to write to you need not write to us here for we will be gone before a letter Could get here Well i believe i will draw to a close as the other side of the paper is not ruled so no more at this time But Remain your friend j Mullin
to Wm Reese

[written sideways on page) Dont let anybody see this letter for i Wrote it With a pencil and in a hurry at that
Excuse Bad Writing and Spelling

[written upside down at bottom of page) Curly^[4] says Ciss ida for her

References and Notes

1. ↑ Berlin is an extinct town in Johnson Township, and was "off the map" by 1900. (Source: Wikipedia, Berlin, Indiana, accessed 9 March 2013).
2. ↑ Lafayette presumably was on the route they would take to Illinois and was north of where they lived, so that they would be unable to return or pay for the horse apparently borrowed or bought from William Reece, who lived to the south.
3. ↑ John's parents are presently unknown. One possibility is a John and Elizabeth Mullen, living in Louisville, Kentucky in 1850, but more research is needed to confirm or disprove that possibility.
4. ↑ Could Curly be John's nickname for Julia? She is the most likely person who would want to kiss three-year-old Ida.

Ann Reece et al to Jane Dunn et al, about 1869?

Written from Putnam County, Missouri to Johnson County, Indiana
Other places mentioned: Linn County, Missouri
People: Ann J Reece; her parents William and Elizabeth (Dunn) Reece; her Aunt Jane (Reece) Dunn; Jane's children Reece Dunn and Sarah Dunn ("duck")
Cousin Jane (Smith) Dunn, wife of James Dunn and sister-in-law of Jane (Reece) Dunn; Uncle Bob (Robert C. Dunn), husband of Jane (Reece) Dunn and brother ofJames Dunn
Cousin Docia Clark, daughter of Levi and Lavinia (Dunn) Clark and niece of Elizabeth (Dunn) Reece
Joseph Dick (husband of Jane (Dunn) Dick) and John Mullin (husband of Julia (Dunn) Mullin), brothers-in-law of Elizabeth (Dunn) Reece

Dear friends
I take my pen in hand to let you no that I am well At present and hope that these few lines may find you all the same Aunt Jane Mother hant bin to cousin Jane^[1] yet but she is going to go soon as she get able and find out all she can about uncle bob and cousin James and then she will rite you a letter well duck^[2] this is the place for you you can go to church with you [flanin?] on an puple hant proid hes lik thay are wher you live cousin Docia and I hav bin a vistin. I bun going to [coles?] but I cant rit you all must rite
Ann reece to Jane Dunn

[different handwriting]
dick and mulin is out hear tha are in lin County Mo about two days drive from hear I have not Seean them yet we havent had much winter heare yet
I want you to give my love to all the frends so I will close fore this time I want you to right as sauone as this Combes to had and let me kow how the friends all are so no more at present but remin yous
from^[3] William Reece Dunn to Reece dunn Elizabeth to William Reece
Ann J Reece to Elizabeth Miller so no more at pesant so good by
Reece Dunn to Nealy
J fleming visit
so good by

References and Notes

1. ↑ James Dunn, husband of "cousin Jane", his brother Robert, husband of Ann's Aunt Jane, and Alfred McKinsey, husband of Ann's Aunt Sarah Reece, went to California during the gold rush. Alfred was known to have died there. James did not return until after 1870. Robert never returned, and family accounts suggest he was never heard from again. No official record of his death has been found. That Ann's mother was going to visit "cousin Jane" suggests that William and Elizabeth Reece and family had just recently moved to Putnam County, Missouri.
2. ↑ Duck is apparently a nickname for Ann's cousin Sarah Dunn.
3. ↑ The signatures to the second half of the letter occur in several handwritings. When read literally as they appear on the page, they seem somewhat confused. Based on differences in handwriting and names of known family members, they probably should read:
   William Reece to Reece Dunn, Elisabeth (Dunn) Reece to William Reece, Ann J Reece to Elisabeth Miller, Reece Dunn to Nealy J Fleming.
   Why Elisabeth is writing to William Reece is unclear, since they would both appear to be in Putnam County, and writing to William's nephew Reece Dunn. The identity of Nealy J. Fleming is also unclear, although possibly a relative of Reece Dunn's wife Mary J (Fleming) Dunn (or even Mary J herself?). The identity of Elisabeth Miller is also unknown, but more likely a friend than a relative.

Jane Dunn to William and Lize Reece, 12 March 1870

Written in Shelby County, Indiana, sent to Putnam County, Missouri
Persons: Jane (Reece) Dunn; her brother and sister William and Elizabeth (Dunn) Reece, their daughter Ann Reece; Jane's children Billy Dunn, Reece Dunn, Miles Dunn, Sarah Dunn, Nancy Dunn
Jane and William's sister Aunt Til (Matilda (Reese) Goff), her son William Goff
Jane and William's sister Aunt Patsy (Martha (Reese) McDermed, her daughter Vone (Levonia McDermid), and Lavonia's husband Milton Goff

March the 12th 1870
Shely Co ind

Dear broher and sister it is with pleasure tha i once more seete my self to drop you a few liens to let you no that i am still on the land among the living and able to be on foot thru the protecting hand of providence tho not vary well my helth is poore but i am thankful that it is as well with me as it is the friends is as well as Comen i was at ant tils yesterday will got a letter from an i was truly glad to hear that you was all well but wold a liket beter if an had a riten more i want to no all about you how you get a long wether you can do better thare then her and whare you live who youst to one the place you live on then i wold no just whare then i wold no just whare you do live ricklect lived in that contry once i want to no whethe you are still well satisfied as for this place it is worse then when you left pride is a fold worse if poseleb and of cors wickednes increace that almta dolar all that is cerd for now we have had wone of the worst winters heare that i ever saw it seemes to me consumpsion is taking of more her now then aney other desieze no wonder for we have to waid mud and water the yar around thare is 13 or 14 of my aquaintence that has died with it in the last 2 years and and i do not no how maney more that willnot get thru this sping i believe it has got to be one of the most unhelthy climents in the world but tis no wonder for people has got so hard her tis a wonder to me that tha ar not all swept of tha will hardly bury one a nothe we wold leave hear if we cold we try to liv in hopes if do have to dye in disspare biley and me is caeping house he has got one horse and is out now trying to by another he wants to come to MO so bad we have nine head of hogs when i git to thinking about you all and how hapy you must be since you have got into a free cuntry i want to come so bad i do not no how to stand it we just as well not have no law for we have the vary lowest clas to execute them the bigest outlaws we have is put in of ice we are completly und demacratic goverment in indana it is feard that we are going to have a nother wor the leuternts and Catholicks we fear tha will jine togerher from ther movement no more on this subject now

reece is a doing the best he can and that is not mutch he has lost his temeor as good as so^[1] an he has to pay sutch hiy rent that he cant make aney thing he rents of old ephrem he is till alive and love money as wll as ever mile is at adrin Colage^[2] yet he is well or was the last i herd from him he is studing laten this winter expecet to comenc greek in the spring saury is at home now nan is at dongins^[3] a soing her helth is so pore that she is not able to do house work aney more if she cold helpet biley and me lives in old Jo grigry^[4] yard he has rented ground of him th reson we do not expect to stay her anley this season i want you telus all about your prospects wheter you are doing aney better then hear but perhaps you have fergoten how it is hear some time pople does lile goff rite will to or he said he wold he will tel you all about them i will just say that ant til a bad cof has had all all winter ant patsy is not vary stout milt has sold his land and bought a farm in brown that i ges he will cape for no body will have it he has fis out vone has twines what she call them i dont no^[5] ges she had beter call them brown i must close for want of room right and tel me all avry thing give my love to all and more to
Jane dun to will and lize

References and Notes

1. ↑ Reese Dunn apparently suffered from a nerve disorder contracted while serving in the military during the Civil War.
2. ↑ Adrian College is a small, private college in Adrian, Michigan, with a Methodist affiliation. For more information, see the en Wikipedia article Adrian College.
3. ↑ Nancy Dunn was probably at the home of Charles and Sarah (Cutsinger) Dungan in Franklin, Johnson County, Indiana. In 1860 her brother Miles Dunn and cousin Mordecai McKinsy worked there as farm laborers. There is no known biological relationship between the Reece/Dunn families and the Dungan family.
4. ↑ Probably Joseph Gregory, who was 56 in 1870 and living in Hendricks Township, Shelby County, Indiana
5. ↑ The twins of Milton and Levonia (McDermed) Goff were Albert and Alfred Goff.

Jane Dunn and W. A. Goff to bil reece 26 September 1870

Written from Johnson and Shelby Counties, Indiana to Putnam County, Missouri
People: Jane (Reece) Dunn; her brother and sister-in-law William and Elizabeth (Dunn) Reece; her son Billy (William Dunn); her sister Patsey (Martha (Reece) McDermed); her son Reece Dunn
William Goff, son of Matilda (Reece) Goff and nephew of Jane (Reece) Dunn and William Reece

September the 26 1870
dear brother and sister I once more seet my self to drop you a few liens hoping you will answer it I have writen twice to you have got no answer I do not no what can be the reason whethe are all dead or do not wont to hear from us thar must shorley be something rong or you wold right once a year any how now if you do not want to hear from us pleas right [torn paper] more and let us no it and we will quit i hope this ma reach you and find you all well and doing well this leeves us all well at present we have all had the measles this sumer and I was vary bad but have got prity well agane it is vary sickley hear now and a grate many death colary moleas and tifoid feaver and consumpsion then aney thing els biley and me is still ceepeing house but do not no but we will have to brake up it seemes like we cant git no place thare is more renters aney [torn]ng els evry hog pen is ful remt is out of all reason thare is no canc hear onley for roskels we have had no rain since harvest to do aney food corn and wheete is tolarble good but that all thare is no sas atal nor not mutch frute patsys foaks is all well reeces is well bil goff is going to rite so i wil not say ane thing a bout then i want you to right el us how time is out thare if wel an we will be out thare nex fall i want you tel me how rent is thar wheather you hav to give all you make and take it to market i will have to close for will to right right as soon as you get this far well
Jane Dunn to bil reece

[different handwriting]
Dear uncle I Take this present opportuniti of writing you a few lines to let you no how we are getting I have been under the weather for about a year I have not been able to work much of the time the rest of the folks is as well as common. we have sold our place. we got fifty dollars per acre. I want you to write to me a let know how land sell out thare and let me know how far you live from a rail road and what is your nearest station perhaps I may come out thair this fall or winter to look at the country.
Write as soon as this comes to hand for I will look for a letter by the return mail
So no more at present
W. A. Goff

W. A. Goff to A. N. J., 22 Sep 1874

Written from Franklin, Johnson County, Indiana, to Putnam County, Missouri
Persons: William Goff; his cousins Angie (Ann Reece), Nank (Nancy Reece), Julia (Julia Reece); his uncle William Reece; his Aunt Jane (Jane (Reece) Dunn), her children Reece, Miles, Sarah ("Duck"), Nan; his sister-in-law Nancy Goff
William Tucker, son of Ephraim Tucker and brother to Emily Jane Tucker who married William Reese, cousin of William Reece

Franklin Ind
Sep 22 1874
Dear cousins
I take the present opportunity of answering your letter. I got back on saturday week from the time I left your House and on Monday or Tuesday I got your letter. I would have answered sooner but I rote a letter to uncle and was waiting for an answer from him I have waited till I have got tired of waiting. I thougth that I would rite to you and see if you would do the same way. I rote to Uncle to buy that place we went to see. provided he could get it as he thought it could be bought for when we was there-- we did not like Nebraska. The reason I did not like it was I could not find any squaw that would have me while I was there.^[1] I think the smoke House man had better go south before it gets any colder or he will get frost bit. well nank how are you and philip a making now. did he choke you Much the last time he was thare if he did don't kiss him when Comes next time. I would like to know how cast street and Johnson is getting long with there wooing. you had better hurry them up so that you cam have company when geat eventful day comes when the twine is made one.^[2]

Julia you and Ange mite as well get redy and marry when Nank does as not so that I can see you all married when I come to see Nank married.^[3] Aunt Jane has gone down to worthington live with Miles Duck is here at nan goff Nan dunn is at dungane a gain the folks is all well except nan goff baby it been sick evry since I got home William Tucker baby died last Saturday.

I will have to quit for it getting late so no more for the present
write soon all of you
yours with best respect
W. A. Goff to A. N. J.

Mary Dick to Uncles and Cousins, 19 August 1878

Written in Brookfield, Linn County, Missouri, sent to Putnam County, Missouri
People: Mary Dick, her parents Joseph and Jane (Dunn) Dick; her sister Nan and brother Frank; her grandmother Mary (Knedler) Dick
Mary's Aunt Julia (Julia (Dunn) Mullin); her Aunt Lizzie (Elizabeth (Dunn) Reece); her cousin Lewis Clark, son of Levi and Lavinia (Dunn) Clark; her cousin Lisa, daughter of Tunice and Sophia (Dunn) Bennett

Brookfield, Mosouri
August 19 1878
Dear Aunt Uncle and Cousins; I Seat my self to answer your welcome letter We are all well and i hope this may find you all the same Mother was glad to here from you we havent heard from Aunt Julia lately. Mother was sorry to here of Aunt Lizzie being sick. What has become of cousin Lewis if he is home tell him to Write to me Father and Mother says they are going to try and come up to see all of you this fall i would like to come but i guess i will haft to stay at home with Nan and Frank

Well Lisa you wanted me to tell you about my fellow i will describe him, he is about six feet high with light hair and blue eyes, his Father lives five miles this side of kansas city I dont think i will Marry him. i think i have the best times at home, i went to a large Circus here last wensday i had a good time they had so many different kind of animals, i was out in the Country yesterday to see my Grandmother. I wish you was out here to go with me we would have a nice time.