Part of the Frederick Brown Collection
Rock Island
January 31st 1888
My dear friend,
I received your kind and welcome
letter I am indeed very lonesome since my husbands
death I could not live in the country alone so I
came into Rock Island for the winter. we have the
farm rented for 2 years then it will be sold &
the money divided according to Law the Law here
is just the same as with you I get one third. the
family get The Two thirds. among them.
I have good health is sometimes troubled
with rheumatism you know that dont count much though
it is hard to bear I am sorry to hear that you have
lost so many of your teeth I had lost 3 before I left
home since one of my front one was holed I got it
filled that is all that is wrong with mine. I am grown
very fat I weigh over 13 stone you may guess how
graceful I look I was sorry to hear of your mothers
death. but had not heard of Landys before I suppose he
has left a family I dont hear much of Ballywalter folks
& that was where my [I?] mostely [mostly?] lived. It
is surprising how Mrs Blain keeps her memory. how is Widow
Blain getting along and Williams folks I cant ask for
everybody but you will tell me about everybody now and
again [How?] is Elwyn & Mary McClure & the Morrisons Mrs
Askin and Lady Morrison Dr McGill is left I know is the
New Minist [Minister?] filling the church out of the old
one how is Mr Rogers getting on is he improvd [improved?]
at preaching still a [as?] proud as ever I suppose. does
[is?] W Gibson as prospores [prosperous?] as ever his boys
will be growing up is Miss Gibson still at home & Mrs Bailie
& Mary how are they
I was glad to hear that Marys Boy did not fancy to be a
sailor Eliza & her Mother can do lots of sowing [sewing?]
how many children have you I remember Mary & Robert then
2 little girls but cannot bring their names to mind
I hope you have finished now
how is my friend at the shore heard that Wm [William?] was
to be Married. I suppose he dare not the old [cat?] would not
allow it is Anna still stay [staying?] in the Ganaway that
will be rather hard on her. I never hear from them
we are having a very severe winter this month has been
very cold. this week has set in fine today is Showery & the sun
shining it almost looks like spring but we may expect cold
weather we have plenty of cheap Coal in this State but where
Brother Johns folks is the [they?] cant get coal for love or
money & it is not a Timber Country eather [either?] the [they?]
had terrible cold stormy weather the folk around there just
stoped [stopped?] the trains & took the coal by force when they
can get coal it is 7 dollars per (sic) the coal we have here is
somewhat (sic) you [your?] Scotch Coal 7 cents per bushel
which bushel is 80 pounds that is cheap enough you may say
I think I have little more to write I suppose you dont know
anybody that I know here so I can tell you nothing about them
that would intrest [interest?] you.
I [If?] all goes well I intend to go & see Lizzie McWha [Mewha?]
in Spring she has lost four childern I think she will be glad
of any help this country is so hard on folk that has to work.
the weather in so excessive Cold or Hot. if I go I dont know
when
I may come back to this State it is a long journey and traveling
[travelling?] expensive. but when you write Adress [address?]
c/o
Warnock & Ralston & Robert will forward to me
Give my love to Mrs Blain to Sister Mary & family to William and
all the youngsters & love & good wishes to yourself from your
friend Eliza Warnock
PS many thanks for the handkerchief I send you a Birthday card
but dont know what date you were born
