Natrona April 5th 1865
Dear James
On my return yesterday morning
from a trip to Detroit, Port Huron [--?]
I received yours of 18th Ult. which had
arrived on the 3d Inst. Covering
Draft on New York for eighteen
pounds sterling in my favour. Allow
me again, to express my gratitude for
your attention. I was truly sorry a
few weeks since, on seeing in an
Irish paper a notice of the death
of my much respected Aunt Anne
Adams, she laboured under much privation
on Earth, yet with all was highly gifted.
She has now got over all her troubles here,
and have no doubt is now rejoicing in the
company of the redeemed in the Mansions
of everlasting glory.
I think my aunt did the best she could have
done with her property under existing
circumstances, Her distribution is a literal
fulfilment of that passage which says, Unto
him that hath shall be given to him that has
not, shall be taken that he hath. will you
let me know how Mr. Bones, and his family
have been these years also what became of
the family of the late Joseph Hind. are
they all dead?
A week last monday, I received
a telegram, from Detroit, from Mr Davis
the man with whom we boarded after Mr
Stavely's death imploring me for Gods Sake
to go there and use my influence with Mark
Flanaghan, Provost Marshall to relieve him
of the draft. I left that night and was there
this day week. Davis got several certificates
which with my statement to Flanaghan, Davis
was an Alien got him free. This was a fulfilling
of my fathers counsel to me "Thine own friend
thy Fathers friend for suffer not" I went to Port
Huron was twice at Margarets grave, the children
had wished to have her remains brought to Allegheney
this could have been done, but I did not deem it
advisable to disturb them, I am only a stranger
and an Alien here, the man is wiser than I can
say, where me or mine will be buried, consequently
I let them remain where they are. I got a headstone
of Vermont Marble A neat paling painted white, and
the grave otherwise renovated I have also arranged
with the Sexton to take care of it, & I would send
a small sum annually for his trouble. Altogether it
is now fitted out as Margaret would have expected
from me.
I am sorry to say our old friend John N Moore is
in a very precarious state of health, one being
gone the other being nearly so, Mrs Moore, told
me the Doctor had said Mr Moore might live ten
years _ but liable to die very suddenly _ Mr Moore
attends to his business, & to the uninitiated looks
well he has a place of his own, & his life is insured
for $1500, his salary is very small, only fifty
dollars more than it was , six years since.
I think some of Mr Moores wealthier brothers should
do something for him A few pounds to a man in the
back woods is a fortune. In Cleveland I met with
a man named Craig - He says his Great grandfather
was mine, also that his Grandmother was Peg (Margt)
[Margaret?] Stavely, & that my Gfather [Grandfather?]
give him a crooked sixpence for repeating the entire
of the 119 Psalm at present I can not extend this
I also met with a Mr Beattie an engraver from
Belfast, He is a gentleman and cherished my Fathers
memory. Mr Beattie is to send me a plate with my
name, & I am to send him a copy of my Fathers Obituary
- I also met P McKee a cousin of the Moores. Goods
are down, not making money at present, expect to
be in Philadelphia week after next. I send you
a paper from Detroit
My family are well, in haste
Yours truly
Wm [William?] Stavely
P.S. I enclose receipt for œ18,0,0
I have put $1000 in Oil Lands
