Martha (McNeil?) - April 13, unknown - South Valley, NY

[NOTE: This letter indicates that Marcia is unmarried. Marcia was married twice, first to John Bocock in 1857 and then to Richard Christy in 1875. Because Maggie (born in 1859) is also mentioned, it must date between when Marcia was widowed in 1859 and remarried.]

South Valley April th 13

Dear Sister

and Neice

I will try to answer those very welcome letters of yours I could fill a page with excuses for not writing befor well you know the McNeill faling + that is enough we are well at present + are agoing to build an adition to our house this spring a room + two bed rooms I have but two rooms + 1 bedroom + buttry below two rooms upstars it is not enough for us when mi family gets home it is pretty full they do not all come to once very often but once in while mi oldest daughter Louisas family is well she has four children living they lost one last summer a boy 9 months old Charles has two boys his family is well Marcia has one a girl she is seven years old Oscars has none

Georges has one little girl 16 months old Irvin mi youngest is nineteen he has been home agoing to school this winter is out to work now my step daughter has been away to school this winter + last I am alone the most of the time to do my work I have been a peaceing delaine quilts I have peaced 5 one for each of my girls + miself two + made me two whit spreads + comensed a nother this will take a spell to finish I have not done this all this winter no no I have been at it two or three years

I am in the carpet rags now a geting ready for mi new hous I have the rest all carpeted now I have had forty 8 yards wove since han was here I want about the same now I had a letter from Angie about the same time I got yours she was to James then a visiting she + Mary both wrot me + I had another from James last week they were well + James had some of time thirty men employde to work in his schop in the last letter Mary sent me a picture of her youngest takin in full dress she is over four years it was good, have you + han got your pictures of James or not yet well Dorcas your picture came to hand all right + it is a good one I thank you very much for it I can look at that if I cannot see you

I have not had a line from Georges folks sence I was thar I here from them by the way of James you can see how glad they was to have me come + see them well I expect they was ashamed of me I cant help it now I done the best I now how + the best cant do better he came from a smarter family I suppose than you + I did, well he has his world goods here + grate show it mabie we will have ours here after I do nont envie him

well how are you a geting along Louisa wrote me you was quite sick with your [illegible] + how is your familey sence they was all sick you must have had a hard time of it so many to once sick I spose Magie [Maggie] is a big girl by this time + most a schoolmam go in for that Magie [Maggie] well Marcia how is your helth sence you was sick + I spose you have got that man pickte out by this time if not come down here + I will find you one I wish you + Mother could come + see us + get aquaintd with mi familey now I cant tell you much about them becaus you dont know them I dont know what to write to interest you now you can for I know who you are is the boys doing well this winter have you had a hard winter we have very cold wether here this winter + your western papers speak of very teagious times all through the west prhaps you have escaped it I hope so I will have to draw my letter to a close rember me to all inqurin friends write soon Give my love to Oscar folks in pertickular + a good spare for you selvse good by

this from your sister Martha to Dorcas Chapin