Transcription:
Farm, Nov. 8th, '69. Dear John: I have received your two very welcome letters dated May and June, but feel that I have
delayed too long in returning an answer. Do not think you have been forgotten, as you are remembered daily. Your description
of the fine scenery with which you are surrounded gave me much pleasure, and I am glad you enjoy it so much. I hope you have
had the pleasure of meeting your Madison friends the Carrs as you expected. The family are scattered as much as ever. Mary
has gone to Madison and Anne has gone to OCONOMOWOC and Joanna teaches this winter in Sarah's district. Perhaps you know that
Daniel is a student at Ann Arbor, Mich. this winter. Your Father still has the farm. We have had a very busy year. Now we
have only one man helping to build fences and I have a girl to do the work, so we get along very well. Very often Margaret
or Sarah or some of the children come on a visit, and Joanna has been here several times through the summer. David Muir and
John Reid were here during harvest and worked hard for a week. John Reid and Margaret and the children were here yesterday.
Margaret's health seems to be much improved. Nearly all the farmers around here have now all good frame houses and are very
well off. The Presbyterians have got up a nice church near the graveyard, and the Methodists have got a church on the school
section. Following note on same sheet of paper Nov. 11th. Dear John: The 9th of this month is the anniversary of my
arrival at Fountain Lake twenty years ago. How glad I was to meet you and the others after such a long journey. Many changes
have passed over us since then, and many blessings have been showered upon us as a family, though distant from each other.
It seems a very long time indeed since we had the pleasure of seeing you. Still I anticipate a happy reunion with each of
you bye and bye. Your enjoyment of the beauties of Cal. are shared by me, as I take much pleasure in reading your accounts
of the country around you. You have my best wishes and prayers that you may be protected and preserved in all your journeyings
on earth, and at last find a happy home in the mansions of glory forever. Farewell, dear John, from your affectionate Mother.
511