Robey Family

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Note: This letter was written by Levi Robey of McConnell, Waddams Twp, Stephenson County, Illinois to his brother John Collins Robey of Travis County, Texas. They are sons of William and Mary Collins Robey. Every effort was made to preserve the original spelling, grammar, and punctuation. This letter is courtesy of Mrs. Jane King Fohn. R. Campbell, Ed.

Levi Robey to John Collins Robey

Nov. 30th 1868
McConnells Grove
Mr. John C. Robey

Dear Brother
Your letter containing Father's Likeness was received by due course of mail. It looks very natural to me. I am very much obliged. We are all well up here at present. Fidelia and Ellen have been here on a visit. They staid [sic] five or six weeks. We went with them to see all their friends. Almira and I took them to Freeport on Wednesday last. We staid [sic] overnight came home Thursday and left them with W. W. [no doubt William Waddel Robey, brother to Levi and John] to put them on the six o'clock train receive road via Fulton to MarshalTown, Iowa. I have not any news to write but what you have heard that the Democrats have been defeated in Electing their President.I look upon that as a great calamity but think I can stand it as well as some of the Republicans can, if they are fools enough to pay Bondholders in gold when the contract calls for currency. I suppose the Democrats must do the best they can. There was great travail in the Town of Waddams on Nov. 3rd and just before day on the fourth the child was born and it was white! Seymour 137 Grant 134 a little after sunup the canon was roaring in Bobtown. A gain of 24 votes in 8 years, but the Republicans increased their majority a trifle in the county. I was offered the nomination for the Legislator but I declined it. Old birds cannot be caught by chaff prices of produce are declining fast. The Rads say it is caused by the Rich Democrats of New York City. Bah dreadful fellows these these [sic] Northern Copperheads for causing so much trouble in the Radical camp. but we shall see if we live what a grant can do. Some of his pious friends are already complaining about his driving around the track Bonners fast horse Dester But enough of Politics--let them Rip. Cyrus and Amanda are off visiting Father McDonnald; Wm and LW [sons William Asa and Levi Woodbury] have gone to Lena with some of our hogs today. We are having fine weather. Our corn is all cribbed. We had a first rate crop of corn, wheat & oats middling. I forgot to tell you that Cy and Amanda have a daughter 2 1/2 months old. we think it is hansome and as smart. There has not been many weddings in this neighborhood since you left. Charles Denton and Hattie Ferry is all I think of. Lemuel Brown died this fall of tyfoid [sic] fever. I think they starved him after the fever was broke. They are Advents you know and they Doctor according to the rules of their Church which is water for medicine & gray ham bread and fruit principally for food but I think when a fellow becomes so weak he can't role [sic] over beef tea and mutten [sic] soup is not a bad thing to take, and so I advised them, but being a gentile they would have none of my advice so Lemuel died and the old man and his lady was bedfast at the time with the same complaint, and was going the same way when John Ballenger came and hauled them to his house and they got one of their doctors from Battle Creek Michigan and as I have been told he prescribed Beef Juice and they recovered.

Almira says she is expecting her to send her photograph on soon. Louisa has received hers. They look very well when I saw them I felt a great desire to talk with them. Miss Ode Hoy is still at home thumping on the piano. Occasionally she teams to play. The rest of the young folk are about as usual. Please write when convenient. Hoping this may find you all well, I remain yours affectionately.

Levi Robey