TRANSCRIPTION OF JULY 1857 LETTER FROM NICHOLAS STEPHENS IN BENTON CO. IOWA - transcription & notes by Joe Stevens of Blair Co., PA

Benton City, IO
July 7th
Mr. Nicholas Stephens
Frankstown Post
Blair County, PA

July 5th 1857

Dear brother,

Under depressing circumstances we rite to you to to inform you that Our dear mother departed this Life on the 27th of June. She was sick But half an hour. We suppose it was a strock of the palsy. She eat a harty supper bout one hour before that time. She was seted on a chair and commenced rattleing in her throut. We put her to bed and she expired immediately. The rest of the friends are all well at pressant please let Peter (1) now and the rest of the friends in your neighborhood. I will rite to wetz (2) and hoover (3) and sells (4).
Please rite as soon as possible and we will give you the news of the country in our next letter.
Your father
Nicholas Stephens
You will find inclosed a lock of her hair and a piece of her shroud
Footnote-written in a different handwriting than previous letters

(1) Peter Stephens, son of Nicholas and Mary.
(2) wetz-refers to Catherine Wertz (daughter of Nicholas and Mary) married to Henry Wertz
(3) hoover-refers to Elizabeth Hoover (daughter of Nicholas and Mary), married to Joseph Hoover
(4) sell-refers to Susan Sell (daughter of Nicholas and Mary) or her husband
All three families stayed in Blair County instead of moving to Iowa.

Family page for Nicholas & Mary Stephens