John Peters to brother George, (12 Mar 1859)

[about March 12th, 1859- Greenville]

Dear Bobby [bro. George Peters]

I think you have been on a bender for sometime[.] almost a year ago I received a very short letter from you. You was in a great hurry[.] it was town meeting tim and as soon as it was over you would write me. I guess town meeting is over by this tim[.] but dont fret the cattle[.] in the first place what has become of That mortgate - is it paid, out leased and is the farm worth redeeming[?] and how much money have you saved from the farm fund I left and if any can you have it collected by the first of July or August[?] if so write me this onse[.] I will pull of my hat and make you a bow when I come home and if I am not do any better I will have to get you to send me money to get home with[.] I would like you to have it collected for if I come home[.] I am afraid I cannot get back agan unless I can get some money thare.

Yours Truly,
John

Letter generously contributed & transcribed by Pat Belanger
Original letter located at Archives Room, Monroe County Historical Museum
126 South Monroe Street Monroe, Michigan 48161

Note: Bracketed [ ] items indicate a change added for clarity. Please note also that some portions of the transciption which were confusing or were seemingly missing portions of the text, are accurate to the original letters and brackets have not been used as the correct interpretation was either obvious, or converse. In places where the original text was too ambiguous, no changes were made.

Letter Index

- EXPLANATORY NOTES -
Compiled by P. Davidson-Peters (2005)
(Any errors are therefore the result of my own deficiencies and interpretations).

JOHN PETERS - author of the letter, John was born in Harpersfield, Delaware Co., New York on 16 Dec 1823, the son of Richard & Polly (Wilcox). He caught the gold fever and went to California in 1852 but returned to Petersburg in 1862. He married Ellen Burnham in 1864, and after her death in 1876, he and his daughters Mary and Ellen moved to Toledo where the girls attended Oberlin College. John died in Toledo, Ohio on 02 Oct 1920 but was buried in the Old Petersburg Cemetery.

GEORGE PETERS - oldest child of Richard & Polly (Wilcox) and brother of John, George was born 21 Sep 1822 in Hapersfield, Delaware Co., New York. In 1845 he married to Mary Jane (Holmes) who is also mentioned in these letters. George died 11 Jan 1912 in Petersburg, Monroe Co., Michigan. (See the letter following this in which he addresses George once again).

- OUTSIDE LINKS -
Historical accounts & places relative to John's journey to Placerville, California

Monroe County Historical Museum

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