The last of Adelaide’s three letters (of those that were given to me by Dr. Hunter) to her husband Albert Adams was written March 19, 1867. The 18-year old Adelia was still living apart from her husband. She seemed to be more settled in. She was probably still living with her sister, Mahala Ackerman. The letter was suggestive of a permanent move to Michigan. This was a newsy letter and much embellished with Dilly’s poetic mood.
Well Abb, I don’t know but you will get tired of reading my scribblings, but I haven’t had any chance to mail my letter and I thought I would say a few more words to you.
Mr. Luther (The Luthers were prominent residents of Pillar Point, N. Y. Not sure, but I think the ares is still known as Luther Hill on Pillar Point) was here yesterday. He took those drafts and said he would go today or tomorrow and get the money. He said he would go around by Pumerois (Pomeroy’s ?) and see if he could buy that land (?). I shall know in a few days and then I will either write or come myself and let you know all the particulars.
I want a full description of the place you talk of buying (?) as near as you can give. Tell me how much flour is per hundred (lbs.) and whether there is a mill or store, church or schoolhouse or any other kind of building anywhere near that or not. What kind of folks live there and what kind of house they live in and tell me how Mr. Perkin’s (probably the father of Harriet Adams, the wife of Byron Adams) folks are getting along. What kind of a house are they living in and how long before they are going to move on their place? Do you hire your board or do you get three dollars a day and board? What do you have to eat and who does your washings and where do you sleep nights? (“sleep nights” appeared to have been inserted after the letter was written) Write a good long letter -- fill two sheets as I do. What’s the use writing half a letter. Has By taken up a piece of land there? Tell him and Hatt to write to me -- I wrote a letter to Ansauble (a town ?) that you didn’t get and it was sent back to me. Someone had written on the envelope (started out and started for Limerick). You never say anything about Levi Rockwood (The Rockwoods were also prominent early settlers in the township.) I should like to know how he is getting along in the lumber woods. His folks haven’t heard from him in over two months. They are feeling rather uneasy about him. If you know anything about Will (probably her brother, William W. Wallace - he didn’t stay in Michigan, but returned to N. Y.) Write and let us know. Well Abb, I heard that Matt Green has a baby two or three months old. I can hardly believe it, but I hope she has (aren’t I mean). They are living to Watertown with his folks.
You said you had something to tell me. I should have thought you might have told me what it was. Well Abb, it is a very pleasant day today and if Dirgy (referring to her brother-in-law, Dirgy Ackerman, Sister Mahala’s husband) and Albert was here everything would be lovely. Oh how I want to see you. Give my love to Dirg and tell him I should like to see him. Do the best you can and I shall be satisfied.
Mahal’s black sheep has done as well as she did last year. She has two black lambs they are both a like and the right kind too. Three of the sheep have had twin lambs. Old “Smutt” only had one. It is three weeks old and as big as any of the sheep: Mahala says she expects the next thing she has to pet will be bigger than a lamb. She says tell Dirg she was glad to hear from him and glad to hear he was well. As soon as she gets some paper, she will write him a good long letter. I borrowed this to write to you on. Rind and Rad (Rind was Albert’s sister, Lorinda, and Rad was probably Brad, referred to in Letter No. 4*) have moved out beyond Chaumont Theodore (Theodore Conklin who married her sister, Laurentine) has moved on his place (Conklin Farm in Town of Hounsfield) and Priscilla and her man (referring to her sister and Wm. Gladwyn, who were married 18 November 1866) are living in Brownville (There is some evidence that the couple was working in a cheese factory owned by Gladwyn’s parents.) We got a letter from our sister, Sally, (Sally, the oldest of the Wallace’s 11 children, was married to Hiram Sixbury. The couple may have been among the first to have moved west to the state of Michigan) a few days ago. She says she should think you, Dirg, and Will might come and see her when you come home. I don’t think it would be far out of your way -- they live in Shiawasse Co. (Very few people had access to maps. With all the pioneering to new lands, it was probably difficult to keep uptodate maps.) If I ever go to Michigan, I shall go and see her.
Hoping to hear from you soon, I will close. I remain as ever your true and loving wife,
Albert, write soon for my sake and come and see us as soon as convenient --
I have just got a letter from By & Hatt. Tell them I was glad to hear from them. I will answer it soon as I get some writing paper. I haven’t got a bit.
*By & Harriet had one son, Charles, born 7 August 1868. Notice that Charles was near in age to Albert’s son, Adelbert. Dr. Hunter wrote that Charles and Adelbert competed for the hand of Myrtle De Bolt, Adelbert’s future wife. Charles took the loss very hard, then disappeared. A letter written in much later years indicated that he was living in Oregon, but Dr. Hunter’s attempts at finding descendants have been fruitless.
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