East Haddam Sept 30, 1805

          Dearest and best of Sisters,
                I am not at all concerned to think that this letter
may be less intertaining than the two I have already sent;I know you
will think  a friendly Letter as good as a divertin one, we been
almost tempted to hard thoughts for not receiving but one letter and
you have been gone four Months we fear you do not like the trouble and
expence we give you but we are determined to perservere untill we know
whether it be agreeable or not we have heard from you several times
but not so satisfactorally as though you had written our family enjoy
good health  Abram is a fine healthy boy and is perfectly contented he
says nothing about you or your family only when questioned as for the
knews of the day their is none in particular peace and amity with all
friends and acquaintance I have heard you had a independence write
and let me know whether you attended I wish I could have been one of
the party if you went our independence was as formerly nothing sayd
nor nothing done we have been this month a making Dunstables (straw
hats or straw plaiting for hats) and I succeed very well Matilda
braids and I put them to gather for none but our own family  I have
made two gowns our people think I shall soon answer a very good
purpose in the family.  The W Comstocks have been quite officious in
assisting about the straws and some times have their company till
after scraping time;  Williams strength and health he exhausts
to home Mr Ransom and Newton has visited in Hadlyme this summer Mr
Newton made the most of his visit here.  Mr Brooks made one visit
since you went away; and thus the times go with us you will certainly
know we have know knews when you read this incoherent scrall.  Adieu
after insisting on your writing immediately.  Father and Mother send
their Respects to Mr Matson and yourself Brothers and sisters their
Compliments as is respectfully Due and none more sincerely wish for a
rememberance than your affectionate Sister

          Anna Matson                        S W Willey

          (Letter from Susanna Wadham Willey to her sister ANNA
          WILLEY MATSON.  Susanna was about 20, ANNA about 32. The
          MATSON'S had moved to Ira (Cato), NY in the same year.
          The Abraham referred to was their brother age 17
          or 18.)


to Mrs Anna Matson, Cato

                                              East Haddam
                                              26th 1808

 Dear Sister,
     An opportunity now presents for me to write, and hear from you
particularly I trust in a very different manner from what you would
expect, or imagine who would have thought that our Brothers would so
soon have visited your Western Country you would be allmost tempted to
think you could hear the family conversations that we were all a
moving to that country, our family has not heard any thing particular
from yours since Mr Matson was in Connecticut  we heard a flying
report by Mr Sam Warner that you had been very ill occasioned by a
fall it very much alarmed us, but hearing nothing from you we were in
hopes you was not so unwell as was represented but you will certainly
oblige us by writing a long letter write particulars you can better
conceive how we appear then, we imagine how you fare, I hope you fare
very well the family enjoy almost a perfect state of health should you
visit this part of the country you would see many alterations, but I
cant think of any worth relating My brothers will deliver this Letter
and answer to every enquiry respecting the family and Neighborhood
more particular than I can write.  Susan W
          Willey
                                     Remember my respects to your
                                     agreeable Husband and Lovely
                                     Children
 

          (Letter from Susan(na) W(adham) Willey who was about 23
          years old to her sister ANNA WILLEY MATSON who was about
          35 years old and had been in Ira (Cato), NY about 3 years.
          Susan later married Dr Elisha Mather.)
 


to T(h)omas R Townsend, Lysander, Onondaga County, NY
                                    So Salem     May 23, 1834
My Dear Children,
    I expect your Father has neglected writing you so I imbrace the
opportunity to let you no our situation as far as I am able next
Saturday after we left home we put up at Mr Lombards spent the time
very pleasantly till Monday and did not reach Brother Townsends till
Friday about twelve o'clock as we were hindered by rain and bad
travelling we found them well as we could expect to we stayed there
till Thursday and Friday we reached North Salem spent the Sabbath at
Ridgeberry the next Sabbath we spent at South Salem very agreeably I
do believe the Lord has begun a good work there after Meeting we went
to Martin Meads and took tea and there your Father and Mother parted
he set out for Bedford and Uncle Lewis was to go with him to New
York and if they could not sell the horse Lewis will take him back.
your aunt Fanny was to Mr Meads and carried me to Ridgefield I think
likely your Father will be gone  three weeks when he returns I expect
to set out for home as soon as possible you see my Dear Children how
far we are separated from each other and the Lord knows whether we
shall meet in the land of living or not but this is not so important
as whether we are prepared to meet in eternity do let each one of us
examine our selfs and see whether we have grace in the heart or not
and if by examination we find we have not O dont let us rest till we
repent our sins give our whole hearts to our saviour perhaps we shall
feel I wish I had a new heart but I cannot repent what cannot be sorry
that you have offended a holy God is it not your duty to love him with
all your heart and your neighbor as your self and do you not no you
have not done it I beg of you to return unto the Lord immediatedly
without delay to morrow may be forever to late and you no that
confesseth and forsaketh shall find mercy lay down the weapons of your
rebellion serve Satan no longer for the end will be death but serve
your saviour and the end will be life everlasting this may be the last
advice that you will ever receive from your mother and do not let it
be in vain.  You will want to know how my health has been since I left
home and I have been as contented as I expected to be and have enjoyed
myself as well as I expected to and I do hope I shall be contented
with my own condition whether in sickness or health life or Death I
leave myself and Family in the hands of My Dear
          Saviour and Subscribe myself your affectionate mother

                                 Ruth Townsend
                To my dear children in Ira please my love to my Dear
          friends there.

          (Letter to Thomas R. Townsend 1805-1878 from Ruth Rockwell
          Townsend 1786-1836)


 to General Eli Matson                 Utica, Mo Sept 24,1844

 Dear Father,
     Your letter of July 23d was received by due course of mail.
Charles being about to leave for New York I shall answer it more
particularly by him.  He will leave here in about ten or twelve days
and will take the rout by land to Detroit from thence by Steamboat and
Railroad to Waterloo where he will spend a short time.  He will then
make you a visit.  He contemplates returning early in the Spring.
We have had the most impropitious season for farming ever known in the
country owing to our uncommonly wet spring. you have undoubtedly seen
accounts in the papers of the great rise of waters in the Missouri and
the other streams in this section of the country.  Much damage has
been done. Many farms have been nearly ruined a vast number of cattle
horses and other domestics animals drowned.  Many buildings swept away
and in some instances lives were lost. Our farm is too elevated to
suffer from the over flowing of water but the continuous rains injured
our crops vastly in consequence of the overflowing of the bottom lands
we have had an unusually sickly season. Catherine has been sick for
four weeks with a fever is now getting better.  Abraham has also been
sick is now able to walk about Chas. and myself have enjoyed unusually
good health. Nathaniel and family are also well.  I am glad to  hear
you are so near an Episcopal Church and that Susan has been confirmed.
I have long been of the opinion that this church is the only true one
that derives its origin from our Saviour transmitted down to the
present time by an authorized and valid ministry. In saying this I do
not mean to say but that there are good people and Christians
too belonging to other Denominations but I never could see from what
authority they derived the right to administer the Holy Sacriments of
Baptism and the Lords Supper.
Catherine and the Boys desire to be affectionately remembered to
yourself as also to Susan and her husband.  Tell Susan that I intented
to have written her before this.  I probably shall do so by Chas..
                                     Your Affectionate Son
                                     R. Matson
 

          (Letter from Roderick Matson to his father General ELI
          MATSON 1768-1849 who was to live another 5 years.
          Roderick was 52 at the time)


to Eli S. Matson, Lysander, NY
Utica, Mo.
May 19, 1850

Your letter of April 27th is received.  Nathaniel and I both think
that you have paid Mr. H(uggins) very liberally but it was probably
better to pay the sum than to have any contention about it and I
really hope that the Old Homestead is now out of the Law and that it
never will be in litigation again.  I enclose you a quit claim deed
for our interest in lot No 34. The acknowledgement is taken before one
of our county court Judges is good as I had occasion to send a deed a
few years since in Port Byron which was acknowledged before the
Circuit Judge and we should have gone before him in this case had he
been within a reasonable distance.  If this should not answer you can
write and let me know what officers it will be necessary to make the
acknowledgement before. and we will send you an other deed (you need
not return this).  If this has to be taken before the Circuit Judge we
will have to go fifty miles unless it can be put off untill the
second Monday in October when he will hold court in this county.  We
believe it is right that you should have the twenty five acres you
mention and therefore agree to it. And we suppose from reading your
letter that you think our share after the 25 acres is taken out to be
worth a little more than four hundred dollars each.  Now we do not
intend to be particular for we intend to leave it to yourself but
will suggest if you think you can afford it we would like to have an
even five hundred each.  And we wish you to let us know in your next
letter how much you are willing to give for our interest and when it
will be convenient to make make payment.  Now I will tell you our
wants or at least what would be very convenient to us. Nathaniel needs
to make him even with the world a little over one hundred dollars. He
will then have his farm stock etc and be clear of debts.  He says he
would like to be so by the first of  Sept..
    As for myself I need upwards of three hundred dollars by the first
of Sept. or as much sooner as I can get it.  It is not however
actually for myself that I want it.  It is to help Abraham out of a
little difficulty that he got into in consequence of looseing about
six hundred dollars by the failure of a man to whom Chas. had sold
property before he left.  A portion of these notes were sold and Ab'm
became security on them to the Bank and he has to raise $150 as soon
as he can and if he can raise one hundred and fifty more by the 1st of
Sept. he can buy up a mortgage there is in the property that Chas.
sold and by that means secure the most of the debt due to Charles
as well as what he is liable for. Now I have told you what we need
thinking it probable that if you had not the money on hand that you
could raise from some of your friends without much inconvenience to
yourself and specially accomodate us. And I would say that if you
should think my share worth $500 and could send me the whole of the
money between this and first of September I will discount one years
interest which is ten percent which would be $450 in full for my
interest. Should you send any money the safest way to do it would be
to go to some Bank and obtain a certifficate of deposit to my credit
and payable to my order or purchase of a Bank a draft on some Bank in
New York City payable to my order the latter is prefferable but either
will be good and if any one should steal the letter the money would
not be lost for no one could draw the money from the Bank without my
name on the Back of the Draft if you should do this you had better
take duplicates one you can send to me and the other keep yourself
until the next mail so that if the one you sent me first should be
lost the money could be drawn on the other.  this is the usual way of
giving drafts where money is to be sent any distance.  you mention
this to the cashier and he will understand what you want and make them
out correctly and should you send any draft write me two letters and
put one in the mail one week and the other the next so that if one is
lost I would be apt to get the other.  they are so drawn that when one
is paid the other is good for nothing. Tell Mr Willcox that his
Brother lives within a mile of me & is a very clever man and good
citizen has a snug little place a wife and two children and is
teaching our villages school this Summer  the last we heard from  Chas
was that he commence work in what is called Freemonts "Diggins" about
the 1st of Feby I shall expect a Letter from him in June.
                                         Your Brother
                                         R. Matson

 (Letter from Roderic Matson to ELI MATSON referring to trouble with
sister Susan and her husband probably about the estate of their father
who had died the year before and also to son Charles who is rospecting
for gold in California)


Eli S Matson
Lysander
                                              Onondaga Co, NY Utica
Mo Jany 13 1851
Dear Brother
    I enclose you a Deed from Nathaniel & Myself for our Interest in
Lot No. 23.  Augustine says in a Letter to Us that you will pay us
three hundred Dollars this spring if you can send it in time to reach
here by the first of April it will be an accommodation to us.  There
is a Farm adjoining Nathl to be Sold at public Sale which he wants
to buy and Abm has some money to raise at that time which he fears he
cannot do without assistance from me.  I wish you would write
imediately on the receipt of this & let us Know whether you can Send
it by that time of if not at what time you can Send it. When this is
paid we shall have received $500 or over half of the amt. we have
suppose it would be right for us to have interest on the Balance.
Say from the 1st of May Next.  The first year you probably did not
have much benefit from the Farm therefore we say nothing about
interest.  if you think this is or is not right please let us Know. I
am glad to hear there is a prospect of Susans being accommodated
without injury to any one and I hope she is satisfied that none of us
wished to wrong her  tell Augustine that I think with him that it
will be a great loss to Missouri and the nation if Col. Benton should
not be reelected to the U S Senate, but we have a faction of about
thirty members in our Legislature Violently opposed to him and their
numbers are sufficient to defeat his election it is impossible to say
at this time what will be the result but we are in hopes that some
fifteen of them will come to their senses and support him in which
case he will be elected    the violent agitation on the subject of the
Slavery question has greatly subsided Since the passage of what is
called the Compromise Measures with us & I hope it is so with you.
the only way to prevent aggitation, _ailing, and finally a Dissolution
of the Union is to let those States who are so unfortunate as to have
slavery entailed upon them to Manage it in their own way   Most of the
people here consider it an evil and would be glad to be rid of it and
my belief is that if the abolitionists had never have interfered with
it that Kentucky & Missouri would before this have taken steps for its
gradual Emancipation. Slaves are not profitable in this Latitiude and
what few there are here are well provided for and are generally happy
& contented.
     When you send the money it will be the best way to go to some one
of your Banks and buy a Draft on a Bank in the City of New York  this
will probably cost fifty cents or one Dollar on the $100  you can
charge the cost of this to us. I wish you would write as soon as you
can after you receive this and let me know as near as you can at what
time you will Send it     Catherine writes with me in kind and
affectionate love to yourself and family

                                 Your Affectionate Brother
                                 R. Matson

          (Letter written by Roderick Matson to his brother Eli S
          Matson and refers to an agreement between him and another
          brother Nathaniel to resolve a problem about the family
          farm with their sister Susan Ann who, with her attorney
          husband had apparently caused some family friction.  Note
          also references to his son Abraham and Colonel Benton. It
          might be worth researching whether this Benton is related
          to the Benton's who are related to Augustine Matson, one
          of whom, Heman Benton, served in the NYS legislature.
          There are also interesting references to Slavery and the
          Missouri Compromise preceding the Civil War.  There is
          information about him in the book "Isaac Willey of New
          London and his Descendants" by Henry Willey.  Roderick
          died at Utica, Mo, named after Utica, NY, where he was
          Postmaster, Dec 1873. A notice after his death in the
          Chillicothe, Mo Constitution says.  "With the close of the
          old year passed away one of the pioneers of the Grand
          River Valley, who was one of the most honorable and
          upright gentleman that have ever lived in our country.
          Col. Matson came to this country nearly forty years ago,
          and settled where the present flourishing town of Utica
          now stands, which town he founded and named in honor of
          his old home in the East, and which for a time disputed
          with Chillicothe for the location of the county seat.
          During his long residence in our county Col. Matson has
          been recognized as a gentleman whose character was above
          reproach, as a citizen of enterprise and public spirit, as
          a Christian gentleman whose conduct and daily walk in all
          affairs of this life attested that religion was with him a
          reality. He has filled a number of important public
          stations, and discharged the duties of each with
          scrupulous fidelity. For a number of years he was public
          administrator of this county, and no man ever more
          carefully and scrupulously guarded the rights of the widow
          and the fatherless.  At a meeting of the friends of law
          and order, in Chillicothe, called by Col. Matson and
          others, Aug 5, 1863, to protest against and put down the
          scoundrelism that was being perpetrated in the name of
          Loyalty,' he was chosen chairman, and the sequel proved
          that he was the right man in the right place.  A mob with
          revolvers and other weapons tried to break up the meeting;
          for a few minutes it seemed as though blood would be shed;
          but he stood up and denounced and defied the ruffians, and
          told them that the friends of law and order would put them
          down at all hazards.  Men took fresh courage and rallied
          around the old hero, and the mob's courage soon oozed out,
          and they sneaked away; and from that day to the close of
          the struggle the people of Livingston County enjoyed a a
          good degree of social peace and order.")

          to Eli Matson, Lysander (NY)
                                             Utica, Mo Apr 9, 1851

          Dear Brother,
                Your letter of March 3 containing draft for three
          hundred dollars came safely to hand and its receipt ought
          to have been acknowledged for last weeks mail but was
          inadvertantly omitted.
                We expect Charles home in Sept. perhaps he may come
          sooner .  We have heard from him as late as the 5th of
          Feb'y. he was in good health and doing tolerably well in
          the Mines.  The Indians are somewhat troublesome in the
          vicinity of where he is at work.
                As the mail is expected any moment I have not time
          to say more.  All in good health and desire to be
          affectionately remembered to yourself and family

                                   Your Affectionate Brother
                                       R. Matson
 

          (Letter from Roderick Matson to ELI SKINNER MATSON his
          brother.  Charles is his son.  Letter refers to his gold
          prospecting in California and Indian troubles there.)

          Utica, Mo Feb 25, 1852

          Dear Brother,

                I have made a trade with Abram by which I let him
          have the balance of what is coming from you to me.  He
          wants me to say to you that he would be glad you would
          send him your note for the amount.  I suppose this would
          be right as in the case of accident or death of either of
          us it would save trouble to those who should settle our
          affairs.  Abr. has a good farm and when he gets it well
          stocked with cattle will be in a way to make something. I
          have told him that I did not know when it would be
          convenient for you to pay.  If you should want time he
          thinks with your note he could by assistance of his
          brother William raise the money upon it.  He wants it for
          the purpose of buying up calves and young cattle this
          summer and fall.  Nath'l was here yesterday and said he
          wished he would mention that you might send him a note
          also.  His family are in good health.  Charles has
          returned from California.  He met with moderate success
          and thinks of returning there.  If he should not return I
          think he will visit New York this summer.  Be so good as
          to write me on receipt of this.  I wish you would let me
          know how Susan gets along and whether she made any
          arrangements with you for any part of the Old Farm or has
          she moved on to hers on no. 34.  I should also like to
          know something about her husband.  Does he continue to
          peddle or stay at home. I have thought from the
          information I have that he thought more of a little money
          than he did of home.
                My family are in usual health and desire to be
          kindly and affectionately remembered to you and yours.
                                    Your Affectionate Brother
                                    R. Matson

          (Letter from Roderick Matson to his brother ELI SKINNER
          MATSON.  Refers to their brother Nathaniel, sister Susan
          and her husband (Edwin Huggins) and son Abraham. Huggins
          was a lawyer and there were apparently problems with the
          Matson property which  the Matson brothers thought were
          caused by Huggins.There is also mention of Charles
          returning to the gold fields in California.)


          Utica, Mo April 23

          Dear Brother,
                I have defered answering your letter for a long time
          with the hope that I might be enabled to get along without
          calling on you for a little money to help me home.  I do
          not like to start with barely enough to take me home, for
          fear some accident might happen, if you would send me 10
          dollars without too much inconvenience to yourself I would
          be much obliged to you.  Write me as soon as you receive
          this, and direct to Waterloo, as I expect to go their day
          after tomorrow.  I do not know when I shall start for home
          or who will go with me.  Wm. has had a great deal of
          sickness in his family all winter, and particularly for
          the last three weeks, little Fanny has been dangerously
          sick with Dysentery.  She is now considered out of danger.
          Wm. has also been down with th;e same complaint.  I hope
          you are all well.  Remember me in kind love to all your
          family, Wm.'s wife also desires to be remembered, they are
          breaking up housekeeping and going to boarding.
                                          Yours in haste
                                          Catherine Matson

          (Letter from Catherine Wells Matson, wife of Roderick,
          probably written in 1853, to ELI SKINNER MATSON)


          to Eli S. Matson, Lysander (NY)  Utica, Mo Jan'y 28, 1854

          My Dear Brother Eli and Sister Susan,
                I presume you are not prepared for the melancholy
          inteligence which this letter conveys.  God in the mystery
          of his dealings with us has visited our Dwelling with
          sickness and death.  My kind and good my beloved Catherine
          is no more.  She has been in ill health from the time of
          her return from New York and about the first of October
          was taken seriously ill and since November has been
          confined in her room.  We had not expected her recovery
          for several weeks but did not anticipoate the fatal
          termination so soon.  She commenced failing on Monday the
          16 inst. Revived again Tuesday and Wednesday night she
          commenced failing and continued to sink until Thursday the
          19th at 9 o'clock in the evening when her Spirit left the
          Body prepared as we have every reason to believe to be
          received into the Joys of Heaven.  I feel this bereavement
          most deeply, our dwelling is truly a lonely and desolate
          one. No feemale in the house except a servant.  Lucinda
          being from home at school, and also Chas. absent on
          business and is not expected to return until next week.
          He knows not as yet of his loss.  He hesitated about
          leaving his mother but she was so comfortable that we
          thought the fatal hour was not likely to arrive perhaps
          for two or three months. She was sixty one years the 10th
          day of Nov. last.  My own health is not good and I feel
          admonished to be also ready. My kind and affectionate love
          to you and your families.

                             Your Affectionate Brother
                             R. Matson
 

          (Letter from Roderick Matson to ELI SKINNER MATSON and
          sister Susan telling of the death of his wife Catherine
          Wells Matson.  He refers to his own ill health although he
          lived another 20 years and died at age 81.)

          Utica, Mo Oct 8, 1854
 

          Dear Brother,
                It is a long time since we have heard any thing from
          you or our friends in Cayuga (Co, NY) and I have but
          little to communicate excepting to tell you of the
          unprecedented hot and dry season.  We have had no rain of
          consequence since the 20th of June.  None that has wet the
          ground more than an inch deep consequently our crops are
          very light where we formerly got from forty to sixty
          bushels of corn to the acre we will not get more than ten
          or fifteen. The grass is entirely dried up except on the
          bottom lands the ground is so dry that very little of the
          wheat sown will come up.  This season will put the Farmers
          back at least two years I hope you have escaped the
          calamity which has come upon us I hear that the drought
          has extended over a portion of your state and have seen it
          stated in the papers that in twenty our of thirty one
          states there will not be more than half a crop. This will
          greatly embarass the business opperation of the country
          anld probably cause many failures and an other such season
          will cause a Famine at least in some states. My health has
          been good as usual the past season. Nath'l and family are
          in good health and are getting along in the world very
          well.
                Remember me affectionately to Delia and the others
          of your Family and to Susan and her Family.

                                    Your Affectionate Brother
                                    R. Matson
 

          (Letter from Roderick Matson to ELI S. MATSON mentioning
          unusually dry season.  His letter to his father ELI MATSON
          ten years earlier refers to an unusually wet season.)

 

                                                Jan 28, 1856

My Dear Sister Delia
   All though so far as I remember you have never written me a letter,
while I have written you a number I am stangely inclined this morning
to write you another. Not long since I wrote one to brother Justus and
enclosed one to Mother from neither of which have we received any
reply.  I think they cannot have left their place, it is perhaps more
probable that they have forgotten the place where we live if not that
we live anywhere.  And yet I do not allow myself to think that they
have entirely forgotten us, but they have many other associations and
interests to occupy their time and attention and therefore I suppose
it is not strange that it should be true comparatively "Out of sight,
out of mind' but with us here in the land of strangers with no old
familiar faces to look upon--much less the faces of dear friends and
relations--it is far otherwise.  We call out their names--again and
again in imagination look in upon your family circles think of what
you are doing.  Now visiting together here, and now there and doubting
whether ever again we shall be permitted to make part of the family
gathering--not really doubting whether we should be admitted &
welcomed if permitted.  We are truly very much alone.  Even our only
daughter far away--We have also been measurably afflicted for the past
three months I have ben free but for a short time at once from painful
boils or rather carbuncles--and now since the beginning of this
month Wife has been suffering with a _____ upon the thumb of her right
hand--two weeks ago she had it cut open to the bone it is since
discharging freely and its effect upon her nervous system is
considerably abated it is however very sore and troublesome and
probably will be for some time to come--and how many more boils I can
yet have I do not know--But our trial with Mary is even worse than
either of our own.  The last 3 or 4 days have been peculiarly trying.
I will not attempt a full description--After a severe succession of
spasms last Thursday night and Friday--On Saturday she was tolerably
comfortable till toward evening when she was very flighty and for some
hours Merry-laughed almost all the time--and then followed a terrible
term of fright and apprehension--rats and mice were all over her.  She
cried and screamed most piteously and violently--Some hours finally we
got her quiet and asleep with opiates. Yesterday all day she was
entirely deranged and through the night.  This morning she appears
more natural and we hope she will be better again but we cannot
tell--it is early and she has just got up--We have been up with her
the whole of two nights past--Of my labors in this new and needy field
I can say little that will interest you--I cannot say that they have
been attended with any special results and yet I hope some improvement
is coming over the state of Society and there is surely much necessity
yet. We are taking measures to build a small house of worship at Hyde
Park one of our parishes.  We hear from Lucretia  often, but it is now
past the appropriate time for __.  She writes that Mrs Mary Perine is
coming with her in the Spring.  We shall look for her early in May.

          Love to Br. Eli and all our friends--Love Br. T. R.
          Townsend

          (Letter from Thomas Rockwell Townsend to his sister DELIA
          TOWNSEND MATSON.  He is 54 at the time and Delia is 52.
          His wife is Jane Holmes.)


                                                   Sept 29,   '63
Dear Sister Delia,
    Some days I have had in mind that this day 29 Sept. would be the
anniversary of your birth.  That fact I could readily enough dmit--but
that it would be and now is the 60th anniversary.  I could with
difficulty bring myself to admit but figures and facts are stubborn
things and we are comfitted to yield whether we will or not.  The
point established that you are sixty years of age by the same
testimony I am proud fifty-eight and more by two months. Now can you
realize all this?  And though perhaps a more important matter is
whether we have now in actual possession the propre fruits of so many
years of life of possibilitys(?) and of labor.  Fruits of knowledge or
_______ of __________ attained, of good works performed, of good
actually done? Also I have come fearfully short in all these respects
and I feel that I am already too far along with life's journey to make
much amends for the past even if there was a full purpose to do it:
indeed every day brings its own duties--all that we are able to
execute, without bringing up the shortcomings of yesterday, last week
and last year and that fact should surely lead us to be very careful
now that we do not leave undone what belongs to us to do from day to
day--presuming upon some future time to make amends.  We are certain
of no such future time and should our days be lengthening out are we
not admonished of growing infirmities. In my lameness and difficulty
in getting about I am often reminded of Father.  You have doubtless
heard that I long ago sprained my knee sometime before Lucretia left
for her visit north.  It is until now but little improved. I can get
around some but it is very laborious for me to walk.  I am unable to
straiten my knee also unable to double it easily.  My ankle although
not originally injured became lame from the manner of using it and my
other limb weary.  Yet I have very much to be grateful for in all the
blessings I have continued to ________. All are about in usual health
except myself and I also now except my lameness.  Mary is no better
and probably never will be.  Cousin George Rockwell family have been
making us a brief visit.  They came very unexpectedly on Saturday
evening last and remained until this morning.  They are on their way
to attend the Golden Wedding of their parents.  The fiftieth
anniversary of their marriage.  I would like just to look in upon them
and may possibly do so.  Our Lynad? (Synod) meets on the 20th of Oct.
at Poughkeepsie just one week later than the wedding day and in the
interval I would come to visit Aunt Sally Lobdell.  Is Delia Ann and
the children still with you?  Tell her we sympathize with her in the
absence of her husband and we should be very glad to hear from you
all--can you not make out a good long letter among you and forward it?
Kindest regards to Eli,
          the boys families, Mrs. Benton and all.

                                           T. R. Townsend

(Letter to DELIA TOWNSEND MATSON from her brother Thomas Rockwell
Townsend, refers to her daughter Delia Ann whose husband, Captain
Horace Gregory White,a Captain in the 84th NY Volunteers, was captured
in the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 and who later escaped from
Libby Prison in Richmond , VA)
 
 

          to ELI S. MAT(TI)SON, Esq., Lysander, NY
                                             Tomhannock Jan 25, 1865

          Dear Friend,
               We were glad to hear from you, and to be assured of
          your continued prosperity.  Should like better to see you
          and all the friends.  None from Lysander but Julia Perine
          and DeWitt have called on us in our new home.  From
          several sources we have heard from our former people and
          rejoice that they are still prosperous and happy.  None
          have spoken of Mr. White, so we fear he is not yet
          released from Rebel barbarity.  The weeks to him must seem
          long and tedious. I hope and pray that relief may soon
          come to him and all in like circumstances. We find
          ourselves very pleasantly situated here.  Among a people
          who have thus far proved themselves kind.  Whether we
          shall be able to do them good is yet to be determined. Our
          meetings for the first few weeks have been very
          interesting.  We trust quite a large number have become
          Christians.  At a meeting of the Sessions last night,
          twelve requested to be admitted to the church.  It is
          hoped that many more have been prepared in heart.  My
          labors for a few weeks have been pretty hard but my health
          is good.
               Mrs. H. is about as usual.  She wishes to be
          remembered to all.  Winnie has improved much since he came
          here, and seems as well as most children.  Tell Lottie he
          runs all over the house and talks a great deal.
               Tell Minnie and Julia we do not forget them.
          Remember us to their mother, to Mrs. Mat(ti)son and to all
          the friends.

                          Yours  truly J. B. Hall

          P.S. I want you should do with the beans as you would with
          your own. Sell them when you think best and after
          deducting expenses, hand the rest to Mr. B. F. Davis and
          have it apply on my indebtedness to him.
                          J. B. H.

          (From the Rev. J. B. Hall to ELI S. MAT(TI)SON referring
          to Mr. White (Capt. Horace G. White, 84th NY Vol.)
          captured at Gettysburg & escaping from Libby prison before
          end of Civil War. Lottie, Minnie and Julia are Horace &
          Delia's children and are 4, 9 and 11 at this time)

                                           Lone Rock  Feb. 24

          Dear Parents
               We arrived safe home Wednesday eve after a pleasant
          journey found Horace waiting for us.  Found the folks all
          well and glad to see us guess Minnie gets along better
          housekeeping than I do, found everything in apple pie
          order.  Horace was getting very lonesome, Minnie says she
          dont believe he would have stood it a week longer.  I have
          some cold yet but some better I think today.  Tell
          Augustine he must take this up to Fathers or see them and
          let them know that I am safe home.  I will write to them
          soon shall write you again in a few days love to all
                                           Delia
 

          (Letter from Delia Ann Matson White to Eli Skinner Matson
          & Delia Townsend Matson from Lone Rock, Wisconsin
          Estimated date is 1870)

 

                                                Oct 18, 1871
          Dear Parents,
                Received a letter about two weeks ago from Augustine
          saying that he had just sent a package by express have
          been anxiously looking for it, as no doubt you are anxious
          to hear from it.  It came last evening all safe, I had not
          guessed what it was neither could any of us I am very
          thankful for them and I guess you would think we all were
          if you had been here anld seen the fuss we made over them.
          It is Saturday morning and I am house cleaning trying lard
          and all sorts of big work and cut my right thumb this
          morning and Horace has got his horses harnessed to go so I
          have time to say that we are well and I want that picture
          Augustine spoke of but I will try to write to him tomorrow
          if my thumb is not so sore that I cant write soon.
          Remember me to Anna Barlow if she is yet living give my
          love to all the friends.
                            Your Affectionate Daughter
                                    Delia

          (Letter to Eli Skinner Matson and Delia Townsend Matson
          from their daughter Delia Ann Matson White, in Kansas. The
          letter seems to be written on the same paper her Mother
          used.  It was probably in the package.  There is also what
          appears to be pencil written drafts in the same hand on a
          different sheet of paper probably of about the same date,
          as follows.)
                Dear Daughter,
          I have been expecting a letter from you for a long time
          but receiving none I thought I would try once more and see
          if I could write to you I do hope you will answer it for I
          want to hear from you verry mutch
                                (in pencil) Dear Daughter
          It has been along time since I have heard from you I
          thought I would try if I could write a few lines to you my
          health is verry good I am living with Augustine as usual
          sitting in the corner knitting any one of my chlildren or
          grand children that will furnish your christmas
                Dear Sister I thought I would try if I could write
          and thank you for your christmas presents
 

                                                  Feb 9, 1873
          Dear Grandma,
                I received your letter this morning I want to go and
          see you this winter we are all well I have got a doll with
          white heir is riel and eyes are blue it is wax are you all
          well.  I would like to see you and all the rest it has
          been very cold but it is getting wormer now.  I cant write
          and so got Lottie to write for me I cant think of any
          thing but I wanted to go to school this winter but it was
          so cold that I couldn't good by
                                Pollie

          Dear Grandma,
                I received your letter this morning I am again to
          school next summer to learn to write and then I wont hafe
          to have Lottie write fore me I have got a new doll it want
          just like Pollie's it has got white hare it is braded in
          to tals its eyes are light blue Pollie and I sleep
          upstairs al a lone is Aunt Merrie's baby pretty I cant
          think of any thing more to write so good by
                                Love
                I have been writing for Pollie and Lue? and so I
                thought
          I would write a few lines for misalf to let you know I was
          all
          well but cant think of much I have been writing to
          Lucretia?
          today I hant got room for any else so good by
                                Lottie

          (Letters to Delia Townsend Matson from her grandchildren,
          Charlotte (Lottie)13, Lucretia (Lue?) 6, and Pollie
          White)


          to E. S. Matson, Lysander, NY
                                             Bear Creek  May '73

          Dear Parents
                I received a letter from Mary a day or two since
          thought I would answer it by writing to   We are all well
          and geting along about as usual the girls all go to school
          and I do the work we have thirteen in the family beside
          father and mother (Horace White's parents) she does a part
          of her work so I have enough to do to keep me busy I am
          nearly through house cleaning my health is better than it
          was last spring.  We have rather a late spring and it has
          been dry but now we have had a nice rain and a day or two
          of warm weather which makes the grass look nice and green
          we have pees lettuce and cabage and tomatoe plants up our
          hops are looking very well I shall watch them close this
          summer as depends on them whether I go east this fall we
          do not hear yet how they are in York state or old country.
          By what Mary writes I suppose Pa is not able to make
          garden yet this spring I hope when it gets settled weather
          he will be stronger  I think it would be good for him to
          drink a little beer or good wine perhapse would be better
          every day taken with a raw egg  it is very strengthening
          our current bushes are branched out real full if they bare
          as full as they promis I would like to make some for you
          to have next winter.  Polly and Louie have been looking
          for letters a great while  Polly says she guesses they
          have gone to the dead letter office.  The girls have just
          been looking in the album  Julia says she thinks Grandpa
          is such a nice looking old man and Grandma looks real
          tired (Probably William Townsend and Ruth Rockwell
          Townsend) we take a great deal of comfort looking at the
          pictures of our friends.

                          Delia

          (Letter to Eli S Matson and Delia Townsend Matson from
          their daughter Delia Ann Matson White. She was then 41
          years old, her mother almost 70 and her father 77.  He
          would live two more years.)

                               May 30, 1875
          Dear Parents,
                Received Delia's (Delia Augusta Matson) letter and
          as I am anxious to hear how you are getting along thought
          I would write.   But it is hard for me to get my mind on
          it or keep it there when I do there is always something to
          call my attention.  Mother (in-law) is more care than a
          child she has called for me now but am going to finis my
          letter  I wish I could go home and see you but that will
          be impossible for me to do at present as I would not leave
          mother if I had the means it is hard for the girls to take
          care of her.
                Delia did not write what was the matter of pa only
          that he was weak.  I would like to have her write the
          first time she comes to Lysander anld let me know how he
          is and as often as she can.  We are all well as usual with
          plenty of work on hand.  Horace sayes write that he has
          just finished a big job that is set 19 acres of _____
          _______ and I have finished a big job that is house
          cleaning.  Minnie has made the ______ the most of the time
          but now I am going to make it and she will sew   We are
          having 16 in the family now.  It will not answer for me to
          take more time to write now and it is nearly dark must bid
          you goodnight for it is doubtful whither I can get any
          more time to write give my love to all the friends
                               Your Affectionate daughter
                               Delia

          (Letter from Delia Ann Matson White to Eli S and Delia
          Townsend Matson.  Her father died June 9, 1875)

 

                                          Cayuga, Sept 21st   '75

          Dear Sister,
                I arrived at home all right about 2 o'clock and
          found all well and glad to see me.  Had a very pleasant
          time with Miss Bloomfield and Mr Sewall for company. Went
          to Mr. Smith's found them very well.  William Georgia? and
          Miss Gifford were at the depot to meet company--invited me
          to go home with them but thought I had better come home.
                I suppose before this time you have seen my glasses.
          I do not see how I could be so careless--Never missed them
          till I got to Mr. Smiths.  Went to take them out to read
          but didn't find them.
                Will you ask Mrs. B.'s assistance in the matter--Be
          on the watch for an opportunity to send them to me--or to
          Williams office in Auburn or their residence 48 East
          Seymour St..  I don't know how to get along without them.
          Mr. Lucas is coming to Auburn frequently but of course if
          you go to Ira you will not stand much chance to send them.
          Ask Mrs. Baynes to please do me the favour to bear it in
          mind--if an opportunity occurs.
                           Your Sister R. A. Hallock

          (Letter to Delia Townsend Matson from her sister Ruth Ann
          Townsend Hallock)

 

                                                Bazaar, Kansas
                                                Mar. 21, 1880

          Dear Grandma,
                I have seated myself to write a few lines to you. We
          are all well and hope you are the same.  I am thirteen
          today.  Polly had the measels two weeks ago today and I
          have them today a little.  School commenced last Monday.
          The teachers name is Mr. J. M. Warren.  like him very well
          so far.  I study Reading, Spelling, Geography, Arithmetic
          and Writing.  Ma went to pray meeting in the morning and
          Sunday school in the afternoon.  I have two new dresses
          and will send you a peace of each.  I wish you could see
          my little niece Grace.  She is just as nice as she can be.
          Julia is working out.  She is look better thank she has
          for a long time.  You wouldnt know any of us I dont
          beleave. Ma sayes she is going to write a few lines to you
          before long I guess I have write all the newes write soon
          from your loving Grandaughter
                                 Lucretia White
                                 Bazaar
                                 Charebo
                                 Kansas

          (Letter to Delia Townsend Matson from her granddaughter,
          Lucretia White, daughter of Delia Ann and Horace G. White)
 

                                              Meridian, Cayuga Co
                                              January 24, 1882


          to Delia Matson, Lysander
          c/o Augustine Matson

          My Dear Auntie Delia,
               I have intended writing you every day, but I have put
          it of again and again.  I have written eleven letters
          within a weeks time.  This will be the twelvth so you see
          my pen has not been idle.  When I get my debts paid in
          that direction I think I will rest a while, wouldn't you?
          One was to Uncle Grant (Ebenezer Grant Townsend) in answer
          to one I received from him during the holidays.  He and
          auntie were both well as was "the boy" or "the little
          gentleman" as Uncle Grant called him.  Gentlemen from
          Richmond were expected to spend part of Christmas week
          with him and Aunt Carrie was invited to join an excursion
          from R. on their new rail-road. And they were also
          expecting to have a Christmas tree for the young folks and
          he said of course they would have a hand in that. He spoke
          of the possibility of their coming to Syracuse in the
          Spring.  I hope they will for I have quite a number of
          friends there that I want to see very much.
               Uncle Barnes has been very sick this winter but he is
          much better now and he and Auntie expect to come over
          before long.  I should not wonder if it grows warmer if
          they come over tomorrow.  I want to see you very much.
               Sunday and yesterday were fearful days.  Today is
          bright and sunny but fearfully cold.  It was 18 below zero
          at 7 this morning.  And we cannot get the ice off the
          windows even tho we keep as warm a fire as we can stand.
               Did cousin Augustine tell you that Uncle Redfield
          came here last fall.  He stayed till the next day had a
          very pleasant visit with him.
               Grandma and I felt badly that cousin Augustine and
          Lydia did not stay to tea that night.  We would hve made
          them but in the bustle when Uncle came they went away.
          Grandma often speaks of how nicely Lydia read to her.
          Will you please inform us as soon as convenient what
          cousin Delia White's address is and oblige.

          (Letter from a niece to Delia Townsend Matson.  It could
          be from a daughter of Thomas Rockwell Townsend who lived
          in Meridian, Cayuga Co.)

                                               Cayuga, Feb 2nd, 1882
My Dear Sister,
   For a long time I have intended to write you especially after your
little grandaughter wrote me which was a long time ago.  My own health
is better than it was the last time I saw you, but for a few weeks
have been suffering from a severe cold. I hope you are in comfortable
health this winter.  I've heard nothing from you in a long time.  This
has been a much more comfortable winter than last. Have you been able
to keep warm?  I was away from home for some time--have been in Auburn
for four weeks past till last Saturday. Mrs. Brainard has had a stroke
of paralysis which appears at first as if her end was very near but
she is improving and it now appears as if she might live for some
time--perhaps be up and about again. William's health is poor--has a
cough and other trouble.  He now expects to go west very soon.  Except
for Mrs. Brainard's illness the whole family would have moved West
this spring.  You probably heard that Sara is in Boston.  She is in a
hospital--a nurse--went there last October.  She says but little how
she likes it there but she has gained twelve pounds in flesh so I
trust her health is better than before she went away. Georgia is in
Auburn with William.  I am not keeping house but boarding with Frank.
I have a coal stove up in my parlor--have a fire in it--am sitting by
it now and wish my sister Delia was by my side. Yesterday I saw Cousin
Fanny Smith laid away in her resting place.  She had been failing in
health since Christmas but she was up and around till last Friday.
She seemed nervous and restless at evening but fell asleep at 12
o'clock from which she never awoke except for a moment once or twice.
She lived till Monday night when she stopped breathing.  It was so
easy and gentle they hardly knew when the breath left the body.  Frank
and I stayed to the reading of the Will.  Edward Hunt son of Harvey
Hunt and Helen Davis his sister--heir most of her property.  Harvey
Hunt from Oberlin, Ohio--her brother you know--did not get anything.
His children receive four thousand dollars.  Charly Hunt--Harry's son
by Susan Hallock--received one thousand. Lockwood's children receive
none--nor any body else except those mentioned.  I wish the girls
would write for you to me if you cannot do it yourself.  I want to
know how you are.  Do you get out any this winter?  Where is Ma____
and Dedie?  I wish to be remembered  to Augustine and Mary and all
their family also to William's family  I have not forgotten their
kindness to me of last winter.  Oh! how poorly I was when I was there
after that till I came home and till the warm weather came I was
hardly able to sit up--Many days did  not sit up at all after I came
home.  With much love to  you my sister I am your loving sister.
                                     R. A. Hallock
   The twins have bad colds now but have done nicely this winter but
oh! so mischievous.  Anna has made a visit to Grandpa Carter this
winter but is home now.  Tell the girls Aunt R. A. often thinks of
them--of the nice head combings they used to give me.

  Letter from Ruth Ann Townsend Hallock to her sister Delia
  Townsend Matson)
 

                                                   2943 Indiana Ave
                                                       Feb 22nd
My Dear Sister,
     Katie's letter came to me yesterday and I gladly do as you wish
in writing you while you are there.  When you are at Augustine's it
seems so long before you get a letter.  I am glad you are visiting
Katie and glad you are able yet to visit but advize you to "let up" on
knitting.  I have done so and find myself much improved in health for
that or some other reason. Have only knit five pairs of mittens since
came west have entirely given up knitting.  Perhaps you will ask "What
do you do"?  Well I'll tell you I get up at about 7 o'clock open our
bed and the windows while one of us rake out the ashes and put on some
coal. I then light the oil stove and put on the coffee pot. Such
weather as we've had some of the time, we close the windows about this
time I get breakfast while Dora prepares to go out. Now would you and
Katie like to know what we have for breakfast? Seeing its you I'll
tell you. Our general and favourite breakfast is hash regular old
fashioned hash sometimes made with corned beef sometimes of fresh beef
like what we call stew pieces.  Almost my first investment was a
chopping knife and bowl.  Well then sometimes we have oatmeal with our
coffee and bread and butter but milk costs too much to have that all
the time 7 cents a quart and pretty well watered at that.  We have
had buckwheat cakes raised with yeast but since it has grown warm have
abandoned those.  We have bought our bread till this week.  I made
some and baked downstairs.  I got very tired of bakers bread and it is
a very pleasant change.  The lady in the front room and myself have
had many a laugh about our housekeeping and cooking.  She is a widow
with one son who is with her and in business in the city.  She is a
very pleasant lady one who has lived very differently While her
husband was living they owned and lived in a handsome "stone front"
nicely furnished and servants, carriages and horses with colored
driver.  Her husband died with consumption--they went all over for his
health to the far west "California" and Florida.  After it all
spending nearly all their money he died.  Ive wandered from my subject
to resume.  After breakfast Dora goes out sometimes to go to the
limits of the City sometimes beyond and isn't generally back till some
time in the afternoon. A while ago when she had more patients than she
has now--she would be gone till dark.  When she comes I get our dinner
which makes all the regular meals we have. Well after Dora goes away
in the morning I do up the work. Make our bed--sweep and dust the
room. My washing day which is Tuesday I wash all our small pieces
anything I can wash in a wash bowl or bath tub and hang them up to
dry this generally takes all the time till dinner.  Other days when do
not have washing will do our mending some sewing some letter writing
some reading etc. etc.  The families in Wisconsin are unusually well
Had a letter from them this week. How do you like your satchel. Will
it hold your knitting I would like to come in upon you as you  and
Katie are seated by the stove I can see you
                               Love to All    R. A. Hallock

          (Letter from Ruth Ann Townsend Hallock to her sister Delia
          Townsend Matson.  Date estimated in the early 1880's)
 

          to Delia Matson, Lysander
                                               Bazaar, Kansas
                                               Mar. 1, 1885

          Dear Mother,
                No doubt you have been looking for a letter from me
          and I feel some guilty that I have not written but was so
          very tired when I got home that it seemed to me that I
          could not do anything and when I did get a little rested
          had to help Louise get ready for housekeeping.  She went
          away last Wednesday and H. and I are alone with Mrs.
          Evans.
                Had a pleasant journey as far as Chicago Jennie was
          good company.  Dora met me at the depot had a very good
          visit with Aunt R and Dare but it stormed most of the time
          I was in Chicago and was very cold.  Left C. tuesday noon
          was snow bound the most of the afternoon that evening the
          train was thrown from the tracks and we were obliged to
          stay there untill evening again.  Arrived safe home
          Friday. My trunks came in good condition the mittens fited
          very well. The socks are all right and the girls are
          pleased with their stockings Louie says she is going to
          write soon. Lottie was here with the baby yesterday it is
          just as pretty and good as it can be Louie was here day
          before yesterday and I sewed for her wiill have to sew for
          her again today and cut and make a vest for Horace this
          week. Had a letter from Julia yesterday her school will be
          out in about four weeks then she will come home and I will
          try to write often have been interrupted two or three
          times since commenced writing this will be glad if we ever
          get in a more quiet place. Another call and the mail will
          be here in a minute. Your affectionate Daughter
                                Delia
                                Love to all

          (Letter to Delia Townsend Matson from her daughter Delia
          Ann White.  Refers to her daughter Julia (age 28) who is
          apparently a school teacher)
 

                                              P.M. Dec 1886


          Dear Delia,
                This seems to embrace all the family, Sisters,
          Nieces, Nephews, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, Grandchildren and
          all.  Far away as I am, stlll I do not forget that my
          kindred may some of them ______ _____ my loving regards.
          Trust you sometimes think of me and speak kindly of me.
          At this festive season of the year I send you all a
          Holiday Greeting.  Hope you are all well prosperous and
          happy.  As it has pleased our Good Father to spare the
          oldest of our family of seven to long years and good old
          age I long to see you.  If spared till another Summer I
          hope to have that pleasure.  I seldom hear from any of my
          family except Brother.  He is in poor health and suffering
          much with his eyes as doubtless you know and saw when he
          was with you last summer.  Erwin Townsend, oldest son of
          our deceased Mrs. Harvey has just visited us from
          Washington for a few days.  We enjoyed it much.  He is a
          noble fellow.
                We are all well and our boy Grant goes to school on
          horse back some three miles away.  We are having fine
          weather now and quiet times for our Christmas at home. Now
          think my part of this letter full and will say goodbye and
          blessing for you all from
                           Your Affectionate
                           Bro. Grant

          (Letter to Delia Townsend Matson from her brother Grant
          Townsend)

          to George G. White Esq, So Hannibal, Oswego Co., New York
                                                Bazaar, Kansas
                                                Feb 17, 1886
          Dear Brother George,
                I have not heard from you in a long time.  We are
          all well and doing very well.
                Have sold the farm.  Got $5250 for it cash.  Think I
          will go to the south west part of the state and take a
          homestead. There is a chance now but will not be inside of
          six months so you see it is now or never so far as this
          state is concerned. Now what do you say to coming out and
          going with me.  Will start about the middle of March.  I
          think you cant afford not to come.  Homesteads which were
          taken a hundred miles west fo here three years ago sell at
          20 dollars per acre now. Homesteads taken near Wichita
          when we came here are worth today 50 to 100 dollars per
          acre.  Ed Cosson (his son-in-law) bought 260 acres at 4
          1/2 dollars per acre 5 years ago could take 30 dollars
          today.  He bought 160 two years ago at 15 dollars per acre
          joining that which he paid 4 1/2 dollars for.  He now has
          400 acres worth 12,000 dollars and 100 hed of stock worth
          3,000 dollars making his property in all worth l5,000. He
          came here 6 years ago with 500 dollars and a span of
          horses and a waggon and that was all.  The Caspers
          brothers (another son-in-law) came here three years bought
          a high priced farm which of course has not improved in
          value so fast as cheap land further west but their farm
          for which they paid 5000 dollars is worth today 10,000
          dollars.  I payed for myne 3 years ago 2700 dollars have
          sold it now for 5250 dollars. Now I wish to ask you can
          you afford to stay there with your boys or will you come
          and give them a chance to do something for themselves.
          Remember I shal go to as handsom a country as the sun ever
          shown upon and take me 320 acres of land put up a house
          and put the bal. of my money out at 12 per cent and gro
          fat with the country.  Would like very much to have you
          for a nabor.  Sel your place to the highest bidder and
          come along.  You will never be sorry.  How you could stay
          there so long is beond my calculations. Perhapse you cant
          take yourself away from old associations. They must be
          very pleasant to hold you against your own interest.  But
          I will say no more.  After I have secured my land I expect
          to go east and spend the summer so I shal see you whether
          you wish me to or not.  Love to all Good by
                                    H. SG. White
          Julia is with Minnie this week and Delia and I are alone.
          Delia says tell Ella to be sure to come we will have a
          nice time.
          (Letter from Horace G. White, husband of Delia Ann Matson,
          to his brother George.  Horace is about 56 years old at
          the time of this letter and had been a Capt. in the Union
          army from NY in the Civil War.)
          __________________________________________________________
 

To Mary E. Matson
251 West Second Street,
Fulton, New York.

                Lysander, New York, April 11, 1925

Dear Cousin:-

    Your letter received.  I do not know of any records in regard to
the monument.  When I was a little girl it stood at the head of
Grandpa Matson's (Eli S. Matson's) lot in what we called "The
Graveyard" now Ira Union Cemetery.  It marked the graves of our
great-grandfather General Eli Matson and his wife Anna Willey Matson.
Farther along on the lot was the grave of little Cornelia who died in
1835.  She was your and my father's sister and her grave was among the
first made in the graveyard. When your little brother, DeWitt, died in
1866 he was buried right beside our Aunt Cornelia.  Each one of these
graves was marked by a little marble stone. The space between these
graves and the had of the lot where the monument stood was intended
for the graves of Grandpa and Grandma Matson and your father and
mother and my father and mother; but there would be no room for more
children to be buried there.  At the foot of the lot beyond Cornelia's
grave were graves of people who were no relatives, whom Grandpa had
allowed to bury there because they could not afford to buy a lot.
This land, the south part of the graveyard, was owned by Grandpa
Matson, was part of his farm, and he sold lots to people when they
needed them, as did my father after he owned the farm. The north side
of the graveyard was owned and sold in the same way from the Terpening
farm.  When Anna Harvie's mother, our great-aunt, Susan Matson
Huggins,  died in January 1870 her husband, Lawyer Edwin Huggins,
had a grave dug for her on Grandpa Matson's lot, close beside the
graves of her father and mother.  He did this without Grandpa's
knowledge.  When Grandpa and Grandma came up to the funeral they
learned of it and Grandpa forbade her burial there;  and Mr. Huggins
had to bury her on another lot.  Grandpa said the grave was dug
exactly where he himself intended to be buried.  there were no
vacant lots near there, so Mr. Huggins had to have a grave dug in a
distant part of the graveyard. The place where the grave was filled up
showed for a long time;  but a particular reason I had for remembering
this incident was that the trouble about the grave so upset Grandma
that she could not stay at the funeral, but  was brought back to our
house to stay until Grandpa came back. She seemed quite sick.  My
people did not attend the funeral, because my little sister Alice fell
and broke her arm that morning and my father had to get the doctor and
help to take care of her.  When Grandpa had forbidden Mr. Huggins to
bury his  wife by the monument why did not he (Mr. Huggins) remove
the stone to his own cemetery lot?  Was it not because most of the
people who had helped to pay for the monument were then living?  He
was a lawyer and knew what rights he had in the matter.  And he lived
for years after that, and died in 1880.
    I do not know the total cost of the monument,l but I have heard
the same story from different ones.  First, when  I was a little girl
my mother told me. It was when I read the inscription on the
monument,"Erected by their Daughter".  My mother said, "Those words
never ought to  have been put there. This is a family monument.  Your
Pa paid towards it, and your Grandpa and Uncle Augustine and all the
rest.  It was when Charles Matson was out here. The money was raised
and  put together, and when Aunt Susan Huggins requested she be
allowed to choose the monument, and her request was granted. She kept
it on interest for ten years and then put nineteen dollars with it and
bought the monument.  She had this inscription put on it, and none of
the rest knew anything about it until it was up. They were all very
angry about it".  This is the same story I have heard from my father,
from Grandma Matson, and from Uncle Augustine. Anna Harvie was only
six years old when our great-grandfather died;  and if the money was
raised soon after that time it is not at all strange that she should
have had no knowledge of it, and that when her mother paid for the
stone and had that inscription placed upon it she probably supposed it
was her mother's money that paid for it; and of course the man who
made the monument gave her the receipt.
   Grandpa Matson died in 1875.  Before his death he gave instructions
that he be buried next to the monument, and Grandma next to him, and
that their names and dates be inscribed on the monument, and small
headstones be placed at the head of each grave.  These instructions
were carried out.
    In 1882 my mother died.  Uncle Augustine was at the  house.  My
father said to him, "There is no room on our lot for both our
families; but I will put Jane there for the present, and we will
decide later what is best."  Either one or two years after that, in
1883 or 1884, my  father had arranged to move my mother to a plot that
he had reserved when he sold the old farm and had not sold  off the
lots.  That place gave room for himself and his children and
grandchildren: And on it he put a monument containing the names of all
his children, and so had no reason for himself using the other
monument.
    Both my father and Uncle Augustine tho't that if the graves were
all together in one place it would insure better care for them in the
future, and as there were plenty of vacant lots near by that could be
secured if necesary, it was decided to move all the bodies and stones
to the new location--Uncle Augustine was to have the lot on which the
family monument would be, as he said that he had helped to pay for
that stone, and did not see any use of buying a separate one.  He is
buried near it and his name and Aunt Mary's were placed upon it. That
was done according to his wishes.
     The person who moved the monument was my father, William T.
Matson, Mr. Joseph Switzer assisted him and did the moving of the
bodies.  But the ownership of the ground on which they were placed was
the same as that from which they were taken. Anna Harvie came to my
father and said  she had heard that he was going to move the bodies,
and said, "I will take charge of the monument as it belongs to me."
She was in our yard at the time.  My father went out and talked with
her.  When he came into the house he said that we must remember that
Anna had been led to believe that the monument belonged to her, on
account of the inscription.  He said, "I have told her everything in
regard to the way the money was raised to pay for it.  I shall proceed
exactly as I intended, but if she wishes to use the monument, there
are lots adjoining mine where she can place her father and mother and
have them near to the monument, and place their names on it, and also
her name and her husband's if they wish to do so." I do not know
whether he suggested this to her at that time; but I do know that he
did to another member of her family at a later time.
     My father had a flag carved by a marble cutter on the monument,
over the name of General Eli Matson and an inscription with it.  My
father paid for this work.  The monument was moved to its present
location forty or more years ago.

                                     Lovingly your cousin,

                                     Cora A. Matson Dolson
          __________________________________________________________
 
 

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16 July 1999