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June 27, 1877
Grace Hill

Dear Daughter:

I take my pen in hand to drop you a few lines to let you know that we are all well at preasent and hope those few lines may reach and find you enjoying good health. It has been so long since we heard from you we are getting uneasy about you . We thought maybe the grasshoppers might have eat you up. The rain has very near drowned us out. The lightning struck Lucy's house but did not unjure them any.

Tobias Ramble and Julie Engle are married. They came to church as usual and when preaching was over they steped out and was maried and nobody knew any thing about it.

Well, Huldah, how is Aurie? We would like to see her awful. Well, The rest of the folks are all well as far as we know except Willie and he is no better. Allen has got a pattent for a book and he is selling territory. He has been back to Virginia. James Feather has been arested for a bastard and had to give bail for $800 eight hundred dollars.

Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey have been down to (Memphis?) town to see Henrietta and Edwin and Uncle Nash (Rash?) and they say they was there all right. Dick (Dock?)and Alice is still here. Dick (Dock?) is somewhat discouraged on account of the rain.

Well, I will close for this time hoping to hear from you soon.

From Jas & Mother to Ed & Huldah & Aurie

Rite soon

Good by by

(Editor's Note: The handwriting of the letter from Jas & Mother above appears similar to the one from James, the nephew below)

June the 27th 1877
Grace Hill

Dear Aunt:

I have been writing for grandma and I thought I would rite a line for myself and let you know that I am out in Iowa once more. I would like to see you awful. Well, I came out with Uncle Allen Snider. I have been here about 7 weeks. I haven't seen Uncle John (??Urint, Unut??), Louisa, nor you. Well, I haven't mutch to rite, so I will close hoping these lines may find you well.

from James E. Beaty to Uncle Ed, Aunt Huldah, and cousin Aurie

Good by, good by by

Editor's Notes

Lucy was Hulda's sister (Lucy (Beaty)Charlton).See letter from her.

Although Hulda's name is spelled with an "H", most other references to Hulda are without an H at the end. Since the nephew wrote this letter, I am presuming that he simply misspelled it.

We now have determined that "Uncle Allen Snider" was the husband of Hulda's sister, Elizabeth Beaty. They are buried together in Keota Cemetery in Keota, IA. Uncle John is most likely Hulda's brother, John Beaty.

Don't have anything on how the others are related.

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