Jacob Scheidel and Carl Scheidel Arrival Date: May 17, 1852.

Corrected spelling/punctuation

1856 

Absent Uncle & Aunt,

Having heard from you some four or five years ago I feel quite anxious to hear from you again. I have written you once before this but have received no answer, perhaps you did not receive it, but I hope this will not fail to reach you. My dear uncle, aunt, and cousin I never have been permitted to meet with you yet still there is a lingering hope that we may someday meet. Hope: what comfort, what consolation there is in that one little word, it is a beacon to the soul of man. Take away hope and we take away the enjoyment of prosperity, the most happy, the most prosperous, without hope would soon become the most wretched the poor and afflicted without it would sink at once in to the gulf of despair, extinguish hope and you extinguish life, for who could live without it? It is the last lingering light to the human breast. Worldly hope has always some supposed foundation on which it relies but Christian hope has for a foundation the rock of truth, Gods most holy words. 

Jesus the Almighty conquer says, fear not for I am with you; does not Christ dwell in our hearts by faith? Is not Christ in us the life of faith, the life of love, the hope of glory, than let us be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. “Fear not He is thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.” When thou passeth through the waters I will be with thee.

And father is still hoping that he may someday meet you and it is at his request that I write this letter he wants to know where you all are and if grandmother is still living. Oh! How he wants to see her and if she still lives and it is so he possibly can come. I will insist on his coming out there. Oh! How I wish he could see his dear mother, sisters and brothers once more. I know full well it would be a great consolation to all of them. If I can persuade him to come I shall come with him, but if it is the will of the Lord before three years rolls round I shall visit some of my father’s relation. I am now spending the winter at my brothers in Allegany, my parents reside in Columbus, Warren Co, Pa.; they have lived there now over three years. I had a letter from them a few days ago mother and father were well, mother said if I wrote you I must give her best respects to all. You will please excuse me if I do not write a very long letter for it is rather difficulty to write to one whom I have never seen, but one whom I hope to see. When you write will you please write all the particulars concerning uncles, aunts, and grandmother as far as you know. I will now close saying hoping that this will find you all well, may happiness surround you on every side, may your ways be the ways of righteousness and may your paths be strewed with roses. May you never know one sorrowful moment is the ardent prayer of your Niece Polly Abbey. Please excuse all mistakes for it is written in haste, write soon. 

Please direct your letter Allegany 

CM. Co.

Polly Abbey

Ny.

Corrected spelling/punctuation

May 18, 1856

Allegany, May 18^th 56

Dear and respected friends

Two weeks have rolled around since I wrote you last but I shall not allow only one day to pass from the time that I received your good and kind letter until I answer it. Last eve, your letter was joyfully received and now to omit it is with unspeakable pleasure that I answer it. I was glad to hear that grandmother was well but was sorrow to hear that your aunts’ health was not very good. I am in hopes she will be careful in regard to her cold for this season this far has been very bad and there are many here dropping off with consumption and it was caused merely by taking a cold. I was intending this summer to take a school but by teaching last winter I caught a very severe cold and my health not being very good this spring it would not permit of it. If I had done so it was my intention to come out there in the fall in company with my father for he cannot afford the means for himself and me to, neither do I ask it of him, for I though the only child have cost him considerable. My health was always poor up to the age ten, most always under the dr. care. At the age of ten, I got so that I was able to go to school, I had been some previous to this though not much, for four or five years he keep me in school most of the time in the Randolph Academy (where we then lived) from that time I have taught school until the present time losing but one term. If it had not been for the tender care of a good mother and father undoubtedly long before this time I should have been laid in my grave. And how much do I own them for their watchful care but I hope that I can repay them by being a kind and dutiful daughter unto them. You spoke dear uncle of our circumstances, perhaps it was pride that forbid one of [willing] for I think there is a little of it reigning in my [] perhaps too much of it; I think I have a little of my fathers & mothers, enough to bring me equal to them. My parents, dear uncle, are far from being rich though think not that we are in poverty my father affords a comfortable living, four years this last winter he moved from Randolph, Catt. Co., N.Y. to where he now lives, my sister Abigail got married and moved there first. Father then purchased fifty acres of land and moved, I think now he has it near paid for he has got him a good house though not all completed he owned himself a nice span of horses but he wrote me not long since that he had sold them, I think it must of been to of help pay for his place. Father always worked hard through life, and often have I heard him speak of his dear and beloved mother who so tenderly watched over him in his infancy and how he would like to go and see her but the time and money would cost him so much that he has never felt able to do so, but of lately I have heard him speak of her often then ever and express a great desire to see her. I now think that he will come out there as soon as he can get things straightened around so he can leave, perhaps he will come in the spring or fall following if he should do so I should try to come with him for I have a great desire to come and see you all. I expect now in a few weeks that a cousin from (Montrose, Susquehanna, Pa.) my mothers, 1 brothers child, will be out after me to go there and spend the summer there. The distance that I am now from home is about seventy miles; all of my brothers & sisters are married except one sister, a year ago last September I lost a brother perhaps I have told you if so I have forgotten, after these long years of suffering with the [] he was taken from this world to seek one that is far better where pain and suffering do no come, yes my brother Ephraim has left us and deeply do we feel his loss for he was a good, kind brother, not many may know the depth of that true brotherly love

Uncle you wished to know the distance from Buffalo to where my parents reside I cannot tell you only by railroad from Buffalo to Westfield, it is 57 mi! Westfield I believe is as near us as the railroad comes from Westfield to our house, it is about 38mi, perhaps a little more, from there to Columbus village is a good plank road and stages running daily and we live five miles out of the village. Perhaps you do not know where Westfield is it is in Chautauqua Co., N.Y., situated on or near the lake about 8 miles this side of Erie. Now I will close this letter hoping to soon receive an answer. Give my best respects to all, I shall write to my parents tonight and send your letter, when I hear from them again I will write you. Please excuse all mistakes now, dear uncle do not let what I have written hinder you from coming out here but come if you possibly can and bring aunt with you. How glad my dear father and mother would, I will not say much about fathers coming now, I will write more when I hear from him. Please give my love to grandma, I will now close hoping soon to receive an answer,

Your affectionate niece,

Polly Lorinda Abbey 

To her much respected uncle H

[address] as [school]

A013.4.38

Allegany, (NY?); January, 1856 (from Polly Abbey to Thomas and Lurinda)

“And father is still hopeing that he may some day meet you and it is at his request that I write this letter he wants to know where you all are and if you granmother is still living.”

·         Does “grandmother” refer to Lurinda’s mother?

“Oh! I wish he could see dear mother and sisters & brothers…”

·         Winters family?

“…I am now spending the winter at my brothers in Allegany my parents reside in Columbus Waren Co Pa.. they have lived there now over three years.”

·         Polly lived with her brother in Allegany for a while

·         Her parents lived in Columbus Waren Co (Pennsylvania?)

October 19, 1856

 Columbus. Oct 19^th 56

My dear uncle & aunt,

Would that I could see you today, take you by the hand and inquire after your health, but seeing that I cannot do it really, I shall have to do it by the aid of pen. How is my dear uncle and grandmother and finally all? I hope you are well; this day is the Sabbath and I am seated here by the table writing to those who in my heart ever shall hold dear, never can I forget that lovely visit nor those dear cousins. Oh! That I could enjoy more of their society, but we have met and parted. Oh! It is hard to part with friends, I know I feel it. Among the many [proofs] of warmth of feeling and genuine friendship, there is not one so peculiar adapted to call forth all the finer feelings, the God like attributes of our nature as the parting from a dear friend, such I have left far behind me uncles, aunts, cousins, and a dear and beloved grandmother, who watched over my father in his infancy. I think it was hard for me to part, what was it for a mother to part with a son, or brother to part with sisters, the society of a brother I know but little about yet I think it must be hard to part with a brother who created for us and enjoyed with us the simple sports of our infant years.

                                                Those sunny sunny hours of childhood,

                                                How soon, how soon they pass away! 

                                                Like flowers, like flowers in the wild wood,

                                                That bloom but to decay.”

And we know it must be hard for a mother to part with her son whom she has watched over with care and anxiety. Many a time perhaps she did not feel able to raise her head from the pillow, many a time has she listened with pride & pleasure mingled with many a burst of joyous laughter, to his plans of the future. His path to fame and glory his certain and rapid ascent to the pinnacle of fortune, and sung for him the old nursing song “Rock a bye baby, on the tree top.” We have all parted, we have hope left that we may meet again. Hope that divine after burning in the breast of mortals, flings far and wide its cheering beams and lights us over obstacles almost insurmountable to other eyes;

Now to our journey home we arrived safely at Westfield that night at seven o’clock, the next day father went home I stayed there until Saturday than took the stage for home. Found mother well, sister Abbie not very well, her husband was quite sick during our absence is better now so as to be a round. Oh dear uncle how I wish I could see you today but that wish is in vain. I am afraid it always will be, but dear uncle you will please excuse me for not writing more for sister Abbie is reading and it disturbs me so I cannot write, (but uncle I have not got the hoop skirt on today.) At mother & father sends their love to all. Oh is cousin James married yet? If so, I wish him much joy. Tell grandmother not to get the blues, give my respects to all and write soon, let us know how you enjoyed your visit.

From your affectionate niece, P. L. Abbey. 

A013.4.30

Annotations

Columbus, October 19, 1856 (From P. L. Abbey (niece) to Thomas and Lurinda)

“Those sunny sunny hours of childhood,

How soon, how soon they pass away! 

Like flowers, like flowers in the wild wood,

That bloom but to decay.”

·         poem written by P. L. Abbey

“Now to our journey home we arived safely at we Westfield that night at seven oclock, the next day father went home I stayed there untill saturday than took the stage for home found mother well, sister Abbie not very well her husband was quite sick during our absance is better now so as to be a round”

·         The family either lived in or visited Westfield

·         sister Abbie (not sure if P.L.’s sister, or just a title) had a husband who was ill

“Oh dear uncle how I wish I could see you today but that wish is in vain I am a fraid it allways will be, but dear uncle you will pleas excuse me for not writing more for sister Abbie is reading and it disturbes me so I can not write, (but uncle I have not got the hope hoop skirt on to day)”

·         Sister Abbie was reading P.L.’s mail?

·         P.L. telling her uncle what she is not wearing (a creepy insinuation?)

Corrected spelling/punctuation – Believe this letter to be written in 1856

P. Abbey

Columbus, Aug. 

Dear Respected Uncle & Aunt,

After as long an absence I have once more safely reached my home. I arrived here on Tuesday last found my father well, mother not very well but not so as to give up, sister Ab was quite sick better now, as for myself I am well but have not as yet got exactly rested from the fatigue of my journey. I hope that this will find my uncle, aunt and cousins well. Also hope that they will have the kindness to excuse me for my long silence I should have written here this time but have been waiting until I returned home. Oh! How sorrow I am to think that kind uncle and aunt should visit my parents and I could not be at home to visit with them. How deeply do I regret my departure when I received your letter, I was than intending to start for home the Friday following certainly thinking that I should be in time to see you but perhaps it is all for the best. I shall hope on hope ever, perhaps I may see you yet. What meaning, what happiness is created from that little word hope, it is a beacon to the soul of man, it cheers us on, it lifts us up almost in the hour of despair. Our heavenly father who knows all things allows us to hope that all things may be for the best lest our hope be in him.

I thank you dear uncle for leaving those likenesses of aunts and cousins, I am highly pleased with them. Give my best respects to A. Henry, the one that wrote me a few lines and copied your letter, I took it to be a gentleman’s hand writing. I should be very glad to hear from him again and from some of the other cousins. Perhaps I am taking too much liberty in asking them to write but dear uncle you now know what for a place my parents live in it is lonely here for one; no society near none that I wish to mingle in and how much company, how pleasant, how it passes away lonely hours to sit down and read over letters that you have received from a friend such I trust you all are. We have one friend that the world cannot deprive us of, go where we will He is there He can be here with me in the wild woods of Pennsylvania as well as in the crowed city or in the halls of learning.

                                Father, I bless thy gentle hand;

                                How kind was thy chastising nod;

                                That forced my conscience to a stand; 

                                And brought my wondering soul to God,

Father and mother send their love to you all, mother she has not felt well since you left she thinks perhaps it is because you did not make a longer visit. I wish you would tell some of them dear cousins to come and make us a visit to. I do not know for certain whether father will come out there this fall or not if he does I shall try and come with. I hear him speak of you often, he wishes to be remembered to grandmother. I do the same I would that I lived near her so as to help comfort and cheer her in her old age. Give my respects to all, write as soon as convenient for you to do so,

From ever your friend and niece.

P. L. Abbey 

Annotations

Columbus, Pennsylvania; August (no year given) (from P. L. Abbey to Thomas and Lurinda)

“…sister Ab was quite sick better now…”

·         Sister Abbie

“give my best respects to A. Henry the one that wrote me a few lines and coppied your letter I took it to be a gentlemans hand writing I should be very glad to hear from him again and from some of the other cousins”

·         A. Henry (Albert?) wrote and transcribed a letter to Polly

A013.4.176

Spring Creek (not sure where this is); Nov. 27, 1878 (to Thomas from P.W. and E. Abbey) (Written by Mrs. F.F. Brooks)

“Mrs. Abby is pretty much the same, as when you were here sometimes quite smart, at others feeble, but her mind is always good.”

·         Mrs. Abbey may have been ill

“We have both united with the Congregational Church at Spring Creek burg, and feel very much at home there.”

·         Mr. and Mrs. Abbey attended the Congregational Church in Spring Creek

“Elder Mason preaches here again this year, but now talks of moving up beyond Barry, on Carter Hill, where he has just been holding a series of meetings, and a large revival Some ninety converts.”

·         someone called Elder Mason preached at their church, then possibly moved to Carter Hill

“Abbie has been home, but is now gone home. to Binghampton, She is well and doing well. The other girls write often and are all well Jenny was up a few months ago.”

·         Abbie is their daughter? She lived in Binghampton (Tennessee?)

·         Jenny came for a visit

“We had a letter from Pauline’s little Eddy They were well, Eddy had been twenty miles out of the city staying through the hot weather. The yellow fever did not reach them.”

·         Pauline? Eddy?

·         Perhaps the yellow fever was quite prevalent at the time (the internet suggests that there was an epidemic in 1878 in Tennessee)

“Elder Sweet was a main help in the meetings I I spoke of, only some ten or twelve had started before he joined Elder Mason. The Church held a quarterly meeting here commencing last Friday evening, closed Monday evening, they tried to start a revival but could not awaken an interest, Elder Sweet said “It was no use.” There has been no weekly regular prayer meeting for three months”

·         Elder Sweet and Elder Mason?

“In regard to coming to Canada I would be glad to come, perhaps I may yet be permitted to come but if I am not, it will be all for the best.”

·         they wanted to (and may have) visited the Henry’s in Canada

A013.4.39

Columbus, Pennsylvania; August (no year given) (from P. L. Abbey to Thomas and Lurinda)

“…sister Ab was quite sick better now…”

·         Sister Abbie

“give my best respects to A. Henry the one that wrote me a few lines and coppied your letter I took it to be a gentlemans hand writing I should be very glad to hear from him again and from some of the other cousins”

·         A. Henry (Albert?) wrote and transcribed a letter to Polly

A013.4.176

November 27, 1878

Corrected Spelling/punctuation

Spring Creek Nov 27^th/78

Dear Brother Henry, 

Yours of Nov 12^th came safely to hand, indeed it is a long time since we have heard from you, and we are glad to hear of your recovered health. We too feel that time with us is liable to change into eternity, at any moment. At present my own health is very good, Mrs. Abby is pretty much the same as when you were here, sometimes quite smart at others feeble, but her mind is always good. We have both united with the Congregational Church at Spring Creek burg, and feel very much at home there. Our Church here is at sixes and sevens, if anything worse than a year ago, God knows I do not say this from any motive only that it is the truth and He alone can tell what the end will be. Elder Mason preaches here again this year but now talks of moving up beyond Barry on Carter Hill, where he has just been holding a series of meetings, and a large revival some ninety converts.

Abbie has been home, but is now gone home to Binghampton. She is well and doing well. The other girls write often and are all well Jenny was up a few months ago.

We had a letter from Pauline’s little Eddy. They were well, Eddy had been twenty miles out of the city staying through the hot weather. The yellow fever did not reach them. We have no one with us now, we get along nicely alone, I did not say above what I will say here Elder Sweet was a main help in the meetings I spoke of, only some ten or twelve had started before he joined Elder Mason. The Church held a quarterly meeting here commencing last Friday evening, closed Monday evening, they tried to start a revival but could not awaken an interest, Elder Sweet said “It was no use.” There has been no weekly regular prayer meeting for three months. 

What will become of us, as a people I cannot see. I can only hope and pray. They have some good working members, if they could do the work, they had a good Sunday school this past summer. Perhaps all will be well yet. 

In regard to coming to Canada I would be glad to come, perhaps I may yet be permitted to come but if I am not, it will be all for the best. We shall have an eternity beyond this to commune with those who are in Christ and bearing his cross and bonds. My faith is strong that we shall meet beyond the River of Death, in the city not made with hands.

Please do not delay writing so long again, we want to hear from you oftener. 

This from your brother and Sister in Christ and the flesh our love to you all and all my dear relatives and friends

P W and E Abby,

(By Mrs. F F Brooks, who joins heartily in this letter and its hopes and well wishes. 

Phineas W Abby – Brother to Lurenda nee Abbey Henry

A013.4.176

Letter from Spring Creek – Nov 1878

Mrs Abby – his wife

Recently switched churches

Elder Mason?

Abbie – daughter

other girls?

Jenny daughter

Daughter Pauline has a son named Eddy? – the yellow fever did not reach him

·         in 1878 The outbreak began in New Orleans and spread up the Mississippi River and went inland. recorded 120,000 cases and between 13,000-20,000 deaths

·         July 1878 there was an outbreak south of Memphis was hit pretty hard

·         Yellow fever is carried by mosquitoes (originally from West Africa and brought over to America on Slave ships). The disease needs warm weather but thrives in wet hot summers. Victims usually die within 2 weeks. The virus affects multiple organ systems and causes internal bleeding; it can be fatal: 3-6 day incubation period, flu like symptoms after a short remission victim starts to vomit blood and suffer liver and renal failure, jaundice is also typical symptom, hence the name. Survivors can feel the effects for months. 3-6 day incubation period, flu like symptoms after a short remission victim starts to vomit blood and suffer liver and renal failure, jaundice is also typical symptom, hence the name. Survivors can feel the effects for months. 

·         Epidemic ended with first frost in October

·         Worst American outbreak of yellow fever occurred in the Mississippi River Valley in 1878

1878 all children have moved out

No weekly regular prayer meeting for months?

worries about the future.

A013.4.31

1885 – Harriston, Ontario

Phineas was visiting his nephew, John Henry, in Harriston, Minto, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada

Phineas portion of letter:

Took a trip to Michigan to visit Jane. (Is this also Jennie?)

·         Her and her husband James must have recently moved there

o    ie. they have a house, 20x26 painted white

James is now out of debt and I believe making $150 now. 

·         Farm, cuts shingle timber – owns 12 acres

John Henry portion of letter:

Uncle would like a letter as his sisters are passing away?

https://search.ancestry.ca/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=YRi2622&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&gss=angs-g&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Jane%20Jennie&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Abby&gsln_x=0&msbdy=1831&msbpn__ftp=New%20York,%20USA&msbpn=35&msbpn_PInfo=5-%7C0%7C1652393%7C0%7C2%7C0%7C35%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C&msrdy=1890&msrpn__ftp=Michigan,%20USA&msrpn=25&msrpn_PInfo=5-%7C0%7C1652393%7C0%7C2%7C0%7C25%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C&msfng=Phineas&msfns=Abbey&msmng=Elizabeth&mssng=James&gskw=lumber,%20shingle,%20farm&_83004003-n_xcl=m&cpxt=1&cp=12&catbucket=rstp&MSAV=1&uidh=r97&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=27391445&dbid=7163&indiv=1&ml_rpos=1

https://search.ancestry.ca/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gl=allgs&gss=sfs28_ms_r_f-2_s&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Jane%20Jennie&gsfn_x=0&gsln=Abby&gsln_x=0&msbdy=1831&msbpn__ftp=New%20York%2C%20USA&msbpn=35&msbpn_PInfo=5-%7C0%7C1652393%7C0%7C2%7C0%7C35%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C&msrdy=1890&msrpn__ftp=Michigan%2C%20USA&msrpn=25&msrpn_PInfo=5-%7C0%7C1652393%7C0%7C2%7C0%7C25%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C0%7C&msfng=Phineas&msfns=Abbey&msmng=Elizabeth&mssng=James&gskw=lumber%2C%20shingle%2C%20farm&_83004003-n_xcl=m&cpxt=1&cp=12&catbucket=rstp&MSAV=1&uidh=r97

PW and E Abby – In the States – Spring Creek 1878 (to Brother)

Pauline who has an Eddy                                             

Jenny 

Abbie – home to Binghampton

other girls

PL Abbey – Columbus (To Aunt and Uncle)

                Abbie  - 56

Polly (Aunt and Uncle) – 56 – parents reside in Columbus Warren, Pens. brothers in Allegany

Phineas W Abby  - Harriston – 85 (Sister)

Jane and James 

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7181/005207088_00336?pid=1655697581&backurl=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26dbid%3D7181%26h%3D1655697581%26tid%3D%26pid%3D%26usePUB%3Dtrue%26_phsrc%3DsnU279%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=snU279&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true

 1850 Census

1840 Census? 6 people total. 2 adults over 30 under 40. 1 boy 3 girls?

1860 Census (Columbus, Warren)  P.W Abby 60yrs old                    NY                          Farmer

                                                Elizabeth 65yrs old                          NY

                                                Abigail Alterberg 27yrs old           Canada

1880 Census (Columbus, Warren)   Phinneas Abbey 70yrs old       NY          Farmer

                                                                Elizabeth              87yrs old              NY                                          Listed as Blind

                                                                Abbie Fancher 44yrs old                NY          Widowed

                                                                Margari Fancher 12 yrs old           (1868)

 1880 A.E. Fancer ?

                                                P.W. Abby Land index 1878 : 26 acres

 Polly Abbey school? - The Randolph Academy and Female Seminary opened in 1850.

Jane Abbey school?

A013.4.31

October 29, 1885

Corrected Spelling/punctuation

First message, from Phineas W. Abby to Laurinda (Rossie) Henry (written by John Henry)

Mrs. Rossie Henry

Harriston, Ontario, October 29, 1885

Dear Sister,

I went out to Michigan on the 25^th of September got back on the 3^rd Oct. Found Jane and the rest of them well. They are doing very well and like the place well and have things comfortable. They have a house 20 X 26 and painted white outside. James is out of debt and has about $150.00 coming to him and is going to the lumber woods this winter. He has a job of cutting shingle timber and intends to buy himself a team next spring and devote his time to working his farm. He has not done much on his place yet he has been working out nearly all the time, he has twelve acres cleared.

I am as well as usual and would like to hear from you soon to know how you are and the rest of the folks. Give my best respects to all the folks and a share for yourself. I remain your affectionate brother

Phineas W. Abby

Harriston, Ontario; October 29^th, 1885

Second message, from John Henry to Laurinda (Rossie) Henry (written by John Henry)

Dear Aunt, 

We would like to hear from you often to know how you are getting along if you are not able to write get someone to write for you. Uncle would like to get a letter from you often as his sisters are passing away and he feels lonely at times. Although he appears to enjoy himself pretty well but when cold weather comes he will not be able to get around as much as he does now. We are all well at present. Good bye, 

John Henry

“I went out to Michigan on the 25^th of September got back on the 3^rd Oct. Found Jane and the rest of them well and they are doing verry well and like the place well and have things comfortable they have a house 20 X 26 and painted white outside…”

·         Phineas travelled to Michigan to visit Jane’s family

“James is out of debt and has about $150.00 coming to him and is going to the lumber woods this winter he has a job of cutting shingle timber and intends to buy himself a team next spring and devote his time to working his farm…”

·         James was in debt for a while

·         He managed to get a lumber job

(Second message from John Henry)

“…if you are not able to write get some one to write for you”

·         Lurinda may not have been well enough to write at this point

“Uncle would like to get a letter from you often as his sisters are passing away…”

·         John’s uncle (Lurinda’s brother?) has had sisters passing away (this may be Lurinda’s sisters as well)