p.

middle making a sitting room and
kitchen an addition at one side of
two comfortable bedrooms, the chambers
are divided by curtains into 2 rooms, a
good cellar and cistern complete
the main fixings about the house, we intend
puting up an out room for the stove
in summer, a good granary and an Iowa
stable were on the place and H has
added a Small hay barn prise $1700,
about 3 miles from meeting.

How does your little meeting prosper.
I would like a good long letter from
thee very much telling all about your
selves and things that interest us mutually
how does Uncle Rowland and family
prosper. We get little or no news
except through Dr Staples family.
How is it with father Miles and family
and aunt gemima &c and finally if
thou knows anything of interest about
any one we were associated with morrally
or religiously or by the ties of consanguinity
we should be glad to hear [?].

In much love to thee and thine in wich the elder
members of the family gain affectionately Jane

[page break]

[upside down:]

Our Post office the same it has been
(Muscatine)
Ellen wishes me to inquire about
cousin [Ann?], she would like a letter from
her, she is under the impression she wrote
last

[right side up:]

Hilldale 4 Mo 24 1862
[IOA]

Dear Cousin R

It has been so very long
since there has been any interchange of
letters that I really do not know who
is debtor, be that as it may, perhaps a
few lines from thy absent cousin will not
be unacceptable, and will fullfil a
twofold mission, whilst it bring us to
thy rememberance, it will also assure thee
thou art not forgotten.

We have heard nothing from thee
of late except one of thy sons was
drafted; how can we who have never
had our sons torn from us by the ruthless
hand of war and sent to the battle
field, sympatize with those who have,
yet we can mingle our strong desires with
their warmest petitions (though far distant)
to Him who takes cognisance of the