ATHENS COUNTY OHIO Letter from "Grandma" to John and children, dated Oct 4 1872 *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sandra Streitberger beachbum@bitstorm.net August 6, 2000 *********************************************************************** These letters contain the Tinker family correspondence. It was typed exactly as it appeared in the letters so there is little punctuation and many misspellings. The first couple of letters were written by my great great grandfather, John Quincy BOUDINOT to his wife, Levina Adaline TINKER during the Civil War. John and Levina lived in Belle Rive, Illinois but were both born in Athens County, OH and migrated to Illinois shortly after they married. Apparently Levina's entire family--the Tinkers--remained in Ohio, and from all the names in the letters I gather they were a large family. I still have not been able to "straighten out" all the Tinkers but am working on that. Hope this info can be of some help to others. *********************************************************************** (Underlined text to indicate illegible writing or unable to read what was written) ((Bold text to highlight references to Tinker)) Letter from "Grandma" to John and children, dated Oct 4 1872 Trimble Athens Ohio Oct 4 1872 Dear John and Children I now answer Dear little Effa letter she can write nicely it makes me quite proud of her it had been a long time since we had got any letters from you we were very sorry that you have ben so sick but feel thankfull to god that you all lived through the awfull pains and lonely _____hours of course you had to put in and suffered for help no doubt as your neighbors were all sick I wish you lived near us we are glad to hear that Charley is a getting well I wish he lived near so that I could go and se him and take nourishments to him and all the rest of you John I dont think that you will ever have mutch health there we never received a letter from you since you lived there but what some one or more had the chills I wish you had a farm in Ohio cant you rent your farm and come and suit your self here we heard that Kits folks have had a pretty serious time of sickness you have a pretty country there but sickley how is jo he wrote some time ago that he had ben verry sick do you keep his mothers things or what has become of them does Ok recolect us yet is little boda healthy kiss them for me and tell them that Grand Ma and Pa will not forget them how are R____ets folks expecially Hann may god bless her for the kindnesses she has dun for my Daughters may she be prospered on this earth and gain a crown in heaven with god, well I will tell you about home Pa and my self are getting quite feeble but go a bout and work Walter health is verry poor, we think that Roxan is improoving she is a doctoring (at this point the bottom right corner of the letter is gone, which space will be marked with . . .) …a man after the Indian style we are incouraged that. . . her poor woman has suffered beyond explanation. . . out of shape great knots on her head it often. . .then works of in a diarear form it seams. . .cant live she was taken sick one . . .well Dr. E. W. Tinker buried . . . she had the consumtion. . . I staid with her two weeks. . .she died but saw her laid in the graive she died contented and happy she was dresst splendidly a butiful Coffin and a nice dry grave she was a verry respectable woman there wa the greatest turnout of people to se her buried that I ever saw at a funeriel well I believe the rest of the friends are all well John I think your folks are all well I saw Tobias two weaks ago at church they are anxious to hear from you he said that he was a poor hand to write it has ben verry dry here this summer have not had any rain for two months of any note untill last knight we had a good one Austin was over to baltimore last weak and saw Adolphus he was on the street for the first after having the small pox verry bad he will be in Ohio soon to take deposition against his wife the dirty old hag well its allmost knight and Pa wants to wright so I will stop for this time Oh yes Florence, Austin receive your verry welcome letter it was read with mutch pleasure we like to hear from you as often as convenient Austin and Walter a getting up a car load of hogs to day they don't do mutch else they have stalk on market the most of the time give my love to all inquireing friends and receive a goodby have your selves so good by for this time Grandma (From above letters is appears Levina Adaline was not well. She and her husband, John, and children, were living in Jefferson County, Illinois. Levina died 31 January 1872).