Family History: Letter from Joseph Woollens to Mrs. Margarett Wherry (1857): 
Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Terry Mossop.

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NOVEMBER 26, 1857
JOSEPH WOOLLENS LETTER FROM CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO

To Margarett, My Dear Sister
As you probably occasionally wonder what has become of me, I'll just send
you a few lines to let you know I am still in the land of the living
although no longer under the jurisdiction of the United States, a.la yankee
land.  I like this country very well, about what I expected to see, wild and
mountainous.   Like the people, especially the senoritas, although I can
find they can be _____ and sometimes become perfectly "docile and
affectionate" - it agrees with me here.  Fat and harty - and of course
saucy.  Runs in the family.  I wish you could see my house and  ______
_____.  I have rented a_________ second story of a large house - five large
rooms and hard all up stairs and paved with flagstones.  Youl wonder what I
do with them all.  My operating room is about fifty feet long 30 wide - one
chemical room one work room another bedroom - and the kitchen.  On the
bachelor style of course all right - a first rate Mexican cook.  Market good
and cheap.  All I have got to say is what I want and he has it there all
right ________.  Business is good.  I am the first photographer that has
ever been in the place.  A real live Yankee - of course - curiosity.  By the
by I took a family group of gentlemen and lady and 3 children from Philada
yesterday - came down from El Paso with me.  Lea Bean is the name - she
plays the piano and sings beautifully - by the by - one of the best I ever
heard off the stage.  I promised to take my flute around this evening and
play with her.  She is very good looking and full of fun.  She had her head
to one side in one of the groups, a trying to hold a little chap still.  Her
husband says look where you have got your head.  She says OK I don't care if
my head was down and keep up so I get me child made - I was like the boy
when the calf run over him - had nothing to say - the children was restless
but they go a first rate large group. $2.00 likeness. To be sent to Philada
to her old mother in Walnut Street. -  This Chihuahua (rather a chocker for
you "Americans" to pronounce perhaps - if youl sound the two last "aitokes"
then youl come pretty near it).  It is a substantial one story town - my
house and about a dozen others exceptions.  Fifteen or so some says thirty
thousand inhabitants.  Streets well paved fine clean and healthy - not much
business done here - grand staple is silver mines.  The mines here is busy
all the time - making the dollar about as fast as you can count them you can
hear them droping down as they are made from the outside - they go "chink" -
chink.  There is first rate weather here and fountain in the central
square - in front of the large Catholic church - one of the finest I ever
saw - I will photograph and send you a copy - I had a first rate time coming
from El Paso down here in wagons - had nothing to do but lay back and read
play flute for passage - eight days - I expect to be here about 2 months (6
weeks longer) then put for Durango, a longer stretch - perhaps - stop at
some other towns between here and there - a couple of weeks - but when you
answer this you must direct to Durango, Mexico and I will be on hands - I
wrote to Rebecca Eddows in El Paso - expect to get an answer here before I
leave.  I would like to hear from you verry much - hope you are all well and
I am satisfied.  My profound respect to Jo - own husband - mother - Pop and
all the rest.  Your friend and brother JW