Family History: Letter from Joseph Woollens to Mrs. Margarett Wherry (1865): 
Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Terry Mossop.

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WOOLLENS TO MARGARETT WHERRY
OAXACA, MEXICO
AUGUST 16, 1865

Mrs. Margarett Wherry:
My Dear Sister - I write in answer to your letter which I received about 2
months back.  I would have done so sooner, but expected any day to receive a
letter from Howard Bye, but it does not come.  So I will not wait longer.  I
wrote to him just _____ months ago.  This will go to Acapulco by private
conveyance and will then intercept the Panama steamers.  So I trust you will
receive it without delay.  Oaxaca is dull now.  We are patiently waiting for
a change of government to see if it will not "brush up business".  The
MaxMillian imperialism is about coming in.  The latest news is theres a one
hundred thousand of Yankee soldiers on the Texas frontier atrying to keep up
a breese with this party for the purpose of raising a excuse for marching a
in and taking possession of the country.  I hope they do it soon for it
makes very bad for Americans here just now.  The authorities are down on the
tribe of us and will not allow neither letters or periodicos to enter from
the north if they can help it.  The best way is from Acapulco which port the
liberals still hold, although there is no mail from here.  But we continue
to keep up a communication by private conveyance.  There is a merchant here
from New Jersey having also a store in Acapulco and if you address letters
to his care I will be certain to get them.  I hope you are and all the
families are in good health and getting along as well as usual - for my part
I am very well and just now I cannot complain of business - but sometimes it
is very dull - my net receipts today about $16.  But the pictures are not
finished yet nor will they be today on account of writing you these lines
for Mr. L. Lawrence the above named merchant starts for Acapulco very early
tomorrow morning.  I enclose you a "cartier de Visibely" of a Oaxaca lady
just to give you an idea of what kind of _________ live here abouts.  But
that is only one of a type, they are here of every shade and grade and
plenty of them and what you may think strange they are quite affectionate,
tame & docile.  This one when I photographed her to her regret and perhaps
mine had her Mama very close at hand and probably she thought I was a very
long while a fixing her - and may be if you are anything of a Phisioligist
you can detect in her expression to say "Its no use Mother".  I think I see
you smile - the same old Joe.  I could send you better looking specimens.
But enough for the present - perhaps you exclaim - why didn't you send your
own likeness?  I am sorry to say I have not a single one on hand at this
moment.  But I promise I'll make one one of these days and send the very
next letter.  I cannot keep one about as sure as one of these girls come in
it sticks to her clothing when she leaves.  Yet I am also determined to
surprise you by coming home myself one of these days and that's better than
my picture perhaps.  I am getting very tired of continual war here and it
almost seems its just beginning like everything here it goes very slow.
They cannot pitch in and _____ up a war and be done with it like you in the
states.  What a blessing the civil war has ended.  But is there or not to be
a great reaction in business and finance.  I hope none of our relatives lost
their lives in the war.  It was enough to loose our poor old mother.  You
speak of missing her so much - and no wonder when you had her by your side
all your life and such a kind good mother she was - only to think of the
work she done in her lifetime and the raising too of such a large and
troublesome family - truly may it be said "well done those good and faithful
servant".  It was well for dear old Pop to go out and stay with Rebecca
during Ralphs absence in the war.  I hope Ralph returns safe.  Is Pop in
good health and spirits.  Please tender him my love with a wish that he may
live with you now much of his time in his lonely singleness of life.  I wish
you would get someone of the family when they are in Philadelphia to go to
the Photographer that did mother and Pops likenesses and see if he has got
the negative yet and see if he will sell or preserve it.  You need not send
dear Mothers likeness.  I am afraid it might get taken.  How is Uncle T.
Earp and Aunt? And everybody else I send my respects to Joseph and everyone
of the family.  Please write again.  I must write to Rebecca soon.
Your affectionate brother
Joseph