51-07-04 Letter addressed to Mr. Augustin Damrell, Putnamvill Putnam County Mo 
from Elisha Damrell  lower left hand corner:  Mexico Mo July 5 Mexico July the 
4th 1851  

Dr Farther & Mother I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines with sorrow 
to let you know the death of my dearest friend I am left and seven Children to 
mourn her loss.  She departed this 25 June.  She was taken sick on wednesday 
and Died the next wednesday night I went after the Doctor on Sunday morning he 
gave her a puke. it didnt operate on her.  then gave her calomel.  it turned 
Dawn it worked ten or twelve times, it weakened her down and the operations 
was not the right couler and the medison never had the desired effect  She was 
ken with a pain in her head and side and saturday she had a chill then took 
the fever      Doctor said it was the billous pleurisy  But my opinion is that 
the case was rongly managed though I done all I could and followed the 
Directions of the Doctor.  I wanted to go after another Doctor.  She would not 
agree fir me to go until it was too late.  She said if her time had come all 
the Doctors in the world could not Save her.  the night before She died She 
hurried the children of to bed so they could get sleep enough that night.  She 
died between a 11 and 12 oclock.  we was by our selves.  I sent Benjamin round 
to 3 or 4 of the nearest neighbours.  then at day light I sent to let all the 
connexion know.  they all came and she was buried that evening.  I am keeping 
house with the children.  I have plenty to live on and and I dont want to 
scatter them.  I want to keep them all together.   Sister Margaret took the 
Baby.  it was five months old the 27th June.  She will keep it as long as I 
want her.  any of my Sisters was willing to take it.  he is a fine prity 
little boy.  we called him John Wesley.   he makes me think of Little Preston 
that died.   my tong cant express the trouble that I have had to experience 
But I think I have it to bear So I will do the best I can.  I want to keep my 
Children all together and rais them If God Spares me So to do.  I have smart 
little girles of their age can cook & wash can sew and knit.  But Children 
cant manage.  I want you and Mother to move down hear and live with me I have 
a good larg crop am Doing Better then I ever have bin doing in my life and 
have bin in better spirits but truble has came upon me.  I some times pray to 
God for mercy but it appears I cant get no relief, my Dear companion I have 
every reason to believe has gone home to rest.  She was a praying woman and 
prayed for her friends and family.  So it was her time had come and we had to 
part with her, all ages both young and old, all must die.  we know not the day 
nor the hour when the time will come when we all will die,  I Received your 
letter to day of the 11th May which gave us grate saisfaction to heare from 
you.  I fully calculated to come up to see you this fall but it seems that I 
can not leave home.  I have a house to build this fall and have the Brick work 
paid for and right Smart.  other work I fensed this spring between 50 and 60 
Acres of Land and broke between 25 and 30.  I put in sod corn I have about 10 
acres in my old ground I sowed 20 bu oats.  I have 5 1/2 bu of wheat sowed 
last fall  I have cut it and shocked it up.  its tolerably good.  my oats is 
first rate.  my corn looks well. I want you to let me know  soon as possible 
if you will move down.   my house Shall be your home as long as you live and I 
live I will use all the means I can to render you all cumfertable.   you writ 
all the perticulars.   give my best respects the conexion and to my new 
Brother in law the friends and connexion.  all well as fare as I know.   Peter 
J(P)ones is moved out hear and bought the old man, Eubanks, river land.  when 
I write agen I will write more.  I am now in Mixico and am in a hurry  (?)  So 
no more at present.  Yours in hast Farther & Mother  E. R. Damrell  to 
Augustin Damrell & Elizabeth Damrell