57-01-04 Old Town Greenup County Ky Jan 4, 1857 from William Deering to A & E Damrell Dear Brother and Sister I Take this oppertunity of in Forming you that we ar all well at this time and we hope thos line my find you injoying the same Blessing Mr. Silvester Montgomery one his lady et dinner with us yesterday and Informed us of your wharabouts. I am Still a living in old Greenup and expect to remaine hear. I have a Good farme hear worth five or Six thousand dollars and Clear about 5 hundred dollars anuely. We have two children maried Elizabeth and Henry and three with us yet Nancy, John, and Mary and two blcks. I pay tax on twelv thousand dollars. Sally s got to be verry fleashy and wighs one hundren and sevety. I am vry leane but have my health remarkebly well. Brother John is in Daviess County, Mo about 30 miles frm you. Gallatin is his postoffic. I wold like very much for you to go and see him. he was in verry bad health whin I heard from his last. Brother Anthony moved to Misouri and I heard was dead. Brother James is still a living in Oho. He bought Jesse Ballards farme and paid three thousand dollars for hit. Jesse Ballard is a living in Ashlad a new town in Greenup County, opposet Coldgrove. I suppos you heard that Ruhame was dead and Mayheu and Patsey and Ballard was marred. They lived verry disagreeable for a while. I think now they live agreeable and ar dong very well. I want to write when you receiv this letter and let us no how you are all a dooing. My postoffis is old Town Greenup County Ky. No more at presat but remain your affectioat brother until death. William J. Deering to Augustin Damrell and Elisabeth Damrell Old Town Ky Jan 4/57 Dear Relatives, Though I never have saw you and in all probability never will see you. Yet we can correspond and no matter how far asunder we may be placed; the Almighty has endowed us with the faculty of thinking, and his omnipotance has also imparted to us, the knowledge of an art, which enables us to place our thoughts on paper and have them conveyed to distant parts of the earth. Though we may never go beyond the horizon, of our own native valley. I should be happy to visit you, though I fear it will never be in my power to do so. I was 18 years old last July. weigh 121 pounds though I am very low in statue. I taught a three months school last fall. I got 15 dollars per month. I shall start to school tomorrow Though difficulties stare me in the face I have three miles to go, over a very rough road, we pay dearly for what education we get here. I expect to teach school next summer. I intend going to Louisville to spend the winter with cousin Richard Deering and go to school. He was up last May. He is a splendid preacher. Elizabeth is married lives near us she has three children. Henry is married a Miss Kendall of Morgan, where he lives he ownes a farm there and is mechandising. I think he has as fine a wife as there is in the County. Uncle James Deering has seven children, and the best children I nearly ever saw. His oldest daughter is married to a son of Steven Stalyes. I have nothing more to write. My writing is very indifferent. I hope you will excuse it. Tell some of my Cousins to answer this if they please. Mother sends her love to you all. Accept my love and Respects Yours most Respectfully, Nancy Deering daughter of William (see above)