66-06-11 Daviess County  Missouri June the 11 1866   Dear brother & Sister  
(Augustus Damrell & Elizabeth Damrell) from John/Ameila Deering               
             
I improve this oppertunity to address a few lines to you to inform you that we 
are all in common health at this time. tho I have had very poor health for 
about 26 years and I have failed verry fast in the last 12 months and my eye 
sight is so bad that I can ardlysee to write a letter.  I hae to write a few 
lines and stop and rest my eyes so I always dread to commence a letter and I 
put it off from time to time and I have so many to write to that this must be 
my excuse for not writing to you oftener there is some of my children that I 
have not wrote to since I wrote to you last so you must not think hard of me 
for not writing oftener.  I received your kind and welcome letter of the 30th 
of last mont which gave us much satisfaction to hear that you was alive and 
well but sorry to hear of Elishas misfortunes and great trials.  I know how to 
sympathis for him for I know something about trouble myself.  We recived a 
letter from you dated April the 1st 186(?)4 and mailed at Milan April 28th the 
one you spoke of sending to Milan by a girl I supose.
I have had a hard row to hoe since the war commenced.  my youngest son, the 
only one I had with me, Volunteered for 3 years in the Federal Service and 
never got home til last July but I am thankful he got home safe and sound 
after almost 3 years privations and dangers.  You wanted me to write where my 
children all is.  Well, I will tel you as well as I can.  My eldest daughter 
Mary Ann has been living in Reynolds County in southeast Missouri about 6 
years & I got a litter from them last winter that stated they was a going 
leave thare but did not know whare they would go and I have heard from them 
since.  William my oldest son went to Oregon 2 years ago last spring.
James  Sarah Ann was in Indiana the last I heard from them a year or so ago.  
Amanda Everline is in Platt County Mo.  Henry  & John is living in 8 miles of 
me.  Martha Ellen was married last September a year ago and is a living in 2 
1/2 miles of me.  My youngest son & youngest daughter is at home with us.  I 
came to Missouri to keep my children from scatering about and it has all done 
no good.  My dear brother & Sister I would be so glad to see you & your 
children once more in this life & talk over our trials & troubes in this life. 
 I have thought eversince I heard you was in Sullivan I would go and see you 
but kept puting it off to get a better chanc til I have got so worne down with 
disease and old age that I am not able to go I want you to try and come to see 
me if you posibly can and if you cannot come I want you to prevail on Elisha 
to come.  We are almost drowned out here at this time with wet weather.  I 
have not wrote the half that I want to write but my eyes is so weak that I 
cannot write any more at this time.  Write every oppertunity and tell Elisha 
to write.  I hope these few lines may reach you and find you all=nothing more 
but remains your affectionate brother & sister until death.  from John Deering 
and Amelia Deering