75-03-16  Flora Clay Co Illinois  March 16, 1875 Jesse & Martha Ballard
Mrs.E. Damrell

Dear friend  I am seated to drop you a few lines to Let you know that we are 
yet in the Land of the Living & in reasonable health.  I hope these Lines may 
find you Enjoying the same Blessing.   we Received your kind Letter Sometime 
since.  was glad to hear from you.  We arrived home the third day of February 
from Ohio.  Left our Relations generally well.  We have had a verry Cold 
winter here & But little prospects of fruit here.  Last Night was verry Cold 
froze hard & verry Cold wind today, prospect for wheat Crop is not verry good 
here on account of the hard friezing.  My health is much Better then it has 
been for several years, & Patsys health is as good as Could Be Expected for a 
person of her age.  We are Living in Clay Co., Illinois.  Ninety five Miles 
East of St. Louis, at the Crossing of the Ohio & Missipi & South Eastern Raid 
roads in the Town of Flora in the above named Co.  My two daughters is living 
near us & the two Boy is Ohio.  this is a pleasant Country to Live in & we 
expect to spend the Balance of our days here.  Let them be many or few 
according to the Cours of nature we cannot Espect to Stay in this world much 
Longer, but if we are prepare to go in peace it is But Little difference when 
we Leave.  We would Be glad to see you & all of your Children if it could Be 
so.  I have been intending to visit your State for Some years But was 
prevented By sickness But I still think that if my health is good I will visit 
some parts of MO some next fall if no preventing providence.  We would like to 
know where John Deering & his family Lives, if Living, Let us know how many of 
your Children is living in your next  your Ben Dames as one Daughter Living 
near is she maried Daniel Staly of  Virginia.  Well Betsy we would like to see 
you & have a Long Chat as we used to it would Be a great pleasure to us Both. 
 We Should Be thankful that we Can talk to Each other by writing as often as 
you write we will write as patsy is going to write some I will Close.  May the 
Lord Bles you in your old age.  Jesse Ballard


Dear Sister I thought I would try to writ a few lines I cannot discribe the 
pleasure it giv me to hear from you.  all tho sorrow to hear you was afflicted 
I hav the rhumitism in my arm and shelder  it maks me so nurvis I don't no 
that you can read my writing.  You wanted to no about my children.  I had 
three to die in infincy.  I raised seven to men and women gran and all marred 
but one ther father died with comsumption.  he died on friday and Elizabeth on 
next thursday, james next, martha nxt Betheney Ann nex, john next Susan next 
elisha was the last all with consumtion my for girls had two children a peace 
elizabets is all ded one of susan one of betheney two of johns two of martha 
is living giv my lov to your children and except a large shar for yourself  
Martha Ballad  (Is Martha Patsy??)