75-10-03 Flora Clay Co Ill Oct 3, 1875  to Mrs. E. Damrell from Jess & Martha 
Ballard

Dear Sister.  we Received your Letter of the 15 of Sept, was glad to hear from 
you.  hope you will Excuse us for not writing sooner. we have had so many 
Letters to write Since we came Back from Ohio. we have had Reasonable health 
the past Season for which we desire to feel thankful, we are Living as 
Comfortable as Could Be Expected for Old people to Live & have But Little to 
Look after of this world's affairs.  we are Living what we have mad here to 
fore & not doing our Business more than tending  a garden.  we Raised a 
variety of garden stuff the past Season & Sold Considerable.
One of Hannah Bars Daugher Lives with us.  She is a widow has a Small Child & 
no home Else whare & is a fine woman for work. My girl is Living in this 
Section.  Mary Jane about 8 miles East.  She has 5 Children Living & 4 Dead.  
Martha Lives 5 miles North has 3 Children & Doing well.  we Expect them here 
today to See us, thare is Considerable Sickness in this Countery But as yet 
not vary fatal.  mostly Chills, Crops are Light here on the account of so much 
wet in the Spring But thare is plenty for the people to Live on.  Our District 
fair has Just Closed.  thare was a fine display of the products of the Soil & 
fine Display of all kinds of Stock.
Patsy got 2 premiums.  one on a pair of Mittens & one on the Best Specimen of 
Sewing By a lady over 68 years, if you was to See Patsy now you would Be 
Surprised I think.  She would weigh about 160 pound.  I am about my usual 
Size.  I had intended to Come out west this fall But I think it doubtful now. 
 my affliction has Been a Chronic diere Caused By disease of the Liver & I 
have Spells of it occasionally & on that account I have to Decline Coming.  it 
would Be our pleasure to See you & yours again in this life But if we should 
not Meet in this world I hope we will meet in the fair Climes of Eternal 
glory.  Give our best Respects to all   Jesse Ballard
                       
Dear Sister it is with plesure I seat my self to write a few lines. we have 
reseivd two letters from you Since we wrot for which I feel ashamed but if you 
will excus me I will do better in the future you spck of brother James Deering 
not riting.  when I went up he told me he had a letter from you but could not 
find it and I did not see it.  he has not wrot to me since we cam to this 
county.  his daughter Frances Staley come when we did and never writs to hir. 
now sister you have my simphey I no what it is to be afflicted  I hop god will 
remov it and you ma hav helth yet.  I hav been several times down with the 
rhumitism but I am well know. thanks be to God for his blessing.  Martha 
Ballard, your affectionat sister.  we send you our Picture.