Hope Dale, Ill.
Dear daughter and son, I will try to answer
your letter which came to hand a few days ago. Milly, I have lost my best
friend. Grandpop is dead and I am left here alone. I don't expect to see
anymore pleasure while I live. I would like to see you and Peter once more but
am afraid I will never get to see you anymore in this world, but I hope to meet
you in Heaven. Milly, poor old Grandpop suffered so hard. He talked about you
from the time he got that letter till he died, he wanted to see you. He was 82
years, 10 mo., 12 days. The doctor's say he died with consumption but I think
it was the old diseases in his stomach. He complained of that as long as he lived, but I have one (continued on
page 2) consolation, that is to meet him in Heaven. He was baptised before he
died. I am living still in the same house, it don't appear like home to me
anymore. Mary is living here with me but she is going back to Virginia
now soon. Milly, I believe all the rest of the folks
is well. As common, it has been very sickly here this winter. Milly, can't you
and Peter move back here, I would like for you to come back here and live. I
believe the Freeman people is all well, I believe. I will close. Milly, please
write soon. Your granmother till death
Letter on bottom of second page:
Dear cousins, I will say
to you that I would like to see you and Peter but don't reckon I will soon. I
hope you have got a good home and hope you are both satisfied. Mill, I hear
from Charley often, they are all well. So I will close. Hope you can give poor
old Granpop up and not grieve. Your cousin till death,
David N. Sheets
