Hall Letters #2 Letter from Mandana (Swift) Hall (wife of Ira Hall), Stowell's Corners, Jefferson County, NY, to her daughter-in-law, Helen (Beatty) Hall, Audrain County, Missouri, August 8th, 1867. This letter was written a few months after Ira Hall Jr. and Helen were married (January, 1867). Ira Jr. had moved out to Missouri after the Civil War, about 1865-66. Helen had not met her in-laws, but it seems that she had written them a letter in greeting. Helen was pregnant at that time and gave birth to their first child, Claron, in November, 1867. Stowels Corners Aug 8th /67 My Dear Daughter, Pardon my delay in answering your very welcome letter. I was from home on a visit to my son's [Edwin Hall] in the southwestern part of this State when it came, and we have had a friend visiting us from Wisconsin since my return who left us yesterday, about 5 o'clock P.M. I have likewise been very busy, and there has been sickness and death in the neighborhood. I attended two funerals last week. One was Mr. Hall's cousin Harry Ives the other a Mrs. Pierson. Our folks are in usual health. The weather here is extremely warm and dry. We need rain very much. I suppose you have very uncomfortable weather in Missouri at this season of the year. I had a very pleasant visit with my son [Edwin] and his wife [Sarah Trowbridge]. The country there looked splendid with its beautiful residences, large orchards, and fields of wheat ready for the harvest. I was there about two weeks. I suppose Edwin and his wife are now on their way to Kentucky. I received a letter from him last Saturday saying that he intended to start last Monday or Tuesday. I would have kept on my way west-ward gladly (if I could well have done so) until I looked upon a Dear face that I have not seen for nearly two years as well as upon one that I have never seen. --And still farther on to the lone grave of my Dear Hiram [her son Hiram Hall] who so recently left us so full of life, and hope, only to find a grave among strangers far far from all that loved him best. The past winter has been the saddest of my life. Those dark days of sorrow are still casting their shadows across life's pathway. May God grant that I may never drain so bitter a cup again. But God is good. He has not left me comfortless. That my Dear Hiram was a Christian is my only consolation. I did not fear for him. I thought he would do well in Missouri. My fears were all for my Dear Ira whose health was so poor. I thank God who has thus far preserved a life so dear. Tell Ira that [Burleigh?] Salisbury's wife died on the 1st inst of consumption. I am very glad that you took to trouble of writing to me. It was more than I could expect - me being strangers. Your kind affectionate letter took the Citadel of our hearts at once. I am glad that my Dear Ira has won so loving a heart. May nothing ever come to mar your happiness. I was surprised to learn that Ira was married the 1st of January, but still I am glad for he needed a friend at hand as well as those afar off. I regret that you and Ira could not have visited us the past spring or summer, but trust the time is not far distant when we will have the pleasure of seeing you here. I think it is very doubtful about our visiting you this fall, we are expecting my brother and his wife from New Hampshire, and Mr. Hall's brother and his wife to visit this fall. I am glad you sent me a plan of your house. I was much pleased with it. Please write often and tell me all the little incidents which are so interesting and which Ira would not think of writing. Don't forget to send the photograph. We will make all the allowance for it that Ira can ask. I send him some papers with this. Tell him I cannot excuse him from writing because he has found so good a Substitute. He must write too. Love from all to you and Ira. Affectionately Yours, Mother, Mandana Hall ------ Posted by Kelly Hokkanen. More about the Halls at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~khokkanen/hall/