This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: pssimms22 Surnames: Nichols, McElhiney, Hammitt, Hupp, Johnson, Reed Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.ohio.counties.muskingum/1067.1077.1083.1086.1089.1.2.1.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi Joseph, I never had an actual copy, but a copy typed from a xerox copy in the possession of Patsy Cramer. The following is a copy of a letter from Penny Simms given to her by Patsy Cramer. Source: copy of letter found in bureau drawer in the state of Oregon by descendants of Benjamin Hammitt of Tama Co Iowa (nephew of Thomas Nichols) from Thomas Nichols Rocky Fork Licking Co Ohio. November 1st 1863 Dear Benjamin, I received your letter dated Oct 18th 1863 and was truly glad to hear from you all onct more. I sent Martin a letter at the same time I rote to you but have got no answer from him yet. I found out your post office address and his through a letter I received from your Uncle Samuel Hammitt's Ruth. I have had no post office near me within a few years back. So that I had but little correspondance with any of my friends. Now Benjamin, I must give you a little short history of my sojourn for the last thirty years. In l833, I came to Licking county after shivering with the ague for the last three years before I became poor and discouraged. My constitution broke down. Since I have lived here we have had no ague. I now have a grist mill, and 300 acres of good land and on it 7 or 8 good springs as there is in Ohio. I grocery store, capital of 7 or 8 hundred dollars, a blacksmith and wagon shop, l0 houses (shops) and barns. We have had 9 children, 6 boys and 3 girls. Milton, the oldest boy has a farm of his own of l05 acres and lives within 2 miles. Ruth, the oldest girl married a man by the name of Davis; has 2 children a girl and a boy. She died about 7 years ago. Samuel H. Nichols, our second son learned the wagon trade. He married a girl by the name of Thompson. She died with consumption; left him with l child a boy 6 years old. Thomas Benton, our third boy at home, single yet. Hugh, our 4th boy married this fall and works in the wagon shop. Mounts, our 5th boy, at home, single yet. Sarah, our second daughter, married a man by the name of Hupp. They live in the house with us yet. Rhoda, our third girl, she married a man by the name of Randolph. She died with his first child and it too on the l6th of May last. George, our youngest child, now l7. I tend to my grocery store and keep a shoemaker at work for me. Now do not understand me as keeping a liquor shop for I have not used 5 gallons since I have kept a house. And as you inform me that you tended to rite since you came to know the need of it. I have served your neighbors as Justice of the Peace. They have the harness on me at this time and have had for years. My brother, John and his wife are both dead. And sister Rebecca Johnson and her man are both dead. Sister Elcy Read and her man are both dead. Sister Margaret Johnson was living in Michigan the last I heard of them. Brother Hugh Nichols and his wife are both dead. I got a letter from brother Amos since I last rote to you. Them and your Uncle Samuel Hammits children were well. I received a letter from your cozzin James McElhiney a short time back. They were well and lving at Uniontown, Muskingum County, yet. Your Uncle George Hammitt he said was well, but not able to go about much. His wife has been dead a number of years. He still lives on the old place that he entered in l806. James Whitaker and old aunt Nelly and old E---- are all gone to their glory home. Your Uncle Matthew McElhiney and Aunt Rhoda have gone and it will be said of you and me in a few years. They too are gathered to their Father. Benjamin, you made some inquiry about my politics. I am by faith and practice a Democrat. Our foregathers fought and suffered through a 7 years war to gain our independence as free and soverign state. This was all done under a few articles of Confederation the years over. Then they were all independent soverign states, independent of one another. Then these soverign states concluded to form a union more permanent and enduring and I believe they intended that union to be perpetual. Now in this union or constitution, each state guaranteed certain right to general government, and what was not guaranteed each state retained. This constitution sets the Supreme court over the legislation of Congress. Now all citizens of the soverign states stand upon an equality, no lord, no dictator; the Congress to legislate, the President to see the laws faithfully executed; President and all to obey the laws and all the soverign states bound to obey. There was two of my boys volunteered when Uncle Abe was going to put down the rebellion under the Constitution. They served out their time and came home and since the abolition proclamation they say them that wants to free the negroes may do the fighting if they wish to. Now Benjamin, I have great reason to be thankful for that kind providence that has presided over my waywardness to the present day. Trusting to the same to guide me through the remaining part of my days and the endless ages of eternity. We are all in our usual health at this time. My wife is badly crippled in her hands and feet with rheumatism. You have informed me that you have had a very dry summer and short crops which is very much the same with us. We have had no rain of any amount since harvest until Friday last the 30th of Oct. Hay in Zanesville and Newark is worth from $20 to $25 per ton, corn and wheat about the same as with you. You almost scared me when you tell me that you are 3 miles from your timber. I should be sure to freeze in the winter if I had wood to haul that distance. I suppose there is some game in your county yet. I want you to write me more long letters. You say nothing about the N---manns. What has become of them? You must excuse my scribblin as I have to write with a good many interruptions. I have never been back to Thornville but one since I moved. Solomam Witman and his wife are both dead. John Ritter lives in Newark and follows taning. What has become of the rest of the family I no not. Old Philip and the old lady are both dead. Yours as ever, Benjamin Hammitt Thomas Nichols Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.