Hi all- My main line in Mercer County is my SWEESY line from Springfield Twp. My g-g-grandmother Nancy HUMPHRIES SWEESY was a "saver" (Bless her!). She is directly responsible for my interest in genealogy - when I was in 8th grade, I did a Civil War project using the letters her husband (George Washington SWEESY) had written to her during the war, which had been passed down to my grandmother. After my grandmother's death, I found a manila envelope marked "Old Letters". It was full of letters that g-g-grandmother Nancy had received from various relatives. The following is dated December 27, 1861, and written to Nancy from her aunt, Sarah E. GLENN, who lived in Mercer County. Nancy at the time was living in Iowa and her husband was away in the Civil War. I will not fix the spelling - but I added periods and capitals at the beginning of sentences for easier reading! Enjoy! Karen Dear Niece It is a long time cince I wrote A letter and never in my life did I attempt to write one to you. the last letter I got from the west was from Martha <Nancy's sister> and I never got it ansered Till I supposed she was gon to york state and I doo not know whare to direct one to. we had the pleasure of reading a letter from you to your uncle K Blacks, I was glad to hear from the west once more. I thought the friends had all forgot to write as well as my self. I was sorry to hear of your lonely condition and the loss of your little brother <Nancy's youngest brother had died in October at age 6>. We must all try and submit to what ever the will of the lord is. That same sore throat is verry bad in some neighbour hoods in this cuntry, it has not bee in our neighbour hood yet. It has carried of A greate menny children and some young men and wemon. Your uncle Knoxes has had a good dale of affliction this winter William took the tyfoid fever about the twentieth of October and he lay for seven or eight weeks he was verry low. He can now step through the room a little. Franny (?) took the fever before William could set up any. she is no better yet. We have all enjoyed reasonable good health this winter excepting a turn of the rheumatism that your Uncle James had in his nee. It is not quite well yet. John is going to school, Aunt Betsy GLENN and Hannah Rebecca GLENN that is William GLENN's youngest daughter is with us this winter. There was a greate meny of out neighbours gon to wor and some come back corps and some sick. Henry BOGARDUS was brought back about thre weeks ago and was buried at Center. He was married to Ann Mariah BLACK one year agoo last spring so she is left a widow. Nancy you must not think that you have all the trouble in the world it is here as well as there and all over the united states. We cannot tell what the result will bee but if ingland sets in with the south it will make sad work but if it keeps quiet I think the north will lick the south all hollow and I wish they would. Henry VAN HORN and Peggy Jane and their too little boys is well. They call them James Milton and William Lester. I want you to tell Mary Margaret to write to me and I will try and ancer it. John wrote her after she wrote to me I doo not know the name of her post office. I wish when you write you would tell me all about your uncle William KERR's family where they all are and how they are getting along. We get no letters from any of them. They have either got too proud or too careless to write. Ann Eliza never thought worthwhile to write me a line to let me know how she got home. I must soon come to close. Tell your Father that James sendes his best respects to him and his lady and that I heartly wish them boath A greate deal of happiness. Tell them to come out and see us and you and your too little children come with them. Give my respects to Mary M and her husband and to all your dear Brothers and sisters. Remember me and I will tray and remember you. Sarah E. GLENN to Nancy SWESY