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Author: MadelineBechtold
Surnames: Kelley, McFarland, Dye, Pierce, Shriner
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
Ephraim Kelley Letter from the
Hench Papers pertaining to the Civil War, 1861-1865, Accession #8474-u, Special
Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
[Stationary head has a figure holding a US flag, and text that says: "UNION! The
star spngled Banner in triumph shall wave, O're the land of the Free and the home of
the Brave."]
TRANSCRIPT OF LETTER:
Lafayette Ind 1862
March the 3d
My dear friend
I received your
Letter A few days
Ago and was glad to hear from
you and that you was well
I am well at this time I hope
Those few lines will find you the
Same well Hen I supose you have A
Hard time when you have to stand
Guard, but I hope you will git
Through safe and all the rest of the
Boys. I would like to see you all back
In Lafayette once more I know
you would make it shake and
Tremble for A few days and nights
us boys has A fine time here
Now, work is plenty and skin is
Cheap, and A dollar or two will
Bye [sic.] A heap so turn over on
the other side side before you read more
John McFarland was berryed
At the white church last saturday
He was in the tenth Reg and died
At the Hospital in Louisville
Ky. I heard that John Dye
Was sick but I do not know
Where he is at
I heard that Jim had got A
Discharge and George Pierce
Also but I supose it is not so
I am now at John Shriners now
Working but do not know ho long
I will stay here
I have not sen Maxwells Boys
since I wrote to you
Wages is good here know [sic.] and hands
is scarce there is but few hands
In the country
I have not seen westley for some
time but I heard he was well
And doing well enough
Well Henry I must close for
This time you must soon as
you get this and let me
Know all you know
so No More at this time
But Remain very
Respectfuly your Friend
Ephraim Kelley
to H W [not sure of 2nd initial]
------------------------------------------------
My notes on people mentioned in the letter:
John McFarland, enlisted from Tippecanoe County 18 Sept. 1861 in Co. E, 10th Indiana
Infantry Regiment. He died 25 Feb. 1862 at Louisville, KY. He is buried in Sandridge
Cemetery; his headstone has the inscription "Here lies a soldier of the gallant 10th
Co. E Capt Carroll"
John Dye, enlisted on the same date, in the same company. He died of disease 22 Feb.
1862.
He is in the Wabash Twp. census records of 1850 and 1860, evidently the son of Archibald
and Margaret Dye. Several from this family are buried in Sandridge Cemetery, Wabash Twp.,
where 2 of Ephraim's children are also buried. In a newspaper article, published by
the Lafayette Courier and Journal on May 24, 1922, Ephraim noted that he worked on the Dye
family farm as a boy. He stated that it was on South River Road. In 1860 census,
Ephraim's brother, George Kelley, is right next to the Dye family, including John E.
Dye, age 17, and his widowed mother, Margaret Dye, age 64.
John Shriner is also buried at Sandridge Cemetery. He died in 1905, at age 91. See 1950
census.
There is a George Pierce is buried in Hebron Cemetery, Wabash Twp. b. 1822, d. 1883
I'm not sure who the recipent of the letter was. Only his first name was given:
Henry. Ephraim Kelley's step-father is named Henry Townshend, but I have not found
any record of him enlisting. Besides, it seems unlikely that Ephraim would address him as
his "dear friend."
I am descended from Ephraim's brother, George Kelley of Battle Ground, IN.
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