Richmond Mills Oct 31^st/62

 

Brother Charley.

                                    I write nearer to Caroline's last letter than I I should, because of Father's death which occurred yesterday (thursday) a little after 2 o'Clock P.M.

 

We have written to you that he was gradually failing, so the news will not be so unexpected and severe as it they otherwise would be

 

He suffered at times severely. For may days, perhaps three weeks before he died, he did not taste of food, only a little beef tea which he could not bear & a little coffee. He had as good care as could be, Wheeler, Philip, John, John A. and Peter being (one or two of them) / here all the time for a number of days before he died.

 

            We had no doct. but Paul. It was thought by some that we ought to have employed some other physician and Perez Pitts spoke to me quite urgently in favor of Dr Campbell but Father did not want him, not having confidence in him. He told Mother a day or two before he died he had not expected to get well for four weeks. The funeral will be to-morrow at 11 o'Clock at the house, 12 o'clock at the Center. Uncle Willis came down this morning, but did not learn of Father's death untill he arrived at Guy's. Tom has gone to Mendon and Lima to inform some friends

 

I sent a dispatch by Peter to the Station to be telegraphed / to Dansville last night.

 

Wheeler and Philia have gone to the city to see about a coffin and shroud

 

A few days ago Father made his will, giving Willie a specified sum when he shall be 21, if he live, that the farm may not be sold.

 

It will be opened in a few days, or at a proper time

 

He told Mother that he was owing $250 or $300 to the Phipps Estate, money he probably expended in building the barn.

 

We have had a snow storm six inches deep which lay on three days, and considerable rain too. John has been sick since a week ago last Monday He is trying to work a little to day. I have been quite unwell and deaf but am / now pretty well. Yesterday the Commissioner and Surgeon to superintend the draft were at the Flatts. One hundred and ten from Canadice and seventy from Richmond were examined, perhaps a little more than ¼ will be struck from the roll. The draft takes place on the 10^th inst. There is danger that this state will be lost to the Administration, so many volunteers from our ranks have entered the army. About 70 have gone from this town, and only 3 or 4 of the number are democrats, so Dr Paul says. The other day a body of Iowa soldiers in Missouri voted. About 450 were Repub and only 14 democrats

           

Be careful of whom you choose for familiar friends

                       

Be independent.

S P Reed

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