Blakesburg June 11^th 1860

 

Dear Father,

                                                I take a leisure moment to drop a few lines again, presuming as you say, that you will willingly read the contents be it ever so dry.           About a week ago we experienced a most severe storm of rain, winds, and hail, the worst I ever saw by a long ways – the hail were enormously large, I always have been incredulous when reading of hail stones the size of hens eggs, but shall be no more, for they fell here as large as my fish.  Window glass were broken in a twinkling and even some old roofs were permeated, I see houses where the shingles are shattered and the siding also all hard wood hens, geese, turkeys, and even shouts to the size of 100 lbs were struck dead, and one horse I knew of has since died from injuries received his eyes were both knocked out. there was however but a narrow scope of country where it was as destructive as I have described.  I forgot to state the rye, wheat, oats and all tender vegetation was severly injured and in some places entirely destroyed.     It rained yesterday, and last night and everything is growing nicely now.       The Congressional Convention for this district will be held in Oskaloosa so trust I shall go if I can get away – the last time I saw Dr. Ransom in Burlington he told me that Horace King lived in Oskaloosa.  I remember nothing more than the name but if I can come across him without difficulty shall scrap acquaintance.   Curtis our present Representative will probably be re-nominated – we have many smarter men and those who are more popular but just at this time in consequence of Mr. Curtis’ connection with the Pacific R.R. which he has taken a great interest in, and which so deeply concerns us, it would not be good policy to lay him aside. – I don’t know how you feel about the Republican Nomination at Chicago I notice that there is a great deal of disapointment exhibited by many Eastern people in consequence of the defeat of Gen. Seward. there are very few Republicans but that would rather Seward would be President than any other man – but the chances for electing him were very uncertain.  It is generally conceded that he would get more votes than Lincoln. but although Lincoln might lose in NE New York & Mich. he would get many more votes in the uncertain states of Penn, Ind, & Ills.  Lincoln might carry New York by 10 000 less majority than Seward and the New England states in the same ratio – yet if he can carry the doubtful by a bare majority he is a more available man than Seward who might get more popular votes yet be defeated in the doubtful states. that is the way the west looks at  it. – I notice a paragraph going the rounds of the Democratic papers to the effect that a white woman had run off with a Nigger in Madison – no names were given and I cannot imagine who it was – it was said to be the results of Republicanism – how was it?

 

                                                How are you all getting along at home.  Mother are you well?  I must have some of your cheese this Fall.  You would laugh to see the stuff that is called cheese the Hoosiers make here.  How are Julius and Lua – Julius you must be a good boy work what you can and grow stout – Write me a letter and tell me how old you are – do you think you would like to keep store? go to school a few years and work on the Farm and, if father is willing you come and stay with me a while

 

                                                Lua you must help mother all you can and be good girl.. how is Welford and Maria have not heard from them for a long time.

 

                                                Heard from Lawrence a few days ago they are all well

                                                We are all well

Ellen sends her tender regard

                                                            Yours as Ever

                                                                        A. H. Griswold

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