Armonk N.Y.

Jany 26^th 1886.

 

Capt. Natt. S. Wheeler.

            Dear Capt.

                                    I think I owe you a letter but I am not particular as to whether I do or not. I am going to write to you for it is time a letter passed between us one way or the other.

 

            I suppose you are having winter weather about the same as we have only a little more so. The thermometer has been down to within six of zero, about as cold as it ever gets here. In the region of country about here we seldom have snow enough for sleighing. There is generally more snow in the / vicinity of Philadelphia, one hundred miles south of here, than there is here. We are so near the coast that our snow all turns to rain. I always try to haul my wood on a sled, taking advantage of any light fall of snow but have not had a chance to haul a single load so far this winter. I have had better health this winter than for many years previous. My doctors bill has generally averaged about $40.⁰⁰ a year and since the first of last April I have not had a single professional visit from that individual except twice last October when I had a bad eye caused by accidentally running a twig into it. I take good care of myself and / when the weather is unpleasant just stay in doors.

 

            My pension claim has struck a snag, one that I feared and yet hardly expected. After I got my papers all completed and ready to send I had a friend of mine, Judge of the Probate Court in Greenwich, Ct. look them over and he said that to him they seemed complete. My physician also told me that he gave me as complete & full an affidavit as he had ever made out. In October I went before an Examining Board in N.Y. city composed of Democrats who examined me far more particularly as to where I lived and who my acquaintances were, than they did as to my physical condition. I suspected then that trouble / was in store for me, and so it proved. The report of the Board was adverse to my claim and now I am required to submit myself to the examination of two physicians, at my own expense, who must not be any who have treated me, and must be experts in examination of this kind. I have a friend in N.Y. who is an Insurance Examiner and I shall apply to him as one, and to anyone whom he may recommend as another. I dont think there is much show for me as I am too well known in Westchester Co. as a Republican and a pretty offensive partisan but I am going to muster / all my forces and perhaps pension commissioner Black may not get confirmed by the Senate and someone may get in who will not be so anxious to apply "partisan tests not openly but surely." Still I think that a "Nigger Officer" will have to bring proof of being considerable of a "Physical wreck" before he can squeeze a pension out of a department, the chief officer of which is that rebel Lamar.

 

            My family are all well; the children go to school and come home hungry and sleep soundly and I dont know as one can ask more. I have few cares and plenty of society such / as I enjoy and plenty of reading matter and music. I ought to be thankful and I am. I am reading the first volume of Genl. Grants Personal Memoirs and I am more convinced of his worth as a man and ability as a General than ever before. The articles written by him on his campaigns, in the "Century" are far more easy of comprehension that those of any other General Officer who has written for that magazine,—at least they are to me.

 

            I wish you could come and make me a visit, and I hope you will at some time. I may be able to make a trip to Enfield one of these days or years if I live long enough. Time / and health and money if they all hold out will I hope bring it about.

 

            My regards to Mrs. Wheeler and your family, in which also my wife joins me.

 

  Your Sincere Friend

O.M.Knapp.

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