LETTERS OF JOHN D. MOLER, Letter to his sister Hannah (Moler) Anderson, dated 10 Dec 1864 Transcribed and submitted by Marysue Eulitz, (c) 1999 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- KSGENWEB INTERNET GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY COPYRIGHT NOTICE: In keeping with the KSGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Cresco, Kansas, Dec. 10, 1864 Sister Hannah: Comfortably seated around the stove and nothing to read I dont know how I can spend the evening more profitably than to write you a short letter. The children are singing and their mother is kniting. Abby is trying to sing a negro song "There came a man a riding by, says I, old man your horse will die," but he dont know the words and makes some comical mistakes. The girls are singing "Where tell us where was your Buckeye cabin made? Oh it was made amongst the merry boys that wield the plow and spade where ti log cabin stands in the _____ buckeye shade." It reminds me of scenes long since gone by in our own home on the banks of the Sciota. The winter that Sister Eliza died I recollect that Cornelia, Henry, yourself and Eliza would set around the big fire in the middle room and sing for our father and mother. It brings tears to my eyes when I reflect on the pleasant times. I believe it has been about eighteen years since things have changed with us since then. But enough of this. I see by the newspapers that the people of your State have abolished slavery by a constitutional Amendment. I suppose the world goes too fast for me, or perhaps it is the Republican party. I canot keep up with it. If I belong to any party it must the Democratic party. I know I dont endorse old Abe Lincoln in a great many of his measures. I dont believe Lincoln ever will conquor the South. I have always looked on the war as a more serious undertaking than most of people in the north. Some think me a rebel, but they are mistaken. I want to see the Union restored but I almost despair of it sometimes. I am not for confiscation, neither am I for annihilation. I look on such things as foolish and riduculous and entirely impractible, the above are some of my opinions, unpopular as they are in this country. I do not intend to take up arms in this unless it is to defend our own fireside. Next spring I suppose there will be considerable to this country especially of our own conexion. I dont know what business Dan and Grif intend to follow. But there is one thing certain they will no doubt do well after going through some privations and hardships. Efaws will get them a good home here which they could not do there. We are going to build a dwelling house next summer costing several thousand dollars. Mary has bought a very nice little house in Baldwin City, for to live in winter so that the children can attend Coledge. Baldwin City is about fifteen miles south of Lawrence. Baker University a Methodist institution of learning is in Baldwin City, and the University is a very popular Coledge and will be fully equal to Deleware Coledge in Ohio. The girls will go there next summer, it is about forty miles from here, Henry and family are well and Henry appears to be geting along in business very well. I see them about once in two weeks. I find by letters I receive from some Bigruners that there is a prospect of quite a number of them moving out here. I dont want all of them to come, nor to bring all their old customs with them. Indians are not nearly so common as they were a few years since. It is quite loansome here sometimes and would be more so if we were not so busy. I herd the cattle and John the 2nd herds the sheep and Albert takes care of the cats and dogs. We have your photograph, received it in a letter. The neighbors like the looks of it quite well. When we have an opportunity to have some taken of our young hopefuls we will send you copies. It is quite late and I am sleepy. We would be glad to have Mr. Thomas Anderson and family move to the Great West as there is room for a few more. Believe me as ever, J. Moler.