LETTER OF WINCY ANN PRICE STARR Letter to her sister-in-law Marth Starr, 9 February 1860 Transcribed and submitted by Nora Tocus, (c) 2000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- :Elizabethtown, Anderson County, Kansas Territory, Feb. 9th, 1860, Miss Martha Starr, Dear Sister-in-law. After so long, I will attempt to answer your kind letter. But before you read mine, just turn this over and read James's and I know you will believe all I shall wright about him. I am seated in my rocking chair, by the stove, and writing on the atlas while the baby [Douglas Newton Starr b 1859) sleeps, and feel quite comfortable and well contented although it is not everyone that would be, if I do say it myself, but then this is Kansas.... As to our temporal affairs, this is a hard place to live for more reasons than one, too, but spiritual, or to live right and religious, we can live and enjoy ourselves, just as well. And sometimes I think better here than we could live in Montgomery [CO IL} and above all other things I think we should be glad and thankful that {missing word] can do so out here where churches---such churches as you have---and preachers are few and far between. People out here don't mind having their floors dirtyed up for the sake of having a meeting for it is all the chance now in this part of the Territory---but then, it will not be so long. They are building school houses here and there over this part and it will not be long until everything will be marked with a "go ahead." [This part is written in pencil.] See I have had to stop to get supper and Douglas waked up and James set the ink up and I am too lazy to get up to get it so I'll write with the lead-pencil. O Douglas is up again. But James will nurse. He is the best nurse and is so proud of his boy---you have no idea---if you could just see him [here she apparently got up and fetched the ink as she continues in ink] now sitting here rocking his baby and it with its night gown and cap on and his fist in his mouth looking at the candle and his pa playing with his feet and laughing at him...if it were not for Douglas I could not keep James here a month longer. But I am going to keep him here untill I am ready to leave and as I don't know exactly when that will be you may tell Father he need not come after me unless he wants to come and see the country. But to tell the truth I think it would be good for Father's health if he would get him a carriage and you and him take a trip out here and see the land and country...and see how we live on these LARGE prairies and eat "beef and pumpkins" instead of "hog and hominy." Well, Mattie, I began this letter at three o'clock this afternoon and now it is almost bedtime. I know you can't imagine I have been writing all the time. No indeed, I have nursed, got supper, baked light bread and read and a dozen and one other "one thing and another" in the time but I don't expEct to be any the worse off tomorrow. I don't have much to do. I am going to iron tomorrow and in the evening the mail will come if it is good weather...I don't know how I am going to meeting next Sunday where we have meeting every four weeks or rather we have it every two weeks and every other time it is in the school room. The Baptists have meeting here too and we have been trying to have a sabbath school. But I guess we will fail. There is not much energy about the people that are here now. But then, they ...will sell out and go farther back and give place to more energetic people that are, I might almost say, daily coming in here from all parts. And I wish them all well, good luck and lots of it for they need it...I go visiting every warm day that i can. I am bound to see as much of Kansas people as I can before I leave it...Give my respect to all the folks. Yours sincerely, W. Ann Starr, Good night. [Marginal note] Thursday evening mail brought us 6 papers, 2 pilots, 2 Democrats, 1 Advocate, 1 Herald, no letters. I send Father the Wyandotte Constitution...."