Name/Title
Letter, 1862Entry/Object ID
2016.19.126Tags
1860s, Military, Civil WarDescription
Letter to Sylvester Stevens, care of Horace Stevens, by G. Gilliland.
Dated Barnesville, Belmont County, Ohio, June 29th, 1862
*Transcribe to check for Civil War referenceTranscription
Barnesville Belmont County Ohio
Wednesday June 29th 1862
My dear Sylvester
I intended to have written to you
before this time but I have been so busily en-
gaged since I left your house that I could not
find time to write to any person. Aurelia & I have
enjoyed very good health since our arrival
here with the Exception of a severe headache
with which Aurelia was troubled a day or
two ago but she is entirely well now and I
am entirely relieved from the cough with
which I was troubled when at your house.
I suppose you are going to school if
so I have no doubt you are doing all you can
to learn. This is right–every little boy should
look forward to the time when he will grow to
manhood when he will be called to fill some
important station in life and endeavor to
make himself able to fill that station with
honor to himself and his friends. By paying
strict attention to the instructions of your parents and
those entrusted with your Education you will in
the course of a few years be enabled to discharge
with credit the duties that may devolve upon
you and fully realize the expectations of your
friends. But I have no doubt you do all in
your power to meet the wishes of your friends in
the way of learning. I judge from the
good disposition you manifested and the fine
manly appearance you made while I was at your
house. Indeed I was much pleased with you
and I think myself quite fortunate to have
formed an acquaintance with one who promises to be
such a usefull man as I have no doubt you
will try to be. I know you can make a "fine man"
of yourself if you will only try to learn and be very
kind to your parents & sisters and to every other
person with whom you play or associate.
Aurelia often speaks of you and says she
likes her little Brother Sylvester very much.
She often speaks of Francis & Julia also.
Aurelia & I wish to be remembered to your
parents and all your sisters.
Tell your "Ma" that Aurelia and I are
very anxious for her and your "Pa" to pay us a
visit next fall if health and circumstances
will admit of a journey to the County. We would
like to have your "Ma" to bring Julia with her.
We hope that you and Laura will also pay
us a visit some day. Aurelia and I
have a tolerably comfortable little home.
She appears to be satisfied and well pleased
with Barnesville. She says she is happy.
And if Providence will only bless me with
the ability to make her always happy I too
will be truly happy and well contented.
I have employed a Negro woman to
come and wash for us every week.
Aurelia was rather opposed to hiring our
washing but I thought she had enough to do
without. Indeed I am afraid she does too
much work and will injure herself. I do
all I can to restrain her.
Tell your "Pa" that we are very well
fixed up in the way of housekeeping and
that we feel truly grateful for the
assistance which he so kindly rendered
us. We do not say this for the sake of
mere form but we feel what we say.
My uncle is now in Baltimore where he
has gone to settle off all our debts. We have
tobacco enough to pay all our Eastern debts.
We intend to purchase six or eight
thousand dollars worth of goods this fall.
Give my respect to Mr. J. Campbell
and tell him that I will write to him in a
few days. I will be happy to receive
a letter from you soon.
I am your sincere friend
Mr. S.P Stevens G. S. Gilliand
Envelope:
Sylvester P Stevens
care Horace Stevens
Newton Falls
Trumbull County Ohio
Written on Address page:
Dear Parents
I have just room enough to say that I am
quite well and in first rate spirits. I am very happy
in my new house and George feels well. These days
better than he has felt for a long time. We went over to ____
last Saturday and returned Sabbath evening. We visited
at Uncle John Sherman's while we were were gone. He is a clever
old man and is a curious fellow I tell you.
He took hold of my arm and says "turn around here
and let me see you to see how you look". He treats
us both with great kindness.
I received a letter from Harriet this morning which
was very acceptable I assure you. Tell Sophia to write soon if
she has mail. Eliza Gilliand has gone home to stay a while.
She returns Saturday if she does not have the measles.
She was exposed to them while at our house. You must
certainly calculate to visit this fall and bring the child-
ren if you can. Bring Julia anyhow. George & I want to
see her very much indeed. We want to see all of
you I must not write more for want of room.Location
Location
Container
Horace Stevens Collection Box 1Room
ArchivesBuilding
Morgan History CenterDate
January 10, 2025Location
Container
Horace Stevens Collection Box 2Room
ArchivesBuilding
Morgan History CenterNotes
Folder 3Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Stevens, Horace, Stevens, Sylvester, Gilliland, GeorgeRelated Places
Place
* Untyped Place
Newton Falls, Ohio