Pontiac Ill. Oct. 21st /1862

My Dear. Frank

Yours of the 12th I received yesterday It you mailed the 17th I believe, & one has never come so soon before I am still at Mothers Jonnie is a very little better he is wasted to a perfect skeleton the poor fellow is talking about going back already when he can scarcly help himself in the least he sat up an hour sunday & that is the longest since he came home. Sammy came home last week, he has grown quite tall. Baby is quite well Mother is holding him while I am writing Our folks all call him “Little Frankie” it would be hard telling what name I give him the oftenest. Pete Hannimans wife had a son last Sunday night they are much pleased Mrs. Herrington is not well she has not been able to go to church for two or three months Mrs. Jan Babcock was very sick again last week she is better now. I went to church sunday and heard our new Minister I like him very well though I think his education is none of the best We’re not sure however that he will remain the Dwight Church wants him all the time & if he goes there a young man will come here I do not know his name I have not been able to go to S. School yet If you could find time to write to the children I think they would like it amazingly. The S. S. Prayermeeting was in the M. E. Church yesterday Mr. Ketchum requested them to change their hour of meeting to four o’clock the teachers voted that it should not be changed Mr. Ketchum teaches the public school he is not liked at all Tell Mr. Plattenburg he had better come back or there will be war in the Camp The young ladies are not used to being call “Big Monkeys” Mrs McGregor and Emma are the assistants. Mr. Custer has moved into that house where Mr. Haskins lived it dont seem half so lonely as when no one lived there Mrs Haskins has gone to her fathers to visit a month or too She complained of not hearing from Captain is he well? I cannot thank you enough for writing so often it is such a comfort I ame sorry you cant get any more of my letters I ame afraid to send many stamps at a time for fear you do not get them

I am going to send our cow to Mother in a few days for the winter Our pigs and Chickens grow amazingly fast and home looks just as it did when you left us Sis stays at Mrs. [Rennick?] and Custers while I am here she goes night and morning to feed the stock We expect Cousin Sarah to spend the winter among her relatives soon May God bless you dear Husband and keep you in safety Much love and kisses

from your wife and baby
M. M. Culver

Mother sends much love