Cleveland Ohio Jan 25th 1865
Mrs J F Culver
Pontiac Ills.
Dear Sister Mary

Here I am in Mr Gillys room and feeling inclined to pen you a few lines I proceed I wrote to father the day after I came here so that you have heard that I arrived all sound.

When I first came I put up at the Franklin house but when Mrs Beardsly found that I was in town she would not hear of my stoping any where else than at her house I am rooming with Gilly and boarding at the house. The rooms there are all taken. There are boarding with Mrs B. two newly married couples [Ruby?] Seymour now Mrs John White and her husband, they occupy the two front chambers. Mr and Mrs Chapman occupy the room that I used to have Mrs Charley B. has the Parlor. We are having some gay times. Lucia Stickney has a hard cold and is staying at home, Jenny is teaching in her stead. She expects to be able to go back by the first of next week.

I was out at Mr. Smith’s night before last. Went Sleigh riding and stopt there I believe I told you Lizzie Lewis was living there, and I promised her that when I wrote you I would ask you to send me your photograph fo her She wanted the one I have but I thought I could not spare it so promised to ask you to send her one. She is quite well, and so are Mr Smiths people. Plyner and Ella are down at the Oil region in Penn. It has been the best of sleighing here for the past four weeks. The like never was seen in Clevd. Saturday and Sunday it thawed and we thought our sleighing was gone. but Sunday night it grew cold, and although the roads are rough the sleighing is good yet. To day and last night have been the coldest weather we have had this winter. The amusements here this winter have been numerous and varied.

There has been but very little skating on account of so much snow. There have been quite a number of Lectures. All last week and this week there is a Stereoptican exibition that is the finest thing I ever saw. I would be well satisfied to go evry night. I have been three evenings, Last night Emily [Zeal?] [Martha?] Gliddon and I went. Last week Thursday evning Ralph Waldo Emerson lectured He is a good deal of an old [fudge?] When does Frank go to Savanah? Love to all

from your Bro. Thos Murphy
[Care Cuyahoga Hearn Trumall Co Clevd?]