1864
	Palmyra March 6th

     Dear Friend Earl
		        I Now take
my pen in hand to write you
a few lines to let you know how
we are a getting along we are all
well at present and hope that these
few lines will find you enjoying
good health which I think is one of
the best blessings that we can have
We expect to leave this part of Palmyra
		            am	
in about three weeks I ^ going to
move on to my place one mile and
half west of the center Clinton
Scott has bought this place that I am 
on now He intends to move here
the 1st of Aprl How do you get along
about the draft that is to come of the
10th we have raised money enough
in this town to hire men enough
to clear the town we have hired

enough to clear the town for the
first call and have Sent a man and
money to Secure them for the last
call we Send to Cleveland for men
we have to give them 200 dollars each
of townShip bounty we have raised
over three thousand dollars in this
town to clear it from draft it goes
pretty hard but I do not know but it 
is the best way I have give fifty dollars
that would be enough to take me out
to Mich and back I am coming
to See you Sometime if I live
and have my health we are busy here
now makeing Sugar we have had a
first rate run I have about Seventy
trees we have made about 50 lbs
		high
Wages are very ^ here this Spring from 20 -
        dollars
to 25 ^ per month Stock of all kinds
are very high hay worth 15 dollars per
ton James Stewart has been very poorly

this winter and So has Mary Ann
Mothers folks are well at present
Eliza is Married She Married
Alva Baldwin Son of Andraus
Baldwin he is a Doctor practices
in Cleveland  They have not gone
to keeping house yet Now Earl
I cannot think of half aS much to
write as I could to talk about if
  could
I ^ See you I believe that I cannot
think of any more to write at present
I want you to write when you get
this and not wait as long as I have
Now be Sure and write soon

	Yours in haste
		David Merwin

Dear Friend
as David has left a few Lines
I will write you a few Words I am
well and how ar you getting along
I supose you ar Dreading the 10 of
March we will not have any Draft
here I supose I wish you might not
have any with you I supose I Shall
have to think of Leaving this part
of Palmyra I do not feel very bad
about it onely the bother of moving
I want you to rememer those
Photograhs Mary for my Album
if I could onely see you I could
talk with you better than I can write
I will send you some Papers
			 	  better
I wish I had Someone Something ^ to
send you but have not my Love
			to you Bell