Platte Bridge D [T?]


     September 2nd 1865

      Dear Brother
		    I have taken
my pen this morning for the purpose
of writing afew lines to you
to let you know that we received you
of the 10 yesterday and you
do not know how glad we were
to here from you we had not heard
from you in along time we
had begun to feel very anxious
about you we had heard about the
expedition that had been sent out
from there and we supposed
that you were with it we were
glad to hear that you were well
Father [illegible] Mother are not either of

are not well Father has been
very poorly for the last two
or three weeks he is alittle better
now than he has been Ma health
is very poor this Summer the
rest of us are usualy well
Deforest Denison was burried
last wednesday you remember
our writing to you that had the
Spoted fever a year ago last Spring
he never has entirely recovered
Since then he was quite Smart
last winter but he has been failing
very fast all Summer evry thing
was done for him that could be done
he had Doctors from all around
he went down to Detroit to See
a celebrated Doctor that was
no help for him Consumption
had to firm a hold of his
constitution he Said early 
in the Spring that he should

not live till fall he Seemed
perfectly resigned and Said he
was not afraid to die he has
been a very diferent boy lately
from what he used to be he is
missed So much the boys have
all been very kind to him this
Summer they have taken him out
riding and have done evry thing
that they could for him the Doctor
is very low they do not think
he will survive Deforest long he
too has the consumption there is
a great deal of Sickness around
here now I have not time to write
much    you will not think by this
letter that I have improved in writing
much but I am in a great hurry
and I do not feel very well and
you must make all allowance
two months Seems along time to wait
but it will Soon pass by I Saw
Byron Yarburgh in town yesterday

he Sent his best respects
to you he Starts to day for
[crossed out] [Ohio] Ohio oh Dear how I
wish you were here George
is more of an old [hack?]
than ever Since he got back
it makes him jealous if he
Sees me Speak to a [young?] man
     you may not believe it
but it is positively So he is
mad if I dont go to meeting
with him evry time he [goes?]
So that I have to go somtimes
when I dont feel able to
just to keep him from getting
mad this is for you eyes only
please write very Soon our
folks all join in love to you
remember me as you ever loving
Sister Mary   A Mattoon