Lawrence, McHenry Co Ill, Dec 11 /65
	    Friend Fred,
		        I recd your very welcom
letter last Thursday. & was very glad to hear
from you. I have told [Gin?] several times
lately that I must write some of your folks
but kept putting it off for want of time etc. but
now I have no excuse for putting it off any
longer, We are all well & very well too, I went into
the army last spring, like yourself, & came 
out same as you did. We (153rd Ill) went to 
[illegible in original] Tenn, the first of March went into
camp & stayed there till July first, were then or-
dered to Memphis, stayed there till the middle
of Sept. & were then ordered home. The regt
never had any thing to do but drill. & I did not
have to do that, for the Col. took me for his
Orderly.. & all I ever did was to take care of
his horse. & I had the privilege of riding said
horse (a very fine animal) when & where I wanted
I was taken with Diarhae about the middle
of July, & that  run me till I was so weak
I could hardly get around to take care of the
horse & some times I did not do it. 

Col Bunson got me a furlough to come
home, but the day before I calculated & start
we got orders to muster out. so I did not
go but toughed it through, after I got home
I was taken worse. & was sick a bed & under
the care of an M.D. Got better soon & am now
as tough as ever, & have gained 20 lbs. have
done all my work alone including the husking
of 450 bus corn. & am now drawing [store?]
to build a cellar well under my house.
     Father & Mother left for Vt. Oct 12th 
& I presume were glad to see this old home once
more. Father liked the west very much, &
would like to live out here, if [illegible in original] & [Ming?] were
here. His health was better than it had been for
15 years. & Mother did not like it so well.
     I wish I could see you & your folks. I
often think of you. & if any of you ever come 
this way I hope you will not "pass by on the
other side." We recd a letter from [illegible in original] a few
days ago. she was well & also all the family. 
     My Father said that your father had
got a patent bee hive of his own. invention.
What does he [claim?] for it? as in other words. In
what respect is it superior to other patents,
If he has any printed papers on it I would

like to have him send me one. what
will he ask me for a hive & "right." [illegible in original]
he want an agent here in McHenry County or
in the town. purhaps I could sell some for him,
I am just getting started at beekeeping. bought a
[illegible in original] and year ago & I have now got four, & they
have made me 70 lbs of honey this summer.
will your patent hive do better than that.
I do not know how a patent hive would
take around here the coming season, for about
90 per cent of the bees died two years ago this
present winter, one man had 80 [illegible in original] & last all,
I do not know of any interesting news to
write, we are having beautiful weather, & no
snow, & I have not [illegible in original] my cattle yet they
having a field of stalks to run in.
     Give my best regards to your father &
mother & Eds tell your father I would be
very glad to hear from him. Please inform
me about your fathers hive as soon as
convenient. Yours [illegible in original]
			J. Lee Anderson