...he had on the neatest and finest suit of soldier clothes I ever saw

                                                                                                      DeRuyter Feb 5^th 1864

                Dear Parents[1],

                                                                                I am to Uncle James Johnson’s seated by a small stand.  Writing and talking at the same time and how I shall succeed is more than I can tell.  Cyrus & Anna Wood were here to tea tonight and they were very glad to see us and wished that they could see you.  Monday the McGraw girls called on us and said that their mother was acquainted with our father and wanted us to call there.  Tuesday a Miss Smith called; she had been a-visiting to Uncle R. Whitcomb’s[2] she said she had always been acquainted with them ever since she was a little girl and that they were all well aunt Athalinda[3] requested her to call and see us.  And tonight before I came out of town I saw Mrs. Hull (an old lady) and she was real pleased to see me and wanted me to be sure and come see her.  I saw Aunt Elizabeth[4] to meeting last Sunday and she wanted to tell me to write you to say that she never enjoyed a better visit in her life than the one you made her.

  Two weeks ago this afternoon cousin Thomas Wright[5] and Wilber Congdon[6] called to see us.  Wilber doesn’t look a bit as he used to, he is real handsome, and he had on the neatest and finest suit of soldier clothes I ever saw.  Cousin Thomas said they had a little boy to their house and that they were all enjoying pretty good health.  We haven’t been up there yet.  I shall have to lay this aside for tonight as Uncle’s folks are ready to retire.

                                                                                Good afternoon

  We have done our washing and baked four pies and a pan full of tin cakes.  I found the sugar and Aunt Elizabeth gave me the flour, butter, lard and eggs.  She said I shouldn’t pay for it, she had had her pay ten times over, and she would a little for us every week if she could have her own way.  Uncle Jervis wants me to tell you that he has sold his little oxen for $150 and bought the pair that cousin R. Allard had when you were out here and paid $150 for them.

  You wanted to know how our shoes have held out, so I will try and explain.  Our shoes are about as good as ever, they are the best pair I ever had.  We haven’t had out cloth shoes on since we have been here, our dresses hold out good, and all of the rest of our wearing apparel according.  Our butter holds out good, we have some three or four pounds yet and our bacon is almost gone, but it was the cheapest thing we could buy, for the fat that fried out we saved and made pie of, so we shan’t have to buy any lard while we stay.  I bought three pounds of sugar yesterday and that will last us.

  Monday I am going to buy some codfish – I guess that will be the cheapest and it will taste good for we haven’t had any.  Our share of the kerosene has amounted to about 80 cents and I think we won’t have to get any more.  I don’t know how much wood we have burned, perhaps I can tell you the next time I write.  The money that I have amounts to $41.52 and seven postage stamps.

  Monday Rand and I were examined in common branches and we did not miss a question and Tuesday we received our tuition[7] bill amounting to $10 and were requested to pay as soon as possible so we are going to pay it Monday.  I don’t know when we shall pay for our music, perhaps not til the last of the term.  You wanted to know if we could play any pieces yet- no, she hasn’t let us practice any yet.  But she has sent for some and I presume we will practice some before long.  We received your letter containing $5 the evening that Tom[8] came that afternoon and he wanted to read it so we let him.  I also received one from the Backman girls[9] and Eddson Sears and last night I received one from Hank B[10] and one from the Jenkins girls and Nate Beadle.  A good many of the girls have asked us if we didn’t live in the village or city when we were at home and I told them that we lived in the country and they seemed surprised.  I will close for I don’t believe you will be able to read this scribbling.  Rand[11] is writing to Tom and when she’s through she thinks she will write to you.  Write soon.  Good bye.  Believe me as your true daughter, Carrie Wibert[12]

Excuse all mistakes for it is hard to write and talk, too

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[1] George M. and Julia A. Wibert, George born in Wayne Co, NY about 1822 son of Benjamin Wibert and Sylvia Kelly

[2] Roswell Whitcomb b 1 Jan 1784 d 27 Feb 1864 – I am as yet unsure how the Whitcomb’s are related

[3] Athalinda Whitcomb b abt 1811 daughter of Roswell and Margaret Hermans

[4] Elizabeth (Wibert) Johnson, wife of Jervis (married 7 March 1827), sister of George M. Wibert.  Died 18 July, 1896

[5] Thomas Wright b abt 1833 in Madison Co, NY, son of Samuel Wright and Hannah Wibert oldest sister of George M. Wibert

[6] Wilbur Congdon b abt 1839 Pompey, NY to William Wilbur Congdon & Arvilla Harrington

[7] Carrie & Rand were students at De Ruyter Institute

[8] Thomas Akenhead born July 1838 to Thomas & Florinda Akenhead in Wayne County, NY

[9] Henry Backman’s sisters, perhaps Emmaline, Fanny and or Ada Backman

[10] Henry Backman born about 1831 in Wayne Co, NY to Abram & Catherine Backman

[11] Erranda Wibert born 4 Nov 1846 in Galen died 2 Mar 1932

[12] Caroline Wibert born in Mar 1844 in Galen, Wayne Co, NY to George M. & Julia A. Wibert