O, what sudden and sad news

           

                                                                          DeRuyter Dec 26^th 1863

Dear friend Hank[1],

                                                                                                Rand[2] has just received a letter from Tom[3] stating that you were intending to visit us New Year’s eve and requested her to write to you and let you know where we will be.  You can tell the stage driver to let you off at the hotel and we will meet you there.  Tom the naughty boy has enlisted.  O, what sudden and sad news.  Rand sits here by the table crying- ready to break her heart and I don’t come far from it.  Hank, be sure and not let him coax you to enlist.

                                                Be sure and come            Good bye

                                                                 From your friend

                                                                          Carrie W.[4]

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[1] Henry Backman born about 1831 in Wayne Co, NY to Abram & Catherine Backman.  He would become Caroline Wibert’s husband in 1866

[2] Rand refers to Carrie’s sister Erranda Wibert born 4 Nov 1846 in Galen died 2 Mar 1932

[3] Thomas Akenhead born July 1838 to Thomas & Florinda Akenhead in Wayne County, NY.  Erranda married Thomas in 1865 

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