Letters from home

"I am hard at work husking corn"

Editor's note: The following letter, donated in April to the Illinois State Historical Society by John Snoad of West Yorkshire, England, opens a window onto prairie life in Illinois during the second year of the Civil War. According to John Snoad, William and Henry Snoad were half brothers (same fathers, different mothers), and nearly 30 years apart in age. William (1791-1864) was an innkeeper in Appledore, Romney Marsh, England. Henry emigrated to America in 1839. Their relationship though challenged by distance, age and time, remained remarkably strong and affectionate. William died in 1864 in England; Henry died in 1893 in Will County.

Elwood, Illinois, December 8th, 1862.

My Dear Brother William,

I hope you will forgive me in neglecting to write to you for so many years, although there is nothing very encouraging to write about in the height of the troubles in America for I can assure you they are bad enough. Before the war broke out, I was about able to live pretty easy, but now I have to work hard as ever but thank God that I am as well off as I am. We don't see a particle of gold or silver in circulation from one month to another which goes to show that America is hard up - our Government issues 5 cents checks. I have a son in law in the army - the poor fellow suffers dreadfully. There has been about fourteen hundred thousand northern soldiers in the field and they have not accomplished much yet and I don't think they ever will, for the South is the smartest part of the nation. The North has brought on this war for a mere political speculation business -- we have had to be careful what we say till of late. Since the elections we have had are going Democratic then we have Freedom of Press and speech but I am afraid the United States are all gone to pot. George and I differ widely for he is what we call a Republican, the party, which has ruined us. We had a good government till their party got in to power.

My Dear Brother I will now change the subject as that is too awful to think about. Oh William how we are all scattered! I am afraid we are so out of sight that we get out of mind. What has become of your dear children? I suppose they are married and I trust doing well -- how I would like to see them!

I often think of the time when I used to ride with you on the Mail Box. William what are you doing?

I hope you will send me word. I will now tell you what I am doing. I am farming. I have a farm of my own. I have five horses now. I sold three a short time ago. I keep a tow-seated buggy with springs to ride in. I have fourteen head of cattle, mostly cows, and most everything a farmer wants. I have also a house and Lot in the City of Joliet and thank God I don't owe for any of it. My Dear Brother I lost my first dear wife and three little children. I am thankful to say that I married another good wife and since then I have one dear little son Charles. He is four years old. He is a great comfort.

George lives about twelve miles from me. I am expecting to take Christmas Dinner with him. He is getting on comfortable. He looks pretty old. He has got a nice farm and every thing comfortable. His children are all married by three. Dear Charlotte lives in Pennsylvania. I have not heard from her for some time. Poor Elize Russell left her money to her which I trust has made her more comfortable. Poor Thomas has left two children, one boy and a girl. The boy is in the war and his daughter is teaching school. She is a nice girl.

Dear Brother I wish you would send me word all about our Dear Martha's death. I received a letter from poor James' daughter Louise containing her likeness & her brother John's, which please me very much. I am also expecting two more of her sisters. Everything in the shape of clothing is very dear here and also everything else but what a farmer has to sell. Indian corn is only worth one shilling English money per bushel.

I should very much like to visit England again and trust I will for Old England is my home where I would like'to dwell. Send me word how sister Mary gets along and all the rest of My Dear Relations in England. Since I have been in America I have seen good times and bad. Everything is very changeable. People go up and down. I have been into most everything. I have been a magistrate, town clerk, station agent on a railroad, clerked in a store, kept store for myself. Bought grain and now a farming. It is pretty hard for an honest man to hold his own here.

Dear William I hope you will write to me soon and tell me all the news you can and I will write to you again. I wish you would send me your likeness and also your children's. You can send them in a letter. Lets try Dear Brother. I hope we shall not remain silent so long again for it is a great pleasure to hear from my dear friends. How pleased I was when James dear children wrote to me. I shall never forget them. They mentioned in their letter, that you wished me to write to you and it is with a great deal of pleasure that I send you this hoping you will excuse this bad scribble as I am hard at work husking corn.

My Dear Brother I must now conclude with my Dear Wife & Son Charles joining me in kind love to you.

From your ever affectionate Brother,

Henry Snoad.

12 |ILLINOIS HERITAGE