The following letter was written by 27 year-old Mary (“Mollie’) Elizabeth Kramer (1835-1920), the daughter of James William Kramer (1806-1855) and Salina Engle (1815-1860), both deceased at the time of this letter. She wrote the letter from her home in Middlebourne, Tyler county—a county that borders the Ohio river in what is now West Virginia, where she wrote in October 1862, “We have great excitement with guerrillas, rebels, and so on. We have our hands full to keep our lives, property, or anything else.”
Mollie mentions all three of her younger sisters in the letter: Nancy Eliza Kramer (1840-1914), Margaret C. Kramer (1846-1910), and Frances S. Kramer (1849-1933). Nancy was married to Albert Gallatin Nicholson Swam (1834-1918) in August 1860 and the birth of their first child, Charles McClellan “Tip” Swan (1862-1944), on 22 September 1862, is mentioned as well.
Mollie was married in 1871 to Maj. Granville L. Lowther (1834-1908) and had two children.
Transcription
Middlebourne, Tyler county, Virginia
1st October [1862]
Dear Cousin Annie,
I address you a few lines this evening according to Nancy’s request. She received the papers you sent and wishes me to say to you she would write if her eyes were not so weak that she cannot see to write. She has another baby two weeks old. It is a real pretty baby. It has brown hair, blue eyes, and very delicate features. Bert named it the day after it was born. He calls it McClellan.
We were very much surprised to hear of Uncle Christian’s marriage. When you write, please tell us if it was John Keener’s widow that he married and if Tilla and Mina are both at home yet.
We have great excitement with guerrillas, rebels, and so on. We have our hands full to keep our lives, property, or anything else. There is to be a wedding party in town tomorrow. Dr. Woodburn is to bring his bride home tomorrow evening.
One of my friends and a correspondent was killed in the late battle before Washington. His name was Will Guthrie. 1 I have his picture. Oh, Annie, how many hearts the rebels have caused to bleed and how many mourners they have made.
Marg has just returned from West Union and Frank is going to New Martinsville to Aunt Anne’s this week to stay awhile. I think she will be safer there than at home if the rebels come in so strong that we will have to fly from our homes and everyone here thinks we will have to leave sooner or later.
As it is quite late, I will have to close for the present promising ot write more at length next time. Nancy is nursing the baby. [Sister Frances] “Frank” is in bed asleep and [sister] Marg[aret] is hurrying me to go to bed. Please give our love to all the friends. Write soon and believe me to be as ever your affectionate cousin, — Mollie Kramer
When you write, please tell us where Kramer is and what his company and regiment is.
1 Most likely William H. Guthrie (1841-1862), the son of Rev. Frank Guthrie and Elizabeth Hughes of Gallipolis, Ohio. He served in Congress. A, West Virginia Cavalry. He was killed in action on August 29, 1862 at 2nd Bull Run.
Spared & Shared 23 