The following letter was written by Louisa (Rounds) Fairman (1822-1899), the wife of Harry A. Fairman (1818-1857). The couple were married on 30 July 1843. Harry was the son of Jared Fairman (1784-1874) and Hannah Howard (1797-1878).

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Adrian [Michigan]
July 28, 1850

Dear Parents,

It is again my pleasant task to give you intelligence of our dear Harry [1818-1857]. I received a letter dated May 28th from him saying he was very well, but had not heard from any of you yet. He says he will be home late in the fall, or early in the winter if he is alive and well, whether he has a fortune or not. But he wanted to know if I would be willing to go there to live for a few years, so it seems he has some idea of going back if he comes home in the fall. But I shall not give myself much trouble about that, let me but get with him again, and I’ll go where he goes after that, I think.

You will see by this that I am still in Adrian but I shall leave here next week if nothing occurs to deter me longer. We have had a good visit with Uncle Charles [D. Howard] and Aunt Margaret [Vosburg]. Aunt and the children were here about two weeks. Went home [to Detroit] last Tuesday.

The funeral obsequies of President [Zachary] Taylor were observed in this place last Tuesday. The ceremonies were very interesting and impressive. The several different orators were out in regalia. An address by the Rev. Mr. [David A.] Curtis. The procession was half a mile long—quite imposing.

We have not seen anything of Ma and [brother] Sebre [Howard Fairman (1837-1911) yet. I am really sorry you could not come while I am here. I suppose sister Sarah [H. Fairman (1820-1866)] has it all her own way at home this summer, there all alone. I should think she would feel as if she was an only daughter. But I hope the rest of us will be mentioned often enough so she will not get the idea it is really so. I would like to come and see you before I go down home, but circumstances will not premit me to do so. Aunt Margaret [Howard] said she was going to visit you before long and wished to do so, but I shall see her at Detroit as I shall go there to take a boat for Buffalo.

I hope to hear from you at Buffalo or at my father’s. I hope to visit you next winter with my dear husband. Oh! dear me, it is a long time till winter. Love to all. Goodbye. Affectionately, your daughter, — Louisa