To: Israel Troupe
From: Lydia [Stahl] Hanas
No envelope
July 9, 1871
Dear Nephew,
I sit down to write you a few lines to let you know how we are a getting along. Ann (unreadable) is a grunting and Lewis [Lewis Hanas] is taking medicine six times a day. I am well but I take medicine too. I take some when I am dry. I have no regular hour for mine and it hant bad to take. Lewis [Lewis Hanas] didn’t get mine of a doctor. He got it at a whiskey shop.
Well Israel [Israel Troupe], I would wrote sooner but I couldn’t find the pen once. And the next time I had no paper, but now I have a pen and paper and I will write you a letter to let you know how Ann makes it go.
She worked at a place a week, then she come home Sunday morning and went back to her place to work Sunday evening and Cale Traster went to see her and when it was bedtime, the man where Ann was working told Cale to go home, or go to bed. Cale went home and was Monday morning before we had breakfast eat, Ann come home. Cale comes to see her every Sunday night. He was going to take Ann to a dance on the fourth. I said she shouldn’t go.
So you see, you are out if you don’t soon come and cut Cale [Traster] out.
Cale Traster is a good boy to work but when that is said, it is all said for him.
Israel [Israel Troupe] we are done harvesting. We got done the fifth of July. We spent the fourth in the harvest field. Our wheat is middling good this year. Lewis [Lewis Hanas] has a lot of hay to make yet. I wish you was here to help him this week. Well Israel [Israel Troupe] come out to see us when you can. Roscoe’s [Roscoe Hutchins] boys are both single yet.
Lewis [Lewis Hanas] and Cale Traster went on the Huckleberry marsh today. Ann went over to Roscoe’s [Roscoe Hutchins] and I am trying to write some letters.
Israel [Israel Troupe] did you get your photographs taken yet? My album hant full yet. I guess I wrote about all I know for this.
Excuse my mistakes and blots. I will try and do better the next time. Write soon and let us know how you are all getting along.
Lydia Hanas to Mr. Israel Troupe
NOTE: This Cale Traster she is talking about is Caleb Traster. I also found in the Noble County records where Caleb Traster married a Ann McGlitz Apr 9, 1872.
Also, Lewis and Lydia [Stahl] Hanas lived in Noble Co., Indiana at the time of this letter.