September 22, 1872 letter to Frank Tomlinson from Henry Keith

September 22, 1872

To: Frank Tomlinson

From: Henry Keith, Galesburg, MI

His plans to go west fell through as his friend has lost or is likely to lose his property. He will try to start a business in the fall.

Scan of 1872-09-22 Henry Keith to Frank Tomlinson

Galesburg Sept 22^nd 72

Dear Cousin

You doubtless wonder at my long silence. I can only explain it by saying that I have been neglectful of a duty which realy deserved an early attention. I have lived all around among the folks except Helen’s[1] and have not _____. I have been down to the lake and I have found out the difrence tell Aunt between sneezing and —–. ____ went down with me. He stayed at Oscars[2] the first night. I stayed there the last night and he stayed at Katie’s.[3] The folks were all well. Mary Ann[4] has a Johnie ____ about six weeks old.[5] I attended the State fair last week it was a poor affair, poor show. I have given up the idea of going west at present. ____ has lost or is likely to loose nearly if not all of his property. I am going to see if I can’t find a place to start business this fall but don’t know as I can make it go or where I shall go. I am anxious to find a good location a town that will be likley to become a large town. I have not talked very much with father about it if he does not think it best for me to do so I shall look for a place to work this winter.

Ethan[6] is working for Mart[7] this summer. Aunt Katie[8] is well as usual. Pas[9] health is better than last fall. I had rather take a whipping than to write a letter. I suppose Nellie[10] is at home by this time.

Please write soon.

Yours

H. L. Keith

——-

[1] Helen (Bradley) York, his paternal first cousin

[2] His paternal first cousin, James “Oscar” Keith

[3] His paternal first cousin, and Oscar’s sister, Frances Catherine “Kate” (Keith) Chaffee

[4] Oscar’s wife, Mary Ann (Batey) Keith

[5] Oscar & Mary Ann’s son, John Herbert Keith, who was born August 10, 1872

[6] His half-brother, Ethan Keith

[7] Martin Milham, the husband of Henry’s first cousin, Lucy (Lee) Milham

[8] Catherine (Keith) Bradley Lee

[9] Charles Luke Keith Jr.

[10] Frank’s sister, Nellie Tomlinson

*Thanks to Leigh Terrass, great-granddaughter of John Frank Tomlinson, for sharing this letter with me and allowing me to post it. In order to keep the letters chronological in the https://lettersfromthe1860s.wordpress.com/ blog post, it was given a posting date of 03-29-2018 even though it wasn’t until September of 2021 that I received the letters from Leigh