I have typed this exactly as they did. The script is very neat and they seem to be well educated in writing. The punctuation is off and the sentences don't start with capital letters. My Word program automatically fixed it. These letters were written to Leah Klinefelter. Leipsic, Putnam Co., OH Carlton May 21st 1865 Dear Friends, I rec'd your letter after a long timeI have been negligent I did not answer it right off but you will please excuse me this time by my promising to do better the next. It found us all well. I hope this will find you the same. I sent your letter to Eareann but have not saw her since then. She ve ry likely has answered it long before this time. I got a letter from Horace (my husband) last night informing me he was on his road home from the army Oh! What a time of rejoicing it will be if peace is really Declared May we render God all the praise for I believe he is on our side. How many hearts will be made glad. & again how many will have cause to mourn on the account of the loss of their friends but if we only live right I hope we may meet in heaven. Well I heardly know what to write there is not much news. I often think of the time when I was a little girl and when I used to come to your house. I wish I could step over there this afternoon and have a good visit with you you must excuse any writing for Ella my little baby bothers me a good deal she runs out doors climbs up stairs & a great many other ways to keep me looking out for her write to us again & if you could make it convenient come & see how you like our home in Michigan. We have been cleaning house and I am some tired yet. I hope when I write to you again I can tell you Horace is at home. Poor fellows will not their homes be gladdened by their return wont they be glad to get home My love to all inquiring friends a'share for yourself. I remain you unworthy friend. Julia A. Ludlow to all of you Our addrefs is No. Hastings Barry Co. Mich. OTHER SIDE OF LETTER Carlton May 21st 165 Dear Friends It is a lon time since I have written to you. Received no answer to the last I wrote but was very glad to hear from you once more, I could not believe you had forgotten us. It done us good to read the letter you wrote to Julia how I would like to have a good visit with all of you. Fathers health is quite good, he says he would litke to see you out here it seems as if he would enjoy a visit with you so very much, Dorcas has got married and left us she married a man by the name of Calvin J. Waterman, he has a boy and tow girls. The girls boarded here last winter. They live at Lyons about thirty miles from here. He works for the factory as foreman gets eighty dollars a month. Elizabeth Darby and family were well a short time ago. She has one boy and two girls. Her Mother inlaw Mrs. Darby is suffering very much with a cancer in her breast. She has doctored a great deal but it is getting worse I think it cannot be cured. Uncle Samuel Haney???? Is getting rather feible he is troubled considerable with the rheumatism the children are getting large enough to help a good deal John and Jacob are well they have to work hard, it makes it herd for John to work with one hand but he does a great deal of nearly all kinds of work it is very warm and pleasant now things grow fast. The clover looks beautiful, fruit trees are full of blossoms the wheat looks very good and our folks has about thirty towo acres of wheat, we have been to meeting today a very good one and they organized a sabaath school. Ella Jan (Julias little girl) is a little pet she is smart as a whip I will close hoping your folks may all return from the war safe and well. My love to you all please write often. Yours respectfully Barbara Freeland Carlton Dec 3rd 1864 Dear friends, We are all well at present and as we once more heard from you by Mr. Thomas Edwards. I thought I would endevor to write a few lines to you . How things & times will change. Father is getting verry old. 76 day after tomorrow & Mother died 4 years ago this fall. Eareann lives 4 miles from fathers has got 3 boys Dorcas Eleanor & Barbara John and Jacob lives at home Elizabeth lives about 4 miles from Fathers got 1 boy and 1 girl. John got his hand fast in the Machine 2 years ago las spring and suffered with it about a week & then had it amputated about half way from the hand to the elbow & I have been living about 1 mile from Fathers but my husband was drafted and taken to the war the 4th of Oct & has not heard from home yet his name is Horace E. Ludlow & a verry good companion to travel with me through this unfriendly world. I have got a little girl her name is Eleanor Jane I have been married almost 5 years, it has been a long time since I got a letter from you & I thought you had forgotten me I am now at Samuel Edwards but make my home at Fathers. Oh! that this cruel war would end so that loved ones could be permitted to enjoy each others society it would be a miserable life to live if there were not a hope of heaven I have not much news to write Please write if you think this worthy of notice & I will answer it I will leave the news for Eareann to write Horace is in Tennasee & does not know where he will go as he is not able to go with the regt I still remain your friend & some kind of a cousin I hardly know what Julia A. Ludlow to all of you Mr Klinefelter OTHER SIDE OF LETTER Carlton 3 Rd 1864 Dear Friend, I take this opportunity to inform you that we were all better we have all had the measles and are just getting better I am so weak yet my hand trembles so I can scarcely write. Dear friends as I was reminded of you this afternoon by Mr. Edwards & Mr. Hudson. I thought I would write a few lines to you to let you know that I am alive & enjoying good health Except ?????over the measles. I am glad to here that you are all well There has been a great many serious changes since I last see you. I should like very much to see you &have a chat with you I presume you have no little folks at your home any more they must all be big folks by this time My baby was four years old last july his name is John Edwin I have not much to write at present the men are talking & I want think of much to write excuse my scribling my eye sight is getting poor I cant see to write very well after night this is rather a chilly evening I think of the poor soldiers Samuels health is not very good he got a ??????from the doctors & went to the grand rapids & got his name taken from the enrollment list. I wish if you think this worthy of notice you would write soon No more at present Yours truly EareAnn Edwards To Mr Klinefelters family.