Thorntown at last!

"Third day morning 29th [Tuesday, October 29, 1867] Got to William's a little after sunset -- found Matilda not very well, tho able to be up some. They buried an infant, a few days old, last first day evening. Was a week. A little boy weighing 3 pounds. William, Elna & Ruth Ann were pretty well. The farms look like potato patches, there has been a good deal cleared up since we left here. Cramela came to see us after night. Night. Went to Branson's after breakfast, found Nancy not very well. Branson got a fall from a ladder in an apple tree that hurt him. Came near getting killed to be hurt no worse. After dinner, went with Branson to Thomas Gossett's, found them middling well. Elam has just got out of a hard spell of fever, looks real bad. Jerusha has changed much, lost several of her teeth and looks poor & pale. Thomas looks older & the girls larger than I expected. Came back to Branson's this evening & found Hadley Corsbie here. Curtis came & went to William's after Alson. Henry is nearly Alson's size & Gilbert a little less."

Ann & Henry's joyful arrival back in Thorntown is immediately met with the sad news that their newborn grandson has died. (Matilda is Ann & Henry's daughter.) The baby must have been premature if he was only 3 lbs. Ann includes this significant event along with chatter about the farms, friends and neighbors, and how the kids have grown.

My cousins and I are excited to be in Thorntown, Indiana!