Letter written from a nephew, Swon Garretson, to a niece of her's written probably in the late sixties, stating that she had died.
(Letter from Swon Garretson, first cousin to the Howell children, saying that Louisa McDaniel, Garretson had died. Swon was the oldest of the children of David Garretson, who was the next oldest brother of Martha Ann Garretson Howell. )
The letter is dated March 15th, but the year was omitted, and he has addressed it Dear Cousin. (Possibly it was to Lucy), for she was about his age, only one year difference
West Point March 15th
Dear Cousin
it is with great pleasure that I seat my self to writ you a few lines to let you
know that I am well at present and hoping these few lines will find you enjoying
the same blessing. I received your kind letter and would have answered it but I
was wait- ing on Ma and Ma was waiting on Mr Vaughn to take a photograph to send
to Aunt (Martha probably) but now is such bad wether that he can not take them
and bad on farming to. We have got our logs cut. We had fixed to roll our logs
last week but it snowed and rained so we did not have it. Ma received a letter
from Aunt Jane* yesterday and she said that they was all well but Aunt Louisa*
is dead. Well I have nothing of in- terest to write, write soon I still remain
your cousin. Swon Garretson
*Aunt Jane - Elizabeth Jane Garretson McClure. She was the next older sister of Martha Ann Garretson Howell, and David Garretson, and the mother of Mary (Mamie) E McClure. She died 16 September 1870, so this letter would have been written before that date.
*Aunt Louisa - The wife of John Hartin Garretson, who was an older brother of Martha Ann, David, and Elizabeth Jane.