Amos Walter Woodward to his brother Franklin Woodward. The second section is a letter from Amos W. Woodward's wife Mary Ann (Mate) Sealy Woodward to Amos' sister. Written on May 21, 1865 from Rockford, Illinois.

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Title

Amos Walter Woodward to his brother Franklin Woodward. The second section is a letter from Amos W. Woodward's wife Mary Ann (Mate) Sealy Woodward to Amos' sister. Written on May 21, 1865 from Rockford, Illinois.

Description

Mary Ann “Mate” Sealy was born in Castle Cary, Somersetshire, England, on January 29, 1834 to Richard Sealy (born c. 1804 in South Welton, England) and Maria Louisa Champion Sealy (born c. 1803 in Wells, England). Her family (including 3 brothers ) moved to Rochester, New York around 1843. They later moved to Geneva, NY and final settled in Rockford, IL in 1855. She married Amos Walter Woodward on September 5, 1861 in Winnebago County. He went on to found Woodward Governor Company. She died in Rockford October 17, 1921.

Creator

Amos Walter Woodward
Mary Ann Sealy Woodward

Rights

Midway Village Museum

Format

jpeg
pdf

Identifier

2013.70.77

Text

2013.70.77
[Written at the top of the page, above the letter]
I found this letter among Mr. Ws old papers, and thought it might be interesting to you and your wife to “call to remembrance the days that are past.” 50 years ago. Mr. W always kept all of yours and Priscillas letters, he had them tied up in packages very choice I never saw a man who thought so much of his brothers and sister as he did. He was “A choice man & a goodly”.

Rockford, May 21st, 1865
Dear Brother
You will excuse my not answering your last letter sooner as I understood that Whitman matter did not require an immediate answer You were correct as to the as to the as to the [sic] amount that I received I think that I got two dollars in money, the rest I took in goods at Chandlers with the choice of that or nothing As to his concience [sic] in such matters I think it will strech (sic) as far as the law will allow it to

We have had quite exciting times for the last few weeks First came the news of the fall of Richmond most of the shops had to stop We thought that we would wait till we heard of the breaking up Lees army Next came the news of his

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surrender then we all had to stop and celibrate [sic] On the evening of the fourteenth the store house and paint shop connected where our reapers are stored took fire and burned up some three hundred reapers the next morning about eight we heard of the death of Lincoln we stoped[sic] again for a very different reason
Last monday they had to stop to celibrate [sic] the catching of Jeff As to whether the fire will bother me about geting [sic] the money in time to go east or not is more than I can tell
Crowell came round and said that he was settleing [sic] with his creditors at fifty cents on a dollar I thought that if I refused to take it, it might cost the other half to collect it I will send you the amount enclosed thirty five dollars Elmer sends a kiss to little cousins Your brother
Walter



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Rockford May 21 / 65
Dear Sister
As Walter is writing to his brother I take the opportunity to put in a word. I received a letter from mother 3 or 4 weeks since. I shall answer it soon. We are just beginning to feel that we have a summer. We have had an unusually cold backward spring so that vegetation has been very much checked. We had a severe frost the first of the month that destroyed much of the early fruit. We have been improving our lot some & Walter has bought the one adjoining so in time we shall have a very nice place We should not have bought this spring only to prevent it falling into other hands I hope it will make no difference in our visiting you but perhaps it will

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our intention now is to reach you in Sep. as that is the best time for Walter to leave. I suppose you are very busy, with us, there never was so much extravagance in dress as at present. the great events that are moving a nation seem not to check it in the least. how nicely every thing [sic] comes around just right. don't you think Jeff must have felt like a president while trying to escape in his wifes clothes? he ought to be taken through the country and exhibited as the embodiment of manly courage & valor. but no doubt he will be well taken care of. Johnson knows how to administer justice to such fiends (sic) I hope. remember me to yours [sic] husband & family also to mother & father & brother Franklins family hoping soon to hear from you I remain yours truly
Mate Woodward
[Written upside down at the bottom of the page]

We send the money by order as it is safe & you will probably get it easily from Augusta

Original Format

Letter

Citation

Amos Walter Woodward Mary Ann Sealy Woodward, “Amos Walter Woodward to his brother Franklin Woodward. The second section is a letter from Amos W. Woodward's wife Mary Ann (Mate) Sealy Woodward to Amos' sister. Written on May 21, 1865 from Rockford, Illinois.,” Midway Village Museum - Digital Collections, accessed March 28, 2024, https://midwayvillagemuseumdigitalcollections.omeka.net/items/show/63.