Chicago
April 26, 1868
Dear Brother & Sister,
I have been so busy of late that I have had but very little
time to myself even to write a few lines to you, although I’m interested to do
so as you well know, but, however, I am in hopes that this may find you well as
I am happy to say that we are all well at present with the exception of Frances
has got some kind of gathering in her ear and complains of ear ache and head
ache, etc. But I am in hopes that it will
not be anything very serious. Richard
has had a boil on his neck for the past week which has caused him to carry his neck
rather stiff for some time, but is better now.
I don’t know that I
ever told you just what kind of a young man Richard is and, of course, you
would be interested to know. He is five
feet five inches high and his weight is 125 pounds or there about. He has black hair, black eyes, and good
complexion, rather good looking and very steady habits, no bad ones only
sometimes is negligent about doing something at the mill where I want them done
on time. Perhaps I overcharge him in
that respect. He is not boarding with us
now; he pays five dollars per week for his board and gets ten dollars per week
and saves every cent and is sending money home now, and will be of great help
to father and mother in the future if God spares him to do so, and he is very anxious
to do all he can for them. He is
considerable of a singer and sings at St. James church here in the city. He says that next month he is going to rent a
piano and learn to play on it. His mind
runs on improvements and is now building an engine with improved valves. He has good knowledge of machinery generally
and is capable of running the largest there is and will be a no. one hand to
run a manufacturing of any kind in wood.
In a few years more he has better knowledge of an engine now than one of
fifteen or twenty years’ experience. And
now I wish that you would in your letter encourage him all you can. He says now that he will come out there to
see you before long, perhaps next fall.
He will be eighteen years old on the first day of May.
Our business has been very good this month and will be
better I suppose after this month, although I think we would do a great deal
better if we had a little more capital in it, that is to take advantage of buying
stock with, although all my partners with the exception of one are like myself,
very saving, and of course we will overcome this in time. David Goodwillie’s son is not with us
now. A man by the name of David Geofield is in his
place. He bought him out and so our
business goes by the name and style of Goodwillie B. & Co. I suppose
that this accounts for our capital being less than it used to be for we took
two thousand dollars of David Goodwillie’s share (or his son) in common and, of
course, we have to suffer the consequences.
I think that this month business will amount to about $1,100 (eleven
hundred dollars) and we have to live off from it. I take out of it about $18 per week,
sometimes less, but this month I have not taken only about $45, but will take more next month. We pay our men every Saturday night at 5 o’clock
every cent that is coming to them and I bet there is no other concern in the
city as straight and clear from debt, and also works with as little capital as
ours. Douglass Goodwillie is a young man
and has got a young wife that likes to dress and make a good show and, of
course, he takes all the money that he
is limited to do every time, which is $25 per week. Mr. Schofield don’t take any. Old Uncle as we call him takes about the same
as I do.
Frances’ ear aches very bad and I will close for the present
in hopes that I may hear from you soon.
Yours, etc.
Edwin
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