Dear Parents
I wrote last and apologized for neglect in writing as soon & often as you might desire.
I may add further that I wrote several times and fully but did not mail as we are some distance
from office and s few days would sometimes lapse betwixt writing and an opportunity to
mail. I always like fresh news and never like to mail an old letter. Martha also wrote
under the same circumstances. And I supposed in my absence might have sent home some of her
letters to the office. So it happened that none were sent lately save the one I mailed
at Concord. Now I write in Gratiot where I came with hope of a letter from you, There is none
but we will expect one as soon as you receive this. We have all enjoyed good health as yet.
But have not been without some anxiety as the Cholera has been all around us at some distance.
Cheifly confined to our county towns and trading posts. A few travelling case have been near
us. One mulatto drover died near Mr Bosermanns where we lived. A Doctor Hughes from
Zanesville died near Union Town. But the worst mortality that has occurred since I settled
in this region took place in Covenanter Congregation near us. Alexander will remember a
William George who came to invite me to marry his sister to Rev Wallace Covenanter. It
is not certain whether the complaint in family was a modification of Cholera or not
But one thing is certain our Physicians did not seem to have any success in treating.
It was called flux and typhus fever, but my suspicion that Cholera had something to do
with is based upon the fact that the family were in the regular habit of attending the
Zanesville market during the prevalence of Cholera there & I may add
still there.
such was the fatality of the complaint that Seven grown up children of the Widow Georges were
nearly at once prostrated. Two a young man & woman died in a day or two. William went
deranged and died the next day in an appoplectic fit. On the same day two more died one before
him & one after. Williams wife was taken with Cholera & his two children. The children
both died - Thus Seven of the same connection and family passed into eternity together.
This was an awful providence. We have but one consolation in this neighborhood affliction --
They died not as Abner died* They died not as a fool dieth. They were lovely and
pleasant in their lives and in their death. They were not divided. In seven days
seven entered into rest. The remaining few are recovering. The widow of William is
And. McBrides daughter. These two awful calamities widow hood & loss of children came
upon her in one day. Five of the other widows we may say at once makes her like Rachel**
mourn the loss of children because they are not. I am told that in that neighborhood & all
the road to Zanesville almost every family have been afflicted and many have buried one or
more of the number.
The health in our Congregations is as yet good. Except George Mitchel
& Nancy Houston. Both mending -- His Bilious fever Hers Putrid sore throat. Tell mother
in six months more we expect to have as many children as she has -- Martha of course poorly
a while but now better -- very well indeed -- I will not on this account get to the synod
I cannot leave a women & three little children alone under such circumstances & when a disease
is abroad that may visit us --
I would like if any of you could come & see us this fall. If you do write soon & let us
know.
Yours affecly
E.B. Calderhead
Notes:
* See II Samuel 2 and 3.
** See Matthew 2:13-18
Gratiot Postoffice dates: 1831-1902, 1904 -current
