Letter:

Holes Creek Montgomery Co ohio July the 12 1845

Dear children I take my pen in hand to inform you of my health. I have been very sick but have gotten better for which I feel Blessedly thankfull. Nancy (Jane's sister Nancy had died in 1840 so this may be Nancy Cole?) don't have good health this summer the rest of your friends is well your Aunt Susan (probably Susan Hatfield wife of John Ludlow Hole) and Nancy Cole is getting along sloley But are Both about the House

William Hannigon (?) Dyed Shortely after I got Back with the congestive feever (malaria) that is all the deaths I can Reccolect Since I got back

I am very Antcious to here from you it was my impression you was to Write first or I would have Wrote Sooner per haps there is one on the way if not Write Soon

I get along So Slow With my Buissness I feel discouraged the squire in tinds for to ????? the ????? court for men to Sell the Place To Long to get thru with your fathers Business (Jacob Mulford's will was opened for probate in Montgomery Co. 5/18/1844 leaving all of his estate to his beloved wife Jane Mulford) I am afraid we will not get thru this winter and I don't fell like I could Winter by my Self another Winter I ????? all ways have felt Like I could in joy my Self better with you than Any Where Else if you get in A better House and I dont get there to buy a home for us this fall I want to come out there Late this fall and winter with you if the Lord Spares me I Some times feel incouraged the Squire Says he thinks he will a Nough left to get A House and Lot after he Pays the Debts if it should be so I will be glad. (Charles M Sharp living in Dark County was involved in the estate settlement because of a lot he owned with Jacob Mulford per Montgomery Co. Chancery records April June 1846, Jane Mulford's inventory of Estate 2615 was recorded in Dark County12/9/1869 so she apparently did move there)

Franklin Dodds got a letter from his father and they are all well and well satisfied and Harriett (possibly Harriet Ludlow Dodds, daughter of William Dodds and Elizabeth Hole) has another daughter and calls her Elizabeth (according to 1860 Ohio Montgomery Co. census Harriet Dodds was a widow with a daughter Eliz age 14 ) after your Aunt ????? ????? With Samuel Dodds not being ????? for farming did not go to his land they say he has a fine crop comming out there it has been sunny seasonable for ?????? family are all well except his wife she has poor health

When you write let me know whether you are in a better house and whether you are in fested with fleas and ???? I want to know how the children comes on if they are good the books come if they are bad the books don't come. Mary Jane I have ? to ? Lace having nothing to work at if I was out with you you would want ? ? So you and mother would keep me busy Mary Jane I have wove? sixteen ? of ? and have a ? for you and mother and an ? Mary Jane be good and mind your mother. William was at Cincinnati and stayed at Lydia Keesons She says your grandmother is living with Phebe Little and your Aunt Mary is left destitude? after Job getting ? thousand dollars died in ? I want to go and see? Mary Remember my love to those ? friends and Mr ? if he is there I had to tell that William Balls wife died two days be fore in

To Sarah S M Sharp Charles M Sharp

Jane H Mulford