These letters were written by Lucinda (“Cind”) Murdock (1843-1864), the daughter of Uri Murdock (1813-1891) and Elizabeth Allen (1805-1885). Lucinda’s siblings included: Luther Murdock (1833-1879), Esther A. Murdock (1835-1907), John Gordon Murdock (1838-1894), and Mary Elizabeth Murdock (b. 1848). The Murdock family resided near Litchfield, Michigan.
Lucinda wrote the letters to her Aunt Esther (Allen) Daniels and her cousins, Nathan (“Nate’) Daniels (b. 1847) and Helen (“Nell”) E. Daniels (b. 184) of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
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Sand Creek [Litchfield, Michigan]
February 21, 1858
Dear Aunt, Uncle, & all Cousins,
We would like very much to know what causes your long silence out there. I should think someone might write to us. We are well as usual here at present, hoping we shall long remain alive & well. I don’t remember when you have written to us.
Today is [my] sister Esther’s birthday (she is 23 years old) and we would like very much if you could be here tomorrow to attend her wedding. Tomorrow is expected to be her marriage day. You can’t say I have not given you an invitation for I will invite you all to attend. Now if there doesn’t as much as one of you attend, we shall think we are much slighted. I expect that Dr. William R. Longley will be the new son. O dear me, must I part with my sister — one that has always been near and dear to me and everyone else. Who knows where one year may bring her. She may be here, she may be many miles from here, & she may be on her dark, cold & lone grave. Who knows what one year may bring forth — who knows where she may be. Only our great Redeemer knows. But may her lot be a good and happy one (hoping it will) and may she have many blessings rested upon her only so they are good ones, which will make her very happy through this life and may she live so as to be happy when she leaves this world of troubles. She is to the door and just started. O! dear me.
It is the morning of the 22nd and Esther has gone (but to return). I expect when she arrives back at home again she will be Mrs. Longley. ¹ They are accompanied by Luther & his — Miss Emily Hamline.
[My brother] John is attending school over North this winter. They have a very good school this winter. He appears to be very much interested. I commenced going to school in November. I went about a week & my health would not permit to go anymore. My health has been very poor all winter until a short time I have been rather on the gain.
We received a visit from Uncle Zadock’s oldest son. He came here the second of January last & staid until the thirteenth. The Methodist are having quite a revival at Sand Creek. They have got 4 converts over. I can not say how long they will keep them there. Mr. Foots sends his Maria to Hillsdale College.
Mother & Father sends their best love to all enquiring friends. Us children send our love to all Uncles & Aunts & cousins. Please excuse these few imperfect lines. I should be much pleased if I could hear from you. Write soon if you please and write all the news. Goodbye.
Your affectionate niece, — Lucinda Murdock
¹ The marriage between Esther A. Murdock and William R. Longley was recorded to have occurred on 22 February 1858 in Calhoun County, Michigan. Esther and William are buried in the Lakeside Cemetery at Lake Odessa, Ionia County, Michigan. Esther died in 1907 and William died in May 1899.
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[Sand Creek near Litchfield, Michigan]
The last day of the old year 1860
My Dear Cousin Nate,
I received your very welcome letter sometime since, but have been more negligent that I thought I should be about answering it. I hope you will pardon me for it and I will try to do better next time. The folks are all in a good state of health but myself. I have a very bad cold and have had a bad cough for about 5 or 6 weeks. It is very bad now. There has been about one week that I have coughed almost incessantly.
[My brother] John is at home now on a visit. He came one week ago last Saturday but is a going back January 2d. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and will have a Happy New Year.
I am attending school in Litchfield this winter. We have a grand time there. There are over 150 different scholars in the three schools — about 60 upstairs — all young folks. Mr. Gould teaches above. I have fallen downstairs once or part way — about half (good luck). I have only 7 recitations. You better guess it keeps me some busy.
William and [my sister] Esther (“Ett”) have got a little boy which sweet little Artie is much pleased to call Artie’s little brudder. It is just 3 weeks old tomorrow — weighed 8 lbs. Ett is very smart. She came home Christmas. William said tell Nate he should call it Erastus Jubelink. Nate, what do you think about it? I should just like to see how you look and act when you read this. Nate, do you intend to come back in the spring? Hope you do. Are you so far behind your class that you can’t catch up with them?
Has [your sister] Helen (“Nell”) chased you with the shovel, tongs, pounder, or brounsteick yet? And have you given her as occasion? I hardly think you have. When they begin that, Nate, you just start for Uncle Uri’s.
Charley White gets along first rate so far with the school. The Methodist are a going to have a church dedication January 8, 1861 — also the 10, 11, & 12 — a good old time they will have. Your mother wished to know how much money Uncle Nate sent here — a big sum of $8. I suppose he thinks we are well paid for all, but Nate you know a little how things go and are on an increase the whole time. Old XXX is just as cross as ever and worse.
Tuesday morning. I wish you all a Happy New Year. Where are you all a going to spend your New Years and what did you do on Christmas? Write and tell me, Write soon and often too Nate. From Cind to be sure.
A word to Helen,
I was very glad indeed that you wrote those few lines and hope you will write more next time. I thank you very much for that piece of good new gown. I have one almost like it and if I go back to Litchfield before I seal this letter, I will send you a piece of it as the pieces are all there. If not, I will send it next time. You spoke of your hair net. I have one crocheted of red and black, and comb my hair all together behind and look just as old womany as you please. I have me a new black bonnet trimmed with red and black. I will send you a little piece. How do you like it? It looks better on the bonnet than it does off.
I have about filled my paper. Write soon too Nellie. From her black-eyed cousin — Cind Murdock
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Ovid, Branch Co. [Michigan]
April 21, 1861
To my dear Cousin Nate,
I received your kind letter some time since [and] was glad to hear from you but quite sorry to hear you was sick. How are you getting along? Did you have a severe time of it? I hope if so, you will convalesce some so to go to war. Is there much excitement there in regard to secession? If any of the friends there have to go south, I would like to have them come this way for I am very lonely but it would be impossible for them to call [even] if they wanted to. I am 7 miles south of Coldwater and intend to remain here for 3 or 4 months as I am engaged to teach school. It is in Emeline Frederick’s (name formerly Codey) district. I have been here one week ago Friday last. I have been sick all last week. The doctor said I had an attack of the billious fever. He is a young man. You better believe I felt somewhat XTY ty when he was near. He has been here today and asked me how I felt. I told him I felt as though I would like to go home. He then asked me if I was not homesick. You can’t guess what I told him then. I get he whole of $2.00 per week.
Nate, do you ever think of me, Artie, and all the rest? [My brother] John is in a law office up to Hillsdale this summer if he has not gone off to war. I rode the old goat yesterday and did not get thrown either. I mean I was examined and got my license for teaching. You must excuse my fools cap paper for it’s all I have here. They say [sister] Ett’s baby looks like me. Don’t you think it must be handsome if so?
Do you ever think of coming back? I feel somewhat fatigued today after such a time as I had yesterday. Write soon and often from your ever true cousin, — Cind Murdock
A word or two to Helen,
Helen, how come you and the rest of them come to open your hearts and swell your courage to send me your pictures? They were the last things I ever expected to get. I thank you all very much to have some of the others do as much. I hardly know what to write that will interest you the most. In fact I don’t know as anything will that I can write.
William was quite sick when I left home so he could hardly turn himself in bed. I hope he is better. [My sister] Ett’s health has been quite poor all winter so that she had to wean her baby before he was two months old. She had the erysipelas very bad. Ma’s health is declining. She has a great deal to contend with that not many know anything about. I suppose Libbie wrote that Lute was married. If she did not, I will. He was influenced into the wicked state of matrimony Feb. 22nd to one Miss Amanda Wight. She is larger than I am every way (unless it be in mind), 18 years old last fall and as green as myself. ¹
Helen, I do wish you and your mother would intercede in your behalf on Ma’s account about Uncle Zadock for it is killing her as far as anything can and see if some of them, Uncle Nate or Joe, will not try to get him where that little black Esther Ann (excuse the expression) shall take care of him.
Why did not [your brother] Will write as you said he was a going to? I would like very much to have him write and [your brother] Henry too. Will, there was a real pretty girl by the name of Mary saw your likeness [and] said you was the prettiest one in the pile and requested me very ardently to speak a good word to you for her. So here you have it. Please write and let me know what you think upon the subject. — Cind
Helen, write soon and often. From Cind.
¹ Luther Murdock (1833-1879) was Lucinda’s older brother. He was married to Amanda L. Wight (1843-1871) on 22 February 1861. They resided in Odessa, Ionia, Michigan.
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November 17, 1861
Cousin Nell,
I received your last letter sometime since [and] was very glad to hear from you. Have neglected writing for various reasons. One was because I was very negligent and did not happen to get into the spirit of letter writing, although I do not pretend to do my writing through inspiration altogether. I can tell you, Nell, it is more than half, for one to confess their own negligence even upon paper where we send to people at a distance to peruse. For my part, I feel rather ashamed too, but you can see I am an honest little gal.
Now Nell, don’t you think this method of communication is as indispensable as — I don’t know what — about like an old maid’s “strong tea.” But how could we dispose of it entirely? We never should hear from our friends who reside at a distance. but I learn by studying and thinking and conversing, “there are many curious, important, and indispensable things of Earth.”
Ma says she hasn’t anything to tell you in this letter. She prefers keeping all her news to tell you when she gets there for fear she may be stumped for something to talk upon such as “visiting timber” since she saw you all so recently. If nothing happens, and she doesn’t swallow a “back out” I think she will be there inside of two or three weeks. Pa hasn’t made up his mind positive yet whether he will come or not. I am teasing them both as hard as I can and dare to, to go — both of them — for they can as well as stay at home if they only think so.
I will not write anything about uncle’s sickness or death for if Ma comes out there she can tell you but I will write this much. The last week of his life is more than can be expressed by the tongue, teeth and lips, or by pen and paper.
November 19. I will try now to finish this imperfect letter which I commenced last Sunday at home. I am now with [my sister] Ett and shall perhaps stay here this week unless our folks come after me. We are all well as usual at present. Ett’s boy is getting so he runs all over the floor and looks just like [your brother] Nate and is just about as mischievous.
I believe you never hear my success teaching. Well! it was as good as expected. They disliked my manner of teaching so they were all very anxious for me to take the school again this winter, but for my poor health I have to stay at home. “Isn’t that too bad?” How is it, Nell? Does your Jack get back from war alive? or was he one of those who were taken prisoners, or isn’t he such a boy as to get caught by the enemy? Perhaps it was he that you was entertaining in the parlor that Sunday eve? Please tell me, is he pretty? and does he wear a fine mustache?
“Pardon my inquisitiveness.” Where is your Father now? and is his health passable good? Where are [your brothers] Henry, Will, & George? [Your brother] Nate, you said, was in the country. Just give my love to them all and how would I like to hear from them. I should be much pleased. But I don’t suppose they ever think of me. Just think once — “a country cousin.” How do you ever get time and feel inclined to write to I? I will not annoy you any longer with my nonsense but will close by asking you to write soon, should you feel disposed to. from your ever true cousin, — Cind Murdock
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April 7, 1862
To all my absent friends
Dear Aunt and all cousins,
It is not because I have not though of you, dear friends, that I have not written before, but from seeming negligence, if I must confess. The people of this community have met with many afflictions such as seem almost impossible for them to encounter with. Nate, Ezra Norcutt was brought home very sick one week ago yesterday and was buried last Saturday. I never attended a funeral where there was as much sympathy shown as there was there; there was so many that had friends in the same position as he was a few days before. Mr. Roscius Southworth is at New Madrid with his son, [Thaddeus] Monroe [Southworth], but he is getting better. ¹ Robert Cowen ² is there and the last accounts were they thought he could never recover. Dick Stone ³ was brought home dead last week from Kentucky. Jo Wood from Todd Town and Mr. John Ball over from West Virginia brought home dead.
We have just received a letter from [your brother] Willie. He said he had not been well since he had been there. Pa received a letter from Uncle Ira in Marshall that he was very sick and requested him to come immediately. He has gone. When he will come home, I can’t tell. Here we are [with] not a man in the house.
[My brother] Lute has moved and I am glad — not on his account. [My sister] Ett and her children are here and will stay all summer. [Her husband] William has gone to Muskegon. Started yesterday. It snows like fun.
We have had two letters from [your brother] Willie since he was in Benton Barracks — poor boy. I hope he and Uncle [Alvah] may both be blessed with good health and their lives to return home to their friends who anxiously await their arrival once more. It appears they are not blessed with the best of health but we all hope they may recover.
Ma is very anxious to know how you are getting along and if you live where you did when she was with you. Aunt Esther — keep up good courage and wish for the best in all things. No doubt you do. It is hopeful you may again see the time you can call your family all together in one fond circle once more. What is more pleasant than the “home circle,” when there is not one link broken. But such circles are seldom found and fear they will grow less instead of more these awful times.
Dear cousins, of all things, be very kind to your dear Mother. Treat her with the tenderest feeling you possess. Consider she is your very best friend that you have left to guide and look after you, and I’ll warrant you she will exercise her very best judgement every time she has occasion.
Nate, your little witch, I do wish I could see you. I’d not be at all afraid to talk to you. I hope you will be one of the best boys that Kenosha affords. You can’t be too good to your Mother, George and Henry. I am not acquainted with, nor do I know, they have any desire to, but I would be very glad to have all my cousins write. As for me, I have lots of writing to do. I have only 12 different correspondents, so you can’t expect I can write a great long insensible letter to each and every one, and don’t wait for me to write first — none of you. Give my love to all friends. Ma speaks of you often and wishes herself there with you again. Aunt Ett, I wish you could come out here this summer. We would have an unspeakable good time. From — Cind Murdock
Ma wants you to write where George Allen is and Esther Ann husband’s name. Nell, how are your eyes getting along? Willie sad they were getting better. I hope they are for your sake. Be sure to write as soon as possible and give all the news. Give my love to Hattie and tell her to write.
April 4. Lute and Mary Norcutt start tonight for Robert Cowen at New Madrid. The news came yesterday that Harvey Wilson and Brad Wilson are both very sick. Such times we never knew before.
¹ Thaddeus Monroe Southworth (1844-1927) was the son of Roscius Southworth (1825-1888) and Lydia Lucinda Wight (1819-1898). Monroe was married in september 1863 to Myra A. Nichols (1846-1884). During the Civil War, Monroe served in Co. M, 2nd Michigan Cavalry. He enlisted in september 1861 but mustered out less than a year later (28 August 1862) at New Madrid, Missouri.
² Robert H. Cowan enlisted at age 21 in September 1861 as a private in Co. M, 2nd Michigan Cavalry. He died on 10 April 1862 at New Madrid, Missouri.
³ Richard E. Stone was the only son of William and Caroling Stone of Allen, Hillsdale County, Michigan. “Dick” died at Bardstown, Kentucky, on 29 March 1862 while serving with Co. B, 11th Michigan Infantry. His headstone in South Allen Cemetery says he was 21 years, 9 months, and 11 days old when he died.
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Litchfield [Michigan]
April 18, 1862
My dear cousin Nell,
You can imagine how pleased I was at the arrival of yesterday’s mail. It brought me 2 welcome letters and the likeness of my dear cousin Willie which I have so patiently waited for for a long time past. Oh cousin Nell, I hope we may see them both with many others, safe home from war. As you say, I almost wish we could know the future sometimes. Then again I think what unhappy mortals we should be. Now we know not what future hours may bring forth but we wish for the best. “The future we cannot claim, the past we cannot call, only the present is ours.” How true.
Now, here we are waiting to let the law take its course and expecting every day to hear of the death of some dear friend. We know not who it may be — those we least expect and sure to be those we most wish to be spared. Isn’t that curious? Those that the most awful and the most likely. In other words, the very best are suffered to be taken from the world first. As a good old Methodist sister would say, the Great Almighty think proper to take those that are best prepared first.
One of my letters [was] from an old friend that I have corresponded with about 7 years. She lives in the State of New York; we were schoolmates together. The other was from [your brother], [my] Cousin Willie. Do you think they will have to go to New Mexico? I do hope not. He wrote last Monday. He said they were as well as could be expected — poor boy. How I wish he and Uncle were both free again. I’ll bet they, with many others, would remain so for one while. Helen, be sure to write soon and often as possible. Cheer up your Mother. Don’t let her get discouraged. We all want her to come out here very bad. Can’t you make some arrangements for her to come? Use your best and greatest influence over the boys and see if they can help her to come.
[My brother] Lute came home from Cairo Tuesday. He could not go any farther. Pa wrote all about his journey in Hattie Allen’s letter. You can read it there I guess. Now be sure to write soon & all the news. Give my love to all and receive this imperfect epistle from your coz, — Cind Murdock
Cousin Nate,
As [your brother] Willie said, have you at last got to be a printer’s devil? You ask if I think that will be a good trade for you if it agrees with your health, and if not I would not stay on no conditions, and you can make good wages. I will advise you to go where you can do the best, but don’t forget to be a good boy wherever you are. I don’t like an Editor. Do you really intend to make an editor of yourself? Nate, do for your own sake be a good boy and set a good example for other boys to follow and such as would be advisable for them to follow. [My sister] Ett’s little boy is a complete little dutch niggar. He will beat you all hollow. I never saw such a child in my life. I have just got your likeness and I intend to keep it a while too. Nate, Robert Cowan is dead. He died in New Madrid. When I learn the particulars of his sickness and death, I will write to you. Poor boy. How little we know how much he suffered. I have his likeness. He sent it to me while he was in St. Louis.
When are you coming back home again here to old Michigan? Goodbye Nate. Write soon without fail. Give my love to all. This from your cousin, — Cind Murdock
Nate, I expect Hugh Smith was in that battle at Yorktown. ¹ I don’t know whether he came out right end up or not. I have just written a good long letter to Willie — a sheet like this — “chuck filled.” — Cind
¹ This was probably the same Hugh Smith who served in Co. G, 5th Wisconsin Infantry, as that regiment participated in the siege of Yorktown.
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August 21, 1862
Dear Cousin Nell,
A long time has elapsed and gone, dear Coz, since I received your letter and I do hope you will not neglect writing very long for “O dear me” I do want to hear from you so very much. Too bad. I think it is more than very awful that [your brother] Willie had to go back [to his regiment] — poor boy. Will he write to me or must I write “dear me.” I don’t know where to write if I did. I would write forthwith. I wrote to Kate K__ last Sunday. You asked how I liked her. Must I tell? I’m not afraid to. I thought she was a very smart girl and pluck to the backbone, don’t you?
One week ago Sunday my Father started for the South. He is going to Corinth [or] rather 18 miles below there after the remains of my cousin Dan ¹ who died there a few weeks ago. We haven’t heard from him but once since he went away. That was one week ago yesterday. He then was in Cairo [and] expected to leave there at noon. Isn’t he running a great risk to go there [to] his health and life? Only think — what if he should never return? I must say God forbid that any misfortune may happen to him while gone for how terrible it would be. You can’t imagine my Mother’s feelings. Her health is not good. I don’t know what she would do if Pa should never return. Use her up, I guess.
How is Aunt Esther’s health now? Any better than it was? Ma says tell Aunt Esther to be sure and come out with Uncle Joe. Come sometime this fall anyway without fail. [Sister] ett & [her husband] Will live here yet. Tell [your brother] Nate that if there can be such a thing as a young Nate, Ett has surely got one for I never saw two living beings any nearer alike in both looks and actions as little Uri and Nate. Believe me, he can’t even eat bread and milk without drinking cold water [and] lots of other things — he is like Nate.
[My brother] John was home last night. He said he would write soon to you.
Nell, I wish you and I could do some little good somewhere or sometime. I do wish we could both get a situation in some hospital out of danger. I for one would be willing to go and do all I could that would be but little but if I could I would. I tell you, Nell, the women will see some hard times yet. I’ll bet you a goose. Some have here already and lots others that will see harder times. Can you even imagine the result of this terrible war? Do you think there is a person on earth than can even imagine? I have heard quite a good many express the opinion that the time on earth was short. Hopefully it is if this terrible war is a going to last much longer.
Nell, do write soon and all the news without hesitation or fail. Our love to all and from all. Remember me as your true coz, — Cind Murdock
¹ Daniel Murdock enlisted in September 1861 at age 22 as a corporal in Co. M, 2nd Michigan Cavalry Regiment. He died on 15 July 1862 in Rienzi, Mississippi. Daniel was the oldest son of Ira Murdock (1811-1877) and Sarah ___ (1819-18xx) of Marengo, Calhoun County, Michigan. Daniel had four siblings: Ellen (b. 1841), Annette, (b. 1853), Ezra (b. 1856), and Carrie (b. 1859).
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