Ridge Prairie, Madison Co, Illinois, Sep 15, 1840

Dear Caroline, Your letter for Hannah arrived yesterday. She is sick, and so is her mother, but both are getting better. Mr. Weeks also has been sick a long time, but is now nearly well. Boardy and the Baby are both comfortably sick: -- You know what that means - about as sick as you made yourself last year when you wanted to go home.
You need not wait for the Rev. Samuel Kelly. He is safely married to his cousin Rebecca McMahan, and carries on Uncle Isaac's farm. Uncle Isaac has removed to Shoal Creek, Clinton Co., where he has bought Curtis's mills. George W. McMahan was drowned near those mills last spring.
Dr. Jennings die last week at Troy of delerium tremens.
Mr. Wm. C. D. Harrington, formerly of Otsego Co. NY teaches school in this neighborhood.
Isaac Holt and his wife are no longer one flesh, but twain.
You may as well direct your letters to your uncle as he will read them anyhow, and bits and picayunes are not very plenty in the school. Ma'ams pocket. Your uncle will safely hand over your letters to the school Ma'am; and as they will meet her critical eye, let me advise you to try to spell as well as you can, and point your letters, and begin every sentence with a capital letter.
Please give us some idea of the geography of Monroe, Greene Co WT. How far from Galena and in which direction? Which "uncle T" is it that lives six miles from you? What is Ma doing. Tell about Jackson, and Gilen (?) and RooseyAnn, and Maria. The Baby is trying to learn to write, so look out for a letter from her.
Andrew Miller elected sheriff: Lyn (?), Edwards, Joseph Gillespie, James Reynolds representatives. Henry C. Camdell, Coroner of Madison Co.
Yours, George Churchill.
(Postmarked Ridge Prairie, Sep 16. Self envelope to Miss Caroline E. Churchill, Monroe, Greene Co., WT


Submitted by Ray Reed at MesaV3013@aol.com. The McMahan's are his paternal grandmothers side.

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