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Dubuque, Iowa
Feby. 16th 1872
Dear Uncle Phil,
The recpt. of your letter of the 1st inst. gave me
great pleasure. I had just about given up all hope of getting an
ans. to my letter thinking it must have been lost & I assure you I
was indeed rejoiced to know I was wrong. I had long felt my being
without an own relative that I know of in this country & now to
know that one of my dear Father's brothers is within a few days
travel is very pleasant. I wish I could describe to you my
feelings at hearing you speak of "my aunt & cousins sending their
love & kisses," it sounds ever so good & I feel already great
affection for them. I need though, some explanations to quite
clearly place them in my thoughts.
Did not one of our aunts &
your sister, come to America with you? I think I had been
told so, is it true, & have I two aunts with you? or only your
wife? Let me know & what their names are, if two there are, so I
may know what to call them, also give me the names of my three
little cousins. I shall so better enjoy thinking of them
personally & separately, which you may be very sure I shall do.
How I should love to make you a visit & I really will try & that
as soon as it can possibly be managed. When is the best season of
the year for being in that part of the country? I will certainly
send you one of my photos. At present though I have none & since
receiving your letter have had no time to get some taken. Do send
me those of you all as soon as you can, for I long to see you all
& so know you. I will also send you
Mother's picture.
She will be with me in a month or two now. Since last writing you
I have heard from Jamaica. I got a short letter from dear old
Grannie. She was
well & spoke of uncle
Augustus' going to you in the spring. My poor old
Grandmother what an anxious life she has led for some time, were
it not for her very strong constitution she must have broken down
long since. I truly wish it was in my power to help her some & I
mean to try. My Father's property, "Norwich", now mine, has been
in a very unsatisfactory condition, but I have recently appointed
an attorney to act for me & I hope to have things in good shape &
the rent duly collected. If so, I may be better able to do what I
should like to. I want none of the rent at present at any rate. I
also heard from my sisters there & am now expecting Jamaica
letters daily this being the time of the month I always get them.
Mr. & Mrs. McCulloch
are in this country & up to last spring were living here. They are
now in Wisconsin, the state north east of this. I dined with them
while they were here & have become very much attached to them. I
hear from them often. Mr. McC's health is pretty good considering
the amt. of sickness he has had. Mrs. McC's & Mother's sister,
Isabella Page that
was, now Mrs. Judd,
is also in America & now living in Iowa City in this state, where
her husband is an Episcopal minister. They also lived here till
last fall. Now I think I have given you all the news that would be
likely to interest you & being in a hurry rather, must close.
Hoping to get a good long letter from you soon telling me all
about yourselves (& the more of that the better it will be read
with great interest) & thanking you my dear uncle for the kind
encouraging way in which you write & with very much affection love
for aunt (or aunts) & cousins.
Ever your loving nephew,
Roger Swire |
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Notes:
Roger is referring to
Philip SWIRE's sister
Christina Octavia "Kissy" (SWIRE) SEYMOUR (later
WOODS), who came to America with her daughter Amy Jane Lawrence
SEYMOUR (later FULFORD) and settled in Louisiana.
Mother is
Caroline (PAGE)
BARCLAY SWIRE (later HARRISON), the second wife of Roger SWIRE's
father John Henry Dalzell SWIRE.
Granny is
Frances Lydia (COX) SWIRE, mother of Philip SWIRE and John Henry Dalzell SWIRE.
Uncle Augustus "Gus" is
Augustus SWIRE, brother of Philip SWIRE and John Henry Dalzell
SWIRE.
The McCULLOCH's refers to the
step-uncle and aunt of Roger SWIRE. The sister (Mary Anne PAGE) of
his stepmother Caroline was married to Thomas McCULLOCH. Roger and
Caroline are believed to have left Jamaica with the McCULLOCH's
when they moved to Iowa, USA.
Isabella PAGE is Caroline
(PAGE) SWIRE's sister. She married Francis Emerson JUDD.
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