Gambier Knox Co. Ohio
United States America
October 28th 1883

My own dear Bessie,

Your very welcome note acknowledged the Pho. I received. We could not find out where the other went and after transversing the Atlantic twice they reached their destination. Your note was intensely interesting in its details. I am glad to know that you are all well and especially your dear Mamma. I spent several months with Nannie this year. The journey to New York from this is quite an undertaking and nothing but sickness would have any influence on me to go such a distance "all by myself". Mr Cinnamon was dangerously ill and I dreaded the long and anxious nursing perhaps making her ill too. So I staid till J.C. got well enough to travel to the Catskill mountains. We accompanied him and spent one week at the Catskill and returned to Staten Island and there we rested and I left Nannies company till a day or so before her husband's release. I was not home until the end of August. Fortunately I was so situated that I could leave everything without care (but for Nannie and John). The Misses Chase, Bishop Chase's granddaughters occupied the house and took charge of everything till I returned. Mr Cinnamon's illness was increased and aggravated by long and persistent starvation. He was a living skeleton. He got little medication but food of the most nourishing and generous sort. The Physicians gave us no hope of his recovery. Nannie writes that he never looked so well and all his clothes have to be let out. Nannie is confined to the house and to her own room by severe pain and weakness in one knee. Their house has steep stairs and as she alone nursed he husband her … gave out. She looked bad when I went out but soon got cheered up and better, though greatly reduced in flesh. Before she took the pain in her knee she went with J. Cinnamon to Chicago and saw Willie and Johnnie and their families and when there Josie (Johnnie's wife) gave him and us a beautiful baby girl. They call her Mary Ellen. John has three children, Willy none, they died. She also saw another Mary Rogan (my dear mother's name) Joe Rogan's wife. He is our uncle William's youngest son. He has a nice wife. Nannie says though he did not marry early. Emilie (Willy's wife) has made quite a good recovery from a severe and hazardous operation performed some months since removing a tumor from the wound. She is still delicate but the Physician thinks she is cured of it.

They are a much attached couple. Everyone said Willie would die of a broken heart after her. Who lives in our old house now and are there any flowers in that sunny corner that Sally had some flowers in? It seems as if I have lived a long time I remember so many things about you all and you were such a good child a pattern of decorum in church and in the meeting house. You will give my love to your dear Mamma. Nannie and I looked at her photograph together when we were at Staten Island. Has James been back to see you and what do you hear of him and his. How many Alms Houses did Mr Sheils erect. Do the occupants receive any support beside the privilege of living in the houses, where are they located? Is the Rope Walk still in existence and the flow tide run in the same way at the foot of Joe Surches garden? Is he able to go to Bright church still? Give him my .. and kindest remembrance. How is the Methodist church flourishing in the "dear house of my infancy"? do any of you ever think of coming to America? You would have a warm welcome from me. Willie met some Children of Margaret McMullan (they lived with us so long) in Chicago. I think the boys are sailors. There are a great changes certainly in Killough. Who is your Pastor? Please do give my love to your aunt when you have an opportunity and also to Fannie Hughes. I remember you all with great affection. there are a great many fine oil painters and … painters in America. every thing and every body goes "ahead" here. The art schools in Cincinnati are far admired. I got some lessons in … painting in Chicago soon after my sad bereavement. My brother Johnnie paid for my lessons thinking it would beguile my thoughts from the one engrossing object. This autumn I have a lady and a little girl, a child of eight, boarding with me. There are several schools here and she has placed her son in one of them and lives with me to be near him. I shall hope to hear from you soon. Is there any way you could find out for me whether Alexander Osbourne or Mrs Osbourne are still in Newtownards or not. I wrote once to the post office master but got no reply. Mr Osbourne was master of the national school and had Killough under his jurisdiction in that capacity but this is years and years ago. I hope I have not tired you with this long letter. You shall not let such long intervals occur in the interchange of our letters for the future. I am always forming good resolutions. Love to all in .. and collectively from your affectionate

C. K. Trimble.