1887-09-16,From,SnowErastus,UtahSaltLakeCity,To,ThatcherGeorgianaSnow,UtahStGeorge

In retirement at Lucy’s [Lucy Simmons Snow, b. 1855] Sept 16th/87 [Friday 16 Sep 1887]


Dear Georgia [Georgiana Snow Thatcher, b. 1862] I am much pleased to hear of your good luck after long hours of good labour [labor] and months of mingled hopes & fears. I suppose ere this Mother [Elizabeth Rebecca Ashby Snow, b. 1831] has left you to enjoy yourself alone with your darling and yet not alone for Flora [Florence Snow Woolley, b. 1856] and her children as well as other friends to bear you company. Martie [Martha Ellen Snow Keate, b. 1865] writes that Budd Andrews passed Pipe [Pipe Springs, Utah] and heard a cry and on enquiry of the hired man was told that a child was crying its Papa! I have $100 money intrusted to me and will bring or send it to you when Dee [Edwin Dilworth Woolley, b. 1845] returns from conference [October General Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah], meantime if you need anything from Kanab [Kanab, Utah] or St. George Store [St. George Tithing Store ?] send for it and I will see it paid. I found I was needed to attend public business here and if I went South before conference [October General Conference] would have to hurry back, so I concluded to Postpone my southern trip till Oct [Oct 1887]. Besides I don’t care to tempt McGeary and his fellow Deputies very much during the session of Baremans Court. I am quite well as are also our mutual friends generally M.T.[Elder Moses Thatcher] returned to Logan [Logan, Utah] but expects to be here [Salt Lake City, Utah] again last of this month [Sep 1887]. You see I can’t follow the lines though. I have found since reaching this city [Salt Lake City, Utah] , some good glasses which Enable me to read and write a little better. Though sister Pratt [?] has tested and examined my eyes intensely and says they are generally misty and there is appearance of caterack [cataract] beginning to grow from the lower limb of each eye, that threatens Blindness without raridy. [?] But I trust with some degree of faith that it will be stayed untill [until] my labors upon Earth are ended. I expect to have to return to Juarez [Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico - http://www.mormoncoloniesinmexico.com/] after incorporating a company here to hold titles and manage our colony lands.


Would like to delay it however till spring [Spring 1888] and then take you [Georgiana Snow Thatcher, b. 1862] or Josephine [Josephine Snow Tanner, b. 1859] & Mother [Elizabeth Rebecca Ashby Snow, b. 1831] with me to spend another Summer. You have doubtless learned of Marians [Joseph Marion Tanner, b. 1859] release and that he is expected home last of October [Oct 1887] to engage again as a Teacher in B.Y. Academy [Brigham Young Academy]. I Propose for Arthur [Arthur Eugene Snow, b. 1870] & Josephine [Josephine Snow Tanner, b. 1859] to come up and attend that School or Deseret University [University of Deseret] during the winter. Perhaps they & Mother may come up to Conference [October General Conference]. I long to see them and all the rest of our family and southern friends. McA. [John D. T. McAlister ?] & D.H.C. [David H. Cannon] have been here on the U.G. [underground ?] and Depts [deputies] have routed them and sent them on the move again. Yester [yesterday] I visited with nearly all Lucy’s [Lucy Simmons Snow, b. 1855] Kindred. Both the Haddies, Maria, Louisa, Susie and Burt & Juto and 20 of the young chicks at this station. E.B. [Erastus Beman Snow, b. 1853] writes from Mexico [Mexico City, Mexico] of another feminine arrival on the 29 [Saturday 29 Aug 1887 - Lulu Stafford Snow, b. 1887] . It [?] doing well 10 Grandchildren in one year, not bad. Yours in love & same to Flora [Florence Snow Woolley, b. 1856]. E. F. [Erastus Snow, b. 1818]


[In top margin in different handwriting]


Grandfather did not like his middle name, Fairbanks, and used it only when “in hiding” E.J.


[Erastus probably didn't have a middle name, at least, it's not on his birth record in the St. Johnsbury, Vermont record office.]