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This the seventh of a series of letters from early
Kinzer settlers in the mid 1800s.The persons identified have their ID numbers in parenthesis and italicized. Kinzers are in bold print.
LETTER FROM JOHN KINZER TO SAMUEL LINN, December 24, 1846 Dear Uncle, It has become my painful duty to
announce to you the death of my _______ Father. He departed this life on the
morning of the 12th of Nov. His disease continued as I wrote you
before, until some three days previous to his death when he got a very severe
shock ?(stroke?), from which he did not recover. His left side remaind useless
to him entirely, and the last day of his life his right side became useless. He
also for 18 hours before his death lost his mind. He was perfectly conscious of
his approaching end. He conversed about it in the same calm way that he would
of any ordinary business transaction. It was the remark of everyone that they
never saw the same calmness & resignation exhibited under the same
circumstances.
Tho it does not become me to say it, yet it is nevertheless true
that he died full of years and full of honor. The house was ______ from the
time his disease appeared a dangerous (?) _____ until he was buried. His
friends were numerous, and his funeral was attended for ten miles around, making
a vast concourse of people when collester together. He was 71 years 6 months &
14 days old. It affords us sincere pleasure (in our distress) to know that he
was ___ for Weavers and is now enjoying himself in the company of Angels, -
these are pleasant reflections.
Mother is now very desolate, although
surrounded with all the comforts she could desire. She appears not to enjoy
them, Her Souls desire is that her days on earth may be few, that she may join
Father in Heaven. She has been quite sick last week but is now moving about the
house again.
Jasper was married last week to a niece of Alex. Buffingtons in
Harrisburg, her name was Elizabeth Tomlinson. It was to have taken place about
the time Father died, but in consequence of his illness and death of course it
was postponed.
We will be highly grateful to receive a letter
from you at any time and particularly Mother. Write soon. Accept of our ___
good wishes for your welfare & happiness.
John
Kinzer
The envelope was addressed to : Mr. Samuel Linn, Highland Co, Ohio.
Date of the letter was Dec. 24, 1846
This letter was transcribed by Larry Kinzer on Feb. 6, 2007
in Bradenton, FL. The copy of the original letter was acquired through the
Lancaster County Historical Society. The letter is part of the Samuel Slaymaker
II, White Chimneys Collection, MG-268 Series 2, Box 7.
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