b[???] Ala febury the 18 1856
Dear Mother brother and sister
I now imbrace the oppertunitey
of droping you afew lines
to lett you now wee are all well
hopeing you are all in Joying the
Same like blessing
Dave I now will indeaver to
ancer your request and also the
reqest you made to mrs E A
mays by me & She said
She had never receved but one
letter from M D Matthews sence
he left and [???] [said?] that the
letter was Dated July the 22
he was in new orlens he rote
he was a going to start
to Callifornia in 20 minets
he wrote he wood be back in
the Coar[s] of to years he wrote
he wood rite to her a gain
if he livd to he sent her his
like ness she ses if she hears from
him she will let you [now?] her
request is if you hear from him
to let her no Dave hit appears
you thot me verry on graetful
[page 2]
for not writen when I never
had recvd aletter from him
I have beleaved ever senc he
left home that he was gon to
Callifornia I will indeaver
evry way I Can to hear from
him I am looking for Mr turner
from Callifornia this spring
and I will go and Sea him
and make all the inquiry I Can
about William and if I hear
from him I will inquire
for his ofis and will let you [1]
no you stated if you did not
[hear?] from him you wood start
to [???] him the first of march
if I was in yoar plce I wood
no go yet E A Mays and I beave [2]
he will Come back in to years
if he lives Dave you as reque
sted to Ceap this letter asecret
and you [still?] have all the infu
mation yoar friends Van git
I will in form you and mother
they is people in yoar Cuntey
will say in ny thing to render
you unhapy I mu[s]t Come to acl[o]se
I have no space to rite any more J J Matthews
S C Mattews Davd Matthews