Copied from Ed Smith’s Smith family page:
“Letter from A.A. Smith to Francis Smith

East Haven

April 10, 1872

Uncle Francis, as we have not hurd iny thing from you for sometime I thought that I would right you a few lines to let you now that we are all alive except Mother. She died Mar 22d and also Uncle John they were both buried the same day. Fathers heath is not very good he has had a bad turn and bin thretond with the lung fever but if he caffol he will com out of it all right.

John left about one thousand dollars in a small place at Burke hollow he thought that should get well again that the day before he died he sick only a week.

Phillip he lives at the hollow he works at his traid Summers & in the fall. Father wants know about Uncle David and Aunt Nancy and whether thay ar alive & where thay ar and also Hirum and whether he drinks now or not. thar is three of Warren Hartwells children live in this town Aunt Nancy’s cousins I supose. Jacob lives in Concord Vt. we have not hurd iny thing from Uncle Nathan cince the war broke out. we have had a very hard winter and hay very Scarce. People feed corn mostly that we can buy for ??? pur bushel.

Hay is worth from 20 to 30 dollars pur ton and Scarce at that. we got 4 feet of Snow hear on the level and now Sap to Speak of. last year at this time we was dowing our Spring work. I don’t think of iny thing more this time So I will close hoping that you will ansur this Soon as you get it as we are anxious to hear from you all.

Yours Truly

A.A.Smith

East Haven, Vermont