This letter was written by 56 year-old William Kidder Sherwin (1805-1877), the son of Azariah Proctor Sherwin (1769-1831) and Sarah Kidder (1776-1815) of Sackets Harbor, Jefferson county, New York. By 1830, William was living in Ohio and had married his first wife [name unknown]. Together they had ten children, only seven of whom survived past infancy. After his first wife died, William took Cornelia Lawrence (b. 1828)—23 years his junior—for his second wife in 1848. The family was poor. William made a meagre living as a farm laborer.
The letter was addressed to his sons, Walter G. Sherwin (b. 1833) and William K. Sherwin, Jr. (b. 1835). In the 1860 US Census, Walter was working as a lawyer in Cincinnati, Ohio. When the war erupted in 1861, Walter organized the “Queen City Flying Artillery,” and at great personal expense outfitted the battery. I believe they were incorporated into Warren P. Edgarton’s Battery. Walter appears to have served as a captain in the 119th OVI and 124th OVI later. In 1860, William K. Sherwin, Jr. was also working as a lawyer but in Cleveland, Ohio. Both brothers attended Indiana Asbury College in the mid-1850s.
TRANSCRIPTION
Miami Township, Miami county, Indiana
September 7th [1861]
To Walter G. Sherwin, Col.
My son,
I am thankful to you I need for the five dollars just received from you a week ago and you or William sent one dollar a few days before to pay for the New York Tribune for which I am thankful. I have sent for the Tribune and have received the first paper.
My son, I am glad to see and think how kind you have all and always been not only to me but to each other, helping each other along to obtain an education. I have always been pleased that I have had such noble sons and daughters as you all seemed aim to be and I think have been moral, whole-souled, high-minded, [and] generous-hearted for which I thank God. You all thought perhaps I have not acknowledged it enough to you all [but] again, I am glad to see such patriotic and noble, heroic principles within you for this noble Republican government our home and native land, and to rally to her call to defend the Constitution and the laws against usurpers, traitors, and tyrants. I see the patriotic principle and spirit of the forefathers still lingering with [my] sons. You have my approbation in all this. Go on, my courageous sons now. Down the wicked traitors and save the government and may the God of this American Israel be with you and help fight your battles and give you victory over the traitors. If I was a few years younger, I would be in the battlefield too.
It is solemn to think about that traitors in our own land who have been raised and fostered in our own government should endeavor to destroy this government of Freedom and free institutions. And though you have spent many years in studies of education to acquire knowledge and capability to fill and act a good part in this free government, still it appears duty to save the government of Freedom and free institutions that we may have one to enjoy.
When you go to the war and battle, my sons, be like Joshua—trust in God, pray for wisdom [and] for courage with prudence. Let me know of your welfare as often as is consistent.
I will here say we are in common health. When I began writing this letter, I thought writing one to William separate but my time is so short I will write to him in this [same] letter.
To William,
I thank you , William, for this box of sundries which we just received. Am most afraid you have cut yourself short of some things to accommodate us. It came here last Tuesday. You said in your letter that you would be at Fort [Camp] Dennison [Ohio], not a great way from Cincinnati. So I will direct too Cincinnati. If this is not the right place to direct letters, tell me where to direct.
Col. Walter G. Sherwin
Major William K. Sherwin
This sounds honorable and good. I hope you will be brave, noble, and as you have been united together [ ] so still let nothing divide you. May God bless you my sons.
One thing more I have not told you, we have a little son born the second day of July last—a smart, bright, brave and promising little child as any I have or we have ever had. I think I shall name him David Millard. David Millard Sherwin his name will be. May we all remember we are liable to die to any time and more liable in the battlefield. Keep [ ] my sons at all times. It may be that I shall die first though not exposed in the battlefield and it may be that we shall not see each other’s face again in this world. If you survive [and] when I am gone, remember my little ones and give them good advice. Set their mind for a liberal education and to a moral and honorable life. Remember these children’s father is your father. They have great respect for you now and you can always keep it. They love you and are glad they have such noble brothers and sisters as they all are. And now you are going to be away from the girls Nancy & Lucy. They will be lonesome perhaps. They had better come here with us or near us where they can make it home with us or come home occasionally as they please. It may be they can get employment here about to do as nearly or as well as they could away off from us. Our home is poor but they are welcome. You and they and Albert talk about these things. I will endeavor if they want places to teach school or anything else to try to find such places for them. Write to us often as may be.
Your Father, respectfully, — Willam K. Sherwin, Sr.
Tribe [following list of William’s children by first and second wife]
First (Spring) Crop
1—Zimi Sherwin
2—(W. K.) Sherwin (died young)
3—Nancy Sherwin
4—(W. K.) Sherwin (died young)
5—Walter Sherwin A good time to stop
6—Will-yum Sherwin (3rd) Sassy scamp
7—Loo-say Sherwin Still they come.
8—Alburrette Sherwin Another, by gosh!
9—_______ [twin to Alfred, died]
10—Alfred Sherwin
Fall Crop
11—Wilbur H. Sherwin, pretty good beginning!
12—D. Millard Sherwin (died) more yet, by thunder!
13—Anne Sherwin, damsel, prolific business!
14—Susan Sherwin, infernal nonsense!
15—D. Millard Sherwin (died) Damnable heresy!
16—May Sherwin, Good Lord, good Devil!
17—-D. Millard Sherwin, God (will) damn such an outrage!!
Cornelia is now 34 and is of course good for at least 3 more! An immense tribe of poor, ignorant, sickly beggars! Come boys, marry n’ settle down!! “Not I, not I, sir!!” Strange calculation. “Pretty business!” Aw, ye want to ‘sult your father now, don’t ye? But truly, shut your face ‘n stop yer sass!!! Think father’s a fool, don’t ye? Will yum.
Spared & Shared 21 