W. Whitman Permit me to write to you though a stranger by sight though a much Respected friend
of myself and wife for the Many great Kinesses
shown to us by attending to and writing to us about our Son Alfred
when in the great Army hostipittal
at Washington and for your many kind letters since.
Alfred and his wife Ellen (for he
was married to Ellen A. Phelps1 of the Town of Walworth on the 19th of Aug 1868 and I
suposed he had written the same to you
untill I saw your letter2
the one befor
you sent those pictures in) started from here on the 25 day of Jan to go to
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Kansas. we have had a letter from them stating they liked the country very much and had
located in the Town of Douglass, Butler, Co, Kansas they also sent me a few speers of
this seasons groth of grass which measured
a bout one foot tall he has his house ready to move into has a claim of 160 acres3
and in a fare way to grow up with the country.
Charles my younger boy and all the child we
have left lives at home with us though it seems somewhat lonesome since Alfred and wife
has gone. we have had a very mild Season till a bout 3 or 4 weeks past it has snowed
blowed and stormed most all the while the is very deep and badly drifted
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very bad getting around at any rate. We are all well and hope these lines may find you the
same we are very anxious that you will not for get us and keep up a
corispondence
and if posible to see you some time and get better acquainted.
I have Alfred and Ellens picture and will send it in this letter and Alfred let his Mother have that large picture
of you for a Keep Sake we venture to send ours to you I dont think of much that I think would
bee of interest to you so I will close
Correspondent:
John B. Pratt
(1820–1906), a cooper and laborer in the wood products industry, and Nancy
Pratt (1826–1912) were the parents of Alfred E. Pratt (1847–1900).
Alfred Pratt was a farmer and a Union soldier; he served as
a private in the 8th Regiment, New York Cavalry during the U. S. Civil War and was recovering from an
illness when he met Whitman at Armory Square Hospital in Washington, D. C.
Whitman communicated with Pratt's parents about their son's condition. Additional information about Pratt is contained in this letter and
those of June 10, 1865, August 6, 1865, August 7, 1865, August 26, 1865, September 27, 1866, January
29, 1867, July 25, 1867, September 29, 1867, October
28, 1867, July 1, 1869, January 14, 1870, and January 20, 1870.