Letter from Jacob L. Richards to Charles Souders.  Named within are Isaac Souders, William Bishop.  Among letters formerly in the possession of Jesse J. Souders (1889-1957).  Jesse was the grandson of Charles Souders (1815-1895) of Thompson Twp., Fulton Co., PA.

Logansport  Cass
County Indianola (Indiana)
Aprile the 28  1865

My Derest and nearest old friend,

it is with pleasure that I seat my self to drop you a few lines to let you now that I am well at this time and I do hope and trust to God when thes few lines comes to hand they may find you all well and in good spirits.

Charles in they name of God try and git out of them poor hills for I now that you cin doe beter out her in this western country then you cin in ther     I came out her on they 23 of Febury and I got into work on they 26 of Febury and I hired for 8 months and I git too hundred dollars and washington (?) and mending and makes in they ----- and that is more and a many a farmer makes in ther on ther farms

Charles our Famley is well as far as I now     I got a leter from home day before yester Day and they was all well and had soad ther oats      they soad 23 bushel of oats and had comenced braken corn ground

Charles I am one hundred and fifty (thirty?) seven  miles frome home and I whante you to tell Isaac Souders1 to sell out and come to they west and not stay in ther and work himself to Death and then Don’t git much for it      I think eny young man is foolish to stay in that country

Charles I did inlist for this cruel war but I got clear and now I am glade of it     I have worked too months and one Day on my time and when my time is up I am going back (word “back” inked over accidentally or crossed out intentionally) to ohio 

Charles I whante you to tell William Bishop2 that I havnte forgot him yet and tell him that I send my love to him and hope and trust to God that I may see him a gin    And if I never meet him or you or eny of your famley her on Earth I hope to meet you in they paradice of God where ther wonte be eny wars and I whante you to ancer this as soon as you git it and when you rit to me Direct your leter to Mr Jacob L Richards Logansport Cass County Indianola and then I will git it       they man that I am worken for lives in one mile of town and they town is about as big as Chambersburg ------  -------  we cin look from our work all over they town

So I cant think of much more to rite at this time so I will haft to close for this time     I whante you to excuse all misstakes and bad riting      So I re main your friend until Death  rite soon and Donte fail

	Jacob L Richards3
	   Charles Souders4

1.	Isaac Souders, probably Isaac, son of Charles
2.	William Bishop, probably neighbor of Charles Souders
3.	Jacob L. Richards, probably son of Joseph of Thompson Twp., Fulton Co., PA.
4.	Charles Souders, grandfather of Jesse J. Souders