Dear sister
I received your letter the 13th.  I am so sorry you are

going away so far

Albert Jackson, "Bert", and Helen STAGE are moving to Mt. Sterling, OH. They will be there by April 1889.

  I have thought about you so much lately and I thought when the weather got warm you and

the baby

Tessie Viola (STAGE) DARCY b. October 14, 1888.

would come out here and make a good long visit and now you are going away  I don't know wether I can come out before you go or not but I do want to see you   If I know of anyone going that way that I could go with maybe I will come but dont look for me   I went up to

Uncle Levis

Working theory: Levi Mekeel, married to Mary Jane (Wood) Mekeel. Mary Jane is sister to Samuel Wood, Helen and Mate's father.
We draw this conclusion based upon letters written from Mary E. in regard to Samuel's military pension. "Levi Mekeel and Mary J. Mekeel, who have testified for me, were well acquainted with our family. Mrs. Mekeel is my husband's sister. They now (1891) live in Havana."

last evening   They are well  

Helen and Grace

Levi and Mary Jane Mekeel have a daughter named Helen A. (Mekeel) Ford and a granddaughter named Grace.

are both in Mansfield   I have been to

Uncle Sams

>

Samuel B. OWEN. Aunt Sarah (GANOUNG) OWEN was deceased at the time of this letter.

  He is down to Covert visiting   I heard today that

Bert

The most significant "Bert" in my lineage is Albert Jackson STAGE. As he is Helen's (the recipient's) husband, it feels like he is not this Bert.

Working theory: Bert is Herbert M. WOOD b. November 12, 1859. He was brother to Mate and Helen. It fits with the idea that Mate keeps some of her belongings there. It also initiates the recounting of current family members' status.

was going to move  If he does I will have to move my things away from there   I dont know wether

George

George J. WOOD, b. September 19, 1851, Helen's and Mate's brother.

is going to move   He is carrying the mail from Cayuta to Swartwood   It is the route Guy MILLSPAUGH had   Tell

ma

Mary Elizabeth (GANOUNG) WOOD. This places her in the Lamb's Creek area in 1889.

I will come and keep house with her if she wants me to but I would rather not come till next fall   I have not got my money yet and I want to get it before I go away   She can get a place to live and I will help her pay the rent just the same as though I was there   This is if she keeps well and then when I get ready I will move out there   Tell her I dont like the place where she used to live   I think it would be better to rent part of a house even if she has to pay more for it   Rent is quite cheap here but there is not much work to do   I wish you were not going away and I would like to see you all and if I were not such a booby I would   I shall have to bring my letter to a close for the old folks are going to bet and I shall have to go too   Goodbye and love to you all
P.S.  Tell ma I have not seen Mrs. B.  Tell her to write to me so I will know what she is going to do.