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The following letter was written to John ANDREW from his sister, Ruth E. SEARLS. It is dated November 10th, 1872 and bears a postmark of November 12, 1872 in Jackson, Michigan.
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November 10, 1872

Dear Brother:
I received your letter of Oct 18 and was very glad to hear from you again after so long a time and thankful for your likeness. I sent you Olive's picture in my letter or rather she sent it but I forgot to tell you whose likeness it was.

Olive's health is a little better this fall than it was through the summer but she is not able to go about the house to work any. My health is about as good as common now only a slight lameness from an accident.

About the first of September I was thrown from a buggy and hurt so I could not bear my weight on one foot for 3 or 4 weeks and have not been able to stand any hard work until 2 or 3 weeks past. I have not the strength now that I had before the accident but I am thankful for so much of health and can appreciate the privilege of going about without a cane as I thought once I should perhaps never again.

I was at Anna's when I received your letter. She has been very sick. John BROWN came after me to take care of her and oversee the work. I could not do much of the work but their girls are old enough to do a good deal of her work. I stayed with them 3 weeks when Anna got able to be about and then came back to Olives as she has only a little girl 13 years old that she has taken.

Mother is with Anna yet. She keeps busy most of the time knitting or some light work but she has not the strength she had before her sickness last winter. Anna has a hard lot with her large family to do for and mother tries to help all she can. It is a daily burden to me that I cannot provide a more quiet home for her in her old age but we can only do what is in our power and trust God for the rest.

I am sorry that you have such hard times. I hope God will bless you with all needful blessings both spiritual and temporal. Write often as you can, good bye from your sister.
.............Ruth E. SEARLS

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Note: I have a photocopy of the original letter and envelope. I also have pictures of the three sisters, Ruth, Anna, and Olive. Unfortunately, I do not know which is which. Perhaps someday. I also have a picture of the mother who is mentioned, but again I don't know her name. I also have the original charcoal drawings of John ANDREW and his wife.

From the above letter, I was able to find Anna and John BROWN, and traced their family for several census years. The mother was not living with them when I found them.