Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

  Transcript:

Allegheny City, Wednesday, June 4^th 1862, 3 P.M.

Our Dear Children, Your truly welcome letter, dated Gettysburgh 2^nd and Post mark Chambursburgh June 3^rd reached us this morning. I was glad to have it for mother who said she had a poor nights rest, at present she seems more lively, is looking over the newspaper beside me, we sincerely hope by this time Jennie is safe over all her trouble, be this as it may, there will always be a dangerous liability to take cold while nursing, and the consequence will surely be a similar attack, in that case a good sweat will give relief but the perspiration must subside gradually, some are more adicted to this than others. Cleaning house mother says will be a very dangerous undertaking and strongly advises you to let the house alone until fall of the year—When we do leave, we think we can reach you, without you putting yourself to the trouble of coming to Harrisburgh, we are all in excellent health & spirits Henry was with us last Sabbath & left on monday morning We had a goodly number of ministers in our community latterly they are all scattered and the two cities seem lonesome—we were glad to hear Mr. Paxton visited our U.P. synod with an address from the old school body, favouring an interchange of friendship between the two bodies—we are anxiously looking forward for the fall of Richmond—we think the rebels will have work enough to do without troubling either Locust Hill, Gettysburgh, or Pittsburgh—one thing is certain they cannot be every where!

Mother has got her teeth, she thinks they are a bad fit, but people who have had the same ordeal to go through, say, she will get accustomed to them.

Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 4 June 1862. Moore VI:05:07

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Allegheny City Wednesday May 28^th 1862 2 P.M.

Our Dear Children, Weather delightful after a refreshing nights rain

Mother went over to Westby this forenoon, he was not at home, she is at present sitting sewing in this room. We are all in excellent health & spirits; On last thursday morning I was violently attacked with cholera morbus, since that time I have moved along very delicately, was at meeting on Sabbath both fore & afternoon, we did not entertain any of the numbers of the general assembly, we think that as they met on the Pittsburgh side of the water they almost all lodged over there—there will be no meeting in our church on next Sabbath, or the Sabbath after that, as it will require that time, to give it a thorough cleaning out.

We are anxiously looking forward for the good news of Jennie’s improved health, on the receipt of your letter on last saturday we were truly sorry to read of her sufferings—Mother says if it should beal again, the poultice should be continued without intermission until the discharge would entirely cease

From the late news, it would seem, as if the rebels were about to draw a little nearer to you, than they have been for some time, we hope by the time we visit you, they will, (if not crushed out) at least confine themselves to Dixie, we are as near now to them, as we would wish to be.

Kind remembrance to Mrs Craig

Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 28 Mayl 1862. Moore VI:05:06

John Riddle Warner was the grandfather of the poet Marianne Moore and during the Civil War he lived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. George Eyster was his brother-in-law and lived in Chambersburg. These letters are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

   Transcript:

Chambersburg May 28/62

Dear John,

In reply to your letter to Mary I would state that we have not been unduly excited. An earnest effort was made, to be sure, to raise troops in response to a call, and had the emergency continued, 500, or even more, could have been sent. Many of Banks’ retreating soldiers stopped not short of here; And numbers were turned back by policemen on request of the general by telegraph. A number of the Union citizens of Winchester are so joining here, whilst hundreds of negroes fleeing from the sacred soil have passed through. Of the latter quite a number have tarried. Many are women and are offering themselves as house-servants. Most seem to have fled from terror; few, inspired by the hope of freedom. The scene in Winchester on Sabbath morning is described as terrific. The atrocities of the rebels, perpetrated in the pursuit, as related to me by professed eye-witnesses, I forbear to relate, inasmuch as I cannot credit all. One will suffice: An Ohio soldier, belonging to Shield’s Division and left sick in the hospital at Strasburg when that officer was ordered to Fredericksburg, and also accompanied Banks Division in its flight, says he saw Wagons, belonging to Banks’ train, and containing sick and wounded soldiers, set fire to by the rebels after their capture, and consumed with their living freight!

Mother arrived a few minutes since. In regard to the inquiry you made on her behalf; I may say, in the language of the Newspaper correspondents: “All quiet along the Potomac.” Banks has been reinforced at Harpers Ferry with 20000 men, (True) and the rebels have ceased their pursuit, prudently looking to their rear

Yours

Geo Eyster

No newspaper office was disturbed here on Sabbath. The “Mail” office, in Hagerstown was robbed on that day.

Citation: George Eyster, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Chambersburg, Pa.; 28 May 1862. Moore VI:05:06

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Allegheny City Wednesday May 21^st 1862 2 P.M.

Our Dear Children—Here I am writing to the absent ones—Mother & Anne left after dinner, for Mr Westby dentist, day delightful and all in excellent health & spirits—sincerely do we hope by this time that Jennie, little Mary, & yourself enjoy the blessings of good health & that the next letter you favour us with will bring us this joyful news; On Monday evening Mr Bigham called on us, spent about an hour chatting in the front parlour, informed us that his mother & Mrs Carnahan were over in Penn St at the house of General Stuart No. 299 that they would leave on tuesday in the afternoon at 4 oclock, according to agreement we waited on them yesterday at 9 ½ oclock, saw the old lady, her son, Mr. & Mrs Carnahan & Mr. & Mrs Stewart—had quite a pleasant interview of about an hour, took leave & wished them a pleasant journey home—young Abraham Patterson was wounded at Williamsburgh slightly in the hand, we saw his name in the paper, his father & mother left this for Philadelphia to see him but word was sent them that he would not leave the regiment, they therefore returned home, we suppose he wishes to be present at the fall of Richmond, should we be so successful as to capture it, which I sincerely hope may be the case—We are now in uninterrupted communication with Shelbyville, Archy has sent us a Union paper published there, called the Tri weekly news, violent in favour of the Union & bitterly denouncing Jeff Davis, Floyd, Beauregard & CO as Usurpers & rebels of the deepest dye, so we go—our synod meets today we have had no strangers yet and we do not expect to have any—Anne says that Dr Plummer’s congregation does not seem diminished in the least—Yesterday Mother went to see Mrs Patterson in the afternoon also visited Jennette K. Saw Mrs Young who, she says, is greatly failed—We are much pleased with our neighbours next door. On Monday day before yesterday just as we were sitting down to dinner a messenger came running in for mother, a little girl about 4 years old pulled a table over her nose causing the blood to start from her eyes it looked very bad at the time and during the day leeches were applied yesterday and this day all looks well and the face will not be disfigured in the least—I cannot scrape up any more news for you—remember us affectionately to Mrs Craig

Your affectionate father and mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 30 April 1862. Moore VI:05:06

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Allegheny City Wednesday May 7^th 1862 1 ½ P.M.

Our Dear Children Another week has rolled round and we still find ourselves, all in good health & spirits. Isabella is with Anne, Robert has just left us after partaking of dinner & gone to his place of business Henry is driving away at his business in Sewickleyville; This day Mother has fixed the back parlour fireplace for the summer, no more fire to be there until next fall; Mother has been once with Westby about her teeth he said they were too tender yet, this was about two months since, this day she intended to go over but said she had caught cold, that the gums were tender and would not bear an impression, tomorrow she cannot go as it will be our preparation day previous to a communion Sabbath so that on next Sabbath, if nothing happens to interfere, you and us will be engaged in the same business. On last friday afternoon Miss Mary King & Miss Geddiss called on us as visitors. Mother invited them to take tea but they declined, they stopped about an hour, we were glad to see Mary, had quite a pleasant interview. The wounded soldiers of Pittsburgh landing brought here by Steamboat have caused quite a stir among the benevolent ladies of our cities—In our church we have a society got up for the purpose of administering to the wants of the poor fellows and at the first meeting Mother was appointed as a person to take a leading part in the affair, she at once contended with all her might in opposition but would not be heard and was unanimously forced into compliance—in making purchases such as slippers, domestic muslin for under clothes &c&c—independent of these societies, many ladies go there with delicacies—to the marine hospital, we were told of one lady that killed several chickens and made 3 or 4 gallons of soup took it down with her, gave some of it to those that would have it, who were most grateful for it, said it was the best thing tasted for a long time, a large portion was sent to the kitchen, some few of the patients had not had any and the soup was called for, dont you think the blackguard kitchen girls had gather’d round and drank it, if the animals were hungry there might be some excuse but they were reveling in the midst of plenty, when I heard this, I must confess I was enraged; our ladies carry them dauntless of all descriptions and I am told you never saw creatures so thankful.

I must now tell you an anecdote—Two boats went from Pittsburgh to Pittsburgh landing—brought away a great many—in coming up stream left some at one place & some at another & for instance Lawsville Cincinnati– Marietta, Wheeling, &c&c. A woman from some of the Western states went in quest of her son, visited the field of battle, went to Pittsburgh landing—followed the boats going up stream on the Ohio river, landed at every place on quest of her son where the wounded soldiers were disembarked the whole way up to Pittsburgh the head of navigation, went into our marine hospital looked at the occupants of every bed, in every ward, one after another until she came to the last ward, after looking at several beds came to one, the occupant was laying with his face towards the wall, she gently laid her hand on the bed, still uncertain as to identity, when he turned round & said Oh! Mother—so he will not suffer for a nurse—it almost seems like romance, but true it is: We are in great hopes that by this time Jennie is well, Mother says she will have to be very careful, any cold that ever she gets, will fly to that breast, a great many here has been enquiring about you this spring, remember us most affectionately to Mrs Craig; am happy to inform you house cleaning is over Mother has just been reading the newspaper and is gone to Mrs Kingan for 2 ½ lbs of butter @ 18¢ — 45¢– Dr Rodgers is greatly improved in health but will not be able to speak in publick

Your affectionate father & mother Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 30 April 1862. Moore VI:05:06

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Allegheny City Wednesday April 30^th 1862 3 P.M.

Our Dear Children—Your welcome letter came to hand at noon this day, we were truly glad to receive it, we were very anxious to know how Jennie was getting along, and we are very sorry to hear she has had what mother calls a ‘blacksett,’ Mother says, it is all important for her to keep the child to that breast, she knows it will be very hard to bear it, but it will be the best thing she can do to keep it open, and if she is afraid the milk is bad, get a young pup and let it suck it—she says she knows well what that suffering is, for she had the same to contend with, shortly after Johns birth, we are glad to hear Mrs Craig is with her, give our kindest love to her, we were very much amused with the account you gave us about the nurse & our country woman—Mother says bear with any thing & every thing as long as Jennie is sick, we are right glad to know you enjoy good health ti is a great blessing that you are not both sick so that can administer consolation while the other is sick

If Mrs Bigham comes to see us we will treat her very kindly. We intend going to see you this summer, some time, just whenever it suits you but not until then. –. I must now inform you of a wedding—Mr Greg on the Bank had two daughters married last night. Henry had an invitation to the wedding to attend at 9 P.M. accordingly he arrived here at 6 P.M. He told us this morning it was a great affair about 200 were invited—the crowd was so throng he had to stand Dr. Sproule married the two couple—Our J.B. Clark asked the blessing at Supper—Mr. & Mrs Lewis& Eliza—Melinda Presly played on the Piano & sung. McCandless & wife—Stephenson (Jeweler) wife and daughter—and many that were acquaintances of Henry—Lewis was very attentive to Henry—they are both trustees of our church, it was a ‘big affair’—Andrew McCandless is come home, he was not at the wedding—when his mother heard he was in New York she sent off immediately for him & brought him home—he has not grown a ¼ of an inch is well dressed in a suit of grey & sun freckled—has an abstemious appearance quite a fat chub. When you write to Henry direct Mr Henry Warner—Sewickleyville, Allegheny County Penna P.O. Box 67 I asked Henry if he had selected that number he said nay, the P.M. gave it– I think it is a curious coincidence—Henry says if you do not state the number it may lay in the office a day or two before he receives it—I think when the official news of the Capture of New Orleans arrives there will be some publick rejoicing—we have had quite a time here receiving the poor wounded Soldiers, as there is only two Secesh among them they receive marked attention.

Still let us know how Jennie is getting along, although it should be but a line—we are all in excellent health & spirits

Your affectionate father & mother Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 30 April 1862. Moore VI:05:05

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Allegheny City Wednesday April 16^th 1862

Our Dear Children

With very great pleasure we congratulate you, on the happy termination of Jennie’s illness, may our dear little Mary prove a blessing to you both, and be a favorite of our Heavenly Father, an ornament to society, and a useful member in the church and world is our sincere prayer—On Monday morning, the day before yesterday we were favoured with your welcome letter, most sincerely did we all unite in rejoicing at the happy event. Henry was just about starting for Sewicklyville, when the the welcome letter was brought in by your father.

As usual, we have very little home news to inform you off. We are all in excellent health & spirits, Anne came here this forenoon on a visit, is helping mother to make a couple of shirts for Henry, the day is delightful. Robert dined with us, and we enjoyed ourselves much. The House cleaning is not quite over the basement kitchen is to be done yet. I must not forget to inform you that Henry said going away—“Now be sure to let Jennie & John know, that I wish them all the happiness in their Dear little Mary, that their hearts could desire.” We think it very likely that he will be with us almost every Sabbath—Joseph & Him were to take turn about in coming here each week but Joe told us himself that Sewickleyville now would be as much of a home to him as any other place on earth, not so with Henry if Henry came it would cost him nothing for bed or board while here not so with him

On last Saturday we were favoured with a visit from Mrs Gibson, the first since the death of her dear husband, she informed us that she had disposed of her house to our Mr. John B. Clark for (4800$) forty eight hundred dollars—The family that was going to occupy her house has rented Mr Clark’s house and Mr Clark will at once move into Mrs Gibsons, in the course of conversation Mrs G informed us the value her husband set on the house was 7000 and less than that he would not sell it—when she talked about you we asked her if she had a letter from you and when she answered in the negative we were astonished—a great many of our citizen’s left this to go as nurses to the sick soldiers wounded at Pittsburgh landing among the number Mr William McCreary & wife (Lizzie Rodgers) they expect to be away two weeks, we sincerely hope you have got over your neuralgia in the head & we long for the time when you will be relieved from so severe a field of labour, please give our kind remembrance to Mrs Eyster right glad we were all to know you had her assistance, company, & consolation such friendship is invaluable. If you write to Henry address—Mr. Henry Warner—Sewickleyville—Allegheny County—Penna

Mother did not clean the house all herself—we return you our sincere thanks for being so prompt—these heavy colds you complain off is a great trouble to us and we do not wonder Jennie is so uneasy about it

Your affectionate father & mother Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 16 April 1862. Moore VI:05:05

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

  Transcript:

Allegheny City Wednesday January 21^st 1863 11 A.M.

Our Dear Children—Your welcome letters from Harrisburgh & Gettysburgh reached us in due time—To Our Heavenly Father we return our sincere thanks for your safe arrival at home, and that on your arrival you found all well—Mother promised Liz Stevenson (now Mrs Ewing) that she would visit the family occasionally and help cheer her mother in her absence, accordingly last evening she staid there from 6 ¾ to 8 ¾ oclock, after she came home she chatted with me until time of retiring for bed—and I think I never saw her look better for the last twenty years, of which I told her in the course of conversation, this morning she seems quite lively, a heavy snow is falling at this moment, which I hope will be conducive to health, and also benefit the coming crop—We are all in excellent health—Tom Scott, Ex-president of the Merchts & Mfrs Bank died very sudden a few days ago—also John Cuits that lived at Miltenbergers Rolling Mill—Zug & Painters Nail factory was burnt last Sabbath morning at 3 oclock coss $30,000—insured for $10,000—we received a note from Henry last Saturday evening—he is very well but complains of monotony. I answered on Monday & direct some on the evil of discontent, stating how thankful he ought to be that he is not lying on the mud on the bank of the Rapahanock, that the most High has hid him, as in the cleft of the rock until this fearful judgment passes over us—When called on, I have no objection to him acting the patriot & soldier, but until then—thank the Lord for all his mercies—1 P.M. Dinner over; Now Dear John we wish you to understand, that if we do not use coffee, it is not to save money, nor is it because we cannot afford it, as far as I am concerned I would have it, if I felt that I wanted it, but when an article becomes extravagantly high such as coffee or tea, to me, it is a wonder if good milk, butter, or eggs are not better adapted to the human stomach—Oatmeal mush, & milk, what we were all fed upon when children, now that I am old my stomach yearns after the food I was accustomed to, when a funny little boy—often & often have I wondered in Pittsburgh, at country people coming in 10 or 12 miles on foot to sell good fresh butter and eggs and buy with the money coffee, tea, & sugar—If people will barter away nutritious food for what is the very reverse, let the please their fancy—If I was worth a million I would not give 34¢ per lb for the coffee, but if mother would like to have coffee, & it was 1$ per lb I would walk 5 miles to obtain it. but she seems to care as little for it as I do—I wonder the foolish people do not prefer chocolate, which is a nutritious beverage—I am in great hopes when you receive this, her little ‘ladyship’ will be in a laughing mood, and in the enjoyment of good health. We are glad to know the frock and shawl pleased Jennie;

Jennie talks about “so handsome a dress” she is worthy of a handsome dress—I hope the folks in Gettysburgh will not meet with any more ‘scares’—I wonder if the rebels have sent home that poor post master yet—kind remembrance to Jennie, & a kiss for our dear little Mary

Anne has purchased a cooking stove from Anshutz Kate Crissells man she is much pleased with it—cost $17.75 it is something like ours but a much better one, with a most excellent over in it

Your affectionate father & mother Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 21 January 1863. Moore VI:05:15