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 28th 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