Cacapon, Hampshire County, Va. January 19th A. D. 1828

Father and Mother,

I embrace the present of employing a few moments of addressing you. I am reasonably well at present and hope these few lines find you in the same. It was several days after you left, I was able to reassume my business; but did not experience any exercise pain. I still continue to board with Mr. Michael Slonaker, the family is very dear and kind to me. I hope to arrange my business in the course of the spring; so as to be able to leave this place, at any rate I will be to see you at Easter, and perhaps Mr. Anthony Edwards with me.

Mr. Samuel Foreman is much pleased with Harmon’s Bottom, and has a strong notion of purchasing some lands adjoining of Uncle George Topper’s. The people here are in general well.

Mr. John Kearen’s child that was sick when you left here, died on the Sunday night preceding Christmas. Mr. Christopher Heiskill has informed me how you settled with Mr. Walker Southern, the note is not due until the 25th of December, 1929, and that being the case has not a very great a speck, I intend to let it remain with him, Mr. Heiskill is very well pleased with the joke.

I was not able to go to the Bank on the discount day and sent by mail, but it was not properly attended to, and consequently I had to pay a protest of $3.204. Uncle Samuel Kittell came here on Thursday. I had made collections for him amounting to fifty odd dollars which I have paid to him. I had received a letter from the Rev’d Mr. Hayden a few days, since it was written on the 21st December. Likewise one from cousin Thomas Gallagher written in August last, they were all well at that date. They wish very much for Mother to come and see them.

Please give my compliments to all my friends and acquaintances, and seek a pretty girl for a wife for me by the time or I shall have to have one of the Hampshire girls. Please write to me shortly. I remain your ever affectionate and dutiful son. Wm. H. Topper

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Topper Harmon’s Bottom Bedford County, Pennsylvania

Frankstown, Pennsylvania Oct0ber the 29th, 1832

Dear Father and Mother, Brothers and Sisters,

It is with thankfulness to the giver of all good, that we are enabled to inform that we are all well at present, and hope that these few lines will find you all enjoying the same blessing. It still continues healthy here, with the exception of a few, whom their irregulaties and disipations will overcome at one time or another.

We are still at Mr. Denlingers, he has sold his his establishment, and will remove the first of November, but not out of town; he intends to live private until he can build; he has purchased land on the mountain where the Railroad crosses the Turnpike. He intends to build an establishment for a public house; it will certainly be the best stand on the whole line.

The finishing of the Canal is progressing, but slowly; it is calculated that the water will is above this, before the first of December. The canal broke down below Huntingdon, and boats have not run for some time, but will commence this week. Wages still continue good.

One night last week I was awakened out of a sound sleep by some persons coming into my room; and who was it to my great surprise but uncle Arthur M. Rogers, he informed me that Uncle William is still below Williamsburg and was well. Arthur was going to Gallaghers, he came in the stage and had only stopped to get water, and we had no time to talk more, he promised to write to me but has not done so yet. I intend to write and when I get an answer, I will let you know the particulars.

I am informed that the cholera is still bad on the Washington canal on the Potomac, and that it has made its way into the country in the counties of Jefferson and Berkley, there is a town somewhere between Charleststown and Martinsburg, Va. called Halltown, in which place I am informed the people die very fast. It is reported that there are several cases in Chambersburg lately.

I commenced teaching school on Monday the 8th of this month the school was but small at first, but the list has increased to thirty-seven, and will increase more. The late Teacher at this place is teaching In Hollidaysburg and probably has more scholars than he can attend to. I wish Juleana to assist me to teach this winter; if the school should be too large we wish Brother Samuel, to come and see us, we wish him to come on horseback so that if she wishes she can go home, however when he comes we can talk more about it. She can get as much employment as she wishes, so that Samuel may come when convenient, but you must write before you come, When the Bishop was in Newry we did not get going of account of our not knowing until the evening before. Mr. John Riffle was to see us and he was happy to hear that you were well, we sent a letter by him which we hope that you have received before this time.

I must inform Father that there are four of his make of guns near this place. I saw one of them, I knew it at a distance of several yards. There is a gunsmith just below town, he is from Millerstown, his name is Kopp; he knew you well when you lived in Gettysburg.

We had the Washington Circus here on the 5th, likewise the caravan of living animals on the same day, the largest Elephant in the world; a Tiger, a Leopard, a Panther, a Zebra, a Hyena, a Mongoose, a Bear, an Ape, Baboons, Monkeys & Monkeys, Poneys, Gentlemen, Ladies, Children, Horses, Dogs, Birds, &County &County

There is a nephew of William Garmans, a mile below here, I got acquainted with him, I go there to eat apples and drink cider. When old William went from Virginia to Pa, he was to see him, he describes old Billy as a frolicsome old coalt when he was here. I wrote a letter to his uncle Pilly as he calls him, he is a clever old gentlemen and well off with a sweet dutch daughter in the bargain.

Juleana sends her love and compliments to Mrs. Roseana and says that she is not uneasy about the Fly Round and she expects the Jig is over and all things signed and sealed between them; she likewise sends compliments to all the neighbors…

Please excuse the indifferent writing as I am hurried on account of company. We will conclude by sending our love and well wishes to Father & Mother, Brothers Samuel, Josiah, Silas & Thomas, and Sisters Maria & Lydia. Dear Father & Mother, we remain your dutiful son and daughter, W. H. Topper Juleana Topper

Mr. Henry Topper Schellsburg, Bedford County, Pennsylvania

May the 5th, 1833

Frankstown, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania

Dear Father & Mother, Brothers, Sisters,

I inform you that I am well; thank God for his mercies, and hope this letter will find you enjoying the same blessing. I am at present quite fatigued and tired, on account of having made a journey to Munster and Loretto, and it' s a considerable distance along the Rail Road. I was at Uncle Gallagher’s, I stayed with them two nights, they were all well and very glad to see me. I had been away from Frankstown (that is on the mountain) just one week, and shall return there on Monday and become a resident; as I have got a tolerable good school in Munster and the concerns of the Post office to attend to. When I started I had no notion of going further than Henry Denlingers but I found Uncle Arthur M. Rogers there and some other acquaintances, and took the notion to go and see Gallaghers; they were all well: and all send you their compliments and their best wishes.

I think I must begin to scold, (but I don’t want to hurt your feelings) about your neglect in writing to me, I was long expecting a letter until brother Samuel came here and when he went home I thought certainly I would get one soon; but I was mistaken, and have got none yet. When you write to me direct your letter the Munster Post office, Cambria County, Pennsylvania

Francis Gallagher is married to daughter of Mr. George Glass and they have one child who is just beginning to talk; it is a girl. Thomas is just the same; he begins to look as if he was on the Bachelor’s list. Aunt is still splistering after the old fashion and complains of old age. Uncle is getting old too, but he is independent, and a happy man, for he has nothing to attend to but his prayers.

I made a great many acquaintances on the mountain; among thew Lillys, Glasses, and the Myers, etc. & County Uncle Arthur sends his compliments and best respects to you all. Uncle William is living in Alexandria eighteen miles below here, it is but lately that I ascertained where he lived, but I will write to him as soon as I finish this letter to you. I wish to inform brother Samuel that all the Rails about Frankstown is not quite made yet and that Sweetheart is unmarried and alive yet. Johnson family sends their compliments to sister Juleanna, particularly my friend James. Mrs. Denliger sends her compliments and respects to Sister Juleanna. Give my compliments to all my friends and acquaintances, particularly Mrs. Rosy. I intend to see you all about harvest ( you know harvest time is my time to travel) and James Johnson will go along with me. You must excuse this letter as it is done in a hurry as the mail will start soon, so I will conclude by giving my best wishes to my Brothers & Sisters; and informing Father and Mother, that I remain their dutiful son. Wm. H. Topper

Henry and Mary Topper Schellsburg, Bedford County, Pennsylvania

Munster, Cambria County, Pennsylvania January, the 18th, 1834

Dear Father, and Mother, Brothers and Sisters,

I have the pleasure with the blessing of God, to inform you that I enjoy good health and hope that these few lines may find you all enjoying the same blessing. I received your last in nine days after it was written, and happy to hear of your welfare.

I had intended to come home on Christmas, but the deep snow prevented me, for, by the time the roads were open, the Holy days were over. The snow fell here to a depth of three feet, and drifted considerably, and the weather has been very cold since until yesterday it commenced raining, and this morning there was very little snow left. I am very apprehensive it will do considerable damage to the canal and Railroad.

There was a thaw last Sunday westward which swept away a large public dam … There was a powerful storm of wind, on last Sunday night, which caused a large spruce to fall on a shantee that was on the Railroad, and instantly killed an old man and his daughter, and broke his wife’s arm and otherwise shockingly mangled her, and broke the leg of the youngest daughter, and severely injured an old man, who saved himself by jumping in the fireplace. Two men had a fight in Johnstown which ended in the death of one of the parties.

Uncle Samuel, and cousin William, were here and they have rented in Loretto. He asked my advice whether he should locate himself in Ebensburg, Loretto, or Newry and my advice to him was to remove to Loretto, where I am certain he may do well if he takes care, but as the old woman said, “I doubt it.”

There has been more sleighing in this part of the country than I ever knew or heard of. I had one sleighing scrape but got defeated, in consequence of a heavy road team running over our slay and breaking it to pieces, and likewise endangering our lives. He have brought suit against the driver but what we will make out of it I cannot tell, but the squire says he will have to pay for the slay.

The spring wheat that father spoke about I will try to get, but it is scarce, and I suspect the price will be high. Hemp seed is also scarce…

Greet my old friends on the mountain. Sister Juleana has not written to my satisfaction, her letters are still short and I begin to suspect that perhaps she is careless of charges left to her charge.

I think the second track of the Railroad will be laid in the spring and I will try to get in business on it, or perhaps go to Lancaster county in the spring, or to Bedford or Somerset counties, or stay here, or get married, or something else, I do not know what!! However, you will please write to me in the meantime, and inform me the particulars of your part of the world. The friends are all well, there has been some sickness here this winter but not of an alarming nature.

No more at present but I remain your affectionate and dutiful son. Wm. H. Topper

Mr. H. Topper Mrs. M. Topper Schellsburg Post Office Bedford County, Pennsylvania