The following is a letter written by Dr. James P. Coulter to his wife, Maria (Page) Coulter during the latter part of February, 1850. Dr. Coulter had left Richland County, Ohio during January, 1850 with a herd of horses which he intended on selling in Rochester, N.Y. some three hundred miles away. He had to leave his wife and two young sons, Alonzo M. Coulter, age 2 years 6 months, and Robert F. Coulter, age one month behind. The letter represents his thoughts and experiences over a four day period:
Wednesday Night Feb 27th, 1850:
Today I came 20 miles and I now am in Spencer town, 8 miles from the city of Rochester and mind lots of it. I have been away from my friends, Andrew C. Mills, for one week and came up with them tonight. I found Andrews confined to his bed very sick with the bilious remitting fever. When I came into the room the tears rolled out of his eyes and said, "Why Coulter, god bless you. I am glad to see you."
I tell you I felt thankful it was not me. I have been well every hour since I left home and my friend is better tonight. We intend to go to the city tomorrow and leave Andrews till he gets well. We are going to Seneca County, 50 miles below the city. I am in great hopes I will get a letter from you when I get into the city of Rochester. If I don't I will be dreadfully disappointed. Remember me and I would like to see the boys tonight and if I knew you were well it would give me great satisfaction. It seems a great while since I heard from you.
J.P.Coulter
Thursday morning, Feb 28th 1850
I am well this morning. I was up all night with my friend Andrews. He is a good deal better. I stuck close to him, done all I could for him and this means we'd have been blessed in a few days he will be well. We go to the city this morning. It is 8 miles to the city of Rochester. I think I will get a letter from you today. I hope so. I want to hear from you. You can't tell how glad. This is the 40th letter that I have written since I left home. You have heard from me at least once a week. I have not heard from you since I left you on the cars you recollect. I seem to see you now. This is a pleasant morning. Looks like spring. I would like to be home just one hour. I find it hard to sell horses for the money. I will tell you all about it when I get back. I have learnt one thousand dollars worth since I left home. Remember me is my only request. Take care of the boys the next (few weeks) and all will be well. I would like to see you or get a letter today when I get to Rochester.
J.P.Coulter
Thursday Evening, Feb 28, 8 o'clock
This day I did expect to go to the city of Rochester but my friend Andrews would not let me go. He was quite sick but I think is some(what) better tonight. I could not leave him. I thought how I would feel if in his situation far from home and among strangers without friends and on a bed of sickness. I have been a thousand times thankful that it was not me. He seems so much better that we will take the horses to the city tomorrow.
It rains like the mischief tonight and thunders some. The Odd Fellows meet in the next house tonight. If I had of been one I could of sold my horses long ago and been back by this time. If I get home again I will join them and no mistake if it takes the last dollar. Now mind I will see if I don't.
I don't know what to write. I was up last night. Tonight I will sleep. I have seen many things since I left home. I expected to be back before this time. But I cannot sell my horses and I will not give them away. I cannot tell how soon I will be at home. Perhaps I may sell in the city and then you better believe I will make tracks home as fast as steam and railroads will take me. The mud is deep here. We have all kinds of weather here as well as in Ohio. How I would like to be in that good old state. I have seen no place that I like better than Ohio. And yet though I have seen some good country and nice farms.
Tell mother I would like to see her and tell her the news. I am bound not to go to California. I am completely cured of that complaint. It has hung about me for 2 years and now I am well rid of it. And no mistake I should like to hear from Robert Coulter and know where he is tonight.
I would give ten dollars tonight to have Alonzo to sleep with and I know for a certainty that all was well with you and them little boys. Heaven knows I would like to get back. I am, when I get back, going to Cincinnati and get me a good stack of drugs and practice medicine in Indiana on the south part of this state, I mean Ohio. I did have a notion to go home through Pennsylvania and see mother's brother, my cousins, and so on. But cannot. I have been so long from home.
J.P.Coulter
9 o'clock.
I must help this friend of mine. Oh if I was in his situation tonight, far from home, I would never expect to see those I loved in this room again. Remember me. I know I will get a letter when I get to the city of Rochester. I told you in one of my letters to send one to that place and I would get it.
J.P.Coulter
March 1st, Friday
It is snowing and blowing like the mischief. My friend Andrews is some(what) better this morning. Last night he had a bad spell. I was up with him most all night. I think if the storm abates I must go to the city today. He wants me to stay. I do want to get home. Remember me to all the friends and yourself in particular. I will not go to California.
Saturday, March 2nd
I am now in the city of Rochester. I did not get a letter from you as I expected. Can it be you have not got my letters or have some letters to me miscarried. I can't tell. I am disappointed you can't tell my feelings. I cannot sell my horses as yet. I may go to Geneva 16 miles down farther yet.
Saturday morning, 7 o'clock. Feb 1850.
J.P.Coulter
Epilogue: I often wondered why Maria Coulter saved this letter from her husband. She passed it on to her daughter, Hattie Maud (Coulter) Schroder, who was my great grandmother and it has now been in the family for 150 years. It finally dawned on my why this letter might have been such a poignant memory for Maria. Their son, Alonzo, age 2 years 6 months, had died on Feb 21st, 1850, six days before James Coulter started this letter.