Edwin Kidd to his brother, Walter Scott Kidd

Pittsburgh, PA
20 Feb. 1883
Dear Walter,
       You will think that I was not going to send it, the money, but I thought to all the same.  Should have done it before but it required an effort.  You might think I live in Pittsburgh.  My house is four miles from city.  Still it is Pittsburgh all the same.   I have Herbert, Brother, here learning to be a wire drawer.   I am going to try him on fine wire .012 to .008.  I have drawn a good lot of those sizes this last month.  I have been changing our annealing furnace today to go on the old way.  They used cast iron pans.  Ever since that started, and I could never get them to change.  It looked all right, but it takes the good quality out.
        I have got the doctor to Maggie.  She is all run down but feeling a little better tonight.
        From your Brother, Edwin Kidd

Written to Richland Centre, Wisc.
Pittsburgh, PA
6 Feb 1884
Dear Brother,
        It is a long time I heard from you.  I know that I am in the fault in not writing but it is the hardest thing I do and always was a drudge to me to write.  The water in the Allegheny at the present time is the highest it has been since 1861.  This morning the water rose so high that it put out all the fire at the works an we had to go home.  It was down East in Nov.  I was in Conn. & Mass. & New Hampshire. I stopped two nights at mother's.  She was looking good.  Harry looked pretty good also.  Mother said he had been much better of late.  He had been keeping company with a young woman for some time but she was taken sick with consumption and she died while I was down there.  Had she lived, I believe he would have married her.  She was an only daughter and her folks were in pretty nice circumstances.
        L. Kidd (He means Louise Kidd) has found my address & she wants to know the history for the last 18 years.  So you are a better man at writing.  So, I hope you will do justice and write until she tires if it is possible to stall her down, if not do your best.
        Let her hear from you sometime so I shall know you are living.  And how is farming.   I fatted a 200 pound hog and killed it day after Christmas day.  I do not know whether I told you that I had Joseph's other son Arthur or not.  I have had him with me 12 months.  I like him first rate.  He is worth a dozen Herberts.  Herbert went back to England last March and I was not sorry.  Trade is dull, wages down, everything quit.
        Maggie and all the little ones are good.
        Hoping that you and Vina and young ones are enjoying good health and are making head way as oyu were when last I heard from you.
        Let me know all about it.
        Your affectionate brother,
         Edwin Kidd

Harmarville, PA
8 Oct 1889

Dear Walter,
        I am sorry that Mother as got no home.   She as ought to have one some where.  We are all winning that she should come on and stay with us.  You will have to find the money for I have not got any, not a cent.  I hope it won't be long this way.  I work hard every day.  I have done 2 mens work all summer.  There are 7 of us working and things looking bright.
        Edwin Kidd

Harmarville, PA, 13 Oct 18??
Dear Walter,
        We are all glad to hear from you & please to hear you are enjoying the good thing of this life as for Mother I have not heard from her since she left your house you gave her the money and she never wrote to tell me wether she got it or not or were she was goin she as never wrote a line good bad or indifferent I had told her that money was scarce and I suppose as no use for one without money.  I hope I shall have a little some day.
         I should like to take a rest a little while but I don't see how I can spare the time or the money at present you ask me about William I will tell you just as I have found him he is a man that is drunk or half drunk every day of his life.  I have not spoke to him 8 month and I hope I shall never speak to him again but mind you he won't be my partner for life.  I hope he talk a good deal about what he knows about making Steel wire & he knows the most about booze he can draw wire when you have told him what to do and then he will turn around  & as for the business it is goin very nicely.  We are supplying some of the best houses in the country with drill rods steel  we are doing about $1200.00 to 2000 a month we want to do about $3000 amount so and then they will will a little money for us.
          We are doing very well for the amount of money we had we shall come out all right but I shall throw Will over and then he can rather work for us or get out I wish I had never seen him
           I put a piece of Iron ore I think it will give you all the information you want if not let me know.
           I have had one week home sick but I am all right again I would like to take at trip out to see you and your country around and see what it look like can't do at present
           Give my love to Vina and the little folks & also your self
            We both join in sending our best love to all.
             Edwin & Maggie Kidd