In the letter, "Cousin Ellin" is Theresa Ellen Offill, born November 25, 1845 in Carter County, Kentucky. Theresa married Reuben Fletcher Ross. She was the daughter of James Offill and Mary Louellyn Scott. The writer of the letter, Elza Offill, was the Elza Offill who was the son of Allan Offill and Louise Hargett. Allan was the brother of Theresa's father, James Offill. "Ashley", by all evidence, refers to Ashley, Illinois. In the letter "Manda" is probably refers to Ellen's sister, Amanda H. Offill (Amanda J. Offill on the 1860 census. Amanda was born June 8, 1852 (or 1849 per LDS). Amanda died December 2, 1926 and is buried at Maddix Cem., Carter County, Ky.. About 1867, Amanda married William R. James and they had 7 children. Amanda later married Thomas Jefferson Maddix. In the letter, "Harve" is probably Ellen's brother John Harvey Offill, born May 17, 1835 in Lawton, KY. He died June 16, 1911. He is recorded as being a "bachelor" and "a fox hunter". In the letter, "James" refers to Elza's brother, James Offill, born in 1842 in Kentucky. James "went to Iowa". There are many sources of information on the Civil War "Copperheads", as mentioned in the letter. Illinois was a stronghold of the Copperheads. A good place to start is: http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/iht319615.html In the records of the 44th Illinois Infantry, there is a James Offill from Ashley, Illinois. No doubt this is Elza's brother. "My big brother Methias" was good clue to identifying the author these letters. The roster of the 44th Illinois also lists a Sgt. Mathias W. Offill and a Pvt. Matthias Offill, one (or both) of these references may be the "big brother Methias" mentioned in the letter. Note also that there is a listing of "Sanders Offill". All are listed as being from Ashley, Illinois. Strangely, Elza's "big brother" was in fact 15 years younger than Elza. Per Ancestry.com, Sanders A. Offill married Lourena Jane Hargett and lived in Ashley, Washington Co., Illinois. Aaron Sanders Offill was born in 1831 in Kentucky. He was also Elza's brother. Per Ancestry.com, Mathias W. Offill who was born in 1843 in Kentucky, the son of Allan Offill and Louisa Harget. This confirms that the "Elza Offill" who wrote these letters was the son of this same Allan and Louisa Offill, brother to Mathias and James. Elzaphen Offill, was born in 1828 in Kentucky, and according to Ancestry.com, "went to California". I'm not sure who the "Ross" is refered to in the third page of the letter. Ellen's sister, Louisa, may have married John Piatt Ross by the time this letter was written. They were married no later than 1865. As noted earlier, Ellen eventually married Reuben Fletcher Ross. ---------------- TRANSCRIPTION PAGE 1 --------------- 1864 Ashley Ill(?) April the 3 rd Dear Cousin Ellin I received you very kind & interesting letter yesterday dated March the 15th you cannot tell how glad I was to hear that you had got my letter for I had began to think that you would never get it from the letters I got from you & Manda & Harve I was truly glad to know that you had not forgotten me & you thought enough of me to write to me I have writen several letters since I came home and have never got any answers only from you and Dine I answered Amanda letter one week ago today She seemed to think that I had forgotten you all It is a mistake I think of you often when I am at work in my shop or after my rest at night I have thought ---------------- TRANSCRIPTION PAGE 2 --------------- of you and wondered in my mind if I would ever see you all again I believe I will if we all live we are all well at this time as far as I know Well Cousin Ellen I wish you had bin here last Friday and went with me out to mother's She made a dinner for James on that day She cooked(?) all Thursday in and invited some of the neighbors in We had a nice dinner and after the dinner was over we had the lingest romp you ever saw Then at knight there was a supper prepared in Ashley for the 44th Ill Reg which we all went and foretook It was as nice a supper as ever my eyes beheld Next morning on the 8 o'clock train James left me I fear I shall never see him again He is a good boy I like him though him and I differ in politics somewhat My big brother Methias has fell out with me on account of my being a Coperhead I guess will get over it ---------------- TRANSCRIPTION PAGE 3 --------------- Well Cousin Ellen I have told you about all that I can think of at present - I intend to thay(?) by the Grace of God to met you in heaven The place of rest for all that serve an love the lord Cousin Ellen stand firm and live up to the word of our Father who art in heaven and you will eventually receive a crown of life gain admitance into that house eternally in heaven not made by hands I expect to met you there Should we never met in earth again Cousin Ellen you may tell ?? that I intend to write to her I suppose because I have not written to her she thinks I will not write to her I intend to write to everyone of the family separately and individually so there will be no room for gambling(?) I have written to most of you now and can get no nanswer only from you Cousin Ellen ///// Tell Harve & Ross to write I would like to hear from them. ---------------- TRANSCRIPTION PAGE 4 --------------- Mother sends her love to all give my love to all inquiring friends