Letter from Cynthia Ann Field Turner
Shelby Co. Illinois
April 18th. 1865
Dear Father Sisters Brothers
I embrace the present opportunity of writing a few lines to let know that we arrived safe at home that is at Berry's the same night that we left you, the cars makes a very close connection, the train was waiting for us so we kept going all the time, I want some one to give James Ferry, the conductor that we came up with all the praise that he deserves, if they can do the subject justice, for I never seen a more gentlemanly turned man in my life, when he came to me for our fare he asked about the little girl I told that she was a little girl that I was taking home with me to raise, he said is she an orphan, I told him she had neither Father or Mother he said I shant charge you any thing for her but we got on to the Terrehaute & Alton Road they made me pay half fair for her, I started her to school to day, Aby is learning to play his fiddle very fast he learned a heap while I was gone, I hope we will soon get those Photographs Also Mr, Mrs, Appenfiele and family, I just called Cynthia and Aby and set from their swing to tell me what to tell you about them Cynthia says to tell you she likes to stay here better than she does there, she hasnt cried nor said one word that showed that she was dissatisfied I hope that Robert and Grace may not miss her much and be content without her, Berrys family are all able to get round, The news that the president is dead like to got some of the republicans friends down. Cynthias cough is nearly well I gave her cherry fectaral, She also had diarea but she is well now tell Keen that Shaw says he is going to boot him for keeping that likeness, Lorenzo says he has nothing special to tell you, it rains every few days and the mud holes are pretty bad yet, our fruit trees are just beginning to bloom, it seemed strange when we came home and not a bloom to be seen we are a great deal later here than you are there I havent heard anything about the draft here since I came home, we have plums in bloom and peaches though the trees are not near all got peaches on them the pear trees are full if they are not killed we will have a good many, and cherries without number currants and gooseberries in plenty I believe I have not any thing more to tell you that would interest you so no more at present write soon and tell me all news my love to you all
Cynthia Turner
The above letter is from Cynthia Ann Field Turner, wife of Lorenzo H. Turner. She is writing to her family in Gibson County, Indiana, after returning home to Shelby County, Illinois with her orphaned 8 year old niece also named Cynthia. The young Cynthia is the daughter of her recently deceased brother Joseph J. Field (1831-1864). Joseph's wife, Nancy J. Phillips, had died in 1862. Cynthia's brother and sister, Robert and Grace, stayed in Gibson County with other relatives.
Cynthia Ann Field Turner is the daughter of Abraham Field and Grace Rainey of Gibson County, Indiana. Cynthia Ann Turner's brother is Benjamin Field who was George E. Field's father.
There are descendants of Cynthia Ann and Lorenzo Turner living in the Terre Haute, Indiana, area today. Young Cynthia eventually went back to Gibson County and lived with Cynthia Ann and Benjamin's other sisters, Nancy Field Richards Erwin. She grew up and married Wilson Kinney. We have no other information about her.
An interesting historical note is that the president Cynthia Ann refers to as having been shot is Abraham Lincoln. It can be inferred from what she says about their "Republican friends" being upset at the President's death that they are Democrats.
