Levin Willey (1812-1870) of York, PA wrote a letter to his brother on 28 December 1854. There are many details in the letter and, as tempting as it was, I did not try to resolve all of the questions I had. The family is well-documented in databases and, no doubt, genealogists will find much to learn from it.

Three things in the letter enabled me to confirm the letter’s author and the date of the letter. Levin told his brother, “The Rail Roads which I am engaged on have consolidated, that is united and now form one company from Balto to Sunbury, a distance of 140 miles. This in addition to the [word] boiler and the Hanover Branch Road will give me my hands full, but I have made up my mind that a man can do almost anything if he determinedly makes up his mind that he will do it, hence I have no fear but what I can manage the repairs of the whole line to the satisfaction to myself and the company.” An item in Baltimore Sun published two years before Levin wrote this letter confirms this information:I first thought the author’s given name was Alvin and did find three newspaper articles about a railroad man named Alvin Willey in York, but there were dozens more about Albert Willey (1845-1888). Albert turned out to be Levin Willey’s son, and “Alvin” turned out to be an apparent combination of Albert and Levin. Albert was a distinguished railroad man himself, but he sold out and moved his family to Philadelphia where he died in 1888 leaving a widow and three children. At the time of his death he was the switch tender at the tower at [N] 52nd Street.
Albert was executor of the estates of both of his parents. In Levin’s case, one of the documents he filed after Levin’s death in 1870 was an 1868 claim to be compensated for a “board tent which was destroyed on the Shrewsbury Camp Meeting Ground in Shrewsbury Township, York County, PA., in the Fall of 1862 by the Union Soldiers under command of Col. Kane, while they were encamped on said Ground. –Said tent being worth 65.00.” It was by comparing the signature on the letter with the signature on the claim that I confirmed the name of the letter’s author. You can read more about the campground and the incident here.

Finally, Levin informed his brother that “Nat Johnson has got his second wife. Nat owns the mill which belonged to my father and is making money.” That mill is now known as Abbott’s Mill. Levin’s father was Nathan Willey (1775-1812). According to a Fall 1984 article in The Archeolog, the mill to which he refers is now known as Abbott’s Mill Nature Center in Millford, DE.

Here is a transcript of the text. Let me know if you spot a typo.

York, Dec 28th 1854
Dear Brother
I received your letter this day and happy to hear of your continued good health and prospects and hope a long continuance of the same blessings.
You wish to know where your Father died and where buried. I made the inquiry when in Del. and I think I was told he died at his son Jacob’s. He was buried by the side of Mother.
Your inquiry in regard to Nancy and Rachel, I can only answer in part. They are both married in living in the Western Country somewhere.
Nancy married Shadrack Postles.
Rachel married a Macklin, and I think a son of old Nutter Macklin. I have not either of them for the last ten years.
Sarah Willey is married to a man by the name of Samuel Downey, a boiler maker, and resides in Wilmington, Del. You may perhaps remember Downey. He worked and lived in Newcastle when you was there. Downey is sober industrious man and makes a good living. They have one child living, an interesting little girl of seven or eight years. I was in Wilmington last summer and brought Sarah and her daughter home with me. They spent two weeks with us and was much pleased with the place and people.
Elizabeth Jane is married to a young man in Wilmington and has one child.
Mary Ann is a Tailoress and lives in Wilmington.
Maranda the youngest of Alexanders children lives with Benjamin Point and has for the last ten years after the marriage of Rachel Ann their daughter they adopted Maranda and [word] her as their daughter up this time.
Old Charley Palmer is still the same old Cock that he was when you saw him last, neither better nor older to all appearances. Mrs. Palmer is still living and looks as well as she did many years ago. John Eckes is farming on the farm belonging to Bill Booth out of New Castle. John is doing well, has a home full of boys and is still very religious. I cannot think of any others just at this time in NewCastle that you could take any particular interest in.
I received a letter from Wm N. Slayton a short time ago. The people are generally well in Sussex. I have not heard from Elizabeth since I wrote you and cannot say how they are getting along. but I fear bad enough. Manlore Johnson and old Beck are [word], which is bad enough. Old Duck is farming in Cedar Neck and doing very well. I stayed one night with him while in Del. He is the same old Duck, loves to play old sledge and drink whiskey but is the same good hearted clever fellow as of twenty years ago. Old Jim Taterman married Jinny five or six years ago. He is now one of the fatest old rascals in the county. John A. Collins has a house full of children but no wife, I mean legally. I was to see old Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Lizzy Johnson. The old man is getting very feeble but the old lady is as fat as ever. Mary Ding, or Ben as you used to call her is at home with the old folks and looks better and handsomer than she did twenty years back. Analiza married Nathan Fleming and has been dead seven or eight years. Sally married a Stuart. Sally Ann Stuart, Phillip Stuart’s wife is married to old Bill [word]. Sam Wilkinson who no doubt you remember was arrested the other day for robbing the U.S. mail. He will now wind up where he ought to have been twenty years ago.
Old John Hays has got his second wife and several children. With the exception of his grey head he looks as young as when you saw him last. Tom Hays is living and about the same. His daughter Eliza Ann is dead. Old Aunt Katy Hays is living or was in August, but blind and very feeble.
The farmers have improved their land very much in Sussex and many important changes have take place since you was there. Nat Johnson has got his second wife. Nat owns the mill which belonged to my father and is making money. It is said Black Elic, John, Sam, and Dave are all living. Crow Black I suppose you know married Sally Macklin. The others are all single.
The Rail Roads which I am engaged on have consolidated, that is united and now form one company from Baltimore to Sunbury, a distance of 140 miles. This in addition to the [word] boiler and Hanover Branch Road will give me my hands full. But I have made up my mind that a man can do almost anything if he determinedly makes up his mind that he will do it, hence, I have no fear but that I can manage the repairs to the whole line to the satisfaction to myself and the company. I have been making my arrangements to come to come to see you in January if possible and I know of nothing at this time that will prevent it. I shall bring with me the superintendent of transportation and we intend to make an exploring expedition among other Rail Roads there by attend to business and pleasure at the same time. If everything proves favorable we shall leave about 10th January.
We are all well. Had a happy Christmas and hope you had the same. Money matters are very [word] here at this time but it is expected that after the10th January it will be easier.
Write immediately on the reception of this as I would like hear from you beforehand. Tell me if you have plenty of game in your country and what kind. I would very much like to kill some prairie chickens.
Your Affectionate Brother, Levin Willey
If there are any words in this letter you can’t make out you will excuse them and all mistakes for I had just one hour to write it in.