Dear Brothers,

I now endeavor to write you a few lines hoping it will find you both well. I have not been very well since I landed, I caught a violent cold. I have had a mighty bad cold but it is nearly well now — Thank God for it. I am here at Liz's mothers I came here on Monday night last. Her brother met me at Eardisley Station. I stayed with her nearly a week in Hereford at Mrs Price's. I accidentally met with her in the Market house. She had went from here that same day Wednesday. She is well and looks very well so now I think I had better not write any more backwards.

I shall commence at the other end of my journey and tell you of my journey through I started from Troy (Missouri) on Friday afternoon. I got to St Louis well, it was dark by the time I got off the train. Went by omnibus to the ticket office and purchased a ticket through to New York by way of Chicago on the Illinois Central Railroad. All passengers were taken over to the other side of the river to East St Louis by the same omnibus, on the steam ferry from thence to depot. There was no train leaving that night and by this time, it was getting late. Well, all passengers going that route had to stay until morning first train half past eight arrived at Chicago half past nine that night Saturday night. Then there was no train leaving there for New York until Sunday evening 15 minutes past five o'clock........

.......I started on the Michigan Central Railroad which runs along the edge of the lake perhaps 70 or 80 miles or less reached Lake Erie on Monday morning, crossed it on the steam ferry in the cars, and reached Niagara Falls about 12 o'clock. Stopped 20 minutes for dinner and passed slowly over the Suspension Bridge. It is a beautiful scene. Reached New Jersey Tuesday morning 7 o'clock. Crossed over to New York until Wednesday at 12 o'clock, had everything by this time. Came by steam ship "Wisconsin" on the Guion Line. She arrived at Queenstown Saturday evening just at dark. We had a view of the Irish Coast about 12 o'clock. Well, we reached Liverpool the next evening but could not cross the bar until the tide rose again. Well, she come in docks at 12 o'clock in the night we could not leave the ship until 8 or 9 o'clock. Started raining from 2 to 5 that evening. Well, it rained on Tuesday morning I walked about Hereford and got a little wet from which I think I caught cold. I was heartsick nearly half the way. It was very disagreeable. My ticket from St. Louis to New York cost $22.25; from New York to Liverpool $30, from Liverpool to Hereford 9 shillings, from Troy to St Louis $3.50. I did not keep a correct account of other expenses. There has been a great amount of wet weather here. It has been a fine week since I came. People have been busy cutting clover and hay.

James Eames

Dear Brother,

I now take the opportunity to answer your kind and welcome letter, which I received two weeks ago. I was very glad to hear from you You said I had not wrote to you since I came home but I have. I wrote all the letters to Henry (Eames) and you, and thought you would see them. Believe me just the same as if I had wrote to you alone but if you want to hear from me alone, I shall write to you hoping it will find you and Henry well as it leaves me. At present only I have a little toothache.
I came up here to try the works a little as I have not settled myself in anything to suit me yet. Perhaps, I shall try some little business up here after a little while if the works keep on favorable. As they have now started again after a long strike since Christmas. Really, all the works of South Wales have been stopped 70,000 hands have been out of employment but now they seem to be all started again. I can get 4 shillings per day here now and work 7 turns a week and the chance of making extra. Lizzie's brother James Davis is here with me. He is well and Liz when I head from her only she has the toothache very bad sometimes. Mrs Davis was pretty well. Liz is at home with her where I have made my home since I came back. Liz and me thought to have got to ourselves before now but our luck has not been for us to be so yet. I would like to get what little money is coming to me and that with what we can muster up here, will start us pretty well. Thought sure Henry would have been able to send me some more before this time but I suppose times is no better than when I left. I was working down close to home when your letter came. Liz read it to me when I came home to supper. She said she was going to write to you soon.

I have some little news to tell you. Ann Jenkins was married on Saturday last to a young man by the name of Thomas Probert, a brother to young James Pugh's wife. He is about 21, tolerable steady young man I believe. They are staying with James Pugh. Ann has been keeping house for James since his wife died. James is doing very well. Ann is going to write to you. I was to remember her to you. James has been working at one of the blast furnaces as a filler here at Beaufort since we left. He has been making from 30 to 45 shillings per week according to how many tons of iron was run out of the furnace. His pay was by the ton.

James Eames

Dear Brother,

You will think I have quite forgotten you not answering your letter sooner but better late than never. I suppose I received your letter on March 30 and was very glad to hear from you and that all things are quite satisfactory so far. I wrote an answer to your letter soon but never posted it. I did not have it to post and I have kept putting it off until now.
I hope you have enjoyed good health and I have since you heard from me; thank God for it. I was very glad to hear that all the folks were well there with you and also the relatives many miles from you. Please remember me to them all and tell them that I am enjoying myself first class. I have my good health and I am not working hard. I am taking things quite comfortable. I am working at the same place but I am not living at the same place. I am now boarding at James Pugh's. He has moved to one of his new houses, which is near where we work. He is married again to Miss Mary Moore, you recollect her do you not? So I have a very comfortable home only us three in the family but I don't know how long I may stay here if I see a chance of bettering myself.
I had a letter from Emily Powell last week. They were all well and sends their regards to you. John Jenkins and family are all moved to Cardiff from Tredegar, Wales. Ann is left a widow with two little girls since last March. She was here at James Pugh's last week she was well. James Pugh's father and mother are pretty well at present. They live in Beaufort, yet I have not heard much from Michaelchurch.
Isaac Phillips is still at the Rhydybach and I heard that he had the place where his Uncle Richard Moss had. He, Richard Moss, sold off and went to New Zealand and is doing well. Ann Pugh is living as a housekeeper at Llanrossor, Michaelchurch. Now she was at the Quakers last year with the Morrises that used to live there.
Well, the weather is beautiful here now for haymaking. There is a great deal commenced about Abergavenny. The crops are fair, I believe, considering a late cold spring. The winter was very long and severe. Trade is very slack in the iron and coal all the time. Well, I have not much news for you.

James Eames

115 Worcester St East
Brynmawr, Breconshire,
Wales
June 12, 1883

My Dear Brother & Sister,

I cannot tell you with what joy I received your kind letter on the 28th of May last and also on June 8th. I can assure you it was highly appreciated to think that you should send assistance such a number of miles to a person you never saw but you have the same mind as my dear husband. Oh, if he could but know what care is taken of me and his dear children whom he was so widely passionately fond of. It seems such a long time for me but he is forever out of my sight. What a cruel thing is death; it steals into all classes but whoever it goes, it casts a gloom for many a long weary month.
Jonny does not talk much of his Dada now but he was for a long time asking when it would be Saturday for the funeral or come and fetch his Dada back to have supper. It was very hard to make him believe he never would see him again, but I told him one day he never would. And he only said, "Oh, well then, Mama, I will be your Daddy now and work like he did and give you all the money like him and all". So you see, he is a little Eames in nature. He is a very bright youth and goes to school regular. James used to say he would make a clever man for his Dada & I think he will but his poor little father will not have to see it.

My Dear Brother I would have written to you before but the money order was made payable at New York instead of Brynmawr. So we had to send it to London and they returned it to Brynmawr Post Office and I received the £2 — 1s — 1d this morning for which we all return our sincere thanks to you and your dear wife. I should be so glad to receive your photo. You mentioned in your kind letter about making a home for me and my family with you in America. I am sure it is very kind of you really, but my dear parents would feel it very acutely, to part with me and especially the little ones. I have always lived next door to them and was never from home only to have a change of air in the summer times so you.......

10^th December 1899

........ I want you to instruct L. Henry to come this way on his return from Old England as I would like to see him also, I would like while he is in England to go to Brynmawr and look after Bro. James two children. I am of the opinion that John R. Eames is over in Africa as a British soldier fighting the Boers and he may be one of the many slain in that terrible struggle. I have not heard from him recently.
Did you receive the photos I sent to you last winter? You never stated in your letters I sent four. If I remember correctly, one of J. R. Eames photo. Since I began this letter, I received a letter from JRE [John Richard Eames] and was very glad to hear from him. He stated he was married and was living at Brynmawr and Nellie was in Cardiff. He had given up the life of a soldier for some time. He married a short time after he became 21. I would like to see those children come to America.........

............May God be with you till we meet is my prayer.
As ever E.S. Eames
A merry Christmas to you and a happy new year to you all.

1902

........ Just received a letter from Nellie Eames. She is now about 18 and a very nice looking girl. She also sent her photo. She looks like my youngest girl very much. John R. Eames had a long spell of typhoid fever but is well again. He failed to come to USA last summer — lack of ample means I suppose was the reason. I think they will come before many years.
Well, Sarah I have passed the half-century milestone in my life and you almost 54, and I hope you are feeling much better than when you wrote last.
May God be with you till we meet is the prayer of your devoted Bro & Sister
E.S. & Cora Eames

1907

........ We also received a letter from Nellie Davis. They were all well living at Beaufort yet. Jack or John E. has been studying for the ministry in the Baptist faith..........

1912

........ Brother James [Eames] maiden name was Fanny Castle Wornall. Three children were born to them, 2 of whom are living. John R. and Nellie, both married and have families. They live in Beaufort. Fanny married again, a Mr. Jenner of Beaufort. To them were born 13 children, 11 of whom are living. Fanny died about 3 years ago. She was a very good woman from the acquaintance I had in correspondence with her, a loving and sacrificing mother. Her trials in life were no doubt many. She was about 54 or 55 when she died..........