Blackwell Family Henry B. Blackwell Stone, FrancisDear Father [*Stone] Cincinnati May 27, 1835 As Lucy has written a long letter to Mother with only a little message to you, I shall try to make it up by writing a few lines to you - We are living very quietly about 2 miles from the City on a piece of land only 125 feet front by 300 feet deep - We have a brick house of some seven, or eight rooms & quite a pleasant garden with a number of fruit trees and one or two fine shade trees - opposite is a piece of woodland and on one side is Lane Seminary with about 10 acres of land laid out as a public square. This makes the Residence very pleasant. We are on high ground some two hundred feet above the Ohio River valley and thus escape the fog and vapor which makes the City less healthy. As there is no wet land, nor standing water near us, Lucy will run no risk of having chills and fever, or any other bilious complaints. We are living with my mother, one sister and two brothers. Every morning my business calls me to the City where I remain[ing] until evening - Lucy has only been twice to the City since we got home . It will take her some time to wear out those handsome dresses at that rate. This country looks very beautiful in the spring, which is six weeks earlier than with you. Farmers are now about to cut their hay and in two weeks will cut their wheat. But there is generally a long spell of dry weather in June and July which burns up the grass and dries up all the streams. This dry weather prevents our mowing from being as good as yours. There is considerable tobacco raised in the vallies of this part of the country, but the greatest crop is getting to be the grapes - All our steep hill sides are being gradually terraced and planted in vineyards. The vines are run on poles about six feet high like beans & are pruned down very close. The crop is rather uncertain. Generally about one good crop in five years and fourhalf crops are what they get. The vines are mostly Catauba. The amount of wine which they make varies according to the season from Fifteen hundred gallons to one hundred gallons to the acre. This wine is worth one dollar per gallon and as the crop will average from hundred gallons, you may guess that wine making is a good business. One man can easily tend five acres of vineyard. I am afraid the use of the native wine will make a great many get into the habit of using whiskey afterwards, but as it is so profitable, I suppose that it will become very general. About 800 000 gallons were made in this County last year. I describe this making of wine, because I suppose you, as a farmer, will be interested in such matters. We hope to have Sarah with us this summer. The refuge is built on low, wet ground saturated with the water of the Miami Canal, which runs around the hill side on a higher level than the buildings. It is therefore not very healthy, especially for a stranger and the food is not very good. So, I am very glad that Sarah will quit teaching in the school next week and shall try to persuade her to spend the summer with Lucy. Lucy looks well and though she says that "Lucy Stone is dead", she looks so much like her, that you would find it difficult to tell the difference -- With love to mother & Bowman & all the family believe me dear sir - Your friend Henry B Blackwell half crops are what they get. The vines are mostly Catawba. The amount of wine which they make varies according to the season from Fifteen hundred gallons to one hundred gallons to the acre. This wine is worth one dollar per gallon and as the crop will average four hundred gallons, you may guess that wine making is a good business. One man can easily tend five acres of vineyard. I am afraid the use of the native wine will make a great many get into the habit of using whiskey afterward, but as it is so profitable, I suppose that it will become very general. About 800 000 gallons were made in this County last year. I describe this making of wine, because I suppose you, as a farmer, will be interested in such matters. We hope to have Sarah with us this summer. The refuge is built on low, wet ground saturated with the water of the Miami Canal, which runs around the hill side on a higher level than the buildings. It is therefore not very healthy, especially for a stranger and the food is not very good. So, I am very glad that Sarah will quit teaching in the school next week and shall try to persuade her to spend the summer with Lucy. Lucy looks well and though she says that "Lucy Stone is dead", she looks so much like her, that you would find it difficult to tell the difference. With love to Mother & Bowman & all the family believe me dear Sir Your friend Henry B Blackwell [*H.B.B. to Father Stone 1855*]ready and accompany you down here __ I think you would enjoy the change and we have plenty of books and pictures and a warm, sunny house where you could be very comfortable __ It would give Lucy and me very great pleasure if you could come down & stay with us just as long as you choose __ Lucy could save you all the trouble of cooking and mending and keeping your room in order & when you wished to walk out Alice would always be glad to go with you __ You could advise us about our farm and see how things are going on __ We enjoyed Sarah’s visit very much but wished that it could have been prolonged __ Hoping you are all well & with love to all the friends I remain Yours truly Henry B. BlackwellCongress Steam Sugar Refinery 345 Washington St. New York Jany 7 1862 Dear Father [*(Stone)*] Lucy's letter has been delayed a week and meanwhile I have returned home and now add a few lines. On my return last Saturday night I found Lucy & Alice both well. But on Sunday Alice took a severe cold and has since been quite sick but is getting better. I had a pleasant trip in the West and have no doubt but that money can be made making sugar from the beet at the present high prices. When the warm spring weather comes I want you to come down & visit us. If you wish, Lucy can then come up & help you get