“My darling wife…”A Letter from Stephen Mather to Jeanie Floy Mather

In a large trunk in the recesses of the Homestead attic is an envelope marked: “Letters Concerning Wedding and Wedding Trip of S.T.M & J.F.M & their confirmation certificates.” In that envelope is a letter Stephen wrote to Jeanie about six weeks after their wedding. It is on

the stationery of the National Hotel in Washington D.C. and was addressed to: Mrs. S. T. Mather, 129 W. Grand St. Elizabeth N.J.

Here, in time for Valentine’s Day, is the letter in its entirety:

Nov 22, 1893

7:30 P.M.

My darling wife

Your dear letter was waiting for me when I went down

to breakfast this morning and you don’t know how much I

appreciated it after my lonely night.

I must make this short dearest because I am going to

call on the Knights this evening. I saw Capt. Knight at the Army

building for a minute or two. I have had fairly good success

today. I have been busy right along.

I am going to start back at 9:40 tomorrow morning

and reach Phila. about 1 o’clock. I will leave there about 3:30

and reach Eliz Penn road (if train is on time) at 5:48 PM just

in time for supper.

Good by dearest wife until tomorrow

With a great deal of love From your husband

Stephen T.M.

Note: The Elizabeth New Jersey Penn Station was at 11 West Grand Street in Elizabeth, NJ., very near where Stephen and Jeanie were living at the time.