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Sacramento Decr 4, 1856 

My Dear Brother Joseph

Your kind and affecting letter containing news of our dear Father's decease reached me in due 
season, and should have been answered before this but for the fact that my time has been closely 
occupied with matters of business. And even at this time, the leisure moments at my command are 
so few that I fear I must bring my letter to a close before saying the one half that I would like to say. 
The sad news was very unexpected to me, for though Father's advanced age would naturally 
admonish us that in all human probability his stay upon Earth would not be protracted many years 
longer, yet when he left Palmyra with mother for New England the prospect of there being so much 
enjoyment in store for them, was so high, that no shadow or presentiment of any disappointment 
on that journey came over my mind. And after receiving your letter, giving extracts from Mother's 
New York letter, the fact that father's health was as good as usual, together with the gratifying assurance 

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that they had arrived safely among old friends and relations, led me to expect by the next mail, a long 
and detailed account of their joyous and happy reception in West Springfield, without the occurrence 
of any untoward or unfortunate incidents.

While in this state of expectancy, the news suddenly and without a shadow of warning came, that he 
had passed forever away from the scenes of earth and would no more be restored to the bosom of 
his once happy family.

The loss of such a parent, guardian and protector as he, who can estimate? It is a loss we can all 
most deeply feel but no words can measure its extent. But few children have known a parent so uniformly 
kind, indulgent and devoted as he. None ever had a more watchful and anxious guardian of their highest 
and best interests, and although we may have often failed to appreciate properly in his life time the great 
value of his guardianship and counsel, yet now that he is gone forever we are forced to feel how great a 
treasure has been taken from us.

That our lives may be as useful, as upright and pure, and our last moments as calm and peaceful as his, is 
my earnest and sincere prayer.

Laura and myself have both written to mother. I trust that you have omitted nothing that will tend to console 
and strengthen her under the severe affliction which has fallen upon her, with even greater and more crushing 
weight, than upon her children. Give our love to her & to Fanny and to all the rest.   Excuse the brevity of this 
epistle and let me hear from you soon. Yours affly.   E.G. Winchell.