[I know the postmark says 1886, but the dateline really does look like 1884! Paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]Buffaloe Prarie Oct 22nd 1884
Dear wife
I am now at Uncle Sams, arived [sic] Yesterday noon have sofar [sic] carried out the plans of my trip in course but not in time I left Pitts in the Evening had the entire Clock in the seeper [sic] got to Chicago at 8. A. M. stoped [sic] at Shermen house an elegant house 3.00 per day got a Carriage and called for Gertrude spent the balance of the day driving through the Citty [sic] it is the most beautiful Citty I have ever seen there is nothing on tthis continent that is its equal every thing about it is on a magnificent scale I drove up to where Gertrude was on Michigan Avanew [sic] the wedth [sic] of the avenew [sic] the smooth surface all swept with brooms the sides of the street lined with the most expensive stone Residences apparently as if their only object was to excell [sic] all others presented to me a scene of magnificent grandure such as I never before saw[.]
Gertrude complained of coald [sic] and not verry [sic] well Miss Sterret [sic] was in the Citty I was to see her at the Shermen House did not get there at the appointed time consequently failed to see her now Gertrude writes me to come there and spend the night going home which I hardly will do. Was at Mendota had to spend two nights at R. Woods (he met me at the station) did not intend being but one night there but they had invited all their children home to meet me it rained in the morning about nine (9) oclock commenced blowing a terrible gale up to evening and none of them came so I lapsed the time or spent it with Reuben wife and Linny left there at five o clock for R Stecks will have to close John Kistler is here to see me Uncle Sam has his horse and buggy ready and wating [sic] my visite [sic] sofar has been all that I possibly could desire have always been met at the station at horns [?] they were wating for the three days previous the trouble is to get away[.]
I am now here at William Sloans this and Castles is all I have seen yet cannot tell how long I will be here will go next week to Gelmones [?] and will be at home for the Election have been in excellent health since I left Home to day I feel some what suffy and cut my visite some shorter as Uncle is verry figity and is wanting to start will close with a sence [sic] of Yearning affection and Love to all[.]
affectionately Your Husband
Jo Robbins