Mt Sterling    August 16    1891
Dear Son and Daughter
i take my penn in hand to anser your kind letter to let you no how Whe are.  Whe are Well at presant and i hop you are the sam.  i mashed my foot taring up the Saw mill about a Month ago and it has got Well all But my Big toe.  it is awfel Sor yet.  i gess i mashed the Boone in the joint.  i have Bin Running a engine to thrash and We have quit and gon to SaWing again up aBove Durzy.  i Run the engine for Gorg a lot.  he took the Mill from Wm GROVES again.  Tell

Father

Isaac STAGE, b. 1805 in Newton, NJ. He lived until at least 1899; my grandmother remembered her great-grandfather well.

i got a letter from

William

Who is William?

Working theory: His mention is directed to Isaac with a sense of familiarity; there is no last name.
He comes up again later in this letter. It would seem that he's family.  John's only living male siblings at this point are Edward T. STAGE and Charles E. STAGE. 

and thay Was Well then. 

Helen

Helen Augusta (WOOD) STAGE, my great-grandmother.

i Would like See you and

the children.

The children: Tessie Viola (STAGE) DARCY and Nellie Avis (STAGE) RUPPEL, my grandmother.

 Tell Tessy She must Save granpop a grat Big kiss and Dont lett enyone have it.  you Wanted to no if your par treas Was living.  tha are and groing.  i Sat out 2 plum treas in the yard and tha are groing.  your grap vine and quince Bush is groing and your apel treas is groing to.  i Wish you Was hear to tak car of them.  i keep your treas trimed and Watch them.  thare is no apels on them.  Saly BOLEN Was out to our House Somtime ago.  She Was Well.  it is Raining Hard hear noW.  it is 25 minets to 5 oclock now.  Whell i Will Close By Biding you all good by.  My love to you all and all inquiring Friends.  Writ soon.
From your Father John A. STAGE to his Son and Daughter A.J. and Helen STAGE.

Since My Wifes Dead and Gone

Not bad.
John's wife, Mary (KNAPP) STAGE, passed in November of 1891
  (a later letter from Emma (STAGE) REDDING confirms this)
... so where she spent the last months of her life is something of a mystery.
John does remarry (in case his depression was a concern).

in that Dear old villig Church yard

there i See a Mossy mound

That is Where my Wife Sleeping

in the Cold and Silent ground

Gently Waves the Weeping Willow

Birds there Warbling at DaWn

But my heart is Sad and lonely

Since my Wifes Dead and gone

 

in that Dear old villige church yard

oft i Stray With heart forlorn

For theres no one left to love me

Since my Wifes Dead and gon.

 

i Was old but i remember

Well the night my Wife Died

When i Watched her Spirit fading

till She called me to her Side

Saying darling i must leave you

Angel voices guide me on

pray that We ma meet in heaven

Where your Wifes Dead and gon.

 

oft i Wander to that Church yard

FloWers to plant With tender car

on the grave of my dear Wife

Darkness finds me Weeping there

Looking at the Stars above me

Waiting for the heavenly daWn

there is no one left to love me

Since my Wifes Dead and gon.

Helen i Want you to Write this off With ink So you Can read it and Sing it to me if Whe Evr See each other again.  This is composed By your Dear Father

To Helen STAGE
kiss the Children For me.  i are hear alone. 

ida and Stella

Ida Mae (STAGE) WILLOUGHBY, John's daughter.
Viola Estella "Stella" (STAGE) BARBEE, John's daughter.

is to ANKRAMs.