Below is a picture of the original letter and a translation of that same letter.
Included below the translation is the picture of the original envelope.

Translated by Loek van der Heijden

Notations within brackets { } are added notes made either by the translator or by Jean herself and are not part of the original letter.

Wright Town, the 16th March 1885,

Beloved family

I can not forbear just to let you know, how it's going with me here in America, because I have already passed my 81 years on 10 March, and now I should like to know how it goes here (he means there LvdH), whether my brothers an sister are still alive or not. There will probably be some people in the family, who will remember, that I and my wife and five children departed from Dinxperlo 35 years ago. I then arrived at Boston. There I have been a "koeper" (cooper? LvdH) for 7 years. The I had earned 700 dollars and with that I travelled to the west and bought myself 80 acres of land and that I sold three years ago. I have my third wife and she has 7 children, from which one daughter has married last year. she was 18 years {The Children were all THEIRS. JR} old. Furthermore I let you know, that I have hundred acres of land, 5 cows, 6 head barren cattle, four horses, one 8 years old, one four years old, one two years old and one from one year old. I am old and the children are young, but I am doing the most with machines. I have a grass-mower and a seed-mower, a sowing-machine and a rake-machine. They cost a lot, almost 300 dollar, because the wages are also more expensive then in Holland. Here one can earn good money. If it should be, that in the family, there are people, who want to come over to live with us, whether married or not married, they can work by me, and if they aree married I will let her live on the sixty field {or acres? LvdH}. The usage here to let build {or grow LvdH} for the half, then the ownner gives nothing more, but I will join the machines and also two horses and everything belonging to the use of horses like the horse harnass on the horse-wagon, plough, harrow, .......... etc. Firewood, don't you think about it, there is plenty. Now I will just request you, that you just let me know who cultivates the land on the "Brinkenveld". I do not know better than that it is still mine, because I have sold the house, but not the land. Furthermore I do not know much news to write, ten that I personnaly am determined to once come over to you if the good Lord let me keep my health. The land that I sold three years ago I had to mis, but where I am now it goes good wthout. Now I end with the pen but not with my heart and then just the greetings to all my friends and acquaintances, for I hope that you will receive this letter in good health.
In expectation I remain your brother or uncle, who calles himself Hermanus Finkenvleugel
Now I expect a soon answer please.
The adress is not Hermanes Finkenvleugel but just
Herman Fink
Wrights Town Brown
Furthermore, o yes, I had almost forgotten from my children from my first wife. The oldest son has been married in Boston, but he died and has left a wife and three children, Johanna is in Origon, Gertruida is in New York, Hendrikus died in the war and therefor I become my pension of 8 dollars each month. The youngest daughter {Maria Magdalena?? LvdH} is in Arkansas. {This is my great Grandmother} Those who live are all married. The youngest daughter has 13 children, from which two are married.

Herman Finkenvleugel and Ana Maria Lauterbach from Kobelens (I think this must be Koblenz in Germany LvdH).

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