TRANSCRIPTION:

Dunbar, Fayette Co Pa
August 4, 1872

Mr. Eli Williams Sir I
am Seated to write you a
few lines, to let you know
that me and Joseph is both
well at present hoping this
will find you and all the
rest well we have plenty of
work to do and good wages
me and Joseph is both Grant
men we have become citizens of
this state and we are going to
in vote the radical ticket and we
want you to do the same.
I don't know when we will be up
I want you to write me a long
letter and tell me all the news
I have no news of
importance to write for we
have been at work since we
landed back we are both as
me and you were in the army
I am damed glad that I have got
a good butty give my respects
to all of my friends if there
be any I will hope in a minit
to write to my girl
Write and tell me all
the news you can
Yours and --
Z. K. Nuzum

     The recipient of the letter, Eli Williams, also served in Company "F" 12th Infantry. Prior to the war, Eli lived in Nuzum's Mills, Marion County. There were numerous Nuzum families in the area.

     Zadoc Nuzum says in the letter that he and Joseph were "Grant men." Here is a brief historical perspective:

     Late in the administration of Andrew Johnson, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant quarreled with the President and aligned himself with the Radical Republicans. He was, as the symbol of Union victory during the Civil War, their logical candidate for President in 1868.
     When he was elected, the American people hoped for an end to turmoil. Grant provided neither vigor nor reform. Looking to Congress for direction, he seemed bewildered. One visitor to the White House noted "a puzzled pathos, as of a man with a problem before him of which he does not understand the terms."

1860 Census, District 2, Marion County, (W)Va.
#342-328
Albert S. Nuzum, 54, Miller, b Va
Sarah, 36, b Pa
Lewis S., 21, b Va
Zadoc, 17, Laborer, b Va
William, 15, Laborer, b Va
Phebe, 13, b Va
Virginia, 11, b Va
Elizabeth, 6, b Va
Henry, 2, Va
Margaret, 1, Va

     Zadoc K. Nuzum applied for a pension (219.418), date unknown, but did not receive a pension. Perhaps he died because his father, Albert S. Nuzum, filed for a pension (416.496), based on Zadoc's service. There is no certificate # for him either.