San Francisco
Nov 6, 1877
Dear Mrs. Morton
It seems impossible to realize the fact that your noble husband and our dear friend has been taken from us in the prime of manhood and when he reached the proud distinction of the highest and most honored men and statesmen of this great nation. Millions of people grieve with you and yours in this great bereavement. Millions of his countrymen sympathize with his family in their great loss.

If anything can mitigate your great sorrow, it is the commiseration that he died mourned by a nation whose love he had now by honest integrity. How fervid we shall ever be of the great and good name and fame of Oliver Perry Morton. We have attempted to pen a telegram to you but would not express in a few sentences our sorrow for this such event.

Here on the Pacific coast where we all know how the sad news fell (and was experienced) in a degree only reserved to that of Lincoln's death. Flags were lowered to half-mast in this city and in the Harbor ships of every nationality lowered their respective flags in the same manner.

To you it has been a terrible experience and it is a wonder to us how you have passed through it all without being completely worn out.

Your dear boys will be a great comfort to you as well as the real and tried friends that your trial has developed. It will be a sad blow to your dear boy who is far away in his lonely island and doubly so that he could not have been with you during his father's illness.

Mrs. Bee visits the children often and they come to our house. You don't know how good they are and what kind of friends they have. I can think of nothing that can be done that is not done for them.

In conclusion, I cannot find words by which we can convey to you our heartfelt grief at this time of your great sorrow you have lost a dear husband your children a dear father and our best and dearest friend whilst a whole people mourns the death of a great statesman and honest man. Accept our love and call us among your best friends.

Yours truly
F. A. Bee
Mrs. Bee
P. S. We expect to hear from John the last of this month by a small vessel then down from Ounalaska.
F. A. Bee