L O Brien 121 South Clinton Street, Chicago Feb. 1st	Names
To Mr. Wm Coogan	William Coogan
Dear friend, you cannot but say I am ungrateful to you on account of my sorry stillness and I admit myself that I am. But my dear friend, circumstances has often times got something to do with friendly communication. I have been away out of Chicago in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and left your address after me in Chicago. I am returned again.
Well to commence with I want to know if [your?] mother yet lives. I have had so many visions of Hugh and mother that I think there is some change in the family. I never dream of anyone so much as I do of you and of Ballyloughan and I cannot account for the reason. I am pretty well myself and I hope you all are the same. I have seen a good deal of rough and tumble life since you left me on the cars at Jersey. But I think I am able for it all. It would take a smarty to fool me.	Catharine Nolan Coogan? Hugh Coogan & his mother, Catharine Nolan Coogan
Jerry Maher is back in this city again. He called  at my boarding house some time ago. He is in the Medical Rush College studying for a degree.  It makes me feel big of my countryman. I trust he may succeed in his undertaking. He is stopping with Mrs. Kearney on Hope St. Terry Long Nat's sister. Old man Walsh Carpenter is 4 weeks dead. He died a miserable if you can illustrate Brien Rourke the faggot tender. He looked just like him. He died with [heat?]  Kit is 75 degrees bolder than you ever thought she could be. She turned her father out. He was buried by a collection. I am sorry the old man ever came to this country. If he was left to home on the corner of tenants' field he would get along better. Give my kind regards to Matt and the old woman Mary Meany as she was best known to me by that name, also P. Byrnes, your brother Mr. P. Coogan and I hope the Doyles are all [well] and that your condition and theirs are more friendly. If convenient let me know of either of the Mssrs. Byrnes as there is a man by the name of Murphy [of?] Bray wants to know to their whereabouts. He says he went to school with them. I mean my greenhorn passenger mates.	Jeremiah Maher Mrs. Kearney Terry Long, Nat’s sister? Mr. Walsh, carpenter, and daughter Kit Mathew Coogan Mary Meany Byrne and P[aul?] Byrne? Patrick Coogan Margaret & James Doyle and family Paul Byrne and James Byrne? Mr. Murphy of Bray
Paper enclosed: Mr. Laurence O Brien 809 West Madison Chicago, Illinois	Laurence/Larry O’ Brien