D. K. Fink's Letter of October 15, 1856 discusses his friends and family before he speaks of his thoughts on marriage and children. Fink states, "I think living single is good for my health, adding I wouldn't live with nary woman on Gods Green Earth that would hav [sic] a child much less one that would hav [sic] 2 at a time."

After noting the prices that he has seen for crops and farm animals, Fink mentions an illness of chills and fever that has been passing through the area. He says that "in some houses evry [sic] one of the family dow [sic] and not one able to help the other, out of 9 cases in one family 7 dead."

Fink closes his letter with a discussion of his recent reading interests. After a brief observation about religious practices in the area, Fink expresses his dislike of politics, noting "I study Pollitics [sic] some, But sir I am no man for politics, because i dont believe i could ceep [sic] my religioun [sic] and argue pollitics [sic] - I am of the opinion that the people had better all pray more and talk less about pollitics [sic] and such." He also provides his opinion on the 1856 Presidential election, stating "I think that any of the candidates for presidency at the present time hav [sic] committed suficient [sic] crime in the their antecedent proclivities to incur the displeasure and disapprobation and of their Good and merciful Deity to cause him to evellop [sic] them in distress and torment forever if they dont repent."