February 5 Friday – Sam wrote from Elmira to his mother and family, informing them that he was:
“…duly & solemnly & irrevocably engaged to be married to Miss Olivia L. Langdon, aged 23 ½, only daughter of Jervis and Olivia Langdon of Elmira, New York. Amen.”
Sam told the family of his possible purchase of a part interest in the Cleveland Herald, that the marriage with Livy might take a “good while” as he was not yet “rich enough,” and of Livy setting:
“…herself the task of making a Christian of me. I said she would succeed, but that in the meantime she would unwittingly dig a matrimonial pit & end by tumbling into it—& lo! the prophesy is fulfilled.”
Sam also sent word of his engagement to Mary Mason Fairbanks

My Dear Mother— / Your blessing! It is accomplished. We are engaged to be married., & the date of it is Feb. 4, 1869. Livy wants the date engraved in the ring. I perceive, now, that she has no finger large enough for the ring we selected. So she will lend me one of her rings to be guided by, & I will hand it to you on the 12th inst. The one we got will answer for a bracelet, though—or a necklace. She is small. There isn’t much of her, but what there is, assays as high as any bullion that ever I saw. All we need, now, is your blessing, Mother … [MTL 3: 86].