Kane County, Illinois - Letters of James C. Hanks, 1908

Letters of James C. Hanks

The following are authenticated letters of James C. Hanks, the first white man who settled in the northern part of Kane County and who is credited with having written letters (possibly the same here presented) that induced tlie Giffords and other pioneers to come west. The series cover the period from 1834 to 1838. during which year Mr. Hanks died. His grave is still to be seen in the old cemetery at Elgin in Channing street, where the remains of his father, B. Hanks, are also interred. The originals, of which the following are true copies, are now owned by Mr. Arthur B. Hinsdell, by whose kindness they are here presented. The series show, as does no presentation of facts, the struggles of the pioneers, the conditions they met and the character of men they were.

After a stroll of three miles out of town to see the waters of the Mississippi. I find time to ease your anxiety for the present concerning your far distant son.

You, I suppose, have heard by John's leter that I started afoot and alone for the far West. From Chicago about fifteen miles west the land is poor and level; after this there is but very little level land to the Mississippi. For the first hundred miles in my travel I saw none but what was tillable and the greater part of it as fine a soil as I ever saw, the land just rolling enough for convenience and beauty. Since that not one-fourth of the country is tillable. It outdoes the turnpike for steepness and continuation of hills though not so high. I found the boys Tuesday noon within six miles of the highest settlers on Fox river. This handsome river is about fifty rods wide, a siiallow stream with gravel bottom. We spent two and a half days up the river looking for locations and in justice to the country I must say that in goodness it surpasses anything that I have yet seen ; so much so that I am perfectly satisfied with the choice I there made.

My claim and Elisha's are joining, six miles above any settlers and about three miles from the river on the east side on a stream of water about the size of Spaldings spring run with a grave! bottom, three feet bank, and dry. The land begins to rise from the banks. For beauty, convenience and goodness take the three together, and I think my choice surpasses any lands I ever saw. The soil when plowed up and wet is so black that it would be difficult to distinguish l)y the color between a pile of charcoal and of earth the distance of thirty rods. The prairie is on the creek, and timber back, which is an uncommon thing in this country. The prairie land rises from the creek about three feet in a hundred, the timljer more; for further particulars look at my map. John's claim is about ten miles from mine on the other side of the river in tlie settlement. His is a good claim; creek on one side. There is a chance for a number of good farms joining mine not yet taken. They are now running a straight road from Chicago to Galena, which will go somewhere between John's and my claim; then I shall not be more than thirty miles from Chicago. But from these pleasing news to my sad tale. The boys started for Chicago. I started for Galena alone; down the river for fifteen miles, the most of the way my road notliing but an Indian trail. I got witliin two miles of the Galena road and a man told me that if I would strike across the prairie I would gain two miles and would reach a house where tliey keep travelers.

About 4 o'clock, I had three crackers in my pocket, so I thought I would do without my dinner for the sake of gaining two miles. I soon reached the Galena road, the best one for walking I ever saw ; I pushed cheerfully along, not knowing any more about the road than you do, except that the houses were scattering and that it was necessary for a fellow to have his pockets full of provision, which I had intended doing when necessary. I kept the main road though there were paths ; put off until 5 o'clock looking for a house and I saw none. I began to mistrust that I might have come past it, but could not fully believe it until 7 or 8 o'clock, then I gave it up that I had passed it.

The prairies were afire all around me; I had to pass through one chain. A prairie fire is about as large and handsome as that hill fire which came from Mr. Farnum's two years ago. At 8 o'clock I came to a creek on the edge of the prairie, and as the prairies were from three to ten miles across, and finding some straw which assured me no house was near, I gathered the straw in one arm and found a bush in which I fastened my umbrella to break off the wind from me, I committed myself to the care of my Maker and laid down. Here you may think not to sleep, but I can assure you that I was not afraid and I slept half of the night. The fires that were burning on all sides of me at night had disappeared in the morning. In the morning I was faint from fasting, but moderately traveled on, expecting that I would soon find a house. My first prairie was about ten miles across, and half the way I could not see a tree in any direction. The smoke prevented my seeing more than three miles, when I espied a woods ahead. Hope revived and I pushed on in hopes of finding a house, but alas, I soon found to all appearance an unbounded prairie before me again. I gathered some acorns and passed on to a brook ; there sat down to breakfast on cold water and bitternuts. I traveled on till noon and then met a boy on horseback and from him I begged two small biscuits and found that I had but ten miles further to travel before I would find a house. Thus ended my troubles, except that my boots blistered my feet some. I reached the house between 3 and 4.

I again find time to answer your request to write often. Through the continued goodness of my maker and preserver I yet enjoy good health My privileges for attending meetings, &c have been pleasant I have not missed an evening for more than a week. Last evening I attended a prayer meeting then went to the Methodist watch meeting till past midnight this morning at daylight I again attend prayer meeting. Professors here are getting awake to their duty and I am in hopes the churches will be faithful that the Lord may come in pov^er

I can say of a truth the Lord has been kind unto me even since I left home, though an unreflecting glance at my history Looks hard, I have had strength of Body to surmount every hardship. Every undertaking I have laid before the Lord for him to direct me and the still small voice has told me I was doing my duty. Never before have I lived so long without a remorse for doing what I ought not to have done or leaving undone things I ought to do

I have made several attempts for an easier way of living than out doors work but in each have failed but was not disappointed for I knew that him who I chose for to decide the case would decide for the best

You will see where I spent monday and tues on my map above Chicago in making a claim for speculation in S. F. Spaldings name I have chopped, fenced, sowed and dragged a piece of ground, cut some house logs and begun a house so that if the preemption law is extended we shall gain a preemption and get our two lots of poor land at lo - the acre William you wished me to rectify my mistake about the Springs. Tell Elisha that there is a spring nearly as large as Uncle Zz within six rods of where we stuck the stake for his ploughing. There is dry land for building 6 rods below it where it might be carried in to the Lower windows

It will be 3 weeks tomorrow since I came from my farm and began work. I have earned $23.50 in the time but my Board makes a hole in it. C. Metcalf and myself will start in a day or two out on the Oplain (Desplaines) river to split Rails at 50 cents a hundred and be found.

The most I ask of you is to write 1/2 as often and half as much as I do. I can think of no more for the present only that you must be making preparations for the West and urging all honest friends with all the confidence you can put in me to come to the far west.

Our lattitude is but little south of you. I will give you my own opinion why we can raise larger corn here than with you. I think it is because of the black soil. You know that anything black will retain more of the sun's rays and become hotter than light colored. The ground becomes hotter and brings forward vegetation faster. If this looks reasonable to you you may believe. If not it is only an opinion of my own.

Tis true I love thee all thy scenes I love them well I have not much news so I will give you some of my views concerning these prairies you know my belief is that we live in an age of Improvement and that we ought not to take everything that everybody says for granted without looking at the reason

Hanks From Elgin

My opinion concerning tlie origin of these prairies is different from any person I have ever yet talked with on the subject It is the minds of all that they are formed by fire killing the timber but I believe that this opinion is without proof or foundation I believe that looo years ago there was not 34 as much timber here as there is now

We read in the bible that in old times they would drive their flocks to different parts of the country for pasture no person can doubt but what that country was blest with prairies I believe that from the hands of the Creator a large portion of the world was left without timber but no part of the Eastern country that I have seen has a rich soil enough to produce a growth of grass that by burning would kill the young trees and keep them from getting the start but here the fires on the rich soil kill the young trees. All the timber in this country is on the poorest land or swampy where fires cannot run as a general thing the further from the timber the better the prairie Where there is timber here there is not half as much dead timber as there is in Steuben further reasons I will bring with me Jany 26. Since my last with pleasure I acknowledge receipt of your, Sarahs, Jasons and Wm but have no news on hand to answer them I cannot say that I was pleased to hear of Jason's appointment for I think he could have done better to come here I am pleased with Wm singing and believe if he comes here in the Spring he will gain his health if he does not before Everybody here back in the country is hearty there is no cesation for cold weather by the new comers and claimers of lands Wm if you do not come in the Spring early I cannot answer for you a farm have one of uncle Elijahs Boys come if you can the claim I am trying to hold for Jason I shall try to hold still for some friend mention all the names who are coming in the Spring Wm Rumsey is boarding here with me he came here the other day took him a claim and is now to work on it 28 miles north west of Chicago he has a good claim but I do not like the river I have a week yet to stay here then I think some of going to mine we have not had more than two days yet but what it has thawed some for the last 2 weeks we have had rain and wet snow 3 or 4 days sleighing on about 3 inches of snow but is now all gone This letter is a hard case for all the time I have been writing there has been half a dozen or not much less talking and you know of old that I never could write where others were talking As ever J C Hanks

My absence from here longer than I had expected has prevented my writing as often as I should like. But as we cannot always do as we would I shall try to be contented with doing as I can I have been absent from here about 7 weeks and my situation has not been as pleasant as at your own comfortable tire side we had no hard winter weather until the first of Febr the first week in Febr was the coldest take the week through I ever knew though I quit work Init one day for the cold. Since the first week It has been come- fortable winter weather W'lien there was moveable snow with wind it was nothing uncommon to have the walls and floor white with snow the day that I lay by for the cold our fire did not thaw the snow and ice off from the with me our living was poor I am safe in saying that the poorest days board that I ever had in Steuben was better than the best I have had on the - plain river Why I staid was that I might learn the value of a comefortable living I could still have made good wages but could bare no longer to see others getting their farms fenced and mine untouched I expect that I shall have rather a lonely time for a few days or weeks I shall go and build a house and live bachellor hermitage The hardships of the past and the prospects a head has never yet drew from me one faint wish to be back or that I never had come but with as good health as I have had I am determined to fence and plough sow and plant 20 acres this Spring if \\"m can come in the Spring I shall make calculations on fencing 40 acres by the first of June My purse is light to form so strong a resolution on though my wages have been very good and I have not spent only where necessity called I cannot begin house keeping without running in debt you need not put yourself out to send me any money soon. If I have my health I will work it through. My clothes, seed, fall ploughing axe S:c has taken my money as fast as I could earn it your last which told of \\m. buying J's Lumber unhinged my calculations and expectations for a short time It causes me rather unpleasant feelings to give up the idea of your holding the claim joining mine but my hope of holding it for you until you return from down the river is very faint for new land claimers are beginning to come in droves W'm if you are very anxious to come and live in this country if it is as good as I have recommended I think you must come early in the Spring or you cannot suit yourself with a convenient farm do not think me homesick by urging you to come early in the Spring. I tell you as I have formerly that nothing but the love I have for the happiness and comefort of my nearest and dearest kindred would ever call me back again the thought some times comes into my mind that perhaps I am wrong in urging you to come so far when you are so comefortably situated there. It also looks as though I was trying to draw the property out of your hands and get it into my own the country suits me and I cannot content myself to come back and settle for life in Steuben what I have formerly said of the country I still think to be true It is not on my account that I could urge you to come but have looked at your comefort in old age I want you should act upon your own feelings. If it should be your choice to stay there and William will consent to stay with you I want you to do so but if you had rather come here it would suit me better Brother Wm If you think it best to stay there with your health again regained and continued you can have a comefortable living I want you to do as you think will best suit my dear parents you know their mind better than I do If you have heard Father say he had rather not leave Kennedyville you cannot suit me better than to lay out your money for the \\'heeler farm and make your selves contented or you cannot be happy. Nothing would give me more pain than to know you gave your selves uneasiness on mv account If you think best to stay there I have no claim but cm one dollar of \'onr property and could not recei^-e more without repaying with interest give your selves no uneasiness about me for the Lord is my helper your son

J C Hanks 2 1 St In 2 or 3 years it will be much the cheapest building of brick in this State The people here are of the cipinion that the preemption law will be extended in that case I shall be sure of mine at lo -per acre If I had not made my claim last fall and should go on now and make it I would not give 2/-per acre extra to have it warranted to me at congress price.

The nearest meeting house to Chicago is about 60 miles south was dedicated last Sabbath about 200 present and not one had lived in the place more than 20 months this speaks well of the rapid settlement of this country

\\'e Received your Letter sent from Warren was glad to hear 3'ou was well. I have Received a Letter from Genl. McClure and put my mind to Rest Respecting your holding the two claims all will be safe when you get there I also Received a Letter from Fanny Cline which gave me great satisfaction Also one from S. F. Spalding in answer to the one you began before you left fever and fever Ague which kept her Down about five or six weeks she is now smart again my health continues about the same as when you Left. I think the pain in my side Rather increases. I can do but verry Little Labour I have had one of Mrs. Hannas Boys with me about 3 weeks. I have finished my sowing and plainting and shall not hire any more until Having if my health continues as well as it is now. Eleanor is in the school again this Summer at $2 per week begun i May. Asahel & Eliza was out hear 2 weks ago all well. Jason started for the west 8 days ago in Company with Joseph Burnham He said he should come and see you before he come back. Expects to be gone until fall. I borrowed the $45 for him from Ostrander a few Days. I went Last Thursday to S. Mills and J. Smith and made out to get the amount. \ ha\e wrote to St. Louis and Chicago before. I expect to get a Letter from you in the morning from Pittsburgh or Cincinnatti. Times are very Dull here uow all are waiting for the Rail Road to be Located as you can hold both of your claims according to Genl. McClures statement I think you had best hold on upon these for we all have the Illinois fever and want to come there as soon as we can Dispose of what we have here, you must give my Respect to all inquiring friends. Mother and the Children join me in sending their Love may the Lord protect you and preserve your health and pore upon you the best of Heavenly blessings

I this evening sit down to write a few lines to my dear and only brother to let you know how much I miss you in our little circle especially when we sit down to sing We are very sorry to hear that you have been sick We are all better than we have been We received your letter Monday morning Pa & Ma & Sarah & I went to Branchport last week We received a letter from Asahel they are all well Sophia walks and talks some Eleanor is a keeping school yet I have not been more than two weeks this summer on account of sickness Jason has moved into Widow Chapins house they are all well We expect a new Minister here he is a comeing next Sunda\' Vincent McClure is a going to St. Louis in two or three weeks with his Uncle Wisner he thinks he shall come and see you Old i\Ir. Hastings died a few weeks ago and Mrs. Chapins babe it was about ten months old Diantha Smith is married to i\Ir. Fuller Minerva Howell is married to Mr. Underbill We are a going to clean the meeting house tomorrow Hiro Kennedy is not any better he has got the Consumption he is confined to the house most of the time you must write a great long letter to me It 'S so late that I cannot finish my letter to night

Thursday it rains some this morning I suppose that you want to know something about the fruit \\'e have not got any plums but we have got plenty of apples I should like to come out to Fox River and see the boundless prairies INIa says it is the lonesomest summer she has ever experienced for there has one of us been sick all the time with the Fever We have cleaned the meeting house today I want to see you very much Martha and Caroline is here tonight they all send their love to you and we all do to I must now to a close for I expect the Mail every minute so good

(you must not mind Lockys mistake in subscribing your name in the place of hers, we had some frost here night before last the fog prevented it from doing much injury)

Your letter of the 8th august was received on Monday last we were glad to hear that you were getting better of your sickness I hope you will be prudent and not work beyond your strength We have been severely afflicted with sickness this summer I have been unable to do any work for five weeks yesterday I about 2 acres of my got tired and quit at 4 oclock and Today am hardly able to sit up I have had the bilious fever and it hangs about me yet Togeather with a severe D I feel sometimes almost discouraged and ready to give up but when I Reflect that God is able to keep and support all that will put their Trust in him I try to be reconciled to my lot I have got through my harvesting had I think about 50 or 60 bushels of wheat and about a hundred bushels of oats my corn and potatoes 3 acres on the ground we t of will be as good as I could expect if the frost keeps off until the middle of Sept shall have a good crop of buckwheat it is very hard' hiring any one to work cannot get work done without paying the money our orchard back of the B is full this year and some consid in the other the grafts are full I want you should write to me the particulars of your bargain with Jason he says he let you have $53. and is to have one of your claims I think you have mised it if you have sold him one of your claims for that price when he says you could sell your claim for $1000. I think you had better sold to some person that would have given you the worth of the claim Jason says he shall not go to that country but will pay for the lot when it comes in market so you see That it is a mere p of speculation with him if you had sold one of your claims say for five Hundred Dollars it would have helped you to made improvement and paid for the other The Rail Road is not located yet they are surveying the Different Routs it will be located this fall we have now but faint hope of its coming this way I am obliged to sell the Wheeler lot for what I can get for it D says he must have the interest immediately Jason talks some of buying it I offered it for Ten Dollars an acre and that will leave me but about $80. If the Rail Road is located up the Canistro this wall be a hard place to dispose of property, but if it comes up this valley I shall be able to sell to good advantage Mother is gaining her health sloly Sarahetts health is verry poor this summer the Doctor has given her some stuff that she thinks helps her I paid of Dr. Case by paying fifty-one Dollars he thrown of Ten Dollars by my paying him $40. in money I thought best to do it although I had to borrow some I think I shall get along with it I think if my health gets better I shall sell the first opportunity write often Locky will tell you the Rest

You are not forgotten by me though you may think neglected I left town near four weeks ago and went into the country 25 miles South west to help the man I Board with here in town to do his haying and harvest. I expected to be gone but 2 weeks this has caused my neglect. I worked 26 days at haying and harvest and in the time I had but Yz days rest for wet weather price 10/- I have been very hearty since I wrote my last. All Steuben folks are well. I saw J. G. Higgins at church yesterday all well at his house. Truely your afflictions are great but precious promise that God does not afflict willingly but for our good. Be ye reconciled and faithful and God will be our friend I cannot say much in favor of onward progress of Christianity but I hope there is enough praying souls to save the country from a judgment. I am glad to hear that you expect a minister I have not lately heard from my claim but spring crops are coming in well. I am not much disappointed in Jasons account I thank him for the credit he gives the Fox River Country but I do not his asserting absolut no such things.

\\'inter wheat never until last winter failed in this country and the oldest settlers say that it would have stood then had it been sowed the last of August there is much wheat already sowed Spring wheat has always done well here average crops from 15 to 20. Just tell J that in this cold climate York State corn that was planted early was out of the way of frost in August ^Melons and punkins were also ripe in Augst now judge honestly whether it is a cold climate tell Jason probably he can get a farm up by the side of Elishas where the cold winds for many a year will not find his little opening. The money I had of Jason was not for a part of my claim nor did I give it to him only on conditions that he would move on early next Spring. I shall sell it I shall go out and sow some wheat in about a week. T r H

There was little frost here in August Ijut it done no injury I ha\e understood that it whitened the cornfields in some parts of Michigan. Sept 19 Dear Sister Locky Your Lengthy and welcome letter has just come to hand and I feel that I should not be worthy of being called your Dear and only brother should I delay answering it I must say Sis (not wishing to flatter you) that your letter is more to the point and better than both that I received from E & S, I have not news enough on hand to pay for yours, these verses for your Album (please write them in tu}' scrap book) are the most I can at present do. Sister I think that we shall not always be separated but shall have our little family singing circls and shall enjoy and prize them more than ever a pleasant family sing last evening made me think of my sweet sweet Home there is peaches and apples brought in here but they sell them high

Sister) i Though boundless space, doth part our clay, I see you often, at your play; Your tuning harp, I almost hear When eastern gales pass by mine ear.

Kind Father I am glad to see that you put your faith trust and hope on God in your afflictions both of body and of mind. I know by sweet experience that if we in faith do ask that lie will lend a helping hand in temporal as well as spiritual concerns Be thou not faithless but believing and you shall find help. I enjoy myself of late much better than I did when I first came here this spring though the cause of religion at large is very low. When I first came the Devil told me there was nothing in the wav I might soon get rich in time I found out that he wanted to involve me in business cares and anxieties that I might neglect my God I've told him I cannot buy his gold so dear nor part with heaven for him Of late my mind has been a perpetual calm I know of a truth that the Lord rules and reigns in my heart Nothing troubles me for the Lord will provide Father you know that it is customary with all Christians for to say that they just want enough of this world for a coinefortalile li\-ing and then they are going to do much more for the cause of rehgion O how man}' wih in this way have to answer for the sin that it is better not to than to and not perform I have made a covenant with my God that a certain sum is all that I ask and should I ever obtain to that sum all my increase shall then be given to the Lord and I hope that I may ever give when an opportunity olYers should I never attain the sum I do not know how nor where I shall spend the winter yet this gives me not a moments uneasiness for 1 know that the Lord will provide.

I believe I mentioned in my last your present request respecting my agreement with L H. S. it was understood that if he did not come on I would pay him the money and interest $50. the $3. note I will pay if I can collect it If it suits him I shall let Harris Butler have what Jason was a going to have at $1. an acre except the timber

I start in the morning for Fox River they tell me my corn is fit to cut up tell Jason to plant some of the large kind of corn that has the ears as high as a mans shoulders the ist of June in the warm climate of Steuben and see if it will be fit for harvesting the middle of Sept.

I am now spencHng my time xery pleasantly by my own fire side you may think it to be a lonely and very unpleasant life but I can say not so My God mv bible and my singing book are the best companions I ever enjoyed Were I to be separated from these or the society of man for this life alone I would say deprive me of the latter you probably think that my evening hours must be lonesome but could you unobserved see me spend my evenines I fear vou might envv mv lonelv retreat I have no more fears (or what we call being afraid) than though I were sitting by your own fire side I work till dark but not very hard then cook my supper when cleared up My Bible My God and Singing book are the best of all company I have kept house for two weeks and not one lonesome hour have I experienced Last Sabbath went to the river to meeting about 3>4 miles south west (the settlement at Elgin?) there is a very interesting bible class which they intend to keep up through the winter there is a dozen men of your own age engaged in it and I think you would enjoy the meetings then a sermon read I think there will be Methodist preaching in this neighborhood once a fortnight after conference I can not well get around flatly contradicting Jasons account of this so much admired country My potatoe tops were as green as in July until the 29th of Sept. My corn was not as ripe as I could have wished it was too large a kind for so late planting I cut it up before the frost and what there was of York State corn was dry and hard I do not believe there has ever been such a growth of corn raised in Steuben with as little labor T will let you know how much there is of it after I husk it

Oct TQth I have left off finishing this letter until now liecause Philo was a going home and you by him would hear from me I am well and very hearty my clothes are all getting too small for I think I am ten or 15 pounds heavier than I ever was in Steuben I know this to be a healthy country and nine tenths of the Eastern people that come here have better health than they ever before enjoyed I sincerely and honestly believe that it would be for your and the families health to come there has not been any agi-ie nor other sickness to speak of for miles around Marcus came here this morning and will be the bearer of this to Chicago he is hearty, and well pleased with the country he says it is very uncertain whether he ever comes back to Steuben to live. The fall has been very cold it is now snowing the ground is whitened

You still have a brother who loves you and is as willing to do your comfort and happiness as he ever has been Sister we should never know how much we loved were we always to remain with each other. I think of you oftener and of your need of a brothers care and advice than when I was first here.

I have got completely above cares and troubles for the things of earth I am no more my own master I am an hired servant to my Heavenly Father. I go to Him for advice in every thing of any importance spiritual or temporal and he is ever ready to give instructions and pay me for my labors And never when I have went to him for advice have I had to regret at doing amiss. Eleanor I have a great anxiety for your happiness and can not be reconciled to your spending your days in that hard hard country. In my travels and new acquaintances generally the first topic is to know what place one or both parties are from. My subject will be so new to you that it will be difficult for you to get my meaning. You recollect that about 10 years ago Howard & canistee were talked of only as miserable places with hardby civilized inhabitants. It was as much as we w-anted to know : he or they are howardites. I am not going to give the inhabitants of Steuben as hard a name as had the howardites but I will tell you it makes a difference in a mans being respected in travelling and forming new acquaintances wdiere he is from.

A most every person who has only a verbal Historical account of Steuben think it worse than it really is. To tell a person that I am from Steuben County the next question two out of three times is. that is a hard frosty mountainous country is it not? the people live mostly by lumbering and hunting dont they? But observe a traveller from the Genessee country and how altered the conversation he is at once considered as a man of natioml and agricultural intelligence and his companv is sought by the wise and

Nov. 2 1 St Sister I have got the start of you a little I had this letter begun before I received your jealous request. I expect now to touch your pride a little and I hope you will not hesitate to show this to friends because of what I am now about to write for I mean what I say. Father in his last complained of hard times and that it was almost impossible for him to raise money, to pay his debts, you may think me hard hearted but it was good news to me I shall soon be looking for an answer to my letter titled my last request for your removal and it would be happyer news to me to hear that your property was to be sold at Sheriff sale than to hear you had made up your mind not to come here I firmly believe that it would be for all of your healths to come here

Sister tell my dear parents that I shall almost consider thim them murderers of our beloved sister Sarah should her health continue to decline and they neglect to bring her here where I firmly believe they might in a few short months behold her blooming rosy cheeks I often think that this sorrowing world is not good enough for so pure a heart as Sarah yet we can not oh! no! we can not spare her

We have had a pleasant fall for doing fall work not more than lyz inches of snow at a time. I am scoring timber at $i. per day I have engaged to keep school in my own district this winter at $i8. a mo. all acquaintances except Sarah McClure were well when last heard from She is at Chicago her life is not expected

We received your letter of the 19th Oct with heartfelt gratitude that you were contented and happy in your lonely retreat we are all enjoying a good degree of health at present except Sarahett she is about as usual I was glad to hear that your Corn Crop was good. I have got along with my fall work as well as could be expected I made 9 barrels of cyder sold all but 2 for 14 & 16, - per Barrel Wheat is 14/- per bushel here Corn 8/- I have sold my Wheeler lot to Jason. Deavenport would wait no longer unless he could have the back interest paid and I could not pay it and thought best to sell it Jason gives me the Debt he had against you of fifty Dollars I have the writing you gave him with his Receipt on the back. Jason says he will build on it but I doubt whether he will. I wanted to pay the bank debt and have him pay that on Gansvort the $50.00 - but be would not take the lot on no other condition than turning the $50.00 to you which leaves me in the same imbarrisment as to my debts as before the bank will not renew the Note again I shall lia\e to pay it the 13th of Jany. and I owe Gansvort $80.

which he is threatening to sue f(.)r he has quit (writing worn off) I have paid (paper torn) Debt and am trying to make up the money for the bank which I must do as tlie bank does not discount a Dollar now. I have put up one barrel of Pork which I think will fetch me $20.00 and shall have about $20.00 worth of wheat to spare and how I am agoing to make out the money for Gansvort I know not but I must Trust to providence, if you sell a part of your claim or can work it any way to deposit $50. in the Bank at Chicago and send a check on (illegible) Bank it would relieve me frc^n my present imbarrisment Times are very Dull her now the Rail Road is not located here yet and we dont expect it now until Spring I am still of the opinion that I shall sell here the first opportunity and come to Illinois Eleanor and Sarahett are agoing to Pratsburgh to school this winter Caroline & Martha McClure are agoing with them they have hired a room of the Widdow Ellas for 50 cts. per week They board themselves we shall send them provisions by the mail man they calculate to stay about 4 months we shall be very lonesome without them this winter but we think it the best for them to go. our new Minister has moved on with his family he will be located some where in this Neighborhood, he is a very fine man and a good Preacher you must write the particulars as to your Crop of Corn and what you are doing there I think it not best for you to lay out too much Expense on your lot untill you are sure of the tit# we know not what may happen respecting the sale. Hinsdell and family are well they \^re out here about 3 weeks ago Philo S. says he likes your location well and says he thinks he will come to Illinois in the spring with his family If you cannot make it convenient to send the check you will write me respecting the s?.me. Do not sacrifice anything or spoil your calculations to send it as I think there will be some way to pay it if we will put our Trust in him who is able to deliver us out of all our troubles. Sarah thinks her health better than it has been she thinks she shall be able to attend school this winter Your Mother and the girls send their love to you and say you must write often our friends and Neighbors are all well. John H says he shall certainly go to Illinois in the spring.

E. C. M. & S. your welcome letter reached me after a two months passage, And with great satisfaction I have many times perused it. I was much pleased to learn that you were spending the winter so agreeably and profitable. The Lord^e praised foj^he health you enjoy especially for the improvement of Sarah. My health is and has been through the winter as good as it ever was. All friends here as far as I know are well. I still believe this to be as healthy a country as any part of the United States. 1 closed my school Feb 24th The weather and sleighing was good which it was necessary I should improve in getting out my rail timber, which is my present business. I have a heavy spring's work before me but I shall try to take it by the foretop. I intend to put in to spring crops 22 acres a part of which it to fence. You

Hanks were settled here on adjoining farms. The claim north of mine is now offered for sale it will probably be sold before my eastern friend will get here. This in a few years will be the most noted part of the United States, and soon it will be a most recommend to a Traveller to say his residence is in North Illinois.

A letter which I wrote last fall headed my last request could not have been received or the question with you would lie settled whether you ever come to this country or not I expected an iminediate answer to that which if it had been in the negative I should have stired myself to hunt up a pot Wrestler by this time. But no certain answer respecting your coming, must in a fewdays oblige me to retire a lone to Rosendale Shanty.

I have become acquainted with as fine a lot of Miss's as Kennedyville can produce. Pride Flattery or something else tells me that my standing is as fair as it used to be with the Belles of Both I often fancy I get a look, which says; a call would be acceptable. But I have yet the first girl in Illinois to ask for her Company. There is a better Society of young men than Kennedyville ever could lioast of. There is to be 2 weddings this week. I received and answered a letter from A'incent which was 3 months coming. He wrote he should call on me in the Spring

Brother has already done this work, he will warrant you an immediate reception with the first I have left no stone unturned in paving Virtues path for myself and you, and the standing I now possess among the intelligent is my reward I have many friends and no enemies but the \'Tilgar and Intemperate. Four fifths of the young men who remain the neighborhood where they are raised remain Boys until they are 40 years old, while if at 20, they would leave home in 2 years they miglit be men

Be assured your scroll was welcome to your old Friend who for a long time previous had thought himself forgotten and forsaken by his dearest friends at the Fast. I wish I dared to indulge a hope that your Kind parents might find a home in this Fairy Land. I will be hard for Vincent to come back and stay contented in .Steu]:)en County If he sliould settle in this country and request it I think vou had lietter come

I have been trying to think of some news that would please you and compensate your letter but T cannot T now am sitting in my old school room with )-2 dozen around me talking. It is wet over head and under foot the Snow is melting verjr Fast We have had lo weeks good sleighing Sarah I wish you would persuade pa to come I shall forfeit my word if I ever again ask him if he received the letter I wrote last Oct be brought up by a dozen of the Belle's of Steuben. (If my credit is good) please give half a dozen of the best old maids a smack for me and tell them we have 2 weddings a week here.

was 120 guests The house small for so large a company, the fashions are different from ours I have attended 2 and in neither did the groom speak to the bride on the day of the wedding till after the ceremony. He arrived with an excort at the hour appointed and the not is immediately tied. One thing I did not like, the groom was a magistrate and He suffered 2 of the escort in front to carry flags and he followed them in train riding round the house We had a good supper but their fashion is to set a table, which was a lengthy business for it was 8 times filled before all had feasted. Many little oddities were amusing and would draw from me a smile in my sleeve and I think it would you were you to pass a plate of ice cake to a row of ladies and have each so polite as to take a piece with her fork.

We received your two letters yesterday morning with pleasure we had almost despaired of ever hearing from you again you must not let it be so long again it is a great privilege we have now in sending letters free we do not half take the advantage of it as we might I have sent you a nomber of Newspapers some directed to you and F Spalding there is two letters yet unanswered, we are all in tolerable health at this time we have been attending meeting at held by the P and the

Methodist in union mother and myself hav been evry day for 9 days & Locky with us most of the time there has been and is yet a Glorious time of the outporing of the holy spirit a Nomber of conversions already among the No Esq R & Charles L a nomber of women and 30 or 40 we shall go after the Girls at Prattsburgh day after to-morrow the tomorrow they have had a very agreeable winter they will write to you as soon as they get home Eliza Heath is not very good this winter she has had 4 or 5 of this winter. The and are generally well uncle Z and myself will come and see you in May or before if Z sells his farm we shall come early of not we shall start as soon as he aeree to have me sell until I come out and see the country &c. I do not know but I shall yet this Spring if I have a good chance I intend to write evry week to you and you may write to us e\Ty Day if you are a mind jwhat know of being so in writing we want to hear what you are about.

Write how far you are from Elgin P Office &C write how much money you think it will take for me to come once and back and whether I had best come with horse & wagon and whether If I do not sell and dont have money to get back you can help me and all about it &c what the name of the man you live with &c

I have this day sold my farm to Russell Kellogg and Received S2000 in money for it and Now by the assistanc of Divine Providence we shall get Ready for a start to Illinois as soon as Possible which I think will be by the 15th Alay Uncle and family are coming with us we think of selling our teams here and come by water from Buffalo to Chicago I do not think mother could stand the journey by Land through Michigan there will be such a rush to the west this Spring there will be no accommodations on the Road Aunt Sally is very feeble and would hardly stand the journey I want you to write immediately upon the Receipt of this which I have requested S Spalding to forward to you immediately Start one back immediately on the Receipt of this Let us know about Provisions there and whether j-ou will have a place to shelter us a few Days until we can assist you in building a shelter you had best buy a good cow if you can and whether we had best bring a wagon and Harness bv water with us or can we buv them there write what pork is and other Provisions put in as much spring wheat and other spring crops as you possibly can if you have to go upon tic some for plowing etc we shall have some money when we get there if we have Stock

We are all well and in good spirits yet and we intend to think it is all for the best that we should come we have earnestly laid the case before the Lord, and there seems to be a door open for our Departure from this place and with the Blessing of God upon us we hope to see you at your place A letter from Hinsdell this evening told they were well but Eliza was very sorry we were going west, our friends all well it is over three weeks since we received a letter from you I expected one before this time the last was 15th

July you will try the experiinent you will find in the Evening Post I seni you of Raising apples by sticking the sions into a potatoe and bury it all except 2 or 3 inches in the ground write whether we had best bring a barrel of Flour at $10 or can we get it there better

I iiave liad tiie pleasure of receiving two letters from you within a week Dated Feb 15 and March 14th and agreeable to promise and now cominence mv weekly epistles, our mail route has been let but a post master has not been appointed on account of the burning of the General post office. Your letter directed to Elgin has come the quickest of any for the past 6 months My health continues good and all other acquaintances as far as known are well.

It is hard for me to say whether I was pleased with your and uncle Z's resolution of coming this spring to see the country. Your coming to see the country before you move will release me from the obligation I am under that nothing within my power should be left un done that should be done to make you all contented and happy, according to your state ment Mother and Aunt are not willing to take my word for the good qualities of this country when I think that Aunt is unwilling to exchange that hill for these beautiful prairies it draws tears from my eyes O Aunt believe my report. I believe it will be for your health and happiness uncle Z for 10 years you have not known or heard of my telling a lie - could I have a deed of the best thousand acres of land on your hill providing I would come and live on it it would be no more temptation for me to go than the same number of acres would be .on the rocky mountains Uncle Z I know that you and myself are too near alike for you not to be pleased with this country I must say do sell come and be happy Everybody here women as well as men believe they are in the best part of the United States this makes contentment and a contented mind is happy Mother I am sorry that you have to put my kind Father to the trouble of coming so far to look out the road before you will venture to come Mother should you ever be fortunate enough to get here I fear that you will regret that you cannot have it to say that you enterprize and perseverence brought you here. I drew up a paper last fall and got some men to sign it binding themselves to assist in protecting that claim for you until the 4th of July next The Illinois State legislature has passed an act allowing a man to hold 320 acres of land and to trespass on that the law is the same as though he had a deed

My business is making rails I have got the timber cut for 3.000 i.ooo made. I have concluded to hire my board what time I work on my claim 8 acres of my ground I have let to be sown to Spring wheat on shares, I get 1/3 in always averaged 20 bu to the acre the winter wheat looks well. I shall try to have me a good garden, plant 5 acres to corn and potatoes sow 6 to oats and 2 to buck wheat. I shall work out some through the summer perhaps with the Boys again at Chicago. Flour is worth $12 corn $1 oats .75 potatoes 31. Horses such as yours $80. each oxen average price 80. cows

The hurt that I got lias pained you more than me I had called the committee to get a decision on a disputed piece of timber the 4th time and my opponent would never be ready I told him that I should not consent to another adjournment and that he acted no part of a gentleman in objecting as he did on unreasonable grounds to General McClures setting at the last meeting at this alone he got angry and said if you insinuate on my feelings I will knock you down he stooped to pick up a stone I then turned to leave him he threw the stone which I did not expect nor see the motion the stone would weigh 4 lbs I was senseless a few minutes headed 2 or 3 hours, this

I have never received a newspaper from you I hope you will now send them often to Elgin and I shall get them Our spring has been favorable for work but it is backward

I now resume my pen for the last time while I stay in this country and the last letter I shall frank for I shall deliver up the Post Office tomorrow We received your letter dated loth April and have wrot you since directed to Elgin P. O. we are expecting a letter from you buy mail I received a letter from S F Spalding Dated 22nd April I wrote him the same time I did you after I sold he stated he would send your letter to you the first opportunity I can tell you Dear Son it is a hard thing to pull up and move so far as we are going but through the blessing of our Heavenly Father we hope to go through with it the times are extremely hard here now. I cannot sell the things I have for 1,4 the value of them and shall have to team some things to be sold when they can be to some better advantage than now we were at Hinsdells and spent the last Sabbath called at Wm Lomises and left Eleanor while we were at B she is a going to move her things tomorrow and go herself next Day it is hard parting, but we hope all for the best we shall start on Thursday next 30th May for Buffalo with 5 teams T 2 ^I 3 we have got a good wagon and harness to fetch with us I have got 500 Dollars in specie and the remainder I shall have to fetch in bills as the banks in this State have stopt specie Payments all business is at a stand here now.

I expect we shall have a hard time of it in getting to Buffalo and getting shipt on board of a vessel as the roads are extremely bad it has rained about every day here for 2 weeks back a very cold wet backward spring. 3^ the people have not planted their corn yet the last arivals from Buffalo was last Friday 19 May the ice was not out of the Lake yet so they could with boats from there 1 fear we shall have a slim chance to engage a passage as there is such a rush to the west this spring, teams have been constantly passing here from Buffalo for 2 weeks past, we need your earnest Prayer for our well fare we cannot tell anything near what time we shall arrive at Chicago but shall as soon as providence permits if you could be there on our arrival it would be a satisfaction, you must consult all our interests as to that, we shall want to buy a span of good horses immediately on our arrival it would be well to be looking out for them before we arrive Give our Respects To the Boys and Mary.

We this evening received your letter of the 20th ult. which gave us much satisfaction we had been long waiting for a letter we are much pleased to hear that Eliza was getting better and also that Eliason health was better we received a letter from Theron & Eleanor and answered the same we are all in good health and spirits we like the country better the more we become acquainted with it in General. I believe it to be a healthy country as any in the United States and equal to any in the richness of the soil we have had a verry warm and wet summer the Crops both winter and spring has come in good Corn is a fine crop and Completely out of the way of the frost we are shelling some of the of Ohio Corn this evening for to grind the leaves on the vines but has not touched the Corn leaves we have sowed 4 bushels of wheat and shall sow two more Next week on part of our Corn ground, our house is verry comfortable for a Log house we are about building a and buttery and petitioning our hous so as to make two

Rooms 12 feet by 16. the Land is surveyed North of us within about i^ miles of us we expect it will be surveyed here Next Season we are expecting that Congress will do something this Session Respecting Publick Land we cannot now tell when it will come into market the Settlers that are on the land here feel confident that they shall get their land at Congress price Claims are selling very high here Claims have been sold here since I came from $500 to $1500. Some hold their claims ar $3000 we have 2 grist mills and our saw mill in operation within 4 miles of us one of them a flouring mill with

2 of stones I think this to be a good place for farming purposes and also good for mercantile business the merchant at Elgin 3 miles from us has sold $8000 worth of goods within the last year, and he has but a small assortment, which he fills up monthly from Chicago. I think this will be a good place for you if you follow merchandizing or farming James has raised this year 100 bushels oats 100 bushels corn will have as much as 100 of Potatoes and turnips to any amount to 200 bushels we have had a better garden than ever we had at Kennedyville all kinds of sauce plenty and mellons as many we wanted we have upwards of 40 acres of prairie broke forty five fenced shall fence this winter 150 acres, we have raised buckwheat enough for our use pumpkins as many as we want for us and cows we have 2 good cows make butter to be verry comfortable No trouble about Pasture the prairie affords first rate pasture our Neighbor has milked 20 cows this summer sold her butter at 2/- per lb. it is all fudge what you heard at Kennedyville about our being so homesick it is true we were a little homesick for a few days after our arival but soon got over it and Now we would not care for ever seeing Kennedyville again if our children & friends were here we shall expect you out here to see the country soon if Nothing more.

G C Nixon was here staid over night with us he likes the Country has gone in company with two men in Chicago and has gone up the Mississippi 4CX) miles above Galena building saw mills his partners find money and Nixon goes on with 25 men

I have had the poorest health since our folks came I have ever had in this Country I have not been able to work more than half the time since they came I over done myself about that time I have not been confined to my bed. At present my health is good I must urge you to leave that place I think you can make money here as fast as there and have your health which is of more value to you than the United States treasury would be to you My opinion is the same respecting the value of the country that it always has been Wheat is $ Horses & Oxen from $50 to 80 Cows $20 to 30 Hogs $6. on foot Uncle Z has taken a part of my Claim at $275. he is building an addition to my shanty lie lives about 40 rods from us we have got a supply of fodder for our horses & Cows our stable and sheds are yet to build I must leave room for the rest

We received a letter from Brother Asahel and your self last evening and was much pleased to have you write some in it Sister I was very sorry to hear that you have been sick so long we all think that if you was here you would get your health Aunts health is better and also the babes how does little Sophia come you must give her a kiss from all of us our folks is a standing here now and saying hurry Lock for they are ready to go to the office and so I must wind up

As an excuse for my neglect of writing is the following. It has never been my intention to overstep the truth in my letters to Steuben and my conscience still is clear that the country will bear me out in my representations. I thought Father & Mother on their arrival too homesick dissatisfied & discontented to represent the country unprejudiced and I knew their words would and ought to be taken in preference to mine and I expected that my Dear Dear Sisters who never befure had known a false report to drop from my lips or ]>en might think that I had by misrepresenting deceived my kind and respected parents; but their representations since reconciled, agree so well with mine that I think my epistles may be welcomed without distrust

My health is poor. I have not been able to labor more than 3/2 of the summer. My poor health I attribute to over doing about the time father came. I have had a cough by turns since. I am better some than other times my ups and downs are once in 3 or 4 weeks but of the two I think the downs are on the gain. My cough reminds me of my Dear Departed Brother ; Sister you know that ever since mv conversion my Motto has been i8th Yesterday I rode 8 miles down the river to consult a skillful physician, he gives me great encouragement and I am now so heavy laden with medicines & Blisters that it is hard to finish my page

It is with pleasure I tlevote a few moments of time to hold converse with you by letter Your to long unanswered letters were heartily welcomed by us. I was pleased to hear that your healths were some better especially Sister Elizas. Dear Sister I fear your health will never be much better while j^ou remain at B. Port. This country agrees with me so well I cannot but think it would with you. If you could but once see me you would hardly think me to be that pale sister of yours. Brother's health is quite poor but I think it is owing to his overdoing and not to the country. The remainder of the family are well. Uncle's family are well ; the babe is getting fleshy. Dear Sisters hoiv I do want to see yoit. I cannot have it that I shall always lie separated so far from you. Since the arrival of Brother Theron's letter I have cherished the hope that I shall enjoy the pleasure of having both of my Dear Sisters in this country. I am very much pleased with our society as far as I have become acquainted with it. I have had an introduction to a dozen or more Eastern young ladies and so far as I am capable of judging all of them well educated and refined. There is a half a dozen more within the bounds of our society which I have not as yet had an introduction to, who in respectability stand on an equal footing. Dear Sister do not think that we are in a heathen land or in an uncultivated society. As a whole it is as refined a society as I ever was acquainted with. We have become very attached to Gen McClures family they almost fill the place of Dea McClures family. The most we regret is that we were not situated nearer them than 3^ miles. We are looking for Julia and Mary down to make us a visit this week. Mary is expected to be married to a Captain Jemmerson of the garrison of Chicago soon. Sarah appears to be gaining slowly but not able to sit up yet Lock and May are great cronies. We have not been to Aunt C but hope to

I am very sorry to hear that my dear little Sophia is so unwell Give her a sweet kiss for me and do not let her forget me. I often fondly embrace her in my arm when dreaming; O that I could in reality. Frank is very happy and talks a great deal about his little cousin Sophia and Aunts. We all send out love to Brothers and yourselves. You must all write to us. I will lea\e this page for ma to finish.

Through the mercy and goodness of God I am in the land of the living. My health is very good. James has given you a description of our feelings ; he was much troubled on account of our lonesomeness I must ask you my Dear Children how could we help being lonesome the great distance that separated us. I could hardly be reconciled. If you was here I should be contented. A. B. H. you must not sell and locate yourself until you come and see us. I think you would be much pleased with this country. I think it will be fine for ^Merchants as well as Farmers. Perhaps it would agree better with your health to go to farming; if you think so come to this country Eleanor you want to know whether the Prairies are as handsome as I expected. I think they are. I could not be contented to go back to Kennedyville and live. You must not give yourselves any uneasiness on our account. I think it is all for the best that we came here. Sarah has got her health. I fear we shall have to pass through another dark cloud of affliction ; but you know a Mother's fears and anxieties are great for her children. James has written you respecting his health but we have the promise that there shall not be more laid on us than we are able to bear, my love to all my Dear Children, this is from your ever affectionate mother

Dear Absent Children We received your letter of the "th Feby yesterday and to-day undertake to answer it although with a heavy heart, we can truly say that our afflictions are great but our God in whom we trust is able to carry us through them all we are all in Tolerable health except James he has been confined to his bed since the 30 January he has not bore his weight on his feet in 3 weeks his physician has given it as his opinion that his lungs are and has about given him up we are now giving him some syrrups and other simple medicines but have but little expectation that he will remain with us but a short time we still entertain hopes that the

Lord will Restore him to health again, he is in his hands and is perfectly reconciled to his will we try to be reconciled to our situation but I assure you we cannot Describe our feelings on this subject, we were very sorry to hear that Eliza was so sick but we hope she will be restored to health again before this letter reaches you we were pleased to hear that you had a fine son hope it will live and be a blessing to his parents and friends my health is as good as usual I have it pretty hard now taking care of James and do the work necessary to be done we had a very mild winter untill the first of February since that time it has been verry cold but pleasant this is the first stormy day we have had in a month the snow has been about 4 or 5 inches deep for 4 weeks and excellent sleighing. Uncle Campbells family are all well except Aunt she has been to him about two months

Your long expected letter has at length arrived which give us both pleasure and pain. I was much delighted to hear that you had so fine a son and hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing him at some future day. Kiss the little darling for me I am very sorry to hear that sister has the fever I hope she has recovered ere this. O that I could run in and see you every day but this cannot be at present. Father has written respecting Brothers health, he is very low and we fear will not recover. He appears quite comfortable at present. We have a very large singing school at Elgin, there is about 50 that attend the school and as fine looking Ladies and Gentlemen as you have in any of your Eastern schools. I can assure you Dear Sisters that I have become much attached to the Society here but should enjoy myself far better if my dear Brother was only well. Uncle and Aunt Eline have been out to see us. their health and spirits never were better. P C Rue and his wife have also been out they have a sweet little boy. John intends to go after his mother in the Spring. They were well excepting the babe which was quite unwell with a cold while here. I expect Sophia feels quite proud of her little Brother, do not let her forget me. Frank talks a great deal about cousin Sophia. My love to all.

Through the blessing of God I am permitted to sit by the bedside of your dear and only brother to watch and keep him from sleeping too long on account of his night sweats. He will not want a mother's care much longer.

No my dear Children he will go to that Saviour in whom he trusts. O that we could be as resigned to the will of God as he is. He has no doubt of his salvation ; no doubts no fears cross that peaceful breast I have heard him sing a few words with the girls they are sitting in the room with him. I must leave my troubles at home and look away to our native land and see mv dear afflicted daughter. The hand of affliction has been laid on you several times my dear child. O may it lead you to the Saviour Am I addressing my Child or has that spirit been summoned away to the eternal world. I should like to see your dear little Son and daughter. You must tell our little Granddaughter she must not forget her Grand parents in the far West Perhaps we may be permitted to meet you all again.

Give mv love to Theron and Eleanor and tell them they must remember us at the throne of Grace for truly our afflictions are great "but the Lord is able to deliver us out of all of them.'" My respects to all.

W'heat is selling here at from lo to 12 shillings Corn one dollar Oats 50 cents Flour at Chicago from 8 to 9 dollars We have about 3000 rails split by the job at one dollar per Hundred and Board themselves I have hauled 1400 out to our lot where we have as

I again take my pen to give you some information relative to your moving to this country further than I did in my letter of the i6th int. James continues v.'ith us yet and I think probably will until the weather gets warmer' we can see no alteration in him for the better but he keeps waisting away the rest of us are as well as could be expected considering our fatigue in taking care of James, we think it will be best for you to move rite on as soon as you can get your business closed, the earlier you can get here in the season the better the Lakes are now clean of ice which is six weeks sooner than they were last season the Steam Boat James Maddison is a good boat and runs regular trips from Buffalo to Chicago if you happen to be at Buffalo when she is in you will do well to get aboard of her we think you had best Ixix up and fetch all your furniture and what goods you can Goods will be very scarce here this year I am informed that there will not be one half the goods brought to Chicago this season these was lost mennv of the merchants have not gone after goods and some of them that have gone get no goods. You can have boxes made of good seasoned pine boards and plowed and grooved together to keep out the wet they need not be plained at all you can box up your chairs and fill in with anything that you can get in that you wish to fetch you can bring your crockery safe by packing them well Crockery is very dear here All your necessary kitchen furniture will be wanted when you get here tubs, Churn, Pails & Pans &c you can pack them all full in your boxes bring plenty of dried fruit bring if you can blue Broad Cloth suitable for me a coat and pantaloons, ydu had Ijest bring nails for building a barn etc. Andrew Jarvin and William Rumsey called on us today on their way to Rock River Jarvin lives in Michigan now thinks he shall move to Rock River he likes this country well John Rue is going after his mother this spring if you could come in company with them it would be well he will come out and see if he comes to Kennedyville.

I expect to receive a letter from you soon on your receipt of my first letter Not answered and perhaps I may think of something more that shall wish to inform you, then you will see what I have wrote in these two last letters and answer them as soon as you can we all feel anxious to see you all, write to us often until you start let us know the time If you can get a good hand to work that wants to come to this country encourage him to come we shall want a good hand my man that I hired for $12 per month has left me after working a month got homesick. I have hired another for a month but he is good for nothing and a wages is high here.

After all our advice and wants you must use your own judgment about the whole matter as we know that your judgment is good we are perhaps two much interested to give such advice as we should, think the journey will be a benefit to your and Elizas health. I hope the Lord will give your health and strength sufficient for whats before you.

Sister I would like to have you get me Black silk enough for a cape as near like my dress as you can. Ma wishes you to bring 10 yds of blue calico for aprons. Sister you cannot tell with what joy we received the news of your coming to this country. How does Sister Eleanor feel about it dear girl I know it will be hard for her to part with yuu but we will hope that they will soon follow. Give an aliundance of love to her for me. Ma wants you to bring 3 or 4 pounds of stocking yarn for us.

T & E Loomis. You must not think hard that we have not answered your letter before we hardly have time to write to anybody but we feel verry much interested in Asahel and Eliza coming to this country and have wrote to you have or will see all the letters and know how it is with us we are passing through trials and afflictions which we cannot describe to you The Lord has supported us thus far and given us health and strength to take care of your poor but rich Brother he now is not able to help himself at all he is we think weaker than William was a week before he died we try to be reconciled and know it is our duty to be but when the time of his Exit comes it will be a trying time we need your prayers that we may have sufficient to bear us up under this great affliction we see that God has been good to us in many ways. I left twenty dollars with for you and he will if he has not pay you Twenty Dollars more in good and take his pay out of Notes I left with him. We have had cold wet weather here for about 2 weeks back. I have sowed 8 acres of spring wheat and 5 of oats, and have 6 more to sow. The girls send their love to you and will write soon Mother is almost worn out taking care of James joines me in love to you and to your Father, mother and sister write upon receipt of

Your letter dated 30th May was received the 12th int. we are much pleased to hear that Eliza was on the gain and yourself and babes well we are all enjoying good health although we feel verry lonesome at times on account of being deprived of the company and advice of our Dear James, but we try to be reconciled and I think we are as much as could be expected I was in hopes you would have been ready to start sometime in June as it is so much pleasanter and safer coming early in the season I presume you will come as soon as your business and Elizas health will permit we have had very dry weather hear for 2 or 3 weeks until 4 days ago I do not know as it has injured the crops much some pieces of corn planted on dry ground did not come up well my spring crops are doing well now. I was out to Chicago Twice the week before last with a wagon the roads were excellent started from home at 8 o'clock A. M. arrived at Chicago at 4 P. M. I bought a barrel of good Pork for S22. good dried apples at 14s per bushel Peaches at $3.50 Good sugar at is Coffee 6 lbs for a Dollar business is quite lively in Chicago this Spring more steamboats than usual have arrived there this spring. Geo. C. Nixon and wife caled on us last Sabbath and staid untill Alonday 10 Oclock we all went with them to Genrul McClures and took dinner and then he started on for Galena he leaves Mrs. Nixon there and he goes about 200 miles beyond to a place caled the pinary where he is building mills with a Company they gave us the news of Kennedvville from their Description it must be a God forsaken place Scarcely one Righteous person left to save the place I think we are well away from it Nixon told us that Jason had made up his mind to come with you himself see Frank and take another Tour in the west we shall be verry happy to see him here but little Frank he cannot have

I will now mention what artickles we should be glad to have you bring us you need pay no attention to what we have wrote before as it will be later in the season than we antisipated wlien we wrote before you will get the $ioo Note from Farnums if possilile the Taylors Note trad for a w-agon if you can if not leave it for collection as soon as due my fanning mill I want taken to pieces boxed up and brought on if it could be sent to Buffalo to the Care of Thomas Dudley I could get it from them to Chicago at most any time I have wrote to Uncle Elisha respecting it. Sell the lumber at Taylor Mill or leave it in the care of J or some other person to sell the other note if you cannot trade them off leave this also for collection mother wants you to fetch her a set of Curtain Calico she thinks you had best fetch a set too for yourselves, mother and Sarah have got them Dark Dresses you may bring one for Locky Sarah w-ants silk enough for a cape to her black silk dress bring common merino enough for mothers and Sarah Dresses a parasol for Sarah Broad Cloth for me a coat, we can get the other artickles we wrote for before as cheap in Chicago as in your place taking out transportation.

I am now alone and shall not hire any until haying and Harvesting comes on and then I shall want one or two hands for a month or two I think I can get what help I shall want here as there is a number of young men come into the place this spring your goods if you cannot dispose of them there without a sacrifice fetch them along with you you can sell them here I shall send you another Chicago paper you will see some of the prices in that, as this will probably be the last letter you will receive from us before you start I will give you some directions about getting to us from Chicago you will call on J Rue & H Butler in Chicago they will give you some directions if you come from there in the stage you will have to stop about a mile from us at Mrs. Howard you can get the stage driver to take the county road my team can bring your goods from Chicago if the road should be good if not there is teams always enough in Chicago that can be hired to bring them out. if you could take a boy from 12 to 18 years old and bring with you I think it would be a good plan Such a boy can do most any kind of farming here Mother and the girls join me in love to you all hoping by the goodness and blessing of God we shall soon see each other again.

After a short delay on the reception of your letter I take this opportunity of answering it. our familv is all well that is at home you are aware that

John, Elisha and George have gone to the west, they are in the Wisconsin Territory on the Chippeway river tliey wer well the last we heard from them they will probably call on you when they return and that will be I think next May or June, this season was verry wet the fore part and the latter verry dry Crops came in very light buckwheat was hardly worth harvesting come was but little raised on account of its not being planted what was planted done well we planted two acres and had abought Seventy bushels and two hundred and thirty of wheat three hundred of oats thirty six of peas twenty five of Buckwheat One hundred and fifty of potatoes two hundred of Appels and twenty five ton of hay we have one span of horses five cows four yearlings six calves and a coalt seventy five sheep fifteen hogs, we have built one horse barn thirty by twenty six I have got all my land paid for an a deed for the whole of it two hundred and thirty acres in number and have got all my debts paid and two hundred dollars on hand besides two hundred and forty on interest. You wanted me to give you the prices of the different articles wheat is twelve shillings per bushel corn is one dollar per bushel Oats are three shillings Buckwheat is six shillings potatoes fifty cents peas one dollar.

there is a fair prospect for the York and Erie Railroad agoing on Edward Farnum has got in head engineer of this County there is four Companies now exploaring the rout up the Cohocton and Canesteo Brigham is with the company on this ri\er he went to the post four weeks ago they hav got as far as both an Calculate to run as far as they can until coald weath will oblige them to quit it will be ascertained this winter whether it will go up the canisteo or the Cohocton. their has ben svral changes taken place this fall in out neighborhood Franklin Glass died in September last of the Consumption Casandra Smith died three weeks ago of the asthma and the consumption Electa Smith died a week ago yesterday of the consumption it has been a hard shock to Mrs. Smith but she is a recovering slowly the rest of our neighborhood enjoys good health my health in particular has ben verry good and all of us have enjoyed good health Elishas family are all well and Jasons Old Mr. Neally was taken last Wednesday evening with a fit of Numbpalsy and is speechless yet we do not expect that he will survive long Your letter informed us of the loss you had received in the death of James it was a heavy blow sent by the great giver of all good for some good purpose we know not. I am rejoicet to hear that you hav bourne your self up in your troubles and are now in good circumstances. Give our respects to Tephaniahs family and yours in particular tell Xiah that he has forgotten his promise like all other emegrants and we began to think that you had but the long looked for letter arrived at last do not let as long a time slip againe for it is pleasant to converse with freinds especially Brothers if they are at a distance If you see Daniel or Cornelius family tell them that we send our respects to them. I ad no more