OT September 26, 1853

Dear Sisters,

I take the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to let know
that are all well at this time hoping those few lines will reach you safe
and find you all enjoying the same blessing the conesion and friends
are all well as far as I know except Hutchenson Elisabeth & Isaac
They all have the chills this is the most sickness I have heard of in Origon
and I have traveled over the country considerable since I landed heare I
cannot speak particular about the health of this country though I will
endevor to learn all of the facts in this particular as well as all others that
will interest you the old sisters represent as very healthy though they say it
is subject to the ague in some places on the river one thing I feel safe in
saying the people looks healthyer heare than in Illinois.

I have made a purchase of claim of 320 acres of land it feels very
cofortable to me to have a home after being campt out for five months
we campt on the premices two weeks before we got possesion I had two
thousand dollars for said claim at is situated on the north branch of the
Luckamute thare is about 200 acres of bottom prarie there is a small creek
running through it which serves for a good crop fence there is about 40
acres of high prarie the balance is oak timber and fir, thare is a spir of a
mountain neare my house and out of it runs a small stream of water if I had
about 250 yards of led pipe I could lead it into my house into the upper
chamber if I wished. the former I intend to do at some future time I am
about ten miles west of Elijah your father has bought about half way
between he paid 2000 also it's a good claim of land I forgot to tell you what
improvement I had thare is a paster of 100 acres 10 acres in cultivation a
haus 16 by 18 and shed borded up for a citchin I have very suitable
building places Hutchinson has taken a claim up the river 35 miles good
rich land but I think two near the river to be healthy Ira & Edward has
rented houses, I suppose you are anxious to heare how I am satisfied I
have not bin heare long anough to tell yet I can say this much that I have
not repented coming heare yiet I feel disapointed in two things one is land
is better than I expected and the other is that stock watter is not as plenty in
places as I expected though thare is plenty for stock that runs out but thare
is a good many claims that has not got it convenint anough to fence in a
pasture we can get water hear amost anywhare by diging as for depth it
about like Illinois thare are some places here betwine the riveer and
mountains that rail tiber is little on handy those places lay between the
river and mountain and between the creeks the first bottom of the creeks
and river are coverd with good timber of various kinds the second bottom
are prairie and cald vally land this is the kind of land that I have thare are
also high roling prairie heare simular to that neare Alington I sold the Vanhorn
Mules today at 400 dollars I took it in trade, one cow at $100 wheat at $250
per busell oats $100 potatoes $100 sheep $10 a piece one sow at $12 this
looks like high prices but it is as good as I could have done with the money
I bought some wheat when I first came in at $200 it cant be had now for
less than $250 some ask $300 I let the mules that I got from you for part
pay for my claim at $280 If you know of any safe way of sending me the
money for my land sell it if you meet with a suitable chance the timber at
$20 per acre and the prairie at $10 per acre if land has raised as much as
some say it has it ort to bring more get more if you can if the purchaser will
take a qit claim deed for the prairie you may take $9 per acre if I cand get the
worth of my land sent me in cattle I woud like it very well thats the very thing
we kneed in this country I know of some men heare that got rich raising cattle
that had but two or three to start on. I will make one proposition if you can sell
my land and find a suitable person that will undertake my proposial is this you
may take my money and buy fore yoke of oxen and one good wagon the
balance in cows mostly heifers dont buy any unless thay are in good order
get the best stock you can I want a portian of the best in the country the
price be what it may I will bare the expences of the team and loose stock
you can reserve money for this purpose to pay you for all your trouble the
undertaker on this part must leave the Missour River before the 27th of
April and not have more than 12 hundred on the wagon and keep an
acount of all the expences and deliver to me the wagon and stock that
gets through and to use due diligence to get my teams and stock through
dont imploy any person that you dont believe to be onest industerous and
persevering if Harry Hart still wishes to come tell him that the objections
he had last spring is ungrounded thare is no trouble to get company large
anough to travel together thare is no objection on the account of loose stock
100 will do as well together as a half dsen they ant half the trouble to drive
that I expected thay incline to go forwards insted of back if any person
undertakes urge them to start amongst the first trains I had rather go the
trip twice with a early start than once with a late start and thare ant half the
danger of loosing if William Murphy lacks any of making a full drove you
mite get him to bring some for me if he can I will divide the stock as pay
for his trouble what custom or justice says is right if he could only bring me
one or two derum heifers I would think it a great favor I will leave this matter
for you to act as you think best

I received you letter dated in July I was glad to heare you was all well but
sory to heare you complain of working so hard that fare from being the
case heare thay hardly work at all still the old setlers are building fine
houses thare stock maks the money for them I feare you will be bothered
to read this account of my paper being so thin give my respect to all write often

so no more at present

Isaac Smith