Polk Co. Oregon Sept the 2. 1855

Much respected Brother & Sister

I will imbrace the present opportunity to write a few lines to you &
family this leaves myself and Family in good health little Ann is siting
in the floor eating watermelon and says Uncle John has narry Baby as
fat as ours and I expect she is about right for we have the fatest Boy
and the largest of his age I ever saw and we think he is the best looking
child in Oregon he is five months old and weighs between thirty & forty
pounds I dont know his weight exactley for we hav not had any chance
to weigh him for some time.Father was here last week he was in good
health and he said Mother was well I was at Isaac Smiths house last
Monday Isaac & his Family was all well Isaac is building him a house he
has the frame up and partley inclosed Edward Ground & his family are
all well William Ground went out to the Rogue river Country with a
surveying company last spring and has not returned yet they look for him
the first of November Ira & his Family are well Hutchinson & his Family
are in tolerably health him and Elizabeth has had the ague they are about
well again I believe Hutchinson has a job of surveying for the Territory and
he got very liberal wages but I dont think he will make more than moderate
wages for you know it takes him all day to talk and smoke, Isaac M. Butler
has gone to meeting about thirty miles from home and has taken some little
Girl with him

the rest of the friends are all well as far as I know George W. Duease
[Deweese] had sold his land here and says he is going back to Ills I
dont know when he intends starting times is verry dull here at this time
produse is verry low Beef is worth seven cts on foot Pork is worth five
cts on foot there is a prospect of a raise in our markets there has bin
some new Gold mines discovered about three hundred miles Northeast
from here I have now doubt but there is plenty of gold there there has bin
severel men there that says they are making from ten to one hundred
dollars per day if this all be true we can sell our wheat and beef and pork 
at our own price in less than twelve months from to day so I think there is
a great many going from this valley to the mines and if they hold our good
there will be a general rush from all quarter there I have nothing more to
write that would interest you at this timeI have writen severel leters to Ills
and have not received any answer yet I dont charge you nor James with
not answering my leter, I want you and James to write as often as you can
and I will try and answer all you write the best I can I hope you will excuse
this leter for I dont feel like writing to day I have got the figets to day and
now if you ever had the complaint you know I dont feel like writing mutch
give my respects to all the friends no more at present but remain your
Brother untill Death

Elijah D. Butler

[to] John M. Butler