Nov. 1st, 1856

Dear Brother and Sister

it is with pleasuer that I take my pen in hand to write a Short letter to
you. I recieved your letter containing the second to the draft you sent
me last fall and was much pleased to hear of your health and prosperity
it has been a long time since I have received a letter from any of you I
had almost come to the conclusion that you had fogotton me entirely.
My health is some better now than it was Some time back. for the last
three years I have been afflicted with a pain in my right side Supposed to
have originated from a predisposition of the liver I have been taking
medicine from a phisician and feel some better but am not well yet Elijah
is complaining for some time I think he has the Bronchitis the rest of the
connection are well as far as I know mother makes her home at my house
at present and probably will for some time

Ira has administered on the estate here the propperty is all valued and will
be divided among the children here, before verry long I bilieve it is the
opinion of the children here that all the propperty back there had better be
sold at once for you know if ane of us should die it would lock up the
estate for probably 20 years. I will give it as my opinion that this
propperty had better be sold at once There is one other matter I wish to
call your attention to and this is some time before Father died he told me
that when the place that I let him have was sold, if it amounted to any
more than what he paid for my place here, that I should have the residue.
he paid 2000 dollars for my place out after the interest is added for 3
years there will not be much if any over, you can just speak to the boys
about it and if any one objects to it dont say any more about it, for I had
rather loose all my right than for ane to think that I was trying to get
more than my share.   In refference to sending an order on I.E. Davidson
for my money, I was talking to Mr. Davidson about it and he told me that
by January there would not be money due him of any consequence and
that I had better have my money sent in a draft your letter to Father some
time ago if I understood it right there was $350.00 due the 1st of January
next of my part but let that be as it may whatever is due send it in a draft
untill I should make other arangements if I should make other arangements
I will let you know soon, I will tell you something about how I am a getting
along I have a claim of 320 acres about 50 acres under fine 100 apple trees
set out and 100 more in the nursery to set out 2 American mares 1 hors 3
years old 1 half indian horse 2 years old and 2 two year olds American
colts, 12 acres of wheat sown in May last I expect to have a good crop next
year from this you may think it strange to sow fall wheat in May and let it
stand over untill the next year, but it is the surest plan of raising good wheat.
I sowed my wheat in February last and raised 26 bushels to the acre. I have
21 hogs up fatning pork is worth 5 cts Bacon 12 cts wheat  .75 Beef 6 cts
on foot Butter 36 to 40 Cow 40, to 50, We have an institution of learning
just started in about 5 miles of where I live I have bought a lot of 10 acres
there and intend building next summer there is a good district school going
on now I believe I have nothing more of interest to write at this time You
must write soon and tell all the rest to write often

Isaac M. Butler and
Sarah Ann Butler