Dutch Creek Iowa, Nov 9th 1856

Dear Brother and Sister

I take the present opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know
that we are all in usual health except colds I went to Sigourney yesterday
to carry the pollbooks of our towns life, it was verry cold and I have
taken cold and dont feel as well as common today; the health of this
Country is verry good this fall I dont know of a single case of sickness
in all this country. I have not had time to go over and look up Griswold but
I will go before long and will write again. you wanted me to come or write
what I wanted done with land that belongs to the Estate I as far as I am
concerned would like to have the land sold, I suppose you would like to
have me come back home to live, but I dont look at that matter as you do
now suppose I would sell my land here for 16 or $14 per acre and come
over there and pay $30 per acre what could I expect to gain by it and that
is not all I would prefer this country to that any how to live in for it is much
healthier than that and is improving much faster than Illinois did at the same
age

If you sell at public sale I want you to let me know a while before and if I
can I will come over at that time tell William to buy apart of the old place if
he wants to but I think he could do much better to take the money and
come out west in the south part of this state or the west part of Missouri.
He can get land for one fourth what he would have to pay in that country
but I want him to do as he thinks best, for that is the way I do. James Butler
was all right with us on his road out west some three weeks since he told us
all about the old friends and neighbors I was at work about two miles from
home week before last and on saturday morning as I went to my work I
came across a verry fine buck and shot him he weighed after he was skined
dressed one hundred and eighty three lbs. had about ten lbs of tallow in him.

our election is over and this county give sixty five mojority for Freemont. I
am in hopes that Buchanan is elected but I fear it is not the case if all the
reports are true that are circulated by the Black Republicans I dont believe
one half of them. I suppose you have heard about our increase in family and
as you told me about your babe if you want to know what she looks like you
must come and see I think she looks verry well considering her parrents and
friends

Your friend and Brother untill death

Joseph Butler