Bridgeport December 8th 1856
Dear Aunt
I now take my pen, to write you a few lines, to let you know that we are
all well. all the rest of the kind folks was well the last I knew of them. I
and Wright are going to school at Monmouth; we board at Squire
Whitman's, they live about half a mile from the school house. There is
seventy scholars come to school and more, that wants to come but there
is not room. they have got Newton Butler for an assistant teacher. we
have a spelling school there every Thursday night, and a debate Monday
night. the teacher is going to teach a writing school and have two lesson a
week. Albert Lucas is going to teach a singing school. he will have one
next Saturday evening. he teaches for forty dollars for thirteen lesson's.
Monmouth has got six houses in it two of them is stores and the other four
is dwelling houses. I want you to write to me oftener I have not got a letter
from you for a long time. I wish you was here to see the little baby his is
a
prety little fellow. he is three weeks old day after tomorrow so no more this
time. Good By.
Rufus. M. Smith
Dear Cousin
I guess I will have to write you a few lines but I dont think that I ought
to for I have not got a letter from you for about a year. I forgot to tell
Aunt Matilda how much the baby weighed it ten pounds he is a prety
little fellow. he laughed at mother to day. Mother is going to send a little
lock of his hair. I forgot to tell what his name was it is John Butler Smith.
I want you to write me a letter as soon as you can.
Your Affectionate Cousin
R.S.
*Addendum*
Dear Brother & Sisters,
I write you a fiew lines in Rufuses letter to let you know that we have
not forgoten you we received a letter about a month ago from Matilda
with some in it from John that prosist to write to us soon. we have not
received anything yet. we have waited thus fair expecting to receive
said letter, we have not received it yet. I was glad to heare you was all
well and doing well. this leaves us all well as usal we have no news to
write to you except that we have another black headed boy at our house,
it will be three weeks old day after tomorrow. it is a very harty lookin
child we have named him John Butler I guefs now we will get our pay
back. Our relations are well as fair as I know except Elijah he is
complaining some with his old complaint he was mending some the last I
heard from him your Mother is as harty as common she stayed with us
nearly two weeks when the baby was born she appears qite lonesome
since your Fathers death you all art to write to here often we have had
a favoable fall here not rain anough to rays the waters much till last night
and to day. Our Indian ware that has bin amoing us so long I think is
about through with Oregon nead the pay for carying on this war, if the
black republicans gets the sway we dont expect to get it but from the
news we get from State elections I am in hops thay will be defeeted we
expect to heare the truth of it next week I am sory to hear that some of
my old neighbors has fell in with such a lawlefs party. crops was good
heare last seasons I raised 233 bushels of wheat a yield of about 20
bushels to the acre (some of the neighbors raysesd 37) and about 500
bushels of oats I had 1 1/2 acre thrashed when I thrashed my wheat it
turnd off 93 bushels this wont corispond with what George Deweese rote.
time heare are about as thay have bin for the last two years Farmers dont
get such prices as thay use to but a perty fare price for everything except
wheat I will give you the prices of some things so you can judge beef 4 1/2
per pound pork 5 cows about 40 dollars per head Sheep 4 to 5 American
Horses 150 to 250 I could sell the mare that I got from Greg for 300 Dollars.
wheat 80 cts per bushel oats 37 1/2 no corn in market potatoes 50 groceres
is high sugar 12 to 15 cents per pound coffe 16 to 20 salt 4, dry goods are
about as cheap as thay was in Monmoth when we left it is geting dark I shall
haf to close write soon and often
Your broher until death
Isaac Smith
NB if you have Fahers age and and the date of his death send it to us we have
all the rest
IS
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