Brid[g]eport March the 2d 1857

Dear Brother & Sisters

I have no news of importence to write but in order to remember each
other it is nesfary to write to each other frequently, this is the only means
we have of conversing to gether, a great privelige two much neglected,
I am bound to acknowledge I have so little writeing to do that it is qite a
task to me to write a letter this accounts for me not writeing oftener than
I do, it is not because I have forgoten you all for if I was to write every time
I thought of you all you would get tired of going to the Post office. this
leaves us as well as usal the friends and connexion are tolerable well as fare
as I know we was all at your Mother's except Berryman Saturday She is
well she is complaining some of rheumatism. we have had a very hard
disagreeable winter here, it snowed several times none lay on the ground
any lengh of time except one, thare was one fell the first of January that lay
on near three weeks, it was not very cold it froze a little about a week of
the time.

I heard a man say Saturday that he had bin heare 21 years and that it was
the worst winter he had saw, stock is getting poor thoug I have not hear of
much a dying, but thare is one thing about it if we have such winters we will
hafto feed a month or two, I have had the worst luck of any person that I
have heard of though it was not caused by poverty, I lost the mare that I got
off Norcross and a yearling colt and the best milk cow that I had I think I
could have sold the mare for $500 this makes true the saying that them that
has much loose.

you wrote somthing to me about sending a power of atorney to sell the old
place I spoke to Ira concerning it, he thinks we cant do anything about it till
we get the numbers of the land, I think he is mistaken about it, though it will
do no harm to have the number. If the power I gave you is not sufficient we
will attend to it when the rest of them makes a power of atorney. I believe I
wrote to you to stop the Atlas it still continues to come, I want you to settle
with Smith and have it stoped, one paper from Monmouth is as much as I
want I dont want to take any paper that aren't in favor of carrying out the
laws of our country I hope such treasonable papers will soon come to an end,
thare is more political excitement heare than has bin heare since we came to
the country we have to vote next June wheter we will become a state or not
I think it will carry by a large Majority, and with it comes up the slavery
qestion thare is a good deal of talk on the subject, I think it will be a free state,
at least I hope so, the people from Missourie are generly in favor of slvery and
the Illinois boy against, if thay make it a slave ste you may listen to heare of me
leaveing. Times are rather dull heare what the farmer has to sell are generally
low, and grocerys high, American horses are high cows are worth 35 & 40
dollars beef 4 cets Sheep $4 & $5 a head, pork 6 cts bacon 13 cents Aples is
highest of anything elce, 8 to 10 dollar per bushel it is said that thare has bin
over 70 thousand dollars worth sold in Oregon this winter I hope to have in a
year or two to have penty to sell and keep but I have no hopes of geting so big
a price thare was one sent from this country to Boston Mass. a paper thare said
it was the largest apple in the world it weighed 2 pounds 5 1/2 ounces I must
close for the want of room

Remain your Brother

Isaac Smith

*Addendum*

Dear Brother Sisters and children

I now seat myself to write a few lions to you I am truly sorry to think you have
all forgot us in such a short time you may think I have forgot you but it is not
the case, if you knew what a poor chance I have you would excuse me I have
so menny children to work with and such bad health I cannot write often I
have no news to write for I have been at home for five months untill last
saturday we went to see Mother she was complaining with her shoulder and
hip being quite lame. she has pieced a very nice quilt this winter and knit a
number of nice stockings she seems some better reconciled. she says she wonts
to see you all very much you muste write to her often write about all the folks that
we was acquainted with, the children has all grown a great deal they wont to see
you all very much Flora is getting to be quite a help she had a hard time this winter
her and her Pap had the work to do for sometime her and berry has to do the
most of the washing yet, Tilda I would like to know what you are about that you
cannot write if you and John dont write to us oftener I dont intend to name enny
more children for you little Tilda and John is very promising children John is three
months old and ways seventeen pounds her and him appears to be perfectly
helthy give my love to James and Mary tell them they musnot think hard of me for
not writing to them I often think of them and wont to see them very much dont
forget to write John is a crying so I must quit and take him so good by.

Margaret B S

Post Script

Tell Rachel Dewwese [Deweese] to write me a long letter

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Western Oregon University Archives 1998 - page updated 5/20/98