September the 25th 1857
Dear Brother and Sister
It is with pleasure I take my pen in hand to inform you that we are in
usual health at present altho both of us has been rather poorly all summer.
Mother has just returned from Isaac Smith they are as well as usual
Thomas Hutchinson has just come in from Umka where he has been
about three months surveying. I have seen him but not his family since
their return they are well as usual. Ira and Family are well as far as I know,
he has been putting him up a good Barn this Summer, Elijah has been sick
for about three weeks with something like the Lung Feaver and I am afraid
if he does not quit working so hard, and take better care of himself, he will
not live long, he is affected with the Bronchitas, and if it is not arrested
Soon, it will terminated in the Consumption I think when he gets better I
will try to get him to go into the mountains and live on wild meat a while,
Elijah has been putting him up a Barn this Summer and has probably
overdone himself and brought on this spell of sickness. The rest of his family
are as well as might be expected under existing circumstances, Edward
Ground and Family are in usual health Edward has been complaining some
lately but I think there is nothing serious the matter with him, Old Mr
Craymes died about Three weeks ago with the palsey or something of that
sort there has been considerable sickness within the last 2 months with
Lung Feaver We have had a very drye summer the rains quit off very
suddenly in the Spring. Our crops have been light My wheat only turned
off 21 bushels to the acre Grass is quite scarse and if we should have a
cold winter and the grass does not grow we will be very likely to loose
some stock, I have about 22 head of cattle, 8 head of Horses 35 head
of Sheep 25 head of Hoggs, 175 bushels of Old wheat 234 bushels that
I raised this year I have about 4 acres in Timothy and seed to Sow more
I have about 50 acres in cultivation There is plenty of Apples and pears
plums cherries currents and such things in abundance, I recieved your letter
Some time ago but have been so buisy that I have not answered it untill now,
I am verry buisy building and addition to my house and I want to go to
Portland in a week or to with my butter we have a bout 230 lbs made from
3 cows mostly butter is worth 30 to 40 cts per pound we have to pay pretty
high for our groceries 5 ponds Coffiee 5 pounds Sugar to the dollar wheat
is worth $1.00 per bushel but I think it will be worth 1.25 before Spring pork
is worth 7 cts there is considerable Stir about the Slavery question but I think
it will be settled now pretty soon by the votes of the people as it should be
our Delegates are asembled now to draft a Constitution if Gen Wool can
hinder us I Suppose we will knock for addmittance and be rejected. Old
Wool(ey) had better stay on that side of the Rocky Mountains I think his
health will be better on that side. I wish you would try and get me a few
chinees Sugar Cane seed and Send it in a letter I want to try it in Oregon
Groceries come so high here it is high time we were taking measures to
manufacture our own Sugar Old Uncle Elijah Davidson and Family were
well the last I herd from them Alexander is not married yet. John E.
Murphy and Family were well the last time I saw them They have started
a good school in about 5 miles of where I live They are going to build a
large House which will cost several Thousand dollars There is two Stores
in it now and the place is improving fast considering the scarsety of lumber
There is a great call for lumber now every body is trying to improve their
farms people are puting out orchards and improving as fast as they can. I
have just been to Elijahs and he is getting better. Ira told me that he would
write to you all about how matters Stand in relation to the Estate. I think
you
had better wind up things as fast as you can, that belongs to the Estate, I
recieved the money on the Order you Sent on Ira $184.83, I believe there
is Some more due on that land next January I want my part sent the Safest
way and be Sure to pay yourself for your trouble out of it and Send me the
balance. I believe I have never told you about Our little girl almost five
months old and we think she is hard to beat I am sure of one thing that you
cant find a better child in Warren County her name is Mary. Ellen tell Jimeys
wife she must send it a dress, it wants to eat everytime we do I must come
to a close for the lack of time. What I have scratched down was done in the
night before I got to bed. Bedford Haley and Mary have parted and she has
got a divorse from him he is still in the neighborhood and says he is going
to
the States in the Spring Write every good Chance
I remain your affectionate Brother untill death
Isaac M. Butler
Sarah A. Butler
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