Bridgeport OT September the 5th 1858
Dear Brother & Sister
I received your letters a short time since bringing the sad news of our
sister & companians death Such occurences are melancholy in thare
effect but beyond the controle of human power. I had entertaind a
lingering hope ever since I have bin in Oregon of seeing you all once
more but how easy it is for mortals to be disapointed. Our lofs is
nothing compared to here children, but never the lefs it is in the scope
of thare power by your help to make good & useful men and women,
I sincerly hope thay will be so inclined.
This leaves us all in usal health and connecion and friends as far as I
know the health of the country is very good at presant thare was
considerable sickness last winter & Spring in some neighborhoods but
ours has bin healthy all the time. I saw a letter from Joseph a short time
since to his Mother he thinks that Oregon is a sicklyer country than
whare he lives. I think that I can acount for all such mistakes. the
impresion generly in the states are that thare are no sickness in this
country hence when thay heare of cosideable sickness thay take the
other extreme, my opinion is that it is some healtheyer heare than in the
states but the difference in the caracter of sickness and extent are not
very gret. I think it is a false notion that thare are a country somewhaes
ahead that thare is no sickness. Sometimes a person may be benifited
by changeing climate. I think that I have bin benifited by coming to
Oregon. we have had a very plentyful crop in this country this year I
had the best piece of oats I every had in my life. my wheat was good
but some some smuty. I had fore or five acres to timothy that was first
rate. times are good and prices fair, Beef is worth from 7 to 8 cents on
foot Pork 10 cts per pound Bacon 25 & 30 cts wheat $1.25 Oats 50,
cows is worth $40 American horses from 2 to 3 hundred dollars Sheep
5 to 6 per hed.
I am very buisey this summer I am trying to build me a barn, and also a
house in Monmouth I feare I shall not get either done this season.
Monmouth imprving considerable thare about 25 buildings up now and
some of them good ones thay put up a very good school house 30 by
60 feet the work so fare is very workman like. we have a school close
by this Summer the children has bin going perty stedy except Rufus. I had
to keep him at home some to helpe me and considerable help it is, he is
quite handy with tools, probily you would like to know how i am geting
along raisig stock I I have not got a gret eal lik most persons in oregon
but neverlefs I have plenty 15 hed of horses very good ones 53 head
of cattle 67 hed of sheep hogs as general thing are not profitable. I shall
prbable have a thousand or two pounds of pork for sale at presant prices
it pay very well I have nothing to write that wold interest you so I must
close write oten as you can
Your affectionate brother
Isaac Smith
*Addendum*
September the 6th 1858
Dear Uncle John Butler
I seat my self to write you a few lines. to let you know that I am well
and all the rest as far as I know grandmother is to Uncle Iraes now. I
am a going to school at this time I study Geography and riting and reding
and spelling they is about 25 scolers comes. little John is a grate big
felow and he can talk as plain as any body and as prety as anybody
We halve got our barn up and our graine in it We had a very pleasent
summer tell all of them to write asoon as they can goodby
Beryman M Smith
*Addendum*
Dear Brother Sister and children
I feel truly sorry to hear of your great loss and distress to pitty you and
think of you is all I can do I have thought for the last fourteen years I
should leave my little ones from some cause I am yet spaired to watch
over them my health is some better. Mother was here two weeks ago
she staid two weeks with us she was well she enjoys life better than I
thought she ever would she was a pieceing a quilt the rose in willderness
she had all done but one block. Matilda I want you to get the pattern of
Harriet Claycombs Brag quilt and send it to me if you can I want you to
give Mary a good scolding the next time you see her for not writing if
you will all come over and pay us a visit I will treat you to some the
best apples you ever eat we have last year and this both on hands. I have
no news to write except I have the smartest children of their age in
Oregon Rufus and Wright can do mens work little John Butler is the very
image of his pap I tell you he cant be beat give my respects to all
inqiring friends good by
Margaret B. Smith
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