Bridgeport Polk Co December the 29th, 1861

Dear Sister

Time dose not make me forget that I have but one sister in a
distant land and that death has deprived us of all our near relations
and circumstances has seperated us maybe for always I hope not
notwithstanding we have a great consolation that is we can write to
each other and learn how we are geting along This leaves us all well.
the three oldest boy is going to school at Monmouth thay are all at
home now a takeing Chrismas thay have grown up to be qite large
boys Flora A is about as large as her mother the rest of the children
is fat and hearty runing round the Home The snow will make you
think that we have winter here as well as in illinois. it snowed about
3 inches deep a week ago it freeses in the knight and thaws in day
time we have had a great deal more rain here this winter than usal
the willamate has bin ten feet higher than ever known by white man
it done a great deal of damage. Some say a million of dollar woldent
make up the loss the gretest damage was done to towns on the river
some was entirely swep away a good many farms buildings and
stock was washed off and stock drowned thay was some lives lost
not a grat many that we have heard of a great many had hare bredth
escapes some staid is tree tops a day and knight and a raining all the
time thare suffering must have bin great thare is a great many entirely
desitute thay will have to depend on their neighbors for help. I think
you had better take a notion to come and see us it is no trick to
cross the plains in good company we have plenty to ware and eat
and apples with out end besides I think you could injoy your self I
must come to a close and write some to John You must write soon

your Brother & Sister unto death

Isaac & Margaret Smith

*Continuation of letter*
Dear Brother

I have bin expecting to get a letter from you for a long time but I am
disapointed I am so carless I must not complain this leaves us all well
The Connecion are all well as fair as I know except Alexander davidson
he has bin sick about a year he is able to be about part of the time the
complaint the Doctors say is the gravel he suffers a great deal. Your
mother was well the last I heard from her she has not bin here for about
two months she looked well and hearty and seemed in good spirits she
complais about you all not writing to here oftener. you reqested me to
see all of the heirs and see if thay was willing to release William for one
years rent on the old place it was some time before I could see them all
or I should have wrote sooner thay all say thay will sign a release if it
can be don legal Ira thinks it would be difficult to arrange it for Elijah
and Thomas Hutchinsons heirs if you feel justified in releaseing him on
such terms send me a form that will suit you and I will try to get them
all to sign it.

times is rather hard here at this time money is scarce most every thing
that the farmer has to sell is low thare is a better prospect at this time
in conseqence of new gold disccoveries east of the cascades mountains.
wheat has raised from 50 cts per bushel to one dollar and thare is a
great demand for pack horses if every body goes that talks of going
thare will not be many men left thare is a excitement here that is ever
painful to talk about I mean the rebellion going on agaist the best
goverment that the sun ever shined on a large majority of the people
of Oregon are for the Union but thare is a class of men here that
stiles them selves peace democrats that are opposed to the war
and always talking about its unconstitutionality and say the people
of the south cant be conqered such stuff is all moonshine and
proceeds from a traitors heart, if we have a goverment at all
(which I believe we have) it is able to put down all internel strifes
and rebellions let them come from North or South if it cant lets
change our form of goverment to one that can. I think it is high
time for all union men to thrw away party policticks and put thare
sholder to the government wheel as one man and never stop
rolling it on till the stars and stripes waves over evry foot of soil
within these United States and Territorys and say like old Hickry
the Union must and shall be preserved. thay are triing to rais
rigement of soldiers in Oregon I am afrid thy will be botherd in
conseqence of so many being at the mines and going I had made
up mi mind to stop the Monmouth Review on acount of his
opposition to the war but the last no that I got changed its tone
and says it is in faver of prossicuteing the war with vigar till pece
is conqerd that good doctrine. I must come to a close write soon

your brother & sister

Isaac and Margaret Smith