Hamersly Library

Polk County Oregon Teretory August 25/55

Dear Children

I feel it to be my duty to write to you as often as I can conveniently and
let you know how we are geting along,  if I could only see you all and
spend a few days with you it would afford me more sattisfaction than it
would to write a hundred letters, but as I am deprived of that happinefs,
I must avail myself of the only resorce which is left me to communicate a
few thoughts by way of letter. This leaves us all in reasonable health at
preasent for which we aught to feel very thankfull, and I do cincearly
hope when these lines reaches you that you will all be injoying the same
blefsings . Our country is tolerable healthy though thare has been several
cases of chill and fever, but I believe it has mostly subsided. I believe this
country is some healthier than Illinois but we have some sickness and
some deaths here as well as else where we have not the conveniences
here that you have in Illinois but we have some hope that produce will
bear some better price in this valey before long and it will most assuredly
if the antisapations of the people are realized in relation to the gold mines
on or near the Columbia river near fort Colville thare has been gold
discovered in that vicinity which has caused as much excitement as the gold
mines did in California in 1849 it is supposed that thare is two thousand
persons already gone thare and almost every body talks of going as soon
as they can get off. it is said that they are making from ten to one hundred
dollars per day to the hand and if the diggins are of extensive thare will be
greate imigration from the states next year to the mines for they are much
nearer to the states than California the willamate valey is the nearest point
from which they can get thier supplys. none of our folks are gone yet and I
dont much expect they will go this fall or winter. John you wrote to me to
let you know what amount of money you sent to me and as I had the
duplicate I sent it without having reference to your letter but after sending
it I thought of your having to buy the draft and upon examining your letter
I find that you sent by Rankin to St Louis $975.50 You also wanted me
to send you the exact amount of the notes which I left with you I have no
means of noing the amount as well as you have for you have the sale bill
and if you will examine that you can tell near enough. One thing I think you
will find that the price of the harrow was never put in the note and if Kizer
is honest he will pay the amount over to you Elijah wants to know whether
Ostrem payed off the note he gave him for the mule. I received a draft for
$304 49/100 but I cant get it cashed yet, the best offer which I have had is
to pay four per cent I will send it to Portland and if I cant do better I must
loose over $12 dollars here and three dollars and fifty cents in St Louis.
If you should ever send me any more I want you to get a goverment draft
and that will go at par I hope Wilson will pay off that fifteen hundred dollar
note with the intrest when it is due next April but if he does not I want you
to foreclose the morguage as soon as you can as I am in greate need of funds.
If you can sell the place that I got of Isaac for 25 dollars per acre or more do
so and if Isaac makes me a Title you have the power to make a title in my
name and if he does not you can make it in his name you had better mention it
to the purchaser so that thare will be no misunderstanding if you sell get as
much down as you can and if you have to wait long have intrest 10 per cent
if you can get it I will write to you between this time and next January and tell
you what to do with the old place I want you to write to me when you receive
this letter and let me know how every thing is about the old place and if I take
a notion to sell what you can get for it. I want to know how the hedge is doing
and what the condition of the fence is whether it needs repairs I want you to
tell Beadly that I feel very thankful for the money he sent me for last years rent
for I much needed it I hope he will send me this years rent for I have to pay
ten per cent on money and that is an eating matr I want you to see your uncle
Jo and ant July and tell them that I will try to write to them soon tell them
that Calvin is as well as usual for him to be tell John E. Murphy's friends that
he is well and doing well, tell Sy that all his friends are well as far as I know
George Deweese has sold out and talks of going back to old Illinois but it
is thought by some that he will buy again Young Elijah Davidson has sold
his place near Portland and is going to move up near his father's he got
four thousand dollars for fife eightys he sold the other three last spring
give my best love and respects to all my old friends tell them that I would
be glad to see any of them or even hear from them, I suppose they all
have more time to write than I have and I hope they will occupy a small
portion of their leisure in writing something about the advantages of old
Illinois I will come to a close for the present.

Your father & mother

Peter Butler
Rachel Butler

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