Hamersly Library

July the 20th 1856

Dear Brother & Sisters

A few weeks ago we had it to say that our numerous connection in
Oregon had not had a serious case of sickness or a death since we
had bin heare but we now know of a truth that people can die here
as well as other places, I supose you will heare of the death of your
Father before this reaches you, he died on the 24th of June between
eleven and twelve o clock PM just two weeks from the time he was
taken, the Doctors called his sickness the tiphoid fever, he complained
mostly of his side that his mule hurt about a year before, which I
supose you hav heard of before his sickness was very lingering he
suffered a good deal though not as severe as some I have saw, he
appeard to be about half a sleep the most of the time but when raused
up he was in his right mind to the last he took his sickness very patient
he had no hopes of liveing from the time he was first taken. Your Mother
takes his death qite hard it is a very serious thing to see old folks unite
the parting hand, tht had lived together forty five years in harmony.

we had three Doctors to see him the first was kind of a cold water
Doc he gave some medacin the 2nd was a german botanic Doc the 3rd
was a Alopathy Doc thare medasin operated just as thay wanted it to
but did not help him the least, I think he brought his sicknefs on by
fatiege & exposier he had undertaken to fence him a piece of ground
on his place he worked harder than he was able he said himself that
was the cause of his sicknefs and if he got well he wld'nt work hard
any more, his promis was two late he has gone whare no traveler returns.

Now immajin to your selves whare a good loving & benevolnt
Parient's last remains rests it is just on the hill above Uncle Elijahs by the
side of Steven White & Jo Davidson in full view of a good many of the
connection and of the Willamate whose corse is marked out by the
Majestic Fir and at the foot of Mount Hood that always drefsed in white
and the Highes mountain in North America I say at the foot altough over
one hundred Miles looks to be right close by if the dead was consious
and cold speak I think thay wold say this is a plasent resting place but this
is not the case it makes no difference to them ware thay are whether in
Oregon or Illinois in the Ocean waves or the deserts of Africa. I shall have
to drop this subject I have siad more than I intended but we all feel like
we had lost a great friend he apeard to take the greatest of interes in all of
our concerns as much so as if we had bin minors, if fact his whole corse
since he was heare was more mild than it youse to be thare is no man heare
that had made more and better friends than he had such a person will be
long remembered.

This leaves us all well, the connexion are well as fare is I know. I was qite
sick lately I was confined about a week it was some kind of fever I
received towo letter from you last week it was qite a feast, it has bin nearly
a yeare & a half since I received one before. I was glad to hear you was all
well and doing well I wold lik to see you all but in as much as we cant let us
agree to write oftener what say you I think we have a good school this
summer the Fore largest all go thay apear to learn very well. the excitement
about the Indians are perty well over but the ware still continues I think it
will close some time this summer.

You wanted me to write whether I wanted both of the Monmouth papers or
not. I wold like to heare both sides of your politicks till after the Presidential
election then if the Review proves to be a good paper you may stop the Atlas.

You wanted me to write whether you had wrote anything in regard to that
carpet that I left we have bin looking over your letters we coldent find anything
concerning it, all I know about it is that I left it at Jimmyes & Boggesses Store
for sale. do what you think right in all my concers back thare, and I will be
satisfied. I want you to pay yourself well for all your trouble, write soon

We remain your Brother & Sister until death

Isaac & M Smith
[Probably written by Margaret Smith]

*Addendum*

Dear Brother and Sisters

my mind is so confused I do not know whether I can write enny or not
I reckon you have heard the painful news before this time John if I
could see you I could talk a great deal about our dear beloved father
he sufferd a great deal but bore it very patient he did not complain at
ennything done he looked so pretty and sweet and evry word he said
done our very soles good he talked a great deal about heven and future
happiness I never heard enny one talk so pretty as he did he said he
wanted us all to live good Christians the children all staid nearly all the
time he was sick he wanted us all to stay with him all the time the boys
was very attentive and done evrything they could he said he did not
know what he could say about them poor boys in Ills he was four or
five days he could not talk above a whisper Mother takes his death vry
hard you must write to her often and try to console her all you can
Father said he wanted us to take good care of her we intend to do so
but we cant make up her loss she says she is ruind she has visited around
amonst the children ever since

[Probably written by Isaac Smith]

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