Hamersly Library

Bridgeport Polk County OT March 28th 1858

Dear Brother & Sisters

I recived yours of Jan 27th with the welcome news of your good
health which I am at all times glad to heareof, and also some
melancholy news of sicknefs and death amongst our kinsfolks &
friends. I have the good & bad news to write in return we are all
well at this time but some of the connecsian are sick. Robert
Ground is very bad off with the lung fever some say consuption.

William Ground has had the typhoid fiver but has got a beaut again
Franky Murphy has bin sick but she is geting better Marthy Haley
died a short time ago with typhoid fever some say & some say not.
they all got sick with several other at Monmouthers thare are
several causes ascribed to thare sicknefs I do not pretend to know
anything about it, but thare is one thing about it thare has bin a
good deal of sicknefs thare while the country has bin resonable
healthy I suppose you have heard of Elijahs death. these things are
painful at the same time unavoidable he has bin complaining a good
while of times the Doctors say his lungs & liver was both effected
he willed a most all of his propery to Sarah she has rented the
place out and has gone to live with Thomas Lucas for the presant
She talk of having a house built in Monmouth.

we have had a moderate winter thare has bin no freizen but we have
had some snow it snowed twice but did not lay on but a day or two
each time. I finished sowing oats three weeks ago thay look fine I
also have a fine prospect of wheat.

I received some sugar cane seed in your letter which I was glad to
get, thare is plenty of it in oregon but thare is none in our
neighborhood it is said that it does well heare. I see an acount of
a new grafs seed in Ills called Hungarain grafs if you can get holt
of any send me a fiew in a letter I want to try all of the
different kinds, tame grafs doese well heare I have a start of
Timothy blue grafs & orchard grafs the country is geting so over
stock that we will have to rais some feed for hard spells in
winter. thare are 22000 head of cattle in our country besides otherstock

I was sorry to hear of your hard times and scarity of money but all
countrys have thare ups & downs we have to take it as it comes. we
have resonable good times heare everything bears a resonable price
I have just sold off my steers I got $20 for two year olds 30 for
threes & 40 for fores what I sold come to $280 good horses are
worth from 2 to 300 hundred dollars per head. I have a very pirty
start of the different kinds of stock my prospect for a living is
very good. wheat is worth $1.50 per bushel Oats $1.00 Butter is
worth 50 cts per pound, Money is plenty heare & if oregon could get
what was due here from the general goverment for carrying on the
Indian ware it wold be very plenty thare is about fore million of
dollars due us and it is hoped that the presant congrefs will make
an apropiaton to pay the said debt.

tell James that I get tired of reading his long letters he had
better hold up a little. Tell M Lucas that if he has any No 1 fine
cattle if he will bring them heare he can get five hundred dollars
a piece at least I have heard of them selling that high. the people
heare ar geting very much in the spirit of fine stock thare is a
company organized heare for the purpose of importing fine stock
thay have purchased in New York a horse for five thousand dollars
thay calculate to import some young cattle of fine stock thay say
thay can bring them without deficuly by water suckess to the
enterprise.

I would like to see you all but will have to wait for the Raill
road I am afraid that is a dull prospect but what we cant do by
talking we will halve to do by writing. write often

Yours with affection.

Isaac & Margaret Smith

*Addendum*

Dear Brother Sister and children

I would like to see you all the best I often think how pleasant it
would be to pay you a visit and to converse with you I dont know
enny thing that I can wate that will interest you I would like to
know how you are all a doing what I mean by this is I want to know
the little particulars I see from you letter that you children has
grown a greateal I would like to be their and compare children with
you I think we could get the premium we do not know their weights
but they have all grown a greateal little Tilda and John cant be
beat John is as white as enny boddys boy with blue eyes yellow head
he has a cowlick on the same side his Uncle John has. he is very
much doted on by the family Matilda do think you could find time to
write more I reckon you have all forgot us. Eliza I want you and
Lavina to write me a long letter and tell all the little things.
Flora and Mary has been pieceing them a quilt this winter Mary
quilted hers the other day Rufus Wright Berry and Flory was the
quilters they quilted it in one day if you want to know how well it
was done come over and we will show it to you. give my respects to
Mr. Phelps and family tell Ann I have not forgot her if she has me
you must all write as often as you can so no more at present
I remain your affectionate sister untill death

Margaret B Smith

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