Hamersly Library

Monmouth Sept. 15th 1859

Dear Brother

I have written several letters to you and the rest of my brothers and
never received an answer but I shall still write to you all occasionally.
This leaves myself and family as well as usual for us My wife is not at
home now she is waiting on her sister that is sick with the
inflammatory Rheumatism She has been very low for about six weeks
I do not think she will ever recover I have been liveing in Monmouth
and selling goods for the last year Buisiness is verry dull here now in
consequence of times clossing in as they have. we used to do a verry
good buisiness but are doing nothing now. the indian war has injured
Oregon verry much people turned out their horses cattle and
provisions and they never have recieved one cent of their pay and are
not likely to soone and when Congress does see fit to pay us it is
verry likely to be cut down to almost nothing. if we should get all of
the debt that is due us it would not set Oregon where she was before
the war. if Congress does cut down the war debt and only allow
volunteers the pay of regular soldiers, The next time they call for
volunteers they will not be verry likely to get them. I for one will never
turn out unless to protect the valey in which I live.

The hard times are caused in a measure by our own folley the people
of Oregon have had plenty of money for several years it came easy
and went the same way Our pople have been buying two much and
not raising enough to sell to bring money into the country untill our
exports exceed our imports we need never look for things to go on
smoothly in Oregon The Health of the country has been verry good
this season for which we should feell verry thankfull our crops have
been rather short Oats verry short wheat is worth $1.00 oats 75
Cattle & Horses are on the decline Land is low and but verry little
selling It has been raining for two days rather uncommon at this
season for Oregon I think this will start the grass up green and if it
does we will get through the coming winter verry comfortable.

Our state meeting has just passed off in our little town we had a good
many good preachers with us and they labored verry hard but strang
to say there was not one addition to the church this is verry
discouraging but we must be the more diligent in our duties, and never
give up. Uncle Elijah delivered an exortation the last evening the old
man is getting quite feeble Aunt Peggy is verry feeble also Mother is
liveing with Ira. She is as well as usual. I saw all the connection at the
meeting and they were all as well as the common. There is quite a stir
about the Eastern portion of Oregon and the East side of the Cascade
Range of mountains there is a great many moveing and taking stock out
there the grass is said to be verry fine

John E Murphys boys have gone out there with stock and many
others would go if they could sell their property here I think they had
better be contented here where they are getting fixed to live it is all
folley moving from one place to another.

I hope when you get this you will answer it soone and tell me all about
everything that you think will interest me I want you to tell me where to
write to Joseph & William for I have understood they have have both
moved away from where they used to live. I still own my farm and think
some of going back to work on it as it is impossilbe to make much selling
goods when when times are so hard I believe I have nothing more to
write at present. Hopeing you will write soone and I want you to tell
James to write to me for it has been 2 years since I recieved ane from
him. I have written this in a great hurry for I have a great many thing to
think and studdy about No more at this time but remain your loving brother
untill death

Isaac M. Butler

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