John Lloyd from Benton County, Oregon Territory is writing to brother, Robert in Grainger County, Tennessee.
Nancy and John Lloyd went to Oregon via the Oregon Trail in 1845. They never saw their daughter Jane again. She had married before they left Missouri to George Murphy. He writes that his father in law, Abner Walker has been dead over 3 years and Cousin William Smith and his wife are both dead. He is amazed his parents are still alive.
The price for commodities is very interesting: Wheat is $3.00 a bushel (not much different than today's prices!) Beef is 8 cents per pound on the hoof. Donation land was awarded to those who were on the land before December 1, 1851 and must remain on the land for 4 years. Head of household received 320 acres if they settled between December 1, 1851 and 1853. And he said that the best land in his area has been claimed.
To: Mr. Robert Lloyd
Rutledge Granger County Tennessee
Return address:
Jennopolis O.T.
Nov
30 52
Oregon Territory
Benton County November 14 1852
Dear Brother and Sisters and to all the family
connection
this leaves me and mine in moderate health through the
mercies of an indulgent god hopeing this may find you and yours in health and
prosperity
Dear Brother we received yours of July 27th October the 31 with pleasure as it was the
first we had received in 3 or 4 years
we never expected to hear that both of our aged parents was a living
again the young may die but the old
must die and our brother in law has falling victimz to the monster death while our aged and feeble parents is still on
the stage of action my family
connection in Oregon is all well except William Miller that married daughter
Eliza his health is bad and fear will
never be good he has a consumption the childrain is all making out well our oldest Daughter Jane that was married in
Missouri still remains there they talk of coming to Oregon if they can
sell their land but I think it is ___ certain about their coming Cousin William Smith and wife is both
ded Abner Walker father in law has been
ded over three years there has been the
largest emegration this season that ever came to Oregon in one year they were not molested by indians on what is
called the north rout but the Indians killed 11 men on the South rout no women or children murdered that I have
learnt the ____nation
(emegration) suffered much with sicknez and there has been quite a
number of deaths among them they are all
into the settlement by this time as I am told
there teams failed and they got out of provisions all the latter part of
emegration lost probably over half of their cattle that is take them one with
another they must have suffered in the
extreme if had not been for the hospitality of the people in the valley who
contributed largely in money and provisions
also went out with teams and helped them across the mountains
I will now say something about my own affairs we are doing well and getting on well as
respect the things of this fife I have
put up a good house which is in an unfinished state though we are living in
it I have got it weathered boarded the chimneys up windows in floars in
not laid doors shutters hung in part I have
done the work or nearly so with the exception of the chimneys I suppose it will
take me until next fall to complete the house and paint it off
Dear Brother Oregon is a remarkable easy country to live in
particularly for those that has many cattle
a man in Oregon with good milch cows can realize more clear money free
head from them than he can from the labor
the same number of Negro men in the states unless it is in cotton or
sugar growing states cows sell here
from 75 to 100 heifer calves of good stock at weaning time can not be purchased
at $50 per head I would like to buy some at this time at the
above named prices if I knew where to find them wheat crops was light this season wheat is worth $3 per bushel which sets hard
on the new emegrants though them that
has been in the country long enough to get a good start can pay $3 easier than
to pay 50 cts in the states I will try
to give prices of produce and groceryes
coffe 331/3 cts sugar 12 ½ cts butter 50 cts
cheese 371/2 cts beef is worth 8 cts per pound on foot hogs $8 per hundred grass oats $1.25 per bushel Irish potatoes $2 and 2 50 cts per bushel in market beef in market is worth 12 to 15 cts groceryes is unusualy high at this time I purchased my groceryes last season at the
following prices coffe 10 cts sugar
10 1/3 cts syrup 28 cts dried fruit 10 cts salt $2 per hundred course boots $2 to 3 per pair rice 10 cts per pound dry goods has been low for some years past
but is scarce and high at this time though there is plenty to supply the wants
of people dry goods and groceryes has
been shipped to this country in abudance here tofore and sometimes they could
not get anything like cost for their goods-I will say Oregon is a healthy
country there is but few fevers among the people though consumption and breast
complaints is not very uncomon I have
not seen the first of fever in the country yet there is some cases of fever in
Oregon Dear Brother you requested me to
give you some information about Oregon I
have nothing new to write as respect the country I wrote to you about the donation Bill which
gives 640 acres of land to heads of family who settled on the same prior to the
1stt day of December 1851 and remains on the same four years Said Bill Allso gives 320 acres to heads
of families who settles on the same between the 1st day of December
1851 and 1853 at which time the donation Bill (proves) (expores) the best of the land is claimed in the section
of the country where we live-- ---
We have three
childrain living with us the youngest which is Boys they are going to school at
this time
Nancys health is not good yet she is in better health at
this time than what she has been in for the three past I have enjoyed very good health generally
speaking through life I am now in my
fifty seventh year have worked very hard most of the time and do more work at
this time than any man of my age that I am aquainted with but I am failing
fast and in a little time my Sun will
set to rise no more we wish to be
remembered to father and Mother and all the family connection may heavens shortest blessings rest upon and
abide you all so fare you well excuse bad writing and selling omision of
words JC
John
Lloyd
Nancy
Lloyd
These original letters were digitized and have been donated to Fort Walla Walla Museum in Walla Walla, Washington
