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Showing posts with label William Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William Smith. Show all posts

Monday, September 26, 2016

A letter from the Oregon Territory on 14 November 1852

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