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Notice: all or parts of this letter appears in a copyrighted source (Evans 1968) and is presented here with permission. All rights reserved.
From: Jesse Esrey (Ray Co., Missouri)
To: Daniel and Amanda Rhoads ( California)
Date: February 10, 1850
Dear Friends: I embrace the present opportunity to send you a line which leaves us all well. We have had letters from California from my son Thomas and from my son-in-law James Shackleford – written in October. You can say to Shackleford that his wife and children are well. We also received you letters from St. Louis, New Orleans, and Panama which was gratifying. Your sister Polly (Rhoads) Elder and Forster Rhoads were both with us 2 or 3 nights past.
Your brother Isaac has doubtless arrived with you. He left here the 14 th of January. He was in such haste to get away that he would not wait that I might write him a letter of credit in case of sickness or other catastrophe. Hence I had not time to settle up with him about the ½ of the potato crop that was agreed between you. Turner Elder and his wife, you sister Polly, were a little ash because Isaac left without paying them.
I have the oxen you bought from John. They are all in fine plight and I expect to sell them in the spring when the government trains start to Fort Laramie and points westward. There has been no sale for corn. They are buying in the towns – delivered for $1.00 per barrel. I have thought that I would ship 12 or 15 bushels. It has ranged from 42 to 55 cents per bushel at St. Louis.
Word has come that Hubbard Snowdon’s wife, Jane, has had no word from him since they were on the plains last summer. Old Jane seems to have gone to Oregon and she fears that Hubbard went to California. You will confer a favor on a disconsolate wife by making inquiry as to what has become of him.
Respectfully, your very humble servant,
Jesse Esrey.