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Notice: all or parts of this letter appears in a copyrighted source (Emmanuels 2002) and it is presented here with his kind permission.
From Jesse Esrey to Daniel and Amanda Rhoads
Ray County, Mo. February l0th, 1851
Dear Friends,
I embrace the present opportunity of sending you a line which leaves us all well. We have had letters from Sarah Daylor dated 11th October last, from Thos. Esrey and John Rhoads 18th October last, from J.H. Shackelford 19th October. We all received your letters from Saint Louis, New Orleans and Panama which was verry gratifying to us to learn of the good health of you all. The winter has been fine and pleasant and unusually dry. Health has generally been good. Polly Elder and Father Rhoads were both with us two or three nights past and our friends in this quarter are all well. I had a letter from your Uncle Arthur about the first of January. They were all well and your grandmother Foster had a verry fine health. No word from any of the Rhoads in Illinois. Mr. Joseph Knight was sentenced to be hung at Paris. Governor French commuted the punishment to imprisonment for life so he goes to Alton. Your brother Isaac if alive has doubtedly arrived before This. He left the 14th 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 of other catastrophe. Hence I had no time to settle up [missing text] the one half of the potatoe crop I know nothing about and it is a matter for you to determine. As regards the grain the oxen were fed upon to charge him or not. I am now feeding the balance of the corn & fodder. There is an over abundance to winter them. I have also the oxen in charge which 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, [unreadable] and other points westward. The waggons I fear will be [?] sale.
The winter has been so mild there has been no sale for corn. They are buying at the towns delivered for one dollar per barrel. I have thought that I would ship 12 or 1500 bushels. It has ranged at Saint Louis through the winter from 42 to 58 cents per bushel.
Your Aunt Delila Taylor has sold her place and moved up to Turner Elder's. Turner I think was a little [ashy?] because Isaac left without paying him. You can say to Shackelford if he is there that his wife and children are all well.
Jonathan H. Snowden's wife has had no word from her husband since he was on the plains last summer. Old Jane seems to have gone to Oregon and has written back. [?] I
suppose took the Mary's River rout You will confer a favor on a disconsolate wife by making enquiry as to what has become of him. [Jeramiah?] Smith and a man by the name of Parks Clayton [Piles?] and a Dutchman by the name of Bums and Lewis a slave started with Snowden and perhaps some other one. It appears to be understood somehow that they all had left him except Lewis and the Dutchman. His wife is fearful that some foul play has taken place. Please make what enquiry you can and let us know if he is living. It may be that Lewis or Bums may have got through and could give some information.
Respectfully your verry
humble servant
Jesse Esrey