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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, Richmond, Missouri
To: Jonathan D. Esarey ( Indiana)
Date: September 1852
Jonathan D. Esarey – Dear Sir –
Yours of the 20 th of August last came to hand sometime since, during my absence at Jefferson City. The Legislature being convened by the Governor to dispose of the Land Granted by Congress to the State of Missouri, to aid in the construction of the Saint Joseph and Hannibal Railroad and the Saint Louis and Pacific Road. In consequence of the land sales being closed only for six months, and that time would have expired before the commencement of the regular session.
The session having adjourned on the 21st instant I got home last night. My family is all on foot. Some of them have been sick during my absence, but nothing of a serious character. Through the mercy of God, our lives have been spared.
So far as I know these members of my family are in California. Two sons, Justin and Jonathan, and one daughter, Amanda. I have had no word from them for the last two months. The boys were mining and Mr. Rhoads is living on a ranch and raising stock. My two youngest sons are all that live at home with us at this time. They are Niles and Septer Patrick. Thomas is sometimes at home and sometimes at his own farm and James and John have families and homes of their own.
Our oat and corn crop is fine. Wheat is rather light. Stock of every kind is high. The hog crop will be less than usual in quantity. We are all bustle and hurry to get our stock-corn cut up. Frost has come much earlier than common. It seems to have traveled in veins killing the fodder in some districts of the country while in other districts it has been light. We have a goodly number of cattle to winter and it is necessary to have something to winter them upon.
You speak of my paying you a visit this fall. Most assuredly, were it in my power, I would cheerfully do so, but time seems to be hurrying me on more rapidly than at any other period of my life. As age is creeping upon me, I am less able to perform what I could formerly.
Should my pathway be opened up I shall call and see you all. My wife has bad health, and has had for twenty years a great share of the time, which renders it more difficult for me to leave home. We should be happy to see you all, once again in this life, but if we cannot see you, it would afford us some consolation to hear from you.
No more but remain your friend
Jesse Esrey.
[footnote: Jesse never made it back to Indiana. He died February 1855 in Ray County, Missouri]