ALDRICH letter Cover
ALDRICH letter Page 1.
ALDRICH letter Page 2.
ALDRICH letter Page 3.
BackGround: Kirtland Temple, Kirtland, Ohio.
cover
Postmark: Far West, MO Oct 1
Mr. Daniel Aldrich
Littleton N. H.
Grafton County
Page 1
Brother Daniel it is about two years since I have written to you; I have not received any letter from you since I left the Ohio, but have heard from you by a letter that Mary Drake wrote to Annis in the Ohio, We are about 19 hundred miles apart yet the same sun shines on you that Does on me and the same God sees us both and will bring us in to judgement for the Deeds Done in the body. I am in a fertile country and am well suited with it. It is a healthy country yet there is sickly places but in general it is healthy, there's some few cases of the fever again and of the chills and fever. I am on about the 39th Degree north latitude and am 200 and fifty Miles West of St. Louis the North side of the Missouri River about 30 Mi. from it the Missouri River course is from North West to the south East. I am within 200 and 50 miles of Council Bluff where Ralph Otis was stationed as he informed us when he came to our house in Ryegate. Council Bluff is 200 Miles West of the western boundary line of the State of Missouri there has not been any Soldiers Stationed at Council Bluff this number of years their is Regulars Stationed at Fort Leavenworth ten Miles West of the Boundary line of the State of Mo. the south side of the Ranch immediately on the bank they have from 4 to 8 hundred mounted men (Dragoons) The United States have been a gathering the Indians from all parts of the states to the territory west of the Mo and of the Mississippi ____ until there is Danger of their Breaking out at least it is considered so and there is volunteers called for throughout the Western and Southern states, there is 5000 in the state of Mo that stand as minnit men but I not think they will be called for this year for it is too late for the Indians to come out to battle. Jamon Aldrich
Page 2
Mother urges me to have you write immediately, and she also send her respects to you both and the children. (ed note: written vertically along left side of page)
Crops are very good this year there is corn in abundance it is worth from 20 to 25 cts per bushel Money is plenty considering the times I have got along as well as could be expected considering the Distance that I have moved with my large family we have got five children We have enjoyed good our health better than we could expect considering our coming from such a cold country to one that is so war for there is a great Difference. Our aged Mother is in as good health as she has been this _____ (a number) years on as she yearns to live and is contented as could be expected. Waiting impatient for the Arrival of Hazen- Issac & Daniel Wallace Hazen wrote to me that they was a going to start the first of Sept. I should expect them here in the month of November. Myself and Almira have not been sick since we left Nh we are all well at present. Uncle Daniel Miles and family is all here except Susan she is in the Ohio they are all well Daniel Jr. has got his health and has worked for great wages has entered 40 acres of land got 7 or 8 head of cattle and is now to work for $1.50 cts per Day at his trade. Josiah is to work for 20 Dollars per month I can git from 20 to 30 Dollars per month, but have not worked out but little but shall have to before long for sound want of cash.
Mormonism ______ ______ has not come to naught not with shaming the many prophecies of its coming to naught But it is like the stone that Daniel saw that was cut out of the Mountain without hands that fitted the whole Earth, we have been threatened with a mob to drive the Mormons from certain counties but Did not undertake it. I have not written to Brother Roswell since I left the Ohio for I do not know where he is. I want you should write to him and tell him to write to me and then I will write to him immediately.
Page 3
Direct yours to Far West
Caldwell County, Mo. (ed note: written vertically on left side of page)
I want you should write to me as soon as you receive this and give me a full statement of the your situation and of times in general fill the largest sheet that you can get and then I will know what to write _________ news to you or how much you want to hear.
Joseph Smith is here in Caldwell County as other Peaceable citizens, I have raised corn enough for my own use this year. The grammatical errors and the bad spelling I leave for you to correct. I have written on things in general so that you can gather some idea of my situation and where I am at.
This the 30 Day of Sept
AD 1838 By
Jamon Aldrich
To Daniel Aldrich and Hannah.
And we all as one send our best wishes to you, and if you was located here I should be glad and so would you.
Jamon Aldrich
blanks are words that could not be interpreted
underlines are words that I was unsure of
people mentioned in the letter:
Jamon Aldrich is married to Almira Chamberlain
His mother is Annis Sweetland
His brother, Daniel Aldrich is married to Hannah Drake
His other brothers mentioned are: Hazen Aldrich, Roswell Aldrich, Issac Aldrich
His sister, Annis Aldrich, is married to Daniel Wallace
Uncle Daniel Miles is married to Electa Chamberlain who is the sister of Almira Chamberlain's father
The children of Daniel Miles and Electa Chamberlain mentioned are: Daniel Miles Jr., Susan Miles, and Josiah Miles.
Joseph Smith, Jr. is the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
Ralph Otis is unknown
Mary Drake is unknown
places mentioned in the letter:
Council Bluff is Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County, Iowa
Ryegate is in Caledonia County, VT
To reach me by e-mail click on mailbox
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