Hutchinson, M. L.
July 29, 1857
My Dear Elizabeth,
Cheer up, cheer up for glad tidings of great joy has come at
last. As I have but a short time this
morning to write so you will, I know, excuse me if I am very brief.
Well, now for the good news. You must make up your mind to
come here this fall, for I have at last concluded to stay here. I am having to put up the dam across the
river for the water power & I am trying to put up the machinery for a grist
mill & a cabinet shop, which I expect to get ready by some time in
October. I was out all day yesterday
hunting up a claim of one hundred & sixty acres of land which I found but a
little ways out of town. The town
company have given me one acre of land or lot in the city to build me a house
on. They give me a chance to pick out of
about 10 most beautiful lots overlooking the whole town & close to the mill,
where the mill is going to be, so that I shall have but very little to walk
home to meals. I shall commence to dig
my cellar tomorrow ……..should do so today but I am going to lazing this
afternoon.
You can sell all of the furniture out of the home as fast as
you have a chance to do so, for it will not pay to bring it out here at all,
for it cost as much to get it from St. Paul, only sixty miles, as it will from
Beloit to St. Paul. Do not lose a chance
to sell anything if you can. Sell all
but my bookcase. Edwin can make
enquiries at the depot as to what freight costs from there to St. Paul, for I
may have the stove sent out too.
However, I shall have as little as possible for it cost so like
everything. So you must get rid of all
your old rags & tags. It will not do
to pay freight on them.
I am going to have Edwin to come out here along with you
& also his wife for they can take up a claim of 160 acres, which I have
picked out for them, & one for France’s brother, I. L. Albright, & one
for Robert Williams, but I can’t say that they (the claims) are not liable to
be jumped for the county is filling up very fast indeed. I wish I had of come here last spring, however,
there are just as good a chance now as then, only we have to go a little
farther out of town.
There are hundreds going through here all the time to settle
in some part of the territory. While I
am writing in view of my window I can count seven teams going through, all of
them covered wagons from east westward.
The Star of Empire moves & no mistake. I must not forget to tell you to bring all
your tin ware or that that is good & some of your best crockery too. Well, I suppose is all best of course, and
the feather bed which I liked so well last winter when it was so cold. Your ___ can be emptied out, so don’t bring
nothing but the ticking.
I may not be able to come down before I send for you to come
out, so I shall expect that Edwin, as a brother, will do all he can to assist
you & the children as far as St. Paul where I shall meet you with a
team. I hope and trust to God that the move will prove a blessing to us
both & our dear little ones, which I hope are all well, as well as
yourself, which I trust enjoy the same blessings as I am happy to say that I am
at present.
My love to Edwin, Frances & Robert. Kiss my children from me.
Yours faithfully,
John
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