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[Addressed:] Mr. John Biswell
                        Huntsville Randolphe Co.
                        Mo

[Postmark:] Plattsburg Mo. Apr 19

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in office Ap. 17

Plat[t]sburg Clinton County Mo April 16th 1850

Dear Father and Mother Brothers and Sisters   
i now take this opportunity to send you a few lines.  To let you no that we are all well at the present[.]  We are about 130 
miles from home[.]  Our oxens are doing well[.]  we hav had no bad luck so fur [far].  Produce is very scarse[.]  Corn 
sells from 50 c[en]ts to 75 Bu[shels] Oats 40 c[en]ts to 25 c[en]ts per Dozen Hay 50 c[en]ts per hundred[.]   We have 
paid out about 17 dollars since we started[.]  The firs[t] night we got to Aharts[.]  he is living in the middle of the 
prarrier [prairie][.]  we stre[t]ch[e]d our tent out on the prarier [prairie][.]  it was the hardest night sleep i had[.]  The 
reason why i write you all this letter is because i named the baby[.]  i hav ben sorrow[sorry?] that i named him ever 
since i left home Because i did not [k]now whether you and mother did like the name or not.  i want you to change the 
name if you do not like it But if you like the name let it be[.]   The name is James.  Tell Tawyer that i will bring him 
some gold[.]  The r[o]ads was very good after we crossed Grand River[.]  One square of Brunswick was bu[r]nt down 
the night before we got there[.]  There is nothing but prairer [prairie] in this Country[.]  i would not liv in no such a 
Country as i hav saw so far & 

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you hav got the best place i ever saw yet[.]  do not sell it For you never would get a nother place like the one you hav[.]  
i would like for you to be along with us But i[t] seem[s] there is no chance.  Most all the people about here is going to 
California[.]  i expect we will stop about St. Jo[seph].  We have kill[ed] some game[.]  William found one Bee Tree 
with some honey in it[.]  we had 4 or 5 [messes?] of it [but] no more at the present[.]  Write me a letter[.]  Direct it St 
Jo[seph][.]  it is probbay[probable?] that i will get it[.]  Our Horses is doing very well[.]  it has ben raining all day[.]  we 
hav Travel[ed] 6 or 7 miles to day[.]  if it rains we expect to stay here two or three day[.]  we are getting corn here 50 
c[en]ts per Bu[shel] oat 40 c[en]ts doz[en][.]   i will write you another letter before we leave this country[.]  write to me 
every chance[.]

Yours Respecfuly
Jonathan H. Biswell

To you John Biswell
                      Mother

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[P.S.] I said that we were all well i am not very well my self[.]   i hav the worst bad cold that i every had And the worst 
bad[d]est cough that i ever had[.]  i have thought that if i was at home i would stay there if could[.]  But i am getting 
better now And i am very well satisfied so far[.]

Jonathan H. Biswell