(front) [front] [Addressed to:]Mr. John Biswell Written By Jonathan H. Biswell On Sunday 26 Day of Jan 1851 (1) Lou[i]sville Green Wood Valley Cal January 26th 1851 Dear Parents and Relation i now one time more take an opportunity of to write you all a few lines to enform you all. That i have receive[d] your kind and affectionate Letter that was written the 12 Day of Oct And afforded me no small degree of pleasure to heare of you all being well and doing well. We are all well at present and in good spirits hopeing that we will do better[.] And we hope when these few lines comes to your unwave[r]ing hand that they will find you all enjoying all the blessings you could wish for[.] I was glad to heare that you raise[d] a good crop of corn and tobacco[.] I am sorrow[sorry] that I wrote to you that I was coming home in the spring but I cannot help it now I have no notion of comeing home until next fall for I think we can make some money here[.] I have not much news to write at present[.] Some people are doing very well others are doing nothing[.] We have had the beautifulest winter that I ever seen[.] we have had no snow nor no cold we[a]ther And but very little rain[.] the trees are as green here now as ever you seen them in Mo in July[.] I do not want you to be uneasy about us for we are fat and saucy[.] I and Brother Norville Weighes 144 lb a peice so I gess you will think we are getting fat[.] We have plenty to eat and plenty to drink and cheap at that[.] (2) price of provision Flour 10 to 12 c[en]ts per lb. pork 30 cts Sugar 10.12 cts Coffee 25..50 cts Fresh Beef 20.30 cts Butter 75.100 lb pickeles 3.50 cts per gal[lon] corn meal 25 cts potatoes 15 cts lb honey 75 cts per lb Molasses 3.00 Dol[lars] per gal plenty of vegetables of all kinds here[.] it is a beautiful country for young men[.] they can learn how to cook for them selves[.] I can cook as good as any woman and not half try[.] I want you to write to me w[h]ether any people from our neighbor hood or not is comeing across the plains or not[.] But if they will take my advice they will stay at home For I tell [you] when you start a cross the plains you start a long and tiresome journey[.] but we made the trip in 90 days[.] an ox teem is the best teem that ever started on the plains And [if] I was going to cross the plains again I would have an ox teem[.] I do not want you to think this way and say that when Jonna and Norville gets money that they just spend it all as fast as they make it for it [is] not so[.] we save all we can get for I [k]no[w] how it comes[.] I was supprised to heare of aunt Betsy Haines being married to Mr. Sims But I wis[h] them great joy and send my best Respects to all the family[.] We have a church in green wood[.] Uncle Thomas Biswell is [a] pretty good Preacher he gets up before the people in Cal[.] Cousin Joseph is with us and Franklin Arnett and we expect to stay to gether all the time we are in California[.] (3) I [MS. torn] Norville works together all the time so far and if nothing we expect to work together and come home together[.] I have not he[a]rd from cousin Jeremiah B Clarkson nor [Win?] since the first of Left[.] I do not [k]no[w] where they are[.] I am well Sadisfied in Cal[.] that is all I have to say at present[.] we have never have received but 2 letter[s] yet[.] Write on the reception of this fail not[.] Respecfully you[r]s Jonathan B Biswell Norville B Biswell I remain yours truly until Death John Biswell and Rebeca Biswell And family [P.S.] Give my best respects to all enquiring friends and family[.] I will write ever month and I want you to do the same[.] Direct your letter to Jonathan H. Biswell of MO[,] Sacramento City upper California[.] Dear uncle & a[u]nt & cousins we are all well at present[.] we have got a little of the yellow stuff and hope to get plenty a gan[again] next fall and come home[.] Give my best resspects to All[.] Yours Cencerely Joseph B. Biswell