(1)

Fort Kearney

May 19th AD 1850

Dear Parrents and Relation

I now one time more seat myself to send you all a few more lines. To let [tear in MS] all [k]now that we are 
all well at the p[tear] time. We are about 2 miles above fort kearney[.] We have had no bad luck yet[.] We are 
traveling at the rates of 20 miles per Day[.] [Grass?] is very good so far[.] Our oxen is in very good order. 
we left the Missouri the 2 Day of may And we have travel[ed] about 300 hundred miles over the plains[.] We hav[e] 
Join[ed] a company of 46 men and we make 50[.] we was not acquainted with none of them But they are all fine men[.] 
We hav[e] Elected a Captain and Sargents and we guard our cattle every night[.] Our horses took a Stampede one 
evening about sun down there was eight started for home[.] Black eye and hiram run about six miles and stoped And 
Billy caught them And four of the 8 went 85 miles Before they was caught[.] Now we have got them all safe at our 
camp[.] We have not saw none of the Randolph Boys yet nor we have not he[a]rd of them yet[.] The road is strung 
with wagons[.] We hav[e] got as good a team as i have saw on the road[.]


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now i will tell you something about Platt River And Indians[.] Platt River is a very Beautifull River[.] In some 
places the river is ½ mile wide[.] there is a great many islands cover[e]d with cedar[.] As i did not finish my 
letter last night [tear in MS] will try to finish it this morning [tear] had a fine rain last night for the first 
[time] since we cross the river[.] I have waided platt River Several times after [ward?][.] Now I will tell you 
something about the Indians[.] The day we landed in to platt Bottom William and Norvell and some more of the company 
went on before about six miles And while they were gone about 130 indians came to the wagons and stayed about 1 hour 
And then they went on the way[.] the boys was the Indians was between the wagons and men and i tel[l] you that [I] 
was unease about them[.] But they return[ed] to camp safe The Indians did not trouble them[.] I hav[e] saw some 
Antilope and some Deer and some tame Buffalo at the fort[.] in about 4 more days travel we will be where there is 
plenty of game[.] we are in the [Pawnee Nation][.] Dear Father i wish and uncle James Belshe and uncle Norvill was 
along with us[.] we have had no hard times yet[.] I want you to write to [me] whether Tawyer has forgotten me or 
not And how little Tawyer is a coming on and all the Children[.]


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We are going to try to make the trip from fort Kearney to California in 50 days if we have good luck[.] we are about 
500 miles from home[.] Do not be unease about us for we are all fat[.] we are now fixing to start[.] I expect you all 
have he[a]rd that the [cholera] was kil[l]ing us all But it is n[tear in MS] I have have not of the since i left home[.] 
the people is all well in our company[.] I want you to write to me every opportunity for i have not he[a]rd from home 
since i left home[.] we expect to get to fort Larrmore[Laramie] in about 20 days[.] I hope you are all well[.] no more 
at the present I will write again when i get to fort Larimore[Laramie][.] I am very [tear in MS] Sadisfied with my trip 
so far[.]

No More at the present[.] Excuse all the mistakes if you please[.]

This May 20th 1850 Yours Respecfully

To John Biswell[,] Rebecca Biswell And Children

From Jonathan H Biswell & Co[,] Norvill B Biswell