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[Addressed:] Mr. John Biswell
Huntsville Randolph County
Mo

[Postmark:] Tarkio Mo
May 29



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Holt County, Mo. April 26th AD 1850 Tarkio Post office

Dear Father and Mother Brother and Sisters.

We[ll] I now Take an opportunity to send you all a few lines To inform you all that we are all well at the present.  We Landed here the 25th of this month And i do not [k]no[w] how long we will remain here.  But We are encampt about half mile from the Missou[ri] River But We expect to cross the River the last Day of this month.  And we expect to Travel on towards California[.]  We are about 40 miles below the mo[u]th of Platt River[.]  We are get[t]ing Corn at 50 c[en]ts per Bushel here[.]  The cheapest corn we bought was at 40 cts per Bu[shel] And the most we paid was 75 cts and Scars [scarce] at that[.]  We hav paid out about 35 dollars since we started[.]  We crossed the Grand river at the mouth where it emptied in the Missouri.  I hav[e] saw some better Land since the first Letter i wrote you[.]  The land around St. Jo[seph] is as good as I ever saw[.]  I was at St. Joseph [and] The Town was crow[d]ed with California emigrants[.]   I wrote to you that we expected to cross at western But we give out that notion[.]  I expect we will cross at Hawks Ferry W[h]ich is about ½ mile from this place[.]  I hav[e] saw some Indians[.]  They were at St. Joseph.  As i did not finish my letter last evening i will try to finish it this morning[.]  The grass in the Missouri Bottom is from 3 to 4 inches high[.]  Our cattle is in verry good order And our horses also[.]  We are going to cross the Missouri About 60 Miles above St Joseph[.]  We hav[e] not saw none of the Randolph Boys yet[.]



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If any of the Randolph Boys has not started tel[l] them not to start until the grass comes for i tell you that they cannot get food for their stock For it is scarce all along the road[.]  we got corn every night except one then we bought hay at 50 cts per hundred[.]  We was get[t]ing corn yesterday at 50 cts per Bu[shel] And this morning it is at 100 per Bush.                                                                                                  
i would like to see you all very well And i want would like to here[hear] from you all very well at present[.]  There is not one day past but what i hav[e] thought of Tawyer and all the rest of you[.]  I want you to write to me as soon as you get this letter[.]  Direct your letter to fort Larimore[Laramie][.]  Start one as soon as you get this and in about one week afterwards Start a nother[.]  inquire and find out whether you can send a letter to fort Larimore[Laramie] or not for i do not no[.]  But write ever[y] opportunity[.]  That is all i hav[e] to say about that[.]  Jeremiah B & Norville B is going to start down the river to try to get some corn as much as 10 or 15 Bush[.]  we are going to start a cross the plains with about 10 Bush[.]  we think that will last us to the platt Bottom[.]  There is about ten or twelve waggon going to start with us the last day of this month if nothing happens[.]



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I have not got well of my cough yet but i think i am some Better[.]  We met with Doctor Howard And he gave me some medison[medicine] w[h]ich i think done me some good[.]  Doctor Howard lived in Huntsville. you [k]new him But if [you] had not new[known] him i would not hav[e] taking any medison[medicine] from him[.]  i am very well sadisfied[.]                                                                                                                            Tell Anny that i can beat her a[t] make Biscuit[s] now And coffee too[.]  no more at present[.]            

Jeremiah B will write the Day we start[.]  I hav to send this letter six miles to a post office[.]  This is all[.]  

This April 27th 1850[.]

This from Jonathan H. Biswell & Norville B. Biswel to you all

Respec[t]fuly yours John Biswell

Excuse all the mistakes  

[crossed out]When I write to [you] me and Norville B writes in one letter [to] you