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Taylor Family Letters (1877-1907)

Replies: 10

From James Taylor to Son Edwin and Huldah Taylor Family - 12/20/1880

Posted: 30 Nov 2012 6:44PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 30 Nov 2012 6:47PM GMT
From James Taylor to Son Edwin and Huldah Taylor Family - 12/20/1880

Keota, Iowa
Dec 20th, 1880

Dear Children:

I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know of our welfare. We are all in usual health at present hopping these few lines may find you all in good health. It has ben a long time since we heard from you. We have ben looking for a letter from you for a long time, but have not seen any yet. I think I wrote the last letter, but I will write another and hope to hear from you soon.

We have been having some very could weather here for the six weeks and it is very could at this time with about 2 inches of snow.

Willie (Note: the handwritten name is somewhat hard to make out. Willie is an educated guess at it. At first blush, it looks like Hilla, but considering the structure of the letters H and a, very well could be Willie) struck out this spring to try his luck in the wourld. But how he is making it can't say as he has not ben home since. We are looking for him home this week to spend the holladays with us. But do not no certain.

But, enough of that for the present. I think if my health will permit and I can make arangements to (travel??), I will come out to your place next summer but can not tell whether I can make arangements with the farm or not so I can leave or not. I want you to write so we can get your letter by New Year's Day. Andrew and Agnes is comming Christmas and we would be glad you could all come and spend the holladays with us. We all join wishing you happy Christmas.

The crops hear: the wheat was light from 5 to 15 bushel to the achre. Corn and oats was a good crop. Corn went from 50 to 75 bushel to the achre and oats from 50 to 60. No. 2 wheat is worth 75 cts. No 3 40. Corn is selling from 25 to 26 and oats the same as corn per bu.

We finished gathering corn last week on Thursday, the 16th and that night it snowed and has been verry could since and we are enjoying ourselves sitting by the stove. Except Brainard, he went to Talleyrand today in the sleigh. Our family is small at this time. Only three of us and I do not know what Brainard is going to do in the spring where he will stay with us or go west. There is considerable excitement about the west and north part of the state. Several in this section has said is going west.

I will close for the present. Our love to all.

Jas Taylor
___________________________

Editor's notes:

This letter was written about 10 years before James died on June 29, 1889.

James mentions three left on the farm. My best guess is that this is James, Sarah (McCart) Taylor, and Brainard.

Agnes, coming for Christmas, is the fourth child of James & Sarah. The Andrew we now know is Andrew McCampbell, her husband. They lived in Talleyrand. Agnes wrote the letter signed as the "unworthy sister" in 1889.

I am still intrigued by the reference to who it was that struck out on their own. Intuition tells me it was William. But, the handwriting, as I see it, says either "Hilla" or "Willa", which doesn't seem like a reference to a William, unless maybe it was a nickname.
SubjectAuthorDate Posted
silverfox3280 1 Dec 2012 12:58AM GMT 
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