From James Taylor to Son Edwin and Huldah Taylor Family - 03/24/1889
Keota, Iowa
Mar 24th, 189
Editor's Note: Yes, the date is 189
Since we now know he died Jun, 1889,
This must be 1889
Dear Children:
I seat myself at this time to write you a few lines to let you no of our welfare. We are boath in usual health tho at present hoping this may find you all in good health. My (??) health has not ben very good this winter. Have ben troubled with asthma that I had to sit in a chair for a good many nights. I could not lie down and that was hard on me after sitting all day. There was about one week there that the fire was not out in the stove in my room and that was pretty hard on me but I got it stoped on me and have not had any more of it since and am fealing better now and can get around somehow and the weather is comming off warmer now and I think I will be better now.
This has ben a good winter on stock and our stock has done well so far and spring work is commencing. And farmers will be busey till seed time is over. It has ben verry dry here for some time and could nights (too?) but little grass starting yet nor won't so long as the nights are so could, but it is a good time for farmers to get their crops in but if we do not get a good rain soon pasture is going to be short and stock will not do so well.
Aurie wrote me you had ben off and sold a lot of your horses. Did you make a good sale or was it rather null as I heare the market? Was stock there? Was 3 or 4 car loads shiped from Keota about that time to Nebraska. You had some good stock I think and ought to get a good prise for them horses. Was Baughton here this spring? We have not sold anny the last two years. We have some (cows?) for now that will be ready after awhile. Stock of all kinds is very low and dull here at this time.
Tell Aurie I was glad to get her letters but am sorry I could not answer them sooner but I have not felt like writing this winter. It has ben a hard winter on me. It has ben verry sickly here this fall and winter and quite a number of deaths and it is verry sickly now. More than has ben for years. the docter has all the ???. We was too a funeral yesterday. Mrs. Tate Crawford was buried.
But, I must close, from James Taylor
_____________________
Don't know who he might have been referring to when he said "boath are in usual health". Mrs. Taylor had died in 1883. My guess is James Brainard. His 1887 biography says William was in Minnesota, but later letters and the will indicate William came back to run the farm with Brainard. I believe James Brainard was married approximately a month after this letter was written, in April, 1889, to Nan Jackson.
James Taylor died in August, 1889, approximately 5 months after writing this letter.