From Fred Brown and Sara Ann Brown to Michael H. Jose

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Little Osage Vernon Co. Mo[.] Mr. M. Jose
Dear Sir

I Received your letter of Febuary last with much pleasure not only to hear you was all well but was glad to hear of who & how many your household consisted of and also your friends you spoke of to me knowing of many friends whom I am personly acquainted with I wish you to show this letter so that they May know something how things air Running in this Sexion of Contry, there have bin Considerable sickness this summer in this contry[.] not many Deaths[.] I shall speak of many of our old friends Both who lived in our country when you and I first knew them[.] Joseph Beaver still Resides where he Did[.] John M. [P?] was killd by the M.M. State Militia in henry Co., Mo., also one of haskins sons haskins is still on the [side line?] [[MS. illegible]] John Starr & they havent yet Returned since the war Harris moved to Oregon some year ago[.] Thomas Osborn did some 3 months ago Enoch & James air all living in Kansas, & Doing well[.] Judge Mines is in Bates yet. H.L. Campbell and many others you know the people was all Driven from that Country by Military Order and also parts of this Co. stripped of all their wealth and knows they air just beginning anew[.] it Reminds me of the first Cabbins we use to Raise 30 years ago you will Recollect—how we went from place to place to Raisings, there is Considerable Political excitement in Vernon County tho all Peacably & in fine [[MS. illegible]] and I hope will continue so[.] the War Being over lets all do our next fighting at the Ballot Box[.]


Mikael[,] Sara Ann says she has the finest boy 2 years old you ever saw[.] well he is a promising looking child Shorr Shooting[.] his name is Enoch Granville[.]


I may move in the spring somewhere west[.] you wright me particulars of your Contry. There have many ups & downs in this country in four years part fire & sword[.] went to gather in this part of the vineyard[.] we all lost more or less[.] tell Levi Welch his old place he left is worth 12 or 15 dollars per acre[.] land is Rating high but little selling[.] the Roads air Lined with wagons moving most all going to Kansas[.] when they go theire they think all is Right, M Jose[.]


J.H Rigud is a candidate for Representative of our County there is a pretty fair Prospect of his Election[.] the old Dr[.] Regud is on his old farm[.] I suppose you have heard old George Rigud is dead[.] also George Thomas the [Carder?] he was killd by the Bush Whacks[.] old Dan Johnson was killed By the Malishia[.] John F. [[MS. illegible]] Dead[.] Colonel Hailey[,] Capt. Barrow, John [[MS. illegible]] in short—many of the old Cronies we knew years ago some killd young ones who have grown in our knowing I forget. Allen Harist was murdered at Knight[.] so was H.H. Eddy supposed to be by Mo. Malitia[.] John Hartman was killd when a prisoner in the Federal lines by a Dirty Fellow as gard[.] Green Osborn was Killd by his neighbor Militia men permit me to say[.] these air hardley a beginning of the murders & Deaths I Could tell you of but you can begin to guess from this of what we have seen in this Contry[.] God forbid we should ever see the like again altho many say a war is inevitable yet I think all will come right after the Fall election, we have Fedrael & [Com?] Feds Right amongst us as neighbors[.] they get along fine together[.] the great [threat?] is with those who never sholderd a musket in War[.]


you may think I am Rather tedious[.] I wish to give you something like a sketch merely to guess by[.] I only helped to bury one man during the war who was [shot?][.] he was a man who lived in Henry Co. and was taken prisoner in some 3 miles of where he was killd say 2 miles north of Balls Mill at the same time the mill & Bridge was Burnd[.] some where in one thousand head of cattle horses & Mules was Driven out of our County by 200 men and if I was to say 4 or 5 times that amount was Driven or stolen from us During the war[.] I would miss it[.] you would naturly inquire whare they went, the true answer would be Kansas for the most of it and these air some horse stealing to be heard from every Day or two yet. tell Marthey to wright to me[.] I should like to see her verry much[.] Aunt Tenia is living in Kansas[.] Aunt Lydia also[.] Aunt Olivia is Blind[.] she is living in K[.] Bob lives in old [[MS. illegible]] Mission me in North Mo[.], Dave went across the Plains 6 or 8 years ago I rote to you[.] Mike Osborn crossed to Oregon[.] wright if you have heard from him[.] our cropps air tolerable good this season[.] we have had a world of grasshoppers here this fall to eat up the wheat[.] I saw Joe Conley two years ago[.] he lives in K near [G’s?] old trading Post[.] Stock is high here[.] Beef from 6 to 10 cts pr pound[,] pork 10 [[MS. illegible]] good mare from 1,50 to two hundred dolars[,] potatoes 1,00 pr lB, sweet 2,00 Dol. I must Remind you to wright to me soon as you get this for I acknowledge I should have writen sooner than I have. Mary kiss all the Children for me and Martha for good count & then tell them to wright.


this is Sunday Knight and lait Bedtime at that so Good Knigt Oct 14th 66 F. Brown & Wife
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