Independence Jan. 20 1861 Brother William,

I have been waiting a long time to get that letter you owe me, but nary letter yet, so I have got tired out waiting for you. So here goes. We are all quite well, and getting along as usual. We have had some pretty deep snow out here, it is about 10 in[.] deep, the deepest snow there has been here for 10 years. Times are very dull, in fact it is the dullest times ever been known here before. There is nothing doing at all. I have been idle all winter, and find it mighty hard scratching to get along. What makes the times so hard here is the scarcity of provisions, on account of the drouth last year, and there is no money here at all. The hardest times I ever saw. And I am afraid it will remain so for some time, on account of the trouble in the South. I don’t know what us poor devils is going to do. I expect we will all of us (eastern men) will be drove out of the State. They have threatened to drive all the men out that voted for Lincoln, and in fact they have drove one man and his family off because he said he was a Republican. There is awful times in the county. They have got Patrol men through the county and minute men and secret guards to find out a man’s principles.

There was some half a dozen men came here from the Territory (supposed to have belonged to Montgomery’s band ) to steal niggers. They went to a plantation about 10 miles from town, and demanded the niggers, mules and money, but it so happened that one of the gang turned traitor, and went and informed the man all about it, so he was prepared for them. He got a lot of men stationed near the house so when they came they were received pretty warmly. They killed them all except the one that turned traitor. The man that owned the place gave him a hundred dollars and a fine horse, for informing him. Since then there has been a good deal of excitement. They suppose they were abolitionists, and they look with suspicion on all free state men.

I don’t know what will be the end of all this. They are in favor of secession here in Independence. Fanny wants to go back east. She is tired of living here among such people, and afraid we will be drove off. Well let em rip, if they do all right, but if I could sell out here I would save them the trouble, its my opinion there is going to be civil war and that before long, if there is woe unto the border state of Missouri. Kansas will have a sweet time revenging their rong[.] if there is I want to git out of this place. Sure [[MS. illegible]] write soon. Tell Charly to write immediately. My respects to all. Fanny sends her love to Augusta and wants her to write.

Yours truly, J.C. Iserman