Big Platte August 17th, 1844
Dear Son
I now take my pen in hand to give you a History of our journey to this place and sence we reached here. We left home on Monday and we stayed with your uncle Wm Palmer. Two weeks from that night we took the packet that night at 4 and reached Beaver about noon the next day. We left Beaver at 2 the same day in the Ohio Male and reached Cinncinati on friday next in the afternoon. We stoped there till the next morning then we took the Westwind and reached Louisvill in Kentucky Sabouth day about noon. We stayed their till morning (I went ashore in the evening and heard the collored Man Preach and their is 4 houses in that place for the slaves to Worship God in). We reached the mouth of the Ohio Tuesday morning and on the Wednesday we reached St. Louis in the afternoon. In a few moments we were set on the Boat Mendota. We reached Galena Monday morning. In a short time we were on the move for Plattvell. Some on foot, some on the top of our goods with three good horses and we carry into Plattvill with us all on the top in splendor like the circus all except the Music. We found our friends all well and in good spirits. We enjoyed ourselves well and had good company. Our joy wood have been complete if you had been with us. We are now living in the house wher John Barto live last year. Sence we came here we had a turn of the Bowel complaint as is the case with all those who come by the river. It goes prity hard with Daniel and Levi. We went into business and I am tending mill now an can get one hundred and twenty dollars by the tenth of April and be Boarded. The logs are small and we roll them, the logs, from 10 to 20 feet and not draw the gate after dark neather summer nor winter. Enoch has got his Dollar a Day a few days and we think he and Hirun will find us in provesion while I add to our stock of Gold and silver. We had the good luck to get it exchange for hard money without much loss. We are anxious to see you here as soon as you can but we wood say to all of our friends not to come this fall by the River for it was vary sickley when we came in many places on the River so were moving out of the citys. I have not see any mourning after the leek and onions in Egypt for we have plenty of these hear with all Most everything else. We have got a cow for 15 Dollars worth two the one we left. Larinda Phillips was 10 day before we reached here marraid to Mr. Poland. we think she has done well. He professes to be a pios man and we think he is. He has property and capible of doing an hansom business if the man get the land plowed. Enoch will thake his team and drag 15 or 20 acres into wheet and he find seed we can and bunch it up in the field for one half. I shall write to Brother Jackson in three weeks. You will hear from us in three or four weeks. Therefore I must as a father say adieu.
Daniel M. Bushnell
Dear Child, I now take my pen to write a few lines. I can say I have not been
homesick. I like it as well as I expected and better except the rodes they are not as level as in
Johnson. I never saw such fields of grain in my life. Corn looks well and gardings look better
than any I saw in ohio. When we stoped at Sincinatta we had great corn, ripe peaches, and
paires and Apples. We have all kinds of garen peas and green corn where we now live. Do not fail
coming in the spring if you cant this fall and if you will go to the place we sold and get some plum
and cherry sprouts and bring them you shall be well paid for your trouble. Mr Grover said you could
have a few white meshanick and blue eyes if you would get them this fall. We lost our trees on the
way. The barrel came to piceses.
Give my respects to all of our friends and remember each other
at a throne of gree. I cannot write any more.
adieu,
Minerva Bushnell
we Wrote in a grate hurry. If you had come with us you could have got 80 acres by spring as well or not and payed for.
Daniel M. Bushnell
This part you can cut off. If you can get some Lady to come with you bring them along. If we have good luck we can help you get a farm.
Father
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