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Trailblazer Vol. 4 #4 Fall 1964 Amanda Esrey Rhoads letters
Gilroy, California, April 15, 1856: Dear Brothers: I will endeavor in my poor way to write you a line or two, letting you know that e are in tolerable good health and hope this may find you enjoying the same kind blessing. I received your kind letter, of the 31st of January, on the 2nd day of April, which was a source of great pleasure to us here-that you are all yet in the land of the living. I have delayed writing a few days, thinking to hear from Justin. We got a letter from him written the 19th of Feb., stating that he had bought cattle, 100 head of steers, 3 or 4 years old for $15 per head, and 50 head of cows with calves for $17 per head. He said he would start in two weeks-we are looking for him every day. We have had two weeks rain since I wrote to Viva and it is raining yet. Some wheat that was sown early is nearly ready to head out and is not over a foot high. But late wheat will make good crops. Part of San Jose Valley is watered from artesian wells in San Jose and within two miles. They are bored with an auger generally from 4 to 6 inches big-some are 100 and a to 2 and 3 hundred feet deep. They pipe them as they bore them, with sheet iron or zinc. The water rises generally 2 or 3 feet above the ground. There was one that the water rose 6 feet deep above the top of the ground. They couldn't sink the pipe to the bottom and the water rose on the outside of the pipe, the ground got so soft around it that it sank. The ground for half an acre around it sank about 80 feet. You must excuse me for not coming over to church with you in the sleigh. I will come at some other time. I shall now expect to get a letter from you every few months. No more at present, but my love to you, my Dear, Affectionately, Amanda Esrey Rhoads.
June 23, 1847 Dear Parents Again I take my pen in hand to let you know that we are all well that are living. It pleased the Lord to take from us our smiling little boy Jesse. He died April 28th. He took a chil in the morning and died in the afternoon. tiny robertson's baby is dead. Susanna Hicks and her child are dead. She was first taken with whooping cough. Before she gotover that she was taken with measles. While she had that she was brought to bed. Her child was three days old when she died. The child lived about three weeks. Affectionately, Amanda Esrey Rhoads
December 26, 1853 Dear Parents I avail myself of the present opportunity of writing you a line, letting you know that we are yet in the land of the living and hope these few lines may find you in the enjoyment of health. We are all well and doing the best we know how. We are living in a little mud house and have a little some thing to eat. We have a few hogs and some old cows. They are out gathering grass. I don't have to gather it for them. The winter is mild and pleasant. So far we had but two rains this winter. The new grass is up beauitfully. Calves are worth 20 dollars a head. Growing cattle are sixty dollars a head period. Horses have a good price. Coffee is forty cents a pound. The last letter we had from you was written June 26. It came to hand some time in July. Write and let us know what is up. We are very uneasy and would be glad to heard from you. Don't forget us. Write and let us know how many of you are coming to California next spring and what the rest of you will do. Our baby's name is Mary she is six months old, fat and hearty. Thomas Rhoads was drowned in the Humbolt. His wife and sister are living with us. His wife talks about going back to Missouri. I have not seen Justin and Johnathan since March. 1852. Daniel saw them in October. They are well. Nothing more at present, but remain yours respectfully. Amanda Rhoads
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