Mis118TN-X

TENNESSEE, MISC

Ros Land, Arks.

Oct. The 22, 1874

Written to

S. P. Draper

Deare cousin

It is with great pleasure that I Seate my Self this morniug to drop you a few lines in answer to

your moste welcome letter which has Juste come to hand which giv us great Satisfaction to

heare from you all one time more and to heare that you was all well this leaves us all well at

this time I have no news to write at this time only hard times and worse a coming I feare

there is the hardest times heare that ever has bin in this country corn is worth $1.25 per

bushel wheat from $1.25 to $2.00 Dollars per bushel Bacon is ranging from 12½ to 18 cts

per lbs coffee 25 cts per lbs northern flour at the railroad is rainging from $6.00 to $10.00

Dollars per bbl good horses can be bought from $25 to 40 Dollars a head money is out of

the question for there is non heare I wont know what the people will doo. they caint raise

monney to pay there taxes and by there bread I am agoing to moove to north westren

texas to Tarrant county I will Start nexte weeke when I get their I am agoing to hunt up

cousin James Draper if he can be found and I will let you Know wheare he is and what he

is adoing I wante you to write to me as Soon as you get this letter and let me now how

you are getting along and donte let it be so long between letters direct your nexte

letter to Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas.

Write Soon and often farewell for this time I remain your affectionate Cousin til death

James H. Alford and family

Note from Geneva M. Ruble; July 1966:

This is Stephen P. Draper, son of Philip White Draper