Newton, Cache County, Utah Territory, U. S. of N. America
My Dear Sister Jane,
After so many years of enquiry
that I have at last found you, gives me more pleasure than I can describe. I wish
you were here with me now, to enjoy home with me, for mine is yours if you will
only come for as long as you may wish it. I have never forgotten that I have a
sister Jenny, but while I have been able to hear of Fanny and Bessie through George White,
I could learn nothing of you, but now I hope to get all the news from yourself and hope
also that I may soon see you here, and to be to you Brother & Father. When your letter
got here Oct. 24, I was from home working at Emma Silver Mine, Susan sent me your letter,
but I was on my way home and as she had not copied the address, we have had to wait until
your letter came back. I have had one letter from Fanny, none from Bessie, it seems
as though they had forgotten me again but I hope not. I have to write to Fanny.
I lived in Salt Lake City about three years where our son John was born, now eight
years old. We then moved to Paradise in this county 100 miles north of S. L. City
where Annie was born, now 6 years old. We then moved to Providence where William and
Fred were born, 4 and 2 years old, from there we moved here, where last Sunday morning a
girl was born. Susan doing well and sends her love to you. I have worked at
every kind of work a man can do in this country, harvesting, farming, building, driving
team, school teaching, mines, but at present we live in our own house on our own land and
I drive my own horse team and make my living by a little farming, a little school teaching
(in winter) and working some little for others or at the Silver Mines. My intentions
are to buy more land in this town and keep to farming, it is a life that I like very well
as there is no one to call master, it is all my own. We have never had any serious
sickness or our children in this country, they are all except Annie, strong and well, but
she is very delicate. We have learnt them that they have Aunts in England and Annie
says I am to send her love to her Aunt Jenny. I start tomorrow to haul grain to a
mail Station about 50 miles from here on the Road to the mines in Montana--shall be from
home 4 days, have been from home nearly all summer working at the Emma Silver Mine.
The postage between this Country and England is threepence or six cents, you only
put a penny stamp on, but it came safe. When you write to Fanny and Bessie send them
my love and tell them to write to me. I try to call you to my mind again as the
little Jenny who hardly knew me when I came to see her before I left, but although years
have of course changed you from little Jenny, I am glad to find that the love is there
still. God bless you, preserve you from all harm, and may He yet unite some of our
scattered family. Write as soon as you can and as well as all other news, tell me
how you feel about coming and being at home here with me.
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