Derrick Applegate

To Mr James Applegate
Living in Alegany County
State of Pensylvania
Elizabethtown Post office


State of Indiana
Harison County

March 29, 1829

Dear son

I feel it my Duty Considering the Distance Placed between us to Let you know by letter our present state of health and other circumstances relating to this Life.

[W]e are in tolerable health considering our old age but year after year reduces our health and strength so that by the course of Nature we cannot expect to remain Long on this earth which Makes us feel ancious to hear often from you as your welfare is great satisfaction to us. [Y]our Mother got very bad hurt this winter she was coming out of the house and slipt on the step and fell and hurt her side it was supposed that three of her ribs was fractured. [S]he still complains of her sid yet we have had a long cold and tedious winter and Not mutch alteration yet the waiters have been very Low this season on account of the heard freases. [W]e have not experienced so much cold since we have been here. [G rain of every Discription is very scarse. [C]orn is 25 cts and very Little at that. [W]heat is one Dollar, flower four Dollars per hundred, rye 371/2 cts, oats 20 cts, whiskey 37 1/2 cts per gallon, and money very scarce but what we have is silver and United States paper.

Derick was down here Last June and told us he would certainly move here Last fall or this Spring and I have heard nothing from him since he Left heare. I want you to write to me as soon as posible and let me no if you have heard anything from him since or not and if not try to find out whether he is coming Down or Not for I am old and cripled and am not able to take care of his place as it aught to be. I want him heare to see to it himself

Pleas give our best respects to John and Elizabeth Imlay, to John and Neoma Crookham, to Vincent and his wife and all other inquiring friends.

[B]ut still remains your ever Mindful Parents until Death.

Garret and Mary Applegate