Letters

To Mr. James Applegate
State of Pennsylvania
Alegheny County
Elizabeth town Post Office

State of Indiana
Harrison County

December 30th 1838

Dear Brother

I once more inform you in a Brief manner of our wellfare in this Country. [M]y self and children are in reasonable health at present. [H]oping these few Lines may find you and yours injoying a reasonable share of health.

I now with regret have to inform you of my irrepairable Loss in the Death of my wife Elizabeth who Departed this Life on the 15th of this inst. [S]he was Delivered of a son the Day before she Died. [T]he child was Dead allso.

[M]y Daughter Hanah was Married to a man whose name is Lewis Vaughn on the 31st of last Dec - -and my three youngest Children is Living with them.

[Y]our friends here are generally well. [F]or fear you have not heard of the Death of your father I will state it here he Departed this Life Last August was a year. [A]llso Isaiah Applegate Died on the 22d of Last March of a Lingering illness called the Dispepsa. [Y]our fathers complaint was supposed to be the Dropsie.

I have not seen my son Asher since Last March he is in the lower country as a pilot on a steamboat and I am informed he is getting 225 Dollars per Month. [T]he river is frozen up and it is uncertain when he will return.

[I]t has been extremely cold and Dry here this season. Crops have been generally good this season. [W]heat has been from 75 cts to one Dollar per Bushel, corn is 37 1/2 cts, oats 25, potatoes is 50 cts per Bushel, pork is five Dollars per wt, and other articles in proportion,

[W]e would be glad to heare from you as often as posible. [W]e your friends here feel a Desire to here from you frequently. [W]e acknoledge the Dearest friends you had here has Lef[t] this world but s[t]ill the spark of Love and friendship is not extinguished by those who yet remain.

[I]t would be a satisfaction to your surviving friends here to here how you are Doing and how the old neighbours are coming on. Let this briefe hint rouse you up to a sence of Duty which Binds the Dearest of friends togeather.

[T]here is none of your friends here but can redeam a letter out of the post office. [N]o adds who you Direct your Letters to they will be attended to.

[F]for fear you should think this two langhty I shal come to a close.

[T]this from your affectionate Brother

Derick Applegate