Letters, Memoirs & Family Stories of our Kansas Ancestors As told in their own words
Morris County

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The following Family Story was provided by Dwight Ferguson, 26 February 2000.  This is an 1886 letter written to his Great-Great-Great Grandfather R. D. Gaddie, by a farmer who lived close to Diamond Springs.   

R.(Ruth) A. Bentley
Diamond Spgs. Morris Co. Kans               12-19-1886

Mr. & Mrs. R. D. Gaddie

                        Dear Brother Sister and Family,
 I will ans your of the 5 inst which came to hand 3 days ago it found us all well and we hope this may find you all the same.  We was sorry to hear that Laura and Earnest were sick but hope they are well now.  You spoke of several deaths.  I regretted to hear of none so much as Dr. Cordell but O what a blessed thing to be prepared to go to meet the bridegroom.  I sympathize with the family in their loneliness and bereavement and hope that they may be prepared to meet their loved ones with joy when the summons shall come for them and O what a glorious time it will be when our lord shall come and all the redeemed shall be caught up to be forever with him and we shall know even as we are known and there shall be no more sickness, no more sad farewell spoken.  Let us be ready.  

Well you said that you were going to move to Russel, have you been there to look at the country.  That is just 3 counties west of here, can’t you come past here if you go on the cars you will go from Maryville to St. Joe and then to Atchison thence to Topeka then it will be a better road and just as near to come to Eouporia and Council Grove and out to Salina on the G.S. & W.  R. R.  I live 5 ½ miles south west from Wilsey the 1^st station west of the Grove.  Come here and stay a week or two any way and look at the country.  We have plenty of house room, beds, wood, corn, meat, and potatoes and we will meet you at Wilsey.  There is a nice farm of 80 acres 3 miles west of Wilsey for sale.  Good frame house of 4 rooms all plastered and finished nicely.  Good rock walled well in 10 feet of the door that never fails good summer kitchen good pine stable for 2 horses food frame crib.  60 acres in cultivation, 10 acres good fall plowing done an orchard of 30 apple trees set out last spring, quite a large lot of peach, cherrys, plums and blackberries bearing.

It is a good neighborhood ½ mile from the bes Dr. in the county.  1 mile from school, 1 mile from Rev M. Henrys our present pastor.  1 ½ mile from Rev  M. Pearson one of the best men I ever knew who he has such a nice family so has the Dr.  Well the terms are 1000 dollars down the 500 in 4 years at 8 perc interest.  I have it rented but if you will buy it I will rent another.  I would have bought it if I had the 1000 dol.  There is another farm 1 ¾ miles south of Wilsey well improved good stone house 5 or 6 rooms for $1,800 time given on part but don’t know the terms.  Come and see and you won’t regret it if you come through in wagons I would advise you to cross the Missouri R. at Atchison if you can come my way come as near strait south west as you can to Topeka in Shawnee Co. then to Eskridge in Wabaunsee County the to Council Grove in Morris Co.   If you will let us know when you are coming we will have supper ready for you.  O can’t you come, you will never have another chance. 

It will be so good, besides we have no lease of our lives and O I want to see you so bad.  I want you to go to see aunt Thaney it will be the last time you will ever have the chance to see her in this world.  Give her my love and tell her I would love to see her.  Give her my love and kindest regards to all our relatives and friends down there and at Skidmore and to all those of our own neighborhood, do you know whether Baxters moved to Kearney or not is Caples and Jane going to live at Pa’s next year.  What is George going to do, Do you know if he got my letter and the money I sent.  Have you heard anything from Brother Lewis lately.  O where is the poor boy.  Well we received your pictures and they are so nice.  O I thank you so much for them.  I think Earnest looks like little Roy and Laura, well bless her little sweet life.  I would like to get hold of her.  Charles and Lloyd are so nice and manly and you are all so natural, only you can’t talk to me.  Well Robert I want you to put that acct  in an officer’s hand and tell them to collect it for me if possible, there are so many things I would like to know.

Do Weinbusers still live in Wilson and Dr. Briggs and Phillips’ have you seen Minnie Malone since she came from Kansas.  Isham wrote to me that he saw her at her fathers.  Isham is gone to no mans land.  I saw a man yesterday just from there he says it is good lots of timber and good water and turkey and deers and rich soil.

The Gaddie Family, 1886 Click picture for larger view	Scanned image of actual letter Click picture for larger view

Last update: Saturday, July 20, 2024 16:50:41

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