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January the 10, 1859
Dear Father and Mother
I Once more take my pin in Hand to let you no that we are all well at presant
and I am in hopes these fieu lines will find you all enjoying the same Blessing.
Times are Dull here at presant. Their is Still a great many in the notion
on of going to Pikes Peak. I am not Sertin where I will go too yet but I
think I will go to Salt Lake. Margaret wants to go with me but I cant se
any chance of it. She wants to come to California but that is to fur from
home. I have not got a letter from Thomas(1) for some time. I cant tell how
he is doing, I am afraid not much. Nothing more at present but remain your
son untill Dath.
Upton Hays
Febuary the 12/59
Dear Father and Mother
It is with mutch pleasure that I write you a few lines to let you know that we
are all well at this time. We received a letter from you last week which I received
with mutch pleasure. I often wonder if the time appears a long between letters
to you as it apears to me when I dont receive them regular. Our neighbors is
all enjoying good health at this time. We have had a very disagreable winter,
so fare not so mutch cold weather but rain and more mud than I ever saw. We could
not get any ice to put up untill within the last few days, we filled our ice
house yesterday. Their is still fursing going on in the teritory, not so mutch
in the territory as in the Sothern countes Bates and Vernon, but I supose you
hear the most that is going on hear if you get your paper regular.
George Roland staid nights with me last week, his family was all well. He wanted
me to tell you all to write to him as he had wrote several letters and got no
answers. I received a letter from William Dickerson(2) a
few days ago before I received your last letter. They were all well and wished
to know your post office.
Mother if Father cant write, you write to them, it would do them so mutch good.
Cleat Bunes(3) eyes(4) is
still very bad, he thinks that he will loose his eyesight entirely. Sometimes
they are a little
better and sometimes a worse. They have
been sore for six years. Mrs Franklin(5) is
entirely blind. Sister Mathy(6) has a son,
Jane Young(7) has one also. Sidney Bartleson(8) Dide
a few weeks ago with consumption(9). Albus
Shelton(10) Dide some two weeks ago, Margaret
McElwane(11) is also dead. I have
not saw Aunt Peggy since Uncle Dunham(12) death.
Aunt Mary(13) and Cousin Mary Am Kurt or Mitchel(14) as
her name was before married.
Uncle Jemmy(15) is at Jefferson
City(16),
Upton got a letter from him last week. I wrote to you about Aunt Amelia Berrys(17) Death, Uncle Bobs wife, his babe is also dead.
I have been to church today, their is a big protracted meeting(18) going
on at Westport, their have been a great many profesions(19).
Father, John has been
stouter
this
winter than he has been since he was two years old. He talks a great deal about
you and wonders why you and Grandma dont come two see us. Betty has taken Old
Aunt Feby Hays(20) to be her grandma, that
is Wades mother. I cant make her believe any thing else, she says she looks like
her grandmas likesness(21). I call the Babe
Elfleda, she looks a great deal like John, black eyes and hair and the fatest
thing you ever saw. I must come to a close, you must all write as often as you
can. So Farewell Dear Father and Mother, my Love to my Brothers from your ever
loving Daughter
Margaret Jane Hays
John S. Watts E. E. Watts
March the 28,1859
Dear Father and Mother
I Once more tak my pin in hand to Let you no that we are all well at present
and I am in hopes these fieu lines will find you all InJoying the Same blessing.
It has been some Time since we herd from you or Frank Thomas Either. I Cant
tell what is the matter with some of you for I have writin several Letters
to you all. The Last we got from Thomas he said that Carlile promest to pay
a Cordin(22) to Contract, but he thought
it a Little doubtful though the Cattle all look well. I look for a letter
Ever Day from you all. I have nothing
of Importance to write you. Their is a Great many Going to Pikes Peak their
is some started all ready thought their is no Grass yet. They Expect to feed
On Corn(23) to the Grove(24) and
then get Grass, But I think not. I Don’t
think I will frait this year. I Cant Get frait to the Lake(25) and
One trip to Mexico(26) will not pay. I think it very heard to stay at home
this summer
if I have it to Do. I am Dun Soing Oats And all ready to Break up Corn ground.
I Will now Leave this with Margaret to finish. Give my love to all Inquirin
friends And Receive a large portion to your Selves.
Upton Hays
Dear Father and Mother as Upton has done writing I will write you a few lines.
The health of the people is generaly good in this neighborhood. Uncle Jemmy has
returned from Jefferson city(27), he was down
their over three months. George Roland staid hear two nights last week, Letty
and the children were all well. He is
building a new house, a frame house. Uncle Dick(28) is
going to Pikes Peak, John and Jemmy(29) is
going with him. Cousin Dick(30) staid all
night with me a week or
two ago, he is braking fast, he is still as wild as ever. I have not heard from
Aunt Peggy(31) for some time. I would have went up their last if it had not have
been so mudy. I expect to go sometime this week. The Roads has been almost impassible
all winter but little snow, but more rain and mud than you ever saw in this country
through the winter.
John has almost out grown his phthisic(32), Betty is fleshyest child you ever saw.
Elfleda has never been the least bit sick in her life. She favors Johny a great
deal. She is setin alone, beginning to crawl some. I will have her likeness taken
and send for you to see how she looks the first chance I have. Father I often
wish for you to have Johny with you, he would be so mutch company for you. Mr
Hays often says that he knows that he is the best child in the world. He is one
of the most affectionate children I ever saw. Tell Brother Jackson that I think
that he might write to me once if no oftener. I have almost gave up the hope
of ever receiving a line from any of my Brothers. It may be that they wish for
me to forget them, but if that is what they are after they had jest as well write
for I never can forget to love them. I often think that it would be the greatest
hapinest in the world to have my Brothers with me but that is to mutch for me.
I have never had that happiness since I was large enough to appreciate the love
of a Brother. I should not have thought that Brother John would have forgoten
me. I must come to a close so fare well Dear Father, Mother and Brothers.
Margaret J. Hays
John S. Watts
E. E. Watt
ps since I closed this letter I received one from Sister. I will enclose it & mine
and sends it. Excuse my bad writing and spelling.
Westport Jackson Co. Mo. May the 20/59
Dear Father & Mother
Once more I am permited to write you a few lines. I received a most welcom letter
from you a short time ago. I have been longer answering the letter than I should
have been but I was wating to see wether Mr Hays going across the plains or not.
He has not got any frait yet. We are all well at this time, times are very Dull
hear. It has been rainy hear for a week nearly every day. We have got our corn
all planted and it has come up very nicely, there is some few that has not planted
yet. Stock of all kinds is very cheep hear, oxen is from sixty to sixty five
and but little sale at that. Horses and mules is very lowe, it is owing to the
emigrents bringing their out fits with them. It was expected that their would
be a great many going to Pikes Peak, so their was stock brought from all the
countes round and after they got hear their was no sale for it so their can be
stock bought at almost any price.
Today I expected to have gone to Leavensworth(33) but
it is raining so hard that we cant go. Aunt Peggy(34) was
well the last time I
heard
from, that is she was
going about. She is never well, she works to hard. She has a large family of
Boys and lives on the road where their is people stoping to get something to
eat or stay all night all the time. She has no healp as they cant keep negros
up their and it is imposible to get white girls to work out in the country. All
that hires wants to hire in town. Cousin Sam Kimberlin(35) staid
with me some two or three weeks since I got your last letter. He is now living
at the Blue Springs(36).
Jay stayd with me last Saturday night. Cousin Sam oldest son Billy Watts is out
hear, that is out Bills youngest son, his first wifes Children has all left him(37).
He has another son out hear, Tom Watts(38),
he is up in Platt(39). We got a letter from
Frank(40) a few days before we got your
last, he was then with the cattle and
expected to stay with them untill he got his money. Mr Hays will not be Dew untill
July, his is 8,000. Mr Hays has no idea of getting it.
Johns health has been better than it has been since he was two years old. If
his health still keeps good I shal send him to school this summer. Betty and
him talks a great deal about grandpa and grandMa. Fleda cralls ever where she
pleases, she climbs by anything and trys very hard to walk. I took her to Westport
last week to have her minature(41) taken for you to look at but did not get a good
one so I would not send it. I will have it taken over again soon. Give my love
to my Brothers and all enquiring friends, write often as you can for it is so
mutch pleasure to hear from the kindest and dearly beloved Father and Mother.
So nothing more at present but remains your ever loving Daughter
Margaret J. Hays
to J.S. Watts E. E. Watts
ps Upton sends his love to you all.
Westport Jackson Co. Mo. June the 30/59
Dear Father & Mother
It is with pleasure I seat myself this morning to write you a few lines to let
you know that we are all well at this time. It has been some time since I heard
from any of you. I am very anioxs to hear from you. I feel in hopes that I will
get a letter this eavening as I am going to town. Oh, what a pleasure it is to
hear from those dear absent ones. Father, Mother would you believe it instead
of getting weaned from you all I get more anxious to see you every day. It may
be because I study so much about you all and think about you bouth being so old.
I feell more than ever that it is my duty to be with or near you to Comfort and
healp you, but fate has decreed other wise. Oh, Father if we never more meet
in this world let us be prepared to meet in the next.
Mr Hays will start to Salt Lake in a few days, he has gone today to buy his oxen.
Himself and Amberson(42) has sixteen wagons.
Linvel(43) has gone to Salt Lake for Majors
and Russell(44), he started last week.
Stock of all kinds is very low, you
can get
good oxen for 50 to 58, their is but little sale for horses or mules. Corn crops
look good well, wheet is only tolerable good.
The health of the people is generaly good. I have been up to Leavenworth to see
Aunt Peggy(45) since I wrote last. Her health
is better than it has been for two years or longer. Her boys is all with her
excepting her oldest, he dont live
far from their. Mr Roland(46) staid all night
with us last week. He is building him a new home. He has had several lawsuits
which has cost him a great deal.
Mary(47) is married to her Cousin Jeames Hamilton.
Cleats(48) family is all well, Travis(49) is
near
about as large as Mr Hays, not quite
so tall. Cleat is in St
Louis, Dr
for his eyes. Jemmy Berry(50) is on the plains
somewhere I do not know wether he
went to Mexico(51) or Salt Lake.
We have not heard from Frank for some time. The last account we had he made a
trade with Carlile, he got four hundred head of oxen, thirteen head of horses
and mules, two wagons. He thinks that he will make money out of them. Uncle Jemmy
and Aunt Mary is well. Uncle Jemmy was here yesterday. I must bring my letter
to a close, excuse my bad writing for I have been writing in a hurry. Give my
love to my Brothers and all enquiring friends, so fare well Dear Father and Mother
from afectionate Daughter untill Death
Margaret J. Hays
ps Johny says tell grampa and grandMa that he goes to school every day. He is
learning very fast. Betty talkes a great deal about you both. Fleda cralls ever
where, she is the greatest child to climb I ever saw. She will push chairs up
near my bead and climb up on it, goes up stairs and every where else where their
is mischeif to get in to. She has always been called a very homely child untill
the last two or three months. She is now the prettyest child we have.
Margaret
J. S. Watts E. E. Watts
July the 23 1859
Dear Sir (51a)
it is with plasure that I take my pin in hand to Let you no that we
are all well at Presant and I am inhopes these fieu lines will find you InJoying
the Same Blessing. I Received a few Lines from you the Other day Making the
first I Ever got from any of you Boys. I had thaught that their was Something
Rong But I Recon not, at Least I am Inhopes no. The healthe of Our country
is very good at Presant. Times is Dull as I Ever Saw in My Life. We have not
had any Rain For a bout One Month. We have had a fine time to make Hay and
Oats and Wheat But if We Dont Have Some Rain Soon We will Rase No Corn. I Was
Sorry to Here that Beef was So Lo in that Country for Dr F. Thomas had to take
the Cattle to Calif after a Good Many being Gon. He Rote that he had about
Four hundred and fifty head and had to Make twenty Seven Thousand Five hundred
and Seventy five Dollars to get Our Money. They aught to Average about 100
Pounds if fat. I Rote him a few days ago to Sell Out if he Can and Not Make
much of a sacrafice. He is in Tehama County(51b). Nothing more at presant but untill
Dath Remain your friend
Upton Hays
[1859]
Dear Brother(52) it
is with mutch pleasure that I answer a kind letter I received yesterday.
Words fail to express the Joy
I felt in
reading it for I had almost come to the conclusion that I had received the
last letter from my Brothers that I would ever receive from any of them.
I received one from mother about a week ago and also one from her to Sister
Eliza(53). I heard from George yesterday,
they were all well. Mr Roland staid all night with us a few weeks ago. He
is building a house about a quarter
of a mile from his old house. I have not saw Jemmy or Johy(54) for
a long time. Jemmy is on the plains somewhere. Uncle Bill Watts(55) youngest
son William(56) is out near Pleasant
Hill(57). He has been out hear all summer
but have not been to see me yet. I have not seen any of Cousin Sam Kimberlins(58) family
for some time, they live at the Blue Springs(59).
Upton will stay at home this summer. When I wrote to Father and Mother last
he was expecting to start to Salt Lake, he got disapointed about getting
his frait. He has done bought some of his oxen to take across, he still has
them on hands. Linvil Hays has gone to Salt Lake. Brother I have nothing
of importance to write, so give my love to my Brothers when you see tell
them that I cannot give them the least Idea how bad I want to see them. Give
my love to my Dear old parents. Oh, Brother be kind and good to them, comfort
them all you can for I know they are lonesome, be with them as mutch as you
can. Brother their is only one thing that I wish to ask for but I fear it
is to mutch for I have asked several times before but I feel that it would
be so mutch pleasure to have all my brothers minatures. I want to know whether
their has mutch change in your looks or not. So fare well Dear Brother from
your ever loving sister
Margaret J. Hays
John S. Watts(60)
Westport Jackson Co. Mo. August the 12/59
Dear Father and Mother
Once more I am permitted to write you a few lines. We are all well at this time
with the exception of bad colds. I received some papers(61) a
few days ago, on
one
of them I found that you were all well. The health of the people is all good
at this time in this neighborhood. Corn looks fine, their was about a month that
we had no rain, people began to think that they would not raise anything but
since we have had plenty of rain. We have as fine corn as ever I saw. I was over
at Dr Penaltons(62) last Sundy, I went over
Saturday morning to go to church and came home Monday. The Old Dr and his wife
sent their love to you all. Father,
the old lady says that she had rather see you than anyone else in the world.
She often tells me how mutch fun you and her uste to have. She says she uste
to think so mutch of you and Mother that it makes me apear like some near relation
to her(63). I saw a great many of my old acquaintenced
at church. Thomas Yocum(64) was their, he is
as large as Upton if not taller. He
is a very fine loking man.
He resembles Jesse(65) some little but not so mutch now as he did when he was a
child. He is a very inteligent yong man, he inquired a great deal about you all.
Jane(66) staid several days with me week before
last. Yong(67) has gone to Ky. Her babe is
a very fine looking child. William(68)grows
very fast, he is large enough
to plough. He made a hand ploughing this last summer. Jane does not visit her
father(69). I gave her one of those collars
that you had sent last summer, she was very proud of it because you had sent
it to her. Sister Martha(70) has been
very
lo but was better a few days ago. I have not heard from Sister Letty(71) for
some
time. I had set next week to go out their, but their is a protracted meeting
to bee in the neighborhood and I cant go untill it is over. Cousin Mary Curts
dide last Fridy, was a week ago. Mary Am Mitchel(72) was
her maiden name, she live close by Cousin Dicks(73).
Uncle Bob Berry(74) and John
Berry(75),
one of Uncle Edwards(76) sons, got up hear today.
I have not saw them yet. Upton saw them, they left the friends all well down
below(77).
Dick Yager(78) has got home from Santefee(79).
his health was very bad on the plains but since he came home he is getting some
stouter. Mary Cunningham has got home
from St. Joseph. Father I will send you the St Josephs paper, it is a very good
paper. I am very well acquainted with the editors of the papers, one of their
wives came home with Mary Cunningham and staid near a week with me.
The last letter I received from you their was one in it for Sister(80). I
was writing a letter to her when I received yours. I enclosed hers within the
one I was writing
to her and sent it. I received one from my brother John some two weeks ago and
answered it. Oh, you have no idea how mutch pleasure it gave me to receive the
one from Brother as I had given up the Idea of ever getting a line from any of
them again. The children grows very fast, John has been going to school this
summer, his health is very good now. Fleda has began to talk a little, she is
mighty big stout child but I fear she will be phthisic(81) like John. Write often
my love to all and a large portion to yourselves so Fare well to you all from
your ever loving Daughter
Margaret Jane Hays
John S. Watts
E. E. Watts
Sep the 12th, 1859
Dear grand Mother(82) it
is with the utmost pleasure as well as bounded duty to write you a letter
to let you no something about my situation. I am
enjoying the best of health. But not withstanding Ther is a great deal
of Sicness here. I seen aunt Mag(83) at
the Camp Meeting on the fifth day of this month. She said she was well.
I have nothing strange to write.
The Country is improving and wealth is fast increaseing. Land is worth
from 20 to 25 dollars pre acre, all produce is very high. The Country looks
diferent from what it did when you were here. Times is very hard - money
is scarce and taxes is about to eat us up. I am living at grand fathers
when at home. I am going to school when away from home. Grand Father and
Mother(84) are still alive and in good
health. I am near nineteen years old and you never wrote me a letter yet
that I received. I would be glad to
hear from you at any time. I think that I will have to offer you a few apologies
for my negligence of duty as I did not no where to write to. But I have
learned where to address my letters and I think I will be more punctual
in the future. I seen your Brother Robbert(85) and
some of his nephews from Calaway County at the camp meeting, they were
all well, I believe, except
Chills(86). I want you to write as soon as you receive this letter and will
try to keep up a corespondence between us. I want you to excuse my bad
writing and will try to write better the next time. I leave you under the
Benedictions of a kind Mediator. I will bring my letter to a close by telling
you write soon. Yours very affectionately
Thomas A. Yocum(87)
address your letters to
Big Cedar Jackson Co. Mo.
and please send your Miniter(88) and will send mine.
October the 10 1859
Dear Father & Mother
I am premited once more to adress you to let you know how we are geting along.
The last time I wrote you I was in very bad health, it has improved very mutch.
I feel stouter than I have felt this summer. I was at the Doctors one day last
week. He thought by taking my medicens regular I would soon be in good health.
I cannot say the health of the country is good at present tho this neighborhood
is healthyer than it has ben this summer tho their is a great deal of sickness
other places. Cousin Lusinda Datson(89), Jack
Pitmons(90) sister dide some two weeks ago
with her old complaint. I know of no
other Deaths of our acguaintences lately.
Cousin Pap Hays(91) received a letter from
Caleway not long ago from her mother. She stated in her letter that Uncle Edward
Berry(92) has lost one eye entirely and
the Dr thinks he will loose the other with sore eyes(93).
Uncle Calup(94) has been entirely blind for
five weeks. They are now some better.
Uncle Dick(95) Berry has
a fine boy, they talk of calling him Hue Richerd(96).
I was at the High Blue Camp meeting, the meeting put me in mind of old times.
They had a good many professions up their. Old Mr Duncans(97) farm
was to be sold last Munday at Sherif sail. Dr Browning(98) went out to stop the
sail and pay the
Debt as it was but fifty or a hundred dolars. I have not heard whether he suceeded
or not. Mrs Duncan wrode down hear to Uncle James to borrow money, it fatayegues
so that night she was taken very bad with the fever and was very loe the last
time I heard from her.
The wether is very cool and has been from the first beginning of faul. We have
had several very hard frosts hear but the crops all turn out beter than expected.
Mrs Penalton(99) sends her love to you both,
she said when she left Ky she thought she would get to live a neighbor to you
but was sadly disapointed. They talk
of buying Uncle Dicks(100) farm. If they do
they will be about my nearest neighbor. I expect to go out to see Letty(101) this
week if I dont start to Caleway. Mr Hays
talks of starting next Sunday. Aunt Mary(102) is
going with us. I have nothing
of
much interest to wrigh. Mr Hays sends his love to you all. Tell Jack(103) I
want
him to wright to me and I will answer his letters. Tell Brother John I wrote
to him a short time ago. Tell Brother D.(104) and
Teny(105) that I have not forgoten them, if they have me I entend to wright to
them
anyhow. Tell them all to wright
if they pleas, and you Father & Mother I want you to. I have ben looking
for a letter from one of you for a long time. Give my love to all enquiring friends
if their be any. You must all wright so no more at present but remains your affectionate
Daughter untill Death. So Farewell, Fare well.
Margaret J. W. Hays
John S. Watts
Elizabeth E. Watts
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