Horace J. Austin Papers

it is nicer than half the houses in Willsborough it is done off nice a rom below to sit in and a room upstares to seep in and nice hoos to hang clothes and it scemed rather hard at first to sleep on a straw bed but it is not so bad now, a feather bed is a seldom thing I haven't seene one only at Mrs Palmers since I came in to the State of Iowa dont wory about me for I will do the best I can and I shall get along then I guess, the Country is diferent from what I expected to see but it is helthy here I eat with the Cooks and my living is as good as any one would wish for I am not in Prison nor dont suffer not it dont look like I should verry soon dont be woring about me I am big enough to take care of myself I have gained 5 pounds since I came west I have written a letter to Grandmother to day, it is now night and I will fiish this I have vin a looking at you minature to day and the remembreance of you good Mother came fresh in my mind Oh how I would like have meet you to day give my love to Mr Palmers folks & Mr [?H?????]

although we have met a great many times a meeting now would exceed them all with me but if every [???] is eight - it will be some time yet before we met for I am a going to try to get some thing before I come back to Willsborough

And I hope we may all have our helth and prosper 5 years and then we may meet againe. how is Emily Palmer and is Pansy {?????] a [???] yet, tell me all the news good by Mr H J [?LISSTON?]

Jeferson Jan 17th / 58

Dear Mother

I am well I thought that I would write a few lines to you it is along time since I wrote to you but I believe that I have a good excuse and more than one to, I had a lame side and had to leave my place and others have filled it and I have lost it and cannot get an [end pg 1]

[end of pg 3, begin. (located at top of pg 1)] this from your same Horace L Austin and he hopes he may never be called in to bad company as my friend has done, yours truly

Direct to Dubuque, Iowa

- mother until spring.

I have hired out for $20 a month in the Spring. I am at Mr Palmers now, It is the most beautiful winter I ever see in all my life there is no snow on the ground nor hasent bin in 2 months do you have such weather out there

I have had 2 leters from you since I wrote any to you. I had one from Angeline a few days ago, there is a school clost by here and I would go but it is full and they wont let me in

Mr & Mrs Palmer sends there best respects to you and an invitation to call in and see them this evening.

there was a querel here on new years night at a dance and 8 men were shot the peopel are awful savage here, one man got mad at an Editor because he had printed some thing a bout him and he went in to his ofice and drew a pistol and shot at him 3 times and then an other man stoped him. tell Grandmother that I will write to her soon and [??????] too

Siles is writing to Mr Palmer I must stop and eat a fride cake now that Mrs Palmer has just gave me I have dreadful to tell you but dont let it trouble you it is consearning one of our company Mr Perabod Dustin, 2 months ago he left his plase and went off and we have not herd any thing from him since for sertin[certain] he got in to a bad company and he and a very bad fellow went off together and we expect he is killed he was warned against his companion but would not mind it and so has probary bin murderd by him he went off with only one suit of cloths, we have no hopes of wer seeing him agame

I dont know how long I shall stay here, wages will probaly be low here this summer I do not like the plase here there is so many English + Irish + Dutch they are all a pack of hogs there is nothing a going on any more than ther is among a lot hogs I have seene 9 families in this state that was a little like humen beings, I shall go further West or some where before long

Mrs Palmer send her respects and says she is a going to write to you one of these days, now Weather here is good by + remember that I shall allways do the best I can + I shall allways try to [???] people of bad company

Jefferson May 16th / 58

My Dear Dear far of Mother

I havent much to write only that I am well I haven't had any letters in a long time I haven't had any from Angeline in to months there is no chance to get work here if I had stayed at home it would bin better for me I havent had any work in 5 months that I got any pay for there are thousands here that would like to get a chance to work for their board

I am a staying with a man by the name of Solom Richard he is a very nice man I can have a home here [?????] i get work

I wish you would write to me and tell me all the news, I want to know if you are a going to Angeline to live. give my love to Grandfather + Grandmother I think of them often + of my old home but I will get along some way I am in hopes of getting a plase in about 2 months this from your son in the great West, Jefferson, Dubuque, Iowa

Jefferson June 24th / 58

My Dear Mother

What makes you feel so bad you need not feel so bad about me for I am all right only I am not making money very fast I received you letter yesterday it was [??????????????????] a coming direct to Dubuque [?TOWN?]

how does the boys all get a long out there give them all my best respects, + I wish them a pleasent Forth

now dont worry about me there is thousands here worse of than I am it is that I am not doing very well for I haven't made but $5 in six months but I will ask my self I have got a good plase to stay & work for my board. an nice folks to have a nice house & I am welcom any time I expect a chance to in a few days & then I will write agane

they had great hale storms out here hale storms as big as a [?????]

I herd a man say he mesured severel that were 20 inches round + I said it must have done some damiges + he said that it spoill his house roofe + several others it was 11 miles from here

Silas has bin here + went to Dubuque yesterday, I wish I was out there to spend the Forth of July

Mother I am very thankful for your kind, offers + when I wish for help I will let you know I cant go to Ill yet, I shall know about my chance to work in 2 weeks