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 Houston Letters to Milton Anthony Houston, Jackson County, Oregon, written by the home folks in Missouri. Spelling and punctuation
regularized.
Original letters are in the collection of Houston descendant Glen Campbell, Eugene, Oregon. [Postmark] Eldon, Mo., January 3, 1906, 12 noon [From]
J. M. Houston R.R. No. 1, Box 10 Barnett, Mo. [To] Mr. Milton A. Houston Oregon \\ Barnett,
Mo.
M. A. Houston & wife:January 2 A.D. 1906 Dear Bro. & Sister: It has been a long time since we heard from you. We are anxious to know how & where you are. I was very fearful when I heard you had sold your farm that you would feel lost. Bro. Port was talking about selling his farm. I advised him to stay at home & if he was not able to run it have someone to help run it. Rent the land; he did not have meadow & pasture. When a person has a home they can have a garden & raise poultry & keep a team & a cow or two and can go without interfering with some other person's business. I can rent my land for ⅔ to one-half, put in granary or crib or stack or barn. That will beat loaning the money & much safer. We have some money loaned 7 & some at 8 percent and ten shares in bank stock that earns us from 4 to 7 percent dividends semiannually & lays up a surplus besides, and we have ten shares in another bank not earning us anything. Our farm on Osage River gives more profit than we could make on the money if we would sell it. And we don't get all the rent that is due us at that. We shipped our beef steers, sold 20 of them at 5¼, average 1616 lbs. in St. Louis. Sold one year-old mule last week for $135.00, have 2 more yearlings worth about $225 or 30 and 5 mule colts worth 75 or 80 round & 1 2-year-old worth about 150 or 60 dollars. 1 five-year-old horse about 125 or more & a 6-year-old 175 or 200. Been offered $175.00 for him. 5 mares & 2 ponies. We think our farms pay. We sold 20 steers in Corn 35 to 40¢ in the ear per bushel, 45 to 50 shelled. Oats 35 to 40. Wheat bran 80 to 85. Shipstuff 90 to 95 per 100 [lbs.] in large quantities. Hay, prairie, 12 to 13 per ton, timothy 12 to 15 or 16. We sold most of our cattle this fall and winter. Have about 40 head on hand yet, nearly all good. We have shorthorn Durham cows and a black polled Angus registered bull. We have bought about 2000 bushels corn this fall & winter. We got in with others, sometime in November, and up for a carload of flour, bran & shipstuff. We got good patent flour for $2.10, bran 75 & shipstuff 85 per 100 lbs. We are feeding grain & bran to our cows & calves and will commence coming [corning?] the steers before long. We keep taking the hay to them in racks or hay feeders & mangers. Emily is well. She is staying with Patsy Compton. Patsy is about 80 years old & is afflicted with a nerve disease. Sallie & I went to see them 20th December. Josie is at her home. She has a young man & his wife living with her & running the farm; they have no children. Emily sold her place 2 years ago last spring. Jas. Taylor & Lizzie has returned from Colorado--neither of them very stout. They have been married about 50 years. I think Jim is about 73; don't know Lizzie's age. Britt talks much about marrying. Willis Jones & his wife have gone together again. Dick Taylor's Jim is living yet. Our St. Louis, Kansas City & Colorado [rail]road belongs to Rock Island system of railroads now & is a good road. I think in 2 or 3 years we will have the road completed from Jefferson to Springfield & south from there to N.W. Arkansas. It will run in 5 miles of Bro. Porter's. They were at work on it last fall in 5 miles of Bro. Port's, grading. Eldon has its electric lights & telephone system all over town. It is a city of the 4th class. Give our kindest regards to Mr. & Mrs. Richardson & others of your neighbors & friends & love to all the children. Wish we could see them again. Goodbye
Sallie had poor luck raising turkeys this
year. Sold $66 worth & kept 3 more than she commenced with last
spring.J.M. & Sallie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[Postmark] Barnett, Mo.--date illegible [From] W. A. Houston Barnett, Mo. [To] Mr. M. A. Houston Agate Oregon Jackson Co. Barnett 3/16 1906
Mr. M. A. & M. A. Houston Dear Bro. &
Sister
I will try to answer your most welcome letter which I received some time ago. We are all well at present so far I know we are having plenty winter for the last week. It was very muddy for awhile & froze up solid, making the roads very rough. Well, Milton, land is high here for the quality, selling from $20 to $40 per acre, corn 40 cts., wheat 75 to 80, good mares weighing 13 to 14 hundred 160 to 175, hogs fat 5½. I think our peach crop is all right yet. Well, tell the boys I wished I had been feeling good & could have stayed longer when I was there. I would like to make another trip to your country sometime & would be [happy] to have you come & make us a visit this summer, not many here now of your old acquaintance, so I will close. Love to all
W. A. Houston - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [March 16, 1906--
Mrs. Polly Houstonpresumably sent with above letter] Dear Sister I will try and answer your kind and welcome letter that was received some time ago. Glad to hear all well. This leaves all well. Having lots of winter cold and snow. I am afraid it will kill the peaches. The buds was swelled before it got so cold. I have 30 little chicks, 3 hens setting yet, lots of eggs. I will try and raise turkeys and chickens. You and brother and sister Josie come and eat chicken with us this summer. Tell Josie I think she could come. Well, Pollie, Emily has been to see us and stayed two weeks. She is at Montgomery's now. She has got a bad cold. She is stout for an old woman. Josie Brown is well. Sallie Houston is not well; her throat has give her some trouble this winter. The roads has been so bad that they can't get around and have to stay at home. I am making Josie Brown and Emily a bonnet and I will let William finish my letter. I send my love to all. Laura
P.S. Tell me something--the R.R. through the center of the state from
east to west [sic]- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[Postmark] Barnett, Mo., Oct. 1, 1906, 1 p.m. [From] J. M. Houston Barnett, Mo. [To] Milton Houston Esq. Agate Jackson Co. Oregon Barnett, Morgan
Co., Mo.
9/28-1906 M. A. & M. A. Houston Agate, Oregon Dear Bro. &
Sister
Glad to hear from you & that you were all well & getting along reasonably well. You said crops generally good & demand for most products; so they are here except garden truck. Crops good here except oats & hay though my oats was well filled. Think I had best in the neighborhood. We are still feeding our cattle. Cattle low except good beef, hogs 5½ to six. Horses & mules high. We sold 2 year old mules for $240 Had threshing done 2 weeks ago. Had 860 bu. wheat on home farm & 500 oats & wheat mixed. We were a little late last fall in getting wheat in & it came a very heavy rain & stayed wet & cold so long it failed to come [i.e., the wheat failed to germinate]. Sowed oats with it in spring so it was mixed. Our relatives in this country are generally well & doing fairly well. Think I wrote you that Willis Jones was dead. Also Uncle Sam Houston. Uncle died in February last. Uncle James B. is living near Arapaho, Oklahoma. He is 85 [years] of age. Uncle Sam was about 90. Britt Taylor sold his farm & is boarding. Sold for 4000. Dr. Hargitt sold 160-acre farm on high prairie N.W. [of] the Abram Amick farm for $45 per acre. I have never offered mine for sale yet. Would not know what to do if I had to leave it. What can a man loan money at in your country & what is the limit. 8 percent is the limit in this state. Does your courts or equalization boards release U.S. paper currency from taxation. Our state laws don't release it but the national law does. It says not taxable under state, municipal or local authority. Think I wrote you about that in my last. What do you think now about visiting Mo. Tell all your children & grandchildren we would like to see them again. Tell Josie we would be glad to see her & we are going to write her soon. Sept. 30. Sallie is sick. Had Dr. with her last night. No better this morning. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [Postmark] Eldon, Mo., Apr. 12, 1912, 8 p.m. [From] Jas. M. Houston R.R. No. 3 Eldon, Mo. [To] Milton A. Houston Esq. Trail Oregon Eldon, Mo.
4/4-1912 Bro. Milton:
We are well. Health of kin & the people generally good. Had smallpox in the schools. Nearly everybody has had it that would take it. It is in very light form--not as bad as chickenpox. Very few go to bed for it. Collier Houstons have had it--about all well. Had an unusual bad winter. Snowed & rained all through March. No plowing done yet--ground too wet. Grain & hay scarce. Corn 75 to 80, oats 65 to 75 or 80 per bushel. Hay $18 to 25 per ton. No late news from Bro. Porter. High waters in this country. Many Republicans & Democrats favor Roosevelt for President. Don't suppose he will get the nomination. Many men talked about in both parties for President. Write often--tell Jack and Alice to write, also the others. Our good wishes to all your children and grandchildren. Love to all. Goodbye. J. M. Houston
Sallie A. Houston - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[Postmark] Eldon, Mo., Dec. 31, 1912, 8 p.m. [From] Jas. M. Houston R.R. No. 3 Eldon, Mo. [To] Milton A. Houston Esq. Trail Oregon Eldon, Mo.
Dec. 31--1912 Trail, Oregon Dear Bro.: We are getting anxious to hear from you. Write us how you & the other relatives and friends are getting along. Had a letter from Sister Josie Houston of Applegate, Or. not long since. Said she was well. Last news from Bro. Porter was he had been bleeding at the nose, but was much better. Osage River kin all well or nearly so. Cousin Wm. Houston & his wife was complaining some. Sister Josie Brown & her folks are well. She is living at home. Her youngest daughter & her husband are running the farm. They are getting fixed up for living well and comfortable. Have the best concrete, cement cellar I know of in the country. Repaired the house--built a good chicken house and a blacksmith and workshop. They are getting along fine. Bro. William was here this morning, was well. Laura is not very well. Had an unusual fine fall & winter so far. Dry & dusty all the Xmas holidays. Livestock doing well. Cattle & hogs scarce & high priced. Stock 5½ to 6 cents per lb. Hogs 7 to 8. Corn 50 to 60, wheat 95 to 97, [oats?] 35 to 40 per bushel. Hay about 10 per ton. Irish potatoes 60 to70 per bu. Eggs 22¢ doz. Butter 20 to 25¢ lb. Turkeys 16, chicken hens 9 or 10 per lb. Jas. Taylor is here at Will Taylor's--is looking well. Collier's children has whooping cough. He is getting along better than when you were here. Write soon and often. Your brother & sister
J.M. & Sallie Houston - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[Postmark] Eldon, Mo., Apr. 28, 1914, 7:30 p.m. [From] J. M. Houston R.R. No. 3 Eldon, Mo. [To] Milton A. Houston Trail Oregon Eldon, Mo.
4/28--1914 Dear Bro.: We are tolerably well, though not stout. William & Laura both on the grunting list; though I don't think it is anything serious. Sallie & I went to Sister Josie's day before yesterday. Found them all well. She is cheerful & pretty lively. They are getting the place fixed up pretty good--looks well. Health of the kin and people generally good. Prospect for a general good crop this year. Wheat looks fine. The weather favorable for putting corn crop in--some done planting. Oats all sown & looks very well. Much of garden truck up, looking well. We had greens--radishes & lettuce for dinner yesterday. Fruit prospect good. The pastures are getting good. James Taylor started for Colorado last Saturday. Naomi Taylor has been quite sick, but is some better now. Nothing very late from Porter's. Last word from there said his son Elmer was very low with miner's consumption. I wrote to know how he was getting along a week or more ago but received no answer yet. We don't think Naomi will ever be well again. It seems Uncle Sam is having a little trouble down in Mexico. Had a letter from Sister Josie Houston about a month ago. She was well. Is the railroad completed from Medford to Crater Lake & Fort Klamath. What are they doing about that road from Vale or Ontario (on the Oregon Short Line) to Lake Co. or Crater Lake. Write soon & often. Love to all. J.M. & Sallie Houston
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Barnett, Mo.
Dear BrotherSep. the 5 1915 I will try and ans. your letter. Was glad to hear from you and all. Well, we are all well, having nice weather now. Had to watch Sam for a while. We have plenty of fruit and plenty of potatoes and garden to do us, and I have lots of chickens and good cows to milk and we can get along fine. Well, Josie Brown is well and can talk all the time. Montgomery and Sallie is well. I had a letter from Porter Houston; he is very feeble now, can't dress himself. He and his wife went to live with his daughter. All the rest well. Well, Guy Kidwell is still living, but not getting well. I am afraid he won't [omission]. His mother looks bad and not well. She worries so about Guy. Well, I wish you was here this winter to talk and tell funny tales to us. I want to see you once more if I can. Well, Bro., times fries [sic]. We are all getting old, but we will make our days as happy as we can if we can't be together, and I will try and write oftener to you. William isn't a very good hand to write. He will write a little now, so I will get dinner. Write when you can. Love to all. Goodbye
Laura Barnett
9/5-15 Mr. M. A. Houston Dear Brother I will drop you [a few] lines. Cousin W. P. Wilkes is here on a visit in a day or two. He tells some hunting stories. Restless as a bear. Cousin W. W. Houston is here & was at Sister Josie's. I think he has gone to Cass County now to Newt's. He is 81 years of age. W. P. Wilkes 72 years. He makes his home at Bakersfield or 6 miles from town. Wiley talks of wintering in California this winter. Can't say what I will do yet; don't like to try the winter here. Stock: Cattle 7 cts., hogs 7 cts., wheat 96 cts., corn sold at public sale 58 cts. in field. Mule colts $25.00 to $115.00, mostly $40 to $60. Not much to write. I have not been away from home this summer, too lazy; though I needn't tell you that; you know from the way I write. So I will close. Write soon. Your Bro--
W. A. Houston - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [Postmark] Barnett, Mo., Sept. 7, 1915 [From] W. A. Houston R.R. No. 1 Barnett, Mo. [To] Mr. M. A. Houston Trail Oregon [Dear Brother] [first page(s) missing] Sally works all the time; can't get time to go anywhere--so she thinks. Her turkey luck has not been good this year. But her hen chickens have turned out some money & good living. Eggs high, chickens good price. She has put up a good deal of fruits & vegetables for winter. 21 gal. cherries, 16 gal. blackberries, 8 gal. tomatoes, 15 gal. peaches, plum butter, blackberry jam, jellies, sweet pickles, pear preserves, peach preserves &c. too numerous to mention. Sister Emily lives with us. She can always find something for everybody to do. You can't be idle about her. Can't get much time for thinking. She is much stouter than she was last year. Josie lives on her farm and worrying about the way things go. Talks of selling it. Says it don't pay. Bro. Porter lives in Marionville, Mo. Children scattered from Mo. to Arizona. We would like to see all of you but don't know when we can. Visit us if you can. Write often. Tell others to write. Goodbye. J. M. & Sallie
We have a telephone in the house. Don't think I told you about it. It is a great convenience & the finest talking machine you ever saw. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[Postmark] Barnett, Mo., Apr. 8, 1916 [From] W. A. Houston R.R. No. 1 Barnett, Mo. [To] Mr. M. A. Houston Trail Oregon Dear Brother I will write a few lines. This is a fine time on chicks; my incubates will hatch Sunday. We have 112 turkey eggs, 50 setting yet, lots of hen eggs 17½ est. per doz. Well, I am glad you have good health. Josie Brown isn't very well. Not down, just old age. Lizzie Kidwell is very poorly; she has rheumatism in her arms; can't use them. Guy's wife getting along very well. Well, Brother, I would like to see you and have a good old talk this summer. It is time warm weather was here now. Well, I will close for this time, so goodbye. Laura
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Barnett, Mo.
Mr. M. A. Houston4/7-16 Trail, Ore. Dear Brother I will drop you a few lines this snowy morning, 4 or 5 inches of snow & still falling. Our oats has come up, 23 acres. Wheat very poor, not half a crop. Well, Brother, I was sorry to hear of the death of Myrtie. Was she the oldest girl of Louisa or not. I can't remember. I received [a] telegram from Porter's boy A. T. Houston the 5th inst., stating the death of his mother, Emeline. She died the 4 of this month, paralyzed. We are all tolerably well except Sally. She is very poorly [fragment ends] [W. A. Houston]
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