CLUBS & GROUPS | FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | AUGUST 2014 35
Here are excerpts from an actual letter written Nov. 11, 1877
by a farmer in Salem, Nebraska to his brother in Virginia.
NOTE: The misspelled words and grammar in the letter are
exactly as they were written – they are not my errors.
Dear Brother,
We are not well. We all have the hooping cough except Jane.
Little Joseph died October the 30 from the cough and croup. Peter
is in a critical condition with the caugh + chilles occasionally.
The Nemeha River overflowed last spring after our crop was
planted and destroyed it. We planted our field at home late and
made some corn but not half crop. I paid up my doctor and
funeral expenses yesterday and have 25 dollars left to buy flour
and medicine with.
The grasshoppers invaded by the millions last spring. We
killed them by bushel and thind them so they do not eat all the
grain. A great many hogs dying with colry. I only have 22 head of
cattle. I have over 30 hogs but will have to sell some on account of
scarcity of corn. Corn is worth 20 cts. Spring wheat 80. Potatoes
75 cts. Our school has suspended on account of sickness among
the children.
A. S. Russell
Cold, hard statistics don't tell the reality of what life was life
in days gone by. This family lost three of their young children
during this epidemic of Pertussis, (whooping cough). When
you research your family, try to include the story of their lives
in addition to just the facts.
Info., Willis Fagan, Club Captain (951) 769-4482, wefbev@
verizon.net. ~ Willis Fagan
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