A. Aitken, Iowa City, to [?] Patterson, Co Tyrone.

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Document ID 9601085
Date 14-01-1866
Document Type Letters (Emigrants)
Archive Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Citation A. Aitken, Iowa City, to [?] Patterson, Co Tyrone.; PRONI D 627/213; CMSIED 9601085
20799
                                Iowa City 14th January, 1866

   Dear Sir,
          I should have wrote to you before this time but
as I had not got into a settled way I just waited till now
I did not stop long in Canada only one day, I did not like
the appearance of the country besides land is dear. Improved
farms could not be got for less than œ8 to œ15 per acre so I
came on here where the country looks more promising, the
only fault this country has timber is scarce and [fireing?]
dear but the land is of the best quality, I could a [have?]
got a good situation the next day after I came here, but I
understood the gentleman was not easy pleased so I did not
take it, I kept hunting about for a farm I viewed and priced
and offered for several but it is not easy geting [getting?]
a fiting [fitting?] one, however I managed at least to buy
80 acres four miles from this City I gave nine dollars per
acre for it I have plenty of timber on it, I could sell the
timber any day for more than the whole farm cost me in fact
when I bought, it was with the view of selling again as I
saw plainly I could do more than double my money in it but
I have made up my mind not to sell till I hear from you for
if Mr. Montgomery gives me a situation worth coming for I
will sell out and return to 5miletown [Fivemiletown?]
although I like this country very well for it is a money
making place, yet and withal I would rather live in Ireland
if I could live as well but I would not return to live in
Drumnamale [Drumnameel?] if Mr Graham would make me a present
of it, the land here requires no manure or drains it will grow
potatoes of the best quality without manure there is no disease here
I am informed manure would spoil them it grows Sugar cane
Indian corn and wheat of the best quality in succession for
twenty years without one bit of manure everything grows here
without much trouble Cabbage requires no transplanting they
sow them in Spring and [thins?] them out like turnips and they
are like pots for size in September.
               I am Sir
                    Your obt [obedient?] sert. [servant?]
                             Alexander Aitken.

          My address is
                     Alexr. [Alexander?] Aitken
                          Rapid Creek
                           Iowa City
                            Iowa
                             U.S.
I wanted Aitken to remain in the country for you to see him
but he is a man of such active mind he would not rest a few
months.  He proposed to return if we received him Now if your
own servant declines becoming steward I wish you had Aitken
he is judge of cattle and a first rate land drainer he knows
how to work and make others do it & I would not have to
complain of his being too often in the house & labours in
the fields he is Scotch & his wife is Irish & equal to all
work but cooking