Chicago, Ill. [Illinois?] July 24 1881
Dear mother
I suppose by this time you
will think that I have forgotton
you I am a verry [very?] lazey [lazy?] hand at
writing and i cept [kept?] putting it of [off?]
till now we are all well I seen
Bella yesterday her and the
family are well, William passed
Detroit yesterday from Buffalo
for Chicago he is Sailing the
Red, White, Blue, She has got
850 Tons of Salt on bord [board?]
She is a first rate sch [schooner?] and
handels [handles?] well William Shaks [Shanks?]
is master of the Sch [Schooner?] Frank
Crawford and he is giving
good Satifisfaction, he has been
Carrieing [Carrying?] Ties & Posts all spring
but he is carrieing [carrying?] boards now
from Muskegon, he was to Michig [Michigan?]
City the last load, he is a good boy
although he informed on his
uncle Sam, but, I forgive him
for that, Sience [Since?] he has got to be
Capt [Captain?] Shanks the girls are kicking
there Shadow about him. you
know who it is your self [yourself?]
we have had a fair Season so
far and the Sch [schooner?] has all made
Some money. I have not Sailed
aney [any?] Sience [since?] the 6 may have been
attending to getting freights for
the Sch. [Schooner?] and Paying the Bill.
but i am gowing [going?] to give William
a Spell when he comes in
we are having nice Warm Weather
here now; By the time of the
press we will not have as
much wheat to send you the
cumming [coming?] year but the corn is
a good crop and that is what
makes the pigs in this country
Have not heard from Nancy this
Summer but i suppose the [they?] are like
the american letters well and
dowing [doing?] well I am for ever obliged
to you for the socks & mittens you
sent with William Shanks he
got every thing all right [alright?]. I seen
your neighbour David Johnson
yesterday him and the family
are well. Bella was telling me
Johny [Johnny?] Palmer is gowing [going?] to Kensas [Kansas?]
Cit [City?] to kill Pigs for fowler Brothers
the [they?] Kill loats [lots?] of them out there
6000 every day the tell me
I think the [they?] must have a factory
for makeing [making?] them, I am about
run out of news have not heard
of any death or marriages [marrages?] among
The farr [far?] downs except James
Clelland he was mate with William
on the R.W.Blue [Red, White, Blue?] he
fell over board and got drowned
in Chicago river on 5th July he
was a cousin to Johny [Johnny?] Boyd in
Circubbin [Kircubbin?] he leaves a wife and
one boy 15 years old i was to his
funeral he was well fired about
15 years ago but had reverses
of fortune and bad luck that [done?]
it. This is a wonderful country
any way [anyway?] see people rich to day [today?] and
poor to morrow [tomorrow?], I was to the races
yesturday [yesterday?] and seen the fastest horse
in the world and hir [her?] owner the
richest man in america, William
H. Vandervilt, I remain your
Son Sam Shaw
Direct to Sam Shaw
4217 Belleview Avinue [Avenue?]
Chicago
