Lyndon Osage County
Kansas April 10/84
Dear Mary
In some of my last letters to Ireland I said I would write
you early this month, circumstances not expected has prevented
me hitherto. Generally speaking my connexions are in good
health, but some of them are not as well. Joseph's wife is
very delicate (you may guess the reason). Should she get over
this safely, it is said her health may be completely restored.
My son James Alexander, who has been at Lawrence for some time
wrote on Saturday his eyes were getting sore & although
he was doing well in his studies I advised him to come home as
his eyes were more valuable than education. He is young, if
his Eyes get better, he can continue his studies at another
time. He came home last night his eyes do not look bad, but
hurt him when he reads. I think if they got rest they will
recover. Last night I was blessed with another Grandson Clara
became a Mother in the birth of which; both parents appear
much pleased. He is a large healthy boy both mother & child
are doing well. Hannah, called here on Tuesday on her way to
Lyndon she appears in good health, her son has become a nice
child. We have had a severe winter & later spring. Six years
this day since I came to Lyndon, at that time Peaches were in
bloom, Ploughing far advanced & considerable corn planted.
Now peach trees are withered as in January little ploughing
done and scarcely any corn planted, the season has been wet,
but there is time yet for a good crop; the rain has improved
the wheat.
Lyndon is improving very much a fifty thousand dollar
Courthouse is expected to be built this summer, also an
East & West & North & South R.R. [RailRoad?] but I have
written so much in this style I will say no more about R.R.
But actually 19 houses are under contract on which Carpenters
& Masons are daily at work. Hogs Horses & Cattle, are at
present very high in price & land is getting dear in this part
of Kansas. People dress well now if they go to any place of
worship, but not very well on their farms - good comfortable
houses are being built all over this part of Kansas.
Generally speaking, industrious people are getting in
comfortable circumstance. On this place three or four tame
pigeons came to us they have increased in numbers but one day
last week HT [?] was putting down hay for the horses he got a
pigeon lately killed its throat was cut, next day he saw some
wild animal among the hay that same night a hen which been set
on eggs was found next AM with her throat cut. A trap was got
and set. & on Monday night the murderer was trapped & of
course killed. It [is?] an animal with long nose body & tail,
brown in color said by experts to be a minx (I think that is right
spelled) its body was as thick as my wrist, in the month of
January the skin is worth from three to four dollars, but not
worth so much at this time of year. They skinned it & had it
not been got would have destroyed our flock of chickens. I
was sorry to hear your health had not been so good as formerly
hope it is better now & with best wishes to yourself & Anne.
I am truly yours
Wm [William?] Stavely
