These are Upshur County people, but this letter is written while they lived in Harrison County, pre their coming to Upshur County. Once again our thanks go to Alice Lane for this contribution! It is typed  just as it was received, so please do not write us about the misspelled words, etc.
 

Isom Cranfill Ledger
Accounts of General Store
Oregon City, Oregon 1852-1873
University of Oregon Special Collections AX 127 Vol. 1

Pg. 53-58 Jan. 30, 1853
Letter from Thomas & Susan Cranfill, State of Texas, County of Harrison at the jug factory near Marshall.

Dear Uncle,
I take this opportunity of writing to you. In the first place we are all well at this time for which it is our reasonable duty to be and feel thankful to great Benefactor of all good. And we most sincerely hope these few lines will find you all in health and prosperity. We received a letter from you last week and was much gratified to hear that were all well and doing well but I was sorry to hear that you the misfortune to get your leg broken. I was glad to learn that your mill so it would stand and that you were making it profitable. I was also please to hear from your children that they were going to school and progressing in their studies and I was also gratified to learn that you have improved your education....corn is 35 to 50 cents per bushel, bacon 12 1/2 - 15 cents, beef 4 to (?), pork 6 cents, flour 7 to 8 dollar, sugar 8 to 10 cents per pound, molasses 50 cents per gallon, everything is high but money is plenty and times are flush. I am still working at the stone ware making business though we have had so much sickness since we have been here that we have been unable to pay for the factory and I will have to give it up the 1st of March. I then expect to go west though not till fall. I was sorry to hear that brother had stopped communication with you and as I kept up close correspondence with father and Uncle Zacheus I will give you some of the news in relation to them. My father is still living in the same old place and is getting along much as the old sort he is. He has 5 children married. Isaac, Eaton, Elizabeth, Isom and myself. He still digs wells and Uncle Zacheus still lives near where he did when you were here. He is getting along but badly from what I learn. He has lost 2 children and has but 1 left. His (wife?) has been confined to her bed for some time and is very low. Grandmother is dead. She died 2 or 3 months ago. She died at Uncle Georges in the night and was not found out until morning. She had been lingering for some time. As to religion there is little stir on that subject here. We have plenty of Methodists....(spent time talking about mission, good preaching). There is also some excitement in relation to the Railroad that is to run from Vicksburg via Shreveport Louisiana and on to Marshall. This road is intended to run from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The rout is surveyed from Vicksburg to Marshall and a company chartered to build the ----- of this road and the Legislature has granted 5000 acres of land to every mile of the road as soon as it is finished. I have some hope that at some future day not very distant it will I believe be finished I have now delayed this letter two days but will finish it and mail it. We have sold out our factory here and expect to west it is my intention to spend a part of my time in looking at the country this summer to try to find a place that will suit me for I begin to think it is time for me to settle for life I want to get to some part of the country where there is good range prairie land to cultivate and also I would like to find clay that would make stoneware as I have taken pains to learn that trade I wish still to follow it the making of stoneware is Tolerably profitable in this country But the best business to follow in Texas is raising stock beef here always bears tolerably fair price I wish you to write to me what sort of a climate you have there whether it is so changeably or not as in the states I love to hear from that county although I never expect to see it I wish you to give my best wishes to your wife and children I wish often to hear from you I would be glad to see you but I never expect to come in this world. Often recall to memory the many pleasant hours I spent in your company and the many times I have heard you preach. How glad I would be to hear you preach again.
Please have Jasper, Caroline, and Lafayette write a few lines each. I am fond of seeing juvenill writing and to know how well they can write.
    Farewell (_______?_) from
     Thomas Cranfill and Susan Cranfill

This letter is still the Cranfill family, written by John Cranfill in Kentucky.

Pg 75-77 March 13, 1853
Letter from John Cranfill, State of Kentucky, Calloway County

I got letter from you bearing date Oct. 30 we were truly glad to hear from you but sorry to hear of your misfortune in gitting hurt....going to hear a Negro preach. A smart old boy but still preaches.
Brother George's son Zacheus was here last fall. He said George was doing well and talked of going to Oregon this spring and said his mother was going to Oregon but I ain't be heard of them since. Zacheus promised to write but I ain't got any letters. He started to Texas but turned back a A. Canters. Canter is now a doctor and gits a big practice as is doing well. I got a letter from Thomas. They are aiming to move but I don't know where. I feel I have nothing to write. We are blessed with health and have plenty to live on and I am very near out of debt.
Salted 1600 lb post last fall
I have but 3 children with me and 1 gal
2 horses, 5 cattle, 14 hogs, 16 sheep
corn 100, wheat 50
William Adams family are all well. Sarah Hall married a man by the name of Tacket and had moved out here. They have 6 children. They are very poor people. Isaac Hall departed this live last summer. His family is living 35 miles from here but I expect is doing well. Moses Hall is dead and his wife is doing no good.
April 10 Taking a long time writing letter.
Land is now worth 5-12 dollars per acre.

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