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Note: Addressed to: Miss Electa Moor, Juliet, Will County. Ill,possibly as early as 1844. Dear children,I now write to let you know that we are well. Owing to the coldweather we did not arrive at Andover till the eighth day. Wemet with no accident, but suffered severely with the cold, butdid not quite freeze. We found Morrison and Mary living in thecompany house. They had been expecting us a long time. Ourhouse was not done so we had to move in with them; not veryconvenient. Mary was invited and accordingly went to a splendidparty at xxx Thompson's for the purpose of celebrating Gen.Washington's birthday.Morrison has bought a quarter section of land at Red Oak Grovewith a small house on it to which they will move the first ofApril, so he will not go to Missouri this year, but says heshall before a great while. After paying for his land he willhave his mare, six oxen, one cow and calf, twelve hens left.The distance from us is eight miles. Morrison and Mary, yourfather and I have been to Rock Island, found the market verypoor. English good high and had hard work to get a shilling perpound for butter, brought our cheese back, bought nothing worthmentioning. When the boats come with good will be cheaper andmore plenty. If Eliza has money she had better buy all herlittle articles at Juliet [Joliet] for there's not much of astore kept here. She had better fetch her coverled [?] yarn tooand get it wove at Richland Grove. Your father and Reubin worklike niggers at splitting rails and have got almost done. Theyhave neither of them spent an hour of needless time since wecame here, and I am making shirts for the boys. We feel a greatdeal of anxietyabout you and especially at night all the restare asleep. The boys must take good care of everything or Danwill not get that black lamb. Electa, your father says you must take care of the pork and ifthe brine gets out put in more water and salt. I wish you wouldtwist all the stocking yarn for there is not a wheel within tenmile of this xxx.Mary wrote us a letter long ago which she expected we hadreceived before we left home. If it's in the post office nowlet it stay there. I want you should write as soon as you get this. Writeeverything about everybody, about the calves, lambs, andeverything else. I want to see you all and especially that poorlittle thing. Give my love to Mrs. Waldrum [?] and family, toWilliam, Mrs. Hartshorn [?], Pruggs Billings, and all thatenquire. I expect your father will be out as soon as the grass will do.Write. Tell Dan that the fellow who draws off this sheet wantsto see him and John. I think May was thankful for the presentthat you sent her especially the them two yards.Your father wants John to tell Mr. Davison he should alwaysdoctor all the calves, lambs, pigs in season, except that onthat runs. You must correct the mistakes and straight the linesyourselves for I cannot spend time. Adieu for the present.Signed John & D. [Deborah] MooreA list of names of family members that should read the letter[?presumably] is on the left margin.- Mr. & Mrs. Davison,Electa and Eliza Moore, John & Dan Moore
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Note: The letter written by Deborah Moor must have been about Mar1841. One clue isthe cold weather; another is that Morrison and Mary Francis weremoving "thefirst of April". The obit. for Morrison Francis says that he,joined by theMoores, went to Henry Co., soon after he was married. It alsosays that hemoved to Red Oak within a year or two of going to Henry Co.However, John andDeborah were obviously in the process of moving, leaving theirchildren incare of John and Priscilla Davison. Morrison and Mary did notmarry until 23Apr 1840 and I have some doubts that it was really that cold bythe time Johnand Deborah went over there if in May or June 1840. So, Ibelieve theirmigration was after the winter of 1840/41. Notice the dry humorof Deborah,"but did not quite freeze" and "not very convenient". I haven'tfigured outwho the Thompson's were.But, notice how Deborah refers to President Washington! Shewasn't quite twowhen he was inaugurated, 30 Apr. 1789. By the way, Washington'sbirthday was22 Feb (1732); (11 Feb 1731/2, old style). I believe thatMorrison may havegone to Henry Co. thru a Company in the business of getting itsettled (thus"living in the Company house". My ggg grandfather Davenport waspart owner ofthe Morristown Settlement (Co.) that emigrated people out of NYCand the EASTto Henry Co., in 1836.
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