John wrote a letter back to Texas, after returning to Missouri for the last time, shortly after the economic ruin in Texas following the end of the Civil War.
Suzie Reese has transcribed the letter. Considering John's unique spelling and the deteriorated condition of the letters, as well as the difficulty of knowing the identity of all of the people (or pets) whom John mentions, it is very difficult to transcribe accurately.
It is interesting to note that a daughter, Ellen, has been left behind in Texas with Em and Rachel Sandel. Rachel was John's granddaughter, and Emery served in the Danville Mounted Riflemen, as did John Hostetter.
from you one dated January the 23rd the other
February 14th which gave us grate
satisfaction to hear that you ware all well
we sold our place in texas for eleven hundred
dollars and our other stuff we got between 3 &
4 hundred dollars the trip from texas hear
cost us 2 hundred dollars we came in fine stile
we stade at sister Pollies 2 months and then I
bot a place in town on mane street a little above
the busness part of the town a tollarable
fair house 3 rooms and a upstairs smoke house
Chicken house a shanty of a stable and 2 Lots
I bot one Cow for 30 dollars 3 shotes 2 dollars a
peace 6 hens 25 cents apeace one Cook stove 31 dollars
press 11 dollars Table 4.50 set of Chairs 6 dollars
bedsted 8 dollars Lounge 5.50 2 pare blankets
17.25 washtub foot tub 2 bls [barrels] buckets plates
dishes knives and forks tecups and sausers 6 or 8
crocks and jars ax saw & woodsaw vegatable
Basket broom wash bowle Bible 4.50 Chune [churn] $1.00
we are all well and cris [?] Lo is fine and fat
No. 2
I forgot to tell what I giv for the house & lots
fore hundred and fifty dollars if we had known
as much before as we do now we wouldn�t have
bot hear but as it is we will have to stay hear
a while the Old Ladies hart is thare with
you and I am not far behind her the Climate
is bound to be som better thare than hear they say
this has bin the Coldest winter for sevril
years it went pretty hard with me & the old
Lady but we are alive yet and well and wintered [?]
better than we thot we co(u)ld Corn one dollar per
bushel wheat 240 cents per bushel brand [?] 25 cents
the season was so Dry hear Last year is the
Cause of grane being so hi hear land hear
is tremendous hy so I Cant by none and
thare is nothing hear that I Can make
anything at we shal soon get to the end
of our Chapter hear I must studdy up
some way to make a living I Cant se
no way yet ...the wagon maker is
making me a one horse wagon for 75 dollars
and then I want to buy a big strong horse
then Look out for visating
No. 3
you wanted know what we done
with Ellen we left hir with Emry
Sandel rachel wanted hir and Ellen wanted
to stay rather than go any where elce Martha Jane
was poorly when we le[f]t there I wold not be
surprised if she ant ded now sister Polly
is vary feble and has bin all winter
She Lifes in town sister Lise and Brother
Enoch and his son Henry [?] Hofstetter
all live in town the Connection are generly
well wheat Crops Look fine I want you
all to write often & the Boys Can write two
Ely Bless his Little square sole he must
send his grandpap a letter and Let me
know if there is a gratemeanny Crawfish
thare and if there is I will go and help
to dig them out Nothing more at present
But remains your afectionate father and
Mother from Jack & Hannah Hofstetter
To. E R Moffat and Carline Oliver
and Levi Elly old peet and sherif
No.1
March the 12th 1868
Pike County Missouri
Dear Children we receivd two letters
[Could Old Pete and Sheriff be dogs? Or perhaps horses?]
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© Karen McCann Hett All Rights Reserved 2004
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