Illinois,  Madison County, January 12^th 1845 

Dear father, Brothers, Sisters and friends    I avail myself of the present opportunity to let you all know that myself and family are at present all well hoping that this letter may find you well in possession of all the blessings that may be in the order of providence for the good of all of us.  I received your letter of the eighth last month on yesteday the 11^th of January which gave me satisfaction to hear from you yet sorrow to hear of your past and present affliction but such is the lot of mankind and our only duty and interest is to seek for perfect submission to God’s profideness.  If even I can obtain such humility I shall then be better able to reconcile myself to my own misfortune.  Otherwise I know that I shall never again be even a tolerably contented man.  I learn with sorrow and regret of the same misfortune becoming the lot of so many of my old friends that has fallen to my own lot.  We are still doing the best we can.  We keep our house ourselves but will hire some sperson if we can happen to get a man and his wife without children.  Otherwise we shall live as we best can. The last season here was a bad crop season. Tho there is a plentiful support for the country, there is not much of a surpluss of any kind of produce.  I have not seen Brother William for the Past three months he was tolerably well.   Mary and family was then well and all doing as well as they could but William T. Scott I am sorry to say that I do not think that there is a triflinger creature upon the face of the earth.  I have taken some pains to counsel and reclaim him but you might just as well reason to a stump or advise Satan to become a saint.  My boys all remain sober steady and industrious to my fullest satisfaction and I have a great desire to live to see Miles and Keller up as the rest is as they have  (???) living mother. 

Times are yet hard here tho easier than one two and three years past.  We owe some yet toward some of our land but if we can have one good crop season we will not have to say so this time next year.  We are doing well as any person here.  We have all the property that we now need.  We have five head of horses, thirty six head of cattle, sixteen of them ???? steers, two good strong wagons and all the farming utensils that we can use.  We have thirty eight acres in wheat.  That is as good a prospect as an any in my knowledge tho all the wheat in this county was sown late in consequence of dry weather the early part of last summer was the wettest season that I ever did see.  Since the first of August there has been almost no rain atall tho as respects the county of common seasons it is by far the best farmers country that you or me has any knowledge of and can in my opinion exceed by none for corn, oats, wheat, Irish Potatoes, cabbage, turnips, timothy bluegrass, and in short anything that the climate is suited to for length of season.  The people is in our neighborhood the most steady sober industrious honest and virtuousest people fewer exceptions than I have fallen amongst anywhere in my life the greatest difficulty is that within a mile or so all round me there is people from every state in the union from England Ireland Scotland Germany and Switzerland speaking English French high and low Dutch and the galic languages all with their own customs and ?? about by.  Methodists of two orders Baptists of three orders Presbyterians of two orders the Dutch informed churchmen and of the Scotch Kirkers? and Lutherans  inso much that society will not in my opinion be  strongly united for some time to come in our prairie as was doubtless fashionable in Eden.  The great chase that seems to be going on all over the globe in every order from the most diminutive of the animal creation through every grade up to man for the mastery and presence over each other is a good stumbling stone to me when contemplating the benificense of the adorable Diety.

The last eight months of time has furnished more poor mortals with a passport to Eternity amongst my acquaintance in neighbors here than in the seven previous years together had done.  There is already within six miles of us four persons been buried in 1845 all very old but one and him the father of a large family.  Amongst the rest of the  death that have lately occurred close to me was your old acquaintance friend and brother George Prichett and his son Isaac.  I want you and Brother James and Samuel Watson all to write to me.  I wish to know who is sheriff and representative of Wayne and Hardin Counties who is responsible men?? At Carrollville and how the best superfine flour would sell there by the Barrel and who would be the most suitable person to cosine ?? hundred barrels to.  I am almost hopeless politically tho supporting Polk with enthusiasm and am always against the ??milkboy??? of the ????  Harry of the west, the great Kentuckian, Henry Clay.  I have tho utmost confidence in the abilities of Mr. Polk and of his honorable high mindedness and believe the people were in their wisdom to place the laurel on his brow when I have no doubt it will flourish if it should not be plucked off by his political friends for it is impossible for him to know every body in filling his appointments.  He is compelled to consult his friends to ascertain the qualifications of individuals and I do think there is a click in each state that will care for nothing but loaves and fishes and if it is possible will ??receave?? the president Elect to obtain the result of their selfish purposes.  This will always be dangerous while the halls of congress is filled by those who merely make the most noise.

I wish to know particularly how sister Patsey gets along and if she could be persuaded to come and see this country if myself or brother William would see her home again with her little William.  I intend to come there as soon as I can but I do not intend to leave the boys alone until I can hire some man and woman to live with them while I should be gone.  So soon as I can leave them in that situation I intend to come quickly.  Your loving son till death John Scott,

                                                                                             Rosamond P. Scott 

Paddock’s Grove, Ill.   Jan 16 1845

Mr. John Scott   Wayne County, Tennessee

Carrolsville P.O.