WCP3930

[1]¹

Goodland

Newton C^o[unty]

Ind[iana]

Jan[uar]^y 1^st 1886.

My dear Brother,

I was very glad to receive a Letter from you and also to know how you all are getting along. I do not know if it was my turn to write, it is so long ago. I shall be extremely glad to hear from you when you get home, or come across the Letter mislaid. Many thanks for the Entomological[sic] Pins I have now received & lots from you I have just come across a School Teacher quite an enthusiast in Entemology[sic], he has been here several times and had to come 10 or 12 miles, and admired mine very much, he also showed me how he arranged his, and gave me a lot, this is the first one I have found in America. I am glad to hear Flora takes charge of your Business &c. also that your daughters Rose & Bessie are doing well, you do not say anything about Mr Wallace or how many Grandchildren you have, we have six grandchildren 3 Girls & 3 Boys, [2] you say the hills look about the same as they used to when we used to go about together I have often thought of the great differences here all about this part for a great many miles, it is very hard ground and no trees except those that have been planted, in fact it is an immense Prairie, not a single bit of moss, an[sic] only a few common Ferns, you would think if you over the place it had been once a great lake the soil is rich black colour, and large blocks of Red Black & White Granite laying about all over the land ^{with all the corners worn off} and all the roads as straight as a line and 60Ft thick, I have seen a large member of Fritilliaries[sic] Red Admirals quite a lot of large Moths and take what I saw when I get a chance.

[1 word illeg.] at present live 3 miles west of Goodland but expect to move again in March[.]

What a Change at Hassocks Gate since [3]² we knew it first.

I am sorry Farming looks so bad in England it must affect you all. I cannot say here they look very bright but we all live in hopes, our eldest boy [1 word illeg.] is using two Farms and has had a good crop of Corn (Maize) also Hay & Oates[sic] but Hay seems to pay him well. [1 word illeg.] also has a nice stock of Cows &c. &c. and lives about 1 miles south of us. he is married and has one Daughter & Son. George is about 12 miles south of us, on a small Farm, and us married and has one daughter. Tom has left Farming and is now Telegraph Operator about 20 miles south, and doing well.

Mary is just married and I have sent a newspaper with the notice in it. Arthur has been working out but is now at Home for a little while Emma has been quite sick with a bad throat but is getting better Phil & Jessie are just now staying at George's place for a change Arthur is at Home with us for a short time. [4] My dear Wife is well and desires to be kindly remembered to all she is as active as ever.

You say R Smith is about to begin raising Tomatoes I fear that will not be a profitable investment. here we raise them out in the open ground all the summer and like them very much there several varieties but those most approved are ^the larger smoth[sic] red.

I am sorry I cannot send seed of the large Gentian but will next year try to send a few of the different sorts of Flowers as they come along we do not expect to see any until May as the Winter here lasts so long, we have had an abundance of Michelmas[sic] Daisies Golden Rod Cyclamens Violets (all blue and no scent) and a large variety of the Sunflower (some pink) but the Flowers are so large I don't know how to put them in Paper some a six to ten feet high I have not met with many Orchids here only a few [1 word illeg.]

[5]³ Many thanks for the Newspaper received, but should prefer any London ones as I receive the Southern Weekly regularly from Jno[?] Holdin[?] I have sent with this the paper we late in when next you write let me know how you like it. My dear Wife & all Family send their best Love and wishing you all a Happy New Year in which I heartily win.

I am your affectionate Brother | George Mitten[signature]