To: Margaret Barnard Young (living in then Burnsville, Yancey County, NC) now, Madison county, NC From: Elizabeth Barnard Love Postmarked January 5th 1851 in Hazelwood, MO -------------------------------------------------------- Dear Sister I embrace the present opportunity of informing you we are all well I am in a poor mood for writing I am fatigued and agitated I have been writing to Margaret to day we received a letter from her Christmas day She writes from Marion County Oregon October 14th She gives a most distressing account of the suffering and danger they endured on their journey but they got through with all their family and was all well when she wrote but they lost and had to leave allmost all they had that was good luck to what thousands of others have had this season they started to go to California but when they found their stock could not hold out to reach there they turned in to oregon but her and Mr. Burnett was both dissatisfied which you know must make me most unhappy we heard a few days ago Jessee Young had returned from California but did not hear how he had done or how he was pleased with the country we had our information from a gentleman from our county that was passing and saw him, but did no know he was any way related to us and did not make any enquiry Mr. Love will write to him in a few days to enquire if he heard any thing of Joseph in his travel. I suppose he has been home some two months or more and of course has wrote to some of his friends in that country before now I had hoped to get a letter from you before this time I got one from Sister Sally this fall she said she was looking for you and Joshua to visit Farther and them in a short time After she wrote I hope you did for it is a pleasure to me to think you are takeing pleasure for I know it is a pleasant thing for you to see each other but I do think you ought to divide and spare a little time and write to me when you are together for I think you must then remember me I know it has been a good while since I wrote to you but I have wrote since you did to me but I cant wait any longer with out writing to you whether you thank me or not if you knew the trouble I see in consequence of the children being so far away you would wonder how I could write at all We received a letter from Brother Andrew this spring He said Farther wanted Mr. Love to come and see him but to all appearance at this time it is out of his power as he is not stout and has so much to attend to and nobody to help him see to his business he has a large stock of mules horses and cattle, he sold Nineteen mules this fall at 80 dollars round at home, four of them was three years old, the balance only two past So you see we can make something in Missourie I have given up all hopes of ever seeing the dear old home of my childhood any more if Margarett and Mr. Burnett does not come back I know we never can both leave home so long We have not heard from Joseph since July we heard then he would be home this winter we hear of so much sickness on board of the vesels comeing from that country we have allmost despaired of his comeing When I heard that Joshua had a brother and cousin in this country I did flatter myself he would come out and see them and I think if he was to get in sixty miles of us he surely would come and see how we are doing Sister I do believe if some of the young men in that country knew what they could do in this country they would not stay in that country and work such poor land when there is so much rich land here uncultivated besides there is so many moveing to California and Texes there is a great many good farms sold cheap that is well improved you may think it a poor recommendation to our country when I say there is a good many wanting to leave but you know that is the case in all countries we feel ourselves settled for life I believe we have as good health here as we could expect in any place I have given you a description of our situation before so I will say no more on the subject We had a most severe drought this summer crops fell way short but we have the most favorable winter so far I have ever seen I hope you will write more frequent to us give my best respects to all your children married and unmarried and all uncle Mcelroys family and enquiring friends and tell them I would be glad to receive a line from any or all of them do write soon Mr. Love and myself sends our best respects to you and Joshua I remain your affectionate Sister and friend Elizabeth Love