E. R. Fawcett - 1849-10-08

DeKalb.   Mi.   Oct 8,1849.

Dear Niles,
                    Yours of the 23rd July has been to hand sometime since.  Though I had frequently of late (when on my way to the Post Office) reflected that our good old mother had now arrived at the age that left but little hope for much longer good health or earthly existance.  Still I was entirely unprepared, at the moment, to receive the news of her death.  it was a shock to me ever to be remembered.  but being at such a great distance I probably did not feel it so sensibly as I should have done had I been present with you all on the occasion, but death has been here too, and made me feel his presence moste accutely.  he has taken off our Dear little Elizabeth Roberteen.  she was about two and a half years old, the most lovely age of a child.  no one can imagine except those who have had the mournfull experience, how painfull it is to give up a deal little pet like ours was.
        She had had the hooping cough near three months most of the time violently, and when we supposed she was out of all danger, she caught cold which caused a return of the hooping caugh as bad as ever with a remittant feaver followed by inflamation of the stomack lungs & bowels.  a more complete wreck I never saw.  she was sick about fifteen days and died on the 25 Sept.
                 I recd a long letter from Curt a short time before I got your last.  he was then well and soliciting business -- he know best but I fear he will not get enough to sustain him in N.York.  it grieves me that I am unable to do him any good, now in the time that he needs help.  I feel so unsettled in my own business that I do not know that I shall ever be in a situation to do him any good.  the tanning business which I have been at over two years has not turned out profitable.  my partner and I are both tiered of it.  he wants me to take all and pay all, and I would rather take a small compensation for the time I have been here and let him hold the bag.  we shall probably fix it up some way before long.  I believe I can make a living at it by managing altogather my own way.  If I should get the tanyard I shall send some leather to Curt to sell in NewYork which I think can be done profitably.   Tell Willis & Sister Susan that our friends, the McMahons in Gainesville, although broke, are getting a long about as well as ever, that is, they live as well flyaround at business and seem as lively as as ever they did.           Hary Thompson was elected Sheriff again, last Qugust and it is supposed that Bob will be his Deputy in Gainesville, this is mear rumer, I know nothing about it myself.  Waterman and Turner Bell are carrying on a kind of commission business in the Grocery line.  Charles is doing a Storeing business in the Warehouses formerly Kept by the old consern of McMahon, Southerland & Co.  Cotton crops being very short this season it is doubtfull whether he will make expenses.  Paton was clerking for Capt Pratt and may be continuing with W. P. Lay & Co.
        Capt Pratt and his wife have had a split.  he accuses her of addultery and leaving a written statement, sworn to before a magestrate, he sold out, tooke his three little children and went off to the north.  Mrs. P. was one of the last that would have been suspected in Gainesville, but Capt Ptratt's word would hardly be doubted by any.  Eli Oneal is one among several accused of being too intimate with Mrs. P.       Willis' old friend Mrs. Moseley, by some means got up some trouble between Harrison and his wife (Julia Moseley that was)  they parted for some time, but have lately gone togather again.
            If you had your wheat here now you could sell it for $1.75 to $2 per bushel.  Watchman McMahon is now selling it at $2 in Gainesville.  the frost killed all the wheat in this country last spring.  I intended to write you to send some south, but was advised by some of my friends not to do so.  I was on the eve of advising you not to be in a hurry about selling wheat, that the price would be still higher, but upon reflection I think that when ever flour gets up to a very high price there are thousands of people who quit useing it and thereby reduce the price and the country where the frost was there was but little wheat to kill.

Affectionately Your Bro      Erasmus.

This country has been unusually sickly with the last month or two -- the chills are prevaling down at Gaineville, but as far as I know our friends are escaping.  we are all in tolerable health hear.     Give my love to all our connections.  Ann requests the same favor of me towards you & the family.