Person Page - 1723

     T.J. Rorke
     Heathcote, Ont.
     Winnebago Station,

     Winnebago County, Ill.                     1882
     Dear Friends:
     It is long since I wrote to you, though often thought and talked about you, but the things of this world have caused me much trouble and vexation. I have some mortgages hundred of miles away in the west, and one particular that the man that mortgaged his farm to me sold it, the farm, to another man, when interest was due it was not sent to me. How many times I wrote to inquire about it, I cannot tell you, for I kept no count, but continued to get no answer, until I wrote and threatened to close the mortgage, then the man wrote to me informing me himself and and (sic) family were sick and had spent all the money he intended to pay me with, and begged that I would wait until he got better and able to pay me. I granted this request I believe him to be honest. The cause I take mortgage hundreds of miles west I get two percent interest more than I can get in Illinois.
     William was 21 years of age the second of last February, his two sisters and brother sold their interest in the little farm to me, so that I owned three parts of it and William one. They sold to me for five hundred dollars each. Mrs. Eterny sold the three shares for 700 dollars more than I gave for them. William sold his share at the same rate. I had 600 dollars of pension money and rent belonging to Wm. The land just sold for three thousand dollars. I gave William all the three shares sold for more than they cost me, which was 700 dollars. That and his share of the place with the 800 cash that I had saved with rent and pension, made for him to begin with twenty-three hundred dollars. William has bought 80 acres of land with a good house on it and good out buildings and 10 acres of hog pasture fenced in with three boards and one wire.
     Will’s brother Ed is married, and William says he has gt a clever, religious wife and is doing well. My son John, living 8 miles from them and is also doing well, has sent me word that he is coming to see us this spring wen he gets his crops put in this spring. My son Rob has bought his partner out and is doing considerable business. He has three hired hands besides his son. He is so engaged with the things of this world he has no time to prepare for the next. Edward and his family are well and doing well. His boys are steady, good workers and stout, strong-built, compared with their father. He has mad over $6000 since he went to the place he is on. In buying land and building he is only owing $500, and he says he can pay that off in three months.
     We hav small-pox in this place. It has only been in one house as yet. There has been much sickness and many deaths in this part since you were here; people of all ages are constantly dropping off.
     Thomas White informed us of Mr. Dale’s death and Mr. and Mrs. Gibson.
     One of our neighbors died last night, over 80 years of age. We have got a grain elevator since you were here, also several good houses put up. Property is rising. Farms handy to this place have been sold for $75.00 per acre, and some are asking a hundred, and I believe they will soon get their price.
     Last Friday, 31st, the glass on the north side of my neighbor’s house stood at 80 degrees at five o’clock in the evening. People are puttin (sic) in their garden seeds and farmers are plowing to put in their crops.
     I feel a want of William to do my jobbing.
     April 5th. Cold, wet weather. Late spring.
     I believe my son John has more correct views of the mystery of the Gospel than any child I’ve got. 1 Timothy, 3rd, 16th. I have been informed that my son Rob is so engaged with the things f this world that  he has no time to prepare for the next, but he intends to be safe, so he has come out a Universalist. We are told in the Word of Life tha tif the Gospel be hid it is hid from them that are lost, whom the God of this world hath blinded their eyes.Jacob and Esau were brothers. The one was taken and the other left. Two thieves were crucified with Jesus, the one was taken and the other left. God is a Sovereign and has an unquestionable right to do what he will with His own. As many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God, Romans 8, 7th, and iic sons, then heirs; whom God liveth he liveth unto the end he changeth not, if they violate his statues and disregard his righteous laws then he says he will visit their transgressions with the rod and their iniquities with stripes, but His loving Kindness he will not take from them nor suffer his faithfulness to fail.
     I am blessed with good health, but nor free from rheumatic pains. Few people have more reason to be thankful to the giver of all good than I have. My wants are well supplied. The their that was crucified with my Lord and Savior, whose soul is now in the realms of bliss, has not more reason to be thankful than I have. I thank the Lord that it is written in the Word of Truth that where sin abounds Grace superabounds.
     Remember me to all inquiring friends. My memory is so poor that I can hardly think on anything. Real estate is less trouble than money in attending to than (sic) money, every large amount of property in this state is not free from incumbrance when the records are examined; hence the necessity of an abstract to be sure the title of the property you mortgage is good.
     From your well wisher, both for time and Eternity,
     (siged) James Smith

     Please overlook all blunders and mistakes.²