Marion, Oregon
June 9, 1876
My Dear Sister,
Your long looked for and welcome letter of the 24th inst. rec'd today. I start next Monday in company with two of my best neighbors for a trip east of the mountains. We go from here to Portland then up the Columbia river to the Dalles, there cross the river and with a good team of horses to a spring wagon travel trough the Klickitat, Yakima, and Walla Walla valleys to the Palouse and Spokane counties and back on the opposite side of the river through the Umatilla, John Day, Ochoco and Cherry Creek Countries crossing the Cascade range of mountains close to Mt. Jefferson. I think now that if I like the country well enough to move, that this fall Nick and I will go out and spend the winter, leaving Dell and the children down here. We could live in a tent while we put up a cabin and build fences. Then as soon as we could put in a crop next spring, come down after Dell and the babies. I don't believe though that I will like the country. No we are not through with rains yet, it rains two or three days in every week and it is beginning to tell on our crops too. We are wanting more sunshine and warm weather. Did you read Col. Ike Moore's old settler letter in the "Commercial"? He is full of fun and jokes. Dell, Willie, Ella are all fat and hearty. Tell Clara P. to name him Tom.
We held our State and County elections last Monday. This county gave a rousing Republican majority. Well I have had a good dinner, custard pie, poached eggs etc. This fall, providence permitting, crops good, and prices for grain tolerable you shall have a look at Ella, Willie, Dell and your most obedient, I mean our "shadows" not ourselves. No such good luck as that I am afraid. There is a good artist in Albany and we expect to go up this fall and all of us have our "pichers tuk".
With lots of love from Dell and Tom to Lue, Ella, Willie and yourself, Mother, Charlie when you see them.
I've got to make a few more tent pins and fix one or two other things.
Your Ever Affct. Bro
T.R. Brown
Marion, Oregon Dec. 6, 1876
Dear Mother,
We have on hand and for use, 50 lbs. coffee, 110 lbs. sugar, 12 bsl. potatoes, 16 bsl. apples, 20 bsl. wheat (for flour) 12 gal. lard, 8 hams 8 shoulders, 6 sides, 10 or 15 lbs. sausage, 5 gal. coal oil, 1 keg sour krout, 1 keg soft soap, 15 cords wood, 3 doz. chickens, 2 pigs in pen, 2 good milk cows, with 2 tons of wheat hay for feed, dried fruit etc. Are we going to starve or not? We would gladly divide with you if we could, but we can't take it to you & you won't come to it so there's an end.
Tom Miller was at one time worth 75 or 80 thousand dollars and made it all selling stoves and tin ware at the Dalles, Eastern Oregon. We added three new books to our library lately, viz. "Hopes of Hope Castle", "Life of Hannah Moore", and "Bunyans Pilgrims Progress". More than all we each and all have and have been having good health.
I am trying now to get an appointment as clerk at the Yakima Indian Agency, with what success I will tell you in a week or so.
There is no lack of forests in this country and if I had a farm the value of the property in Danville, right here in this neighborhood, Charlie and I together could add $500 each year to its value in improvements. There is not a volcano in Oregon or Washington.
Yes, do write some of the bright side if there is any, and not always the dark.
Dell joins in much love to all, had a copy of the "News" from Sallie yesterday but no letter for several months.
Your Affct. Son,
Tom
Salem, Oregon July 26, 1877
Dear Mother,
Geo. Throop left here on his way East this morning, had a very successful school at Scio. He does not know where he will go, but talks Florida.
I am getting along nicely down here. Dell and the babies were well and hearty when I left them Monday morning. We have had no word from home for a long time.
Your Affct. Son,
T.R. Brown
Salem, Sept. 11, 1877
Dear Folks at Home,
Frank Probst was just in and starts for home in the morning. He can tell you more of Oregon than I could begin to write. We rec'd the pictures and frames from you Dear Sallie this a.m. but no photograph of Willie & Ella. I suppose you have sent them in a letter, they have not reached us yet.
I am doing first rate. Get a salary of $900. pr year and like the place. Would send some Oregon productions, but Frank does not know but what he may stop in San Francisco. Dell and the children are well. We will have their photographs taken this fall.
Much love to all
in much haste,
Tom
Salem Oregon
Oct. 21, 1877
My Dear Mother,
Last Thursday we followed our dear Mother Pickard to her last resting place, the grave. She was taken down last Friday morning a week ago and on Tuesday evening about 5 o'clock breathed her last. Inflammation of the bowels was the cause.
She has been a true friend and a good mother to me and I loved her dearly. It is a sad affliction to the family and leaves them in a bad fix. Eight children are left at home aged four up to 23 years. Ollie the oldest girl and Andrew the oldest boy were both on the eve of being married. They are going to try and keep the children together by keeping house at the old homestead.
Dell and the children are in tolerable health.
It has been many a long day since we have had any word from home.
Much love to all,
Yours with love,
T.R. Brown
IN MID 1877, TOM WENT TO WORK FOR R.M. WADE CO. IN SALEM, OREGON AND BECAME A PARTNER IN THE FIRM. HOWEVER, HE SOLD HIS INTEREST IN 1881 AND RELOCATED TO NEW TACOMA, WASH. TERRITORY, WHERE HE OPENED A BUSINESS IN STOVE AND TIN-WARE. THE POPULATION OF NEW TACOMA WAS ABOUT 1500.
Salem, Oregon
Feb. 16, 1878
My darling Sister and "Little" Niece,
Yours of Jany. 21st and 28th duly received as were also the pictures. I enjoy the latter "hugely" more especially "12 foot" for that is about the only one that looks perfectly natural. Ella or Nellie (I like Ella best) has changed a great deal in looks and is very pretty. Willie does not change a very great deal but is a real fine looking young man. I have not seen Bob Stewart for a long time (3 or 4 years). They live up in Linn Co. on a farm.
We get the "Commercial" once in a great while only. I wouldn't send it any more for I have subscribed for the "News" and Chicago "Post".
We have named No. 3 Clara (on general principles) Marion (for Dell's brother Francis Marion). How do you like the Name? It is the best baby in the world and is a good deal prettier then either of the others were at her age. Willie and Lue are always fat and hearty and so far have escaped the diptheria, we are giving them a preventive. Dell has had to have more teeth taken out and is in first rate health. Yes, Willie and Lue both know their letters on the blocks but can not say them in rotation. Yes we rec'd Lue's photo nor do I think that she has changed a very great deal.
We do not like living in Salem as well as in the country it costs so much more.
I have been appointed guardian for the four minor children and we may move back to Marion. I could go up every Saturday night and down Monday morning. No, Ollie married much against the wishes of all her friends and I fear has done poorly. I write you both together this time, for I don't have much time for letter writing and Dell doesn't really have any though she talks of answering your letters. She joins me in much love to each and every one.
Yours Affectionately,
T.R. Brown
July 6, 1878
My Dear Sister,
Yours at hand. We are all in the best of health. Had a glorious celebration here on the fourth. An eminence crowd and a good day. Splendid fire works and no accidents. Exciting Indian news are received here every day. They were calling for volunteers on the fourth and this morning a company leaves Albany for the scene or scenes of trouble. I have no particular desire to go. This is our very busiest season in the store and are doing a big business -our sales run to over $2000 a day now and then when we have luck to sell one or more threshers.
Love to each and all,
Your aff'ct. Bro.
Tom
Yes I do know Judge Lawson but he doesn't remember you. Says he taught school in Perryville once. He does the legal business for our house. Is of the Bob Cheely style only doesn't drink so much.
January 22, 1879
My Dear Father,
It is too bad that I don't write home oftener, but letter writing has got to be one of the very hardest of tasks. I have a good deal of work to do and my time is nearly all taken up but of course that is no excuse for not answering letters.
I am now a partner in the above business on these terms. Mr. Wade furnishes a capital of $40,000. in goods, cash and accounts. The firm consisting of four of us pay him 5/8 of one % pr. month int. on above capital, pay all rents, insurance, taxes, and each to receive one fourth of the profits. We done a business of nearly $100,000. last year and expect to do as well or better this. No partner can draw to exceed $50 pr. month, and with rents and everything else so high I will have to economize to get through.
Dell and the children are all well. Baby Clara is learning to walk. Willie can spell in words of two or three letters.
Love to Geo. and family
Your Affc't. Son,
T.R. Brown
Salem, Oregon
Nov. 25, 1880
Dear Father,
Your A-1 letter of the 10th inst. rec'd. yesterday.
We will close the store at noon, and at 3 o'clock two of my partners, our tinner and one of Dell's brothers eat turkey with us. It will be good I know (cost $2.25) and Dell is a splendid hand to fix em up. I too wish ever so much that instead of the above it could be you and mother that could sit down with us.
I attended the funeral of Dell's Grandmother yesterday, she was quite old (80) but died of heart disease. Dell herself has been having neuralgia and rheumatism and was unable to go out but is getting better all the time. The enclosed strip is by G.W. Lawson an old school teacher of Sallies and a relative of the Moffats and Chusmans of Perryville. He does all of our legal business. By this time I suppose you have our photographs pr. express. You might send George one of each if you will for I don't know his address.
We have had a very fair trade this year and will make some money.
The children are fat and healthy. Oregon is all right for Garfield as you see. It was that forged Morey letter that gave Nevada & California the Hancock. Our county gave Garfield nearly 700 majority, so you see I live in a civilized country.
Much love to each and all
Your Affc't Son
T.R. Brown
Salem, Oregon
January 18, 1881
Dear Father and Mother,
I have sold out my business and am going to leave the Willamette Valley. It was our intention to pay you a visit and then return to southern Oregon, but we have abandoned that idea because of so much expense before we could get started. For nearly a month I have had to pay a doctor daily visits, have had to pay a competent woman $1.00 pr. day in the house, big drug bills. For the last few days we have been boarding Willie and Lue at a friends three miles out in the country at $5.00 pr. week and Dell, Clara and I are boarding at a neighbors and rooming at home. It is our intention now to take a trip to California and should have been on the Steamer leaving Portland this morning, but the floods have closed all communication between Portland and Salem. We will make an effort to get on the steamer leaving Sunday morning, the 23rd, failing in that the chances are we will give up that trip and I would like so much to give Dell a little travel for I know that it would do her lots of good.
I hated very much to give up my business, for it paid me real well, but I became firmly convinced that I either had to get Dell in a drier climate or lose her, and I wouldn't do that for all the Hardware Stores in the United States. At one time she nor I thought she could live until spring, that was my haste in selling out and trying to leave, but thanks to a good Doctor and a kind Providence she has been improving right along until last night she had another bad night, and just before commencing this the Doctor was here and we gave her a dose of Chloral Hydrate and now she is sleeping nicely. Clara is here with me and is just now asking for something to eat. She is a great pet with everybody that comes, says she is Ma-ma's baby and Pa-pa's good girl and that ma-ma is Pa-pa's baby.
Our neighbors have been ever so good in this our time of trouble. And we do not lack for anything. The lady we are boarding with is a Mrs. Wright an old and intimate friend of the Giddings family. Cross was her name and they used to live south of Danville long years ago.
I do not know what I am going to do in the way of business, or where we will locate. I think now that if we go to San Francisco I will talk with the wholesale dealer there and if they know of a good business location where it does not require very much capital I may go into the Hardware business again, or at any rate Stove and Tinware. If not we may buy a little farm some place. I left our firm on the best of terms, and the good wishes of all. Mr. Wade the Senior Member has written me a letter to the principal San Francisco house and I know that he has confidence in my ability and integrity and they each and all expressed their regrets at having to part with me. And on my part I have found them good square men.
If we go to California I will make every effort to learn the fate of poor John. I know the shop he worked in 8 or 9 years ago and there maybe some one who knew him.
If Dell were awake she would join me in love to all. Tell Ella the children rec'd her cards and send love and thanks.
Direct letters here for we will return in four or five weeks.
Your affectionate Son,
T.R. Brown
Salem Oregon
Febry. 9, 1881
Dear Father,
Yours of Jany 19th at hand. We returned day before yesterday from the Puget Sound Country. I bought a Stove and Tin stock at New Tacoma the probable terminus of the N.P.R.R.
Dell's health is not improved any, but I hope that a salt water atmosphere and a country where there is less rain will be beneficial. We will move in about one month.
Children all well.
Love to all,
Your Affct. Son
T.R. Brown