Meade County, KY - Letter - Jehu Brandenburg to son Submitted by Virginia Finley All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Harrison County, Indiana; Jehu Brandenburg wrote this advise to his son: Mauchport, Indiana December 4th, 1858 I have concluded to wright you a few lines to inform you that we are all in reasonable health at this time through the goodness of God and hope that His mercy and preservertive care is over you in that far off country. I have been somewhat uneasy about you since I understood that you had tied up at that place and I would advise you to be very careful how you speak and transact business, think twice before you speak once, give no offense to no one, deal carefully and honourably with all and be on your guard for you don’t know who you are amongst, only that you are amongst strangers. I had a letter that you sent William Thornberry last night and was glad to hear from you. I would have wrote you but I did not. Suppose you would have stayed long enough at my place to have gotten this letter. We have had it very cloudy and wet time for some five weeks. I got done gathering corn day before yesterday and it was damaged considerably and needs shucking out. I will have to hire it shucked if I can, but I could not hire any help to gather. James Anderson is with Reader in the boat and are now lying in Leavenworth taking in port. I suppose they will start in a few days. James Reader told me this morning to wright to you that if you can close out the load at that place to come home and not wate for the other boat for it is uncertain whether they will go that far or if they do it will be uncertain how long before they get there. Their load consists of port, flour and lime and perhaps some other articles. They are paying 5 cents per pound for pork, perhaps 6 for very heavy. I think corn will bring 50 cents in this county before spring. I think Bill Thornbury started a letter to you yesterday, and I expect give you all the particulars, so I believe I can’t think of anything more interesting to write, only I wish you to remember that the same God sees the action of men in that country that does in this and you should reverence and serve Him and pray for His mercy and protective care over you. May the Lord bless and keep you under the hollow of his hand is the sincere prayer of your father. I wish you to write as soon as you get these lines and let me know how you are getting along and when you expect to get home. I wish you to keep my money and bring it with you if you should stay till the other boys come as I am out and need it. No more, but remain, Yours, Jehu Brandenburg In 1846 more than 2,000 flatboats sailed down the river to New Orleans. But by the 1860 they had all but disappeared.