Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Keith H. Fisher
(khf@sos.net) 

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Letter from Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Fisher to Silas "Sile" Monroe
Fisher. 

Background information: 

In 1864 Joseph Snare Fisher [son of John C. Fisher] moved with his
family from Newberg, Huntingdon Co to Stark Co, IL. According to Silas,
his eldest son who was 11 at the time, they traveled with a party of
Shoemakers, Snares, Crums and Kissingers, all from Huntingdon Co, PA.
Silas related to his daughter, Eula Fisher, that they took the
Pennsylvania Railroad from Huntingdon to Pittsburg, then by steamboat
they went down the Ohio River to Cairo, IL. They then went up the
Mississippi to Hannibal, MO, then further north to Hamilton, IL where
they stayed a few weeks. They then traveled overland by wagon northeast
to Stark Co, IL where they founded the town of Snareville. In the spring
of 1867, because land prices in Illinois were too high, Joseph S. Fisher
and his family moved by wagon to Creighton, Cass Co, MO. In late summer
they moved a few miles north to Madison Twp, Johnson Co, MO. By August
1870 they were in Holden, Chilhowie Twp, Johnson Co, MO, isolated from
the family and l ives they had left in Huntingdon Co, PA and Stark Co,
IL. 

Below is a letter from Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Fisher [son of John
Adam Fisher] of Coffee Run, Huntingdon Co to his cousin, Silas "Sile"
Monroe Fisher [son of Joseph Snare Fisher], of Holden, Johnson Co, MO.
Benjamin was 17 and Silas 19 years of age at the time the letter was
written. It is transcribed exactly as written. 

In an envelope 2-1/4" by 5" 

"Mr. Silas M. Fisher Holden PO Johnson County Missouri 

Coffee Run, December 11th 1870 

Dear Cousin Sile, 

I seat my self to drop you a few lines to let you know that weare all
well and hoping theas few lines may find you in the same state of helth.
Well Sile Ive beginning to think that you have forgoting all a bout me
this is 4 or 5 letters that I have wrote this summer and the last leter
that I hav got From you was in June the 28 1870. I was reading it this
morning and Whilst I was reading your leter I thot of the times that we
youst to had over in the ridges. I was out at grannies [Mary Ann Snare
Fisher, wife of John C. Fisher] last weeak chopping her som wood. She is
as well as usual. Kate [Catherine, daughter of John Adam Fisher] is goin
to live with grany this winter and anmyrya [?] is stay ing with uncle
Jack [Andrew Jackson Fisher] this winter. There is a big meating inn the
little vally and thair is one come mencing at new burg to night. Well
sile I want you to tell jane [Nancy Jane Fisher daughter of Joseph Snare
Fisher] that I want her to write. I havent got any letters from her this
summe. I wrote the last time to her we are going to butcher next
thursday we have only four hogs to kill. It is trying to snow a little.
Well I must go and eat my supper and get ready and go to preaching. Well
Sile I forgot to tell you that Cousin John [John Wesley, son of
Christian Fisher and Catherine Fisher] and david henry [brother of John
Wesley] over here to day and we had some Jolly old times together and
they are Just going home. 

Well I must Write fast For it is night and I hav all the feeding to do
if it snows anough till morning I am going out hunting to Mar row. Well
Sile I want you to tell me how mutch corn yours had this fol and Wheat
and Wry and oats and Barley and Buck Wheat and how many of potatoes. We
had a Bout 500 busles of corn and a bout 60 busheles of Wheat and a 150
bushels of rye and 25 Bushles of oats and 20 Bushles of Buck Wheat and
nearly 100 Bushles of potatoes. I beleav that is all. Well Sile if you
send me your photygraph I Will send you my pictur. Well Sile tell me how
big Scott [Reuben Scott Fisher] is and wher he runns the girls it and
Who goes to se Jane and how Big Clate [Harold Clayton Fisher] is. Well I
must Bring my letter to close for it is getin dark ansur this as soon as
this comes to hand for I long to hear From you. That is all at this
time. 

Benjamine Frankline Fisher"