64-03-03 Vacaville Solano Co CAL  March 3 1864 from L. F. Canterberry and 
Ruhamah Canterberry to A & E Damrell

Dear Father and mother
Your welcome letter of Jan 11 etc,etc, and mailed the 28th came to hand day 
before yesterday.  And be assured it did not come before it was anxiously 
looked for.  there is so few of our friends there that seem to think it worth 
while to write to us, that our letters are few and far between.  I think that 
I have written at least 30 letters to different persons in that country and 
have Received but few in Return.  You & Lizze are the only persons that have 
written to us promptly,  In fact, we have had but one other letter, and that 
was from Sarah Rouse and in the future I shall only write to those who write 
to me.  but enough of this, well Grandma, I have been anxious to write to you 
for some time, but have waited for Amor to get well but still she is sick, she 
has been confined to her bed for over 6 weeks, and still she is unable to get 
up without help.  She is considerable better then she has been but still she 
lacks a heap of being well.  I think she will get up after awhile, but I do 
not expect her to have good health soon if ever.  She was first taken with 
falling of the womb and other complaints conbind.  She had been so reduced in 
crosssing the Plains, that it seems almost impossible to get well.  Now 
Gandma, you will see that I have a  ?  hard or a heavy? Dcotor Bill, the loss 
of time etc, etc, and having just come to the country, make it harder still, 
but again, from presant appearances, we will make no crop.  Such a drought as 
never been known in this country.  every person is out of heart and unless it 
rains soon, the thing is explained, there is likely wheat enough in the 
country to make bread, and some Barley to feed, but where the seed is to come 
from is another thing & then it does seem to me that the cattle & young horses 
must die.  The grass has now began to die and the wind almost constantly from 
the north and it neaver rains with the wind in that Quarter.  in a word I have 
neaver saw so gloomy a picture in my life, and what the people is to do, I 
cannot see.  Well, I have been looking ou with no little interest and have now 
resolved to make one desperet effort to get away.  I sold my crop bfore the 
prospect became quite so bad.  I got paid back what I was out and about one 
half what my work was worth and consider myself in luck at that and I 
calculate to start to Origon about the first of April, provided Amor is able 
to travel.  in a word I am determed to find a better Country then this or I 
will get come back to Missouri if I live.  This Country is "Plaid out" and 
people will find it out after awhile.  The mines in the Mountains East of her, 
is vary sick but I don't want to live among such a class of people as is there 
with my family and then again if I was to go to the mines and make money and 
was then to get sick my money would soon all be gone and so I am not willing 
to risk it.  I learn that they have a good prospect in Origon for crops.  From 
what I can learn of Origon, it is a much better place for a poor man then Cal 
there they have plenty of timber, good water, and better range for stock then 
in this Country.  The people here are more in debt than any people I have ever 
saw. and yet they drive away, and make a big show but still they are in debt 
and are likely to remain so for some time to come.  At this time stock is not 
worth as much here as it is there.  Every boddy wants to sell and but few 
wants to by.
I don't know whether or not, John Norton and Eliza, will go with us to Origon 
and if they do not, it will be hard trial for us, but we will have it to bare. 
 His people, all, persuade him not to go, and what he will do, I cannot tell. 
 There is none of the Nortons satisfyd and yet they seems to be under some 
kind of a stupor, waiting for something to turn up.  Now it my be possible 
that I cannot get off to Origon by the 1st of April but if Amor's health will 
admit, I will be off by  that time or before because if it don't rain the 
grass will all be dead here before that time and I will be compiled to hunt 
grass for my stock.  This Country is considerably excited in view of the 
draft, and from what I learn whenever it begins, I think there will be trouble 
here, It does not trouble me because I am clean.  When you write to me again 
direct your letter to Starns Point, Binton County Origon.  don't be afraid 
that I can't read your letters, I can read them right along.  Tell Bother 
Frank that he is the last man that I thought would have neglected to have 
written to me and that there is no person in that country that I was more 
anxious to hear from, pleas give them my love now Grand Ma, I will write again 
before we leave here, and let you know how Amor gets along, etc.  Give our 
friends there our Respects.  Now I hope you take care of yourselves as best 
you can and don't expose yourselves in the evening.  Amor is better than she 
has been yet.  Seems quite smart, we are pleased with your long letters, but 
don't wary yourself to much in writing, but write as often as you can.  No 
more at presant but Remains you Effectionate children till Death. L. F. & R. 
Canterbury

P.S. it is about 530 miles to where we will go in Origon, wich takes us about 
one month to go there.