65-06-25 to A & E Damrell from L.& R Canterbury  Benton County Oregon         
 June 25 1865  

Dear Father and Mother
I seat myself this morning to Answer your vary welcome letter written in 
Aprile telling us of your health, wherebouts & etc.  Vary glad to hear from 
you once more.  Well it has been some 3 weeks Since your letter came to hand. 
 I would have written sooner but just had not time.  had to work during the 
week and to church on Sunday.  I over worked myself and for the last few days 
have not been very well and so have time to write,  Augustus & myself was 
scoming & hewing timbers & making about 4$ per day.  crops will be short in 
this country this year not more then 1/2 crops, if that for our own part we 
will make nothing or next thing to it except hay.  of that we will have some 
to sell.  this will make 3 years that we have made no crop.  I tell you it is 
pretty hard, but still we will try to stem the cu_______, defeated, but not 
dishartened, we'll try again.  We have had a very cold dry Spring here. and 
hence, our short crops. There is just as many draw backs in Farming here as 
there.  We have ben getting along vary well, considering everything.  We still 
 have plenty to eat and wear and are paying nearly ever as we go.  There is a 
great many things connected with country.  What I dislike vary much, viz, the 
rainy winters, the scearsity of grass, too much poor land, too much Fern (a 
kind of weed), too many big mountains, too much Rheumatism, too much 
cosumption etc etc.  Yet has many good things attached to it, not nessary to 
name now, but all things considered, I think that, much the best country and 
if there was any show for justice or any chance for an honest man there, as 
there once was, I would rather be there as here, but while Religious, Bigotry 
and wild fanatacism and Abolition hate Rules,  I Pray, to be delivered from 
such a Country, Yea Rather, let me, live in the deep Recesses of the Paciffic 
Mountains, and find my Last resting place in a Cave from whence I might go up 
in peace, to possess the heavenly Canaan, our Church had a vary interesting 
Camp Meeting, about 2 weeks back within about 4 miles of us had quite a 
Revival.  Several assessions to the Church.  Eliza and Julia among the number. 
 Julia made a profession of Religion.  Brother Seans was there and several 
other Mo. Preachers.  Times are good here.  Everything bared a good price.  
Wages from  1,00 to 2,00 per day.
Eggs 20 cts for doz, butter 30 cts per lb, wheat 1.25 per bu, cows and calves 
$20.  Other things in proportion.  We have sold since January Last $46 & 50  
cents worth of Eggs and have over 130 young cickens.  We have also sold since 
the last of April $44.65 cents worth of butter.  We milk 5 cows, and use all 
the butter we want.  Amor was taken down sick a few days back with her old 
complaint.  Was taken vary suddenly and vary violent. I sent to Corvallis 15 
miles for Brother Milton to come and see her, he stayed with us night before 
Last.  She is better and quite comfortable now though still in bed.  I hear 
from our old acquaintance here once in a while.  Wm Henderson & DC Taylor was 
here not long since.  I get letters Regular from Cyntia Amis.  Brother Washs 
folks R. S. Strahans & John Nortons folks tolerable well, I forgot to tell you 
what a fine garden we have.  I think we have the best Garden in the County, we 
also have a fine prospect for fruit, we still have 2 or 3 bushels of green 
apples of Last years crop, and now Father & Mother let us say to you, that we 
realize as well as you that we are tending steadly, but surely to the tomb, 
but while we are assured of this, we are also assured, that our Spirits are 
tending upwards, and be assured the this, that while the boddy Suffers pain, 
the inward man has peace and think I Realize the nears I get to the Grave, the 
less terror it has for me, let "lift up our hearts, for the day of our 
Redetion draws near,"  Will you meet us in that better Land? for by the Grace 
of God, we intend neaver to "give up the Ship"  Grand Ma as I have about 1/2 
doz letters to write this is all I can write to you now.  No more. may God 
Bless you both.  Farewell   L. F. Canterbury  R. Canterbury  to A &Elizabeth 
Damrell