67-09-22   Buckeye  Yolo County  California  September 22nd 1867 to A & E 
Damrell from Eliza E. Norton

Dear Grand Father & Grand Mother    I received your letter today.  it found us 
all tolerable well.  John & his mother has bin sicke but is better now.  Oh! 
Grand Ma you  dont know how glad I was to here from you.  that you was alive 
and well as could be expected for one of your years.  There has bin many that 
have sickened and died and gone the way of all the earth in the last four 
years.  Rubin Strahams oldest Daughter is Dead.  Well I must tell you how much 
wheat and barley we raised tis year.  John done all the plowing and harrowing 
him self.  we had 12,00 bushels of wheat. 700 bushels of barley.  we have 
bought 160 acres of land paid $15.50 for it we will move the first week in Oct 
it is about 8 miles from where we live now  we live about 20 miles from 
Sacrament City  wheat is woth $40 per ton.  Barley is worth $30 per tone  eggs 
is worth 50 cts per dozen cattle is vary high here  cows 45 and 50 dillars  we 
bought 4 head of cattle one cow two two year old heifers and one yearland and 
paid 110 dollars for them.  I got a letter from Pa two weeks ago they was all 
well. I have bin vary busiy the last two weeks drying and canning fruit, 
making perserves and so on.  I wish you could have a mess of peaches with me. 
 we have had such nice ones.  they are most all gone now.  I would like to see 
you.  Words could not express the Joy it would be. it has bin about one year 
since I have seen ma and Pa.  It so long ago.  Pa talks of coming to 
California to live.  I must say something about my sweet little boy.  He is 20 
months old.  He is learning to talk.  he is so much company for me.  when you 
write tell me if Mary Damerell is at home with her Pa.  in your next letter 
till me who lives on Pa's old place on spring creek.  Well Grand Ma I thought 
after I left Missouri away on the plain I would give anything to be back to my 
old home but now I think the other way.  Money would not hier me to live in Mo 
we can live so much easier here and so much better though I would like to come 
on a visit to see you all but dont know when that will be.  Mother Norton 
sends her best love and respects to you and Grand Pa and says she would like 
to see you.  Tell me when you write if you ever heard how Uncle Frank 
Canterbury got killed and how his family is geting along.
I wish I could send you some grapes and figs that grows in this County.  it 
would do you good to eat some.  I believe I have told you all that is new and 
maybe more to.  you must excuse this poorly written scrap as I have a baby to 
bother me.  You must write as often as you can and be assured I will. Remember 
us far away amany a mile  good by   Eliza E. Norton