68-12-31 Buckeye  Yolo County Cal Dec 31st 1868 to A & E Damrell from LF & R 
Canterbury                         

Dear Father & Mother              
Your Letter dated Nov 24 came to hand a few days past and found us all well, 
but Amor.  She has been quite sick for a Little over a weeke.  She is confined 
to her bed but is some better now.  is able to sit up some. it is her old com-
plaint.  We moved here about the 10th of Oct and her health has been better 
since(up to the time she took sick) then it has been for many years.  I think 
she overdone herself when we kill'd Hogs and now I will tell you something 
about where we are and what we are doing. I have Rented a Place about 14 miles 
North of where we Lived Last summer & about six miles S.W. from Buckeye and 
about the same distance from John Nortons.  We have about 50 acres of grain 
land and about sixty Acres more to sow.  We are Plowing evry day and sowing as 
fast as possible.  I think we can get done sowing in two weeks then we aim to 
summer Fallow 100 or 150 Acres more. The grain that we have sown is up & 
growing nice. The grass is also up and stock doing well. The place I have 
rented I can get for several years. it is close to a school house. when we 
have Preaching every two weeks(south Methodist) we have a good neighborhood 
and healthy.  we are contented and happy now while I write.  Ony & Ally are 
sitting by me.  both playing on their Juice Harps.  Now Grand Ma while you 
have bitter cold weather there we have the most beautiful spring weather here, 
neither cold or hot.  I calculated to plant some garden next week.  I bought 2 
more milk cows Last Fall for which I paid 130 dolars.  We now milk 3 cows and 
sell from 8 to 10 lbs per week get 50 cts per lb.  we don't feed our cows 
anything.  I have a grain header & three Feeder wagons of my own and if we 
make any grain it will not cost us much to save it.  we can cut and stack 
about 20 acres per day.  I have been working away from home most of the time 
since we moved here.  I have made about 150 dollars at work.  I can build a 
house, stock a plow single, double, or tripple. stock a cultivation, make a 
wagon, or Buggy, paint etc now don't you think that does pretty well for an 
Old man to Learn.  yes I say an old man for I feel the wait of years coupling 
upon me.  Augustus still Lives with us although he is of Age.  I give him part 
of the crop.  I expect to work away from home most of the time in a wagon shop 
about 3 miles from home.  The man's name that I am at work for is John Abbey 
who Learned his trade in Florida (Black Smith) with Buck Hammon.  he is well 
acquainted with Sam Cason.  John Norton has done well this year.  He raised 
about 3,500 dollars worth of Grain.  he has paid for his Land in fact. has 
paid every dollar he owes and built him a good Barn.  we Look for him and 
Eliza here to knight.  I got a Letter not Long since from Cyntha Ann.  they 
have moved back to the Valley.  their Post Office is Lafayette Yamhill County 
Oregon.  Ben Damrell is East of the Casche Mountains but she did not tell me 
his Post Office.  I think Robt Henderson will yet come to California.  Now 
Grand Ma we ware vary glad indeed to get yours & Grand Pa's Pictures.  The 
glass on yours was broke but we can get another put on.  we prize them vary 
highly.  And now Grand Pa & Ma we are not striving alone for Dollars & cents 
but to get to the Good County just across the River, we realize that our work 
will soon be done on this side, when we hope we will be permitted to Pass over 
and Bloom Anew on the other side.  Oh Blessed Hope.  We expect to meet you in 
that Beatiful Country Amen.
give our Respects to John's and Samuel Cason's folks, and the other friends 
that are there, though it seems as though we have no friends there as they 
never write to us.  I will direct this Letter to Hartford, judging from what 
you said, you are at John Casons.  write as often as you can.  Direct to 
Buckeye Yolo County Cal.  no more at presant.  Farewell  L.F Canterbury R. 
Canterburry  to A. & E. Damrell