76-05-09 West Union Norton County, Kansas  May 9th 1876  from Heplers to 
Thenia & Ninian Beall

Dear Bother & Sister         
I avail my self of this op to write you afew lines to Inform you that we are 
Still in the land of the Living.   we are all in good health & Spirits.  we 
have Moved to Kansas.  We arrived here on the 22 day of March all safe and our 
Goods all right.  we had very good luck.  it cost us a good ?deal.  Jake came 
out by land  & Brout out 3 head of horses & Waggon & got some time before we 
did.  we are all well pleased So fare with the Country.  the land here is 
Extra Good.  water fine.  we are living on the North Soleomen River.  The 
creek runs the year round.  we have a good water mill within five miles of us. 
 timber is scare.  plenty for firewood &  some saw timber.  I now own one half 
Section of land.  and first & Second Botton land as fine as you Ever Saw.   I 
bout my claim.  it cost me four Hundred & fifty Dollars.  Jake has taken one 
Hundred & 60 Acres adjoining mine & is well pleased.  I can Buy Evy thing here 
that I wish.  heavy articles are Some higher here than in Missouri.  I have 
bout one Milch Cow for 28$ also one yoke of Oxen for 85$.  The place that I 
bout has 70 Acres in Cultivation & amake Shift of a barn.  we have a Stalk law 
here & do not fence our land in less we want a pasture.  I got twenty Acres of 
Ry on the place & it looks well.  we are having fine weather rather cool.  we 
are trying to make a crop.  I have planted 35 acres of corn.  Jake has Broke & 
planted ten acres.  we will run the Piarie teams & put in all the Sod Corn we 
can.  Grass is plenty for Stalk.  there was herds of Cattle wintered out here 
that never Eat only what they Got on the range.  Our Grass is what they call 
Buffalone it is a very fine Grass & very Rich.  we have what they Call Blue 
Stem, a large corn grass fine for hay that grew on the Bottom land.  you can 
get water by Digging all over this Country.  I think this as fine a Stalk 
Country as there is in the west.  more especially for Sheepe.  the County is 
only Settled on the Creek but if we raise a good crop this year there will be 
a tremendous Emigration this fall & next Spring as the land is all good.  
there is 3 grades of Land here.  the Bottom next to the Creek & Second Bottom 
whose fate above the first then the up land some what Broken  & lays higher.  
Some fine land.  I have sowed 3 acres of Spring wheat also 4 Acres of Millot. 
 We have our Garden planted.  Some things up & looks well.  I want you to 
write & give me all the news.  how you are Doing & what you are Doing about 
that Law suit.  let us know how mother is  & how her health has bin this 
winter.  We are anxious to hear from her & from you all.
You will Direct your letter from the head of this letter.  it will come all 
right.  May was & has bin vry on Easy about Mother but in our Situation we 
could not come to see her which we was anxious to of Done.  Write as Soon as 
you get this.  I will write more when I hear from you. give our love to all. 
Jos & May Hepler?  to N  Beall M Beall