78-01-21  Winters,  Yolo Co  Cal Jan 21 1878  from L.F. Canterbury to E 
Damrell

Dear Mother            
After comeing home from Sabbath School I thought it would be doing a good Deed 
to write to my dear old mother.  I received your Letter some time Since which 
should have ben answered before now but hope you will pardon me and now Grand 
Ma I hardly know what to write. In the first place I will say that I am much 
obliged for your Long Letter etc etc.  Your information about friends and 
things their and now I will tell you about my Family and things in general 
here.  1st I own about 4 Acres of Land in Winters worth about $500 per Acre 
and have 3 houses on it.  two of them I Rent at ten Dollars per month Each and 
the other we live in, beside myself and an other man, are Nenning, a Black 
Smith & wagon shop together.  he does the Black Smith work & I the wood work. 
 we have only been started 2 months but I think we will do well.  we have 3 
churches in this Town and we can go to Church every Sunday if we choose.  I am 
Superintendent of the Sabbath School in our church, and injoy it verry much, 
will, through Fall and up to the 14th of Jan it had been so dry that 
everything betokened a drouth.  things looked vary discouraging but on the 
14th of Jan the Rain came, and has Rained more or less every few days since we 
have had verry high waters and it is Raining, and crops are ensured beyond a 
doubt, had it continued dry, myself Bud and Andrew was going to Texas in the 
Spring.  Bud & Andrew wants to go to Texas and I was going to help them hunt a 
location.  I think they will go next Fall and I with them.  if so we will come 
by and see you.  Bud has money enough to give them both a good start.  Bud's 
health is good but his mind is no better,  they all came home from Humbolt 
Last fall.  Andrew weighs 180 lbs.  Milty is tall but slender.  My children 
are all well.  Bud is at John Nortons the other boys are at work.  I think 
Eliza will visit you next summer.  Old Uncle Jack Norton's health is poor and 
I don't think will live long.  My own health is verry good.  I weight about 
190 lbs.  My wife's health has been very poor for some time but is better now. 
 she had a misscarriage about a month ago, lost twins.  She will write some to 
you.  this leaves us all well, give my Love to all the friends there and many 
good wishes to Grand Ma, no more your son. L. F. Canterbury.