Letter written by Lewis Kob

KOB, ELLENBARGER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 8/27/2019 at 08:03:34

From: Emily Ehler
The note from Pat Welch about our ancestors coming to Iowa brought this letter to mind.
It was written by my g-g-grandfather Lewis Kob for his father Phillip to a friend "back home in Indiana". Lewis and Anna were married in March, 1857 and left for Iowa accompanied by his father Phillip and step-mother Barbra. Phillip died in Jan. of 1858.

July 5, 1857
Center Twp. Decatur Co.

Mr. Jacob Ellenbarger
Respective Friend;
It is with great pleasure that I this morning take up my pen to write you a few lines. Received your kind and ever welcome letter yesterday, directed to father. Containing a few lines from J.C. Lutz and a few words addressed to me requesting me to write to you soon. Just one week after we wrote our other letter father went to Leon again and got your letter containing the receipt alright but had so much to do we have not went after our goods yet, but expect to to or send for them before long. You stated that you had very wet in there, and I suppose you had mud hub deep there again. We had some rain while we were on the way, and mud "belly deep" in some places in the great state of Illinois. And I had to buy another yoke of cattle there. But since we have been here we had still now and then a rain, and cool weather until the 20th of June but no mud. Since then a pleasant showere of rain , and the finest growing weather, corn is just a shooting up, wheat looks well and the prospect at present is good for a good crop of all kinds, of vegetation. Father has bought 20 acres of land, ten acres of prairie and ten of timber all in one piece about one-fourth mile from GOODMAN'S. We payed $188.00 for the whole. He was very glad to hear from you and would better like to see you here, and is very thankful for what you have done for him, he says that I shall tell you that we not only met, or found, the paradise of Iowa here, but the paradise of the world. And I believe he is right for on all my journey I did not see any place that I liked so well as I do right here. It is the most beautiful place that ever I saw. The lily is in full bloom on the prairie and other flowers at its side, and nature "dae"(Dutch) display her varied sweets in the full sense of the word. Now I must tell you something concerning myself and wife, or this sheet will be full before I get half through. Well! we are living in a two story cabin only the stories are side by side, and about a half-quarter mile from GOODMAN'S and we enjoy ourselves very well in the old log cabin. We have bought 85 aacres of land, 40 smooth prairie, 25 of brush prairie and twenty of good timber, all joining with stock water on it all year except in extra dry seasons. Altogether it will cost us $520.00 We traded our two yoke of cattle and colt toward it at $290.00 there is $80.00 of school money on it that is to be paid in several years. We have our wagon yet and if we can sell it to advantage we can make up the balance until it come due provided we keep well and luck be good, and it will make us a nice home some day if we live. Every bit of the land is as rich as the "White River Bottoms". I suppose we will not get much done on it for a year or two as we will have to try and make the raise of a team again first. I expect to farm some for GOODMAN next season. MY land lies one mile from GOODMAN'S on what is called "Lap-dog Prairie", we have been here one month and I have made some twenty dollars in that time. To Silas and Jemima we would say "marry" as soon as you can suit yourselves, and roll for Iowa. Jemima, Anna says if you will marry and come right along she will lend you one story of the old cabin so that you and her will be close neighbors, but you may think Lewis and Anna have gone out of the world by going to Iowa, but I tell you you miss it, for two weeks ago there was meeting at C. HEASTON about one-eleventh of a mile from here and there was as many people there as ever I saw at a "cornin meeting" (doubtless a husking bee) on Turkey Hill. A word to Amos, Ephraim and the little girls I can't sent candy in a letter or I certainly would send you a stick of our Iowa Candy. Our best respects to Mary and Henry and all inquiring friends.

No more, but remain yours with respect, and in friendship.
Signed Lewis M. Kob Direct to Leon

P.S. I have planted some two acres of sod corn and it looks well, and I have sowed some four acres of buckwheat.