2026 
                                                   Siloam, 1st May 1852 
Dear Sister 
 
 I duly received yours of the 23rd Feby and 18th April by which I am glad 
to hear you are well altho from the few and far between letters I receive 
from you you must be much engaged and by your February one you must be 
south I think as far as Washington if the thermometer has not been lower 
than what you said.  Altho it is said there has been more snow all around 
than here yet the cold has been more than for a long time past.  Hay is not 
much dearer now than in the beginning of winter.  My mistake about my sheep 
was that I did not sell more of them in the fall.  Having two many of them 
together they do not do well and I have lost more than I am willing any body 
should know and if in other places sheep is in such bad condition there will 
be a great deficiencie in wool crop.  I have also lost $161 by Alex McGregor 
who has failed and no prospect of anything from him.  The Mortgagees has 
seized all his real property and is to be sold by the Sherriff on the 4th of 
this month and I supose is as bad an affair as the McKenzies.  I thought to 
have sold my wool this spring but I hear there is little demand.  I was only 
offered 3/- a lb for it and last year I was offered 43 Cts so with one think 
and another I consider I am three hundred dollars worse than last fall and 
bodily and mentally the last winter and spring is the hardest time I have 
had since I came to America.  I had a long letter from Samuel of date 19th 
Jany last when he and family and friends there were in their ordinary health. 
The Gardiner was obliged to licence the Queens Gardens owing to bad health 
and return home and altho still there he was better.  It was Johns Child 
Jenette the one next the youngest that got a little scalded in the face but 
is now well and has left no great mark of any.  I should like you to have 
seen Samuels letter.  He gives number and ages of his family 5 girls and 7 
boys and all at home except the lame boy Archibald (who does not use a 
crutch) who is with his mothers friends the McEwens at Stirling and John who 
is in Crieff with the Clothier he learned with as a young man.  His farm is 
160 acres arable land and holds 900 sheep and he got a foreference(?) of œ40 
and 5 percent of discount on his rent last year.  Farms that were all grain 
got 10 percent.  Of his friend McCallum that turned him out of Glen T. he 
says he is a Drunkard and a Goose.  I should be glad to see you out this 
summer and if you come it would be as pleasant now as any time but if you do 
not come or do not come soon I wish you to send me a map of Virginia in 
Counties.  I will also soon need a cork sole.  It answers very well.  The 
last you sent by 2 thin but soft pieces about a foot long the width of a 
sole.  I have scarcely room to say about J. Anderson that Farming in general 
in America is now a great deal more encouraging than when I wrote him.  It 
would be quite incessance(?) for me to write him as if he gets that situation 
he will not come anyhow and if does not you say he will come to A..  I have 
litle doubt that he will have money sufficient to buy my farm which would 
amount to about 2000 dollars, 400 of that is away to the State and is not 
called for as long as the interest is paid and is only 6 percent payable 
every 2 years.  This would leave about 1600 dollars a third of that sum which 
is as little as is commonly paid down and come to between 500 or 600 dollars 
but should he come send him forward.  There is no want of farms but in a man 
that knows nothing of farming there is some other difficulty altho this may 
be overcome. 
  I remain 
  Your Loving Brother 
    Henry Campbell 
__________________________________________________________________ 
2027 
                                                     Siloam, 9th Octr 1852 
Dear Sister 
 
 I duly received your 2 letters of 15th and 30th September by which I have 
been happy to hear your safe arrival at your old stand and so quickly in 
the last part of it.  I am much obliged by the attention you have given to 
my complaints but you have not said anything about Duncan in regard to his 
health or comfort.  I question if he is so comfortably situated as I am 
altho farther from Company.  The Boy left me about a month ago.  Possibly 
Alex Anderson had not a great deal of religion to throw aside.  If he had I 
do not see but he might use it there as well as any other place.  James 
Anderson called here on 1 October along with a Mr Grahame and did not stay 
above 2 hours.  I told him my price and terms and he seemed well pleased 
with the house and farm and says he is not going back again any how and my 
impression was that he would write for his family forthwith.  I offered to 
give up the whole house and farm now or at spring term.  The prospects of 
farming is good.  I believe the wool growers will get 50 cts a lb for their 
wool at their doors next clip.  Thompson Beach got 800 dollars for his hopes 
and sold them at 20 cts a lb this season already.  The dearness of hay and 
scarcity of fodder will have a depressing effect on all sorts of stock 
especially on store stock altho that may not be so much as is spoken off as 
we now have plenty of rain and fall feed is improving. 
 I have not yet sold anything and Archibald and wife returned from Florida 
this day eight days and found there is no encouragement for me there and 
most likely I will not go there with them. 
 Daniel has got his house near finished and both well and James Dalyel and 
family are nearly all recovered but all those that were sick are very thin 
and they have been more sick than I had any idea of.  They had a high fever 
along with the Dhairee and now they are all losing the skin.  I expect from 
Archibald that they can get a deed as the man beside them has got one.  They 
did not call at Duncans.  They can give up the farm when they please and I 
have reason to think they are not satisfied with th[...] ty in Peterboro 
that they are connected with as they now seldom attend it and it is said they 
are not able to hire a State pasture in future but have heard nothing of 
their going to Florida. 
 I would be glad of your sending me the books you mention altho I have not 
yet got into so much money that I could conveniently spare.  I do not know 
that there is any better way to get them than by the express.  If you could 
pick up a second hand copy of Uncle Toms Cabin along with them and a cheap 
thermometer if they could be put in a convenient parcel together.  I learned 
from J.A. that H.S. is not going to Mobile which I believe he will not 
regret.  J. Anderson did not allow me time to show much lity and it was with 
some pressing I got them to stop till I baked some cakes for dinner.  I had 
no meat nor milk to give them but otherwise they seemed pleased and I assure 
you the weather was most enchanting and if it were not for fear of the winter 
I would feel the greatest reluctance in leaving it.  He tells me Alex 
McTavish is in so bad health that he is not expected to live long and that 
Richard Alexander lost all his means and died of a broken heart what is a 
shame. Charles Robertson left his family well with large property and that 
our friend Peter Robertson was hopelessly in the Perth Asylum, that Peter 
McCallum after being received by his Lanark farm was hawking toys or 
sweetmeats through the streets of Edinburgh.  How wonderful are the ways of 
God towards us and our fellows.  Old John Douglas near R. Stewarts died 
about 8 days ago.  I believe I mentioned that John Thompson died when I wrote 
you at Caledonia.  He left no will and all the money he left is about 900 
dollars.  His brother which is in Canada gets it.  I have baked my bread 
almost all the time since you went away from employment and have succeeded 
every time as yet.  I have likewise done my washing and have succeeded well 
enough except the starching and ironing and may do better by experience. 
Have sold a few apples at 1/- Common and 2/- Grafted.  John sent all the 
cloths he could find of Wm Andersons but his valise which cannot be 
identified but by himself or by sending a description of the articles it 
contains and having it examined.  He acted in a very foolish and careless 
manner when he was at work for weeks at Clackwell that he did not go for it 
himself but ***** any other person and puting them to more trouble about it 
than all it is worth. 
  I remain 
  Your Loving Brother 
    Henry Campbell 
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12th October (Extra page) 
 I intended to take the above with me on Sunday but being a wett day did 
not go to Peterboro.  James Anderson gave me his adress 49 John Street and 
wanted me to write him but I do not know that I have any thing in particular 
to write him about.  But if you learn any thing more of his movements write 
all you know.  I was not aware that he had so much money perhaps in that 
case he may want a larger farm and involve himself as Mr J. Forbes did and 
he will have a great deal less experience than he had and if he wants more 
land afterwards he can get it afluence and almost at any time adjoining him. 
He gave a hint that he might take the stock at a reduction.  This would be 
in favour of us both when he has the means.  I have got a bottle of Jaynes 
Tonic Vermifuge and feels it is the large round worms that I complain of.  I 
told you I used this medicine before for the worms and supose it did me 
some good. 
 I have taken up the potatoes a fine crop numbers of them a pound weight 
finest onions turnips carrots beet corn and apples that must be used.  I 
wish I had in New York 50 as good wedders as is in the countrie.  I have 
been making some enquiries if I would not let out 100 store sheep to fodder 
as they must be a high price in the spring.  Gerrit Smith has been nominated 
to Congress by I believe the general voice of the County and it is suposed 
he will elected.  This will make quite a sensation in the [...] f it happens. 
There is a strong team settling in hereabouts against Slavery. 
  Henry 
__________________________________________________________________ 
2028 
                                                     Siloam, 5th Novr 1852 
Dear Sister 
 
 I wrote on the 12th of last month which I hope you received.  I wrote James 
Anderson some time ago and had an answer some days ago.  I supose he is 
looking after a place near you.  He says he has been in Rockland County 
(where is that).  Do you know if his family has arrived or if he has sent 
for them.  I am sorry to hear from him that he has come to the resolution of 
not buying at present which I think is not the best plan for him.  I think I 
would be indifferent about letting mine if he did not continue r make a 
purchase.  I might have to reserve possession again as I had to do formerly 
and put myself to a deal of inconveniency. 
 I have got a reading of Uncle Tom's Cabin and you must not buy it if you 
have not done so already.  We have wakened here a great triumph as it is 
said and I hope it is true that Gerrit Smith is elected to Congress by a 
large majority.  I have got 4 hens but no eggs yet.  I have bought wall 
paper to paper my room with a view to make it warmer.  In the hope of hearing 
from you soon. 
 I am 
 Your Loving Brother 
   Henry 
__________________________________________________________________ 
2029 
                                                     Siloam, 4th March 1854 
Dear Sister 
 
 I duly received yours of February 8th.  I suspected there was something 
the matter and had a letter to you to the Post Office when I received your 
last.  In case my letter might not be misdirected I sold my wedders about 
the 1st of Feby at 5/-Ds a piece for the New York Markett where they would 
give from 8 to 10 dollars.  They would not cost one 50 cts a piece for the 
carriage to New York City.  You did not say what was the reason J. Anderson 
left the farm he went on in Long Island.  I had come near selling my farm 
this winter.  I wanted 500 Ds down which I supose could not be raised.  This 
has been an uncommon open season and I hope to have sufficient fodder.  My 
sheep are all in the best condition as yet.  As for publick news I believe 
I am about as well posted up in as any body.  I get 3 or 4 papers weekly and 
in adition exchange with my neighbours so that if I have not a daylie I 
frequently see one for every day.  What (I) want from you is any British 
private and New York local news.  Have you heard that Peters wife proposed 
going to Australia.  I see by the papers that there is quite an excitement 
in the gold regions there.  I do not want you to do or take any farther 
notice of Wm Anderson or his care. 
 I had a letter from Duncan of the 15th Febry communicating the very 
melancholy news of brother Jameses death.  Of this event you will have 
heard before now as he said he was to write you and Daniel.  This event 
altho not altogether unexpected or unlooked for was to me a shake of no 
ordinary force and of which I yet feel the effects.  He had been more on my 
mind this winter than ever before from the circumstances of my being a good 
deal affected in my thighs with rheumatisms particularly in my lame 
o[...] have often thought that that unless better, which I have reason (to) 
thank a merciful providence that I am, I would be obliged to give up farming 
or grazing.  These complaints I think is likely to have some afinity of 
Jameses.  This event is to us all a loud warning.  Be ye also ready.  We are 
now all getting old.  We are all almost of another Generation.  How thankful 
we should be that we can look back to his memory as an example to imitate. 
May his God be our God to live to him and die to him when ever and how ever 
this may be.  I feel very sorry that I had not wrote him long ago.  I must 
write Ann.  She will now feel very lonely I presume.  She will feel now more 
than any of us.  Formerly you were talking of returning to Scotland.  I 
should like to hear from you if you have made up your mind and what you are 
resolved or not.  I think you have got a good hint from your sickness this 
winter to give up your business for the present.  I am glad to hear from 
Duncan that he has been better this winter than for some time past. 
 As I get less inclined to correspond my correspondence increases.  I had a 
letter from John Campbell a son of Samuels from Glasgow both sencible and 
well wrote.  You know he learned his trade (clothier) in Crieff and since 
his apprenticeship is out he has been in a Wholesale Cloth Warehouse in 
Glasgow.  He wishes me to write him if I would not advise him to come to 
this countrie to push his way through life.  About that I am at a loss what 
to write him.  I wish you to say in your next letter what yo[...] of it. 
 I have lately finished reading Haldane on the Romans with great pleasure 
and profit.  It is just the doctrine we have (blessed be God) heard mostly 
all our days but I did not know before how perverted and heretical Stuart & 
Co spread their poison.  Mr Stewart Gerrits father was here after it before 
I got through with it.  Archd and John were down seeing their friends during 
the winter since which time I have not heard from them. 
 In the hopes of hearing from you soon. 
  I remain 
  Your Loving Brother 
    Henry Campbell