Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Letter from James B. from Yellowstone 1903


I don't think this has been posted before and thought it might be of interest. Just in case it is difficult to read, the text goes as follows (Note: I have not corrected the spelling errors):
Letterhead: Improvement of Yellowstone National Park, Wyo.
United States Engineer Office,
IN THE FIELD.

Yellowstone Park Wyo. Aug 24th 1903

Dear Gramma
Your most welcom letter was reced A few days ago, And it gave great satisfaction to know you were getting along so well as you are And if you can but take things quiet and not worrey And do that. That is realy nessery and not bothe, about eny thing else you will get on alright I am sure. I realise you have much to contend with and feel the responsibility resing upon you And while that is the case just to take your ease and let others do the russling and worring. Now as to the farm I wish it was so we could buy it but just at presant that looks rather doubtfull. But as I look for work to be threw here by next Mar the end we can then talk matters over and deside on the best corse to persue in the future. Tilda spoke of keeping me home after this And I don't think Shell have hard work to do that as I am so tired of this kind of A life. Well Gramma let your helth be at all times the foremost consideration An May God Bless you in your indeavors. As ever your Son
Jas B Wasden.
Remember me to all the folks And write soon. All is well fat and sassy here. Bye Bye.

2 comments:

Elizabeth said...

And, of course, the rest of the story is that Grandpa Wasden didn't purchase the farm in central Utah, but, rather, bought land in the Penrose area in the Big Horn Basin. After the family, consisting of Grandfather, Grandmother, David, Sofe,and Brooks traveled by train in a roundabout way to Deaver, Wyoming, and wintered in Byron, the first cabin was built in Penrose. And Grandfather continued to spend summers working in the Park on the roads. His spelling reflects his lack of schooling (3 months of any formal school), and one can see why his missionary journal was so difficult to translate. However, that did not reflect his intelligence and commonsense, which was first rate.

Ben and JoLin said...

So is this letter written to Nancy Arrilla?