Letter by Joseph B. Smith to his brother Delazon Freeport Ills Oct. 18th, 1860 Dear Brother, I have been waiting for something to turn up before I wrote you. I mean with regard to your political success. I have watched the progress of political events in Oregon with great interest. If your Legislature elected U.S. Senators on the 1st day of Oct. I expect to get the news in a few days but I despair of their doing so. Hence I have conclucded to write you now and give you what little news of interest I have with regard to ourselves. Myself and family are all well, or I suppose they are, as all are not at home. On the 30th day of Aug. last I left home taking my wife and Edward with me on a visit to our eastern friends or rather I took Edward as far as Ann Arbor in Michigan to put him into the high school there. I was absent four weeks. Left my wife to finish her visit with her friends at and near Rochester . She has not yet returned. Edward became sick or unable to pursue his studies and returned home with me. I went down to old New Berlin and spent four days there seeing the sights. The town has changed but little in the past 14 years, but there has been great change in the inhabitants. However I found many old and familiar faces and friends who received me with a hearty welcome. I attempted to hunt up the few relatives we have remaining in that country. Went over to see Uncle Silas. Found him living on the same ground where our grandfather lived when we were boys. He is quite broken down, looks quite old. I think he states that he was 78 years old or would be soon. He did not at first know me. He made many inquiries about you and related many of your sayings and doings when a boy. He wife still lives though quite demented. He has one son at home who is married and takes charge. His name is Francis. He is quite a man. When I left N. Berlin I went by the way of Brookfield to see Aunts Dosha and Ruth who are both living near neighbors in the same little village. I staid with them over Sunday. Aunt Ruth is quite feeble. She has a kind husband and is well to do. They have an abundance of this worlds’ goods. Aunt Theodosha note: (possibly Theodocia Dorrington 78, born in Vermont , from Brookfield census) lives with her son-in-law. She is about 81 years old and quite smart. Aunt Ruth (note: possibly Ruth Lamb 68, born in New York on Brookfield census) has a daguerrotype likeness of our grandmother taken a year or two before she died. It is a good one. She was 91 years old when she died. I visited her grave and that of Grandfather on the Cone place & copied from their tombstones the following: “Joseph Briggs Esq died on the 29th day of March 1832 aged 82 years”. “Patience widow of Joseph Briggs Esq died Oct 10th 1848 – aged 91 years.” I forgot to mention that Cousin Statisa died some three years ago & Oramal has married again & lives on the old place. Everything looks natural, the house has been newly shingled which is about the only improvements; the orchard, barns & sheds are the same. I also went into the cemetery at N. Berlin . Found our mother’s grave overgrown with tall grass & live-forever. The tombstone that you erected over her grave is in a good state of preservation. I did not copy the inscription. She was but 36 years & some months old. I have her correct age in our old family Bible. My first wife Sally Ann and our brother Delavan lie by the side of her. I did not go to see Aunt Sally Cone. She resides with her daughter Mary (Mrs. Stetson) in Cortland Co. (note: the 1860 household is that of John C. Stetison in Truxton, with wife Mary, son Martin, daughter-in-law Urcelia, and Mary’s mother Sarah Cone) I however met Mary in Rochester . She was there on a visit. She thinks her mother will not live long. Mary weighs about 200 lbs. Her only son was married the past summer. Martin B., H. Cone & Bro. William still live in Rochester . I spent several days there with them. Briggs has become quite well off. Belongs to the Brick Church and lives in style. Horace is poor though he is now in the Stone & Hardware business on a small scale, using the last of his mother’s means. Still he is a good fellow, has got a smart family & I hope he may prosper. William has got a tolerable wife. She was a factory girl about 30. Large and fair looking. Those who know her say she is a very good woman & will make a very good mother for his children. We spent two days & nights with them. They live comfortable in a rented house. They have a little daughter about three months old. His other children appeared to enjoy their new home & their new mother. They appear very well, though one, the youngest girl, looked too much like her mother to look well. William works for Briggs by the day. At $1.75 it takes about all to support them. He is considered a good workman. He thinks of going into business on his own account. He appears more content & happy than I have ever seen him. I have been this particular in giving you the particulars about our friends as I presume it will interest you as much as anything I could write. Two weeks from next Tuesday our Election comes off. I presume you will get the result of it about as soon as you will get this letter. The contest will be close in this state between Doug. & Lincoln , though I think Doug. will carry by a small majority. I fear Lincoln will be elected by the people of the free states . It now depends on the State of N.Y. Breckenridge will not carry a free state , though he will get a respectable vote in some of them, perhaps. I should have excepted California and Oregon . I fear the divisions in the Democratic Party will give the government into the hands of the Republicans. You will see by the bulletin that I am again in nomination for the Clerk Cir Court . It was done when I was in N.Y. I do not expect to be elected. The Republicans have about 800 majority in the county, too much for me to overcome though I could lead the ticket some 200 if I were to make an effort but “the game is not worth the candle.” I still keep an office as magistrate, do conveyancing, etc and with the help of my farm, make a comfortable living. I see you are successfully defending yourself against your enemies. I hope and trust that N E Smith will not be elected to the Senate, nor that prince of demagogues, Neal Baker. We know him well here. I see no show for you this time, but I hope your friends in the Legislature will not allow the Bush faction to succeed. I have just rec’d 3 copies of the Democrat. The last date’s Sept 4th. I take much interest in perusing them. If you are sending it to the “Bulletin”, stop it for they charge me for their paper. They are penurious. (illegible) coming (illegible) Michigan who sayed (as written) that he was from Salem Oregon , left there in May last. Knows you well (I have forgot his name). Said he was a native of George, was present in the Convention when Sheil was nominated. He took me to be your brother before he spoke with me. We had much conversation about you. Whenever you can get time from your manifold duties, write me. A few lines will be acceptable. Hoping that we may have the pleasure ere long (if we are denied that pleasure this fall) of seeing you here. With my best regards for your family, I remain your affectionate brother, Joseph B. Smith