This is a copy of a letter written on October 26, 1858 by Joel Dodge in Brookfield, LaSalle County, Illinois to one of his children, either to his dau. Harriet Dodge Mankins or son, Harvey Dodge. Both were living in Warren Township, Washington Co., Ohio. The one clue that gives me the impression that the letter was to Harriet is because of the statement Joel made in the letter: "you seem to think that I was not satisfied with Wms settlement with Moor" Wms. was shortened meaning "William's". Harriet married William Mankins. Joel deeded him and Harriet land in Warren Twp. (now Dunham) in 1854, right before Joel migrated west to Brookfield, LaSalle Co., Illinois. William was probably acting as the middle man in leasing the land out to a person by the name of Moor. William probably had to take him to court to collect. Also, another letter believed to have been written by Joel's wife Sylvina. She mentions 'RODA'. Rhoda was the dau. of Harriet Dodge and William Mankins. The letter was not signed, but when I found these letters they were stabled together. (Found a copy of the "orginial" letter in the DODGE file at the Washington Co., Historical & Genealogy Library. Transcribed by Debbie Noland Nitsche, July 2005) The ____ spaces indicate that it was unreadable. The ?'s indicate that the word was questionable. There were no periods or captial letters to indicate the beginning and ending of a sentence. Only the "I"s and names were captialized. This is typed just as it was written with leaving 3 spaces to seperate sentences). Dear Children with pleasure I write a few lines at this time in answer to a letter I had the pleasure of seeing It seems by that letter that I inavertently omitted to ask you to answer my last letter and for that reason you was at a loss to know whether it was best to write or not I did not think that jealousy had so far got the ascendency in your mind as to suppose that I would not be glad to get a letter at anytime you seem to think that I was not satisfied with Wms settlement with Moor I here say that I am satisfied he done the best he could under the circumstances if he had been in possession of all the papers or I was it(?) would of altered the case but without them I am satisfied he done the best he could there is one of them notes given by Hopkins that was not paid when Due Wilson was security I want you to see the Widow about it in paying for my land and securing a deed I turned them over to George S. Fisher a perfect Landshark that will show no mercy but will close the morgage as soon as the time expires Charles Rhodes is his agent I want you to write what they say and how the matter stands our crops are verry short this year. wheat was destroyed with blight and rust oats the(n) came and the Spring was so wet that it was almost impossible to plant corn but the fall has been favorible and corn is verry sound what there is Potatoes are tolerable good but far short of a full crop (nxt. pg.) the other letter was wrote in a hurry and if there was any _ _ mepions (inprefections) that was the cause we sometimes (have the) opportunity of sending by a neighbor consequenty we write in a hurry I want you to take time to write a full sheet and tell us about all the old neighbors and friends how many have left where they are and how many have come back Give our love to Mother Greene and Brother Swan and Family and every body else and accept the same for yourself and children and write often Accept a few broken lines from your affectionate Father /s/ Joel Dodge (his signature) Brookfield Oct 26 this A. D. /'58 Transcribed by Debbie Noland Nitsche July 2005 GGGG Granddaughter of Joel Dodge GGG Granddaughter of Harriet Dodge Mankins, dau. of Joel and Sylvina (Greene) Dodge NOTE: Mother Greene: Elizabeth (Cole) Greene, Joel’s mother in-law. Brother Swan: Levi Swan, Sr., Joel’s bro. in-law. Levi was married to Dorinda Greene, sister of Sylvina, wife of Joel. George S. Fisher: The person whom Joel bought his land from in Brookfield, La Salle County, Illinois. It was paid in full at the time of his wife, Sylvina’s death in 1870. ========================================================================================= THIS LETTER WAS NOT SIGNED BUT STAPLED TO JOEL'S LETTER. I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS WRITTEN BY HIS WIFE, SYLVINA. the people in this state is making their own sweet from the sugar cane there is a bundance raised in this neighborhood we raised some we intend to raise enough for our own we ecesct(?) next year there is plenty of mills to grind it in this place there is one building in site of here sugar is worth ten cts lb coffee 15 cts lb eggs ten cts doz butter 12 cts molasses 50 cts gallon white fish 6 cts lb old corn is 50 cts bushel wheat 50 cts but it dont make good bread this year I did not raise but 3 turkeys this year the wolves fetched _(?) I put up plenty of pickles & the best you ever eat I have some tomatoes preserves your father looks very old & he is very poor we have some old pork yet I have good neighbors if they find I am out of butter they send me 2 or 3 lb & some(?) take the pay we have but one cow yet our neighbors several today one of our neighbors fetched me some buckweat flower the handsomest I ever saw I write this by candle lite tomorrow we send this to Ottawa direct your letters to the Scotte post office Brookfield Lasalle Co Ill I escpect the children has forgot us I dont escpect they hear our names mentioned it it little grany or big gran pa tell Roda to come & get dinner for big grany some days I feel as if I could not get dinner but I have it to doo tell mother I would like to see her & all the rest of you I want you to go & see mother as ofter as you can & tell me what she says give my love to Wm P & Louisa Cole tell them I have not forgot them nor noe we left behind we wrote to them but we never have got answer tell the children to write when you get this don't say you dont know whether it is best to answer or not because you mite find a flea in the nest? (next or meat) NOTES: The rest of the letter seems to be missing, however at the bottom is the name of Sarah Goodin (Goodman or Goodwin). The name was very hard to read, even with the magnifying glass. The only one that comes to mind is Sarah, d/o Samuel Goodin of Warren Twp. RODA = Grandaughter of Sylvina & Joel Dodge. Dau. of William & Harriet (Dodge) Mankins. She was b. March 1855 and would of 3 yrs. old at the time this letter was written. MOTHER = Sylvina's mother, Elizabeth Cole Greene WM. P. and LOUISA COLE = William P. Cole is the s/o Philip Cole & Eunice Gates. Philip Philip was the brother of Elizabeth Cole Greene. Wm. Cole and Sylvina Dodge are first cousins. Transcribed by Debbie Noland Nitsche July 2005 GGGG Granddaughter of Joel & Sylvina Greene Dodge GGG Granddaughter of Harriet Dodge Mankins, dau. of Joel and Sylvina (Greene) Dodge