Nauvoo May 29th 1842
Dear Brother, I now take it upon me to write a few lines in consequence of sickness & other cares & dificulties I have for a long time neglected to write[.] I hope these few lines may find you and family well my family are tolerably well[.] mother arrived at my house last November from Ypsyllanti Mishigan the place where Anson lives[.] anson wants to come to Nauvoo but is to poor to get here[.]
I wrote a letter about the 1st of march to send to you but heard you was to start in April to come to nauvoo & did not send it[.]
I am exceeding thankful for the Book of Mormon you sent to me the greatest present I have had since I have lived in nauvoo[.]
the star nine numbers of 1st Volume & several of second I am also under obligations to you for my wife is very thankful for the dress you sent her & sends her best respects to you & your wife[.] my wife come from the state of main when six years old & since that from Genessee County State of N York.
I moved from Fulton County the middle of august – 1840[.] I and my wife were taken sick in Sept same year[.] I was sick still the next Spring <my wife> died in about two weeks[.] chill fever & family way. I expanded my household furniture & cow to pay my expenses & clothe myself thinking I should soon get well & come to england acording to your Request – I intended to start about 1st of December 1840 but my sickness as I before observed lasted till Spring[.] I had to seek a home & picked up a new family [.]
I hope you are a doing well in the temporal line[.] if I aint your fate has been so hard in missourie and elsewhere that I Rejoice to hear of your Prosperity. Mother wishes if your circumstances will admit for you to send her a shawl as she has none had no way to get any[.] She lives with me & shares with me in my Poor Living. considerable Part of the time indian corn is the best we can get for bread[.]
[page break]
Respecting the money you sent to yo me to buy Cows with[.] I shall Pay back to you when you come to Nauvoo as Probably Brother orsons Letter will Teach you the fallacy of trying to Keep Cattle in a Place where a herdsman is to be employd to drive them 6 or 7 miles to grass besides this wintering Cattle with corn will be $10 Per head consider the vast Population in this & how different it is from what it was w<h>en you left – this Place. you will want one good cow when you come here[.]
I have two good cows one english milk breed and one three year old heifer which gives the Richest milk you ever see in your life[.] She is a yellow skinned yellow hoof,d & her skin is full of yellow milk.
I intend to let you have one of mine when you come. & the balance in money when you arrive at this Place you may depend on without fail.
money is very hard & times Dull[.] Provisions Low Pork was brought in to this Place Last fall & sold at three at $1,50 Per Hundred [.] Beans from 5:6 Bits Pr Bushel[.] Corn is worth from 20 to 25 Cents Per bushel[.] Flour from $4 to $5 dollars Per Barrel[.] Bacon of the choicest Kind from 5 to 6 cents Pr lb & every thing else but merchants goods in Proportion[.]
eggs are worth 6¼ Cents – Doz butter 8 cents to 10 lb
I have but little to rite & so I bid you farewell & Remain your Brother in the flesh as well as in the Bonds of the everlasting covenant
William. D. Pratt.
To Parley P. Pratt.
[page break]
[Transcribed by Mauri Pratt and Suzanne Taysom; Oct. 2015]
“William D. Pratt letter, Nauvoo, to Parley P. Pratt, 1842 May 29,” Parley P. Pratt correspondence 1842-1855; MS 897, folder 1, document 1, p. 2-3 (https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE1738096 : Retrieved 1 Oct 2015), Church History Library, Salt Lake City, Ut.
Return to Histories of William D. Pratt or Letters to and from Parley P. Pratt