Now comes along a letter from George Lawson to Edward Frasier. I don’t believe that George is a relative but rather a former neighbor from Wisconsin. He too is interested in crop production and land prices. He wants to compare notes with Edward about the quality of farm ground in various locations. George is looking at his options north of Waterloo, while Edward is living with is family in Mills County in southwest Iowa.
Kingston
Jan 2, 1877Edward Fraser
I meant to have written you last summer but put it off from one time till another and did not do it. Well I will give you some of my travels this or rather last year. I went with James Wiley from Portage City. He went with a wagon. We was nine days going to Charles City Iowa. I like the lay of the land betwixt the Cedar and Shell Rock river better than I do in southwestern Iowa. but the soil is not so good and the climate is as cold as it is in
Wi. The wheat crop went from three to ten bushels per acre. Corn was a good crop from 41 to 75 bushels per A. I can get good improved land for 20 dollars per acre in the vicinity of Clarksville. I aw John Cuff and lumer (?). He has got a very wet farm. He don’t make any more than a living on it. He is a poor manager and I don’t know if he will make much anywhere. He has not got the head that his father has.Now you folks has been there in Mills Co. long enough to ascertain what can be made on land. Don’t you think if you were nearer the Bluffs it would be better. I have not bought any land yet and I want to get your folks opinion on that part of Iowa. have you got any grasshoppers in your section of county? They have got as far east as Mason City in Cerragordie County. I am afraid they will over run all that western County.
How is land selling in your part of Iowa? Now I will give you some home news. Pete Davies has been sick and in bed for 4 weeks. He has the worst turn he ever had and it may be 4 weeks longer before he gets up. My grandmother was buried last Friday. She was about 90 years of age. There is lots of folk died since you left. Write me all the particulars. Give my respects to you mother and father and the girls. Tell maggie if she promises not to put any grasshoppers in my hat I my come and see her.
From your friend,
George Lawson
