Young, Jacob Letters (1863 and 1865)

              [page 1]
Milldale December 20th 1863

Frend Jacob

Your welcomed letter bearing date of 
August 30th at Centreville Idaho Ter. was 
received about 1st week in October I was 
heartely glad to hear from you once more but 
should be much more pleased to see the writer

My health is good  Mrs. Abells 
much as it has been for 3 years past

Your mother and family well also  
Philip & his  it is generally health in this 
renowned City  Your mother was much pleased 
to read your letter to me  Gust gets along well 
his most profitable crop this season was his 
Tobacco   I received a letter from your 
brother William yesterday bearing date as 
Chattanooga Tenn  Decr. 10th  he was then 
well as were all in his Co. from this place 
his regiment was in the battle of Chattanooga 
Nov 24 25 26th  a few were Killed 25 or 30 wounded 
none Killed in his but 2 wounded one has 
since died of his wounds  both Strangers to us  
Wm Stands hardships of the Services well does not 
complain  A draft comes off on 5th Jany 
13 is the Quota for Richland 7 have volunteered 
leaving but 6 to be drafted

[page 2]
You should have been here us rejoice in the 
victory of Union men at the October Election over 
Vallandegham Traitors when we Shouted: 
Halleluia! God be praised  that the nation is 
saved.  If Vallandyham had been elected he 
was pledged to the south to array the State of 
Ohio in Hostility to the Government & most likely 
a civil war in Ohio would have extended to other 
States & the End might have fearful to contemplate
	
Our State Election give Brough 
Union candidate for Governor over 100,000 
majority the greatest any Governor ever before 
in any State  a greater in its benefits and 
importance than Vicksburg or Chattanooga

Copperheads are silent now 
before Election they were insolent & defiant 
their plans were laid to release the rebel Gen. 
Morgan & the prisoners at Columbus Johnsons 
Island and Chicago  they succeeded in 
none but liberating Morgan & 6 companions  
but damn them for their bad intentions though 
frustrated no thanks to them

I have come to the conclusion to rent 
my Store another season if a suitable person 
offers if not to shut it up or at abandon boat 
trade  I am too old to be up night & day 
am getting pretty near out of debt have no 
children to thank one or curse for too much

[page 3]
 or too little left them  I shall probably try to work 
off remnant of Stock the best I can

I wish you would come home and buy 
out the Shop or rent it  I would give you 
a good chance and send you money by 
express to bring you home  if you are Short 
If you are not doing well there when 
this reaches you I wish you would sell out
and write immediately how much you will 
need to bring you home & I will send it

You are yet young  understand the 
business and Know if it is profitable 
or if you could do better to work this winter 
in the Mines & then sell in the Spring just 
before leaving But you ought to know what 
is best for yourself.

The past season has been remarkably dry 
worse than 1854 when boats were aground here 
the Lock Gates have remained from the last of 
May to close of boat navigation  Hay was 
less than ½ a crop  Potatoes 1/5  corn 1/6 oats 1/3 
wheat 3/5 sugar cane almost a failure and to 
cap the climax on the night of the 30th of August 
a Killing used all that Escaped the drouth Except 
in the valleys of River  My crops fortunately 
Escaped as did others on this side the river but 
on the south side the frost Killed corn to the 
waters Edge Effectually	

[page 4]
But lo those whose crops escaped the frost—high 
prices compensate for deficient crop by drouth  
Potatoes 60 to 75 cts by the 100 Bush and retail in 
Defiance at 90 cts good corn 75 cts wheat 
100 to 115  oats 60 to 65 Hay 15 to 20 & for corn
I planted this last season 8 acres Potatoes dig 1 acre 
Early & the balance in the fall had 500 Bus from 
7 acres  Raised 130 Bus corn from 3 ½ acres  
12 Tons Hay from 23 acres about 5000 lbs 
Tobacco from 4 acres

I Have sold about half the Grafts 
which you set in nursery for with prospect of Sale 
about 100 next spring  have Sold more than 
half of the Sedding apples

The Grafts which you set in the orchard began 
in 1862 to bear & in 1863 we had about 10 Bus Rambos 
1 1/2 Bus Granger 3 Bus Russetts 1/2 Bus Bell flowers 
1/2 Bus Spitsenbergers 1/2 Bus Cranberry Pepper & some others

I should have answered your letter before 
but your mother saw that she would write soon & I 
thought you prefer one of a later date

Phebe Elliott & a Dayton Copperhead are marring 

Matthew one of Tom Elliotts sons & Ellen Verdenhamer were 
married last week  The following person have volun-
teered from here recently Albert Elliott Wesley 
Morse John Hively one of Geo Williams sons 
and a boy by name of Camp Allehouse has sold out 
and John Mitz and Soren Water & widow Morse & John Mayhew 
Mitz has gone to Defiance Allehouse goes to Michigan  Mr 
Morse sold to Traby & bought Mitz  Waters sold to Julia 
Lymanisteel  he moves on to a 2nd wife from Blain has bot 
160 acres of the NW corner of the fathers homestead  Mrs. Marday 
has resided in your mothers house (on her farm) all summer 
 
Your true Friend
G.B. Abell