COPY OF LETTER WRITTEN BY HIRAM CAPRON TO HIS BROTHER
Jan 3rd 1830,
4 o'clock, Morning.
Dear Horace:
I have delayed writing a long time daily expecting letter from you, but I wait in vain. I am extremely anxious to know if you purpose to come here in the spring, as I am making every calculation and arrangement in business for your coming, and shall be disappointed if you fail. I have had a Surveyor employed to lay out a town plot, which is nearly completed. I shall shortly send you a beautiful plan of said town which I intend to call Paris, being built upon a plaster bed -- which lots I am offering gratis to actual settlers. Several are now spoken for. There is a prospect of a Blacksmith, Wheelwright, Cabinet, and Joiner, each building this next season, also a Carding Machine to be erected, Merchant and Distillery, a Shoemaker now in actual operation, and what is still more flattering within the past six months there has been three babies born upon the premises, and in daily expectation of a fourth- all are well. Shall we not people a city of ourselves shortly. If so much be done the first six months what will you expect for the next six. I purchased the next lot east from Mr.Dickson, 133 3/4 acres @ $560.00 - four year payment - which I want you to bring money to pay $121.00 per year. I sowed all the land formerly plowed to grain, nearly 50 acres - have plowed the land formerly plowed to grain, nearly 50 acres - have plowed the spring pasture 22 acres- 8 acres meadow by the barn, and commenced breaking plans, say 10 acres. This I mean to continue in the spring a field 200 rods long and 70 wide - say 80 acres, all of which, with your help, I trust will be sowed to wheat next fall. If I was sure you were coming and would bring any money, I should get out timber for a Mill of two runs of stone this Winter, which is much wanted. We are now trying to raise money to open the Governor's Road which forms my south boundary line, being only 21 miles straight line west from Dundas to Lake Ontario, which if we get opened will bring the greater part of the travel west by my place. This undertaking will take much of my time next summer, when I shall the more want you to see the farm. You will please write as soon as you receive this and let me know what you are calculating to do, as I ought to know in due season. If we obtain, as we expect to do, about $4,000.00 to be laid out on the Governor's Road, i should like the job in case you come as money may be saved. we are wanting by you the following: say $1,000.00 cash, 2 horse collars, 6 or more good whip-lashes of Johnson's best make, as much bedding and clothing as you have and can borrow when you came away. Be sure and settle your business early this Winter as everybody will wait to the last day, and you will be hindered ten days after you are ready. The earlier you are here the better, as I am laying our work for 6 or 8 men, and want you should oversee them. Let me know what the prospect is of selling my own land and what can be raised from it. I am grinding Plaster rapidly and have 150 tons ground on hand, and waiting for snow. We have had an open Winter, no sleighing yet, mild weather. I am going to Detroit soon to settle my business in that quarter. Current prices: Wheat 5/, Corn 4/, Rye 4/, Oats 2/, Pork $. to $5. cash. The times are growing better in this country, however I have hard times enough to get along with my payments but I think I shall make out my first payment to Esquire Holmes this Winter of $3,000.0 cash. Van Borman is driving the furnace well. I am getting much more away and selling it very well. I have nothing more to say - we are well.
H. Capron.
