Columbus Gillett's letter to his brother, Alanson
 


              Columbus Gillett's letter to Alanson Gillett (1870)

	To Alanson Gillett in Ohio from his brother Columbus Gillett in California

	Wilmington, Los Angeles Co., Cal.  Jan 30th, 70 (1870) 

     Dear Bro, After waiting a long time for an answer to my last letter to you, and no answer as yet, I embrace the present
 opportunity of writing you a few lines, to inform you that through the mercy of God, wee (we) are all alive and
 in the enjoyment of a reasonable degree of health, and hope these lines may find you and yours, enjoying the
 same blessings.  I have not received a letter from Ohio in the past two years I think, or more from anyone of
 the family.  I wrote to Winchester Wakefield, and to Thos. Garner, but got no answer.  I do not know whether
 they got my letters or not.  I would like to hear from someone, and know who if any are still alive.  I thought
 when the R.R. (rail road) was completed across the continent I would pay you a visit but it was done so quick it
 found me to poor to make the trip, it is some 300 miles or more to San Francisco and costs $27 to go there so I
 guess I will have to wate (wait) until the S.P.R.R. (Southern Pacific R.R.) is built which will come close by us
 and completion brings fair down, then I may be able to come.

    The past year has been a hard year on us.  I rented my place to one of my boys and another man, and just as
 they were ready to commence work, we took the meazles in our family, and every one of  the family had it, but
 me, and it went very hard with wife and three of the children.  The boys lost a month or more out of the farm,
 which gave the weeds such a start, they got nothing planted, except, our sweet potatoe crop that was got in in
 time, and done fine, but dull sale.  I furnished everything and boarded them, so I come out minus, I am at work
 here, Wilminton, at the carpinters business.  I worked over a month herein the summer, and have been here all
 the time since the 1st of Oct. except the time, I loose in going and coming from home.  This is 16 miles from
 home, but I go within 7 miles of home on the Carrs, which run from here to the City of Los Angeles.  They make
 two tripps a day, so I seldom loose but half Monday.  I work for the R.R. Co, and cost me nothing to go and
 come.  I git $4 per day, but pay $27 per month for board.  I have rented out my farm again the same as last
 year, to a couple of energetic men who I think will work well.   They are live Christians.  I should work the
 farm myself, but, for the lame foot, I can do any kind of work better than following the flow (plow) over rough
 ground.  Wee have had the coldest winter know here for a great many years, and quite dry.  Our county has
 improved very fast in the last 3 years the time wee have been here.  In our neighborhood from $10 to $20 and
 with a little improvement, not to say fenced, but a few cottonwoods or willows growing around the land and very
 common board housed from $30 to $50 per acre, but I think the prices out of reason and must come down.  Society
 has improved considerable, when wee come to Los Neatos that is the name of our settlement and township.  The
 M.E. (Methodist Epistopal) Church had not an organization in the county.  Myself, wife, and tow o f our children
 were all the members in our neighborhood and I was all the preacher in the city.  In May following, the P.E.
 come down organized a society of all members in the Co, amounting to about fourteen and put me in charge for
 want of a better.  Now the work is divided. 
  
     Wee have a good brick church in the city of Los Angeles, and a stationed Preacher, with perhaps 30 or more members.
 Our circuit is called Compton the name of a settlement 6 or 7 miles south of us with a membership of some 40, more or
less.  At our place our members number 30 or more.  There is 4 local preachers on or in our circuit.  There is 4 S.S.
(Sunday Schools) in our settlement.  All of our children except the two little ones belong to the church.  All have
 professed saving faith but Thomas.  He joined as a seeker last Sept.  In addition to our church in our neighborhood
 M.E.C. South have a much larger membership than wee.  The missionary Baptist have an organization with from 20 to 30
 members and to make out the assortment of Christian organizations the disciples or Cambellites organized with 16 members.
 Lately I have made these statements simply to let you know wee do not live out of the Christian world tho in a very wicked
 part of it, but wee intend to try to make our calling shure (sure) through the grace of God.  I had at all most forgotten
 to tell you, one week ago, our daughter Ann, was married to a Mr. John Doland and wee expect, Thos (Thomas) will go the
 way of all most all the young men that have a good chance, in two or 3 weeks if not before it is common the way ones luck
 starts to run its course.  Our children have stayed with us verry well.  Ann was in her 19th yr, Winchester in his 29,
 Thos in his 24, Zachary 21 in March, Jayne 16 in Feb, Chloe was in her 24 when she married.  So but 2 of our children are
 married yet.  Write me where A. R. Gillet lives.  That boy has never written to me or I have not got a letter from him
 since he left me in Texas.
 
     Tell me if Joel still lives in Brown County.  If not where a letter would find him.  I received a letter from
 Washington Wakefield from Montana it was verry unexpected but a welcome mesenger.  I answered it and inquired if he was
 married.  He stated he was farming.  If you get this and are glad to hear from us you will be glad twice when you get
 through reading this scratch.  Give my best regards to all enquiring friends and pray for us

						I remain your Affectionate bro

							(signed)  C. Gillet