| Title: | A. Aitken, Iowa City, to [?] Patterson, Co Tyrone. |
|---|---|
| ID | 9 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Aitken, Alexander/2 |
| Year | 1866 |
| Sender | Aitken, Alexander |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Iowa City, Iowa, USA |
| Destination | Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland |
| Recipient | Patterson |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | writes to someone of superior status |
| Source | D 627/213B: Presented by Captain Peter Montgomery, Blessingbourne, Fivemiletown, County Tyrone. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N.Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9601085 |
| Date | 14/01/1866 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 05:01:96. |
| Word Count | 493 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Iowa City 14th January, 1866 Dear Sir, I should have wrote to you before this time but as I had not got into a settled way I just waited till now I did not stop long in Canada only one day, I did not like the appearance of the country besides land is dear. Improved farms could not be got for less than œ8 to œ15 per acre so I came on here where the country looks more promising, the only fault this country has timber is scarce and [fireing?] dear but the land is of the best quality, I could a [have?] got a good situation the next day after I came here, but I understood the gentleman was not easy pleased so I did not take it, I kept hunting about for a farm I viewed and priced and offered for several but it is not easy geting [getting?] a fiting [fitting?] one, however I managed at least to buy 80 acres four miles from this City I gave nine dollars per acre for it I have plenty of timber on it, I could sell the timber any day for more than the whole farm cost me in fact when I bought, it was with the view of selling again as I saw plainly I could do more than double my money in it but I have made up my mind not to sell till I hear from you for if Mr. Montgomery gives me a situation worth coming for I will sell out and return to 5miletown [Fivemiletown?] although I like this country very well for it is a money making place, yet and withal I would rather live in Ireland if I could live as well but I would not return to live in Drumnamale [Drumnameel?] if Mr Graham would make me a present of it, the land here requires no manure or drains it will grow potatoes of the best quality without manure there is no disease here I am informed manure would spoil them it grows Sugar cane Indian corn and wheat of the best quality in succession for twenty years without one bit of manure everything grows here without much trouble Cabbage requires no transplanting they sow them in Spring and [thins?] them out like turnips and they are like pots for size in September. I am Sir Your obt [obedient?] sert. [servant?] Alexander Aitken. My address is Alexr. [Alexander?] Aitken Rapid Creek Iowa City Iowa U.S. I wanted Aitken to remain in the country for you to see him but he is a man of such active mind he would not rest a few months. He proposed to return if we received him Now if your own servant declines becoming steward I wish you had Aitken he is judge of cattle and a first rate land drainer he knows how to work and make others do it & I would not have to complain of his being too often in the house & labours in the fields he is Scotch & his wife is Irish & equal to all work but cooking |
