Year: 1877

From the Sussex JOURNAL


The following letter which we copy
with pleasure, was received from Horace
Adams, son of Joseph I. Adams, our
fellow townsman. Horace ieIt mere not
quite two years ago IL years old, having
enough money of his own make and saw
ing to carry him to Hannibal, Mo. He
remained there upon steamer till sum
mer and fall passed and suddenly started
off for Texas, He is now about 19 years
old, a brave, heroic boy. There was no
necessity of his leaving home, which was
pleasant in every way. his parents hau
gwen him a much better education than
scholar, He could not enjoy full col
legiate course like tsome and therefore
branched off, no doubt TO become richer
than he ever could upon Sussex soil. To
some of our young men we might say go
and do likewise.


CANANcFE, TEXAS.


Jan. 30th, 1877.


My DEAR FRIEND:


/ have been so hurried
around of late that l have not had time
to write, and besides as there Is no town
Postofice nearer TO me than Camanehe
twenty miles distant, il is not always
easy to get letter mailed.


wrote you last just as started from
Tamant for Montague county, with Sam.
Jacobs ISam. is the son of L. r. Jacobs,
late Register, where we expect to try
our luck in the stock business. 1t was
necessary for me to look after my inter
est there, so came down fer my cattle,
intending TO 20 back this winter, but it
has turned so extremely cold / am
afraid TO start before spring. The dis
tance between the two places is two
hundred miles.


1 had a rough time getting here, taking
the western COW trail from Montague to
Palo Pinto and then struck out through
the woods alone for Camonche some
miles. was eight days on the whole
trip making about % miles per day.
Buying some blankets. frying pan and
something to eat struck at due south
and saw but two ranches on the whole
route, they were but two houses and
near together. Riding all all day l
camped ont at night, stalking out my
pony, cooking my supper, spreading out
my blankets and going to sleep with no
friend but big six shooter under my
head.


IT'S true felt a little keerfui at times.
but then / knew / had something here
worth little hardship and trouble, and
on arriving found my cattle scattered by
the cold northers, but have got them
nearly all together now. Young Blood,
my partner was here before me having
arrived from Tamant. As I determined
to stay here ti1spring he and two or three
others came in to help and build me a log
cabin to live in. i do my own cooking
and eat when please, am under obIga-
ton TO no one. Have traded horses sew
eral times, always according to my Sus-
sex training, getting a little boot, meat
or corn and have now sufficient provision
to run me till spring and money enough
to carry me back with my stock to Mon
tague. Shall sell some steers next sum-
mer, have some money falling dAe in
October. won't have much to buy cat
tie, but what have will grow me good
pile if things turn out well Any one
who has known me during the last Is
N onths In these parts know don't stand
back for little trouble or danger when
| there is any money at stake. do not and
cannot boast of having made much i only
brag on stock, but began with nothing
and have something and intend to stay
in Texas until / get start, if 1 don't
make itsoon shall remain till do make
it. Have been visited by six big InjIns
since / have been here, on horse trading
expeditions, but / hadn't time. This
country is full of wild turkey, prairie
chickens, deer and bear, but do not
hunt them: Ny mind, heart and soul
are in the business in which have en-
harked, well satisfied when look at my
small herd roaming and grazing over
land foI which nature has done SO much
that the bread cast upon the waters will
return after many days, and am willing
to labor and wait the result.