[it is unknown what year this letter was written]

State of Missouri Clinton [August 27, 18??]
County Dear Cousin I Embrace
this opportunity to inform you
that I am well at preasant
still hoping that these few
lines will find you all well
I have nothing vary porticlar
To inform you of I have marred
Sence I have come to this
new cuntry I was marred the
30th of July to Rebecca Brown
14 years old and vary hamson
I received your letter the 26 of
June and was glad to hear
from you all but wood bin
like better to hear of better
helth but that we must
have more or less we oute to
be thankfull to god for ore
blesing I am liveing in platts
burge I have bought out
the man that I was working
with and got a shop of my
own I have made as high
[Page 2]
as 6 dollars a day the ??> is
vary good hear but it was wet
in the spring but it has bin
vary dry for sometime crops
look vary well corn is 50 ct per
busel wheat 75 ct per bushel
bacon 8 dollar per hundred
I received a letter from father
yester day wich stateed that he
was a going to start to the
Missouri the last day of this
month I wood be to see you all
but I am a fade I never
unkel John you must not worke
to hard this the 27 of Augest
I send my best love to you
all I remain your loveing
cusin ut until deth
my pen is bad my ink is pale
I hope my love to will never fail
its badly roat you may know
with out looking any more
John C. McCracken