Direct to____Clay Center Clay Co Neb. Jan 15 1887

Mr A Ritter
Warsaw, Ind.

Dear Cousin,

I can hardly tell you how glad we were to hear from you, for it is a long time since we had any tidings from Kosciusko. Last June I wrote to nearly all the friends out there announcing to them the death of our oldest daughter Ida but received only one reply. We are all very well and as far as I know the friends are the same. From Erasmus I hear quite frequent and a few days ago had a letter from Hannah[1], who stated that Father Ritter[2], was well and staying on his Land. I guess they have a very good country up there, they at least seem to admire it very much.

Our crops were cut short some by the very dry summer, but corn that was not planted too early made from 35-50 Bushels per acre, it is selling now at 18 cts per B. quality good. Farmers are looking for an advance though as the corn crop through Iowa & Illinois is reported short. Considerable corn will be consumed at home as a great many cattle are being fattened here. In Hall County one firm is feeding 6000 head, in my immediate neighborhood over a 1000 head are fed. I am feeding 18 head. I traded some of my stock cattle of last fall for an 80 acre farm near Harvard, I was afraid I would run short of feed as I did not get much hay put up, for wild hay was very short on account of the dry season.

You wanted to know how far we lived from Red Cloud, it is 40 miles in a south west direction. Webster County, of which Red Cloud is the county Seat, corners with Clay on the S. W. and is a nice county, when you get away from the Republican river which runs through the county. The bottom is quite sandy, and the land quite broken before you get on the table land, but the table land is nice and as productive as any Nebraska soil. I have been through the county several times. Red Cloud itself is a flourishing town, being a division town with R. Road shops, mills etc. Land through the County sells no doubt about the same as in this county, from 20 dollars upward for improved farms. The country has improved wonderfully in the last few years and land has gone right up in price. Several Rail Roads have been built through this county and more are looked for next summer, it seems as though the main lines runing west from Chicago, such as the Rock Island & North Western are extending their lines into Neb. Heretofore the B&M & U.P. Rail Roads had all the sway in the State.

Farmers are not making anything now raising grain and selling it. The prices are too low, the only way they can make it pay is to feed it into stock which brings nearly as much as in Chicago, for Packing houses are being started all through the State.

You went to Michigan last winter, how did you like it there? And what did you do with your Missouri land? Were you ever out to see it? I believe the southern or southwestern part of Missouri would suit you better than Neb. As you could hardly get along without timber, being so used to it, but we don't miss it for I can fence cheaper & quicker with wire than you can with rails. Miles upon miles of fence are being put up every year.

Nothing would afford me greater pleasure than to have you come to see us and the country, the latter I know would please you at sight and we would make your stay as pleasant as possible.

You did not write anything about the girls. How many have married since we were there? Where is Bill? [3] Hoping this will find you and family well. All join me in sending Love to all the friends, especially your folks. [4]

Chas. Hoevet[5],

[1] Erasmus and Hannah were siblings of Charles' wife Elizabeth. Hannah had married Hiram Stoneking in Lucas Co IA in 1882 and moved to Dawes Co, NE by 1887. Erasmus was in Hardin Co IA in 1900, and was probably somewhere in IA in 1887, based on the birthplaces of his children.

[2] "Father Ritter" was Elizabeth's father Jacob. He died in Dawes Co, NE in 1890, and probably had moved to Dawes county soon after or at the same time as Hannah. He owned 157 1/2 acres of land there when he died.

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