Letter from Phebe Whittemore Carter Woodruff, 25 October 1840
Montrose Lee County Iowa Terr.
My Dearest Willford
I have just sent a full sheet to
the office for you and think I will begin another now and
keep a kind of a journal or sketch of times and things with me
untill I hear from you again. Today we have had a good meet
ing at father Clark’s where I live and just as meeting closed
brother Smoot rode up to the door this is the first time. I have
seen him since his return from his mission— he has been
gone about 4 months and been into the states of Tennessee Alabama
&c. and has baptized in company with br. D. Webster about 26 and or
dained him an elder and given him charge over the church in
Ten. about 200 miles from where you traveled— br Smoot took
supper with me and I think you would have been a welcome guest
at the table he says that br. Webster has got to be a workman and
thinks of returning to Con. in march and settleing up his busines
and comeing west as soon as he can. 26th today I feel lonely but
comfort myselfe with thinking that W. will come home and sure
ly he will not get away so again without I go to— you speak
about Willford’s growing fast so as to go into the vinyard, I think
he will be large enough by the next time you want to go so you
can take him along at least I want you to. 27th today I have
had a tried day my babe has been verry sick he still has the chills
and fever verry hard and today I got quite alarmed about him
his fever ran so high but at night he is better I have broke his fever
4 times with Sappington’s pills but it will return. 28th today
I have felt quite comfortable my babe has been considerable smart.
I thought I would write you a little every night just before I
retired to rest and let you know a little of the occurrences of the
day with me. 29th today I am makeing a vest for brother Washburn
toward paying for a pair of shoes as I am much in want of them I
feel badly thried in mind, W. says I should like to know what it is
about well I will tell you when you come home, 30 today I feell some
better and finish my vest as I make slow progress in tayloring with
my babe and other chores 31st I feel quite well in mind today after
committing my case to my heavenly father he has taken it into his hands and
will do wright about it, I am makeing a cap for Ezra Clark, Willford continues
better
