Letter from Joseph Francis Thomas, 29 July 1896
MANASSA, COLO.,
President Wilford Woodruff.
Dear Brother:
After due deliberation, I have considered
that I cannot get ready to start on my mission to the Northern
States at so early a date as Aug 15, 1896.
I owe about $460.00 due at intervals from Sep. 3, 1896 to
Feby. 25 1897, 1/2 of it due Sep 3, 1896. I have about enough
due me from all sources to pay this if I can collect it.
Part of it, I am sure of, as it is invested in County and School District
warrants, which are not due yet but most of them will be in the
next six months. I wish therefore to ask for time to collect
and arrange for the payment of my debts.
Part of the debts, $22500, are for money borrowed—the others for
payments on land and machinery. I have 80 acres of farm
land bought last year from State of Colorado, on which I have
only made the first payment (ten per cent of price) and
as I will have to depend on the products of this land
for maintenance of my family (consisting of my wife and six
children) I want to arrange for the payments to be such, so
I will not lose the land. I have besides this, a little
land—but ist is not suited to cultivation, I use it for pasture.
Under the circumstances I feel permitted to ask for
