Cambridgeport Mass
Elder Badlam
Dear Sir
As Brother & Sister Baldwin
are about to take there departure from this port for the
Bay of San Francisco I thought it my duty to impose
every opportunity of writing to you. I sent you a long
Letter by the Last Steemers which you will of course got
a long time before you get this, Brother Baldwin seemed
to have a door opened to go to San Francisco so He has excepted
of it. There has not a great deal transpired in Church matters
since I last wrote that will be of particular interesting to
you. I held a meeting of Fall Briers on the 1st & 2nd of Sept
& on the 3rd at New Bedford & was going to Cape Cod as
on the 4th on a packet but a storm prevented the packet or
myself going so I came Home, I had A good meeting on Sunday
at home, a full House I ordained Brother Delin an Elder
He is from Sweeden A smart intelligent man we baptized
him last winter He is about to go to preach to a Settlement
of his Countrymen at Wisconsin & Iowa. Next Sunday I
preach at East Bradford Leonard Hardy will be there
I take my wife down the Church will take a ride together
on the Tuesday following to plum Island. Elder A. D Boynton
was with me yesterday. Has got his Letter pattent from
Washington for his invented Leather Sole Cutter is selling
rights & machines. I think He will raise some money
on it. Your family are all well, Myself & family
are well at this time. The spirit of Burning & mobing
is on the increase in this county. Cambridgeport Bridge
was set on fire a few nights since came nigh burning up
Those long [streets] burn & Store House a few roads west of the toll
House on cambrideport Bridge was burned down Saturday night
one fireman fell from the building & was killed. that Bath House
South west of your Shop was also burned up. that large House
on the South west corner of Moore street west of me was set on fire
but put out, the Cholera is still in Boston & around us, 15
death yesterday with it reported, but not much more than
half are supposed to be reported 4 died in one family
with Cholera in that long House on Hamond Street East
of us, Portland has been the scene of great confusion
for several days by a mob of 500 men mostly Sailors fisher
fishermen, capt. &c gathered against one King a Black man who
keeps several bad Houses, the parties have fought with
cannon & small arms. some have been shot dead 20 or 30
wounded two of the Houses burned down. The military
are finally called out, & stoped it King & his woman are
in jail, who a large mob in Lowell some killed & many
wounded, Mobs & fires have both increased very lot
since you left, roberies & Murders also, I think there is
much more of it in this country according to the population
than in the gold digging. Thomas ^H^ Benton of Mo is falling
to the ground He has many enemies in Mo He has ben
taken by warrets & had to flee from some places for
fear of assasannation [assassination] in consequence of his politisal
course He seems to be making for himself a bed of thorns
The Cholera has swept off a host of men this season
presidents, Generals, Col, Captains, rich men, Noted men,
Merchants, & Mob men of Ill, Iowa, & Mo, seem to be
marked victims, this year of the Cholera, almost every
day some Noted men are falling. A good many apostates
of the church have died this year & some faithful Saints
Sister Bride Sabra Granger & Mother Bosley are among the
dead,) G. A. Smith E. T Benson, Capt James Br Spencer
W I Appleby & A. P. Rockwood are on the way with
companies for the Salt Lake valley, their path is strewed
this year with many dangers, 36000 gold diggers are on
the same rouad though the South pass of the Rocky Mountains
with 60,000 Head of cattle & Horses Mules &c, many have
died among them & many are retiring but I have herd
as yet of No differently among our people who have gone
this season for the valley the gold diggers have also had a number
of fights among the Indians & in some instances a good
many have been killed upon both sides. Elder O. Hyde
still Edits the Frontier Guardian at the Bluffs.
Elder A. P. Rockwood I am informed lossed ^lost^ all of his goods
trunks, Boxes, & every thing of his own & all that anyone
els sent by him from the east, all the goods that He
packed up at your House, what He got for the
Seventies Hall, & all of Sister Sayers property & her Husband
were all lost after they left St Louis for the Bluffs
I think it was by the sinking of a boat.
Brother page is now expecting to go to Indianna this fall
with his family. Elder pearce is now out of work
& has talked some of going to San Francisco I do not
know whether He will or not. Little & Hardy are
still trading I do not know how well they are doing
I got the Guardian & Star regular the work is
still progressing thoughout Europe. Elder Orson pratt
is in deep water but is abundantly able to swim with his
head above water & carry on his back all the Philosophers,
Astronomers, Inquisitors, Learned men & Catholic & Protestant Ministers of Europe
He is cutting a wide swath, building up the Kingdom & doing much
much good. The last European annal informs us that
the Hungarians Armies have been defeted at all ports
& surrendered to the Allied armies of Rusia & Austria
& thus Hungary has fallen. I think Brother Cannon
has prospered in his business this season And thinks some
of going to the west this fall. Mr Russell that figured
at New Bedford & Fall Brier is in the last stage of the
Consumption expecting to depart daily. Brother & Sister
Baldwin Staid with us last night there things are all
on board of Ship. Sister Baldwin was taking with sum-
thing like the Cholera this morning we administered to
her by the laying on of Hands she got well in short
time & we[n]t into Boston. Mrs Woodruff wishes
to Be remembrd to you & also our children. Sister
Voce & Sister Foss are in business together both wish to
be remembered to you. I shall also write to Calvin
I Foss by Brother Baldwin I suppose you have seen
Calvin before this time. remember us to him if you
see him also to S Brannan & any who may enquire after
me That the Blessings of God may prosper you while in
that land & return you again safe to your family is the
prayer of yours in the kingdom of patience Wilford Woodruff
Mr Allexander Badlam
San Francisco
Upper Calafornia
[written in upside-down text] W. Woodruff
Cambridgeport
Sept 12 1849 [end of upside-down text]