Letters -- March 1880 -- George W Gorton to H C Gorton

Soda Springs
March 9th 1880

Dear Brother
     Your kind letter of Feb 22nd came to hand yesterday. was glad to hear from you once more.  It found us all in good health.  Henry is getting to be a big boy and smart as a whip of course he takes after his Father.  To day he carried in wood, rolled down a snow drift and wound up by a harty squall. Mable no 2 is as pretty as a doll and points Grand Pa picture on the wall and child No 3, the women all call her a pretty baby. I suppose you will say babies all look alike. we have not named her yet.  Mrs G wants you to send along a name. you and Father can club in together and send us a nice name for it.  We are having nice warm weather.  the snow has all gone from the hill sides.  stock is doing well now without hay.  hay is only worth 5.00 per ton.  You are in good luck. I have a little hay to spare.  I should think it would pay you to raise hay instead of other things.  I sell and buy the manure.  I can't say though that I am farmer enough to give advice on the subject and so I will not wade any deeper on the subject.

We think here at Soda that we are going to have a railroad. It will branch from the N P pass Soda and on to Oregon.  The good people are quite excited over it.  If it comes it will be quite a boon for this section of the country. as for my part, have not built any very big castles in the air over it.  I was out on a deer hunt a few days ago.  I killed 4 and feel quite elated over it.  On the last part of the hunt I got within 40 yards of a big band.  Think there was a hundred in it.  The gun got out of kilter and I could not shoot.  the deer stood and looked at me.  I think I used some very powerful language. it was no use. before I could get the gun in order they slipped away.  I am sorry to hear that Mrs Champ*** is in poor heath. I trust when warm weather comes she will fully recover.  It gives me the blues to hear of our old neighbors dropping off but I suppose we must all go in our turn.  We must all submit to the inevitable.  how is Uncle John now days.  Is he a jovial as ever and does he make his regular call as in days of yore. how is Geo Barton getting along. I presume he is coming ***** as usual. is Emery still on his feet and does Ben White still work

for him. does Rob still hold his little place. It is getting late and I think I will close. it seems I would like to write more but some how I can't get at it right.  In regard to the Salt Works I can't quite tell yet what will be done.  Write soon. Love to Father. from your Brother
GW Gorton