PROVISIONS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION ARE HIGH WITH US FLOUR $6.50 CORN $.88 – OATS BUL 50, POTATOES $50 PORK $5 PER LB THERE APPEARS TO BE A PLENTIFULL SUPPLY WITH THE FARMERS BUT THEY ARE HOLDING ON EXPECTING A HEAVY EMIGRATION.

PROVISIONS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION ARE HIGH WITH US FLOUR $6.50

CORN $.88 – OATS BUL 50, POTATOES $50 PORK $5 PER LB THERE APPEARS TO BE A PLENTIFULL SUPPLY WITH THE FARMERS BUT THEY ARE HOLDING ON EXPECTING A HEAVY EMIGRATION.

(Michigan Territory) Wadesworth, Abram Scranton (1812-1871).

(Letter in total)

Monroe 1st Feb 1836

My Dear Sir,

I droped you a hasty line from Bronson some time since but in that letter I did not mention concerning some lots on Prarie Roude I have not been on the Marie for two years past and I have delayed writing in hopes of getting such information as might not be worse than none to you. From the best information I can gain I should say that prarie land uncultivated was worth $5 per acre and the timbered lots if well timbered near the prarie are worth about the same.

I have been selling out nearly all my interests at Grand Rapids since I wrote you and have taken up my residence for the present at Monroe Village property had risen so high Grand Rapids that I though it a good time to sell and invest where the fever had not raged to such an extent as to make the people all crazy. Property has risen very much in value in nearly every section of Michigan within the last six Months and we expect next season will exceed the present in rapid advances if you have any idea of investing money west word I should advise you to do so before June next.

Government Land will after next season be nearly all purchafed in the eastern part of the Territory there is now considerable rage for prime Lands west and north of us. Villages are springing up at least Village ___ so thick that they are quite an inconvience in traveling through the country. I think they will not all be large cities.

Government is now trying to treat for a large tract of Indian lands north of Grand Praire. I doubtful if they sucseed in purchasing it is a rich valuable tract of Country and should it come in market will open an opertunity for profitable investment. There are now in embryo three Rail Roads running westward from Detroit from Monroe and from Toledo they will undoubtedly go ahead speedily.

Provisions of every description are high with us Flour $6.50 Corn $.88 – Oats bul 50, Potatoes $50 Pork $5 per lb there appears to be a plentifull supply with the Farmers but they are holding on expecting a heavy emigration. Our government is at present I know not what both Territorial and State part claimed by Ohio profsefed by Indiana and what we do hold a doubtfull jurisdiction in exercised over it. It is very doubtfull where the affair will terminate. Property at Chicago has risen to a great heigth as well as at Michigan City, New Buffalo, St. Josep. $C property at Frysburgh has gone up this winter 100 per cent or more 50 per cent at Monroe. A new town has been started on the Maumee Bay by the name of Havre if the disputed batch goes to Ohio as there is ever people at it will. Havre will then be the only port that Michigan will have on the Maumee Bay.

One Eighth of said Village was sold in this place last week for $3000. I think it is worth much more in the Spring.

Adaline is well and wishes to be remembered to you we start for Dexter next Monday. All our friends were well there a few days since. We have had no sleighing yet the ice on the river and lake is good and well improved by french trames and carry alls.

I have had a surveyor in the woods the most of the winter looking up valuable locations Mill sites Etc. should any of your friends wish me to enter lands I mean Government Lands for them I believe I can answer almost any call or wishes if Michigan affords them. My terms for selecting and entering are 10 per cent on the amt invested. Yours respectfully

A. Wadsworth

Mr James Northam of Middleport, (NY)

An impressive 19th century entrepreneur, Abram Scranton Wadsworth (1812-1871) moved from his town of birth, Durham, CT to Monroe, Michigan in 1833. Several years later, in 1835 he married Martha Adaline Northam (1817-1896) by which he had 4 children. Wadsworth next moved to Portland, Ionia County, where he laid out the village in 1837 and built the first mill dam across the Grand River. In 1852 he laid out the village of Elk Rapids and by 1860 was living in Megezee township, where he operated a boarding house. In 1862 he served as a Republican delegate to the District Convention, and in 1869 took part in a geological survey of northern Michigan led by Alexander Winchell (1824–1891). By 1870, he was living in Traverse City where he worked as an assistant in the Michigan Geological Survey, reporting that year his discovery of iron ore near the Manistique River in the Upper Peninsula. In 1871, he published a series called “Wild Wood Stories” under the alias “Man of the Woods” in the Grand Traverse Herald, which related various Indian myths. He died in Traverse City in 1871.

James Northam of Middleport, Niagara County, New York became the first merchant in Middleport when he opened up the first store in the village in 1822. Northam was also involved in operating early grist mills in Middleport.

A detailed letter reflecting Michigan Territory’s rapid development, by an early mover and shaker.

3 pages written in ink, 9 ¾ x 8 inches with address, postal mark and docketing on 4th page. Several tape repairs to separations along folds and remnant of wax seal on page 3 affecting one word. Overall in vg cond.

Sources: Town of Royalton Historical Society. “EARLY HISTORY” AT Town of Royalton online; Abram Scranton Wadsworth at Find a Grave and HISTORY OF ANTRIM COUNTY, MI at Genealogy Trails online.