Charles C. Platt's Letter to His Mother, Margaret Paton, in Kansas

Crystal O.T. "Pawnee Co."
July 21, 1895

My Dear Mother,

I will Just drop you a letter as I see I have 3 envelopes left and you don't seem to appreciate a good card enough to answer it.

We have had a very serious time in the family the past few days. Annie has been very low from the affect of a bite from a copper-head Snake both fangs were well bedded into her leg above the left knee, and we done everything we could. She took a pt. of alcohol which kept the swelling from going in much above her hip; she was very bad and is not able to move herself yet. We were working among the sweet potatoes vines and as she went to kneel down to lift the vines up the venomous serpent struck the painful blow, and as we thought it couldn't be so very serious we neglected to send for alcohol for 3 hours. I had to call on neighbors and one rode my pony 7 miles and back in less than 1 1/2 hours. I guess she will get along all right now. With this important exception we are all well.

Our crops are very promising, some of my white corn is nearly ripe enough to shell, the husk is dry. We have all the tomatoes we can use and our vines are `prolific'. I gathered six fine water melons 3 mush melons besides several we eat. We gathered our first melons on my birthday July 9 (you see I am out of the twenties and am hastening on to 40 now.) We never had such a lovely field of pop corn. Wish the boys had a good sack full. We surely have a very fine country for some things, but insects of all kinds abound wonderfully A black bug cut off the silk and part of the tassel of all my early corn -a long led collared bug won't allow potatoes to grow and also tries to demolish the tomatoes; squirrel seem to eat badly on the melons, Chintz bugs took the oats, moles work very bad at the sweet potatoes and peanuts. So for everything there is an awful pest. In the older settled districts these pests are not so numerous. I have never seen finer potatoes than they have in the older settled parts. They can hardly sell at any price, corn will hardly be worth hauling to market. Wheat is 60 cents, oats are scarce and money lots scarcer than anything else. Work is entirely out of the question. We can't sell anything, chickens are about 8 1/3 -10 cts apiece and no demand. Taxes very high, wages low, no work, a few debts, a little interest, all together will so oppress the mind of America's noble citizens that they will surely ere long rise as one man and promote one of the most serious and unheard of rebelions, any fight for the necessities of life is a bitter one. And victory is for the diligent.

The Holy War is raging, I was over to Mulhall near 60 mi. West to a "lively discussion" between "Baptist" and the Brethren. I went to "wrestle" with the "Baptist Champion" but I was rather ruled out through fear on the part of the shrewd imposter posing as a gospel minister. He claimed that our teaching "Holiness" and opposition to ordinances was the worst, most God dishonoring Blasphemy doctrine he ever seen or heard of. What a shame it is for such blind imposters to be imposed on this world. They carried all the Baptist and Campbellite element with their ridicule and sophistry. And the dear Brother who boldly met the learned opponent I publicly expressed my anxiety to answer the spiritual pugilist all to their discomfort and dismay. The discussion ended Sat night after two meetings of three hours each. I followed on Sunday and went over what ground of truth I could in limited time. We had a very good and profitable Meeting. We anticipate great pleasure and comfort in the Sept 28 Meeting. I hope you will be able to meet with us there, also Uncle Walter.

	1895 -After the Run- Charles C. Platt's letter to his Mother in Kansas
	Crystal O.T. "Pawnee Co." July 21, 1895 My Dear Mother, I will Just drop you a letter as I see I have 3 envelopes left and you don't seem to appreciate a good card enough to answer it. We have had a very serious time in the family the past few days. Annie has been very low from the affect of a bite from a copper-head Snake both fangs were well bedded into her leg above the left knee, and we done everything we could. She took a pt. of alcohol which kept the swelling from going in much above her hip; she was very bad and is not able to move herself yet. We were working among the sweet potatoes vines and as she went to kneel down to lift the vines up the venomous serpent struck the painful blow, and as we thought it couldn't be so very serious we neglected to send for alcohol for 3 hours. I had to call on neighbors and one rode my pony 7 miles and back in less than 1 1/2 hours. I guess she will get along all right now. With this important exception we are all well. Our crops are very promising, some of my white corn is nearly ripe enough to shell, the husk is dry. We have all the tomatoes we can use and our vines are `prolific'. I gathered six fine water melons 3 mush melons besides several we eat. We gathered our first melons on my birthday July 9 (you see I am out of the twenties and am hastening on to 40 now.) We never had such a lovely field of pop corn. Wish the boys had a good sack full. We surely have a very fine country for some things, but insects of all kinds abound wonderfully A black bug cut off the silk and part of the tassel of all my early corn -a long led collared bug won't allow potatoes to grow and also tries to demolish the tomatoes; squirrel seem to eat badly on the melons, Chintz bugs took the oats, moles work very bad at the sweet potatoes and peanuts. So for everything there is an awful pest. In the older settled districts these pests are not so numerous. I have never seen finer potatoes than they have in the older settled parts. They can hardly sell at any price, corn will hardly be worth hauling to market. Wheat is 60 cents, oats are scarce and money lots scarcer than anything else. Work is entirely out of the question. We can't sell anything, chickens are about 8 1/3 -10 cts apiece and no demand. Taxes very high, wages low, no work, a few debts, a little interest, all together will so oppress the mind of America's noble citizens that they will surely ere long rise as one man and promote one of the most serious and unheard of rebelions, any fight for the necessities of life is a bitter one. And victory is for the diligent. The Holy War is raging, I was over to Mulhall near 60 mi. West to a "lively discussion" between "Baptist" and the Brethren. I went to "wrestle" with the "Baptist Champion" but I was rather ruled out through fear on the part of the shrewd imposter posing as a gospel minister. He claimed that our teaching "Holiness" and opposition to ordinances was the worst, most God dishonoring Blasphemy doctrine he ever seen or heard of. What a shame it is for such blind imposters to be imposed on this world. They carried all the Baptist and Campbellite element with their ridicule and sophistry. And the dear Brother who boldly met the learned opponent I publicly expressed my anxiety to answer the spiritual pugilist all to their discomfort and dismay. The discussion ended Sat night after two meetings of three hours each. I followed on Sunday and went over what ground of truth I could in limited time. We had a very good and profitable Meeting. We anticipate great pleasure and comfort in the Sept 28 Meeting. I hope you will be able to meet with us there, also Uncle Walter. Return to History Page