CORRES: Harris Family Letter, 1875 - Pleasant Hill, Mercer Co 1875 Harris Family Letter-Pleasant Hill, KY to Oregon Submitted by Elizabeth Smith esmith@montgomery.k12.ky.us [I found a copy of the following letter, dated 1875, in the Harris Family File and the Research Library of the Harrodsburg Historical Society. It was written by Phebe Harris, with input from her sister, Nancy, who were both members of the Society of Believers, commonly known as "Shakers." They are writing to their brother, John Moses Harris. I have in my records that John Moses Harris left Pleasant Hill on 1 April 1821, that he lived in Indiana for 25 years, then moved first to Illinois, then to Oregon. I am descended from their brother, Daniel, who never joined the Shakers.] Pleasant Hill MC Ky May 9th 75 Dear brother yours of the 22nd all came safe to hand on 3rd inst and was joyfully received for we both seriously believed you had met some serious accident -?- which you had left the shore of time bound for the happy regions above. We are both in tolerable Health at present enjoying a luxurious season of strawberies which is now just at a close & the chery crop quite plentiful of pretty much all kinds, pears and apples bid tolerable fair for a plentiful crop. our harvest is just commencing and grass and small grain tolerable good with the exception of some appearance of rust occasioned by a rather wet spring. Sister Jane Hutton Departed this life on the 4th inst having been confined to her room & bed mostly with rheumatism for many years, Elder Edmond Bryant and brother Micaga Burnett are both very feble in both body and mind and may not last long, sisters Charlotty Runnion & Sarah Jenkins & several others of the good old vetterens & founders of this place are fast verging to the close of this mortal stage of action to join the happy spheres above. Our little family are all in tolerable good health moveing around in our regular relation of business trying to gather and lay up some thing to live upon reguardless of the stint and scarcity of money & means there for. We have some ingathering from without who stay but a short time then out and gone again into seek a fortune in some other place or condition The Society in jeneral are in tolerable health with the above exceptions. The weather is rather more coll at present than usual for the season of the year & has been for some time past. There has of late been considerable of religious awakening in the neighborhood round about us, meeting preaching & praying day & nigh, exhorting each other to the works of love, mercy and charity, to the whole human family, I heard Elder George Runnion say a few days ago he had met and conversed with a couple of preachers just from meeting in harrods burg who expressed more of the love & goodness of God than he had experienced for a good while with those with out. Sister Nancy says she feels anxious to know whether the pain and weakness in your knees & limbs is any better, and if the prepiration she furnished while you were here had been any benefit or not, also how your wife felt about the little trinkets and presents we sent her if she was pleased with them or not. We are very sorry to hear of your afflictions but very glad to hear of your & wife's safe arrival with the above exceptions, to your home in Oregon we believe you will have the best sucess and finally the best out come in things both temporally and spiritually. no more at present but will be glad to hear from you as soon as convenient. So Farewell in the best friend ship love and well wishes both to yourself wife and family all. Nancy and Phebe Harris From: "Smith, Elizabeth" Date: 16 Jun 1998