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St. Joseph Mo. Aug 12th. 1857.
Dear Father, -
Although I did not receive Helen’s usual weekly bulleting I must write a few lines to take in with me while I have the opportunity. I am getting along as usual and have completed one half of my engagement here and am waiting anxiously for the “end to come” when I will in all probability, Steer homeward unless circumstances should order otherwise. As what I do now will have a tendency to shape my future life I desire to know your wishes and have your advice. I have come to an age when I must take a decided stand. I have gotten a Blackstone from a lawyer in St. Joe. so that I shall not be necessitated to waste every idle hour although I don’t expect to do much good as I can’t do anything methodically here. In many respects I like St. Joe. very much enough, so to make it my permanent home and I have an abiding faith in its manifest destiny to become a place of some importance that will easily outstrip its many boasting sisters of mushroom growth. As regards the
practice of the law It is overstocked with professional men of all grades good, bad and indifferent and all classes and kinds and it would require assiduous and undivided attention to the practice to obtain even in time a respectable business as a lawyer and nothing else. Politically the chances are not favorable to a new man amongst them. – I could make more money by other pursuits other than strict legal practice had I sufficient legal knowledge. Money is easily made in the west and will be I think for some time to come, but there are for better locations for that purpose than St. Joe. – In Minnesota and Wisconsin money will be higher than here always because less capital is carried their for speculation and it is rapidly growing. Kansas and Nebraska appear to be the centers of speculation and it is overdone often hatching the most glaring hum-bugs ever bared to mortal vision. I have a letter from R.D. Lancaster at Sauk Rpaids Min. Terr. he says money there can be loaned at 3 and 4 pct per month on real estate security and else when ditto. $10000. in such places would be a fortune in a few years. Here it is about 15 pct per annum but well secured.
If I did read law here I would expect to clear expenses by transacting such business a few years as being preferable to teaching school. – If I thought I could live at all respectably in the East by the practice of the profession I would have no hesitancy in driving down stakes there but should that fail, there is no other resource there as here. I have no will of my own in the matter, I am always best pleased if you and ma are satisfied I can be content with any thing. If I come home this winter I can speak more fully of what I can not write and if you think I had better remain untill spring and pursue my studies let me know. – I have seen the west I have remained long enough to become somewhat acquainted with its character and resources and I see nothing but bright prospects for any one who chooses to improve advantages. Perhaps I could get a good partner in the agency business and set up next year. – Write me your wishes or opinions or any proposition. I am expecting A. Hendrix daily. Our election
is over and I should not be surprised if Rollins (Bentonite, K.N. Whig, Rep. etc) is elected he is decidedly the better man of the two but I don’t like his supporters. Stewart (Dem.) is a New York Yankee, 12 years a Missourian, left here penniless and sick an unscrupulous politician, a demagogue of the most venal kind who’d sell his party, principles and perhaps his country for a mess of pottage a man of scarcely ordinary abilities and as an orator only capable of dealing in pub house slang. – I was unable to send the Republican I promised in former letter the vandals here destroyed it before I could save it. – Is it probable Uncle Alex. or any one will be out. Mr. Hendrix wrote me Dr. will be out. What did Eli Slagles land bring and how is property at Oxford? Wheat crop is very poor here, oats excellent and harvested. They are now cutting hemp which they say has done well this season. Corn unsurpassed. The collar in the paper you will receive you can turn over to Helen. Your obt Son Chas. F. Himes