The following is a copy of a letter written to Rebecca Hall Durnal Taylor by her son in law, Josiah Wilson on April 26 1854. While it does contains few references to other families, I think it gives a wonderful picture of life in Perry County in the 1850's. "Portersville Ohio April 26 1854 Dear Mother All well & in good cheer except myself. I have been unwell a few days tho still able to work a little and eat hearty. The general health of the neighborhood has been good the past winter tho some deaths have occurred recently. James Moore died last Thursday with lung fever after a sickness of 6 or 7 days, William Berry (who lived in the Stone House 4 miles east of us on the McConnelsville Road) went in company with his older brother James Berry to Iowa to look for land & both died suddenly soon as they got into Iowa. It is supposed they died with calery (cholera?). There was an awful occurrence in Deavertown last Saturday while exhibiting some Negro performance under a canvas. Lightening struck the center pole and killed one man dead and knocked down from 20 to 25 men, women & children of which some are seriously injured & may not recover. Times are pretty good here and land is rising in value tho you may tell Abner (Durnal) that there is much better bargains here than his farm at eighteen hundred dollars. If he does not believe it so be it. But if he will come out I will show them and charge nothing for it. I would have written sooner to you but we did not now where you was till a few weeks since we received a letter from Abner stating you was at Samuel Durnals. Now I will give you a few items in respect to how we get along. We try to use all honest means to make a living. I use the mattock axe & mall more than the pen tho I was reelected Justice of the Peace this spring. I cleared five or six acres of land last winter while the boys went to school, this spring we have made about 3000 rails our selves. Wesley does the plowing, the boys work very well. Shannon grows fast. He is as tall as his Mother. The girls grow fast. Harriett is taller than Wesley. Phebe is well off for help. Harriett & Rebecca can't be beaten for business for anything of their size & age in sixteen counties. Now there is four yet that I have not said anything about that bids fair to be worth raising. Miley is rather a runt & Phebe thinks he will do for another year for a baby better than none. I built a nice smoke house this spring and have some bacon in it. No milk and butter at present but expect two cows to fresh in a few days. Frost has been very heavy here this spring tho there is a fair prospect for a crop of fruit yet, except peaches are ciled (chilled) on low lands. Rebecca has just returned from school and bring the inteligence that another man has died from the shock of lightening in Deavertown that I refered to on another page, and a third a female is speachless and her case hopeless. Now all tho in my variety I have said some things diverting, I wish in conclusion to tell you that we are still trying to live right to train up our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord that when we die we may get to that better world. Pray that our faith fail not. I do not know that I will be up to see you this summer as I expect it will be a busy summer with me. Phebe sends her love to you all, I must close. Yours truly, Josiah Wilson Please give my respects to George Douglas, Joseph Hall and their familys. Tell Abner if he will come out soon I can show him a farm about 8 miles from McConilsville and 4 from here containing 170 acres lays well good soil good timber plenty of good water two orchards one of which is grafted fruit. Hundred acres of cleared land nearly all in clover. And under good fence well situated in reference to road neighborhood &c Price three thousand dollars. A good latt (?) in Portersville in the bargain. Also 120 acres at 2000 dollars one mile from here on the Zanesville road lays butiful with good timber good soil good water and orchard and comfortable cabin buildings. Now tell him if he wont have such bargains he may stay on Soap Creek for all I care. J.W.