RKBP-1045

Winona Minnesota Oct 26. 1861

Dr John A. Kennicott.

Sir your letter of the 22 00 came to hand to day and in compliance with your request I answer immediately. I see by your letter that you want a foreman to take charge of the propagating and out door work. I do not wish to engage as foreman though I think I fully understand the business as to grafting budding taking up and resetting fruit and ornamental trees and small fruits anything in that line but as to flowers and greenhouse plants I know nothing about. I should like to work for you a while and should like to get a job of grafting I will undertake to graft from say 10 to fifty thousand myself I will cut the scions and label them carefully pack them away and take up your apple stocks. I can go to your place in two weeks- that will be enough to take up the stocks and the scions can be out after that though you may prefer to have them cut sooner.

you wished to know if I was married I am a widower have no family. I am a native of Pennsylvania am forty one years old. I would not wish to graft on shares I do not wish to go into the business myself. I can take charge of a Nursery and I think can carry it on as an out door propagator and do anything in that line but do not wish to engage now. I will come and work for you a while and then we can see farther. If I can suit you all night if not I am ready to quit of course if I come and work for you and you have no foreman and would want me to take charge of the hands that did not understand the business. I would do so and make myself as useful as I can. Each variety of trees in your Nursery of course and labelled carefully. If I was there a few days to get the run(?) of your work. I think I could get along. As to the job of grafting I spoke of to work as that exclusively would make no difference with me. If you had any other work to do at any time I would go at it. Now Sir what wages could you give me provided I would sent you

all round I cannot send you I am willing to quit at once and sir I should have no hard feelings should you discharge me if I could not suit you. I should do the same. You know what you had to pay or what it would be worth to you. If your business comes in contact with many Germans I can get along with them I can talk German I have some business at ^ or near Springfield in February which would tak on about three days. I would want it understood that for that space of time I would want to go there I leave the subject with you. If you think I can suit you. Please write immediately Respectfully J.D. Warbler(?)

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