RKBP-174

Maple Point, Marion Co. Ill.

March 18 1857.

Mess. Jno H & Chas. Kennicott

Gentlemen

Early the past winter I sent you an order for fruit & ornamental trees. In your re-ply you desired me for fear of accident to repeat the order at a subsequent time_ Having preserved no copy of that one I shall have to request you to fill the following--provided--can--see-- that---- --the--trees--are--delivered--on--the--cars--of --the---- --Cent --R.R.-- at Chicago------- - Any unusual expense you will of course charge to me but unless you can see to their delivery at the Depot at Chicago I should fear to risk the R. Roads_

Please find on the 4th page of this sheet a plat of our Co. My place is directly north of Odin 27 miles_ and Odin is the station to which all matters from the north for me are sent -

Yours truly John P. Reynolds W.

(over)

P. S. I will send you large orders for the coming fall, but our season is so much in advance of yours that I can not make sale of many after their receipt form you in the Spring -

[J d?] _

Direct to

John P. Reynolds Jr.

Odin

Marion Co.

Ill.

500 Apples 1/5 Summer, 1/5 Fall 3/5 Winter Standard Sorts your selection_

100 Standard Pears 20 Barlett 10 Seckel - rest of your selection

50 cherries (Standard) your selection - 50 Plums " do do

50$ worth of Evergreens your selection

MARION COUNTY ILLINOIS.

[map]

330 ms [written at the top left of the map on the railroad line heading north to Galena, Illinois]

59 ms [written on the left side of the map on the railroad line heading west to St. Louis, Missouri]

275 ms [written on the right side of the map on the railroad line heading east to Cincinnati and Greendale, Ohio]

116 ms [written at the bottom left of the map on the railroad line heading south to Cairo, Illinois]

The shaded tracts are timbered

[typeset below the map]

In 1850 Population 6760. Taxable Prop. $635.829

In 1856 Population 12000. Taxable Prop. $2.085.732

1st Marion County is 24 miles square centrally situated in southern Illinois. Lat 38° 40' N._ Midway between St. Louis and Vincennes Ia. _ 2nd, It is healthy, high table land, no sloughs, ponds nor large river bottoms, nor any other peculiar local cause of disease. Of the streams taking their rise here, part flow into the Mississippi on the west and part into the Wabash on the east._ 3d The soil is fertile, being equal for the production of fall grains and grasses to the Genessee Valley N. York. Fruit of all kinds is a sure crop. Peaches have failed but once in 30 years._ 4th The new Lands are easily brought under Cultivation, about 1/2 is prairie and 1/2 timber so well Distributed that there is no point in the Prairie more than 3 miles from Timber._ The surface of the prairie is from gently undulating to high and rolling, the timber is of excellent quality and embraces all the varieties common to western forests._ 5th The Railroad facilities are positively --not--equalled-- by those of any of other Agricultural District in the world._The markets of Cincinati, Cairo, St. Louis, Dunlith & Galena and Chicago are open to our Farmers without Reshipment!_ See the Map._ 6th - Coal-- of good quality and -Stone--are abundant and cheap._ 7th, Farming Lands are Cheap, the Railroads are but just completed and so large a quantity of good lands being thrown open to Settlement at once the prices have not reached a high figure_ Improved Farms from $10 to $25 pr acre,_ unimproved Lands, Timber & prairie $7 to $15 pr. acre.