Juarez Near Casa Grande Chihuahua July 22d/87 [Friday 22 Jul 1887]

[Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico - http://www.mormoncoloniesinmexico.com/]

My ever Dear and faithfull [faithful] wife Elisabeth R. Snow [Elizabeth Rebecca Ashby Snow, b. 1831]

I have this morning again read carefully over your interesting letter of the 3 inst. [instant – Sunday 3 Jul 1887] which though it went estray [astray] and was long in reaching me, yet I have had it some five or more days and Minerva [Minerva White Snow, b. 1822] thinks I answed [answered] immediately before Erastus [Erastus Beman Snow, b. 1853] and Annie [Ann Stafford Snow, b. 1867] left for Mexico [Mexico City, Mexico], which was six days ago Saturday 16 Jul 1887]. But not finding it marked answerd [answered], I will now answer and enclose it in George Alberts [George Albert Snow, b. 1863] letter which may save three cents [3 cents] postage without loss of time. And if I did answer your last you will be still more in my debt and you will have less excuse for not writing often to me, though gratefull [grateful] as I am for your letters, I don’t mean to be exacting or over anxious to tax you excessively during this hot weather, for you are generally very prompt and a good correspondent. I suppose you and the girls will begin to laugh at the idea of my forgetting whether I had answered you or not, But I wish to say that Josephine [Josephine Snow Tanner, b. 1859] & Georgiana [Georgiana Snow Thatcher, b. 1862] both owe me letters for I have received no replies to mine sent them from Diaz [Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico] near six weeks since [about Friday 10 Jun 1887]. I am pleased to hear that Orsons [Orson Pratt Snow, b. 1860] wife [Sarah Elizabeth Blackner, b. 1865] has son [Orson Arnold Snow, b. 1887], which no doubt will tend to quicken Ort’s [Orson Pratt Snow, b. 1860] pace and make him fly round more lively to earn shoes & stockings. I infer from your letter that Libby [Elizabeth Ashby Snow Ivins, b. 1854] expects to be confined in August [Aug 1887] as well as Georgiana [Georgiana Snow Thatcher, b. 1862] and Annie [Lulu Stafford Snow, b. 1887] expects it also about the middle of the month and she felt bad at leaving us for we had calculated on keeping her until fall and let E.B. [Erastus Beman Snow, b. 1853] go to Mexico without her, but the programme [program] was suddenly changed by a letter I received from Prest. G. Q. C. [President Geroge Q. Cannon] informing me of the imminant [imminent] danger of Prest. Taylor’s disolution [dissolution - death] and advising my return to Utah, Now since their departure comes another letter from the same source, saying that Prest. T. [President John Taylor] had taken nourishment and a turn for the better and hopes were entertained of his recovery - so I shall wait further developments and take time to finish up my affairs here that need my attention and make further arrangements for building so that if I or any of my family shall have occasion to live here they can have [a] more comfortable house than I now have.

How I should have enjoyed ice cream with you and the company you had invited on the 4^th [4^th of July – 4 Jul 1887] instead of the [?] And there being drenched in mud through Bro Pratts [Helaman Pratt, b. 1846 - http://jared.pratt-family.org/parley_family_histories/helaman-pratt-history.html and http://walkerboot.com/helaman-pratt-journal/] roof for that rain was the heaviest of the season. Our own little hut don’t [doesn't] leak nor [?] and we are quite as comfortable as any body either in this place or in the new town. We have found [?] the Public Square to And my lot for this to [?] & Fort conserving plenty of room for building and fruit trees. Poor Effe Stringham. I am rather glad than sorry that she has gone to rest. Had she been baptised? [baptized] If not get Mary’s consent for you or one of the Twins to go into the Font in her behalf. If Young doesn’t you could be endowed for her also, but the Twins are not yet old enough for that. Yes I accept the self imposed conditions of Statehood. We can live under the prohibition clauses issue as we can in Mexico. Our celestial or spiritual unions are therefore purely religious and not civil contracts under State or national laws. And the new Constitution has no cohabitation clauses and any who, living in the State of Utah, desire to marry other wives can bring them for me to marry in Mexico cheaper than to pay the fine impossed [imposed] by the new Constitution. Please convey to E. G.W. [Edwin Gordon Woolley] and R. C. L. [Robert C. Lund] my congratulations on the happy wording of the prohibition clauses and I hope all my sons will vote for the Constitution. And I shall be happy to minister to Gordon and Robert when they get ready to come over here with their sweet hearts. I lately wrote to J. M. G. [Jedediah M. Grant ?] also to Prest. Teasdale [Elder George Teasdale] suggesting his release in the fall or else sending him his young wives!! Love to yourself & all & all our family Erastus Snow [Erastus Snow, b. 1818]