Transcript of a second letter from William to Johnathan Butler by James T. Faasen: Entry St. Joseph Nov 9 1832 Respected Parent Sir, I impose my time to inform you that my health and self since I left you. I returned to Brownhelm on Friday (Saturday) morn after you left. tolerable well, concluded to go to Buffalo. Maria & George informed me you expected to spend the Sabbath at Mr. Miners near Erie. I took the steamer S.Thompson. Sunday morn at Huron. Landed at Erie in evening, Monday morning went out to Mr. M. and heard you went on. On Saturday, I took stage for Buffalo but only went to Springfield and into Buffalo Tuesday eve. Heard of you going in to Buffalo on Monday eve but could not hear of you in the city. Sent 3 Nights. Reached Detroits on 17th Sept Land Office White Pigeon Prairie, St. Joseph County and entered my Land 22nd Sept. got home 25. un well several day before got a very severe attack of fever the night before I got home. but I had a Frenchman & an Indian to paddle the canoe. I lay very sick for12,15 Days came up here the 20th Oct, went up to Elkhart Prairie, purchased my grain, and returned to this on the 3rd, the Manenga & Detroit were in and left when I went up the Napoleon & Austerliz none lying at anchor out the bar very heavy Gail. Nov 14 I now take my pen again and have the unpleasant news. to record, that the Austerliz Boat on crossing the barr, a coming in the river, capsize, and Capt. Miller a Gentleman Passenger a resident of Chicago and two hands were drowned, two hands were saved. The wind still continues to blow almost a Gail. It is now 11 Days I have been waiting here and not a time I could go with my Sail Boat [Page Break] I am very anxious to get home have a hired man and a surveyor to go down with me. The surveyor will return soon, hope we will be able to go in two or three days. I was extremely fortunate in getting my land entered and home before sick. I have sort you a plot of a fractional town at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River have designated the particular valuable points I have been very successful in getting my situation and think some so in getting St. Petro and all land entered there on can be till sale which will be next June. I wish that I could obtain the fraction of 46. 70/100 acres at the mouth of the river and have wrote brother Epaphras situation and solicited him to come out in the course of winter and make improvements on it and try for a preemption it is not probable that it will pass till late in session if at all say by march would do if no preemption a chance of purchase at sale if he liked he could help me put in a crop and get his family on next season, if not perhaps he would like some other part of country but little trouble or expense to make trail for a preemption and if successful it would be a very pretty speculation. I thought you would willing to assist him to leave his family in a comfortable situation and expense money wish you would write him soon your mind and wishes, but now is the time next season will not do. You wished me write particulars of my situation. I have been successful to get my situation and think it a very good fortune but that I would not be able to get any thing near the value at this time, but wish and hope I will be able to keep it for a few years. The proprietors of this town sold shares of this place at a rate of $3,000 two years ago since now will bring thirty thousand of more. The most I have been offered was $500 cash and a store of goods to do business on commission for a length of time for one half my reserving Burying Ground & House lot, but have not offered it for less than $2,500 for an undivided half except in the above lots and the Gentleman that made the above offer thought it worth what I asked when he there last season and this season when he made the offer. [Page Break] II borrowed of Mr. Robinson of Grand River four hundred sixty dollars till June next at 10 per Ct for which I gave a transfer of my certificates for security. I think if I am able to hold on to my place I. Shall be able to pay you and all others. I shall need about $1,000 in Spring to refund to Mr. Robinson, purchase a little more Land, build me a house & ware house. I am sorry to solicit you to come so long a journey to see us but must solicit you to come out here in Spring and see us. To bring out all Paper appertaining to all our old affairs and I will give you a mortgage to satisfy you and if you have funds and could assist me or purchase some Land, I will give you security for all Stake and think you would make a good speculation in purchasing Land, if you are able to undertake the journey. I hope you will make it convenient and will not mind expense. I shall not solicit you ever to come to see me so far again and hope. you will and not fail to come in Spring, another season will not a[torn] and I think you will be well satisfied or I should not request it and trust it will be quite to your interest. I wish you to write me soon after receipt of this and inform me your mind and wishes and prospect your coming out in Spring your helping me. Epaphras coming to this country &c. direct me to Kallamazoo Harbor, Saranac Post Office, M. It is very important that I know before or early in Spring as I shall want to get money of some other person if not of you before June as the Land will come in market in June. If you should come you would need to come as early in May as possible. I am very certain there is no mistake in speculation a Land in this country. I received 2 kegs butter & 1 Bal Cheese per Napoleon this day from George & Maria. Had purchased each here before receiving for use till Spring but they are good cash articles at 10 & 18 3/4 cts please accept my own and Mary’s best wishes and give them to all others that inquire if any. —with much respect from your son William G. Mr. Jonathan Butler 2nd Hartford Ct _____ Notes from James T. Faasen: Here is a transcript of Butler’s 2nd known letter to his father. Words like "heare" have been changed to "here" and so on It is very interesting and might change some existing notions on the beginnings of Saugatuck. It also seems to verify the existing of the fractional town of Kalamazoo Harbor And in that, might change when Comstock and Nichols arrived and started a store, by almost two years. Vessels have been verified, the steamer Sheldon Thompson was a 3 masted side wheel paddle boat with an interesting history in the Black Hawk War The drowned Capt. Miller is most likely Wells Miller, but no other info found to confirm that, except he had a Brother Capt. Frederick Miller of Buffalo that help him with the rigging.