Today’s offering is Will Buswell’s earliest letter that I have, written to his mother from Brookings, SD, in 1903 (March 5). [That’s where one of the South Dakota’s universities is located.] I’m not sure what kind of a training course he enrolled in, but he did eventually become an architect and skilled builder, so I know he paid attention.

[In case you haven’t been following yet, Will Buswell’s mother was Mary Louisa Davies Buswell, the mother of my mom’s mother.]

Envelope addressed to Mrs. J.M. Buswell, Shindler, SD

Brookings, SD • Mar 5 – 03
Dear Mother,

I received your letter last week. The snow has all gone here and the mud is drying up fast with a heavy south wind. I went to the Methodist Church twice today. I have gone mostly to the Presbyterian as they have a better preacher. The Methodist preacher reads his sermons. The Methodists are going to have a new $20,000 church next year. The Presbyterian church cost as much and the Baptist is a very pricey one.

A good many of the boys are going home now to begin spring work and some of the classes look slim. Tell Fred [his brother] to get some barley ground and feed the mules and lady all they will eat, but not enough so they will leave any. Give them some whole until he can get it ground. He had better get it ground at Park Hobsons.

I have not got along very well with my music as my voice has been more or less hoarse all winter. I have not had much cold but my voice has not been clear. Still I have got some good out of it.

I was in hopes that Mr. Whipple would stay until I came home. I would like to see him and hear him talk of Cuba.

I have finished a pair of tongs and just began to work in steel.

Tell Eva [his sister] that I get plenty to eat here and it is always ready on time. It does not take near as much as it used to for me or any of the boys here. I don’t believe any of us eat half as much as we did the first two weeks.

Tell Fred to hurry up and send me the money if he has not as I want to be sure and have it in plenty of time to go home. If my mules were sold, I would like to stay here a while longer.

Your loving son,
W.J. Buswell

My music teacher is a great one, but not as good as Mr. Indreth.