When Samson paid Mr. Gollaher, a “detector” came with the latter to look at the money before it was accepted.  There were many counterfeits and bills good only at a certain discount of face value, going about those days and the detector was in great request.  Directly after moving in, Samson dug a well and lined it with a hollow log.  He bought tools and another team and then he and Harry began their fall plowing.  Day after day for weeks they paced with their turning furrows until a hundred acres, stretching half a mile to the west and well to the north of the house, were black with them.  Fever and ague descended upon the little home in the early winter.

In a letter to her brother, dated January 4th, 1832, Sarah writes: 

* * * * *

“We have been longing for news from home, but not a word has come from you.  It don’t seem as if we could stand it unless we hear from you or some of the folks once in a while.  We are not dead just because we are a thousand miles away.  We want to hear from you.  Please write and let us know how father and mother are and all the news.  Is Elizabeth Ranney married yet, and how does the minister get along with his new wife?  We have all been sick with the fever and ague.  It is a beautiful country and the soil very rich, but there is some sickness.  Samson and I were both sick at the same time.  I never knew Samson to give up before.  He couldn’t go on, his head ached so.  Little Joe helped me get the fire started and brought some water and waited on us.  Then the little man put on his coat and mittens and trudged away to the village with Betsey after the doctor.  Harry Needles had gone away to Springfield for Mr. Offut with a drove of hogs.  Two other boys are with him.  He is going to buy a new suit.  He is a very proud boy.  Joe and Betsey got back with the doctor at nine.  That night Abe Lincoln came and sat up with us and gave us our medicine and kept the fire going.  It was comical to see him lying beside Joe in his trundle bed, with his long legs sticking over the end of it and his feet standing on the floor about a yard from the bed.  He was spread all over the place.  He talked about religion, and his views would shock most of our friends in the East.  He doesn’t believe in the kind of Heaven that the ministers talk about or any eternal hell.  He says that nobody knows anything about the hereafter, except that God is a kind and forgiving father and that all men are His children.  He says that we can only serve God by serving each other.  He seems to think that every man, good or bad, black or white, rich or poor, is his brother.  He thinks that Henry Clay, next to Daniel Webster, is the greatest man in the country.  He is studying hard.  Expects to go out and make speeches for Clay next summer.  He is quite severe in his talk against General Jackson.  He and Samson agree in politics and religion.  They are a good deal alike.  He is very fond of Samson and Harry—­calls them his partners.  He said to Samson the other evening.