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Western America collection, 1797-ca. 1898
0.25 linear feet
The Western America collection is a group of miscellaneous individual items relating to the settlement of the western United States, including present-day Wisconsin, California, Oregon, and Missouri.
The Western America collection contains miscellaneous individual items relating to the settlement of the western part of the United States, including present-day Wisconsin, Missouri, Oregon, California, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, and Wyoming. The items span 1797 to ca. 1898, with the bulk of materials concentrated around the 1840s and 1850s. They pertain to numerous topics related to western expansion, and include descriptions of growing towns, discussions of economic opportunities and hardships, references to social customs and mores on the frontier, and scattered mentions of relations with Native Americans.
A few items of note include:
- A letter of May 20, 1832, discussing the Black Hawk War, murder by a prostitute and community backlash against her, and the tarring and feathering of an African American man.
- A description of the Oregon Territory by a recent female settler [ca. 1838].
- A frustrated miner's description of his bad luck in Placerville, California [ca. 1851].
- A letter from Santa Clara, California, concerning the love affair of a miner's wife, and the husband's subsequent abandonment of her and their child with the remark that "such is life in Cal." (June 26-28, 1854)
- A July 15, 1876, description of Geneva, Minnesota, including its ethnic mix, farming prospects, and food.
- A May 21, 1889, letter from a woman to her husband describing the cable-cars and schools of San Francisco, California.
1797 March 13 . John Brown ALS to Zebulon Pike; Banks of Ohio.
3 pages
Box 1
Written to Pike, serving as the Commandant of Fort Massac, Illinois. Arrival was delayed by the frost, causing him to stay among "our old acquaintance in Jersey" who have unfortunately experienced "a great change… in their Political Principle's thousands who we once esteemed as friends to America are the most Infernal Torys I almost hate the People." News of family, land settlements, deeds, money scarcity, and conflict with the French. "I cou'd get no land from Dayton he has been Tolerable clever in Settlement he gave me Six hundred acres for Price in Milatary Warrants you shall have Six hundred acres as soon as the land is Surveyed…" Comments on relevant "Law of Congress" relating to land and military bounties.
1820 February . George Curtis ALS to Isaac Wheeler; Silver Creek, [Edwardsville, Illinois].
4 pages
Box 1
Worked in Saint Louis. During his return journey from Saint Louis, where he was getting lumber and leather, he burned his feet on the campfire trying to stay warm. Believes an acquaintance's story of poor health is a falsehood. Land is good out west, but it best serves single men as it proves expensive and sickly. Gives notes on the weather. Crossed the Mississippi on a horse-drawn sleigh.
1831 February 14 . H. A. Lynch ALS to David K. Lynch; St. Louis, Missouri.
Box 1
Comments on severe winter weather, cost of living, farm produce prices, and advantages of prairie life.
1832 May 20 . H. A. Lynch ALS to David K. Lynch; St. Louis, Missouri.
Box 1
Mentions Black Hawk War. Notes a murder by a prostitute and community backlash against her. African American man was tarred and feathered.
1836 October 2 . Mark Marshall ALS to W. [J.?] Marshall; Milwaukee, [Wisconsin Territory].
3 pages
Box 1
Comments on the news his brother sent of their family back in England. Learned of a death from the newspaper Emigrant & Old Countr[y]man. Working as a carpenter and joiner, recently moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from White Pigeon, [Michigan]. Describes Milwaukee. Comments on the abundance of fresh water in Wisconsin, the little surveying that has been done, and land sales. Mentions local Native Americans. Notes the lack of marriageable women, but recently more have been arriving. Describes wages in the area for carpenters and joiners, common laborers, servants. Requests a copy of the newspaper The New York Herald, and provides directions on how to mail it.
1837 October 30 . J. Tuttle ALS to [Lydia C. Tuttle]; Peoria, [Illinois].
3 pages
Box 1
Illinois climate suits him well, but his wife and others have been sickly, mainly with bilious fever. Recent "stagnation of trade" has made land difficult to sell and undervalued. Notes others who are determined to return to the East. "... I still think it is the Country to make money and one of the finest forming countries in the World but the person that comes here and expects to find all the luxuries and refinements of life geets mistaken." Discusses Peoria's future prospects as a city, living with another family, and his farm.
1838 June 23 . Caroline Hubbard and Sophia Hubbard ALS to Sally Billings; Troy, Wisconsin.
3 pages
Box 1
Letter to their grandmother and friend in North Hadley, delivered by hand so no postal markings present. Doing well despite a long, tedious journey of 1,700 miles and father being absent in Chicago upon their arrival. Describes their log cabin, grove, and garden, and having twelve neighbors in the area. Hoping her children take good care of her in her old age. Praises the beauty and richness of the "new country." Religious gratitude and reflections.
1838 September 30 . Salmon Sawyer ALS to Aaron Sawyer; Appanoose, Illinois.
4 pages
Box 1
Responding to his cousin, who had inquired about "speculation &c in the West." Some think the area "the very Garden of the world while others… are disappointed and return back." Living three miles or more from streams and rivers minimizes chances of sickness. Area is excellent for selling goods. Business is principally done on navigable streams. Persons who are able to speak in native languages are able to engage in profitable trading with Native Americans. The Blackhawks will not speak English. He also notes: blacksmithing is in high demand, prices of foodstuffs, land speculation in Iowa Territory, types of trees, and hunters and rifles. [Note: Original is located in the Duane N. Diedrich Collection]