Search

Wishes she and her children could come to California. Is sewing and taking in boarders for money. Fear for Joshua’s welfare in California.

Anxious to hear from his cousin; wishes he were there to escort her to the city. Description of a miner's wife having an affair, after which the miner left her with their child: "but such is life in Cal." Mills works on a farm and sells eggs in San Francisco.

Describes his activities on the prairie, including killing snakes, mowing hay, picking berries, and other agricultural activities. Notes about education and reading, including Lucretia considering quitting her attendance at school and receiving copies of the Juvenile Instructor, the Wool Grower, and Rural New Yorker. Comments on watermelons, tomatoes, potatoes, and corn crops and baking pies and cakes. Health of children and other locals, reports of cholera in Perrysburg. Briefly mentions the "Catholick matter," "I hope we may all live until we are endangered by that, that is unless we should dash into a lawless mob in some large city… possibly there may be an organization of men to effect the release of Osborn but that will be in the city and soldiers will have to put it down." "…wishing you all health and happiness, and plenty of work and lots of cash for it."

Description of life on the "rolling prairie." Includes remarks on job prospects (teaching over bookkeeping or surveying), how best to travel to La Motte from Chicago, and costs of various types of foods. He notes that the population consists mostly of Methodists and Baptists from New York State.

Details about insurance for buildings at Salem, [Massachusetts], and matters about a Boston estate. News of acquaintances, "exorbitant" cost of "hired help" Mention of Fourth of July parades and a destructive fire. Benefit for building the Second Baptist Church.

Letter to wife concerning difficulties with a Mr. Jervis.

Discusses transportation to Wisconsin. Advocates farming in Wisconsin and describes the land, geography, and agriculture.

Recently emigrated to Iowa and are now living on the land they hope to own "for fear some one will jump it and get it away from us." Brief mention of cooking, local fruits, wild elk and wolves, and a tame deer. Notes high emigration rates: "the people are coming here this spring like a swarm of beas." Jokes about the high number of bachelors and the possibility of the recipient finding a marriage partner. "... they talk of sending of East after a ship load of old maids perhaps they may come acrose you and take you in."

Letter responding to Maltson, who wishes to purchase lumber, giving him information on the lumber industry in the area. He explains the benefits of purchasing lumber from Native American lumbermen versus those funded by Chicago investors. [Note: Original located in the Native American History Collection]

A merchant writes of wanting to leave, California weather, and settlers.