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June 23, 1857 Letter,
Lone Mountain, Tennessee Correspondence from David Moore in Claibourne
County, Loan (sic) Mountain, Tennessee to family in Linn County,
Missouri. This letter contains info about hardship, deaths and family
news. It is written by James Hodges for David Moore who wasn't able to
write it himself. He says, "...I can inform you that we are yet on this
land of the living sometimes uppon our feet and some times a bed on
account of our age and febleness of boddy. we do not think our time
will be long in this presant world but have hope that when death has
finished his office in this world that our soals will be conve(ye)d to
the world of eternal bliss where trobles trial and dificulties will be
all done a way (sic)." He goes on to say, "We chose James Hodges the
writer of this ?* as our guardian to take the charge of our affairs and
am now living in his own house and are well satisfied with him (sic)."
He continues with, "Times has bee so hard that good men cannot pay
there debts unless they are corn sellers. The corn is worth from one to
one and a half dollars per bushel and very scarce at that. We have
between three and four hundred dollars yet at interest and 1 horse, 1
cow, our household and hitching furniture so you need not be a feared
of our suffering for somehting to eat provided it can be had for mony
(sic)." David takes over writing, "July the 5th 1857 I have concluded
to finish my letter and can in form you that the wheat crop is now redy
for cuttin and thereis a tolerable good crop and has come in good time
for the corn is very near consumed (sic)." He states, "...my daughter
Polly has been very low but has recovered again. She was delivered of a
dead child..." and "...am proud to have the opportunity of living where
the gospel is preached in it purity especially in my old age..." also,
"...that we may enter into the gates of the city where we will have no
need of the sun nor of the moon for the lord God will be the light of
the city..." (sic) Parts of this letter have faded and the text has
been enhanced with pencil (not by my hand) to make it readable.This
letter has been folded and it has some holes. It is 12" x 7-1/2",
folded and written on 3 sides. (personal reference #4211)
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June 25, 1852 Letter,
Gold Rush Era Correspondence from Lusinda Lewis on the road to Oregon
to her sister, Elizabeth Lewis in Linn County, Missouri. This letter
contains info about the trip fromTennesse to Oregon where Lusinda, her
husband Fielding and their children were emigrating. Lucinda and two of
her children later died making the journey. She says, "We have had
verry good luck with our stock. We have not lost but one senc we have
ben on the road but we have had a ?* of sickness but ?* death in our
famley but we had severl deaths in our ?* but none tha you new...
(sic)." She goes on to say, "We are now about 10 wks from forte Larmey.
We have had a verry peasent jurney if it had not ben for sickness
(sic)." She speaks of the desire of seeing her sister again and says,
"...if it should be so that I should not se you every more in this
world I am in hope that I may meate you in the world to com (sic)." She
adds some words to, "Dear Cosens (sic)" where she mentions, "...I have
been sick some on this road but am well at this time." This letter has
a postmark from Ft. Laramie in the Wyoming territory. There is no
mention of gold in this letter. This letter has been folded and it has
some small holes. It is 9-1/4" x 7-3/4", written on 1 and 1/2 pages and
another 1/2 page. (personal reference #4203)
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November 29, 1850
Letter, Gold Rush Era Correspondence from Charles Lewis at Diamond
Springs in Eldorado County, California to his wife Elizabeth Lewis in
Linn County, Missouri. Charles and his son Lee left Missouri in June
1850 to go to California in search of gold. This letter starts off with
apologize for having not written more often but he offers, "...that I
have been waiting to acquire a more perfect knowledg of the country in
reference to the gold diggings, the general locality of the country but
I am sorry to say that owing to bad health together with other
difficulties I have not been able to acquire but a limited knowledge
(sic)." He reports of Lee also being sick and goes on to say, "We had a
tedious trip across the plains often coming in contact with water so
impregnated with alkali & other mineral substances as to render it
almost nausiating & dangerous for man and beast. A great portion of
the road the worst perhaps that ?* teams ever emigrated (sic)." He
states, "In a few days I have thought of coming home during the winter
or next spring but if I should strike a lead & get to making money
I shall remain longer. I have been in the mines since the 6th Sept. and
during that time have been able to make but little more than expenses.
There is gold in this country but in my opinion the mines is throughly
worked & in many place very near exhausted so it depends altogether
in luck if a man can make money atall & entirely chance if he makes
a fortune. ...it is a hard place to get along in (sic)." He says, "I
have never known what it was to be deprived of the society of my family
until I left home on this trip." and "...we have most of our provisions
laid in for 5 or 6 months." He asks that Elizabeth give his brother
Fielding a message, "...tell him to take the advise of a brother who
wishes (there is a hole here) well & never start across the plains
with his family." (As an aside, Fielding does cross the plains with his
wife and four children, emigrating to Oregon. His wife Lusinda and two
children perish on the trip.) This letter has a Sacramento postmark.
Unfortunately, this letter has been torn and taped. This letter has
been folded and it has some holes. It is 12" x 7-3/4", written on 1-1/2
pages. (personal reference #4206)
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November 29, 1850
Letter, Gold Rush Era Correspondence from Charles Lewis at Diamond
Springs in Eldorado County, California to his wife Elizabeth Lewis in
Linn County, Missouri. Charles and his son Lee left Missouri in June
1850 to go to California in search of gold.
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November 29, 1850
Letter, Gold Rush Era Correspondence from Charles Lewis at Diamond
Springs in Eldorado County, California to his wife Elizabeth Lewis in
Linn County, Missouri.
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October 7, 1864 Letter,
Civil War Era Correspondence from a son to his mother and written on
paper with a battlefield scene printed on it. There are no names here.
This letter is from "Collumba, Mo (sic)." He writes, "It is with
pleasure that i take this opportunity to let you no that i am well and
doing well and hope this may find you the same. peat and Chris and will
is well and doing well and i never engoyed as good helth in my life
(sic)." He goes on to say, "i hav got a good horse now he is a fine
rone. we have got the best quaters that i ever seen." and " i wood like
to bee at home a fiew days to see the folks and get wood for you
(sic)." He references getting a letter from her and continues with, "we
will get our pay as soon as we go to macon city. i made 5 dolars in a
saddle trade and that has done me up till this time. i have got some of
it yet. i like this place ?* if we dont get to go one the railrode i
wood like to winter here. (sic)" He then says, "i want you to write me
as soon as you get this and write to me how my horse is and how my calf
is and how my hogs is and whather my corn is going to hold out or not
and how my dogs is whather they are eny acount or not (sic)." The only
reference he makes to the civil war is the line, "...and tell the
rebels to go to thunder". This letter has been folded and it has some
holes. It is 9-3/4" x 7-3/4", folded and written on 1-1/2 sides.
(personal reference #4207)
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December 27, 1852
Letter, Gold Rush Era. Coorespondence from Lee Lewis in California to
G. Brownlee in Missouri. This letter contains references about family
news. Lee and his father Charles left Missouri in June 1850 to go to
California in search of gold. Lee speaks of hearing of sickness back
home and says " I fear some of you have fell victim to some of the
diseases of which Missouri is subject. " He tells " Times is perty
heard (sic) here that is to make a fortune in a short time.But to make
a living it is an easy matter. Wages is worth from $75 and one hundred
and fifty per month. " He lists prices of stock as well as food. He
says " I expect to remain here some time if not alwais (sic). I may
come back once to see you all and get me a wife and some stock such as
cattle, cows and oxen for I think if a man could get one hundred head
of cows here he would have his pile already. " He gives advise on
emigrating to California, " ...bring all the stock you are able, don't
be in too much of a hurry to get through. Take good care of your stock,
travel regular but don't rush, be verry (sic) careful about crossing
water. Never venture in to swim in North Plat nor Green river for there
was a grate (sic) many drowned rising to the swiftness, coldness of the
water. " He speaks of being healthy, of the delightful climate in
California. He mentions someone mining the middle fork of the American
river and " ...he had made about one thousand dollars. " This letter
has some paper loss and one corner of the back page is missing. It is
7-5/8" x 10", written on three pages. (personal reference #4208)
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