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  • | Letter

    Letter from Claudius Crozet to the Virginia Board of Public Works, November 5, 1854

    Claudius Crozet comments on the problems with white labor on the Tunnel project, and the possibilities for increasing the use of black slaves.

  • | Letter

    Letter from D. F. Jewell to George P. Cather, September 30, 1927

    In his September 20, 1927 letter to George P. Cather, D.F. Jewell asks about the possibility of buying or leasing some of Cather's land or selling or trading his own.

  • | Letter

    Letter from D. F. Shipre to George P. Cather, March 3, 1900

    On March 3, 1900, D.F. Shipre of Quickville, Kansas writes to George P. Cather about the possibility of buying or leasing the land adjoining his current property. He estimates the cost at $100-$175 per quarter section (about 160 acres).

  • | Letter

    Letter from D. F. Shipre to George P. Cather, September 23, 1901

    A year and a half after sending his first letter to George P. Cather, D.F. Shipre writes again on in September 1901, to inquire about purchasing or leasing land adjoining his current spread. He tells Cather that he wants the land as pasture for his cattle and estimates paying a higher price for the land than he did in his first letter. Inquiring about Cather's slow response and fearing it is because Cather distrusts land agents, Shipre informs Cather that he is only a farmer and a poor one at that.

  • | Letter

    Letter from D. F. Vanniss to George P. Cather, December 23, 1878

    On December 23, 1878 D.F. Vanniss informs George P. Cather of a death in his family delaying his trip to Nebraska. Vanniss wants to purchase a productive 160 acres of railroad land and asks Cather if he can buy it before he arrives to ensure that it is not sold to someone else. He tells Cather that he plans to make Webster County his new home, and wonders about the possibility of growing fruit in Nebraska-requesting that Cather send him a report of the temperature on New Year's Day.

  • | Letter

    Letter from E. D. Crabb to George P. Cather, March 16, 1923

    On March 16, 1923 E.D. Crabb writes to George P. Cather inquiring about renting a quarter section of his land for two or three years for the purpose of raising winter wheat on it. Crabb, a resident of Colby, Kansas, additionally listed his location as "East View Ranch - Home of Pure Bred Aberdeen-Angus Cattle", indicating an establishment in Kansas. Combined with his request of only renting for a short time, Crabb's request marks a shift from earlier land transactions where owners moved to a new location for the sake of land. Crabb apparently believed he could administrate from afar.

  • | Letter

    Letter from E. P. Sherwood to George P. Cather, December 21, 1888

    In his December 22, 1888 letter to George P. Cather, E.P. Sherwood writes from London Mills, Illinois about the price of land and the availability of water in Webster County, Nebraska.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Francis and Sarah Sim to Mother and Father, February 5, 1860

    In this February 5, 1860 letter from Francis and Sarah Sim to Sarah's parents, Francis tells of the abundance of food produced on their farm and of the migration patterns of settlers in the region. He invites them to visit them, pointing out that they can make most of the journey by railroad and the remainder by steamboat.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Francis Sim to John C. Clark, August 15, 1858

    Francis Sim's August 15, 1858 letter to his brother, John C. Clark describes the results of "the Election" and his great satisfaction in the triumph of "the People" over the Democrats-a marked contrast, he observes, to the political events in Kansas. He also reports on the development of Otoe, Nebraska, and the corruption that marks land sales in the area. Though times are hard, he thinks that his family has enough, and he gives a full listing of his crops and livestock.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Francis Sim to Mother and Father, May 5, 1857

    In this May 5, 1857 letter, Francis Sim writes to his parents and describes the details of his wife's mental illness. Apparently triggered by the death of their son, Sarah Sim's depression causes her to try to kill herself and her remaining children. Francis laments her condition and the loss of his son, as well as his struggle to try to maintain his farm while protecting his wife and children from physical harm.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Frank C. Bunley to George P. Cather, May 11, 1878

    On May 11, 1878 Frank C. Bunley solicits advice on a potential land purchase in Nebraska from George P. Cather. He also inquires about the proximity of the railroad to Cather's land.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Genie Hathaway to Frank, February 23, 1880

    In the first part of her February 23, 1880 letter to Frank, Genie Hathaway rapturously describes the luxuries of riding in a Pullman car on the way to Chicago. She mentions several of her fellow passengers, one of whom is female world traveler. The second part of her letter describes the vulgarity of the passengers traveling with her in a "common car". Part of the letter is damaged.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Henry Wilson, January 1, 1872

    In this January 1, 1872 letter, Henry Wilson states that on the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company's lands in Iowa and Nebraska, "the class we most want is Farmers or Land buyers." In his estimation, the climate and environment are best suited for agriculture and the prospects for "persons dependent on their labor are not so good as in older States," which would make it difficult for them to succeed in America.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John C. Clark (Willis) to Wealthy A. Hathaway, January 30, 1880

    In this January 30, 1880 letter, John C. Clark writes to his sister, Wealthy Hathaway, of the details of his sister's illness. He describes Sarah Sim's tumors and the slim chances of her recovery.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John M. Newton to John B. Kellogg and John McConihe, December 27, 1856

    In this December 27, 1856 letter, John M. Newton writes to John B. Kellogg and John McConihe about their land claims in Nebraska. He notes that the leading men of the area have petitioned Washington to open the Land Claims Office so that land can officially be purchased. He assures Kellogg and McConihe that their claims are safe from claim jumpers because the snow has been two feet deep, the roads impassable, and the temperatures 16-20 degrees below zero for the past month (unsurprisingly, he views the lack of timber as a serious downside to the land). Newton assures the other two men that their land claims are an excellent investment, and predicts rapid settlement of the region once land is officially available and the weather clears.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John M. Newton to John B. Kellogg, February 24, 1857

    John M. Newton writes to John Kellogg on February 24, 1857 about the problem of claim jumpers in the area. He describes local efforts to curtail claim jumping and the penalties facing those wrongfully inhabiting land. The funding of a capitol building and road improvements are also discussed, with Newton effusive about the positive impact of roads with good bridges, comparing it to a railroad.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John McConhie to John Kellogg, September 23, 1857

    John McConihe writes to John Kellogg on September 23, 1857 about the loan he has made to John Newton to enable him to leave town and provides an account of their business expenses in settling Beatrice, Nebraska.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, April 22, 1859

    In this April 22, 1859 letter from John McConihe to his business partner, John Kellogg, McCohihe predicts the positive effect the Pike's Peak Gold Rush will have on the land he and Kellogg are selling come summer.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, August 11, 1860

    In this August 11, 1860 letter to John Kellogg, John McConihe writes of his speculation with gold rush miners and his anticipation of the appointment of a congressional delegate from the Nebraska territory. He also notes that a telegraph is being built in Omaha and that he feels this will lead to further settlement in Nebraska.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, August 15, 1857

    On August 15, 1857, John McConihe writes to John Kellogg about their shared land transactions in Nebraska and news of others who have fallen on hard times. Though the real estate market is not as hearty as he had hoped (which he attributes to "Kansas Shriekers," "Emigrants", and "the tight money market at the East"), he is still confident that the market will improve. McConihe envies Kellogg for enjoying "cool sea breezes" on the coast, while he has just endured a 70-hour dust storm, and predicts that Omaha will become "the town" in Nebraska.