Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, September 23, 1866

In this letter from September 23, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing an upcoming visit by Thomas C. Durant, Vice-President of the Union Pacific Railroad. Reed also notes that he plans to go west soon and will be gone for most of the week, which he hopes will be his last trip for the season.

I have just learned through George Francis Train that Mr. Durant and party will come west about the 10th of October. I hope that there will be but few in the party. Unless the rain ceases soon we cannot get to the end of the line. I go west this week and expect to be gone most, if not all, the week and hope this will be the last trip beyond the end of the track this season.

About this time Mr. Reed was taken down with typhoid fever and was not able to resume his duties until the middle of January 1867 when he was called to New York.

About this Document

  • Source: Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family
  • Citation: Nebraska State Historical Society, Samuel Reed Papers (Union Pacific Railroad Collection), MS 3761, Unit 1, Subgroup 14, Series 1, Box 2, Letters to Wife and Family
  • Date: September 23, 1866