August 11, 1860 | Letter
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.
September 21, 1860 | Letter
In this September 21, 1860 letter, John McConihe writes to friend and business partner, John Kellogg, about his beginning freighting business and his hopes for future prosperity in that area. He mentions the upswing in the optimism of Nebraskans about their future prosperity since the completion of a telegraph to Omaha.
October 18, 1860 | Letter
John McConihe's October 18, 1860 letter to John Kellogg reports his frustration over the death of one of his mules on the supply wagon he has sent to the West and reports the close results of the election for a Congressional delegate. The telegraph line has been extended from Omaha to Kearney, and this, coupled with a stagecoach route from Omaha to Denver, indicates to him that Nebraskans "are getting to be of some account."
December 23, 1860 | Letter
In this December 23, 1860 letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, McConihe recounts the fate of the freight he sent to Denver and his plans to send another supply train west in February. McConihe also informs Kellogg of his plans to return to New York and expresses his confidence that the Union will "be patched up" in time for him to turn a profit the next year.
March 15, 1861 | Letter
In this March 15, 1861 letter from John McConihe to friend and business partner John Kellogg, McConihe mentions a few general business transactions and tells of organizing another freight load to send to Denver.
May 6, 1861 | Letter
In this May 6, 1861 letter from John McConihe to his friend and business partner, John Kellogg, McConihe tells of his lack of success in freighting goods to Denver (a failure he blames on the Civil War curtailing westward migration) and his decision to quit the venture. He also expresses his disappointment in the territorial government and about the handling of the Civil War. He closes the letter on a happier note, congratulating Kellogg on his impending marriage and graduation from the "Bachelor circle".
July 12, 1861 | Letter
In his July 12, 1861 letter, John McConihe writes to his business partner, John Kellogg, lamenting his financial losses in his Denver speculation scheme and from the government's failure to pay him what he is owed. McConihe asks for Kellogg's patience in awaiting repayment and reports that he has joined the army as a captain to support himself.
October 29, 1863 | Letter
IIn her October 29, 1863 letter to her sister, Sarah Sim describes the deaths of her daughters, Helen and Mary, from diphtheria. She also mentions the recent birth of another son, and her struggles to maintain her own health while watching three sons under the age of three. With her childcare burdens, she fears that she will not be able to return to the East for a winter visit.
March 25, 1867 | Letter
In this March 25, 1867 letter, Sarah Sim tells her mother of Nebraska's recent attainment of statehood and of the expansion of the railroad across Nebraska. She reports that there is over 300 miles of railroad in Nebraska west of Omaha, and predicts easy access to any part of the country within a year.
January 1, 1872 | Letter
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.
January 5, 1872 | Letter
In this January 5, 1872 letter from C. R. Schaller to A. E. Touzalin, Schaller outlines a plan to use London's conservative press to advertise the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company's lands in Nebraska.
January 15, 1872 | Letter
In this January 15, 1872 letter from Joseph E. Osborn to George S. Harris, Osborn describes his efforts at recruiting European immigrants to Iowa and Nebraska in the United States. He expects a small number of immigrants this year, but hopes that the seeds he has sown will bear fruit in future years.
February 5, 1872 | Letter
In this February 5, 1872 letter from Joseph E. Osborn to George S. Harris, Osborn reports on his work in Europe, publicizing the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company's lands in Iowa and Nebraska. He has printed 10,000 copies of a land brochure to be distributed in Denmark and Norway.
February 15, 1872 | Letter
In this February 15, 1872 letter from Joseph E. Osborn to George S. Harris, Osborn describes the results of a business trip to Norway, in which he tried to find favorable rates of passage for Norwegian immigrants who have purchased Burlington and Missouri River Railroad land in Iowa and Nebraska.
March 1, 1872 | Letter
In this March 1, 1872 letter from C. R. Schaller to George S. Harris, Schaller writes a letter of introduction for Mr. Louis McCandless of Moville, describing his intentions to start a colony and detailing his excellent work habits.
April 19, 1872 | Letter
In this April 19, 1872 letter from Joseph E. Osborn to George S. Harris, Osborn describes the immigrants headed to Burlington and Missouri River Railroad lands in Nebraska and Iowa as being "as poor as church rats."
May 11, 1878 | Letter
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.
October 5, 1878 | Letter
In a letter dated October 5, 1878, B.F. Noble writes to George P. Cather from Franklin County, Ohio, about the relative quality of the land available in Nebraska. Noble particularly wants land "within 2 or 3 miles of Railroad and Church." He indicates that his interest in Nebraska land was spurred by publications put forth by a railroad company.
October 23, 1878 | Letter
The October 23, 1878 letter from N.T. Waters in Illinois to George P. Cather requests information about available land in Webster County, Nebraska. Waters' primary concern is that the land contains a stream with drinkable water, and asks specifically about sections of land seen on a land map provided by the railroad.
December 23, 1878 | Letter
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.