September 17, 1860 | Letter
In this letter from September 17, 1860, former Democratic governor of Illinois Joel A. Matteson writes a recommendation for Samuel Reed to take with him while he is in the South. Matteson states that he worked under Reed's direction in the past and writes "should any person want the services of an engineer of great experience they can find no person of better capacity to do any thing in his profession."
January 30, 1880 | Letter
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.
February 18, 1864 | Letter
John Isom designates a black church in Nashville to serve as a copper and tin shop.
December 27, 1856 | Letter
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.
February 24, 1857 | Letter
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.
September 23, 1857 | Letter
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.
April 22, 1859 | Letter
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.
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.
August 15, 1857 | Letter
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.
August 2, 1857 | Letter
On August 2, 1857, John McConihe writes to John Kellogg about their shared business interests in Nebraska. McConihe rejoices in the rapid progress Beatrice is making as a town, but regrets their investments in Council Bluffs, IA, as he feels Omaha, Nebraska is becoming the more prosperous city. He writes of the difficulties of speculation, resting in the certainty that "in the long run money will be made."
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.
December 27, 1858 | Letter
John McConihe's December 27, 1858 letter to John Kellogg discusses several business transactions and mentions his re-appointment as personal secretary to the new governor. McConihe also expresses his opposition to a plan to annex part of Nebraska to Kansas, fearing it will set Nebraska back "full ten years."
December 7, 1858 | Letter
This December 7, 1858 letter from John McConihe to his business partner, John Kellogg, requests money for cattle speculation. McConihe hopes to make a large profit selling the cattle to gold miners in the spring. He also mentions his appointment as one of five Notary Publics in Omaha.
January 1, 1860 | Letter
John McConihe's January 1, 1860 letter to his business partner, John Kellogg, includes a business statement of their interests for the year 1859 and proposes a plan for splitting their property so that McConihe can sell more easily during economically lean times. McConihe also assures Kellogg that his return to New York is not occasioned by a "lovely Angel", but only business concerns.
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.
July 17, 1859 | Letter
This brief July 17, 1859 letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg notes the slower-than-expected sales of land warrants and his participation in a clash with Pawnee Indians.
June 15, 1857 | Letter
John McConihe writes to John Kellogg on June 15, 1857 about his efforts to incorporate the town of Beatrice, Nebraska and organize the political structure of the county. He praises the town's location next to the Big Blue River, and predicts rapid settlement, since "the emigrants are following in our tracks daily". He expresses the wish that Kellogg could arrive soon with "lots of money" because of all the potential for investment and development.
June 21, 1857 | Letter
On June 21, 1857, John McConihe writes to John Kellogg about their investments in southeast Nebraska, particularly in the town of Beatrice. McConihe tells Kellogg that he does not know why it takes mail longer to arrive from the East than it does to be sent to it, though he blames road and weather conditions in Iowa for much of the delay. He rounds out the letter with news of the first circus in Nebraska, their friend Newton's regrettable foray into bookkeeping, and statements of optimism about the West.
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 1, 1858 | Letter
On May 1, 1858, John McConihe writes to John Kellogg about meeting with John Newton in Cincinnati, the behavior of the Indians in town, and the quality of the whiskey available in his town. Most of the letter focuses on the Panic of 1857 and its effects on land speculations and new construction.