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  • | Letter

    Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, May 26, 1858

    On May 26, 1858, John McConihe wrote to his business partner, John Kellogg, about the breaking of the Bank of Tekama and the subsequent ruin of those holding Tekama currency. He also mentions the discovery of gold near Des Moines and some neighborhood violence he attributes to a lack of law enforcement in the area.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, May 6, 1861

    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".

  • | Letter

    Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, November 25, 1858

    This November 25, 1858 letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg discusses both land purchases and building rental prospects. McConihe predicts a gold rush in the spring, as strikes are confirmed in western Nebraska. He also notes the appearance of the sun for the first time in a month.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, November 6, 1858

    John McConihe's November 6, 1858 letter to John Kellogg contains information about their plans for additional land transactions and McConihe's efforts to pass bills through the territorial legislature on behalf of their town, Beatrice. He also reports that construction on a railroad in Council Bluffs, Iowa has begun and his hopes that it will "in three years connect us with N.Y." McConihe is not excited about another Nebraska winter and requests that Kellogg renew his subscription to a New York newspaper.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, October 18, 1860

    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."

  • | Letter

    Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, October 8, 1858

    This October 8, 1858 letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg reveals that he has become the governor's personal secretary. He mentions the difficulty of holding unoccupied land claims and also tells Kellogg of rumors of gold strikes further west. McConihe also describes a "great Indian Wardance" performed by members of the Omaha tribe that recently took place in town and the reaction of the white population.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, September 21, 1860

    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.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, September 4, 1858

    In this letter from September 4, 1858, John McConihe writes to his business partner, John Kellogg, about potential legal problems with their land and the threat of claim theft in Omaha, Nebraska. He also informs him of the fledgling construction of a railroad near Council Bluffs, Iowa, and expresses his desire to leave Nebraska.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John R. Boyle to Samuel B. Reed, April 30 1860

    In this letter from April 30, 1860, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed stating that the prospects for railroad work west of Iowa City, Iowa do not look good for the season. He notes that the governor of Missouri vetoed a state bill which had appropriated four or five million dollars "to finish up some of those roads now only part finished," and concludes "R Roading seems to be dead." He asks Reed to let him know if he hears of any work.

  • Letter from John R. Boyle to Samuel B. Reed, January 2, 1860

    In this letter from January 2, 1860, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed from Iowa City, Iowa discussing the difficulty he is having finding profitable employment in the railroad business. He states that his brother in Massachusetts wrote him that the railroad company there "is very timid in letting their road [as] money is more scarce south than it has been." He writes that he does not believe very much of the road he is currently working on will be built the next summer, and states "I don't hear of a road to be let any place in the country."

  • Letter from John R. Boyle to Samuel B. Reed, July 30, 1863

    In this letter from July 30, 1863, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed discussing his progress constructing the rail line in Washington, Iowa. He notes that he has "about 14 men on my 12 miles," but has trouble finding men to work despite the high pay. Boyle states that he will be finished with his present work by the first of October "if they don't take all my men away," and asks Reed to give him "timely notice" if he decides to extend a portion of the railroad.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John R. Boyle to Samuel B. Reed, March 17, 1862

    In this letter from March 17, 1862, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed discussing their shared opinion of the war as "unrational." Boyle states that he believes "we are decimating and depopulating the country" and expresses worry that there will not be enough work for all of the men once the war ends. He claims that agents from Australia and Canada are encouraging people to emigrate, and proposes that Reed work with him in a future venture.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John R. Boyle to Samuel B. Reed, March 8, 1861

    In this letter from March 8, 1861, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed discussing the prospects for employment on a railroad in the near future. He states that he would prefer working for Mr. Thielsen to working on the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad as he does not believe that railroad will be capable of "doing anything as long as those troubles between the north and south exist." Boyle also notes that he rejected an invitation to work on the Cedar Rapids Railroad, believing it would be better to "stay on our farms than work on a R Road that has no money." He declares that if the troubles between the North and South were settled, there would be more work available.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John R. Boyle to Samuel B. Reed, November 26, 1860

    In this letter from November 26, 1860, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed from Washington , Iowa describing the character of work on the railroad there. He states that the work is "very light," and approves of the fact that the company "has ordered their expenses very low." He notes that after he paid all of his men he received $2,600 instead of $5,600, but believes all will be well eventually. Boyle also writes that he has not heard back from "those Cedar Rapids people" regarding some work, but he does not believe they have enough money to offer work in any case. He says that not much will be done over the winter with "the country in such a disturbed state."

  • | Letter

    Letter from John R. Boyle to Samuel B. Reed, November 8, 1860

    In this letter from November 8, 1860, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed informing him that he has just finished his work, is "settling" with his men, and will therefore be unable to visit Reed in Joliet, Illinois. He asks Reed to inquire about the nature and pay of some winter railroad work for them both, telling him not to take if for less than 15 cents as he believes "work will be plenty in the spring" and not to "touch it at any price...if they have no money."

  • | Letter

    Letter from John R. Boyle to Samuel B. Reed, October 29, 1860

    In this letter from October 29, 1860, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed discussing his search for railroad employment. He states that they missed out on a contract in Oskaloosa, Iowa, but he remains determined to find work in that area as he believes "there is nothing to be made in this western country now as there is too much competition in the way of RRoading." He notes that there has been much "log rolling" with regard to a 70 mile extension of the Cedar Rapids road, and also tells Reed he is worried he may lose some money on his present work in Washington , Iowa.

  • | Letter

    Letter from John Wood Jr. to Colonel Claudius Crozet, April 20, 1854

    When two slaves were killed on the Blue Ridge Tunnel project, the slaveholders retained legal counsel to negotiate a settlement with the Board of Public Works.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Joseph E. Osborn to George S. Harris, February 15, 1872

    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.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Joseph E. Osborn to George S. Harris, February 5, 1872

    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.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Joseph E. Osborn to George S. Harris, January 15, 1872

    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.