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  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, May 8, 1864

    In this letter from May 8, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the difficulty in arranging travel due to the gold-seekers and notes the exceptionally high stage coach fares.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, May 8, 1867

    In this letter from May 8, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family letting them know that he will be relocating to North Platte.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, November 17, 1864

    In this short letter from November 17, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the wind and cold he endured during a 20-day stagecoach ride from Salt Lake City.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, November 17, 1868

    In this letter from November 17, 1868, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family updating them on the progress of the Union Pacific line.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, October 2, 1864

    In this letter from October 2, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his time in Salt Lake City following his second survey. He notes that Brigham Young gave him some excellent peaches and that he will head out again for three weeks, then return home.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, October 2, 1867

    In this letter from October 2, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family noting that his work is right on schedule, but that no more track can be laid until the New York office sends out more splice joints.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, October 21, 1867

    In this letter from October 21, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his trip to the mountains with the delegation of newspaper editors, noting that "such a set of ninnies I never saw on the plains." Reed also reflects on the magnitude of the work on the Union Pacific line and suggests that few appreciate the difficulty of their efforts.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, October 22, 1864

    In this letter from October 22, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his return to Salt Lake City following his third survey trip for the Union Pacific Railroad.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, October 23, 1867

    In this letter from October 23, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the "big row" being made by Colonel Silas Seymour.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, October 27, 1864

    In this letter from October 27, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family noting his new assignment to "go west and explore on horseback the route out of the desert."

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, October 31, 1868

    In this letter from October 31, 1868, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his never-ending work and the arrival of a snow storm while he was camping outside without a tent. Reed complains about the inefficiency of the Division Superintendents, whose incompetency causes him a great deal of extra work.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, October 5, 1867

    In this letter from October 5, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the upcoming arrival of a delegation of newspaper editors. He hopes that the Indians will give them a scare, as "it may do them some good and afford us some amusement."

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, September 1, 1869

    In this letter from September 1, 1869, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing more Union Pacific meetings. Reed expects to receive payment of $12,000 per year for his service, and he plans to go to New York "as soon as possible" to "settle all my accounts."

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, September 18, 1864

    In this letter from September 18, 1864, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his inability to write sooner and his overall good health.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, September 19, 1867

    In this letter from September 19, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing Colonel Silas Seymour's attempt to delay construction of the railroad, in order to "injure someone's reputation." Reed states that he has written to the directors in New York City in support of General Grenville Dodge, who is Col. Seymour's target.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, September 22, 1867

    In this letter from September 22, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his desire to resign his position and return home to Chicago. He is sick of the "wild life" and "untold dangers seen and unseen."

  • | Letter

    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.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Samuel Lincoln to George P. Cather, September 28, 1901

    On September 28, 1901, Samuel Lincoln writes to George P. Cather proposing a buyout of a quarter section of Lincoln's land in Thomas County, Kansas. After assuring Cather that he is not another "land shark", Lincoln also offers to buy Cather's adjoining land if Cather is not interested in buying his. Lincoln feels that he cannot successfully sell or rent such a small parcel of land and that it would be more valuable combined with another holding. The 160 acres of land that originally drew settlers to railroad land as a great opportunity now appeared too small a portion to be of any value on its own.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Sarah Sim to Electa, October 12, 1856

    In this letter from October 12, 1856, Sarah Sim writes to her sister, Electa, and details her family's small home and the favorable land they have purchased. Though she describes the roads in southeast Nebraska as "first rate", she notes her disappointment in not yet receiving any mail or the remainder of her family's possessions. She remarks that the country is "filling up very fast" and that most of their neighbors are "eastern people".

  • | Letter

    Letter from Sarah Sim to Mother and Harriet, July 11, 1858

    In this July 11, 1858 letter from Sarah Sim to her mother and sister, Sarah describes the summer heat, her children's participation in school and church, and the behavior and appearance of her new daughter. She also mentions the continuing settlement of their part of Nebraska, the lack of a railroad, and the relatively small number of her neighbors leaving for Pikes Peak. Part of this letter is damaged.