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  • September 23, 1863

    Letter from Marion K. McMurphy to Samuel B. Reed, September 23, 1863

    In this letter from September 23, 1863, Marion K. McMurphy writes to her brother, Samuel Reed, asking his opinion of employment with the "Union Pacific Railway." She also informs him that she received a letter from their enlisted brother, Erastus H. Reed, who is still doing well.

  • January 4, 1864

    Letter from Joshua M. Shaffer to Samuel B. Reed, January 4, 1864

    In this letter from January 4, 1864, Joshua M. Shaffer, Surgeon of the Board of Enrollment for the First Congressional District of Iowa, writes to Samuel Reed informing him that his name has been successfully stricken from the draft enrollment list in Burlington, Iowa upon receipt of proof that his name is on the enrollment list in Joliet, Illinois.

  • March 8, 1861 | 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.

  • March 17, 1862 | 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.

  • July 30, 1863

    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.

  • May 6, 1861 | 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".

  • March 15, 1861 | Letter

    Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, March 15, 1861

    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.

  • July 12, 1861 | Letter

    Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, July 12, 1861

    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.

  • February 18, 1864 | Letter

    Letter from John Isom to Daniel Craig McCallum, February 18, 1864

    John Isom designates a black church in Nashville to serve as a copper and tin shop.

  • May 26, 1865

    Letter from Jennie Reed, May 26, [1865]

    In this letter from May 26, 1865, Jennie Reed writes to her cousin Adda discussing various family matters and some of her activities during her stay in Burlington, Iowa. She notes that her husband, Samuel Reed, is in Mount Pleasant, Iowa that day and will soon go "out on the line for a month."

  • July 8, 1865 | Letter

    Letter from Jennie Reed to Thomas C. Durant, July 8, 1865

    In this letter from July 8, 1865, Jennie Reed, wife of Samuel Reed, writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, reminding him of the matter of money due to her husband for an increase in salary for the previous year's services. She states, "if you can give the subject your earliest attention I shall be truly obliged for the favor."

  • September 6, 1863

    Letter from Jennie Reed to Samuel B. Reed, September 6, 1863

    In this letter from September 6, 1863, Jennie Reed writes to her husband, Samuel Reed, describing a recent trip she made to Chicago. She notes that she hopes his letter to Chicago, requesting employment closer to home, will be successful and reminds him that he is missing his youngest daughter's "babyhood." She also asks if he can get a pass on the Burlington and Missouri Railroad for his sister, Marion K. McMurphy, telling him "you can scarcely afford to pay out so much money, if it can be avoided."

  • September 27, 1863

    Letter from Jennie Reed to Samuel B. Reed, September 27, 1863

    In this letter from September 27, 1863, Jennie Reed writes to her husband, Samuel Reed, some days after he departed from a visit home. Once more, she expresses her desire for him to secure employment closer to home, at least during the coming winter, and asks him to mention the possibility to Mr. Thielsen. She also requests information regarding the railroad passes which he was to secure for her and a cousin.

  • October 3, 1863

    Letter from Jennie Reed to Samuel B. Reed, October 3, 1863

    In this letter from October 3, 1863, Jennie Reed writes to her husband, Samuel Reed, expressing hope that he succeeds in his latest attempt to secure employment closer to home. She also relays information concerning some acquaintances of theirs who have been wounded in the war, noting that Erastus H. Reed, Samuel Reed's enlisted brother, is still alive and well.

  • October 11, 1863

    Letter from Jennie Reed to Samuel B. Reed, October 11, 1863

    In this letter from October 11, 1863, Jennie Reed writes to her husband, Samuel Reed, describing the progress of the harvest on their farm. She states that his enlisted brother, Erastus H. Reed, is still well, but that many believe Colonel Frederick A. Bartleson was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga.

  • January 18, 1863

    Letter from Jennie Reed to Samuel B. Reed, January 18, 1863

    In this letter from January 18, 1863, Jennie Reed writes to her husband, Samuel Reed, discussing various events at home. She tells him that her sister, who is visiting, cannot go home "with that land of savages at present." She also informs him that his enlisted brother, Erastus H. Reed, is still well after participating in the Battle of Stones River.

  • August 2, 1863

    Letter from Jennie Reed to Samuel B. Reed, August 2, 1863

    In this letter from August 2, 1863, Jennie Reed writes to her husband, Samuel Reed, chiding him for not writing her more often. She tells him she has not received any further information regarding the "particulars" of his enlisted brother Burritt's death. She also expresses regret that he was unable to see the men in Chicago he needed in order to inquire about a position on the railroad closer to home.

  • August 12, 1862 | Letter

    Letter from Jennie Reed to Samuel B. Reed, August 12, 1862

    In this letter from August 12, 1862, Jennie Reed writes to her husband, Samuel Reed, from their home in Joliet, Illinois regarding rumors of a "large guerilla force near Hanibal" [Illinois]. She worries that Samuel may be "captured or killed or carried away a prisoner" and asks him to write her more often to reassure her of his safety. She also discusses the possibility of a draft and the harvesting and sale of the crops on their farm.

  • July 27, 1863

    Letter from Jennie E. Reed to Samuel B. Reed, July 27, 1863

    In this letter from July 27, 1863, Jennie Reed writes to her husband, Samuel Reed, from their home in Joliet, Illinois describing how much she and the children miss him and wish he were able to get a position on the railroad closer to home. She details some of the business of the family's farm, closing with a note for Samuel to "avoid any such collisions" as a Mr. Rheinhart, whose name she noticed "among those taken up for disloyalty."

  • August 8, 1862 | Letter

    Letter from J. W. Garrett to General M. C. Meigs, August 9, 1862

    The President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad writes to General Meigs about the treatment of nurses on his rail line following an incident reported by Dorothea Dix.