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.

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John B. Kellogg Esq
Troy N.York

Your letters of the 5th & 2d are at hand, the former enclosing the La Crosse and Milwaukie Coupon.

The package of money you sent me arrived to-day, and contained the balance of the $1000# as figured by you viz $615 48/100.

It was a mistake in my not signing the note, but the date I left blank purposely for you to fill in. You did right in both, dating and signing the note, and I hereby acknowledge your act, as mine, in signing my name to a Note dated March 2" 1861, for $1000#, due four months from date.

Our train started for Denver on Monday last, freighted with 9200 lbs. of butter lard and candles, and are now at Columbus waiting to cross the Loup.

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We have nearly two tons of butter about, one half roll and one half firkin, which cost us about 15 cts per lb. It is now selling at Denver for 50 & 60 cts. Our lard of which we have 3800 lbs cost about 10 1/4 cts. It is selling at Denver for 35 & 40 cts. The balance of the load being Candles will rate about the same. Our expenses are necessarily heavy, but even after deducting them, you can see we ought with reasonable good luck to clear at least $900 or $450 each. I think we will do it. At all events we cannot loose anything. My partner is a man accustomed to the road, honest faithful and economical. We have 10 mules, 4 horses, 1 pony and three wagons in the train. Four men, armed with Colts best 6 shooters, a tent, camp utensils provisions and finally a very fierce bull dog. Our train is in company with two others, and altogether consists of 14 wagons & 58 animals, with 20 men. Guard is kept every night and every precaution used with the stock and freight to insure its

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safety.

I am again under obligations to you for assisting me and you above all others shall never lose one cent by me. Remember this and depend upon it.

Gov. Black has been removed. The news came to day. I shall go next week to Neb. City and try and get some of the money due me from the Government. I have depended on it and it is my due. The Governor has used my money, or rather has drawn it from the Government and neglected to hand it to me. I shall get it, sooner or later in some way.

We have had a great excitement in our community the past week. The laws were upset and a robber lynched by a "Vigilance Committee." Will send you a paper giving a full account. All the old women are badly frightened and see hob-gobblins and ghosts of thieves intheir houses. The "cold corpus" of the dead thief is being carved up by Doctor Peck, in our building, adjoining my bed room. He will steal no more.

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I have not sent you a statement of the past year, because the law was changed concerning the time of paying taxes, extending it to June 1st. When I pay taxes, will send the statement. Please mention this to Adam R Smith, as I am doing the same thing with his matters. I paid our City taxes in November.

The weather is pleasant, and as yet we have had no rain. The snow is not all gone in the valleys. The first boat of the season made the landing to-day. Considerable improvement is going on in town and, if, you of the States will settle up the difficulties that environ our Country, Omaha will leap ahead and prosper.

Yours truly

John McConihe

About this Document

  • Source: Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg
  • Extent: 4 pages
  • Collector:
  • Citation: Archives and Special Collections, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries, John McConihe Correspondence, Archives and Special Collections, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries, MS308, Box 1, Folder 8
  • Date: March 15, 1861