Letter from John McConihe to John Kellogg, January 1, 1860
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.
Omaha
Jany 1st 1860
John B Kellogg Eq
Troy
N York
Friend John
Enclosed you will find Statement for the year 1859, which I trust will be satisfactory
From it you will perceive there is due me $23.38 - I have also paied for you Assessment on your Beatrice share $2640
| Deed for lots in same 4.60 — | $31.00 |
| Balance as above | $23.38 |
| Total | $54.38 |
I have a mayors deed for the lots that your share in Beatrice drew. There will be nothing more to pay, except the annual taxes.
You will see among our assetts $241.46 in County orders, which will pay our taxes for several years. There is also due from rent about $80 more in Orders, but I do not expect to get it. The County Commissioners will
not pay it, and the Clerk is about used up financially. The rooms are now for rent, with no "call."
The pitch roof on the two back rooms is a poor concern, and it leaks now and I may be compelled to take it off and put on a tin one. I hope the expense can be avoided.
Now, John, I will renew my proposition to you to divide up some of our property. I am quite anxious to do so, and you can readily see why I am. It will make no difference to you, and it would greatly accommodate me. You do not want to sell in these depressed times, and I might be able to trade and dicker, had I some property of my own. You kow what we paid for our lots and can say how we shall divide. All property is depressed alike, and it stands relatively as it did when you were here. What property do you wish, for the interest you have in the Office and lot. I will give you my 1/4 interest in lot 4 Block 123 (the Newton lot),
the 160 acres land in this county, that I paid $500 for in 1857 and enough lots to make it even, Call the Office lot $833 (its original cost) and the buildings $1367 in all $2200#.
| I paid for 1/4 lot 4 in 123 — | $300 |
| " " " 160 acres — | 500 |
| " 1/2 " lot 1 in 80 | 150 |
| 1/2 " " 6 " 340 | 150 |
I will give the above for your interest in Office or any other lots you may desire. I wish to keep the Office in order, that I may occupy it , free of rent. Please think it all over and say what you will do. You know all our property and can speak and act as intelligibly as if you were here.
The office is not insured at present. The AEtna will not insure it short of 3 1/2%.
Yours of the 13th is at hand and contents noted. You may pass the $3.23 the $40, and the $54.38 to my credit and when I get short, I will draw out my balance.
I am excessively anxious to visit Troy, but cannot get away,
now. The "females" trouble my heart but little and you may rest assured there is no "lovely Angel" that detains me in Nebraska. Nothing more than business.
I start to-morrow a load of flour for the mines on a "spee." I intend to make $200 or $300 by it in 70 days. The rush to the "Peak" is great. Everybody is off to the Rocky Mountains. Men with families, Merchants with their stocks, Mechanics with their tools, everybody and everything is being started for the mines. "Pikes Peak, to fill up or bust," is the mottoe [sic] The wagons that will pass up the Platte Valley this season, would touch each other if all were on the road at a time. and reach from Omaha to Denver — 600 miles You can have no idea of the emigration. It is wonderful, marvelous. Three quartz mills have passed through here this Spring.
Regards to all
Your friend
John McConihe
