The Jennings~Lewis Connection
Family Letters from the 1850s
Claiborne County Tennessee, &c.
This page contains links to the text of three letters sent from Claiborne
County Tennessee to Linn County Missouri. (Letters 1., 12., & 14.) These
letters were obtained by eBay online auction, September, 2005, from Intrinsic
Collectibles. Also on this page are the letter descriptions of other
letters of the Jennings-Lewis Connection. The descriptions are used here with
the kind permission of A. Armstrong of
Intrinsic Collectibles.
1.
November 18, 1850 letter from Anderson Jennings and Zilpha Jennings in Claiborne
County, Tennessee to Charles and Elizabeth Lewis in Linn County, Missouri.
Full Text
2.
January 21, 1851 letter from Lee Lewis in California to his mother
Elizabeth Lewis in Linn County, Missouri. This letter contains references
to California and hardship. Lee and his father Charles left Missouri in
June 1850 to go to California in search of gold. He tells of fever and
delirium, of hunger and discouraging chances of finding gold. He states
that if a man were to find gold “...he had better start for home for
fear that some doctor will fall heir to it.”, as there is so much
sickness. He adds to the letter February 13, 1851 that he is in Sacramento
on his way to the northern diggings on the Feather, Scots or Henley rivers.
He states that “...as for making fortunes here by digging in the
mines is a verry uncertain thing.”
3.
August 1, 1851 letter from Lee Lewis in Georgetown, California to G.
Brownlee in Missouri. Lee and his father Charles left Missouri in June 1850
to go to California in search of gold. He starts by saying he received
George's letter on April 7th and it was the first he had gotten since he
left for California. He goes on about how they should write more often and
then moves on to, “I was verry sorry to hear that your tobacco was
ruined by the hail storm.” He answers some questions with, “I
do not like this contry for a home altho I expect to remain here some time
yet. It is a long wais to come for nothing. I am here now and want to make
a sufficeint trial. I have not made much. I am now in the citty of
Marysville riging a team and wagon to do my own hawling. I am going to put
up a store and a boarding house and quit the mines on account of my health.
I expect to keep that up as long as I remain in California.” He
rambles on and then starts writing to another person, Mr Alfred Harris and
says, “I was verry sorry to hear of Cuff being sick of the chills and
feaver for I know how it feals. All the chills and feaver is nothing to
what I have in duered since in California. I never got well untill I went
in the mountains and holed in the snow a bout three months. I am not able
to mine it yet all tho I have bin larger than I ever was in Missouri. I
wayed 1.KG pounds.” He states, “I am glad that Chris and Peat
(his brothers) enjoys them selves with girls....” and then,
“...I will be there after awhile and if the girls is as thick as hops
I will be with them.”
4.
August 8, 1851 letter from Charles Lewis in George Town, California to
his wife Elizabeth Lewis in Linn County, Missouri. This letter contains
references to California and hardship. Charles and his son left Missouri in
June 1850 to go to California in search of gold. He tells of illness and
delicate health preventing him from working. He states, “In the month
of February we started to the northern mines and after trying in vain to
find diggings we returned to Georgetown with the loss of $300.00
expenses.”
5.
September 25, 1851 letter from Lee Lewis in George Town, California to
his mother Elizabeth Lewis in Linn County, Missouri. This letter contains
references about family news. Lee and his father Charles left Missouri in
June 1850 to go to California in search of gold. He tells, “You
wished to no what we had done with our wagon and team. We sold the team for
four hundred and fifteen dollars, the wagon I have yet.” He states,
“...when I was taken sick I was making one hundred dollars per week.
Since, I have not done so well. I am enjoying in keeping tavern in George
town Eldorado County as we have the best house in the place and have a
considerable amount of patronage..” He says that he had traveled the
country and wished to settle there in California. He makes reference to,
“Charly I expect will mine this winter or until he starts for
home.”
6.
March 11, 1852 letter from Lee Lewis in California to his brother,
Chrismon Lewis in Linn County, Missouri. Lee and his father Charles left
Missouri in June 1850 to go to California in search of gold. He starts out
with, “Dear Brother I assume this opportunity to wright you a letter
mearly to let you no that I am well at this time and have bin since June
fifty-one and all so Charly has had good health all tho I have not seen him
for the last three weeks. We live 50 miles a part. He was working for wages
at one hundred dollars per month.” He goes on to say, “I am
driving a teem for one hundred dollars per month. I expect to continue
twelve months at that business and then I expect to go to farming for I
much rather live hear than in Missouri all tho I expect to come to that
country some time or other. Whether I stay thare or not, I don't pretend to
advise any person to come here..... It suits me better than Missouri ever
did or ever will I expect.” He references news from home with,
“I was very sorry to hear of so much sickenss in the family last fall
and all so the scarcety of corn. I am fearful you lost your stock owing to
the bad season and hard winter. It is different hear. If you had your stock
hear you would not have to feed them at all, consequently this must be the
best country. Value of cows is one hundred dollars on an avrage some as
much as $150. Oxen from $150 to 250 per yoke, frsh pork 50, its per pound.
Board is wourth ten dollars per week at the hotells in the sitties. Good
mules, what I mean, large mules suitable for harness is worth 200 dollars.
Large horses aboput the same. Bearly (Barley) now is half leg high. Most
any kind of vegetables grows well hear.” He then offers advise,
“...if any of you comes to this country a cross the plaines bring as
much stock as you can. It is better than money at the prices you can by at
there. Tell George that if he was hear he would have no occasion of useing
corn dodges at all, be caus it is not used hear but very little.” He
talks about pain of frost bitten fingers and toes being less in California
and, “...the fever and ague that you have had to incounter with would
stay on the east side of the rocky mountain.” He discusses
aquaintances in California and says, “I supose Jack has changed her
name since I left home. I was a little suprised of such changes taken
place. Tell Jack she new that she was some what homely but that doesnt make
any differance. I allways thought she was worthy of a respectable
fellow.” He asks that one of his brothers to be sure and pay the
taxes on his land and also says, “Tell the young ladies that Lee is
in California but to not marries yet but if some of them would come to the
citty of Marysvill in the state of California and county of Yerba, that it
wouldnot be long till __ provided they would have him....”, and
“ Tell Mrs. Powers to keep Mary for me for I expect it will be three
or four years be fore I get back ”
7.
May 8, 1852 letter from Charles Lewis in Eldorado County, California to
his wife Elizabeth Lewis in Linn County, Missouri. This letter contains
references to hearing of family news. Charles and his son Lee left Missouri
in June 1850 to go to California in search of gold. He says, “...Lee
is at this time in Marysville and has bin thear ever sence March and has
got my mule and mony with him.” He speaks of being ill most of his
time in California and says, “We have both of us bin sick a grate
deel sence we have bin here and have had to spend our money. We have spen
well nigh 15 hundred dollars.” He goes on to say, “I have bin
working by the month but I am now mining.” He states, “...I
have under went moor hard ship sence I left home than I ever did in all my
life and that is not all. I want to see my family once moor in this life
but my deer wife and children the distance grate and dangerous to
travel.” He also reminds his wife to pay the taxes on the land in
Missouri so that they won't lose it.
8.
[undated] letter from Lee Lewis in California to George Brownlee, his
brother-in-law. Lee and his father Charles left Missouri in June 1850 to go
to California in search of gold. This is a partial letter. The front page
is missing but there is a wealth of information about the era in what is
left of the letter. There is no date on it but because we know when Lee was
in California we can place it in the time frame of 1850-1854. It begins
with news of associates and then he reports, “Stock is high, mules
and cattle but wagons are low. I can't sell my wagon for 50 dollars and it
is a first rate wagon. If I had such a one at home I would consider it
worth 85 or one hundred dollars in cash. Harness for a pair of mules is
worth $50.” He switches gears here and says, “...have mother
send brother William Henry to school as much as posable for an education.
He will find [it] will do him no harm.” He mentions Oregon in,
“...I have not bin able to go but I saw a man that went to see the
country and he told me that it was not as good a country as California but
resembled it verry much. Well now I will give you my notion about
California. The valleys are beautiful as level as the bottom __ in Missouri
and some of them verry productive for potatoes, cabage, turnips wheat and
barley. Range is good, the grass now fine, timber is __ out and boomes is
now bloomed, the best of all a beautiful climate and the rivers plenty of
fish and on the plaines plenty of elk, antelope and some grizzly bear and
about the lakes, gees, duckes, trouts and so forth but the best valleys are
taken up but balance of the contry is not worth a dam with the exception of
the gold and that is not the tenth part as plenty as we heard it was all
tho there is afew fortunes made by mining but oftener not more than will
board them.” He ends his letter with, “Give my respects to all
the young ladies for I love to of them, one is Jane Boles and the other is
not as it is getting late I must close my letter with respect I remain
yours.”
9.
August 28, 1852 letter from Samuel Horne and two others to Charles Lewis
in California. The letter informs him of his fathers death, “We can
inform you that your father is ded.” and they state that they will
administer the disposition of his fathers personal property and his
‘blacks.’ They say “We want to know whether you want to by
any of the blacks or not. Rite to us and let us know how you wish them
disposed of.” They also state “I will inform you that the flux
is an has bin vary fatal in this country”. Charles Lewis and his son
Lee left Missouri in June 1850 to go to California in search of gold.
10.
December 27, 1852. Coorespondence from Lee Lewis in California to G.
Brownlee in Missouri. This letter contains references about family news.
Lee and his father Charles left Missouri in June 1850 to go to California
in search of gold. Lee speaks of hearing of sickness back home and says
”I fear some of you have fell victim to some of the diseases of which
Missouri is subject.” He tells “Times is perty heard here that
is to make a fortune in a short time. But to make a living it is an easy
matter. Wages is worth from $75 and one hundred and fifty per month.”
He lists prices of stock as well as food. He says “I expect to remain
here some time if not alwais. I may come back once to see you all and get
me a wife and some stock such as cattle, cows and oxen for I think if a man
could get one hundred head of cows here he would have his pile already.
” He gives advise on emigrating to California, “...bring all
the stock you are able, don't be in too much of a hurry to get through.
Take good care of your stock, travel regular but don't rush, be verry
careful about crossing water. Never venture in to swim in North Plat nor
Green river for there was a grate many drowned rising to the swiftness,
coldness of the water.” He speaks of being healthy, of the delightful
climate in California. He mentions someone working the middle fork of the
American river and “...he had made about one thousand dollars.
”
11.
May 8, 1853 letter from Fielding Lewis in Lynn County, Oregon to Alfred
Harris in Linn County, Missouri. Fielding, his wife, Lusinda and their four
children left Tennessee for Oregon in 1851. This letter contains info about
hardship, family news and includes the news of the death of his wife and
two children while crossing the plains on the way to Oregon. Lewis speaks
of, “Myself and James and David has taken claims with in three miles
of each other and as the donation law is extended. Wm will be a loud a
claim. We are doing well at this time. James is working for forty five
dollars per month, david for thirty 2½ dollars per month, Wm is
getting three hundred and thirteen dollars per year and I am tending a saw
mill fore fifty eight dollars and a half per month.” He goes on to
say, “Good mar[e]s is wourth from 100.50 to 200 dollars, oxen is
worth from one hundred and eighty to 200 and 50 dollars per yoke, cows is
wourth one hundred dollars....” He then speaks of his wife with,
“I suppose you heard of my troble and destress on the plains in
losing my wife and children. Alfred, when I come to this part of my letter
I lack fare words to express my trubble. My loss was grate in propity but
nothing to that of a loving wife and children but it is the lord that
gaveth and the lord takeith and bessed be the name of the lord. My wifes
expressions with regard to her willingness to pass thew the valley and
shadow of death will have along impression on my mind. I rejoice in the
hope of meeting with hear again where we will be done sheding the parting
tear. She died in the triumph of faith.” He talks of his desires for
the funeral and then says, “I am sary to tel you my too little
children George and Serowan is not with me but I am proud to say they have
got good homes.” He concludes with a request of letters from family
and friends and then says, “I expect some of you would have bin glad
if I had a said some thing more a bout the cuntry. In my judg ment this is
a grate cuntry and that is all the inducement that I will offer you ”
12.
June 30, 1853 Letter from David Moor in
Claiborne County, Tennessee to Squire Moor in Linn County, Missouri.
Full Text
13.
Partial letter. (Under Construction!)
June 23, 1857. Correspondence from David Moore in Claiborne County, Loan
Mountain, Tennessee to family in Linn County, Missouri. This letter
contains info about hardship, deaths and family news. It is written by
James Hodges for David Moore who wasn't able to write it himself. He says,
“...I can inform you that we are yet on this land of the living
sometimes uppon our feet and some times a bed on account of our age and
febleness of boddy. we do not think our time will be long in this presant
world but have hope that when death has finished his office in this world
that our soals will be conve(ye)d to the world of eternal bliss where
trobles trial and dificulties will be all done a way.” He goes on to
say, “We chose James Hodges the writer of this __ as our guardian to
take the charge of our affairs and am now living in his own house and are
well satisfied with him.” He continues with, “Times has bee so
hard that good men cannot pay there debts unless they are corn sellers. The
corn is worth from one to one and a half dollars per bushel and very scarce
at that. We have between three and four hundred dollars yet at interest and
1 horse, 1 cow, our household and hitching furniture so you need not be a
feared of our suffering for somehting to eat provided it can be had for
mony.” David takes over writing, “July the 5th 1857 I have
concluded to finish my letter and can in form you that the wheat crop is
now redy for cuttin and thereis a tolerable good crop and has come in good
time for the corn is very near consumed.” He states, “...my
daughter Polly has been very low but has recovered again. She was delivered
of a dead child...” and “...am proud to have the opportunity of
living where the gospel is preached in it purity especially in my old
age...” also, “...that we may enter into the gates of the city
where we will have no need of the sun nor of the moon for the lord God will
be the light of the city...”
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