Newberry Library - Reed, Charles, miscellaneous letters, Nathan Kendall and Abby J. Reed Kendall family correspondence, 1850-1853

Reed, Charles, miscellaneous letters, Nathan Kendall and Abby J. Reed Kendall family correspondence, 1850-1853

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Title Reed, Charles, miscellaneous letters, Nathan Kendall and Abby J. Reed Kendall family correspondence, 1850-1853

Creator Kendall, Nathan R

Date 1850-1853

Place California, Lake States, Northeastern States, United States, Indiana--LaPorte, Panama--Isthmus of Panama

Language English

Subjects Washington City and California Mining Association, Chronically ill, Courtship, Domestic relations, Families, Farm life, Gold miners, Husband and wife, Migration, Internal, Overland journeys to the Pacific, Teacher-student relationships

Description Correspondence, writings, documents of Nathan Kendall and wife Abby J. Reed Kendall of Massachusetts, Indiana and Illinois, including many letters to each other before and after marriage in 1857, as well as numerous letters to and from members of their families, friends and former students. Some correspondence and documents concern travel to California begun in 1849.

Format Correspondence

User-Contributed Transcription Sunday Eve Dec 4th
Dear Mother I have been writing to Chandler & having filled up the sheet without leaving room to thank you for your short but very kind letter I will now say a few words to you & the Girls - Dear Mother I wish I could this moment meet you face to face & mingle together tears of joy that we had again met together after travelling on in the journey of life so many years at so great a distance apart - I would gladly take you by the hand, while yes - It is warm with life tho' withered by age & toil the benifit of which I have shared & would firm kiss this night ere I sleep, that careworn cheek & grieve myself to sleep to think my absence had caused one furrow there: I could bend the manly knee be once more a child at your feet, look up in a mothers face & ask her to forgive me for ever causing a tear to flow from a restless eye to moisten a fond parents aged brow - And yet while your eye is sparkling with lifes glimmering light I would ask for a parting gift, a mothers blessing. Dear mother I beg of you do not allow yourself to mourn or grieve on account of your absent son - Be cheerful & enjoy the many comforts around you - Your children, all save one are near you, & even that one is near you in thought - Let not my absence clog up & stop the many sources of happiness around you - Bear constantly in mind that Charlie loves his Mother & intends to come home to see his mother smile once more - Chandler & Saml are both settled by your side; they will be affectionate & kind - Their wifes I think will not fail to contribute to your happiness - the Girls Abby and Mary are still fond of their old home & like a mothers presence & forsake you not - Danford & Emily & family are now living quite near, - On every side & closely too you are Surrounded by true friends, are you not? This is the way I have viewed the matter - For your sake especially I regret my being absent so long; For as you say life is uncertain - Since I wrote I have bought a claim which will detain me till another season unless I sell - I think my bargain a good one.
I am living 2½ miles from Downieville this winter, & working my new claim when it is good weather, I go to town, Downieville every week. Send my letter the same as before to Downieville Sierra Co. Cal.
I have not said much to Emily & family yet in this letter - I intend to write to D&E this week but at any rate please give my love to Danford Emily & family & tell them I thank them for their friendly letter E has quite a family
She must be quite happy with her little flock.
Mother are you not glad D&E have moved so near you.
Now I have told all I think of at present I am pretty well. Work rather hard but am not at all depressed in spirits -
I call California my home I like the climate & often think of living here & making it my home tho not probable do not think much about my being at home before next season I have a cabin here & also in town
I can keep comfortable here this winter flour is worth 18 cts per pound other things in proportion
Butter 50-75¢
a meal of victuals $1.00 it costs 7 to 10 dollars per week to live & cook [[business]]
Farewell
C,R

Transcription Status Needs review

Transcription Note This document was transcribed by volunteers as part of the Newberry Transcribe crowdsourcing initiative.

Archival Collection Title Nathan Kendall and Abby J. Reed Kendall papers

Link to Catalog View finding aid | View record

Call Number Midwest MS Kendall-Reed Box 3 Folder 51

BibID 9.91343E+14

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

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IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 2835px × 3554px 57.69 MB

File Created 08/04/2017

Filename 991342528805867_mms_kendall_reed_box_03_fl_0051_004_001.tif

Unique Identifier NL128UJL

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