Topeka Kan. Ter
Spt. 26. 1855
My Dear Wife –
Since I wrote you last I have had a letter from you which contained
the good
news that you were still well and that our babe was growing both large
&
pretty - I hope this will find you in the enjoyment of equally good
health –
I want to write you to day chiefly on business. I find that it will
be next
to impossible for me to go East – or to Meadville – this fall
again
– owing to the way things are shaping themselves here. But I am
very anxious
that you should be here and as time is passing away rapidly you will have
to
come soon or traveling will be so that you will be unable to come. You
will
remember we talked this matter over; and you were of the opinion that if
I could
not go for you, you could come out yourself. Now, Mary, if you think you
can
travel alone I would be most
happy, indeed, to have you come; and with what experience you have
had in travelling
you must make up your own mind upon this subject - You will no where
encounter
any thing worse in travelling than we have already encountered at such
places
as Cleveland, Alliance, etc. Now under the supposition that you will
come, I
wish to offer a few suggestions in respect to business and travel –
I want you (if you have not done so already; for I wrote you somewhat
touching
this matter in my last) to employ Mr. I. H. Lenhart to go to New York and
sell
one of the remaining Bonds in the same way as he sold for me this Spring
–
and if he can sell for anything near what is right let him sell both
–
I see by accounts from New York that the same kinds of Bonds have
recently sold
for 85 and 87 ½ cents on the dollar - If he can obtain in the
neighborhood
of 80 cents, let him sell both bonds.
Now I think the above is clear and explicit
and if you will show it to Mr Lenhart he will thoroughly understand
it. Pay
Mr Lenhart anything that is right and proper for his trouble; and I know
he
will ask nothing but what is right and proper. I would prefer to have the
proceeds
of the Bonds in gold; but as you will find it too inconvenient as well as
dangerous
to carry gold you had better have him (Lenhart) procure it in 50$and 100$
dollar
bills on the Bank that he may regard as the safest and most secure; bills
of
the “State Bank of Missouri” are here regarded as the best
paper
money in use and can readily be converted into gold without discount.
Therefore
he had better get bills of the “State Bank of Missouri” if
possible.
He might think that “drafts” on New York would be preferable
to
bills; upon this he must use his judgement, as he is much better posted
in money
matters than I am. If he should conclude that “drafts” are
best,
let him get small
ones, as it is difficult to exchange or sell a draft here of a large
amount.
Read this also to Mr. Lenhart and he will doubtless do for me better than
I
could do myself - I speak particularly of you having Mr Lenhart transact
this
business as he is perfectly honest, and will doubtless have business to
see
to at New York this fall and can transact this at the same time. But you
must
insist upon his taking ample remuneration for his trouble
Now a word with respect to yourself. Be sure and secure the money in
such a
manner about your person that you cannot loose it, or that it cannot be
taken
from you by thiefs and pickpockets. Your ingenuity will contrive some
plan to
carry it under your outside garments You ought not to carry it next your
person
either, for the moisture from your body might deface the appearance of
the bills
or drafts – particularly might destroy the Presidents &
Cashier’s
signatures. At Erie, Cleveland, Toledo, Chicago, and St Louis you will be
most
liable to have your pockets picked or cut open – therefore you will
want
to be most on your guard at those places. But these are not the only
places
where they may be found; but frequently the smooth faced gentleman or
lady that
will make your acquaintance
5th page
in the cars, and Hotels, and more especially on the Steamboats, is of
that
profession, and by his, or her, insinuating address is only desirous of
ascertaining
how much money you have got, where you carry it, and what the chances are
to
rob you. So be on your guard, Mary, at all times and against all classes
of
persons –
A word now concerning your route of travel - You can procure a ticket
at Erie
clear through to Saint Louis for about $20.00 – or from Cleveland
to St.
Louis for $17.00 - At St. Louis you can again ticket for Kansas City for
$10
or $12. - Your route will be by way of Cleveland Toledo, Chicago, Alton,
St.
Louis and Kansas City. At Cleveland you take the Cleveland & Toledo
Rail
Road – At Toledo you take the Northern Indiana and Southern
Michigan R.
R. At Chicago you take the Chicago Alton & St Louis R. R. –
this last
named road was formerly called the Chicago & Mississippi R. R.
This last road will take you to Alton. At Alton you will find a
Steamboat in
waiting to take you to St Louis. At St. Louis you will take Steamboat for
Kansas
City. When you get on the boat there will be no further trouble - You
will have
to change cars at Cleveland, at Toledo and at Chicago – at Alton
you change
cars for Boat and at St Louis you change Boat for Boat. So you will only
have
five changes to make in all.
You can “check” your baggage through from Erie to
Chicago, I think;
certainly from Cleveland to Chicago (and perhaps from Erie or Cleveland
to St
Louis but of this I am not sure) At Chicago you can again check to St.
Louis;
and at St. Louis get your baggage in your “State room” and it
will
of course go with you - When you get a check for your baggage to a
certain place,
you need pay no attention to it until you arrive at that place; There
you must see to it and have it checked again to the next farthest
place on
the line of your travel. After you get your baggage on the Cars there are
but
two places where you need give it much attention to wit – At
Chicago &
St Louis; and perhaps a little at Alton.
Now, Mary, I have strung this letter of cautions and advice until it
is enough
to frighten an ordinary person; but you will find after you have gone
through
the journey that, like a long bill of fare, it is not near so formidable
as
you might reckon. I have enumerated these many particulars in order that
you
might be well posted.
Carry enough of money in your usual way to pay your expenses through
–
say fifty or sixty dollars – the rest, as before said, conceal, or
secure
about your person.
Now one word more – Mr. F. R. Foster of Spring Corners,
Crawford County,
Pennsylvania, is expected to start soon for this place - He is a reliable
young
man. I advise you to send some person out to Spring Corners in order to
see
if he is still there, and try and make arrangements to come with him. A
Mr Slaton
of the same place is also coming out, of him I know nothing, but you
would doubtless
be perfectly safe in coming with him - Mr. Foster I know would be glad to
bring
you out and you had better send some person out to see him. If you dont
feel
like risking the journey alone, hire somebody at Meadville (Ingram,
Lenhart,
Drew, Randolph or some one else) to bring you as far as Chicago or St
Louis,
I had rather pay the expenses of a guide clear here than that anything
should
go awry.
Buy such articles of dress and clothing generally as you may want
this winter
and for some time to come, and such other things as you may want. You had
better
not attempt to bring more than one trunk in your charge. Have it well
marked,
with your name in full, and “Meadville Pa”, or “Topeka
K.
T.” either or both of the places –
9th page
The balance of your baggage, together with my trunk, clothes, books
etc, have
packed in another box or boxes and delivered to the “Express
Co”
- Mark the boxes & trunks sent by the “Express Company”
as follows,
(C. K. Holliday
(Topeka, Kansas Territory
(Care of B. Slater, St Louis, Mo,
(Care of Riddlesbarger & Co
Kansas City, Mo.
I have another suggestion to offer. If you fear to travel alone, or
can get
no one to travel with you, You can consign yourself to the care of the
“Express
Company” and it, through its agents, will see you safely delivered
on
board the boat at St Louis. This perhaps would be your better plan
– It
will cost a little more; but then you will have care and protection the
whole
way to St. Louis and will have yourself safely placed aboard the Boat at
St.
Louis
The “Express Company does not extend its operation beyond St
Louis, toward
the West.
When you arrive at Kansas City go to the “American Hotel”
and tell
the Proprietor – Mr Eldridge who you are and that you want a good
room.
He will furnish it to you. If I should not be there, you will, of course,
write
me immediately, and I will go down to Kansas City for you –
Try and send me word when you will expect to start from Meadville,
and then
I will try and be at Kansas City in order to meet you upon your arrival
there
- It will take you from six to nine days to reach Kansas City.
At St Louis you can go from the one Steamboat to the other, I think;
inasmuch
as there is a boat leaving every day for Kansas City. But if there is no
boat
about to leave you can go to a hotel.
The best Boats on the Missouri, are the “Polar Star”
– “F.
X. Aubrey” – “Martha Jewett” - “Sam
Cloon”
“New Lucy” “James H Lucas,”
“Admiral,” “Genoa”
etc. If you find either of these on your landing at St Louis, go right
aboard
of them and engage your room and passage up the River
The more I think of your consigning yourself into the hands of the
“Express
Co” the more favorably the prospect strikes my mind. If you should
do
so the agt of the Co. will see to your baggage, point out your Cars
–
wait upon you to meals etc. etc.
As I said before it will cost something more, but that is nothing
when your
safety & comfort is considered. In case you should conclude to come
by Express
you must remember that you will pay for no tickets or anything of the
kind.
Simply make a bargain with the agent at Erie to see you and your baggage
safely delivered aboard some good Boat at St Louis, and Take his
receipt for
the same. If you cant get some responsible person to travel with you I
certainly
think you had better come by Express - This may seem novel to you - It is
certainly
not common yet – it is frequently done, and I think you had better
do
so. It will insure you more safety, more speed, more comfort, less
annoyance,
less fear, less trouble of all kind than if you should come alone, or
even with
another - In case you come by Express you will not have to look after
your baggage
at all. The agt will look after it; And inasmuch as I have directed you
to send
my books etc., by Express, perhaps it would be best to include yourself
and
all come by Express together - Your fare alone from Erie to St Louis
would be
about $20. dollars You can judge from this whether the agent for the
Express
Co would be inclined to charge an exhorbitant price; but dont quibble
with him
for five or ten dollars, but if he asks you any reasonable fare, pay it
to him.
Take his receipt and come by Express. - P.S. It is now the last day of
Sept.
I had no opportunity to send this letter before - If you conclude to
come, you
will have to come as soon as possible as it is getting late and cold. I
will
write you in a day or two again, such other matters as I may have
forgotten
in this -
Yours as ever
C. K. Holliday
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/2778/text
