Letter Gallery 1860+
Great Expectations - 04/23/1860
Transcription:
Virginia City April 13/60
Dear Wife, I received your letter last evening also one from Willie & May They [illegible] me well, as usual, I was very sorry to hear you were having so much sickness among our relations. This is a very healthy place but not very desirable to live in. we have had a very hard storm on the Sierras last week it caught a good many people on their way over here some suffered very much the snow fell 9 feet deep in some places. Provisions are very high at present flour is 50cts per lb. potatoes 25cts Barley or wheat for animal 50cts per lb and everything in [illegible] we have a large number of people here and they are still rushing her beyond all description the county is excelling every expectation we shall beat Cala Claims are selling very high some claims sell as high as 2000 dollars pr ft I shall endeavor to sell enough to get home this summer in good shape. I cannot tell now when I shall go but probably early in Summer. I have sold several thousand dollars worth of claims and shall send you some money in May I did intend to by the next Steamer but it is so difficult getting over the mountains at present that I am obliged to wait until I can go over to draw my money. I do not wish you to say anything to our friends or anyone else in regard to our prospects but I will say this much in confidence to you. That my most extravagant expectations are very likely to be realized in a short time I can now sell for all I ever expected But from 20 to 100 thousand is not considered much of a raise in this country of silver & gold Charles is here now he came over about one week ago I shall probably leave some of my claims with him this Summer he barely got over before the big storm several are expected to have perished in the storm on the mountains. We are having very fine weather now. The Poney Express arrived from the States last evening in Eight Days and 20 hours to this place which is shortening the time considering we have a Telegraph from here to San Frisco I have got along very well this winter I have not worked very much in the way of mining but have been trading some in claims and keeping accounts I have some idea of getting a Ranch in some of the pleasant Valleys in the vicinity of San Frisco before I go to the States Don’t you think it a good idea Give my respects to Lucian I am sorry to hear he is so ill I hope to see him again before leave us give my respects to his wife Lotty also Loring & Wife Tell your mother & father that you expect to be better off sometime before long If the old lady fortune don’t kick up here heels again write me as soon as you receive this & direct the same as the last If I am not here Charley will attend to the letter and send it to me if I leave before then Yours Truly, N.A. Chandler
Death of children, consolation through spiritualism - 08/19/1860
Transcription:
Virginia City, August 19th, 1860
Dear Wife,
I received your letters of June 2nd and May 18th, this week past. I will not attempt to describe my feelings. You can imagine better than my pen can describe. I have [illegible] and hope for the time when we might meet once more a happy family but the chain is again broken. I wake frequently and think it all a dream for the past ten years but no it's all real our Dear Children have gone and left us to mourn over their early graves. I have had a desire to see our lovely May which I can not account for. But we should not wish them back here on Earth. They are so happy in the spirit world and we will believe them our guardian Angels and their spirits will always be with us guiding and cheering us on through this world of trouble to meet them in their happy home the First World Dear Jane I may surprise you when I tell you I believe in what is usually called spiritualism I have had communications from them frequently and within the last few months, I have paid some attention to the spirits who are always about me in July while sitting with a few friends at the table in San Frisco we got some good communications. A new spirit wished to talk with me and I asked several Names It answered to none of them I did not know that it was our Dear Child May, although it said it was a Blood relation. I was further told a letter was on the way which would tell me who. It never makes me sad or afraid to talk with my guardians They are always so happy they do not wish to exchange places It is the greatest happiness I have to know and believe our Departed Loved ones are always near us and controlling our actions in a great measure. I have a great deal to say to you Dear J. if I live to see you which will make you quite happy. I hope you will not mourn to be unhappy until we meet again I intend to sail from San Frisco on the 11th of Sept. if possible if not on the 20th. Try and be happy until then if possible. I have the picture you sent me which I prize above the price I shall try and keep it from harm and bring it to you I will stay with you while we live and hope you will yet be happy in my society place a flower on Lissy's grave for metis my love for Her. Give my love to Willie & Mother and all our dear friends and believe me yours as ever in sorrow or prosperity Newton A Chandler
P.S. I wrote you several letters while at Frisco I have been here 10 days I don’t expect to get my business all square but shall leave it Charles and someone else Charles is in the Valley saying he is well