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4 pp, 7 7/8 x 10, S.B. KING of Pekin, (IL), Feb. 24, [18]55, to his brother and sister, with excellent content on the pioneers who were filling the “western country.” He mentions mills, California, land deals, railroads, temperance (Maine Law), settlers of mixed races and nationalities.
“…We have had 4 weeks hard winter, cold, very little snow to make sleighing all drifted except in the timber, rail roads, all blocked up this day. Snow is nearly all gone. I think Barnum is wise in trying to make money by going to California in his young days. I should [have] been in California years back as that climate is better than this. If he has his health, he will get rich. His land in Wisconsin is in a good location, setting up fast. Green Bay is a great country for lumber. A young man from here last year ended up with timber land and started a mill and has located on Green Bay…I have 1500 acres on Rock River, halfway up to Fox River. This Western country is filling in up fast and land is advancing from two dollars to ten dollars as this country if running rail roads in all directions. If Barnum keeps his land a few years, it will be worth ten dollars per acre. Crops is short. Corn selling 35 cents, oats 25, wheat 110, horses from 100 to 150, oxen 75 to 100, cows 20 to 40…
“Old King call out and taken the sacred pledge…This state passed the Maine Law. This winter to be confirmed by the vote of the people which is a great benefit to many in the west as so many hard who is inclined to dismiss and leave the families in distress. It is a great evil on the western states. Mixed up race of beings. I think I shall take a trip into Minnesota territory in the spring as there is plenty of land to enter. A great many are going from here and making claims and that will give all settlers a year to enter in their great country. For the boys to make claims and enter land and the country is healthy and well-watered…St. Paul is about 250 Miles north on the Mississippi River…That country is filling up with live Yankees as they are called…
“Kansas & Nebraska is a northern great country for settlers…If I can sell my property in Pekin the coming summer, I shall go north next fall. I have about three thousand dollars, North city property. I would like to invest in land in Wisconsin or Minnesota as the north is setting up with eastern people and good land. Can be entered at one dollar, 25 cents, government prices…”
The Maine Law was passed on June 2, 1851. It forbade the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, except for medicinal and mechanical purposes. The law inspired a wave of similar “Maine Laws” around the country.
Wonderful early Western content.
Folds, light toning. The writer has grammatical challenges, but the focus is on the development of the West in the mid-19th century.
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