Estherville, Iowa 1861

Estherville, Iowa, Aug 7 1861, from Judge Adolphus Jenkins, of Emmett County, to the Samuel J. Kirkwood, the state Governor, stating that local people have no fear of Indian attacks, and do not desire to have troops there for security purposes. He also writes, "of an organized band of horse thieves," from Dakota Territory, who had disguised themselves as Native Americans. The content reads, in part, as follows: "As there is a strong effort being made in this country to raise a decidedly uncalled for excitement in regard to the Indians, and applications are about being made to your excellency to furnish a body of troops to be stationed at this place. Knowing as I do; that there is a decided majority of the inhabitants of this county strongly opposed to movement, I take this occasion to trespass upon upon your notice, to say that there is here a general feeling of security. As far as depredations from the Indians are concerned, we have not more to fear than the settlers about Fort Dodge. The country north of us, upon this river is quite thickly settled for over thirty miles; much more so than it is between here and Fort Dodge. To the west of us are considerable settlements about Spirit Lake and upon the Little Sioux, therefore we do not consider that we are hardly on the frontier. There is no doubt of the existence of an organized band of horse thieves, somewhere in Dacotah Territory, that commit many depredations in the disguise of Indians and upon their credit. Yet they have committed none in this county, or within eighty miles of it, and if they should, I hope and trust the people here, will prove equal to the emergency. We have in this county one hundred and twenty five inhabitants, over forty of whom are fighting men, or subject to do military duty, and if we cannot protect our homes, we are unworthy of homes in so fair a land as this. Another still stronger objection, which every true lover of this county has, has to [do with] the States sending men here at this time of our country's greatest need, is that as we are unable to assist the grand and noble cause, in which our country is at present so deeply engaged by men and means. God forbid that we would indirectly aid the enemy by intruding upon the precious time of those that have all they attend to, to content with our common adversary without being annoyed by any false and foolish pretense from the county that we are in danger. If it is desirable, we will forward to you a remonstrance, signed by the majority of the county, who are opposed to having troops stationed here. Please excuse this somewhat tedious intrusion upon your attention. If the intended petition should be presented, it is hoped that it will only receive such attention as the case merits ... [signed] Adolphus Jenkins

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Athens, Ohio 1849

Athens, Ohio, Dec 1 1849, from E. Stewart, a livestock farmer, to F. E. Foster, Beardstown, Cass County, Illinois.

The content, which is very long, initially discusses the writer's extensive business dealings in the west, including a court trial re a dispute over hogs at Keokuk, Iowa, and additional business in Galena, Illinois. Is worried about his losses and financial shape, which he says could be 'mortifying.' Sorry that in the past that his credit was so good, and believes that easy loans led to his downfall. A lengthy postscript, which is excellent, touches on the California Gold Rush. It reads, in part, as follows, "I notice in your letter a strong inclination you have for Minnesota. Has that superceded the California fever? If so let me say ... that Doctor Dixon has just returned. He started from Cincinnati about 1 month in advance of our Athens Company [of Forty Niners], but had heard nothing of them. He was in the diggins only 3 or 4 weeks. He went over the land route & returned by Shagres [Chagres, Panama]. Was 45 days returning. Reported to have cleared 3000 [dollars] clear of expenses. Says he has enough of Californy & California gold. In a letter from Dixon to his wife, writing from Sacramento, says he just arrived without one cent of money. Left the train about 600 miles back. Had rode three mules down in that distance. Said that Danny started in company with him, but had got lost from him. Says nothing about the condition of the company when he left, only that he took with him of provisions [of] only 1-1/2 pounds of bread & three days after the date of his letter, another letter came to his wife, written by Mr. Boyle, who was once a student with Dixon, under a Mr. Howard of Columbus, Ohio, saying that he had spent some time with Doctor Dixon on his arrival & was to meet him again in a few days at a certain point, but before the time came around, [and this is most strange, in light of the above] Dixon accidentally shot himself & before (he, Boyle) got there Dixon was buried. The friends here begin to feel some alarm for the safety of our Athens Company.. Harold who started from McArthurstown 30 days after our folks, has written that he had arrived safe and would commence digging the next day. His hopes are high. Four [of] our people got in safe & write favorable. There will be a large company go out from here very early in the spring. You would be astonished if you knew all that has taken the California fever that can''t get through ... [signed] E.S.

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L. H. Cook to D. H. White 1855

1855 letter from L. H. Cook to D. H. White in Iowa that mentions near the end: "There is some talk about the Indians being trouble some and scares some of the Women almost into a duck fit it has been reported that there is 6000 at the Counsul bluff but it does not interupt me till I know more about it . . .

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Civil War Memoir: John Gilbert Murray 8th Iowa Cavalry

The following is from Grand Army of the Republic ~ Department of New York ~ Personal War Sketches of the Members of Charles P. Sprout Post No. 76, of Lockport

Sprout who was with the New York 28th Infantry was killed in Action at Cedar Mountain, Virginia on August 9, 1862

John Gilbert Murray
Born Niagara, New York
Company “G”, 8th Iowa Cavalry

…The first battle in which I was engaged was Nashville Tenn., opposed to Hood,I think about the middle of December 1864, after which I was in minor engagements during Hood’s retreat and in various skirmishes with Guerrillas and Bushwhacking forces during Winter of 1863 and 1864 in Western Tenn.

Others during Autumn of 1864 on the route between Franklin, Tenn., and Muscle Shoals, Alabama and vicinity of Florence Ala. Some skirmishes and light engagement during Spring of 1865, on a raiding expedition, starting from Waterloo, Ala., about the 1st of April and ending at Macon Ga., about the final close of the hostilities.

The most important events in my military experience were Enlistment and Discharge. ‘Reveille’ and ‘Taps’, “Boots & Saddles’

Eliza Harman Winder Miller, Iowa 1889

Name: Ann Winder
E- mail: annsfamilytree@pobox.com

Envelope addressed to: Mrs. E.E. Garber, Aspin, Pitkin Co., Colorado

Feb the 14 /89
Eldon, Iowa

Dear Children

I will write you a few lines in answer to your ever welcome letter that I got some time ago and should of rote ere this but I was over to Batavia to see the children they are all well I am still mending slowly dad(1) is not any better I think he is geting worse all the time J H Winder(2) and family are all well B J Harman(3) has bin verry sick but is about again the rest of our folks are all well as far as I no John Allens house burnt down last Sep and they moved up to Appanoos co near to uncle Allen Harman Charly Carter is married him and Tamma Winder has joined the Cambelites(4) up at bladensburg the methodist episcopal and the free methodist have bin having meeting for six weeks but they did not get many converts Dave Brown joined they broke up last thursday I slept in our old house it did not seem like home as everything in the house belong to some body els but the three corner cubbord we have sold some of our things or rather give them away we have had the nicest winter that I ever seen in Iowa it is raining some little now I will go to docks(5) in the spring if I live(6) if dad don't get helpless if he does of corse I can't leave him if I can't help him but if he can travel and wont go he can stay where he is the folks are verry good to me but I cant feel at home like I do with my own children I feel satisfied it will ware out for dad is enough to wair any of them out and as for me to be draged from one place to another I cant stand it he is not contented any place but a little while I never was used to that way of doing and I don't feel as if I ever can If I had better health it probable would be different Dock Shag says he can cure him I want him to try him and see what he can do but I have my doubts about it and I don't think it is rite for my children to take care of him either they all three say that if they had their choice they would take me before him they did not tel me but they have told others neither of them likes the way he has treated me polly gave me a scolding the other day because I dont talk back and give him fits when he flies all to peaces about nothing but I think he can do as he pleases if he thinks their is no here-after but that is enough of that I will stop Ellen my heart akes for you when I think of your trouble but don't greive for your darling but think of your little angels that you have in heaven(7) by by for this time

Write soon
Mother to all

Footnotes:
1. A reference to her second husband Martin Miller (abt. 1797-1893)
2. John Henry Winder, Eliza's son (1847-1930)
3. Benjamin J. Harman, Eliza's brother (1828-???)
4. Campbell, Alexander, 1788-1866, clergyman, cofounder of the DISCIPLES OF CHRIST; b. Ireland. His father, Thomas Campbell, 1763-1854, came to the U.S. in 1807 and settled in Pennsylvania, where he withdrew his congregation from the Presbyterian Church. Alexander came to the U.S. in 1809 and joined his father's followers, known as Campbellites. Nominally Baptists (c.1812-c.1827), they advocated a return to scriptural simplicity and became the Disciples of Christ. Alexander founded (1840) Bethany College in West Virginia.
5. Her son, Marcellus Duane Winder, presumably because of his initials, was referred to as "Doc".
6. Eliza died soon after she wrote this letter, 26 Feb 1889.
7. Molly's note: Elizabeth Ellen Winder and David Garber's daughter Ruthie Inez Garber died at age 3 on December 9, 1888 in Aspen and their daughter Bertha Eunice Garber died at about age 15 on March 22, 1889 in Aspen. Elizabeth's husband David Henry Garber died May 22, 1889 in Aspen.

Notes: Written by Eliza Harman Winder Miller shortly before her death in 1889. Eliza and her first husband, Thomas Winder, migrated from Ohio where they were born and married to Iowa in 1842. Thomas left for the goldfields and died there, after which Eliza married Martin Miller.

See http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~annieron/pedigrees/114.htm for Eliza's pedigree