Goldfield, Iowa June 23 /67
Mr. W Tharp
Dear friend, as I have been writing to almost all of the Connection and get no answer, I thought of trying you to see if you would write me a few lines so that we may know how things is a going on Shellrock. Well I will tell you that this is by far the wetest summer that we have had since we have lived on Boon river. The present propect for a crop is very dull. The wheat & oats that is on wet or even on flat land is gon. Now comes the corn. there will come one or two dry days so that men commences to plow in the corn then comes an awful heavy rain that stop all corn working. So you see that we have not got our corn worked once through yet Corn looks quite well considering the constant rainy weather.
If the weather does not soon become settled I think that some of the people here will have to imigrate if we can find the place where there will be a surplus and I may be amongst the number as my farm is very levil. if we have to leave you see we will be about once through.
Now I should like to know how the crops looks there on Shellrock. The past season has been a hard one on us as the early frost cut our corn short so that we through this part have to hall our corn from 20 to 40 miles and pay $1.50 per bushel $1.00 for Oats $1.50 for potatoes & $9.00 for flour corn meal $4.50 other things in proportion. There has been much people come into this section the past season more than there was grain raised for so you see that it makes hard times for them.
Now Wash I tell you that I have just about got the blues and will sell at the drop of a hat if I had the chance that I have refused more than once, which is $20 per acre but I was not ready to sell then. well I tell you that I have made considerable property since I saw you and it has cost me hundreds of dollars to live with as large a family to see after as I have. Well I calculate to take a tour south this fall if I can to see if there is not someplace that we will not have to feed stalk eight months out of twelve as we did the past season. I think of going into Missouri or into the East part Kansas.
Now I wish you to give me the county and Post office address of your father for I may pass that way or if I do not I will know where to write to. Also tell me how they like where they are and what the chance is for getting a farm there as I suppose you and them have correspondance.
you may tell James D. Moore & J.K. Swim of this letter and tell them to write to me as well as yourself. also tell them that I have no bid on the Company farm yet. I have two strings of the fence reset and have the other two to move and rebuild yet.
So I will close as I have no more to write at present.
Yours as ever,
JJ Moore
W Tharp
-------------------------------
Andrew (and Jane, from the sound of it) moved to Missouri at some point; from the sound of this letter that may be where they are now.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
No escaping....
Tax time! The next document is Washington's tax receipt:
Butler Center, January 8th, 1867
Received of Washington Tharp
Five and 74/100 dollars
in full of the following Taxes for the year 1866, onPoll, Personal Property and the annexed Real Estate:
Kind of Tax $ | cts
State 70
County 1 12
Co. School 28
T fund 84
School House F 1 96
Bridge 84
Total 5 74
The receipt is numbered 42.
Sorry this looks weird; I can't get the columns to line up.
Butler Center, January 8th, 1867
Received of Washington Tharp
Five and 74/100 dollars
in full of the following Taxes for the year 1866, on
Kind of Tax $ | cts
State 70
County 1 12
Co. School 28
T fund 84
School House F 1 96
Bridge 84
Total 5 74
The receipt is numbered 42.
Sorry this looks weird; I can't get the columns to line up.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Mary White and Washington Tharp Wedding Certificate
State of Iowa Brewer County
March 1, 1866
This Certifies that on the first day of march A.D. 1866, at the residence of Ja. Tharp Esq in said County, according to law and by authority, I duly Joined in Marriage, Mr. Washington Tharp and Miss Mary J White
Given under my hand, the first day of March
A.D. 1866 Mr. Hodges Min of the Gospel
Check out the so very Victorian artwork on the Certificate:
Monday, September 27, 2010
O.N. Neff to Andrew & Jane Tharp Jan (?) 21, 1864
Mount Flathead Jan 21 1864
Dear brother and sister I take my pen to inform you that we are all well at presant and hope these lines will find you and your family enjoying the like blessing. So far we are much pleased with the country the land through all this region of country lays high dry and rolling and has every appearance of being ****tly [letters blurred]. the soil is extremely fertile after leaving the water corses a short distance. the soil is from one to two feet deep after going through that you come to a brownish yealow clay that is from eight to ten feet deep. after this you come to blue clay below this is gravel and pleanty of pure water. not quite as strong with lime stone as the water in your country. Rachel says it dose [sic] not take as much soap to wash as it did when we use to live along the water courses. the land is verry rich generally speaking. there is large quantities of first rate building stone such as the common lime stone and hydraulic or water lime stone and marble susseptible of a very fine pollish. This country is well situated for mill streams and mills. the Kankakee River, Oplane, Dupage, Osable and Foxe River & hickory Creek all the above name streams have water enough to keep up mill the year round except the Osable. for a rich and fertile country it is the best water of any I have ever seen. springs are tolerable plenty and water not surpassed anywhere. by digging we get water from 20 to 30 feet.
Grain is scrancer [sic] this year than usual owing to the draute during the summer. there was not rain enough to wet the ground thoroghly during the summer and fall. when potatoes was dug the earth was dry below them. Corn is selling at 31 cts oats 25 potatoes 25 to 31. Wheat 75 cts at Chicago butter is ready sale from 15 to 18 cts Eggs 12 1/2 pr doz in fact all that the farmer rases he can sell ready and at fair prices. Pork from $2.50 to 3.25 pr hundred. Beef is selling at $2.25 and more money made than you can make by rasing cattle and selling at $6.00 pr hd. the rasing cattle cost nothing but cutting prarie hay to winter on.
the weather since we have been here has been extremely dry and pleasant. there has not been more then five or six dayes but what a man could work comfortable. it is so dry the prairies have been burning. a day or two ago yesterday afternoon and today it has been misting rain. there has not been scarecly any snow this winter. snow fell about two weeks ago 3 or 4 inches deep. I hope we shall have more snow.
I have between three and four thousand nails to hard about 20 mile and a quarter. Any apples might be sold here at one dollar and fifty cents by the quantity if they could be brot before navigation opens. tel John Ryon or some of our friends to bring a load this winter while the ground is frozen.
Christian societies are tolerable plenty here in the town of Juliet three miles from here. there is a large Methodist church Babtest presbyterians New lights Episcopalians Universalits Unitarians and Roman Catholicks. the Washingtonians are doing wonders in this county as well as most other places. Joseph Beomalt that lives on brandywine has been living in this county 9 years. he says he would not give one acre of land in this county for five there. he lives about 2 1/2 miles from us and has a first rate farm of near three hundred acres.
We live on one of the publickest roads I ever saw during the fall four stages passed daily since winter 2 daily stages passes.
Rachel has her heath better than she has had it for five years and I am so hearty that I could eat a stone fence if it was made of Pie.
when you recieve this letter I want you to write. we have not Read a letter from any of our friends since we have been here. we hope they have not forgotten us. we think it is neglect we would be much pleased if you would come and look at the country and satisfy your self. the expense of comming is but small. James Yates moved to this country it only cost him about three dollars. tel Susan that Rachel would like to have her come and stay one year if she could. She is very lonsom without any of her relations here.
Direct your letter to Juliett [Wi]ll County Illinois.
Yours in haste
O.N. Neff
Andrew Tharp
Jane Tharp
---------
He is clearly writing "Juliett" with a U, but just as clearly they are near Joliett, IL. The names of waterways lines up, and that would make sense with the reference to Chicago (and the amount of stage travel).
He addressed them as brother and sister, so on a guess, this may be Jane Tharp's brother, or at least brother-in-law?
The Washingtonians were a temperance society.
Dear brother and sister I take my pen to inform you that we are all well at presant and hope these lines will find you and your family enjoying the like blessing. So far we are much pleased with the country the land through all this region of country lays high dry and rolling and has every appearance of being ****tly [letters blurred]. the soil is extremely fertile after leaving the water corses a short distance. the soil is from one to two feet deep after going through that you come to a brownish yealow clay that is from eight to ten feet deep. after this you come to blue clay below this is gravel and pleanty of pure water. not quite as strong with lime stone as the water in your country. Rachel says it dose [sic] not take as much soap to wash as it did when we use to live along the water courses. the land is verry rich generally speaking. there is large quantities of first rate building stone such as the common lime stone and hydraulic or water lime stone and marble susseptible of a very fine pollish. This country is well situated for mill streams and mills. the Kankakee River, Oplane, Dupage, Osable and Foxe River & hickory Creek all the above name streams have water enough to keep up mill the year round except the Osable. for a rich and fertile country it is the best water of any I have ever seen. springs are tolerable plenty and water not surpassed anywhere. by digging we get water from 20 to 30 feet.
Grain is scrancer [sic] this year than usual owing to the draute during the summer. there was not rain enough to wet the ground thoroghly during the summer and fall. when potatoes was dug the earth was dry below them. Corn is selling at 31 cts oats 25 potatoes 25 to 31. Wheat 75 cts at Chicago butter is ready sale from 15 to 18 cts Eggs 12 1/2 pr doz in fact all that the farmer rases he can sell ready and at fair prices. Pork from $2.50 to 3.25 pr hundred. Beef is selling at $2.25 and more money made than you can make by rasing cattle and selling at $6.00 pr hd. the rasing cattle cost nothing but cutting prarie hay to winter on.
the weather since we have been here has been extremely dry and pleasant. there has not been more then five or six dayes but what a man could work comfortable. it is so dry the prairies have been burning. a day or two ago yesterday afternoon and today it has been misting rain. there has not been scarecly any snow this winter. snow fell about two weeks ago 3 or 4 inches deep. I hope we shall have more snow.
I have between three and four thousand nails to hard about 20 mile and a quarter. Any apples might be sold here at one dollar and fifty cents by the quantity if they could be brot before navigation opens. tel John Ryon or some of our friends to bring a load this winter while the ground is frozen.
Christian societies are tolerable plenty here in the town of Juliet three miles from here. there is a large Methodist church Babtest presbyterians New lights Episcopalians Universalits Unitarians and Roman Catholicks. the Washingtonians are doing wonders in this county as well as most other places. Joseph Beomalt that lives on brandywine has been living in this county 9 years. he says he would not give one acre of land in this county for five there. he lives about 2 1/2 miles from us and has a first rate farm of near three hundred acres.
We live on one of the publickest roads I ever saw during the fall four stages passed daily since winter 2 daily stages passes.
Rachel has her heath better than she has had it for five years and I am so hearty that I could eat a stone fence if it was made of Pie.
when you recieve this letter I want you to write. we have not Read a letter from any of our friends since we have been here. we hope they have not forgotten us. we think it is neglect we would be much pleased if you would come and look at the country and satisfy your self. the expense of comming is but small. James Yates moved to this country it only cost him about three dollars. tel Susan that Rachel would like to have her come and stay one year if she could. She is very lonsom without any of her relations here.
Direct your letter to Juliett [Wi]ll County Illinois.
Yours in haste
O.N. Neff
Andrew Tharp
Jane Tharp
---------
He is clearly writing "Juliett" with a U, but just as clearly they are near Joliett, IL. The names of waterways lines up, and that would make sense with the reference to Chicago (and the amount of stage travel).
He addressed them as brother and sister, so on a guess, this may be Jane Tharp's brother, or at least brother-in-law?
The Washingtonians were a temperance society.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Washington Tharp to Andrew Tharp Nov. 21, 1863
Nashville, Tenesee Nov, 21 1863
Dear Father,
I take my pen in hand for purpose of writing a few lines to you. My health is improving slowly, and I hope when these few lines reaches you they will find you in good health. Well I did expect to have at least two or three letters awaiting me when I should arrive at Nashvill, but not one have I got yet. I suppose you have been as buissy [sic] as I have been myself, and have had but little time for writing.
Well after a long and tedious march of fourteen days we arrived at Nashvill Tenn. I have had the opportunity of viewing a considerably portion of dixy and of beholding some of the disstruction and desolation that ungody Rebellion has made. I saw thousands of acres of land that had been in a high state of cultivation that was thrown out to the commons, and large mansions that are deserted, and hundreds of others that have been burned. Nothing remaines to be seen of them but the large chimney wich stand to mark the place where the mansion once stood. I think that I love my prairie home the best of all the places that I have seen since I left the far distant West.
We have had nice wheather all fall. We have had but little rain since we left Camp Roberts. The dayes are warm and the nights are cold and damp with heavy frost. I have just received today that Soldiers Companion. I will name the articals that I received with it. One inkstand one pair scissors one pencil one pen w holder Big without holder and pens four needles one hank thread. Now I want to know what the whole rigg cost. I have taken another look and have found two combs.
Produce of all kinds is verry high here. Corn is 1.50 per bushel potatoes 3.00 per bus. or 5 cts per pound. Salt 16.00 dollars per barrel. Flour 12 dollars per barrel, Butter 75 cts Molasses 4.00 dollars per gallon, and Everry thing else in proportion.
Nashvill is an ancient looking citty. It has a splendid new Capitol. It is the nicest building that I ever looked upon in my life. Allso President Polks mansion in another splended building.
We have marching orders for tomorrow morning at six oclock. We are to go west on the Tenessee River but to what point I cannot say. I do not think that we will go to the front this winter as they have got more men ther now than they can feed. They are sending away there horses and mules by hundreds to keep them alive. That is they send them north.
I want to know whether you paid Mr. Phillips my share of the charges due on what I had expressed through. Write as soon as you get this, without fail and no delay. Please give us all the news. So no more at present.
From your obedient son.
Direct to Nashvill.
Write soon,
W. Tharp
A. Tharp.
----------------
This is the letter that is pictured behind the blog title on the blog's front page.
I'm a little confused about how to reconcile the letters from Washington with what I can find of the movements of the 8th Iowa Cavalry during the Civil War. He writes from Louisville on Nov. 1st that they're going to Chattanooga, then writes on the 21st from Nashville. Even if the first letter is from Louisville, TN (near Knoxville), it doesn't make sense that they'd march from there to Chattanooga and then up to Nashville--and they'd already been in Chattanooga for 8 days according to this web site (the information from which is replicated everywhere).
If anyone can shed light on this, please let me know! I'll ask some folks on campus tomorrow if I can.
Dear Father,
I take my pen in hand for purpose of writing a few lines to you. My health is improving slowly, and I hope when these few lines reaches you they will find you in good health. Well I did expect to have at least two or three letters awaiting me when I should arrive at Nashvill, but not one have I got yet. I suppose you have been as buissy [sic] as I have been myself, and have had but little time for writing.
Well after a long and tedious march of fourteen days we arrived at Nashvill Tenn. I have had the opportunity of viewing a considerably portion of dixy and of beholding some of the disstruction and desolation that ungody Rebellion has made. I saw thousands of acres of land that had been in a high state of cultivation that was thrown out to the commons, and large mansions that are deserted, and hundreds of others that have been burned. Nothing remaines to be seen of them but the large chimney wich stand to mark the place where the mansion once stood. I think that I love my prairie home the best of all the places that I have seen since I left the far distant West.
We have had nice wheather all fall. We have had but little rain since we left Camp Roberts. The dayes are warm and the nights are cold and damp with heavy frost. I have just received today that Soldiers Companion. I will name the articals that I received with it. One inkstand one pair scissors one pencil one pen w holder Big without holder and pens four needles one hank thread. Now I want to know what the whole rigg cost. I have taken another look and have found two combs.
Produce of all kinds is verry high here. Corn is 1.50 per bushel potatoes 3.00 per bus. or 5 cts per pound. Salt 16.00 dollars per barrel. Flour 12 dollars per barrel, Butter 75 cts Molasses 4.00 dollars per gallon, and Everry thing else in proportion.
Nashvill is an ancient looking citty. It has a splendid new Capitol. It is the nicest building that I ever looked upon in my life. Allso President Polks mansion in another splended building.
We have marching orders for tomorrow morning at six oclock. We are to go west on the Tenessee River but to what point I cannot say. I do not think that we will go to the front this winter as they have got more men ther now than they can feed. They are sending away there horses and mules by hundreds to keep them alive. That is they send them north.
I want to know whether you paid Mr. Phillips my share of the charges due on what I had expressed through. Write as soon as you get this, without fail and no delay. Please give us all the news. So no more at present.
From your obedient son.
Direct to Nashvill.
Write soon,
W. Tharp
A. Tharp.
----------------
This is the letter that is pictured behind the blog title on the blog's front page.
I'm a little confused about how to reconcile the letters from Washington with what I can find of the movements of the 8th Iowa Cavalry during the Civil War. He writes from Louisville on Nov. 1st that they're going to Chattanooga, then writes on the 21st from Nashville. Even if the first letter is from Louisville, TN (near Knoxville), it doesn't make sense that they'd march from there to Chattanooga and then up to Nashville--and they'd already been in Chattanooga for 8 days according to this web site (the information from which is replicated everywhere).
If anyone can shed light on this, please let me know! I'll ask some folks on campus tomorrow if I can.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Washington Tharp to Andrew Tharp Nov. 1 1863
Louisvill
November the 1st 1863
Dear Father
I take my pencil in hand for purpose of answering your kind letter wich I received the other day but Wich found me quite unwell. I have been havening [?] the ague, the old sort. But I think that have got it broke. yes we was hurried off from Camp Roberts sooner than we expected. We have been badly treated as a Regt, in that respect. We are no where and expect to leave day after tomorrow for Chattanooga. I do not know now when I shall be at home. Father, I want you to take the charge of my property in your own hands, and do with it as your own. I want you to see to things just the same as if they belonged to yourself.
I am going send my money home and am going to send to you, and I want you to pay my debts with it. I want you to pay Br. G Searkins 4,00 dollars out of it, and aply the Balance on my other acounts. as yet I have had no Chance to get my likeness taken neither do I no now when I will, as to Renting my farm out, do the verry best you can, as you are rite there.
well Father I am in town today and have sent home $48,00 dollars by express. There was five of us that has sent our money together. We have had it expressed to Cedar falls, all in Care of Mr. Phillips.
Mr. Phillips is my bunk mate, Father. He lives 4 miles above Shell Rock. I shall writ to him and have him leave it with Carter. I shall get my likeness taken today. I cannot get but one taken now and I will send it to Mary and as soon as I can I will send all the Rest one. I have sent home one Company Record that I want James to take care of for me until I return.
So no more at present, but still remain your obedient son,
Direct your letters to Co. J 8th Iowa Cav
Washington Tharp
Andrew Tharp.
-----------
I assume "Mary" is Mary White, his fiancee. I guess she got the first photo--tough luck, mom and dad!
A google search indicates that Camp Roberts was near Davenport.
Another teaching certifcate
The next item is another teaching certificate for Mary White dated Oct 10, 1863. It certifies her to teach in McHenry, County, IL. It's signed by Thos. Mead. I'm not going to transcribe the whole thing.
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