American Manuscripts from the William Reese Co.

Item 96 is a pair of letters from William Wilson, an American immigrant from Scotland, back home to his mother in Glasgow. In the first, written in 1843, Wilson is working for the American Fur Company, and is heading up the Missouri toward the Rocky Mountains. He works as a carpenter. His pay is only $10 per month, but he has taken along some jewelry and beads to sell to the Indians. Wilson is an entrepreneur. They will travel as far upstream as possible, and then travel another 1,000 miles by mule, eating nothing but buffalo for three meals a day. He has drawn a Conestoga Wagon on the letter, with a grave marker along the trail of one of the many travelers who didn't make it all the way. In his second letter, dated 1848, Wilson is now a farmer in Iowa. He wishes to bring his mother and brother to America, but the wheat crop has been hit with “rust,” so he has no money to send them this year. Hopefully, next year will be better, but he encourages the family if they can raise the funds, to come to America now. $8,750.

The William Reese Company may be reached at 203-789-8081 or amorder@reeseco.com. Their website is www.williamreesecompany.com.