Gold Rush Era Collections

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To Mr John N Ryerson to b [be] Left at Mr Claveks [Clavek's] Exchange in Chamber shl to hand to John N Ryerson shuld [should] he Come there sune [soon]

Provisions is verry [very] high and the most of it got up in verry [very] Bad order. Chese [cheese] 50 ^cts [cents] a pound as for Butter I have not Eat 1/2. since I left new york New York I have not seen any good butter nor Milk nor Water since I left new Jersey New Jersey the steam boat that I have a ticket has not arrived here for us and we may have to lay here three or four weeks but still I have not seen any more difeculteys [difficulties] than I Expected when I started from home Although it is verry [very] tedeous [tedious] laying here among A missriable [miserable] Rase [race] of inhabatants [inhabitants] but they dont [don't] appear to be Evil Disposed I have seen nothing nor heared [heard] nothing to Discouege [discourage] me from continuing my Journy [journey] through A Olthough [Although] I long to see you and the children verry [very] much Although keep good courage and try and keep Amos in good courage and let him see this letter and Read it As to the Prospect of Butter in california California I see men from there which Does not Differ much from what I heared [heard] before I left home. NB. Do look after Amos In A kind and Motherly order for giving Directions as to work for Isaac I cant [can't] do only Each one of you look after your Buisness [business] honestly and honerbly [honorably] and all will turn well which my mind is to do the same I should have Writen [written] Before But Peter Brown Writ [wrote] which letters they was to let you see let Hannah Read this letter to others Children and let Catharine Read it to Betsy & Mary let G W Houston and an [Ann] see it And all give my love to All my Friends And Neighbors and I Remain

Affectionate Husband

John N Ryerson

Dear Brother,

Nicholas N Ryerson I Wish you to Peruse this letter that I have written to my family & I Donot [do not] see any thing Discourging [discouraging] in the Butter Busness [Business] if they they should be an Dificulties [difficulties] I wish you write to me and tell my family to write and aid and assist them as much as is in your power and I do Not know of any Directions to give you any Diferent [different] from what it was under stood when I left New York Dont [don't] forget to see that My inshurance [insurance] on the buildings Does not Run out before it is renewed which is this sumer [summer] or fall I May Write Again whe We get Ready to start from this Plase [place] if you hapen [happen] at goshen Goshen, New York teel [tell] Mr Murry you heared [heard] from me I could keep on Writing Past Events All Day But Probely [probably] they Would not be interested But Give my love to All my love to All my Brothers & sisters and Friends and

I truely [truly] Remain your Friends and Brother

John N Ryerson

Panama May 6 1850 if you Write Direct your to Sacremento Citty Calefornia Sacramento City, California Peter Brown is Well & has been since he left New York & All the company that left Paterson [Patterson] Except one which had the Ague once of [or] twice which he is not well which was ll in number

[Page 1]

Provisions is verry [very] high and the most of it got up in verry [very] Bad order Chese [cheese] 50 ^cts [cents] a pound as for Butter I have not Eat 1/2. since I left new york New York I have not seen any good butter nor Milk nor Water since I left new Jersey New Jersey the steam boat that I have a ticket has not arrived here for us and we may have to lay here three or four weeks but still I have not seen any more difeculteys [difficulties] than I Expected when I started from home Although it is verry [very] tedeous [tedious] laying here among A missriable [miserable] Rase [race] of inhabatants [inhabitants] but they dont [don't] appear to be Evil Disposed I have seen nothing nor heared [heard] nothing to Discouege [discourage] me from continuing my Journy [journey] through A Olthough [Although] I long to see you and the children verry [very] much Although keep good courage and try and keep Amos in good courage and let him see this letter and Read it As to the Prospect of Butter in california California I see men from there which Does not Differ much from what I heared [heard] before I left home. NB. Do look after Amos In A kind and Motherly order for giving Directions as to work for Isaac I cant [can't] do only Each one of you look after your Buisness [business] honestly and honerbly [honorably] and all will turn well which my mind is to do the same I should have Writen [written] Before But Peter Brown Writ [wrote] which letters they was to let you see let Hannah Read this letter to others Children and let Catharine Read it to Betsy & Mary let G W Houston and an [Ann] see it And all give my love to All my Friends And Neighbors and I Remain

Affectionate Husband

John N Ryerson

[page 2]

Dear Brother,

Nicholas N Ryerson I Wish you to Peruse this letter that I have written to my family & I Donot [do not] see any thing Discourging [discouraging] in the Butter Busness [Business] if they they should be an Dificulties [difficulties] I wish you write to me and tell my family to write and aid and assist them as much as is in your power and I do Not know of any Directions to give you any Diferent [different] from what it was under stood when I left New York Dont [don't] forget to see that My inshurance [insurance] on the buildings Does not Run out before it is renewed which is this sumer [summer] or fall I May Write Again whe We get Ready to start from this Plase [place] if you hapen [happen] at goshen Goshen, New York teel [tell] Mr Murry you heared [heard] from me I could keep on Writing Past Events All Day But Probely [probably] they Would not be interested But Give my love to All my love to All my Brothers & sisters and Friends and

I truely [truly] Remain your Friends and Brother

John N Ryerson

Panama May 6 1850 if you Write Direct your to Sacremento Citty Calefornia Sacramento City, California Peter Brown is Well & has been since he left New York & All the company that left Paterson Paterson, New York Except one which had the Ague once of [or] twice which he is not well which was ll in number

Sisters and and friends which is as well as if I had written to Each one tell Capt Row that I Recived [received] his newspaper and it Pleased me very much tell him that to send me more directing to Sacrmento [Sacramento] city Calafornia [California] and when I git there So that I can see somthing [something] of importance to him I will wite [write] to him and also tell Mr. Mury to write to me and I will to him All of you write I will be glad to hear from you often there is mails twice a month when you send Bills of ladens of the Butter there can be another letter sent in two weeks, thereafter N B Direct Butter and letters to Sacremento [Sacramento] Citty [City] no more but Remain your affectionate Friend of all

John N Ryerson