Box 11, Folder 3: Correspondence September-December 1871

Milwaukee Oct 14 - 1871

Dr Brother

Mr Phelps' telegram came none too soon, for it was published here at the same time that "old Col. Stone & his wife" were suffocated at the Historical rooms! Of course we supposed the wife meant Sarah.

Perhaps the fifty dollars I send with this will keep you in [pin?] money until the Marine Bank is ready to hand over.

We had dispatches every hour during the great conflagration - greatest ever known - & I will send the Weekly Sentinel of Monday with a full account of it.

We have been expecting you & Elizabeth here - to make our house your home until you can do better!

We all rejoice that it is no worse with you!

Very truly yours I. A. Lapham

Col. Samuel Stone 152 Sophia St.

Your 2d letter just received - will send again today or on Monday

Milwaukee Oct 16th 1871

Dr Brother

With this I send you by express one hundred & fifty dollars - making with the $50 sent on Saturday $200 in all.

John S. Draper spent Friday in Chicago trying to find you but without success.

Mr T. S. Johns writes from Georgetown D.C. to know about you & "Lizzie" & also of B. F. Pixley & family. He was on South Water street.

When you get settled come & see us.

Yours truly I.A. Lapham

Col Sam'l Stone 152 Sophia St Chicago

J. W. Spencer Paxton Sullivan Co Ind October 19th A.D. 1871

Prof I. A. Lapham Geologist, Milwaukee Wis.

Dear Sir, with great pleasure I embrace this opportunity to return you my thanks for a geological Map of the State of Wisconsin you were so kind as to forward to me, - I have examined it carefully and am well pleased with its exhibition of those geological features of your State.

I would like to have you send me some of the geological reports of your state also. I thought perhaps you did send one with the map - made inquiry and none have come yet.

I am thinking of compiling a work on Paleontology showing the fossils of each "formation" in an alphabetical order like a dictionary; giving plate and description of each

How do think that would do?

Get this up in the form of a Report to the Smithsonian Institution at Washington City. Have you any thing [anything] to contribute for this cause? or this work? If so please forward as soon as convenient by Adams Express Company.

A small work on this subject giving the most common fossils would be of great use to students and persons travelling. Would be glad to have your opinions of that work and advice as to best means of getting up or collecting materials for the same. Shall be glad to correspond with you.

Yours with respect

John W Spencer Teacher and Geologist Paxton Sullivan Co Ind

P. S.

Did you not write a work on the "plants of Wisconsin?" I would like to have you send that also.

Can you make some exchanges for fossils and fossil coal plants of my locality? some fine "Sigillaria" Picapteris, and Lepidodendron, Calamites, Productus Cora, P. Punctatis Spirifer Cameratus etc etc

Send me a box of yours and I will fill and return