Browse Items (47 total)
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Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 14 September 1811
William Clark writes his brother, Jonathan Clark, from St. Louis, Missouri, that William Preston has been there on a visit but doesn't care for the area, and likely will settle near Jonathan in the Louisville area. Reports that Indian affairs are deteriorating and the British are to blame. Julia has delivered another son, a "great rough red headed fellow." -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 30 August 1811
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis about the land he wants to sell in Clark County, Indiana, and the state of his finances involving his mercantile pursuits and land. Mentions the whereabouts and health of various Clark family members, including M. Lewis who is sick with worms. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 17 August 1811
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis complaining that they don't hear very often from their Kentucky family and fears they are being forgotten. He mentions how scattered the family is at this time and wishes they all were together. American-Native affairs have been active east of the Mississippi, but they are tranquil west of the river. He mentions Indigenous delegations that have recently visited. He fears that The Prophet and his followers are stirring up trouble and need to be dispersed. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, ca. 1 March 1811
William Clark writes to his brother Jonathan from St. Louis about his business affairs and their prospects. Refers him to John Luttig, his store manager who delivered this letter, for more details. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 31 January 1811
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis reporting on a duel in which he acted as a second. Lieutenant John Campbell unfairly is in jail due to his role in the affair--although not one of the duelists-- and wishes Jonathan was there to give him advice. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 14 December 1810
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis regarding his intent to sell various tracts of land he owns in Clarksville, Indiana. He wants to make sure that the elderly African Americans (assumed to be enslaved people) living there are taken care of and do not suffer. Hopes their brother George is improving. Reports that the weather has been cold, the river is running with ice, and several boats have frozen in it. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 16 July 1810
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis after arriving home. Julia and M. Lewis were greatly tormented by the mosquitos. He isn't optimistic about his personal and general situation regarding the Missouri Fur Company. Reports what he knows regarding Meriwether Lewis' and his own difficulties and differences in policy with the government. Has learned that Frederick Bates had lodged complaints about both of them. Clark considers Bates a "little animale whome I had mistaken as my friend." -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 3 July 1810
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from Kaskaskia, Illinois, relating how they have fared in their trip to St. Louis since leaving Louisville. Low water in the Ohio, high water in the Mississippi, lack of boat hands, and violent storms have all plagued them. Julia and M. Lewis have been tormented by the mosquitos. Soon after reaching the Mississippi, Rachiel (mosy likely an enslaved person) fell between the boats and drowned. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 8 March 1810
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from Fincastle, Virginia, updating him on the status of having the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition written and published. Gives the route they plan on taking home to St. Louis. Julia and son M. Lewis are well, the latter begins to walk and talk. William Preston plans on visiting Jeffeson County, Kentucky, and probably will move his family there. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 12 January 1810
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from Washington, D.C., with updates regarding his success in getting possession of expedition records and the steps he is taking to get the expedition history written and published. He still is not inclined to accept the governorship of Upper Louisiana if it is offered. He is in good standing with the President and Secretary of War. He fears he won't be successful regarding brother George's claim [for payment for military expenses] from the government but hopes to get him a pension. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 26 November 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from Fincastle, Virginia, where they are visiting Julia's family, regarding the death of Meriwether Lewis, information he has received from the commander of Fort Pickering at the Chickasaw Bluffs, Gilbert Russell, who provides details of Lewis's condition and situation while there, and what he has learned from Lewis' servant John Pernier about Lewis's mental state. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 8 November 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from Bean Station, Tennessee, while traveling eastward to Fincastle, Virginia, with an update on what else he has learned about Lewis's death. He also reports on the difficulty they've encountered regarding their carriage, the roads, and the weather. He is not inclined to accept the governorship of Upper Louisiana as Lewis's replacement if it is offered to him because he doesn't want a "green pompous new england" [William Eustis] as his boss.Tags death; government; Letters; Louisiana; Meriwether Lewis; Tennessee; travel; Virginia; weather; William Clark -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 30 October 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from Lexington, Kentucky, while traveling eastward to Fincastle, Virginia, that he has learned of the certainty of the death of Lewis. He has written Judge [John] Overton in Nashville for more information and the whereabouts of Lewis's papers. Wishes he could talk to Jonathan about this.Tags death; Letters; Lexington; Meriwether Lewis; Nashville; suicide; travel; Virginia; William Clark -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 28 October 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan that evening from John Shannon's tavern east of Shelbyville, Kentucky, concerning the distressing news read earlier that day while in Shelbyville about the reported death by suicide of Meriwether Lewis in Tennessee. He states that he fears the report might be true. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 16 September 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis shortly before setting out on their trip eastward. He has concluded Indian trade business and will turn matters over to Frederick Bates in his absence. The Secretary of War [William Eustis] has given him more responsibilities and directed him to remove agents and other Indian department employees appointed by Meriwether Lewis. To do so is disagreeable to him. A man convicted of murder is to be hanged today and the town is full of people. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 26 August 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis reporting the distressing situation Meriwether Lewis is in regarding the government and his personal affairs. Clark believes all will work out. He is disgusted with York and wishes Jonathan to do with him as he wishes upon his arrival in Louisville - hire him out or sell him. Relays that Julia is in poor health, thinks family have rather forgotten them, but anticipates much joy in their upcoming visit. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 22 July 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis regarding his enslaved man York, the St. Louis Missouri Fur Company, furs and peltries belonging to the government as part of the Indian trade factory system, and the route he might take in the fall eastward to Kentucky and Virginia. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 28 May 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis regarding plans to travel east for a visit in the fall and their likely route. He reports how Julia and Lewis are doing, including Lewis being vaccinated with the cowpox and his reaction to being bathed. Sends regrets of George Rogers Clark's situation and hopes he will continue to recover. Talks of York's return to St. Louis from Kentucky and his continued bad attitude, punishment, and possible plans regarding him, and an enslaved woman Priscilla giving birth to a stillborn child and her little boy getting accidently scalded. He provides an update on the most recent news regarding Native American affairs and possible hostilities. -
Letter from William Clark to Edmund Clark, 15 April 1809
Clark writes his brother Edmund from St. Louis reporting general news regarding the town and some of its inhabitants. He comments on the status of their nephews Benjamin O'Fallon, there with him in St. Louis, and his brother, John O'Fallon, in school in Lexington, Kentucky. He updates Edmund regarding the status of their interest in the St. Louis Missouri Fur Company and their planned mercantile business venture, and on Native American affairs both up the Missouri and the Mississippi. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, ca. 1 March 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis informing him he has invested in the St. Louis Missouri Fur Company, is acting as an agent for the government's Native American trade factory system, and the trouble he is having with several of his enslaved persons and the punishment he is meting out. Julia requests seeds be sent to her because the rats have eaten all of hers. He keeps no copies of the letters he writes to him.