Browse Items (57 total)
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Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 5 October 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis relating news about the fort [Fort Osage] he has built up the Missouri and a treaty he negotiated with the Osage nation. He is overwhelmed with official business. He very much wants to engage in mercantile business with John Hite Clark. He reviews possible opportunities in St. Louis for John Sullivan who is there. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 9 November 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis discussing his frustrations with his enslaved African Americans York and Scipio. He reports on conditions in St. Louis, various individuals, and investments in lead mining and saltmaking in the region. Reports that Meriwether Lewis was installed as master of the local Masonic lodge.Tags Enslaved people; lead; Letters; masonry; Meriwether Lewis; Missouri; salt; stocks; William Clark; York -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 22 and 24 November 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan a lengthy letter from St. Louis regarding foreign affairs, politics, Native American affairs, and land investment and resources such as lead mining and salt springs. He has placed some of his enslaved people and one indentured person Ben Gee/McGee (formerly enslaved) to work in various ways or what he intends to do regarding them, including York and Scipio. Discusses selling land owned by their brother George and some William owns and some of the proceeds benefitting George. Reviews prices of livestock and goods locally and reiterates his desire to enter into business with his nephew John. Reports on the state of Julia's health and Meriwether Lewis' plans to go to Philadelphia to finish the expedition history. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 10 December 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis continuing a discussion of a planned partnership in a store between himself based in St. Louis and Jonathan's son John Hite Clark based in Louisville. He also further discusses estate matters and difficulties stemming from their late brother-in-law Charles M. Thruston. He regrets the falling out between him and York. He does not agree with York that he deserves to be freed. Julia again requests sage from her "Kentucky mother." Clark has been in council all day with a forty-man Winnebago delegation from the Upper Mississippi. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 17 December 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis describing an incident in which John Sullivan overreacted in a meeting with officials and ruined his chances for a lucrative position. Clark returns to the topic of York, stating he had intended to punish him but Meriwether Lewis persuaded him to hire him out in Kentucky instead. Clark hopes he will learn the error of his ways and must "give over that wife of his" in Kentucky. His wife was enslaved by someone else in the Louisville area. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 2 January 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis reporting domestic and local news. Shares how Julia is faring and describes the new quarters they have moved to. He expresses his frustrations with his enslaved persons, relating his opinion of African Americans in general (at least enslaved ones). -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 21 January 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis announcing the birth of a son - Meriwether Lewis Clark. He reports how Julia and the baby are doing. He also reports on paying for a midwife for his enslaved woman Easter, who he has punished for bad behavior. He lists some other of his enslaved people he has punished and worries that Jonathan will think he has become a severe master, but he assures him he has not. -
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. -
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, 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 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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.