February 5, 1865--Panacker City

View of Pioche, Nevada, from one of its mine buildings.  (lds.org)

Panacker Citty Feb 5 1865

Dear Henry, it is with with greaf i rite you and with pleasure to    it is a pleasure to hear that so many of you are well but a greaf to hear of Dans Death    but it is what i looked for every letter i received till i got the news     you all complane of getting letters so infrequent you dont seem to think that i am a hundred miles from a post office and some of the time out of paper and stamps for i answer all the letters i receive and some i never have received a letter from and i dont complane a bout it for i supose it is thare wish to not rite to me   you was a frade that i would knock

the botom of my half bushel out and i think you are a knocking the botom out of your half bushel pretty successfully by not attending to what i wanted some time a go that was a power of atorney that i could act for you legally  you have had one clame jumped  for i had nothing to show that i had any wright to hold it for you and they have ben offered forty Dollars a foot for it since they prefered it and what dos 200 feete come to at forty dollars per foot and the 18 of March there will be an other one ready to Jump that is worth as much or more and so on through the summer

as they were located they hold good for one year for location and then a man has to be thare or by his legal representative and you have as much as i have and i think you better attend to it soon and wellington too i wish you would take all the panes you can to learn wellington at home to rite and do the best you can for my folkes    my wife rites me she and children are prety destitute but i have no means at present to send them an i would i have not made any thing for 2 years  it has ben all expense and i shant make any thing probably be fore next summer an fall for I shant sell

four ten cts on the Dollar    i want to get my business in shape so i can come home e (arly?)  next fall  if it is possible i am a  going to start to the Colorado River to mor ow morning a prospecting that country there has ben some very rich discoverys made lattty by many of the latter Day saints and i want to come in __ to ___ for i am on it ??     you spoke in your last letter of bying a farm  i want you to investagte the matter well be fore you by at the present prises  when the war closes you will see hard times and more taxes?  than any farm  can pay but Do as you pleas

yours truly    S. Sherwood

Notes:  

Future posts will:

• Discuss the unfortunate death of Stephen Sherwood's fifteen year old son, Dan

Stephen wrote that He was going prospecting at the Colorado River tomorrow (February 6, 1865)   In March 1865, a mixed group did leave for the Colorado River.  Some of the friends of Stephen Sherwood were in the party (Samuel S Shutt, William McCluskey, and David Sanderson), but Stephen Sherwood is not listed with them.  Also listed were Thomas C. W. Sale, Territorial Indian agent, John H Ely, and Ira Hatch, a Mormon, who was the group's Indian interpreter (Making Space on the Western Frontier by W. Paul Reeve, pg. 38)

Wellington--Back to the Future

Salt Lake City C. 1860  "Mormonenstadt am Salzsee"  Published by permission from Prints Old and Rare

This following letter to Wellington T. Sherwood was written the same day Stephen wrote another son, Henry, which was posted recently.  In that post, Stephen Sherwood was boarding on the corner of 1st West and 1st North with the Box family in Salt Lake City, Utah   My gg grandfather had been in California, Oregon, and finally come to Salt Lake.   He was possibly boarding on the opposite end of the  same block where I "boarded" (rented) about 120 years later (2nd West and 2nd North-- 1983-1993).  Even if the streets have changed slighly, we were living close to each other 120 years apart.  I have gone back to the future.   I believe he was writing letters to his two sons in what is  now a parking lot where I sometimes park to visit the Family History Library.  Think about it.  It is very possible I park where he boarded with the Box Family.  From there, I visit the library to find out more about him and his family.  Too bad I can't just bring back the house on that property and go in and visit with Stephen. 

This is the second letter Stephen Sherwood wrote on February 18, 1864.  This time to another son, Wellington.  He was concerned about his sons's health.

Great Salt Lake City

Utah Terriritoty Feb 18, 1864

Dear Wellington I received your letter on the 15 instant and I was glad to hear from you but am verry sorry to hear of your affliction.  I am well and have verry good prospects before me.  I will make you a clame __ a silver which you will get a better idea from the paper i have sent Henry  a few Days a go it was the San francisco B ____ __ I have same clames on Silver Le ____ in this section of  country which essay 247 Dollars in silver and 16 Dollar in gold to the ton which it considered very good   i am a going to start out in a Day or two a prospecting and shall be gon a month  i have not heard from William and i Do not know where Oren is an Hiram an Walker?   you must be a good boy and hope you? the best try to Learn all you can for it will be you full for you ___ by  give my love to Dan & John

i want you to take White Oake Barke and boil it Down verry Strong a considerable quantity of it and bathe your Leg with it as hot as you can bear it and your neck  all so i want yo to take Kiyan Pepper a bout what would lay an a five cent pese 3 times a Day in ___ wetter? to clenes the matter? out of the sistem and inflamation have you tried what  i rote be fore the addition to the salve and the ____ Sublimated and Bandy for a week if you have not you better try it but carefully for if you  ___to much it will _____  a rite me as a bove as soon as you get this and give me full particulars and a good long letter

from you affectionate father

Wellington T Sherwood          Stephen Sherwood

Note:

Wellington T Sherwood was listed in the 1870 Census with his parents, but was not found after that time.  It is not known when he passed away or where he was buried.  This is one of those mysteries genealogist encounter on their journey.

Feb 18, 1864--Great Salt Lake City

The blog is ahead of the story.  Ever since the Articles of Agreement were discovered,  December 17, 2012, I have been blogging about them instead of posting the next Stephen Sherwood letter.  "An Early Christmas Gift," "Name Dropping," and "From Rags to Riches," have been posted about finding the Articles of Agreement and summarizing their contents.  But from the last published letter (April 6, 1863) to when the Articles of Agreement were signed (October 26, 1867) over 4 1/2 years need to be covered.  Stephen was far from claiming any reward from his mining ventures in February of 1864 when this letter was sent to his son, Henry, in Illinois from Salt Lake City.  I should have posted this letter yesterday, to celebrate 149 years since it was written.  I did the best I could to "translate" it, but you will get an idea of what is happening in Stephen's life at that time.

Salt Lake City

This letter was possibly written at the home of Thomas Box on the corner of 1st North and 1st West* 
in Salt Lake City.  Thomas Box had purchased land there in 1860.  Stephen Sherwood
 was boarding at the Box home in February of 1864. (see note below)

Great Salt Lake Citty, Utah Territory

February 18, 1864

Dear Henry i have not received a letter from you since th 17th of last June  i was glad to here you was all a live and still willing to hope  an i rote you  I sent from?? the Dalles by Express to be Delivered to you at Wakegan one hundred Dollars in gold coin and I paid Express charges and i have a receipt for the obey Dated June 8, 1863   i want you to rite me whether you got it or not  as for my self i am well and my hopes and prospets are better than has ever been since i came __ the East??  i have a  ___hundred ___ in 3 Diferent silver bar ___ and _bar? Essay 247 in silver and 16 in gold to the ton which is very good  the other we have sent some rock to San francisco to get Essayed  we ___have re turns the last of this month  it is selling from 10 Dollar___ foot but i want bigger licks than that an ___the fact is if it is worth any thing it is a fortune and a grate many 

sell fortunes for nothing  I am a going to start out in a Day or two a prospecting and shall be gon a month  when i return i will rit you all about it  i have not heard from William Oren and Hiram ___Walker they with Drawen??  from me when there was nothing more for them to get and thank god for it and i intend to keep clene?? and if i am successful a nuff to make a fortune  i intend the Dat ___ ____will st____ a small share? of it as they have done?  Do the best you can and hope and i will make claims for  you all  thare is beter Days a coming, yet the bread that is cast upon the wather shall be gathered through many Days after a night __ a full letter all particulars in full   Direct as a bove???

give my love to Sarah and your little ones  i miss your ___circumstances??   and feel sufficient?  that we will realize a g___competance yet.

from your affectionate Father S. Sherwood

H.S. & S. M.

Notes:

H.S. = Henry Sherwood
S.M.= Sarah Sherwood

Note:

In February of 1864 Stephen Sherwood was boarding at the home of Thomas Box in Salt Lake City, Utah.  At this time he encountered an old mining friend, Jacob N. Vandermark.  Stephen said in the letter:  "I am a going to start out in a Day or two a prospecting."  He must have left about February 20, 1864.  Stephen travelled  with Thomas Box, Thomas Box Jr., Peter Shirts, and Jacob Vandermark.  They arrived in Southern Utah in March.  Source:  Making Space on the Western Frontier, Page 23-24,  by W. Paul Reeve.

According to the blog, "clmroots," The "Salt Lake City Directory" lists Thomas Box living on the corner of 1st North and 1st West in 1869.  He had purchased the property in 1860, and could have been living there in 1864 as well when Stephen Sherwood was boarding with him. 

 In 1860, Thomas Box was in the 13th Ward, but by 1861, he was in the 17th Ward in Salt Lake City.  He probably moved to 1st North and 1st West during that time period.

For more on Thomas Box go to the blog "clmroots"  The information on where he lived was obtained there.  Click here to go there.

April 6, 1863--Stephen Sherwood to his Family (Page 2 of 4)

tho it has ben a Dark and Dismal nite all things shall work to gether for  good to them that love you and O Henry & Sarah I send you my Special Love for the spirit of love kindness and integrity that you manifested in your letter  i can't rite my feeling but i hope to see you by and by and i can talk better than i rite you ___ it is much a gave? as is in the letter for it wont  __ half what i want to rite i am a going in to the mines as soon as the boys come back and I Don't know but i Shall take a pack trane load of ____ the horse? we traded?  with last summer take?  me to Day  i could have all i wanted if i worked? ya in to it   i think if the boys are willing to Do it  i think i will  William and i in the mines and Elizabeth can make a hundred Dollar per month baking pies and one of us can take our chances in the mines we have 25 gear pack animals and __ i am a going to win? the horse an loos? the Saddle

 i have? let the (sharpens?) play it and we ___ a ____ i am a going to play (sharp?)  to after this    it is know time?? to look for___ in the business world  i am a going to quit work and a going to (sharp?) it often  this from i can beat  half of the (sharpens?)  if i only work?     but them c______    is one of so they.  Don't hit much if they

( I have no clue what this part of the letter is talking about)  What is shapens??????.  If anybody reading this has any idea, please let  me know

July 31, 1838--Receipt from Phineas Stevens to Steven Sherwood--Other DeKalb County History

 Receipt from Phin Stevens (Phineas Stevens) to Stephen Sherwood

Colton Ville July 31st 1838

Received of Stephen Sherwood fifteen Dollars as settlement between him and me in the Partner ship between us in the Black Smith Shop  I also sine over to him my clame In all the accounts made in the shop for this last Seven months

Phin Stevens

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This receipt from Phineas Stevens gives us more clues into the life of Stephen Sherwood.  He worked as a blacksmith at least up until July 1838 (and begin by January 1838) in Coltonville, DeKalb, Illinois.  

During this time the community centered around the blacksmith shop.  A blacksmith made horseshoes, nails, hardware such as latches and hinges, as well as tools, wheels, and rims, kitchen utensils, ice skates, riding spurs, musket balls and many other things.  Perhaps if you had walked by the blacksmith shop, you would have seen Stephen playing checkers (a very popular game at that time) or making a horseshoe ring for a child.  This trade would serve Stephen well throughout his life.

"Stephen Sherwood opened a blacksmith shop here in 1838."  (De Kalb County History, 814-815)

Two other events are recorded for the year 1838.  On March 29, 1838, a third child, George W. Sherwood was born.  The Sherwood now had three children, Maria (4), Henry (2), and George

In October 9, 1838, the first session of the De Kalb County court was held at the house of Rufus Colton (for whom the town was named) in Coltonville.  Rufus Colton was the Clerk of the Court and preparer of writs and process of the court so could set the first session of county court to be held at his home. Stephen Sherwood may have been in Coltonville when Rufus Colton had attempted to make Coltonville the county seat.  He had decided to hold a new election.  He made sure Coltonville would win the election by telling only the population of Coltonville about it.  His political tactics were eventually cancelled by an act of the Illinois General Assembly.  When the county court convened, the sheriff served a court order declaring a courthouse be built in Sycamore.  Eventually Coltonville disappeared from the map settling this issue forever (Wikipedia)

 This first suit on record decided in the home of Rufus Colton was that of Erasmus D. Walrod vs. Stephen Sherwood. (Past and Present of De Kalb County, Pg. 325) This was a case of appeal from a justice's court, the plaintiff having obtained a judgment for the same of $100  The judgment of the lower court was sustained. (DCH, 776).  

Steven Sherwood's partner, Phineas Stevens, erected a distillery with Rufus Colton, but it proved to be a financial failure.  Rufus Colton worked hard to secure for the place the location of the county seat, but without avail. (DCH, 815).  

There was much suffering in DeKalb County in 1839 from sickness.  Ague and billion fever were the prevailing diseases.  They resulted from close proximity to the groves and streams to which the new comers all built their houses; also by the bad surface water from the sloughs which they used in the want of wells of proper depth to supply pure water.  Medical attention was difficult to secure and the physicians who practiced through the county rarely had a sufficient supply of medicine (History of De Kalb County, 380).  

Maria Hubbell Sherwood, the 27 year old wife, of Stephen Sherwood, passed away on January 19, 1839 leaving three children under six.