| Title: | William J. Weir, Fresno, California, to Annie Weir, Birmingham |
|---|---|
| ID | 3263 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Weir, William J/6 |
| Year | 1889 |
| Sender | Weir, William J. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farm labourer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Fresno, California, USA |
| Destination | Birmingham, Michigan, USA |
| Recipient | Weir, Annie |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | cousins |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mrs Linda Weir, Tirmacspird, Lack, Co. Fermanagh, BT93 OSA. |
| Archive | Ulster American Folk Park. |
| Doc. No. | 9906080 |
| Date | 05/02/1889 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 18:06:99. |
| Word Count | 577 |
| Genre | |
| Note | N.B. William and Annie were engaged at intervals |
| Transcript | Fresno February 5. 89. Dear Cousin I once more take the opportunity of writing in answer to your ever welcome letter which I recieved [received?] some time ago and was glad to find by it that you were well hoping that the arrival of these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing as it leaves me at present. I daresay you will think I have forgotten you by this time but I have been on business. I have sold my team and is out in the country 4 miles from town I made a very good sale I worked them a year and made 40 dollars profit on them business had got very black in town owimg to the heavy rainfalls I had not been feeling very well for [torn] greatest part of the winter so I thought a whiles change into the country air would do me good but I have to work pretty hard here Driving 4 horses scraping and levelling land for vineyard we have to get up and feed our teams at 5 oc [o clock?] have breakfast at 6, and go to work at 6.30 work to it is dark at night I have been out here about 3 weeks the hardest of the work will soon be over the weather here is very fine it is so hot in the middle of the day that we cannot wear our vests we are right at the foot of the Sierra Nevada range of mountains it is only about 8 miles up to where the line of perpetual snow we can see it above us all the time I had a letter from home some time ago they are all well Chad Clement is home from America he says he is wife hunting I guess you remember the the (sic) time he striped [stripped?] the flax in your meadow what a jolly time we had, if only we could just have the pleasure of meeting once more to discuss the past what would I not give to wander where my old companions dwell absence makes the heart grow fonder My own true love fare (sic) you I feel very lonesome since I came out here on the ranch but I dont intend to stop in this valley longer than april if possible I will go about 40 mile north and work in the mountains in the lumber although I have done very well here since I have been here I have made $1100 dollars in 1 year and 11 months I am getting 35 dollars here and 10 dollars per month rent for my house so I cannot complain very much so far My brother David is wanting me to go out to him all the time but think I will try my luck this summer and after that I will bid adieu to the golden west this is a fine climate everything that could be desired only the people are so miserable and selfish I hope I shall see the day when I shall have a home of my own and a cosy little wife to cheer when my days work is done I have not much to say tonight as it is getting late and chinaman wants the light to go to bed he is our cook please give my best respects to Bella and ask her to excuse me for not writing I remain your Sincere Friend and Lover William J. Weir Fresno Cal [California?] (Box 264) Miss Annie Weir Birmingham please write soon |
