| Title: | E. E. Griggs, Sacramento, U.S.A. to Rev. John Orr |
|---|---|
| ID | 1277 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Griggs, E.E/31 |
| Year | 1850 |
| Sender | Griggs, E.E. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | tradesman |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Sacramento, California, USA |
| Destination | Portaferry, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Rev. John Orr |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends, business |
| Source | Copyright Retained by John McCleery, 80 Circular Road, Belfast, BT4 2GD |
| Archive | The Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh |
| Doc. No. | 9701189 |
| Date | 08/11/1850 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 15:01:97. |
| Word Count | 898 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Sacramento City 8 Nov. 1850 Dear Sir It is in sadness of spirit that I communicate to you the melancholy intelligence of the death of your affectionate son, John M. Orr. He died of cholera, on Sunday last, after 18 hours illness. He was attacked with diarrhoea in the morning, and when I arose he had already three stools I immediately gave him 20 drops of laudanum and 5 do. [drops?] of camphorated spirits, which he soon vomited up. I then went for a physician, who came and examined the case, and said that he could check the disease but his medicines failed to produce the desired effect. The medicine was a pill composed of opium to hold the bowels in check and calomel to get up an action in the liver, which had not been in a healthy condition for some weeks; also burned brandy was administered frequently in small quantities. About sunset, the physician came again, and gave him an emetic, but it did not produce any good result. The disease seemed to work gradually upon the naturally strong constitution, and finally prevailed over the skill of the Physicians and the efforts of friends. I called to my assistance a friend living here, formerly from Chicago, (our mutual friend) who had experience in such cases, and who stayed by until the last, and assisted in the burial. Your son did not suffer much as I think most do, who have this disease; he had but little cramping, which was soon stopped by rubbing with camphorated spirits: he complained of a restlessness, but said he did not feel much sick. He died without a struggle, while our friend Briggs & myself were watching at his bed side. We buried him on Monday, decently in the burying ground, a mile below the city. I need not assure you of my strong and unwavering attachment to your lamented son: my long acquaintance with him has strengthened that esteem. In all our vicissitudes while crossing the dreary Plains, and during our copartnership in this country, I have found him possessed of sterling integrity, and uprightness of purpose; affable in his deportment to all, creating friends wherever he made acquaintances. I have but one brother, & had I heard of his death, I think it would not have affected me more painfully than did the death of John M. Orr. I know how vain are all attempts to soothe the bleeding hearts of friends, when mourning the loss of loved ones; but I pray that "He who tempers the cold blast to the shorn lambs" may comfort yourself, the afflicted Mother, sisters & brother, as none besides Him can do. While we were at our Winter quarters, three or four persons who were professors of religion frequently assembled at our house to hold religious exercises, reading, singing, and praying, and your son would always remain, paying a great deference to the exercises. I had a conversation with him upon religion, and found that he was strictly orthodox - that he believed that Christ was the sinners only hope and refuge. We had been anticipating much pleasure in spending the winter on the Makellome River, where Thomas Warnock and his brother are mining. We had disposed of our hay, and were purchasing some goods to take over, calculating to start the first of this week, but Death has interposed and I am left lonely and sad My friends in the States mention your son in their letters remarking that we must be attached like brothers & [sisters?] we were. I presume your son has written you the particulars of all our business transactions. I think his property here when all converted into money will amount to some $700 to $800 besides a lot which we fenced in the city at a cost of $38 each and which, if the U.S. Gov. [Government?] holds will be worth in a year, I think $1000. We thought that our prospect in the Hay business [was?] very flattering, but the hay shrunk so in weight that we were sadly disappointed. We hired a man and his team to assist us in hauling to the mines and paid him $300 for a month. We hauled eight loads, and found that selling it at 15 cents per lb or $300 per ton, it only amounted to about $100 per load, only about enough to pay us well for hauling. We then concluded to sell our hay here and did so after feeding our cattle from it about a fortnight we had a little less than 12 tons which we sold at $50 per ton. Had we sold our hay as fast as we cut it we should have got $35 to $40 per load for the 40 loads. Our expenses have been quite heavy. As Mr Warnock had charge of your son's business after the latter left Chicago I think best to see him and advise with him upon the subject. I feel as if I would like to get a partner who could partially fill the void occasioned by the death of your son, and who would purchase your deceased son's share in the team & implements at a fair valuation. I shall await your order with regard to the disposal of proceeds of the property. There may be some things which Mr. Warnock can designate to reserve for you as keepsakes. I am, sir Respectfully, yours, Rev. John Orr. E. E. Griggs |
