Copy of letter signed William P. Tilton, Galena, to Father. I have written Mother regularly but did not know where you were or if you were in existence. From your letter I am sorry to learn of your pecuniary circumstance. I hope you will freely call on me for aid. It may seem strange to you that after a residence of eleven years in this country, and part of the time risking my life and health for gain, that I should still be so poor, but such is the fact. The first 3 ½ years I spent in St. Louis as a clerk in an auction house in the employ of W.H. George. With the money I received I associated myself with five other young men, obtained a $20,000 credit worth of Indian goods, and went into Indian country, returning to St. Louis every spring and doing this for five years. We traded on the Upper Missouri as high as the Yellowstone, on the Upper Mississippi as high as St. Anthony Falls, and up to St. Peters to the source. At the end of five years, we wound up with a loss of $2,000 per share owing to the great opposition in prices with the American Fur Co. I became discouraged and formed a partnership with a Mr. [Lemon?] Parker, came to Fever River about 2 ½ years ago, and my usual bad fortune attended me here. We lost in lead ore and lead smelting. We are now trying to close our business. I shall stay at the mines myself, hoping to revive the business. (Original letter is in possession of Mr. Floyd Risvold, 4801 Upper Terrace, Edina, Minnesota. Letter not to be used without Mr. Risvold’s written permission.), 1830 Mar 24, Box: 1. Parker-Russell Family Papers, A1181. Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center.

Copy of letter signed William P. Tilton, Galena, to Father. I have written Mother regularly but did not know where you were or if you were in existence. From your letter I am sorry to learn of your pecuniary circumstance. I hope you will freely call on me for aid. It may seem strange to you that after a residence of eleven years in this country, and part of the time risking my life and health for gain, that I should still be so poor, but such is the fact. The first 3 ½ years I spent in St. Louis as a clerk in an auction house in the employ of W.H. George. With the money I received I associated myself with five other young men, obtained a $20,000 credit worth of Indian goods, and went into Indian country, returning to St. Louis every spring and doing this for five years. We traded on the Upper Missouri as high as the Yellowstone, on the Upper Mississippi as high as St. Anthony Falls, and up to St. Peters to the source. At the end of five years, we wound up with a loss of $2,000 per share owing to the great opposition in prices with the American Fur Co. I became discouraged and formed a partnership with a Mr. [Lemon?] Parker, came to Fever River about 2 ½ years ago, and my usual bad fortune attended me here. We lost in lead ore and lead smelting. We are now trying to close our business. I shall stay at the mines myself, hoping to revive the business. (Original letter is in possession of Mr. Floyd Risvold, 4801 Upper Terrace, Edina, Minnesota. Letter not to be used without Mr. Risvold’s written permission.), 1830 Mar 24, Box: 1. Parker-Russell Family Papers, A1181. Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center. https://mohistory.mobiusconsortium.org/repositories/2/archival_objects/51116 Accessed November 22, 2024.