Kennicott Documents

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November 26, 1853 [stamp] Smithsonian Institution Washington D.C.

My Dear Robert I have had your letter of Nov. 9 for some time in hand, and only waited for the arrival of the keg to answer it. By some unknown delay, this did not come until yesterday, after I had written to the Express agent at Cleveland to know whether a parcel to me had lately passed him. I was much gratified by the contents of the keg which were in first rate order and included a number of most interesting species, many of them for the first time detected in the west. In the enclosed list you will find the names of the [illegible] sent and I will take them up one by one and make some remarks. I have added a sketch of a few, to enable you to identify them. Your No. 1. I could not identify. The paper in[strikethrough] which you had wrapped round the specimens was softened and torn in several cases so that I could not repair. No. 2 Chlorosoma vernalis green snake. This I have never received nor known so far west before. 3 Amblystom luridum. The largest salamander. black with yellow spots. This has only been seen in Michigan and Wisconsin heretofore. 4. Notophthalmus miniatus the rough salamander. brick red above, yellowish red beneath, with black specks. Lives under rather dry logs in the woods. Called by Harlan[strikethrough] Say Salamandra symmetrica. No. 5 Hemidactylium scutatum This species in the chestnut above, white

Last edit 2 months ago by BFaubion

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384

Chicago Ill July 25th 56

My good Friend Bob.

Enclosed I send you an account of "a monster". What do you think of it? - Did you receive the Box from Mr Lapham? - he has been in the south part of this state for two week - -

I hope you will helps us by sending some Natural History copy by "Frank"

The weather has become so warm that I suppose the Nat History. Society has been laid in the shade till fall, I have not been able to hear any thing from it for some time, how would it do to make inquiry in our paper for the lost Natural History - Association of the State of Ill.? - -

In haste as ever Your friend W. F. M. Arny

Tell Charlie I hope he will hurry on his abstract of the Report of the N W Fruit growers association.

Last edit 6 months ago by The Grove National Historic Landmark
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[printed or typed] Office National Kansas Aid Committee, No. 11 Marine Bank Building, Corner of Lake and La Salle Streets,

Chicago, 1856.

To

DEAR SIR :

The necessity of organizing your county so as to secure whatever aid in men or money Kansas may require, is apparent to you, and we need not enlarge upon it.

We would press you therefore, most earnestly, to act promptly on this subject, and to call immediately a County Convention, so as to appoint a Committee and some proper person or persons to canvass your county, and obtain subscriptions and donations.

The main purposes of our organization and for which we urge the immediate raising of means, are :

First. The retaining of all actual Free State settlers now in Kansas.

Second. To induce all Free State absentees forthwith to return to the Territory, paying, if necessary for this end, their passage, furnishing them with clothing, &c.

Third. To induce fresh Free State emigrants to go into the Territory as rapidly as possible.

The necessity of a meeting for the more permanent and efficient organization of the counties in the State of Illinois, must be apparent to every person. We need only to specify one or two objects, which it is essential to accomplish, to insure success to the free State cause.

First, a thorough concert of action--such a concert as will secure promptness and efficiency in whatever we may do.

Second, the obtaining of county Agents, whose business qualifications and integrity shall command entire confidence; and to forward immediately to our Secretary all funds collected, and to give the names, and means in the possession of those persons in your county whom you can recommend, and who desire to emigrate to Kansas, and state what means they require to aid them.

The necessity of an organization of the counties of our State, is too plain to be urged. Kansas can be saved to freedom only by a prompt and vigorous action on the part of the free States. Her citizens oppressed and harrassed by the border men of Missouri, and the ruffians of the south, without the protection of the general government, are well nigh discouraged. They need food and clothes, and must have money to sustain life and men to encourage them in their heroic struggle. Let us see that they are properly and fully sustained.

Please report immediately upon your organization, to the undersigned, the names of your offiers and agents, and forward your contributions as soon as possible.

In behalf of the Illinois Central Kansas Finance Committee,

[signature] W. F. M. Arny [printed] Secretary.

Last edit 6 months ago by The Grove National Historic Landmark

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Gowanda July 27, 1856

Dear Bob.

Why in the St dont Frank answer my letters. I wrote to him long long ago, and as yet no reply [spurr?] him [upp?] for me. I was most happy on receiving you letter for it solved some of the many doubts which I have had of your sanity indeed Bob it pained me very much to think you was an Egotist, and now that I preceive my mistake I crave your pardon for the little pains I took last winter to make my self agreable to you howeve let bye gones be bye gones and now we'd shake hands for a long continued Friendship on equal grounds. I never worked as hard as now. The Fire makes all things

Last edit 3 months ago by MaryV
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but the beautifull "Tree toped Hills" and undulating medows look dessolate. Tell Charlie that I have descovered a most splendid place up the Creek (Grand & Glorious I should say) also a cave which is unexplored and patiently wate his arival to dive into the depths of mother earth and bring to light wonders such as mortal eyes never beheld. How soon can you all come down I expected that Rans, Alice & you would be here with Hellen. Howev I neglected to invite you in time but I can not see why that should make any differance for we love you all and want you here all the time.

Will Uncle Wm let Fam come down this Fall with Ransom. how many cann com from your house

Last edit 6 months ago by The Grove National Historic Landmark
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let all com that possibly can I am happy to learn that your new house prospers so finely ours will not be built until next summer. our men are all employed upon the store which we hope to finish before winter. We expected Hellen would stay with you till fall. and with us this winter (she is now in Buffalo) I fear she will return south with her Father but hope not.

Is Asa & Nettie as cold as formerly judging from the tone of you letter they are worse than ever. I hoped that my departure would be the signal of reunion & indeed I expected it would. but if they are still above their country relations I excuse myself from all blame for it a quarrel must have been predetermined upon, which my presence might have accelerated.

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I hav been three days writing this and now must bring it to a hasty conclusion I anticipated blotting three or four sheets for you benefite (it shall be done at some future time, I go to Buffalo for "Nellie" tomorrow morning Heard that McIntire was there hope to meet him. give my kind est regards to all. bear my sympathy to Charlie whom I hope is quite recovered ere this. And please stoop for me to a display of Vulgar affection by hugging & kissing all my "Angel Cousins" in the most affecting manner possible

Good bye, Bob [drawing of a bug]

Will Welch

PS. I am so driven that it became nessesary for me to write lots of notes instead of letters to my friends urge all to come, and be sure to come you-rself. Will

[page turned written on left side] Remember me kindly to you Father & Mother Will

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Robert Kennicott "The Grove" West Northfield[page stained] Cook[page stained] Co Ill

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Aug. 2, 1856.

R. W. Kennicott: -

The engravers and printers are hurrying me to death at present, and till my second Report is thro' the press I have not a moment to spare.

I have the draft of a long letter to you, written months ago - some note on the list of Prof. Leconte &c. &c - and saying, keep all these specimens safe in your own hands & don't let them get injured - till I get time to give the coleoptera a look. Then I will be greatly obliged to you for the loan of some of them. But at present they will do me no good, & may be of some help to you.

I also have an examination of the lice you found on young Pines in a yard in Springfield Ill. - & the coccinella which destroys them & Apple Bark lice. I had intended copying this for insertion in the Prairie Farmer, but some other call upon me, drove me off from making the copy for the press. I hope to do so yet, or make some other return for the Prairie F. - which comes to me regularly. I peruse your articles in it with much

Last edit 6 months ago by The Grove National Historic Landmark
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interest. You are on the right road, I see. But I have not time to read half the agricultural papers sent me. I only glance over them, to see if there is anything on insects.

I am very sorry to hear of your father's illness. I was laid up, one six months with Rheumatism & feared I was a cripple for life. No medicine cured or helped it. It gradually wore off. And by carefully avoiding all exposure to damp, cold weather I have (to my surprise) been wholly free from the slightest Rheumatic pain, for more than ten years, now.

Your letter of July 27, I must not attempt to answer now - to examine the specimens, &c. would take me off from my work for a day; when I ought not to leave it for an hour - no, not for a minute. But when this horrid burthen is off my shoulders, I will try to give you a long talk.

Adieu.

Yours truly,

Asa Fitch.

Last edit 6 months ago by The Grove National Historic Landmark
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