Box 4, Folder 4: Typewritten Letters 1871-1875

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1872.

Milwaukee June 2nd, 1872.

Dear Brother,--

I received yesterday the Chicago newspaper you were kind enough to send me with notice of the death of Dr. Stimpson, a loss to science and especially to the Chicago Academy. It is doubtful whether the loss by fire was greater.***

I have been in Madison investigating the matter of "wind falls" reported by the surveyor of public lands. These show many interesting facts with regard to tornados, their frequency, direction, length, and breadth of track &c. On this subject I have lately sent a report to Washington.

Mother sends her respects.

Yours very truly,

I.A. Lapham.

Col. Sam'l Stone.

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June 18. Concluded to make geological and other explorations on the Menominee river.

June 24. Left Milwaukee at 9:15 P.M. with Mr. N.P. Hulst and Master Wm Van Dyke.

June 25. At Menomonee 10 1/2 A.M. just as it began to rain.

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Saxon House, Menomonee Mich. June 26., 1872. 6 A.M.

My dear Daughter,--

We have thus far carried out our plan exactly. Mr. Hulst and Will Vab Dyke went in the first train [place] to Watertown, I in the second. Got sleeping berths, party by favor, having passes from the General Manager. At Green Bay we had an hour and a quarter for breakfast. Met Mr. and Mrs. Waldo, who were hurrying home to attend

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the college examination. Got here at 10 1/2 A.M. yesterday and will leave same hour this morning. Nearly all the way from Green Bay to Marinette we saw along the rail road the dreadful effects of the great tornado of fire in October 1ast. The trees blown down and partially burned, lying in all directions. All the houses, depots, and other buildings are new, having been built since that time.

Mr. Stephenson, Mr. Engels and others very attentive and will give us good advice as to our jaunt into the woods.

We are having a pleasant time so far and hope to do so throughout.

Yours truly,

I.A. Lapham.

Mary J. Lapham. [Mary H. Lapham]

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Negaunee Mich. June 27m 1872.

Dear Mary,

We arrived here last evening in company with Mr. T.B. Brooks the state Geologist, who has just come in from the same iron region that we propose to explore. We go at twelve to day to Marquette where we must stay to night and come back tomorrow.***

All goes right with us so far and we hope to hear from you upon our return to Menomonee.***

Yours &c.

I.A. Lapham.

Mary J. Lapham.

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Menomonee June 29, 1872.

Dear Mary,--

We just returned from Marquette and go this afternoon into the woods. I found your two letters. Should mother require much night watching do not hesitate to employ some suita-

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-[a]ble person to assist you. She must be properly cared for and yet you must reserve your strength for important emergencies.*** I have written to Mr. Van Dyke to ask him to advise you as to telegraphing or what to do in case mother should be worse.

All goes well with us so far--We did not have the severe storm that passed over Milwaukee, only heavy showers.

Anything you send will be forwarded by Mr. Stephenson if opportunity occurs but it is not very probable that it will.

Good bye,

I.A. Lapham.

Mary J. Lapham.

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June 29. Left Menomonee at 4 1/2 P.M. in a team with N.P. Hulst and W.D. Van Dyke for the iron regions on the upper Menomonee river. Rode 24 miles mostly in a heavy rain, musquitoes extremely numerous, our nets in great demand. Our road runs over drift ridges containing much limestone, saw no rock in place. The fire of Oct. 9 1871 extended up this road fifteen miles.

June 30. Rode up the Menomonee river, found first rock at Pemence Falls. Dinner at a farm house; passed near the mouth of Hay river, the Breen mine. Mine discovered in 1866. Temperature of spring near here 43 degrees of the brook 55 degrees.

The covering of the drift (2 to 6 ft.) prevents an examination of inclosing rocks. The boulders are largely made of Potsdam Sandstone and Lower Magnesian Limestone.

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In the Woods, Breen Iron Mine, Upper Menomonee River, July 1, 1872.

Dear Mary,--

Having arrived at this place which will be the base of our operations for several days, I send back this letter to

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you to let you know we are making good progress in our work. Except a wedding Saturday afternoon and some jolting ever new rough roads, we have had a good time and expect to meet with no mishaps for the remainder of our work of exploration. We have rough fare and wear rough clothes.

I hope this will find mother in improved health and that she will appreciate the enclosed pigeon berries, which she used to gather in her younger days. They are common here. We are feasting upon venison just now and hope to have some fine fish from the neighboring lakes and streams. Will enjoys the fun very well and eats pork like a man.

I may have an opportunity to send another letter in a few days, will send as often as I can.

All well.

I.A. Lapham.

Mary J. Lapham.

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July 2. Walked to the foot of Little Sturgeon Falls.*** missed the way home. Laid under a log all night in the rain near a creek. Matches wet, good for nothing, hence had no fire. Comfortless night.

July 3. Spent the day searching for home: Lost in the woods: 4 of us.

Found two small lakes not on Government plats, one oval, one triangular. Bottom of small lakes white with a soft slushy matter tat I take to be rotting pollen of the pine. Where these lakes are not known at present. Near the inlet from this lake is a fine Sulphur spring which may at come time become famous. (Sketch).

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1872.

Rambled northward to a creek which we followed down to Hamilton Lake from whence we knew our way home; Great relief. Got to camp 3 P.M. hungry and weary; The section lines and corners are so grown over as not to be recognized except by experts.

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Milwaukee Wis. Dec. 21st, 1896.

Dear Miss Lapham,--

Continued absence from the city has delayed my reply to your inquiry much longer than I had expected. The excursion to the Menominee Iron Region in the upper peninsular of Michigan and in the contiguous part of Wisconsin, occurred in the latter part of June and throughout the month of July 1872. The errand was for the purpose of an investigation of the possibilities of the region as a producer of iron ore suitable for bessemer steel manufacture. Your esteemed father together with W.D. Van Dyke and myself constituted the party. For the most part, this entire region was a trackless forest, except as occasional lumbermen's roads or Indian trails threaded it. Our first introduction to the now well known Menominee Range was at the so-called Breen Mine, where later with the advent of a railroad the little hamlet Waucedah was located.

The Mine had [had] but slight development. Most of the geological features in its connection were concealed beneath the drift of gravel and boulders. In order to study the geology of the district to the best advantage a trip was made July 2nd from the Breen Mine to a falls, Sturgeon Falls on a river of the same name three and one half miles distant through the forest where a large exposure of rocks was reported as occurring.

Our guide was a young man, the only occupant of the camp at the mine. We found the falls without difficulty. The rock exposures were very naturally of the greatest interest to your fa