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The first of a series of personal letters to Henry Richards from his friend Frederick H. Whitney (ca. 1816-1877), a Boston native now in business in Charleston.

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The author discusses life in Charleston, including the seasonal onset of yellow fever, the oppressive heat, and fruit and vegetable produce.

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The author, a friend, describes his business responsiblities in New York.

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George's first letter from Hillsboro is in large part a diatribe against the postal service and the local postmaster.

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Whitney instructs Richards regarding the delivery of some goods.

Scope and Contents Richards discusses his building trade in Montgomery County, especially a house for a Mr. Hayward, and the necessity of completing this job before visiting Boston. There is also a good deal on local and Presidential politics, with particular reference to the upcoming 1840 elections: ". . .[William Henry] Harrison is just humping it in this state all the Western states will go for Harrison with a whoop, this state always was Van Buren, & when the news of the Harrisburg Convention came on...

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Whitney discusses the price of cotton and the weather in Boston and Charleston.

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The author discusses plans to travel to Boston and inquires about family, friends, and the political climate in Massachusetts.

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Whitney reports on heavy rains in South Carolina and inquires after family and friends.

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Richards discusses a sawmill he is currently building (and plans to operate), and his difficulties in acquiring materials for its construction. Remarks that it has been three years since he left Boston for the West.

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A short letter written from Cincinnati on Richards' trip home from Boston. Brief mention of William Henry Harrison's apparent victories in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia.

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Whitney informs Richards of an impending visit to Boston.

Scope and Contents Back in Hillsboro, Richards recounts the trip from Cincinnati, especially an "introduction" to William Henry Harrison: ". . .he is a small, slim, round shouldered man, grey headed with bright black eyes & great shaggy eye brows. . . ." He also describes a celebration of Harrison's victory: "We had a grand illumination last night in honor of Old Tip's election that is every Whig in town, & I thought we did tolerably well considering we stand 3 V B to 2 Whigs here, Van [Buren] has our...

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The author mentions Whig politics, his work at the mill, and the cold weather.

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Whitney discusses the sale of a draft and reminds Richards of a previously shipped box.

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A business letter regarding small shipments of rice and palm oil.

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This letter is the first to mention George Richards' future wife, Irene Huse Lincoln.

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A letter to seven-year-old daughter Alice, on the trip south with Irene.

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George Richards tells his daughter of the exotic sights of Charleston, especially the slaves at the Whitneys (where George and Irene were staying). "Mother seems to be a little better today and we are in hopes she will soon get well and then we shall come home."

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Further tales of Charleston, including diet, weather, and interactions between the Whitney children and the family's slaves.

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George tells Elisabeth of Irene's failure to recuperate, and of his determination to sell his property.

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In a long letter to Elisabeth written after Irene's death on 5 May 1857, George Richards speaks of his feelings on returning to Illinois after his years in the East. He tells her of land he has purchased in Hillsboro Township, on which he will eventually build and to which Elisabeth and George's three children will eventually move.

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Richards describes his new property for his older daughter, Susan.

Scope and Contents Richards discusses his farmland and how its acreage will be divided and used. In seeking to prepare Elisabeth for the West, he describes how Illinoisans have changed in the years since he first settled in the state, saying ". . .the roughest & worst of them have moved West and the others are all prosperous, & with prosperity has come new ideas. . .but being in the transition state their efforts are rather ludicrous, it is rather hard for a man or woman who was born & raised in a...

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Back in Illinois in the spring of 1858, Richards writes to his son Ned (b. 1852), still in Massachusetts.

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A letter to Alice in Massachusetts.

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A letter to Alice in Massachusetts.

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A letter to Ned in Massachusetts.

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The author, writing to Alice, describes the development of a horse named Dolly and gives an account of his progress in building the house that his family will eventually occupy.

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The author discusses a family dispute regarding the will of her grandfather, Bradford Lincoln.