Nicoll Ayres Letter

The letter addressed to Socrates Ayres is dated March 1, 1855, and sent from Davenport, Iowa, to Socrates. The letter was sent by Nicoll Ayres who is believed to be Socrates brother. Nicoll (or perhaps Niall?) references that he is recovering his health and wondering about business and employment opportunities in Omaha. He also makes mention of another brother, Stephen. He asks of his brother, in part, "The gist of the question is, will not the advantages for which I come west be better secured by going "farther inwards the setting west."- say to Omaha, City…?" He discusses the logistics of moving, including a $20 train ticket to Council Bluffs, Iowa.

A partial transcription of the letter was made by Matthew Slisik, student employee, in March 2017. The contents have not been checked or verified by repository staff.

Davenport, Iowa, March 11, 1855

[Mr] [Loeretes] Ayers.

[Dear] Brother, [recovering] that about this time Stephen would be visiting you, and feeling unwilling to do anything not [advisable] to him, and that he and yourself might consult together. I take the liberty of again trespassing on your time for a few moments.

[Leaving] been in [seék?]some and [sereinchs]and confined to the house, from business for a greater length of time. This [cxpeetis?] that [anarry?] of the advantages I possessed last summer and fall and lost. Many of my patrons have gone into other [haueh?]. other[physe êx ôus?] have come in and [overtpies?] the ground. Which will make it a new business for [me] when I get stared again. If I ever do.-Would it [fork] [unelen?] the above [ces?][even?][ tones?] be advisable to get a new location. This I know, in fact I feel this comes from will grate on my brother Stephen’s [car?].

The gist of the question is, will not the advantages for which I come west be better secured by going “farther inwards the setting west.”- say to Omaha, City. the [leapitae?] of the [braskoo?]?

To[hupon?] and gain a [eountpetence?] for [aeo?] [ay] the [sevish?]period, of existence, should life attain to that, is a [les] [ideratine] worth [condensing?] and when, [zovv?] amid the perils of [bioneerlefe?] [ear?] the how and friendless hope to [corseemake?] that [olyich?]

Look through the numbers of the [medieal?] [Profelion?] and you will see how few then are that have [mach] [when] and [independent] living by their profession alone. To my age [??] other [hummets?], of [couner ze quins?] [ealphilal] or [enelil?], and which in a new country [would] be a good capital for [eounvsmeneeing?] business in an out country. A [qurellelsome?] would [ex] [heet] to carry about to finish in his pockets when bsiness would be dull.

I do not know what the expenses would be in going to Omaha. The fain by steam boat to Council Bluff is some $20. You will see by your map the hotel [les] town to Omaha, and calculating at times the rate of troubling or [S] is with you. [????] thing definite maybe [amy’s] [at?]. I saw get to that city with at least $10, and boy all my debts in [????] her.

I will not attempt to [????????] what I conceive to be the advantages in [society]. You and especially Stephen who has been [wert?] earn [caleutale?]

I am pretty well satisfied that I earn [snake?] a good leaving here; and then is every good reason to [suppose?]. Had I not been so long a [?????] [ek]. I could have invested $500, at the least in some kind of property, that would have [in] [??????][??] [?????] with age.

[Now] [Soereitis], I do not in times to say, wheather I do, or do not wish to go to Omaha. The [alevv][seonarks] on [???????][??????????].

I am strongly in hopes this environment; [iethoir][seils][seat] your, so that you and + Stephen can talk the matter over together.

As to by present health, I am regaining it lovely. My lungs [houlh] me very much. The weather is so [of] [Thereby] each or not to admit of my going with the air, without risk of adding to the danger. My [physical] [exams] say when warm weather sets in, my lungs will [consumm] [sopielty] of cause my [death]. But I have a world of energy, and I think if nothing else my mind will sustain me. The [nad], “A is [apporinter] for man over to [dio].” I do not know my appointed time, but I do not feel that I am to die so soon. But I may be [ollegist?] with senator [Horris], to say, “I [ex] her [two] death, but not so soon.”

I [will] you [Loerates] I am gaining strength, but it is quite slowly; probably I [soon] much [?????]. + for more fuller than I thought I [would] which amounts for my slow [??????].

And now my brother, our favor I here to [????] of you; if you do not see Stephen in the course of one week of time the [eighth] of this., to send me first a [besin?] [is] [ceversser].

If I thought I was to be a or six weeks in revering my health I /[nesusue] I should go to his [work]. Stephen told me you have had my addition to your family. I will say in [loneliness], and in my [serperh] to all who [on] [dior] to you [or] can you. -Nicoll