Creator

John Muir

Recipient

Emily P[elton] Wilson

Preview

image preview

Transcription

Martinez.Jan. 11, 1902.Mrs. Emily P. Wilson.Dear friend of auld lang syne! I'm delighted to find you and see your handwriting after this long silence. It is wonderful how people drift apart on varying currents of duty and work without intention. I've never forgotten you-never forget any of my old friends, but I'm usually in the wilderness all summer and in my study all winter, so I seldom make visits. Oakland seems farther away than Alaska,- have not made a single visit in your town duringthe last fifteen years. Have not in this time seen the Bentons, McChesneys or [illegiable]whom I used to see often times before I was married and got into the habit of writing for the press. I'm going to try however no matter how overladen with work, for I feel conscience stricken to some extent,augre all my excuses though not more guilty than yourself and Doctor for you have not visited us.My Daughter Wanda is attending the University, andI must ask her to call on you some Saturday. I'm sure you'II like her and she is well worth seeing.My! How far back those Prairie du Chien days are.The Peltons, Lovewells and Bissels and the Chores in the big brick house, and that old horse and cow and Mr. Grogan. No wonder time is touching us here and there. Nevertheless it always seems a joke to be called old. As far as I know I feel just about as young now as forty yrs ago. I'll send my first book with this and a copy of my last as soon as I get a new lot.Remember me to the Doctor, and the best wishes believeme everYour friendJOHN MUIR.[in margin: Joseph T. Lovewell Margaret & Emily Bissell. The first two married and were the parents of [Bertha?] E (Lovewell) Dickinson]02939[in margin: Mrs. Wilson (see Emily O. Pelton) was married Sept 15, 1885 to Dr. M.W. Wilson M.D. of Placer Co. Cal. who died 1904 in Oakland Cal. John Muir visited her first at Brownsville Cal. where he was exploring the Yuba River (see account of his climbing tree in one of his early books. This occurred there) His second visit to her was while she was living at Bolinas, Marin Co. This was [illegible] later in Chico when he lectured and was guest of Gen'l Bidwell. Mrs. Wilson settled in Oakland in 1893 where she saw him at the home of the Gaskill's. The long interval in letters is accounted for by J. Muir's absence from the country (China trip) and in not preserving (probably) whatever letters there were. He sent me the two books referred to and later instructed Mr. [Uroman?] of Pasadena to give me a copy of his "Boyhood days E.O.W.]

Location

Martinez [Calif.]

Date Original

1902 Jan 11

Source

Original letter dimensions unknown.

Resource Identifier

muir12_0097-let.tif

File Identifier

Reel 12, Image 0097

Copyright Statement

The unpublished works of John Muir are copyrighted by the Muir-Hanna Trust. To purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission to publish or exhibit them, see http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections/Fees-and-Forms-.html

Owning Institution

University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.

Copyright Holder

Muir-Hanna Trust

Copyright Date

1984

Page Number

Page 4

Keywords

John Muir, correspondence, letters, author, writing, naturalist, California, correspondent, mail, message, post, exchange of letters, missive, notes, epistle

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