Creator
John Muir
Recipient
Emily P[elton] Wilson
Transcription
25/3
Martinez, Jan, 11, 1902
Mrs Emily P. Wehon
Dear friend of auld lang syne I'm delighted to find you & see your handwriting after this long silence. It is wonderful how people drift apart on varying currents of duty & work without intention. I've never forgotten you - never forget any of my old friends, but I'm usually in the wilderness all summer & 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 during the last fifteen years.
2
[in margin: 25/3]
Have not in this time seen the Bentons, McChesneys or Gaskels whom I used to see often times before I was married & got into the habit of writing for the press. I'm going to try however no matter how overladen with work, for I feel cons[illegible] stricken to some extent, [illegible] all my excuses though not more guilty than yourself & Doctor for you have not visited us. My daughter Wanda is attending the University, & I must ask her to call on you some Saturday. I'm sure you'll like her & she is well worth seeing
3
/3
My! How far back those Prairie du Chien days are The Peltons, Lovewell & Bissels & the chores in the big brick house & that old horse & cow & Mr Grogan No wonder time is touching us here & 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 & a copy of my last as soon as I get a new lot. Remember me to the Doctor & with best wishes believe me ever your friend John Muir
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 ever
Your friend
JOHN 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.
Recommended Citation
Muir, John, "Letter from John Muir to Emily P[elton] Wilson, 1902 Jan 11." (1902). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 4571.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/4571
Resource Identifier
muir12_0091-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 12, Image 0091
Collection Identifier
Online finding aid for the microform version of the John Muir Correspondence http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0w1031nc
Copyright Status
Copyrighted
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
Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library. 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
Pages
4 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
