George Henry Burraston Harris Letters to his Father-Vol 1-Utah

Frisco  Feb24th/81 (Frisco, Utah is currently a ghost town.  It was a mining town that produced silver, gold, zinc and copper. Reports on its history say ‘With 23 saloons, Frisco was known as the wildest town in the Great Basin. Murder was common, and drinking water had to be freighted in. )

Dear Father:  your last letr to me came safe to hand & with pleasure I receivd the same, then after a careful perusal, satisfaction was obtaind in relation to the different items mentiond in your epistle.  One that I was particularly pleasd with was that Cy had rented yr farm & is going to make that his place of abode.  Fathr I am very glad that U hav the priviledge of taking pleasure in seeing the new mode of life, that Cy has taken in joining himself in wedlock, or as Hary Wasley sais, changing his single life for a double one & I hope U may hav a similar satisfaction in seeing al your sons that are capable of such a life do as wel as Cy.  I hav been chopping wood this month, hav put in about enough to pay for grub, the rest is laying in the woods.  I think we may have a beter show of putting in wood next month.  Hav red my book partly thro.  It is quite interesting to me.  It throws my imagination back to a time previous to my existence when my Father was a sailor and tho my interest is not altogether taken up with the circumstance of the shipwreck good language is containd therin which makes it instructive in general.  I think it would be interesting to U as U have considerable knowledge about a ship.  Ive just recevd yours of the 24^th & 25^th also the papr.  I am glad U have so near finishd your house.  Should like if times were beter here so I could help U our more, but the last two months I haven’t much more than earnd grub.  James has not don much since Shorland left.  The times are so dul.  One Eve James & Amasiah Ganat drove up in front of Forgies & went back to put their team away in the yard when they returned to the wagon for their beding some one had waldkd off with 3 pr of their blankets.  The boys hunted for a long time.  Then came up to our cabin so I went & hunted quite a while for them but al in vain.  We could neither find the blankets nor the thief so the world goes.  The thief takes pleasure & comfort in what an honest man works for.  Wel father please excuse more for this time as I must write to Shorland.  Closd with lov to al at home from yr son Geo.

 

Frisco Apr 17/81

Dear Fathr:  I receivd yr very welcome letr and was glad to hear that U was wel.  I am wel & hope these few lines wil find U stil in a healthy & prosperous condition.  U asked me if we rec al the papers U hav sent.  I think we do.  We have rec them pretty regular.  I saw last letr to Shorland & was glad to learn by it that U hav got along so wel in putting your crop in.  I have been drawing in a dolar or two from several different persons til ive accumulated the sum of Forty dolars over & above settling my bils.

I shal enclose 40$ to U so if U need any or al of it in your business just now use it & if U don’t please lay it away for a rainy day.  Excuse more at present as I want to send this right off.  Closd with love from your son Geo Harris.

 

Kimbals Hotel, Parleys Park Sumit Co. Utah June 26^th/81. 

Dear Father.

After so long a silence I make the attempt to write in ans. To your last & welcome epistle.  I was much pleasd to hear from U that U was wel & that yr farm looks so prosperous-not forgetting the increase in No. as wel as the growth of the fowl kingdom.  Cy & I are stil working on the UPRR but we keep on the look out for something beter as the wages are so low here.  E. Sterret, D driggs, Jas Harrow, H. Pearson & E Balenger left here last Tues to strike something beter.  Ed said he would write to me as soon as he got work.  But ive herd by a letr from P.G. that they were al at home which Ive no doubt of the fact.  Last eve after work I took the train & went to Park City to try if I could get a beter situation.  I got a little encouragement if the work turns up that is expected we can beter ourselves some I think 50 cents at any rate.  Then I returnd this morning by train, then I jumpd in a wagon so another fellow & myself al took a ride down the canyon 6 m. to some RR grader’s camps where I releivd the team of about 176 ob.  I thankd the young man for my ride.  He acceptd my thanks & went on his way rejoicing.

Then I enquird if they wanted to hire any men at the camps, what they were paying &c.  they were payng 275 pr day & board.  I didn’t like the looks of their way of camping out in the open air so I started & walkd to camp.  Cy receivd a letr from Shorland.  He said he had given up going out to Castle Valey.  The weather has been awful warm here yesterday & today nearly every morning the grass is al covered with a very heavy dew of frost.  We hav a nice stream of water running close by our camp.  I hav been bathing 3 times since I came here.  Rec a leter from Eliza last eve was much pleasd to learn they were al wel.  Am glad she is so wel satisfied with the country.  Please give my sinceer love to Eliza & Mary.  Kind regards to Hyrum & kiss al the dear children for me.  Closd with love to U from yr affectionate son.  Geo HB Harris.

 

Thames Kanyon Sumit Co Utah July 27^th/81

Dear Father:  I feel disposed with pleasure to answer your most welcome leters numbering 2 that Ive received since I wrote to U.  I was very glad to learn of Shorland’s recovery.  Also that U were al wel at home.  I hope the boys wil hav suces in their trip north.  Cy & I are working for the Marsac Co.  Cy started yesterday morning.  He works day shift in a tunel about 1 m. from here, 10 hrs shift.  I am working at what is generally knows amost miners as the ‘Grave Yard Shift’ that is 8 hrs shifts from 11 to 7 in a shaft about 75 ft deep.  We hav air pump so we hav good air by turning a crank.  We changes shifts every week so I wil hav day shifts next week.  Yesterday I went up on the top of the hil that we are working on which is a corner of 3 counties namely Sumit-Salt Lake & Wasatch.  Its a nice view.  I could see Heber City, Great Salt Lake, Utah Co & a large scope of country in every direction.

Father your wishes for my company for the celebration of the 24^th complied with mine, had circumstances permitted my absence from work.  I thought of U al the same & wishd U great merriment.  About the time young folks were enjoying themselves in the hoe downs, I was standing at the windlas tuging away with my imaginations reaching homward as to how I should like to be with U.  But I gues it is beter that I make hay while the sun shines as I dont wish to be compeld to expose myself next winter if al goes wel.  We are both wel & I hope this may find U al wel.  I wil answer Elizas leter before long.  Cy joins me in love to al from yr affect son Geo H B Harris.

Thans Canyon S. Co. Aug 13^th/81

Dear Father:  Yours very kindly & oblidging came safe to hand & was quite acceptable.  The land U spoke of, Ive had an eye on for some time, hopd for a chance to buy it if they wanted to sel.  I or we want it.  Ive some money on hand & hope to hav some more on the 15^th.  I am wiling to give 350$ for it as much for the location as anything.  Cy rote to John Rosa last eve to enquire if he had any use for a team & wagon &c.  If not we may make a raise of money shortly.  I think its very kind of John to giv us the 1^st chance to buy the land.  Father Ive received a couple of Newspapers & I think 1 leter previous to the last since I wrote to U last.  My eye sight is much stronger that it used to be so I take more interest in reading the news than I used to.  I & pardner are off from 5 this eve til 11 tomorrow eve as next week weve to work night shift.  Wel please excuse more for this time.  Closd with lov from yr son Geo H B. Harris.

(The following is not in a letter but an entry by George Henry Abbot Harris and is a follow up on the property)

“Sept 25 Sund.  Geo H B. has been home a week.  Leaving Park City he came by the way of ‘The Silver Bell’ mine in A.F. Canyon & saw Shorland, who was wel & had a pretty tuf job.  George lost 12$ on 112$ Bank Discount on time checks & was glad to get off that wel.  He purchased Johns Rosa’s 10 acres for 350$ & paid 125$ on Sept 1^st and 100$ Sept 19^th.  A note was drawn out & a transfer made.  He went up to work at the “Milk Maid” mine on Thursday at $150 pr day & board.”

 

Dear Father & Bro.  To day being the sabath we rest.  I being partly acquainted with Mr. Ig preferd him for a boss at $175 pr day to others that oferd the same.  That’s the highest that’s being paid on this road.  Father I saw yr friend John Dallin & he speard as tho he thought I wanted something to ear or drink so he shied off.  I reminded him of U & he merely asked what U were doing.  Cy, that dram I took the even I left.  When I arrived at Thistle Creek Depo I saw Bro Chas Hardy & had a few minets conversation with him, he asked me if I could boss a crowd of men on a job of work.  I told him I thout I could so he told me to speak to Mr. fox when he came up & said he would speak to Fox for me when he saw him but Fox came up on a special train on the Narow Guage so neither of us could get to speak to him but he is expected up again next week.  So if I get a job U must prepare yourself to come & help me out.  They expect to furnish al conveniences for a camp, except the cook & if so U wil hav to find us a cook from Battle Creek but I wil let U kn as soon as I kno please excuse more for present, direct from the heading.  Closd with love to al from your son & Bro.  Geo H.B. Harris. (no date given)

 

Wm Sumpsun’s Camp S.F. Canyon Dec 11^th 1881

Dear Father   yours punctualy written on the 8^th inst, just received no sooner than the day before yesterday.  I don’t kno why or where it was way-laid so long but was acceptable tho it had been delayed on the road.  Owing to your drinking to our health last eve (your birthday) we returned the compliment & had what the Friscoites once cald a Mormon Jamberee.  And our foreman felt the jolliest of the gang (of about 20 men) Colemayam what de ye say &c and this morning U may stare, were right side up with care.  Colemayam &c.  we had a violinist in the corner & a banjo player (pen honor) & in fact we were a jovial little band “Colemayam &c” and now comes in the singers the whistlers & the jiggars & when we come to size together twas hard to tel which from tother was biggest (shal I say) dunce of al.  colemayam.  We were up til 12 oclock & then we had some bread & onions.  Then the boss who had the tools, had to pare down every bunion, before retiring from the labors of the week “Colemayam &c”   father please excuse al mistakes & in including al bad breaks of the evening entertainment (for fiddler broke his string) “Colemayam” from geo H.B. Harris to his dear father Geo H.A. Harris.  Wil conclude with love to al, write soon again.

 

March 18^th.  Dear Father.  I take pleasure in addressing U with this short epistle.  I am wel & hop U are enjoying the same blessing my finger is betr.  I had a good time with Mac at Provo & he wishd to be rememberd to U al.  The last 2 nights hav been very cold here.  It seems that we hav about 1 or 2 winter days & then a suden change takes effect & represents sumer time.  The tie business seems to stir up considerable excitement in this part of the burg.  Geo Hays & Hyrum Walker came up to see us last night.  They are going to chop ties for Houston of Provo.  Price for cutting & sliding 28 to 20 cents.  I think that a good show for any one who can stand the sno, which is about 3 ft deep there.  I think I am best off here for a while til the snow setles in the timbr any how.  I feel quite lost without my old bango & Sam Smith with his old Joe.  Shorland & I are working together blasting rocks for the wal.  There are about 24 m. working here.  The majority are what the boys cal Buros, part Sweeden & part from Denmark (via Sandpete).  Love to al enquirers from your loving son George.

 

1882 Oct 1^st Frisco  Dear Father

I with pleasure improve an opportunity to write a few lines to U.  We’ve rec 2 leters from U since Cy & I came to Frisco.  We was much pleasd to learn that U wel.  We are al wel.  We receivd a letr from Shorland yesterday.  He stated to us that he was a maried man.  Wel I cant more than wish them joy & happiness & long & prosperous lives.  Was glad they had so good a time.

Wel father, since we came to Frisco we the so cald Harris Bros of Frisco have run our faces for horses, harness & wagons amounting to about just exactly 780$ & we are putting in pine wood at 6$ pr cord.  I think the out fit shows wel worth the money.  I have been chopping the last month & shal hav another chopped this month.  We pack wood on 2 animals from the stump to where we drive a wagon.  We run a 4 animal team on a new 3 ½  wagon & a single span on a ½ worn wagon, so we have just fairly got started but I think we can do pretty wel from this on.  If U see Mr. A N Iverson, please ask him if Jr Jens C Jenson receivd any lumber on my act.  If so please let me kno so I amy get U som money thro that process.  Please excuse pencil as the ink gave out.  Wil close with love from yr affect son Geo H B. Harris.

Oct 15^th Frisco Dear Father

I receivd yr kind letr dated Oct 8^th just was pleased to learn by it that U were wel.  We are al wel & generally eat enough pr 6 or 8 plates.  We experienced a very rough day here yesterday it snowd & blowd al day.  It was the worse storm I ever saw in this section of the country & last one it cleard off & U bet it was a bitr cold night.  The weather looks quite favorable for wood hauling here now though we hav from 6 to 8 inches of snow & where we ar getting the wood I doubt if the snow wil again disappear this fal.  We hav to hire 2 men at $2.50 pr day & board.  Times are betr in general for those who hav work in general in Frisco than I ever saw here, tho there is not half the no of men at work as I hav seen.

Wel fathr I hope we can get away from here by December & we can if good luck favors us.  We shal not go up to chop til tomorrow as the snow is so bad.  The our expenses count form 10$ to 15$ pr day work or play.  1 of the hird men do the chopping & the other do the packing on hoof our mules while Jim & Cy drives the teams.  Wel father  I don’t know of any more news at present.  I enclose a check of 20$.  I think most any of the store keepers wil give U change for it.  So pleas pay Beny Pearson 5$ & R. H. Madson 10$ & oblidge me as I cannot come home to question U as to yr wiling or unwling consent by receiving the other remaining 5$ for yr self.  Closd with the affection of yr son, G.H.B. Harris.  P.S. turn over, it forgot to tel U that I was boss of 1 ax in co with the hird chopper & some times when we get into a bu. Of dry wood, laying down we think we are boss of al choppers &c.  Yours Truly GHBH.

Frisco, Nov. 20^th /82  Dear Father, In answer to yr letr & paper Il attempt to screne a few lines.  I am wel & hope this may find U wel.  I am down town for the 1^st time since the 15^th Ultima.  Its now about ½ past 8 pm & hav come down since supper to get some straps to fix a pack sadle.  I am boss of choppers three, so I must go back tonight as U kno how a new boss likes to see how things go on.  So U wil excuse this short epistle.  Last month we put in wood to the amt of 999$.  U may 166 ½ cords @ 6$.  I would send U the bil of distribution but have lost it.  So this month we started 250$ behind expenses up to the present on this month 250$ hav hauld 95 ½ cords.  So U can easily recon how about we stand.  If we have good luck we hope to work til the 10^th of next month.  Excuse mistakes &c from yr Son with lov Geo H B. Harris (write soon)