Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 3 (1876 - 1882)

Lt 18, 1881

White, W. C.

Healdsburg, California,

December 6, 1881

Previously unpublished.

Dear son Willie:

It has been raining here since Sabbath afternoon. Yesterday I rode out with Brother [Fred] Harmon to Brother Young’s. He stated that the women refused to sell the property we thought desirable for [a] boarding house short of five thousand five hundred. Brother Young proposes to offer her thirty-five hundred and no more. 3LtMs, Lt 18, 1881, par. 1

On the other side of the college is one acre of land with fruit trees in front of [the] house. The house is small—of no value. This is a corner lot [which] can be purchased for twelve hundred. Pass round the corner lot and next is a vacant lot which can be purchased for two or three hundred dollars. Next [to] it is a small place with [a] tolerably good house, and I cannot tell just how much land. It reaches down to the Foss vacant lots of land. This place can be had for one thousand dollars. Next, there is a very good, small dwelling house running through to the other street joining the Foss property, where the Foss property ends. This is twelve or fifteen hundred. These places are close by the college. What do you think about it? 3LtMs, Lt 18, 1881, par. 2

There is the house sitting on a high rise of ground by the madrona grove. There are three acres of land. Father once was inclined to buy it, but delayed too long. I think I showed you the place. It is in the other part of town, on high, dry ground; house [is] thoroughly finished. It can be bought for three thousand. There are at least two building sites on this ground. If the Foss property cannot be purchased for thirty-five hundred, would it not be best to get this beautiful location, including two madrona groves—one on each side of the house, one nicely inclosed with [a] fence? I wish you, or someone, were on the ground now to look and judge what is for the best. 3LtMs, Lt 18, 1881, par. 3

The two houses mentioned, one for one thousand and second for fifteen hundred (I think), rent now for twelve dollars per month. They are very good houses. We shall know the exact price for each in a few days. I am fearful I cannot live in Oakland. I am better here in Healdsburg. 3LtMs, Lt 18, 1881, par. 4

I cannot get any money [out] of Michel. I want you to see Mr. Row [?] in company with Henry Kellogg. He owes the estate more than one hundred dollars. Father favored him in every way. He let him have the house on [the] corner for twelve dollars per month until August. But he would not go out in August, and Father charged him twenty dollars per month from that time till he moved out. Henry Kellogg can tell you all about it. If we can get twelve dollars a month, I will square up all accounts with him, but we want the money. See him as soon as possible and have the matter settled. He abused Father in every way and Father would have nothing to do with him. Row bought the lot of land adjoining our house on the corner, and then Father did not want him to have it and bought him the lot he now owns, nearer town, paying, I think, seventy-five dollars more for it. But Row has acted the dishonest part. Please attend to the matter. 3LtMs, Lt 18, 1881, par. 5

If Samuel Abbey can pay as he wanted to once, let him pay. I could now use the money to good advantage. 3LtMs, Lt 18, 1881, par. 6

Willie, I think I should have fifteen hundred dollars from the money in the college and appropriate that amount or more of the Harvey estate and other property held in trust for college. Then I could use that fifteen hundred on this coast. But to take money of men east of the Rocky Mountains and apply it on the Pacific Coast might give dissatisfaction. Will you consider this? I want to move with all discretion. 3LtMs, Lt 18, 1881, par. 7

I have felt some troubled over the way my things have been managed on this coast—my rugs, the work of my own fingers, used up and destroyed. My property here and there and everywhere, and things gone that I cannot trace. Then when the account was brought before me and a bill of water charged for my house, it hurt my heart. Now it was not the money part of it, but the principle of the thing that cut me to the very heart. From that time to this, my thoughts and feelings have been undergoing some changes. I have felt that whatever Father or I have done or might do, it would be unappreciated. Our own children would see no reason why we should not be placed upon a level with every other one who had no special interest and had made no special sacrifices. 3LtMs, Lt 18, 1881, par. 8