Quarto bifolium (ca. x cm. or x in). 2 pp. of text. Brown ink on yellowish wove paper. Addressed, stamped, and sealed on the last page; with two postmarks. Fold marks, but otherwise a very good letter written in a legible hand.

Historically interesting autograph manuscript letter offering a fascinating insight into the romantic struggles of an early Sacramento resident.

The author, Joel Ware (ca. 1833-1902), originally from Columbiana County, Ohio, moved to Sacramento in September 1852. He worked in bookkeeping and printing in the office of the Republican paper, “The Bee,” until 1857, when he relocated to Eugene City, Oregon. There, he established the Republican paper “People’s Press” (1858) and entered the surveyor general’s office as chief clerk, a position he held for nine years. From 1870 to 1890, Ware was continuously elected as clerk of Lane County. He was married to Elizabeth Cohran (1861) and had five children with her.

In the letter, ca. twenty-year-old Joel addresses a love triangle involving his brother “Emmor” (Emery) and a woman named “Sibyl.” Joel talks about the hopelessness of his situation and gives Emmor his blessing to seek happiness with “Sib”. He compares his love to a religious enthusiast's devotion to God, dramatically writing: “I would barter my soul to Eternal Perdition, could I just gain the prize I once so devotedly sought for.” Joel concludes with a heartfelt plea to never mention Sibyl’s name, adding, “I am done. I’ll swear I’ll never write her name again. Let the dead past bury its dead.” Overall, historically interesting early love letter from a Sacramento pioneer and the founder of Oregon’s “People Press” newspaper.

The text of the letter: “I recd this of 6th mo 1st and was overjoyed to find thee still retained this situation on the stage of action. But to the point thee wished a business letter on love. I had hoped never to have occasion to refer to the question under consideration again, and wrote to that effect in a letter to Gin, which I suppose thee never got. As to Sib – let the warfare exist only between H B + thyself on thry own Hook. And if thee has any “serious intentions” press thy suit, and rest assured if thee was to search the world over, thee never could find one that could in any way bear comparison to my “bean ideal of female perfection”. Thee asks “If I love her yet & if I do thee will supplant me”, ask the religious enthusiast if he loves the imaginary God he worships, ask the miser if he has ceased to love his scraps of gold, and in their answer read mine. Yet, altho I still idolize mer memory and would barter my soul to Eternal Perdition, could I just gain the prize I once so devotedly sought for, yet does not the frantic victim in the depths of Hell, year for a fool hold in the Paradise forever lost to him. Therefore prep towards win her & her love, live content and happy. But do not think allemande my love from the “Sibyl” of other days. It may not be the same Sibyl now, but I can see only the one sibyl, the “paragon of perfection.” I am done, I’ll swear I’ll never write her name again. It is all nonsense to be forever harping on the same theme when I know my doom is sealed. Thee asks if I have found another, one can find women anywhere, they can find a “Sibyl” but once. Write soon and often to Joel Ware Sac City Cala. Jos Allie Nat – well no intention of going home… Do not mention my name to Her, nor Hers to me, “let the dead past bury its dead”.”