Quarto (ca. x cm. or 7 ¾ x 12 ½ in). 2 pp. Brown ink on yellow laid paper. Fold marks, age-toned, but overall a very good letter, written in a legible hand.

Historically interesting content-rich autograph manuscript letter, detailing the standard travel arrangements of an early gold prospector from Columbus City (platted in the 1840s), Iowa, to the Pike's Peak Country.

The author, Samuel Reiner (circa 1805-1862), originally from Pennsylvania, relocated to Iowa with his wife and three sons in the early-1850s. He became a pioneer settler of Columbus City and served as the state senator for Louisa County during the 7th and 8th General Assemblies (1858 and 1860). In 1861, alongside his farming pursuits, Reiner secured a seat on the Louisa County Board of Supervisors

In the letter to Mr. Ford, Reiner shares the latest news from Columbus City and complains that the economic crisis is pushing desperate locals to pursue gold hunting. The author reports on the most popular setup for the journey to Pike's Peak, describing folks using ox teams, carrying six months' worth of provisions, and traveling with 3 to 4 yoke of cattle and 3 or 4 men per team. Reiner also notes that the prospectors are preparing to leave as soon as the grass is sufficient to sustain the teams and speculates on the gold rush, claiming that "the accounts are contradictory." In the rest of the letter, the author discusses the possibility of relocating if another agricultural season fails and talks about the financial crisis, dull crops, extreme poverty, bad roads, common acquaintances, etc. Overall, a historically interesting content-rich letter from the early days of Pile's Peak Gold Rush.

The text of the letter: “Your favour of March 22nd came to hand in due time and we are happy to hear from you and hope that you are all blest with good health. We enjoy usual health except Ann. She has been quite poorly for several days but is now setting up, but her health in rather delicate and has been for the last year. John and William are preparing to part for the Gold Diggings they had calculated to have been off by this time but bad roads + unfavourable weather has prevented them so far. We have had had a mild winter, but considerable wet weather, somehow and very much mud + bad roads and now quite cold + disagreeable to much so for farming operations.

We have now had two unfavourable seasons in Iowa and the west generly + should we have another I don’t know  but what we shall be compelled to seek some other country if we can get away, but we still hope that we my be favoured with a good season + fine crops and if so we hope to prosper + get along again, business is verry dull and money very scarce and no produce to send abroad to bring money, the failure of crops the two last seasons following the excessive speculation in lands and almost every thing els + then the sudden check in monetary affairs East has left us in a bad condition to meet our obligations contracted during the flush times for there is scarcely and land or town property that could be sold for one half for money what it cost two years ago and in many instances not a third and of course parties owing much will have to suffer heavey losses if pushed for payment during there hard times.

A great many people here are preparing to go to the gold regions as soon as the grass starts sufficiently to sustain the teams, the most from this country are taking Ox teams with provisions for six months taking from three to 4 yoke of cattle in a team and three or four men to a team,  the distance from here is about eight hundred miles and I suppose it will take near two months to go through I hope they may all do well, but at the same time I have my fears for the result as the recent accounts are very contradictory.

You mention that you sent two letters nut answerd there was one the letter part of Dec + one in Jany of feb. I thought that I ansd the first one by perhaps nut. Each containing small drafts.

In regard to Thomas, I do not know what to say for the best if he or you can rent the lut so that it will do him any good + furnish a home for him do so, tell him to keep it in repair + pay up the taxes and if he fails to do so that I shall have to sell it I wish you would ascertain if the taxes are paid on it. I suppose if it can – to any person with whoom he could board would probably be as good a plan as any. I think of if his wife declines living with him again. Your taxes here are all paid + I will send you the recpt some time soon; I have to attend Court a Jurer on tomorrow + have nut time to hunt them up to present.

If you can get John Mack money for me it will much oblidge me as we are verry hard run for money + it is next to impossible to collect any here worth mentioning and all we owe seems to be wanted.

Alice wishes to know how Charley is getting along whether he is making anything + also wants to hear from all the folks about our old home and when you and – are a coming to pay us a visit, and also what Charley is going to do with his wife whether he is going to take her to Pikes Peak or leave her.”