Hanover Jo Davis Co Ins Sept 21 1847

Dear Father

I have delayed Imw days in answering your letter of the 29th utro with the expectation of further information from the Milwaukee Rw Insurance affair and by yesterday's mail the c @.. Check on the house in Galena for 30 87/1011 dobl the bal after deducting lalrafo Ch orps Com +c

In answer to the enquiries made in your last. I will give you as full a description as possible at the present time and will have lersan in a few days to draw the plan you speak of which will more clearly show the appearance of things here. The appearance of the falls I think was rather improved by quarrying the Rock for the building making the jut off more regular and perpendicular The Mill stands in the same place you & Mr Chapman staked out with the expectation of the rear of the building which rims some 7 feet further Weston to the old Mill foundation, and the South side was made some six feet further down the race or canal The size of the Mill you will recollect was somewhat enlarged from the first plan. The original plan was 40 by 60, and the building is 46 by 63 on the ground, with a wheel house attached to the Rear 26 by 29 feet. The water wheel is 19 feet long and 14 1/2 feet in diameter it is a high breast or Pitch back wheel, one end of the shaft running into the mill on which is a largar bevil pit wheel 12 1/2 feet in diameter. This whaal drives all the machinery - On the 1st or basement story we receive all the Bran and screenings from the Wheat, which is conveyed down from the wire screens and Smut mill from the top of the building On the 2nd story we have our mill stones and packing machines and also large bins or hoppers for holding flour - shorts or mickJlings ie for sale or exchange - in this story we have a room for an office (or Counting room as you Yankaas have it) and the Miller's room - in the ~ story we have a hopper bay or cooler for cooling the flour after being bolten before packing - flour is so often packed into barrels warm and consequently sours in a very sIlort time we were induced to put in this extra cooler - we also have in this extra story bins for stonng wheat. In the 4 thstory is the bolting Chest. 20 feet long. 8 feet wide and 15 feet high - it contains 4 Raals and 2 conveyors. 2 of the reels only being in operation the others are intended for the 2 River of Stones which we anticipate using after awhile. This story is also arranged for storing wheat.. In the !I' story we have a cooler for stirring up the flour before bolting also 8 Smart machine and a fanning mill for cleaning wheat. Also a long conveyor for carrying the shorts and mickJlings over the mill stones for grinding over into fine flour. In the attic story we have a line of shafts running through the whole length of the mill on which is attached wheels for driving wheat elevators. flour elevators. screens for cleaning wheat and a seperator or duster for separating the bran from the shorts and middlings. This explains the whole matter of machines from the ground. It is all arranged to save labor in handling grain or flour. The wheat is hoisted from the outside of the Mill in to a weighing hopper- after being weighed a slide is drawn below and the wheat falls down into a sink-here the elevators teke it to the top of the Mill from which we spout it down below for grinding or storing as we please. Now as I have diverged somewhat from your enquiries as regards machinery & c I will go out into the open air a little.

The Saw Mill stands where it was first intended but does not operate well now (that is it affects the large wheel at the flouring mill). When we shut down the saw mill gets the water flow up some 4 inches on to the wheel and alters the motion. I think we will be obliged to suspend operations in the sawing. Timber is quite too scarce here to make a regular business of it - and the house and building can be used to more profit with lighter machinery - it is a first rate location for carding machines Co. Ass., wool manufacturing, turning lathes, chair factory or any thing in that way. We .have guard locks at the head of each race or canal and the canal is walled up secure from all breaks or leaks. The Road to Galena passes over the canal to the Flouring Mill.

Our village contains 20 houses, beside the Mills. 2 brick buildings and 3 frame are in the process of erection now, one of which is building for a Tavern house by Mr. Milligan (my brother-in-law) nearly opposite my store. We make from every 60 Ibs. or I Bushel grow wheat 411bs SF flour the 14.5 of bran and shorts. I suppose will sell for about 5 cents for feed is not much yet, but I think we Will be able during the winter to dispose of all our feed to good advantage. At the mill flour is perfectly flat just now we are selling at Galena for 3. 5 to 3. 75 cents per Bbl and buying wheat at the Mill 40 @ 45 per Bush - I would like to send you a sample of flour this fall say 100 Bbls if we can get a supply of any sort. No confidence can be placed in men here in a contract. They have all disappointed me and if it was not for our exchange business we could not get Boas to keep in operations. 14 the time I have taken the business in hand myself now am getting out timber and will shortly have a supply. We call our works Hanover Mills. We make a 2c quality of Flour which we call Mendora Mills both brands were made in St. Louis by cousin Leonard Gregg and are done up in good style on copper plate. The health of our county wetr is unusually good this season.

The person that intends putting a wheel into the saw mill has not commenced work yet. He will put in an overshot wheel 11 feet in diameter. The Flour Mill is insured at Columbus, O. for $5,000 and the Protection New York for $5,000. Premium 1 14 per ct. - both offices have agencies in Galena.

I regret to learn of so much sickness with you and trust it may soon abate and that you all may escape the prevailing epidemics. Our little Ann is very healthy and sprightly. Creeps all over the house and Will soon be able to run alone - we have got the farm sowed in wheat and expect to raise a fine crop next season - I am now buying hogs. We have suffice. Affall from the Mill to run 100 head constantly. I have no more room in this for particulars will give all in my next. Excuse all bad writing in this no time for correcting. With much love to all

Mailed on September 26, 1847

Transcription of a handwritten letter from Jon.(Jonathan) W. White from Hanover, Illinois to his father Jon. White, Esq. in Lowell, Massachusetts written on February 24, 1849. Some intelligible parts are actually a form of shorthand between father and son. Paragraphing ­ and some sentence punctuation is not used in order to maximize the amount of written content put on the one page front and back, allowing one half page to be utilized as an envelope-type address when folded.

Hanover Feby 24th 1849

Dear Father

Your two letters dated Jany 29th and Feby 7th are at hand. An answer was due the former one some days since the later was rec'd by this day's post. Mr. Graham has withdrawn and expects to start for Califomia in the course of 10 days. I have had no assistance in my business concems for the last 3 weeks which is my only apology for not answering your letter before now. I was desirous of getting my balance sheet made out before writing you again but your letter today reminded me that I should write something at alt events, even if it was not so full of business details. Well to come to my affairs at once I will say that we got the Mill into working order about two weeks after the fire. Of course the amount of damages exceeded $200­ --have not heard from the Insurance company since my account was forwarded but presume the claim wilt be allowed. Wheat has been coming in very freely since the first of the month, have probably 10,000 bushels on hand and 1500 barrels of flour at the landing. We are now running the Mill constantly tuming out 70 to 80 barrels a Day. We now have a fine snow since the last of December constant sliding ice co until within a day or two, It seems to be leaving-appearance of high water. The Mississippi will probably open in a month from this time. Graham draws $1000 in cash and eleven hundred more in 1 year which is as scarrnibe as could be expected and places me again in full control of the premises to my entire satisfaction.

I have expended here in building saw and Flouring Mill together with Dam, Canal & c a little over $11,000

The above entrees as the bulk of my Real Estate at this place. In your letter of Jany 29tn you write that you would leave Lowell and come out here If I could hold out sufficient enducements & c I would be glad to see you all located here provided mother and the balance of the family could come. That they must expect to be disappointed in various ways. They will be deprived of many luxuries and comforts they now enjoy, they will be far from their relations and friends, they will be obliged to break up old associations and form new connections in life among strangers who they will find widely different in their habits & customs from those they formerly cherished.

I say again that nothing under the canopy of heaven would make me happier than to see you all permanently located out here. Provided always you were all satisfied yourself. But I would much rather see you remain where you are than come here and be disappointed, disheartened and dissatisfied. Father, I know the business and country would suit you well. It is a fine country for a Mim but a hard one for Women. My property here is amply sufficient, In my own estimatiOn for us both-should you wish to remain here. You can come in equal partner in the Mill and other property should you wish to Farm. You can take a try at that or should you wish to start a small woolen concem here, I wilt give you what power you may wish - Should you take one half of my property it would relieve me from my half and I must also have assistance in conducting my business here immediately. I find the work laborious and confining for anyone person. I expected to visit you all next season but Graham's leaving will probably prevent the possibility of my going. Should you be able to dispose of your property this winter so as to come out yourself with the family early in the Spring-in season to build-it would be advisable. I have no more room to write-The Bridge will be completed 1 at Sept-considerable improvement anticipated in our town this coming season. Two large brick stores going up-Gates is doing a flourishing business. The name of our town is changed to Hanover. Let's hear from you immediately.

Truly yours & c
J. W. White

Mailed from Hanover Ins on Feb. 25th