Squire Ensworth's Letters to Mr. Whaley
September, 1861
San Diego, Ca.
Sept. 8, 1861
Mr. W:
Your of the 5th inst., is just received and the boat waits no time - I have other letters to write - I will answer you in full by overland on Thursday next.
I send you the sum of $575 of this $70 is on merchandise account and the balance $505 on private account. My remittance on the private account is so large for the reason that I intend to send in my overland letter a bill for lumber. I am going to build.
Yours
A. S. Ensworth
I have paid express.
San Diego, Ca.
September 12, 1861
Mr. Whaley:
My Dear Sir - I apply myself to answering your last letter rec'd by steamer Senator, dated the 5th.
I do not think a more "varied assortment" would improve the thing. It would be extremely difficult to animate a dead corpse and place it upon its legs and endow it with the power of locomotion. It must have breath and health. Money, the life of trade, is not here. Of the leading, I have yet on hand 100 sks of flour (the common), and all the family sup. fine save two sacks and sugar 18 mats. The rest of the assortment is on hand in like proportions, although I have been offering the flour at $2 and $2.50 per sack. I have 1-1/2 BBL of whiskey yet left, although offering and selling at 60 cts per gal. Sugar I am selling at $3 per arroba. Although this County and S. B. Elected Bogart to the Senate, yet so far as this County is concerned, I do not believe it is "sesish" by a long ways, although B is claimed by that party. Mistrusting him myself, I voted against him. But notwithstanding all this I have no disposition at this late age in life, to hunt new places and new businesses. If I had an assurance that I would live 20 years, I might do so. But I am now growing old quite fast, and am contented to remain here and be buried in this graveyard by the side of Ames. This reminds me of stones for his grave, which you will send. Place on the headstone the following: Sacred to the memory of Frank Ames, son of Sam L. and Anne Ames, born in Providence, R. I. March 14, 1811 and died in San Diego, June 20th 1861, Aged - Years - Months - Days. Of course the above is not arranged as it should be on the stone, Arrange it to suit yourself.... Suppose you get Major Ringgold to arrange it. He has a taste that way. Also see that the punctuation is correct. The stone might be a little larger than Steele's but plain and without any flourishes. Fill the blanks correctly, of the age. Bulletin rec'd and appreciated in these times of war and trouble. Estudillo makes me this proposition: Within a month after I inform him you accept his proposition, he will give $300.00 in cash for the Escajadillo debt. What better can you do? I have seen Mrs. R and informed her what you said about the prospect of a sale of the books, with which she appeared satisfied. She has not called on me for any money or other things, although I informed her what you told me in our letter some time since. McCoy is Shff, Pendleton Clerk, Morse Treasurer, Hoffman, Representative. Mrs. Robinson made enquiry why Mrs. W. did not answer her last letter. During the last year and a half I have done a great deal of business (for this place) for Soto and the prospect is I shall do much more. From this, he presumes considerable for favors. The lumber spoken of in my last letter is for him, & most of the money sent you by last steamer Senator was from him to make the purchase, which please make, and I need not add as cheap as possible, shipping on the senator, if she will bring it at the rate of $10 per ton, which Bonerey, the Clerk, told me would be the price for freight hereafter & if not, then on a schooner. As it is lumber instead of barrels and boxes, they may attempt to stick it on some way. Please look to it. Send bill of lumber and cartage & if it should come to more than is in your hands of Soto's money, make them trust you for the balance and I will remit it immediately. Please send me two large silk pocket handkerchiefs of a red color. I can't find my large ones here - I want large ones. My respects to Self and Mrs. Whaley.
Yours
A. S. Ensworth
San Diego, Ca.
Sept 26, 1861
Mr. Thomas Whaley
San Francisco
Inclosed herewith you will find a draft dated Fort Yuma, Cala. September 3rd, 1861, drawn on Ben Hartshorne, Esq, San Francisco, payable to the order of A. S. Ensworth, by D. Neaar, for $2600.
This draft was sent to me by Hinton & belongs to him. He sent it to me under the expectation that I could use it here, but I can't, am obliged to send for the money at his expense. Therefore, as Jack is a particular friend of us both, I remit it to you to save a commission on collecting which the Express Co. would charge in addition to their commission of one percent for bringing the money down. Please collect it and put the money in the express so that it will reach here by next boat. I have notified Hartshorne that you have it.
Yours
A. S. Ensworth
P. S. The way it rained has been a caution - grass up green all about. House leaked like thunder, but did not run down in a place to wet the groceries. You need look for no money by this boat.
A. S. E.
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