UPRR Railroad Worker, Joseph Holbrook, c. 1868
A fellow researcher, Ms. Peduzzi, from England contacted me regarding her ancestor, Joseph Holbrook, who immigrated to the States around 1857 residing briefly in New York and then in Massachusetts. It appears that after 1860, Joseph traveled out to the west. His letters to back home told his family that he saw the Mormon temple in Utah and Brigham Young and his new wife. They also stated that his was working in the Black Hills (being attacked by Indians), working in the silver mines, etc.
On April 22, 1868, his address was In care of Carmichal, Fort Sanders, Dakota Territory, North America. In June 1868, he wrote home saying that he was working in the Sweet Water mines and they are troubled by Indians (he stated that he was in Salt Lake 4 years ago). On October 25, 1868, he had left Black Hills 5 months ago and was now 700 miles north up country (300 miles from the gold region. Next March he was going to start for the gold region. This was part of a letter from Humbold County, Winnamucca Post Office. After many attempts to locate information regarding Joseph Holbrook (U.S. Federal Census, vital records), I wrote back to Ms. Peduzzi with disappointment because I could not find anything that matched her ancestor. She e-mailed back stating that she thought her ancestor Joseph may have worked on the railway. Most of the letters she has were written in 1868 and all the addresses were "In Care of L. Carmichael." Some were from Cheyenne Territory, Black Hills, Dakota, Green River Station and one for Fort Sanders. She had done additional research on the addresses and L. Carmichael on the internet and they were all linked to UPRR. When she saw these initials, they did not mean anything to her.
This made a lot of sense to me now – if he was working on the Union Pacific Railroad, there would be no record of him on the Federal Census. It also appears that he may have died in 1869. A letter dated then was returned back to the family many years later.
Any information you can provide me with regarding Joseph Holbrook would be greatly appreciated. If there are any other organizations that may be of help would also be greatly appreciated. ...
Can you help us with any information regarding Lewis Carmichael and his employees? Any information you can provide me with will be greatly appreciated.
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 8:44 AM
1 Comments:
From: "Joan Peduzzi" joan.mary@peduzzi.co.uk
Subject: Joseph Holbrook's letters from America
I am at this moment going through the letters again. The last letter I have was written in December 1868 I have a feeling he did not survive.
On Aril 22nd 1868 his address was In care of Carmichael, Fort Sanders, Dakota Territory, North America. On June 20th 1868 he says that he is working in the Sweet water mines.and they are troubled by Indians.(He says he was in Salt Lake 4 years ago.) On October 25th 1868 he says he left the black hills 5 months ago and is now 700 miles north up country 300 miles from the gold region, Next March I shall start for the gold region. There is a part of a letter from Humbolt county Winnamucca Post Office and an envelope from Winnemucca which arrived in Manchester, England in December 1868
There is a returned letter envelope which reached Manchester in 1869.
After that there is a letter from the British Post Office saying they are still enquiring about two registered letters from Manchester in 1892. There is an envelope which was registered in Manchester, England on 15th Feb 1892 addressed to Joseph Holbrook in care of Carmichael Cheyenne City Territory Dakota, Black Hills. It is stamped "Unclaimed" April 9th 1892 at Cheyenne. Wyo. This is 23 years after Joseph's last letter unless of course a lot are missing. In one letter I cannot just put my hand on it he says that he is still single and will remain so until he comes home.
Is it not possible to get his immigration record from the information I have sent you? I have a sad feeling that we may never find out what happened to him.
There are just a few other letters but nothing after 1868.
—Joan
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