Interesting and detailed autograph letter signed, written from Cedar Run, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, dated June 20, 1854, by Charles Gordon to Austin L. Reynolds of Saratoga County, New York. Four pages with original addressed cover. A highly descriptive early Pennsylvania frontier and lumber-region letter written during the rapid development of the north-central Pennsylvania timber country. Gordon describes arriving in the rugged hill country around Cedar Run and offers a vivid account of the geography, logging operations, rail construction, streams, and isolated settlements of Lycoming County during the lumber boom era. He remarks upon the steep terrain (“the hills are from 50 to 100 rods in height”), primitive roads and rail lines used for timber extraction, abundant wildlife including pigeons and hawks, and the sparse social life of the remote settlement. The writer also comments on the local people, weather, recreation, reading, and homesickness while encouraging correspondence from New York. An excellent piece of Pennsylvania lumber history with strong regional content and unusual descriptive detail from the pre-Civil War period. Condition: very good overall with expected folds, minor toning, and light wear from mailing and handling. Manuscript remains clear and highly legible. Original integral address leaf and embossed stationery seal present.
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Cedar Run Lycoming Co. Pa. June 20th 1854 Dear Austin I landed in Pennsylvania on the second day of June safe and found my ride was quite tiresome but I got recruited after few days but far away from home. The country is not so rough as I expected to finded but it is hilly enough fare any surprise and it seems to me that the work of nature was well calculated for timber lands. The hills are from 50 to a 100 rod in height and we can go any where on these side hills with teams and it is very seldom that we can find a level ground it is some thing like a roof of a house and when you get at the foot of the hill you will find a narrow strime and at the upper end of those strime is where they build their railroad from one to two milles long and then they drave there logs by water in to larger strime which is cal the Pine Creek and this is a Bout as near discription as I can give you at the present time and if there is any thing that you wish to know just mention it when you will write to me. I have enjoy very good health sence I came in this place I have some time thought that the temperature of this climate is some what different from what it is in Marrian days are warmer & the nights colder we had a white frost this morning here. I cannot say much about the people here in this place there knowledge are very centered for the benefit of themself or of there country they appear to enjoy themselves as well as any people I every seen and they have been very friendly to me sence I been here. There is quite a number of young people girls and boys here but non of them that I every seen before & there conversation is no engagement to me. The best enjoyment for me here is to take a book & read or walk with an old gun in my hand. I have been hunting but once since I been here I went where the pigeons nest and there nests are in most every limb and it is quite a sight for any one that never seen them before to see them go and come taking in the morning or in the after noon about five O’clock. Austin I should be glad to hear from you all as often as you should feel disposed to write or send me some news paper I hope that you are all well and enjoy every good health. Austin in regard to them notes you must do just as it was your own and when the hopeful day come I should be glad to here the sucess you will have in collecting the money. Austin when you write give me the direction that is the place where to direct letters to R.B. Gallup. My compliments to all. Austin do not laught at the faults of this letter make stop or pauses where you please and spell to suit yourself and I shall find no fault. There is plenty chance for improvement so good by write soon. Charles Gordon to Austin L. Reynolds Address panel: Cedar Run Lycoming Co Pennsylvania care of Harist Envelope addressed to: Mr Austin L. Reynolds North Glans Falls Saratoga Co N.Y.
