PROFESSOR THADDEUS LOWE
BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR
Library of Congress - Special Thanks to Steve and Patrice Demory
Consoling Letter from Percival to His Brother Thaddeus - November 2, 1860
Consoling Letter from Percival to His Brother Thaddeus - November 2, 1860
Denver City
Nov. 2./60.
Dear Bro,
Since my last I have finished another journey across the plains and am once more
housed in Denver City. For how long a time, I can't tell, but probably all
winter.
One train unloaded today and another will be in on the 4th & the last in about
ten days. How our business will flourish this winter is hard to tell, but at
present, times seem dull. I have very little time to write now, but will write
often,- you must do the same. I presume you will hardly see Europe in a Balloon
this Season. - Am sorry for your bad luck and hope you may yet succeed. I wrote
your wife on the road out but have recd no answer as of yet. - Hope to Soon - My
love to her and the little ones, My blessings on you all
Yours truly,
P.S. I made good use of the Roadmeter in the way sent & am pleased with it.
P.G. Lowe
Notes by Steve and Patrice Demory
These two letters were written to
Thaddeus Lowe by his brother Percival Green Lowe. One on September 30th from
Leavenworth, Kansas, and the next one from Denver City, and addressed to
Thaddeus' home at No.12 Rose Street in New York City, even though Thaddeus was
in Philadelphia at the time. The envelope of the September letter is also shown.
To put it in context, here is some of the background on the events discussed.
The letters are transcribed with all punctuation, abbreviations, spelling and
grammar as they appear. They were examined and photographed by Steve and Patrice
Demory in Nov. 2010, at the Manuscript Division or the Library of Congress in
Washington DC and is part of the "Lowe Papers" in the collection of the American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Both letters refer to the unsuccessful flight attempt, in Philadelphia, of
Thaddeus' renamed balloon "The Great Western". More can be read on this in the
book Military Ballooning by F. Stansbury Haydon, pages 157-162.
Percival discusses his business in Denver City, "Clayton, Lowe & Company" which
was a mercantile business selling supplies to miners and prospectors. Percival's
part in the business was the transportation of goods, purchased in the East, for
sale in Denver. As such, the "roadmeter" mentioned is an early odometer to
record miles traveled. Percival sold his interest in the company in December
1860 to start his own freighting enterprise. Details can be read in
Percival's book Five Years a Dragoon, pages 277-280.
KT in the address below stands for "Kansas Territory."
Also, the "roadmeter" mentioned is an early odometer to record miles traveled.