On May 20, 1842, Robert Campbell wrote his business partner William Sublette, who was in Independence, MO. He focuses on business, stating that the debts Sublette collects are incredibly important to Sublette & Campbell – “I have been doing very little business since you left – still I have sold a few goods and generally get paid for them. . . . I will only repeat what I have already said that we cannot expect to get any money from any other quarter than where you now are and I hope you will not lose the opportunity of securing every dollar due us – money is now more important than it has even been on any former occasion to us and I hope you will use proportionate exertions – scarce as money is it will be easier collecting it now than in the fall.” Like today, the economy must have not been doing so well in 1842!
This letter was published by the Missouri Historical Society in “Glimpses of the Past: Correspondence of Robert Campbell 1834-1845”
Saint Louis May 20th 1842
Dear Sublette
I reed your letter written by mail from Independence post
marked 12th inst. giving me an account of your proceedings
in attachment of the property of Giddings & Gentry which I
think was remarkably well done – I hope it will enable us
to get our pay – I think you might have the Beaver ap-
praised and by consent of S. C. Owens & Co. have it sold –
if sent down we could realize a certain portion of our pay
sooner in that way.
I reed. yesterday $100 from Lewis Franklin through Crow,
Tevis & McCreery – N. E. Harrelson also paid his account
in full – this is all the money we have received.
I learn from Vasques that you had sent by Mr. McCarty
some specie but he has not arrived yet. I am most anxious
to pay the Merchants & Mechanic ‘s Bank.
I think Mr. Heylin will levy an attachment to secure what-
ever may be left after paying us out of the mules. – J. J.
Anderson transferred to him a note of Giddings & Gentry for
some $950.00 he will I think place the papers in the hands
of [Addison] Reese to take out the attachment.
I have been doing very little business since you left – still
I have sold a few goods and generally get paid for them. . . .
I will only repeat what I have already said that we cannot expect to get any money from any other quarter than where
you now are and I hope you will not lose the opportunity of
securing every dollar due us – money is now more important
than it has even been on any former occasion to us and I hope
you will use proportionate exertions – scarce as money is it
will be easier collecting it now than in the fall.
At the farm every thing goes on well. Mrs. Cook was in
two days ago. We have had a fine rain and crops look prom-
ising – the army worm has done some mischief but I under-
stand your farm has not suffered much.
Virginia and the Boy(footnote 21) are getting along finely – nothing
new.
Kingsland & Lightner made an assignment and it is ex-
pected that H. N. Davis will go with them – such is my own
impression – Swearinger [A. S. & Co.] is also broke up and
some others it is thought will follow.
Yours
Robert Campbell
Col. W. L. Sublette
Independence, Mo.
Footnote:
21 This was the James Alexander Campbell, born May 14, 1842, and
died June 18, 1849