Manuscript Letters (4) to a Mrs. Esther Kilborn Regarding the Disappearnace of Her Husband

Set of four manuscript letters from 1862 and 1863 to a Mrs. Esther Kilborn regarding the disappearance of her husband, whose last known whereabouts was the gold country of northern California. Letters generally legible with typical folds and wear. One letter missing corner with possible loss of a couple words. Without the original queries from Mrs. Kilborn we can only surmise the situation based on replies, but there is enough intrigue to make this a compelling set of letters. Apparently Mrs. Kilborn's husband ceased communications sometime in 1861--he was in northern California and his wife and children in the east. Letter (one) dated April 5, 1862 Cape Elizabeth, ME from a Mrs. Rachel York. York's son, William R. York was an associate of Mr. Kilborn. Rachel York had not heard from her son "since a year ago last May" and was hoping Mrs. Kilborn could shed light on her son's whereabouts. Last known location of the two men was Sweetland, Nevada County, California, a small mining town, now abandoned. Letter (two) dated April 13, 1862, North San Juan, CA from J. H. Vanemon to Mrs. Kilborn. Vanemon assures Mrs. Kilborn that her husband had indeed received the letters she sent to her husband and had also answered same letters. Vanemon goes on to report that Kilborn had sold his shop in December 1861 and moved to Marysville, CA and talked of going to the new mines in Oregon. One begins to suspect Mr. Kilborn does not want his wife to know where he is. Letter (three) is from J. C. Gardner, assistant Warden of the State of Oregon Penitentiary at Portland. Side note: J. C. Gardner goes on to become the Chief Warden of the Oregon Penitentiary and invents the "Gardner Shackle" or "Oregon Boot" in 1866. From Offbeat Oregon, "The Oregon Boot consisted of a heavy iron or lead band that locked around the prisoner's ankle. To this band was welded or bolted a heavy iron support strap that attached to the heel of a heavy shoe or boot. The whole contraption weighed up to 28 pounds, and it was attached to only one leg, with the result that the prisoner was perpetually off balance. By the turn of the century the Gardner Shackle was one of the most popular pieces of prison equipment nationwide, and everywhere it was called the "Oregon Boot." It certainly was used abusively in many places, and no doubt hundreds, if not thousands, of ex-cons limped for the rest of their lives as a result." In this letter Gardner only writes briefly about his position at the State Penitentiary, Gardner tells Mrs. Kilborn of meeting her husband in New York in 1858, and writes that he "loved him as a brother" and was a close confidant. Gardner then defends his friend "as for his running after other women or drinking much whiskey.I must have found it out. As for his having another wife in California.I don't believe one word of it." Clearly Mrs. Kilburn was suspicious of her husband's actions and lack of communication. Letter (four) date Portland Oregon, May 8, 1863 from Gardner to Mrs. Kilborn. This letter bemoans the state of the country due to the Civil War and Gardner is continuing his search for Phebe Kilborn. At some point Esther Kilborn asks Gardner to send her a miniature of himself. He declines but then spends the next page carefully describing himself. "Now Mrs. Kilborn you must not let anyone see this because it is very vain in me but I have told no lie." One could imagine that a pen pal relationship has begun between these two. With some research we found another letter (not included in this set) that was written from Gardner to Mrs. Kilborn in October 1865, offering his condolences after hearing of the death of her husband but also mentions that he will not give up hope if he hears anything of him. We only wish we had the more of this correspondence, as it has intrigued us greatly. …