DIY History | Transcribe | Building the Transcontinental Railroad | John L. Coffin, land agent in Davenport, Iowa, correspondence with land speculator Thomas Clark Durant in New York, part 1, 1859-1868

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John L. Coffin, land agent in Davenport, Iowa, correspondence with land speculator Thomas Clark Durant in New York, part 1, 1859-1868

leo00066-38page1

Octo 31 1866
T.C. Durant Esq.
N.Y. Dear Sir,
Herewith please find enclosed B. N. [Woodward?]'s, [illegible], draft on Gilman, Land Co, N.Y. for $3,000--  [John?] M Gifford, [illegible]'s rec'd for $1,250. in 5_ 20  [H?] L. [Burds] entry @ 106 1/4_ $1,328 12/100, check by [illegible] as per agreement heretofor [sic] sent you, and [a/c?] [illegible] showing balance to your credit of $353 36/100, which [illegible] I return to be applied in payment of your [illegible] taxes for this year which became due 1r proximo.
I am receiving frequent enquiries and offers for you Iowa and Poweshiek County lands and think some sales can be made at $10. per acre, at which price I think you had better let them go and reinvest @ $2. to $2.50 in lands further West, which must increase in value in a much greater ratio.  Your lands are as per memo, on the other side.
Your truly
Jn L Coffin

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Octo 31 1866 T.C. Durant Esq. N.Y. Dear Sir, Herewith please find enclosed B. N. [Woodward?]'s, [illegible], draft on Gilman, Land Co, N.Y. for $3,000-- [John?] M Gifford, [illegible]'s rec'd for $1,250. in 5_ 20 [H?] L. [Burds] entry @ 106 1/4_ $1,328 12/100, check by [illegible] as per agreement heretofor [sic] sent you, and [a/c?] [illegible] showing balance to your credit of $353 36/100, which [illegible] I return to be applied in payment of your [illegible] taxes for this year which became due 1r proximo. I am receiving frequent enquiries and offers for you Iowa and Poweshiek County lands and think some sales can be made at $10. per acre, at which price I think you had better let them go and reinvest @ $2. to $2.50 in lands further West, which must increase in value in a much greater ratio. Your lands are as per memo, on the other side. Your truly Jn L Coffin