Apr 13, 2023 - Sale 2633

Sale 2633 - Lot 174

Unsold
Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200
(WEST--NEBRASKA.) Squire Lamb. Letter describing a buffalo hunt in central Nebraska. Autograph Letter Signed to brother Hiram S. Lamb of Unadilla, NY. 3 pages, 9 1/4 x 7 inches, on one folding sheet; mailing folds, one small ink burn; no envelope or postal markings. With typed transcript. Grand Island, NE, 2 September 1860

Additional Details

The author Squire Lamb (1816-1890) was raised in Otsego County, NY, went to Madison, WI as a young man, and was a very early settler to central Nebraska in 1858, where he managed a stagecoach station. Here he describes bringing friends on a buffalo hunt:

"Hank left this morning with 2 teams for Fort Kearney with melons, plums, grapes for his last trip. Last week he was up & shot 5 buffalo. Some of my friends is here from Madison & never saw a buffalo. Last evening we went down on the bottom lands & took my dogs. I told them I show them a buffalo. They couldn't see eny. After setting on the bank of the bluff a spell watching, I sent the dogs in the bottoms. They started a big bull. I let them play with him so the boyes could see him & then I went down & put 4 shot in him before I could drop him."

He also discusses wagon train migration: "The Salt Lake, Calafornia & Orregon travel has passed for this season. The last 4 trains passed last week. I think some of them will have to stop in the mountains."