Family History: Letter from Joseph Woollens to Mr. George Hollingsworth, Esq. 
(1861): Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Terry Mossop.

******************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-
commercial  individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as 
all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, 
including copying files to other sites requires permission from 
the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage 
links to the state and county table of contents.  

http://www.usgwarchives.net/
******************************************************************

Address:  J. Woollens
January 14, 1861

            Refratista

           Queretaro, via Verra Cruz, Mexico

Mr. George Hollingsworth, Esq.
Dear Brother,
As I have just received a letter from our sister Mrs. Margaret Wherry and
having sent me your address I will embrace the opportunity of stage going to
City of Mexico tomorrow to dispatch you a few lines in answer to hers of
which you will please advise her of the receipt.  I was much pleased to hear
that you were all alive and producing.  I have rather prolonged my visit to
Mexico on account of this infernal Civil Wars here having rather broke in on
my calculations the northern part of the country was not so much affected by
the war but here in the center it is totally used up - cut up and starved
out - The silver mines have the only recourse am rich but have been very
little worked for the last three years - are now just getting under way
again as the revolution appears to be about wound up for the present.  The
reactionary or church party being entirely licked out and resources used up
consequently there is a prospect just now of things brightening up in a few
months.  The Liberals having every thing their own way but this is Evasic
Knowing how soon a new faction may spring up with another "pronuncian" with
some grand original Ideas of reform and patriotic Leaders - its very certain
that these Mexicans having got so used to fighting and killing one another
that they cannot long remain quiet if they can under any pretense _____ up a
row again.  And I strongly suspect the country can never  be of any account
while it is under Mexican rule and it's the more the pity - for a beautiful
country it is - now here in the middle of winter just fresh enough in the
mornings and evening to make it pleasant and healthy, while in the middle of
the day it is desirable to seek the shady side of the street.  There is no
fires used here even in the richest families except in the kitchen for
cooking.  No fireplaces in houses and a stove would be enough of a curiosity
here to pay to exhibit it in the street with a description of what they are
for in the north and the summers are not so warm either as they are in
Pennsylvania.  I will venture to say the thermometer here in the shade will
not vary more than twenty degrees in the year - from 60 to 80 and equally
healthy here with the Northern part of the United States if not more so.  I
have never been sick a day since I have been in Mexico and have got my usual
color and flesh.  Indeed I like the country much but not the people they are
only half civilized at best and as I get further into the interior the
difference is more obvious.  I notice the contrast greater between these
people and North Americans and furthermore in the interior more bigoted more
fanatic and hypocritical in their character than those on the borders who
have more contact and intercourse with foreigners.  If true Americans had
possession of this country with a free religion or any profession of faith
that had any connection with morality I could be induced to adopt it and
make it my future home but as it is - impossible and be contented no honest
free thinking American can stay in this country and enjoy it.  There is but
one inducement there is more money to be made here in any kind of business
if you could only keep these savages from fighting with one another a little
while until we could gather the dollars and then leave, that is the only
chance.  There is no hope for their salvation certain.  I struck the country
in the most unfavorable time for the last three years has been (as is
acknowledged) the hardest fighting ever known in the country.  I have also
had little of the usual luck of the country have been robbed a couple of
times but not so bad but that it might have been a great deal worse
altogether about two hundred dollars missing.  The first theft was by an
infernal big fat Negro of San Luis Potosi an runaway slave from Texas one of
the objects of commiseration of you Northern Philanthropist and one of the
dam-st rascals that ever got loose.  I hired him when I left San Luis as
cook on the road and was a good cook.  I paid him some twenty dollars in
advance but had traveled with me much over a hundred miles when one evening
he left owing me 15$ - and stole my pistol a fine Colt six shooter valued
here 10$ - So I called that robbery 50$ and let him slide having a whole
night traveling the start of me and not knowing for certain what road he
took it would not pay to bother with him.  The place I was in at the time
was _____ and soon being eaten out by the soldiers I then have hired a
Mexican Servant and left for this place = Guanahuato.   This fellow was a
good cook and wasn't so infernal lazy as the nigger but soon found from his
sneaking movement as that I couldn't trust him out of my sight.  One thing I
always took the precaution not to keep much money in the trunk that a robber
would not actually suppose was my money trunk.  My Mexican servant had been
with me about 3 months and a brother of his living in this place a sheefashi
looking half Indian was frequently in the kitchen with him and I noticed
often in a rather sly undertoned conversation which I didn't much like but
was not afraid of in an American can lick a half dozen of such face to
face - but to mind they did not take you behind your back.  Their only
weapon - that they know how to use is a dagger and that only assesses in the
dark.  An American is good for a dozen of them in a fair fight with a couple
of six shooters if he knows how to use them.  But to make a long story short
they one day while I was in another room making a likeness for a customer
slipped into my chemical room where I also keep my cases, clothes, etc = and
stole about a dozen of my finest cases, two gold lockets, 3 gold breast
pins, and finger ring all for likenesses - and I think at the same time
opened my trunk with a false key, took out $40 which was put in in a hurry
the day before being the payment of one customer even at not taking time at
the moment to stow it away with the money.  Although the trunk was locked -
but on searching my servant found a false key on him with only four dollars
of the money - but as I did not miss these things, for two days after they
had in the mean time sold the things for probably little or nothing and
spent the proceeds in fact the first knowledge I had of the robbing a
customer brought into my room an empty case saying he wished me to make his
likeness and put it in this case which I recognized was mine as soon as I
saw it - asked him where he got it - said he bought it - gave $3 for it of
some man in the street.  I called my servant from the kitchen asking the man
if that looked like the fellow and said directly that was the man.  He my
servant first denied it but as the customer a big feller was about to pitch
in to him - in about a minute owned up and his brother coming in just in the
nick of time I stepped to the door and calling _____ guards that was at hand
had both the gentlemen taken prisoners immediately on searching my servant
and finding the key - instantly suspected and trying it on my trunk and
opened it just as easy my own key and at the same time discovered the 40 was
missing (also the cases above noted), marched the worthys both to prison
have been there about 3 weeks.  I have since proved theft on the brother
also - so they are safe for the present.  What the authorities may do with
them I don't know or care.  So they keep them out of my sight.  Probably I
may see them some day with chains to their legs working cleaning the streets
as I frequently do prisoners - with a few guards sitting around with muskets
in hand as for recovering much of my money it's a dull share being spent or
gambled away 2 prisoners will few hours after they get a hold of it -
including the money - V cases = what I could have got for them with
likenesses $150.  But better luck next time and a little more case have now
got a spring hasp over my key hole which I think will surpass a Mexican's
ingenuity to remove of course its bought out but the article is too high.
But it is next to impossible to keep everything constantly under lock and
key in this business when customers wish to examine every day - and they
have got to be watched also.  I have now got a green boy of 16 - who (as I
have threatened to shoot the first person that sets foot in my chemical
room) trembles when he looks in that direction.  Yet I will match the chap
sharp.  My expenses here are high - and business not first rate.  Town is
soon being the center of fighting for the past two years population about
50,000 houses scarce and rent high I could not get one unless I paid $132 in
advance for 6 months (which I did).  There is an opposition concern here at
present.  Who can make an impression on a piece of glass but not a likeness
but the one half here don't know the difference he makes them for fifty
cents of coins of course hurts the business very much I could get as much as
I could do at home that price without encountering half the expenses and
disagreeables of this godforsaken country.  I will leave for Queretaro in
about a month on the road from here to City of Mexico distance about a
hundred miles.  Queretaro I am told has no operation at present in my line
and rents are much lower meats cheap situated in a fine rich level country
while here its all mountains no room for houses hence high rents.  I will
soon be in City of Mexico and when there only a few days to Vera Cruz once
on seabound and it next door to home on Stesmien must ry and get home next
summer as it is not bright to be so long away from my old Father & mMother
while they are living.  I hope they are well and all the rest - give my love
to Lois & little Georgianne - Irsinet is nearly a woman.  I received a
letter from Ralph E. Allegheny Mountains last summer saying you was engaged
in getting up a new fine engine.  How did she squirt?  What has become of
Josh Eddowes?  He and Al was in Cuba a year ago would like to know what he
done with that Savannah Stemer tug or pilot boat of his.  Have never heard
much of Jeff Kendrick and indeed of anybody - Wrote some time ago - to Mr.
Sehleums case maker and also to Frank who came with me as far as Texas (and
backed out) but get no answers from anyone scarcely (if you see any of them
tell them where I am) whether the half of my letters are received or not is
the question would like to know how and what everybody's doing - and who's
helping them - where your brother Billy (is he) still at the Capital - hope
he's prospering I will in the future St and a better chance of getting
letters but must be sent by the way of Vera Cruz.  Please answer this
immediately and inform me how all the brotherhood-fraternity of
photographers is getting along whether there has been any improvement of not
lately in the art.  I can make them new uranium paper pictures of various
colors but cannot get the chemical here.  Please address your letters to
Queretaro as I will be there before it.  Write to Chester Co. tell them I am
still "encima la Tierra" = above ground, and give my respects to all.
Jaspsavllius Retrabista those interested in my welfare.  From   Joseph