Edna M. Irvine to Charles W. Chesnutt, 2 December 1931 Edna M. Irvine Stephanie P. Browner Kenneth M. Price Transcription, encoding, and annotation Ballard, Chaun Anderson, Antje Weakly, Laura K. McMullen, Kevin Center for Digital Research in the Humanities, University of Nebraska-Lincoln The New School 2025 The Charles W. Chesnutt Archive
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 Edna M. Irvine to Charles W. Chesnutt, 2 December 1931 December 2, 1931 Transcription derived from scan of original. Western Reserve Historical Society Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers MS 3370 1 6 Correspondence Chestnut, William Albert typed letter signed Irvine, Edna M. Salt Lake City, Utah Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell) Cleveland, Ohio Kevin McMullen proofed Antje Anderson made further corrections Laura K. Weakly review Antje Anderson annotated, made further corrections Chaun Ballard transcribed, encoded Ans Dec 11/32
520 West 6th South Salt Lake, Utah
Dec. 2, 1931
Mr. Charles W. ChesnutChesnutt, 9719 Lamont Ave. Cleveland, Ohio,
Dear Sir:

The following story, because of its interest, took a prize in a little contest sponsored by a local paper.

In 1849, William Albert ChesnutChestnut, his wife Johanna and three children ranging in age from three to eight years, were on their way to the gold fields of California. Before crossing the mountains into Salt Lake valley, they were, that is the parents, murdered by their teamsters. The children were to have met the same fate but pleaded so hard that they were spared, and with threats as to what would happen if they told, they were headed down the mountain into Salt Lake valley.

They were eventually found by someone and were taken into some of the pioneer homes. The only information the eight year old girl could give as to their former home, was that it was by a big stream of water.

A daughter of this same girl has wished for years that she might learn something of the people of her grandparents but it seemed quite a hopeless task. As I am something of a genealogist she has asked me to see if I can possibly find any information. She is quite ill now and may not long survive and if I could get some news that would make her happy now that she is s downcast, it would give me much pleasure.

I have taken some ChesnutChesnutt names from the Cleveland directory and am writing to learn if it is possible that you may have heard of a family that disappeared and was nevermore heard from, such as I have described. Surely there must have been relatives who often wondered what became of these people. This lady is of the impression that they might have lived near the MissippiMississippi river. Of course that is only conjecture. A much smaller stream would look large to a child.

I can't promise any financial returns but if you can in any degree clear up this problem I assure you you will make this little woman most happy. She is posessed of little property and has few relatives, but if she has a long illness she may use all she has.

I shall look forward to an early reply.

Respectfully, (Mrs) E. M. Irvine (Mrs.) E. M. Irvine