Hurley Family Emigrant Letters (Ref. U170)

From the collections of Cork City and County Archives Service.

Cork City & County Archives Descriptive List

Identity Statement

IE CCCA/U170

Reference Code:

Hurley Family Emigrant Letters

Title:

1871 - 1939

Dates:

Fonds / Item

Level of Description:

141 items

Extent:

Context Creator(s) Hurley Family, Michael and Denis. Archival History/Source of Acquisition The Hurley Family Emigrant Letters, reference U170, were donated to Cork City and Brothers Denis Hurley and Michael Hurley were from a farming family at Tawnies, near Clonakilty, County Cork. They emigrated to Nevada in the United States in 1873 and c.1871 respectively (U611/1 and /2). Michael Hurley (1845-1926) worked initially in Gold Hill, Nevada as repair foreman for the Virginia and Truckee Railway and later in a similar capacity at a railway near Lake Tahoe (U170/1). In 1881 he moved to Oregon to work on the railways there. He spent some years working in the railway at Spokane Falls, Washington State, before moving to San Francisco, California where he spent the rest of his life (U611/14, /28). Michael appears to have invested heavily in mining stocks that did not pay much dividend (U170/ 83, /88). County Archives in 1974 . Biographical History

Denis Hurley (1849-1938) became one of the most prominent citizens of Carson City, Nevada. Following his arrival in Nevada, he worked with the Virginia and Truckee Railway for many years before obtaining employment as a prison guard at the State prison in c.1912 (U611/63). In c.1887, he married his wife, Maggie, also an emigrant from Ireland, in Carson City. His wife died of Typhoid in 1910 (U611/59). Active in politics, in c.1913, after a number of attempts, Denis was elected as a Commissioner of Carson City (U170/58). In 1925 he was elected as Chairman (Mayor) of Carson City Council (U611/89). Denis made several investments in stocks and shares, and was at one stage a director and stockholder of the Nye and Ormsby Bank (U611/44). In his final years he worked as Baliff of the U.S. District Court for Nevada. A man of great religious commitment, he was active in the Catholic Church and became a 4 th degree Knight of Columbus in 1923 (U611/82). Evidently highly literate and well-read, Denis in his letters makes many observations on events local, national and international.

Content and Structure

Scope and Content The major part of the present collection comprises of 122 letters home to Ireland from Michael and Denis Hurley in the United States over a period of 77 years from 1871 to 1938. The majority (117) of the letters are written by Denis Hurley, although Denis does regularly pass on news of his brother Michael. The earlier letters are mainly addressed to their parents at Tawnies, Clonakilty, and later on to their brothers and sisters, and finally to their nieces in Clonakilty and Timoleague, County Cork. The letters have been arranged chronologically. The letters reveal much about emigrant life in the United States, in particular the experiences of those who migrated to the Western states, usually after arriving on the East coast (U170/2). At the time, these states had a very large number of emigrants from all around the world, many of whom worked in the mining industry and the railroads (U170/1, /3). Although often optimistic about living conditions, the letters reveal the hardships facing emigrants (U170/45, /52, /92). Despite these hardships, neither Denis nor Michael seem to have considered returning permanently to Ireland, ‘…to struggle on an Irish Farm…’ (U170/49). The letters make frequent observations on poor living conditions in Ireland, such as the cost of land, high rents and low prices for crops ‘…living in misery trying to raise rent to pay the tyrant Lords.’(U170/13) (see also /14, /15, /20); although some later observations about Ireland are more optimistic (U170/62, /90). The brothers maintained strong contacts with Ireland through their correspondence and through newspapers sent from home (U170/4), and they kept an interest in Irish affairs, and often wrote of their support of the Home Rule movement (U170/21, /61, /62, /67). Later on, Denis supported the Irish Republic for which he subscribed funds and spoke at meetings (U170/75, /82). Denis’ concern for Ireland during the Irish War of Independence and the Civil War is apparent from some of his letters from that time

(U170/73, /74, /79-/85), including a mention of the death of Michael Collins in 1922 (U170/79). Many letters also mention major events in the United States and Europe, such as; the economic recession of the 1890’s (U170/22-/24), the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, which Michael Hurley survived (U170/54, /55), the First World War (U170/68-/71), the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920’s (U170/73, /74), the Spanish Civil War (U170/119) and various U.S. elections (U170/11, /20, /31 /43, /52. /72, /93). The effects of the Great Depression of the 1930’s feature in much of the later correspondence, and Denis’ observations illustrate the depth of the problems faced by the United States during this period (U170/101 - /106, /108- /118). Although Denis at this time was fortunate to be in secure employment, his hopes were dashed of visiting Ireland for the Dublin Eucharistic Congress in 1932, partly because the value of his banking stocks were reduced during the depression (U170/106, /112). In the event, neither brother ever returned to Ireland. The remainder of the collection includes a few documents related to the estate of Denis Hurley following his death in March 1938 (Section B of the arrangement), an 1885 financial statement of affairs for Thomas Hurley, general merchant, Clonakilty (U170/130), and a letter from John Hurley to Clonakilty Union in 1897 concerning the valuation of his property (U170/131). Also found are 2 items related to the death of Mrs Mary Hurley, mother of Denis and Michael, including a list of expenses incurred at her wake and funeral (U170/133). The collection also contains 2 letters from a Marie Collins in Connecticut, United States to the Hurleys in Clonakilty. The final sections of the collection contain portrait photographs of Denis Hurley, and newspaper clippings, one of which is a public notice by Denis announcing his standing for election as a Commissioner of Carson City (U611/141). The present collection is a valuable source for the history of Irish emigration to the United States in the late 19 th century and the early 20 th century, in particular documenting the experience of those who continued their migration westwards rather than remaining in the more traditional Irish urban centres such as Boston, New York and Chicago. The collection documents the response of Irish emigrants to the daily struggle to make a living in a new country and their coping with being away from friends and family with little likelihood of ever seeing them again. It also documents the Irish/Irish emigrant response to some of the political, social, military and economic events in the United States, Ireland and Europe, during the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries.

System of Arrangement

Collection is made up of 8 sections. A: Letters from Denis Hurley and Michael Hurley from the United States (1871-1928) B: Estate and Death of Denis Hurley (1934-1939) C: Thomas Hurley (1885) D: John Hurley, Tawnies (1897) E: Mrs Mary Hurley, Funeral (1899-1900)

F: Letters from Mary Collins (1899-1900) G: Photographs (1890-1930) H: Newspaper cuttings (1899-1910) Conditions of Access and Use

Access: Open for research by appointment to those holding a readers ticket. Language: English Finding Aids: Descriptive List Publication Note/ References

Census records from the Nevada State Preservation Office Carson City Chronicle Newspaper 4 March 1938 Carson City Daily Appeal 4 March 1938 Rules/Conventions

ISAD(G)

Archivists Note / Date of Description

Brian McGee Archivist, Cork City & County Archives August 2010

Contents A: Letters from Denis Hurley and Michael Hurley from the United States, 122 items (1871-1928)......................................................................................................................... 5 B: Estate and Death of Denis Hurley, 7 items (1934-1939).............................................41 C: Thomas Hurley, 1 item (1885).....................................................................................42 D: John Hurley, Tawnies, 2 items (1897).........................................................................42 E: Mrs Mary Hurley, Funeral, 2 items (1899-1900).........................................................43 F: Letters from Mary Collins, 2 items (1899-1900).........................................................43 G: Photographs, 2 items (1890-1930)...............................................................................43 H: Newspaper cuttings, 3 items (1899-1910)...................................................................44

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List of Items

A: Letters from Denis Hurley and Michael Hurley from the United States, 122 items (1871-1928) 26 August 1871 Letter from Michael Hurley, Cedar Pass, Carlin, Elko County, Nevada, U.S.A., to 'Dear Parents', Tawnies, Clonakilty, County Cork. He is still in the same employment [with the railway], mentions the lack of newspapers, compared to the ‘five newspapers daily’ in Truckee ‘three english papers, one French and German’. He received news that Truckee was burned down a few days after he left. He does not work on Sundays, but ‘there is no talk about the holidays. I did not hear any one talking about holidays since I came to america…’ except from a French Priest that he met in Truckee who spoke of St.Patrick’s Day. He does not think the ‘movement in Ireland’ (Home Rule) will ‘have much effect to have a parliament in dublin’. Mentions 'Burke and Luby' coming to the Pacific Coast and San Francisco, which ‘was so thronged to see them that some women fainted and were nearly trampled to death…They may thank russia for being liberated. The English thought they would be at war With Russia that time and they wanted to get in good friends with the Irish'. Speaks of the arid climate in Nevada, and the number of Chinese and other emigrants. He can speak some chinese and some of every European language except Russian and Turkish. 4pp 21 April 1873 Letter from Denis Hurley, 688 2nd Avenue, New York, USA, to 'Dear Parents', Tawnies, Clonakilty County Cork. He arrived from Boston by train and boat and is due to 'train it away to the West' . His health has improved. He visited the zoological gardens at the Grand Central Park. Notes that there is no great demand for labour in New York, work men getting 2 dollars a day, servants 12 to 15 dollars monthly. Mentions a number of people from Ireland that he has met, including one who survived the sinking of an Atlantic steamer, 'I suppose when you heard of her loss it caused you to feel more uneasy on my account'. 4pp 25 May 1873 Letter from Denis Hurley, Ormsby County, Carson, Nevada, USA, to 'Dear Coz', his cousin Mr. Denis Ryan, Clonakilty. He and Michael are in good health. Describes the shoemaking trade there, 'This climate is fatal to the longevity of shoes, on account of its

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extreme drought. Before a months wear the soles and uppers of store boots apply for a divorce...Why not, in a country in which the marriage tie between man and woman is so easily severed...'. He is at work assisting to keep the railway track in order. Nevada would be a 'fertile and luxuriant state, was there sufficient moisture'. Describes 'nice comfortable cottages on the outskirts of the town', and a 'nice Catholic Church, attended by a very eloquent Irish Priest...The appearance of the congregation is very respectable on account of the rich clothes...'. He notes those from every nation under heaven may be found in Carson, from 'The long-tailed sombre looking Chinaman, to 'the black haired red skinned Indian', and including Mexican, German, French, Swedes, Swiss, Italians, Spanish and Portuguese. 6pp 24 June 1873 Letter from Denis Hurley, Ormsby County, Carson, Nevada, USA, to 'Dear Parents agus muintir go leor', Clonakilty, County Cork. He received their letter and 4 papers and had great pleasure to hear that all at home were in good health, 'When I got the first papers and saw the address thoughts of home burst upon me and "my spirit filled up and my longing eye filled" '. He is obliged to his 'pious, eloquent and learned friend' Jeremiah Holland for his 'solicitude on my behalf'. Sends regards to various friends at home. He hopes '...this will be a better year with the people of poor Ireland than the last' and advises that 'Those of them to come to this land must not be chicken hearted...[and] make up their minds to suffer the hardships at times...', and not to spend their money on drink. 6pp 3 October [1873] Letter from Denis Hurley, [Carson, Nevada, USA], to [parents], Clonakilty. Describes meeting an acquaintance from home, who is paid 3 dollars a day. Describes the food in America as requested by some of his neighbours in Ireland. Gives details of the boarding 'house where Michael stops' kept by two Irish men named Roche, and mentions Chinese and 'Red Indians'. His brother Michael 'thinks he will easily get me into his own work, which is not too hard.' 4pp 16 March 1874 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City Nevada, to 'Dear Parents', Clonakilty, on 'La Feile Naoim Padraig' (St Patrick's Day). Regrets death of neighbour D. Ryan and J. Coghlan. Comments on the custom of giving a dowry with a girl getting married and the divorce situation in the States, 'the marriage tie is not to them a knot which they cannot open with

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their teeth...'. He supposes father was 'disapointed not being called on to exercise the franchise at the late election', and A.H.S. Barry 'was left in the cold...'. 4pp

21 July 1875 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson, Nevada, to ‘Dear Parents’, Clonakilty. He regrets the death of a Mrs Hurley and sends regards to the Templebrien friends. Mentions the ‘…tolerably cool nights’ and ‘…too much dust’. He and Michael do not waste their money on whiskey, ‘It is a cause of a great deal of misery more so here than in the old country owing to the greater opportunities working men have to indulge their brutish appetite’, especially on the ‘inferior kind’ of alcohol, which is ‘…the devils own stuff.’ 3pp 6 January 1876 Letter from Denis and Michael Hurley, Carson, Nevada to ‘Dear Parents’, Clonakilty. They are well and have ‘…every reason to be thankful to Providence for its favours towards us. We have good health & steady work which is not very laborious’. The stocks they have bought are rising and the market improving. They are thankful for the papers sent from home, although ‘never a great admirer of the Cork Constitution i.e. the conservative position’. Mentions that the railroad has replaced the stage coaches between Reno and Virginia. 4pp 20 May 1877 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson, Nevada, to ‘Dear Parents’, Clonakilty. He and Michael request a loan of £100 (500 Dollars) in order to buy stocks, ‘…if we are as successful as we expect we will return your money at least two-fold.’ They are ‘…neither drinking nor howdying nor squandering..’, but ‘Big men have made work scarce and money tight in order to be masters of everything’. 6pp 21 August 1877 Letter, from Denis Hurley, Carson, Nevada, to ‘Dear Parents’. He has managed to cash the £100 draft from his parents. Describes the state of the stocks in mining, and how some of the mines are controlled by Irishmen.

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4pp

11 December 1877 Letter from Michael Hurley, Carson, Nevada to ‘Dear Parents’. He thanks his parents for sending out the money, ‘We will never forget your kindness in sending it and…we will sell stocks at a big profit and send back that amount or double’. Times are ‘purty hard in this country at present…owing to Republican misrule’. He voted in the last Presidential election and has lived at Lake Tahoe during the summer. Wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. 4pp 22 August 1879 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson, Nevada to ‘Dear Parents’. Apologises for the delay in writing. Encloses money towards the new Church, the Vincent De Paul Society, and to family members. He made a trip to Lake Tahoe and California and stayed with his brother Michael. 4pp 5 December 1886 Letter from Michael Hurley, Kennet Post Office, Shasta County, Middlecreek, California to ‘Dear Sister Kate’. He would have written before but he has not had a permanent residence. He is sorry times are so bad in Ireland. Describes the climate in California. ‘You were advising me to come home a few years ago. If I did I might be like Patrick and Tim Hurley now, living in misery trying to raise the rent to pay the tyrant Lords. I hope the time will soon come they cant collect no more rents’. (Reference to landlords). 2pp 13 January 1891 Letter from Michael Hurley, Spokane Falls, Washington State, to ‘Dear Mother’, Clonakilty, County Cork. Written on notepaper of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company. He is astonished that his family paid £750 for a tenant farm, but he does not wish to return to run it ‘…after all I have lost…I don’t want to give it all for that place’. Refers to the Parnell and Mrs O’Shea affair in Ireland and he is ‘afraid it will delay home rule for a while…Ireland never was in the point of gaining anything but something happened to prevent it’. Notes that the ‘wilds of America are becoming builded rapidly’. 1pp

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25 January 1891 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘Dear Mother’. He received her last ‘welcome letter’. He received a letter from Michael, who is in charge of the tracks in the yard of the railway at Spokane Falls. Michael wrote about Parnell and Irish affairs and also strongly disapproved of the family at home paying ‘so much money for a tenant’s interest’. Mentions his spouse receiving a letter from home. 2pp 15 September 1891 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘My Dear Mother’. He has received three letters from different members of the family. Michael is still in Spokane Falls, Washington. He is glad to know his nephews are going to school, where Mr. Madden is a ‘good educator’. Notes that Mr. Deasy is fortunate in getting a reduction in rent, and mentions the sickness of Tim. Encloses a paper which records that he was one of a party who dined with the Bishop. 2pp 5 December 1891 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘Dear Mother’. Christmas is coming and he encloses a little money. He hopes his brother John and wife are kind to her. There was a church mission by one of the Vincentian Fathers, as in Clonakilty in 1868, but ‘what a contrast…between the spirit of the people of both places…There is not much faith here, but drinking, gambling, immoralities and dissipation.’ He attends Mass at 5 o clock every morning after work. 2pp 18 February 1892 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘My dear Mother’. He sends congratulations on the birth of his brother’s first born and hopes that in years to come he will be able to correspond with his uncles in America. He had feared his mother would be one of the sick of West Cork as reported in the Eagle (Skibbereen Eagle newspaper). He has been pretty fortunate with his health, unlike his wife. He is in contact with Michael, who ‘…would very likely write home oftener but he knows you hear through me’. Enquires whether Tim has any help [on the farm], ‘I hope he is not entirely alone like Robinson Crusoe’. Mentions Anglins and Palmers farms at home and notes ‘Our cousins are becoming large landed proprietors. They have a knack for money making which I do not possess’. 2pp

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16 October 1892 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘Dear Sister’. He received the photograph in the post and his wife will be sending on two. He is sorry that so many of Kate’s children die ‘…but it is a great consolation…that they live long enough to receive the cleansing waters of Baptism.’ He believes Tim to be foolish to postpone marriage so long, and ‘as dairy farming is the most profitable he should get a…wife that would make first-class butter’. 2pp 7 December 1892 Letter from Michael Hurley, Union Depot, Spokane Falls, Washington, to ‘Dear Mother’. He is in good health and in the same occupation. Requests a picture of John and wife. He is ‘well pleased’ with the election results in the USA and England, but does not see how land is so expensive in Ireland with the price of crops so low. Encloses £5 ‘hoping you will live to enjoy it’. 1p 14 September 1893 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘Dear Mother’. He is surprised Tim cannot get her a helper, and refers to the fact that Tim is still unmarried, ‘He is better [to] make a trade with me, as I have secured a life partner, he to come here and take my place & I go home and manage the farm’. He has not recently heard from his brother Michael, who travelled 1700 miles last summer. His pay is still $3.50, but he is one of only ‘a handfull of men employed around here now’. Notes that the Home Rule Bill for Ireland ‘received but short favor from the Lords’ (House of Lords). 2pp 12 March 1894 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘Dear Mother’. He hopes to hear that his nephew Tidy (Thady) is again well. Notes that the Donovan brothers are ‘living to a good old age’. He has not heard from Michael recently. Times are ‘very bad’ in the United States, ‘everything low with a great scarcity of money and work’, in particular the price of silver is very low. He is still at work but ‘retaining it [is] very insecure’. Provides advice to brother Tim on choosing a wife, ‘Some girls are better for a man to marry , even without a shilling than others with a good fortune…do not postpone…as you are not getting young.’ 2pp

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15 October 1894 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to ‘My Dear Mother’. Writes that Michael ‘was in the “No Rent Manifesto” or sympathetic Pullman Strike movement’ and lost his job. Michael has enough means to ‘enable him to take the world easy as long as he wants to’. Business affairs are ‘much depressed and unsettled in this country. Some people think the times are owing to the Tariff, others to hostile silver legislation…’. He hopes the crops are pretty good, and mentions the lack of rain in Nevada, ‘Good weather to dry turf’. 2pp 1 April 1895 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to his brother Tim. He congratulates Tim on his recent marriage to a Miss Scannell, ‘Twenty Two years separation does not make me forget old times and scenes’. Asks questions concerning the wedding. He remembers two boys named Scannell when he was one of the sub-governors of the Clonakilty school. He believes that prices will be better for farm products in the future, making circumstances at home more comfortable, but ‘present times are very hard on the majority of people throughout the world. There is a great deal of destitution and lawlessness in this country’. 2pp 6 September 1895 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘My Dear Mother’. He received a letter from Michael, who is well and has sufficient means to support his wants indefinitely, ‘But congenial employment is hard to get in the past few years, so he is waiting for better times’. Notes that you can ‘see, hear and enjoy life much better in San Francisco than here, if you have means’. Mentions the death of Bishop Manogue, who died at Sacramento of dropsy. He is proud of County Cork ‘in keeping out Redmondites, Unionists, and Tories’. 2pp 7 November 1895 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘My Dear Tim & sister’. He is glad to know that they are well and busy. He suggests putting the potatoes in drills in order to save labour, as is done in America. Advises them not to live exclusively on potatoes and to work in moderation, and hopes ‘you had the tubers in before the weather got very cold so as to save your pretty little wife’s fingers’. Mentions Father Kiely of Reno who is visiting Ireland. He hopes they will provide him with hospitality.

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2pp

26a

[November 1895] Fragment of letter from Denis Hurley, to his brother and sister. Concerns visit to Ireland of Father Kiely. Asks them to ‘regard him as an old friend’, and to introduce him to local clergy. ‘He is not there as a beggar but as a worthy Irish American priest who is a credit to Old Ireland’. 2pp 2 December 1895 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘My Dear Mother’. He received the lock of hair, and he is ‘old enough now to be getting pretty grey like so many who are much younger get in this country’. Advises her not to overtax herself by walking to church on Barrack Hill, and ‘Michael says that young women in San Francisco would be panting and out of breath with far less exertion…’. Suggests having a ‘little jug of good whiskey’ and to take ‘a good joram when you feel cold or feeble and then you can recite your rosary more briskly…’. He is glad her daughter in law is so kind, ‘May the Lord reward her…’. Hopes she will have the pleasure of seeing Father Kiely who is visiting Ireland. 2pp 28 January [1896] Letter from Michael Hurley, 1234 Mission Street, San Francisco, to ‘Dear Mother’. He would have written more often, but was not sure where he would be for the reply. Thinks that ‘you all made a mistake in giving so much for Ahamilla People in Ireland are too anxious for land its no wonder landlords would be expecting big rent…land will never again be as valuable as it used to be…the value of land has come down very much in this country the last seven or eight years…Money getting dearer and land getting cheaper…’. He has seen in the papers the large funeral for the late bishop. About two and a half years ago he would have gone back home, but he ‘had some money where I could not get it then so I had to stay and look after it’. He ‘got and attack of sickness… for the first time…two months ago…it lasted only six days…’. 4pp 9 March 1896 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘My Dear Mother’. He congratulates is brother Tim and wife on the birth of their child. Father Kiely’s health has not much improved on his visit to Ireland, and he has been unable to visit Clonakilty due to the

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rain, ‘Persons who have lived in a dry country like this for several years do not take kindly to the rain…’. Irish farmers ‘may think time hard and dull.. but they are much better off than many out here who can scarcely dispose of their products at all. Distance lends enchantment to the view’. Michael is still unemployed, but is more content and ‘has a better chance now to cultivate his mind…and a better opportunity to attend to his spiritual affairs…’. 2pp 3 July 1896 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘My Dear Mother’. Father Kiely visited at length. Father Kiely noticed ‘a lack of trees, the tide out and a long dusty road to Ring…’, he praised the parish priest and noted the new church is a ‘fine building’. He is sorry to hear the crops are suffering for want of rain. ‘We are making a great effort in the cause of silver. If the movement is successful you are apt to get better prices for farm products next year. The fewer who leave Ireland for this country…the better all round. Many a man cannot find work enough to get grub…’. 2pp 1 December 1896 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘Dear Mother’. He has postponed writing in order to remit his usual Christmas gift. Mentions Michael recovering from an illness. He had a ‘long conversation’ with Father Kiely who ‘says you are lively enough to live several years yet’. Notes his cousins ‘big luck with Anglin. He was a good Protestant. I hope the Lord will reward him…’. Mentions ‘Our Election did not go as we of the West would like, Dullness depression, depreciation and cutting down is the order of the day.’ 2pp 11 February 1897 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to his brother Tim. He advises him not to ‘work too hard or worry needlessly…Be hopeful of the future…and trust in God for everything’. America is ‘still in a very unsatisfactory condition’ and ‘getting worse’. He is still at work but the company is doing less business. Recalls his being a ‘great caretaker’ to their sister Kate and ‘the little one who went to the angels’. Mentions a forthcoming prize fight in Carson. 2pp

18 June 1897

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Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘Dear Mother’. Mentions sister Kate keeping ‘up the sulks... she should be ashamed of herself for her stubborn and unsociable conduct.’ He is glad the church tower is ascending. Father Kiely was transferred from Reno to Ferndale, Humbolt County. 2pp 3 December 1897 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to ‘My Dear Mother’. He received a letter from Michael who may come to Carson for Christmas. Sympathises on the ‘excessive rains this season’, but notes ‘It is singular how wedded the Irish people are to the potato…’. Father Kiely thinks it would be better if Ireland had never seen the potato. He has had several friends in America who failed on farms or stores, and the labour market is overstocked. Encloses his usual remittance and some for his mother-in-law. 2pp 21 June 1898 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘My Dear Mother’. His brother Michael is well ‘as usual, but is not increasing his fortune any’. Times are very dull in Nevada due to ‘mining being at bedrock’, and water is scarcer than usual. Denis is still ‘steadily employed’ and ‘making some hay while the sun shines’. Mentions ‘Our war’ that ‘is causing many of our men to go to the front’ and was brought on by ‘knaves’ and will be fought by ‘fools’ (possibly a reference to Spanish-American War of 1898). He is glad Tim, his brother is doing well. 2pp 29 September 1898 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘My Dear Mother’. He spent a week with his brother Michael in San Francisco, which he enjoyed very much. There were many grand churches there with large and devout congregations. He ‘felt good to see the blue ocean, after 25 years in the interior’. A doctor advised him to take cod liver oil, which was ‘about the last piece of advice I got from my mother’. 2pp 9 December 1898 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘My Dear Mother’. Glad to know John and wife are so kind to her. Expresses ‘profound sorrow’ at the death of [cousin] Patrick. Encloses the ‘usual Christmas money’. He is still employed, even though it is

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hard to get employment at the moment. He had ‘hopes one time to have an independent fortune and to dazzle the natives. But thank God that we are so well’. 2pp

24 February 1899 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘My Dear Mother’. Sorry to hear she is so weak, but hopes she will be stronger and ‘will see the new century and more’. Her sickness was a dampener on Christmas, ‘But death is as natural as going to sleep, and a few years of time is a small amount compared with eternity’. Sends regards to family members. Sister Kate’s ‘…wrongs are too deep…to be condoned.’ Received a letter from Michael, who is sending on a few pictures of the family. Suggests that his mother ‘…drink a little stout and have some light nutritious food…’. 2pp 3 May 1899 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘My Dear Mother’. Sorry to hear she is confined to bed, and hopes ‘that with the advent of fine weather you would…be around frisking with the little ones and picking daisies (noneens)’. Mentions the death of uncle Bill and Jack Bushell. Glad to hear ‘the olive branch has been extended from sister Kate to brother Tim’. He had a letter from Michael, who is well. Hopes Michael will ‘find time to write a few lines to his mother’. Wishes God to ‘reward John and his wife for their kindness and unremitting care to you’. 2pp 19 October 1899 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘My Dear Mother’. He is glad that she is feeling stronger, and ‘that you will live to see the new century’. Sends good wishes to the family. Says that ‘None of the boys large enough yet to go out to Africa to fight the Boers! Their American uncles, if they had any stomach for fighting…it would be to aid the Boers. You loyal British subjects cannot holler lest you would be sent to Cork Jail’. Requests her to send papers regularly. 2pp 13 February 1900 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to ‘Dear brother and sister’, Clonakilty, County Cork. He was much affected in reading the account of his mother’s death. His mother was a ‘hard working industrious little woman truthful and honest in word and deed and never meddling or causing discord between neighbours…much devoted to the

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Rosary’. Says they are at perfect liberty to dispose of ‘that money’ as they see fit, and only regrets that there was not more to be disposed of. Hopes his sister has completely recovered from her illness. Wishing for rain, ‘none yet in 1900’. Also note to ‘Reverend Sir’ for prayers for the repose of Mrs Mary Hurley of Tawnies who died on 18 December 1899. 2pp 31 May 1900 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John, Tawnies, Clonakilty. Regrets to hear of the many deaths amongst old friends and relatives. Asks him to ‘maintain no little bickering with Tim or Kate’. Michael his brother is employed ‘but I am afraid not very profitably’. He had expected to be displaced from his home due to a new roadway, and thought of returning to Ireland and ending his days in a ‘little cottage home’. A priest, Father Clyne, may visit his family while home on a six month trip. 2pp 1 November 1900 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John, Tawnies, Clonakilty. He has not had any letters from other members of the family. Michael is ‘well but not as prosperous as he was 5 years ago’. Denis has undertaken some new investments, and has worked steadily, taking no lay-off this Summer. Describes his running water facilities ‘We have bath-tub wash bowl sink for dish washing patent closet for private purposes – instead of the shelter of the ditches as we had to [at] home’. Would have liked to be at the ceremonies for the blessing of the new Bell at the church in Clonakilty. Mentions an election ‘I am afraid it will go with the party in power, as yours went’. 2pp 12 March 1901 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. His wife has been ‘considerably sick for some time’ with ‘Grippe’ (influenza) and other matters. He holds some mining shares and bank shares and deposits. Notes the Munster and Leinster Bank pays shareholders 10 or 12 per cent. Michael does not write as often and is sensitive about his private affairs. Mentions the death of ‘our poor old Queen’, who ‘…took her departure to that kingdom where monarchs are no better than peasants.’ Says the state law making body in Carson ‘is about closing. All members get time enough to speak here, and will not be packed out for protesting…’. 2pp

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1 August 1901 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada, to his brother, John. The hot weather is making him ‘lazy and languid’, and his wife is visiting with Reno friends who are camping in the mountains. Sympathises with John’s loss ‘in your cows slinging your calves’. Michael is still in San Francisco ‘following his usual pursuits’. The country ‘is agitated with labor troubles at present- Capital versus Labour…’. Wishes him a generous harvest, of ‘fine mealy new spuds’. Says he would appreciate a comfortable home in Ireland, and that ‘Foreign fortune seeking may occasionally meet with big rewards but the disapointed ones far outnumber them and their hardships are not much written about…’. Notes that the ‘South African war is still dragging along – with all its misery entailed on the poor troops…’. 2pp 27 December 1901 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother, John. His wife has been sick over the past year. Michael is to work ‘bossing a gang’ at the railroad yards, and is strong and healthy. He met a gentleman and his sister from the townland of Desert named Fitzgerald who were well informed on Clonakilty affairs. 2pp 29 May 1902 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. His wife’s health has improved. He received a letter from Michael, who is back in his old job on the Southern Pacific Rail Road and living in the country. Mentions the death of Father Twomey. Notes ‘The war has made the loaf dearer but an advance in the price of farm products should be an advantage to the farmers. It sent up the price of American horses and mules…’. 2pp 2 January 1903 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. Brother Michael is well and has bigger pay and is saving more money than he has for a long time. Hopes they have visited the Cork Exhibition and enjoyed it. He sees ‘no wisdom in being absorbed entirely with worldly affairs…We ought to…cultivate friendly relations with friends, neighbors and relatives’. He dreamt he was on the old place recently. 2pp

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7 May 1903 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. He does not think that himself or Michael will invest in Irish farms at this stage of their lives, ‘They would naturally look forward to a life of ease and retirement now instead of commencing again to struggle on an Irish farm’. He has acquired a plot of land adjoining his own and is growing vegetables, and is getting electric lighting installed in the house, ‘This is a great place for comfort and convenience if you have the means of posessing them’. He has not heard from Michael for some time. Advises that ‘If We are above poverty and have health and contentment we have a fair share of the pleasures of life’. Hopes the new Irish land bill becomes law ‘and will result in prosperity and contentment for the country’. 2pp 11 August 1903 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. He is glad to know they are well and that they ‘have such a corps of pupils attending the schools’. Mentions appointment of a new Pope. He is growing his own potatoes for some time . Michael is ‘about 200 miles nearer to you now than I am’, but he is moved around much. 2pp 15 November 1904 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. Glad to hear John’s son is growing in health and strength, ‘When we were little, we as well as many others, had to put with many inconveniences and drawbacks which were not agreeable….Now with changed conditions and improved circumstances you need not follow too closely on the old footsteps…’. Sends £1 for Aunt Ryan. He has worked every night this year, ‘But there is pleasure in toil if we have health and a contented and benevolent mind’. Mentions an election ‘…which went overwhelmingly Republican’. Michael is in San Francisco ‘…peculating…I hope he will sometime be successful’. 2pp 30 January 1905 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. Remarks on death of his Aunt [Ryan]. He has ‘no encouragements for emigrants’, most of whom ‘would be better off at home..,. The Irishman must compete with the hardy sons of all nations here’, but people are free to come and take their chances. The principle sources of employment are ‘mining and railroading – both dangerous to life and limb The pay is good if a person gets a job and can keep it…’. Farmers must work 16 hours a day and must ‘run reapers

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mowers and big teems’ to succeed. Thinks Irish farmers are ‘on the pigs back…they have moderate rents, security, and independence…’. He is getting old and would like to be freed of working night after night. 2pp

13 March 1906 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. It has been some time since he wrote, but he and his wife are feeling pretty well at present. Saw an account in one of the papers from Ireland of an accident which befell on of John’s sons. He hopes the boy is doing well and will not be permanently crippled. Enquires for news on ‘times, the weather and crops’. Mentions ‘awful mining disaster in France’. Notes that Balfour (Prime Minister) and his party ‘met with quite a political Waterloo in the British elections’. 2pp 17 May 1906 Letter from Michael Hurley, 166 Potero Avenue, San Francisco, California, to his brother John, Clonakilty. He was not injured in the great earthquake, ‘…though it was frightful’. He was woken up at 5 o’Clock in the morning due to the shaking, and ‘thought my end had come then’ but his house remained standing as it was supported by those on both sides. Many large buildings were thrown down and the rest burning, ‘a sight not to be forgotten’. Water pipes were broken so there was no water to put out the fires, and eventually ‘three fourths’ of the City was destroyed. Laments that it was ‘getting to be a great City before the earthquake…it had doubled in population the last ten years…’. Regrets that John’s son was injured. Denis is ‘doing well and needn’t work anymore of he don’t want to’. Says he is speculating in mines again, with better prospects than heretofore. Sends regards to ‘our cousins of Templebrien’. 4pp 25 June 1906 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. He is glad John’s son is recovering from his serious accident. Says that the San Francisco earthquake ‘was an awful thing and has impovrished many and dethroned the reason of others. I had some investments that were a little depressed by that disaster’. He had hoped to give up working, especially nights, but now he must wait some time longer, ‘It is pretty expensive to live, and meet one’s various obligations’, but he hopes better times are coming ‘for us all’. Nevada is enjoying a ‘period of much prosperity’. Mentions the

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death of politician Michael Davitt, who ‘was a hard worker and did much good – not only for his own country, but for humanity’. 2pp

27 June 1907 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to ‘My dear May’, his niece. He has given up work since December, ‘the steady drag was getting too much for my health owing to my advancing years…We have to figure out and economise at present. We may if God spares us see old Ireland some day’. Carson City will have a 4 th of July celebration of ‘considerable magnitude’ this year’, with a grand electric light display. He now has plenty of time to tend his garden and can go to Mass every morning. Brother Michael is well. Mentions funeral of cousin Tom Hurley, a ‘good big-hearted man’. 2pp 25 April 1908 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. ‘This country has experienced a great and unlooked for change in the past year…Crops are plentiful and command good prices, mines producing well, and yet there are more than 300,000 RR (Railroad) cars idle: train crews and machine shops in proportion Many banks had to suspend…’ Says he has faired pretty well in his affairs, though short of money at present. 2pp 31 December 1908 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. He has not been in the best of spirits for some time, and has been ‘squeezed and cornered…with the financial stringency’. Things are now looking better. Denis had ‘some political experience’ which did not add to his peace of mind, when he was a candidate for the Nevada Legislature for his county in the November election. However he did not succeed in being elected as the Commissioners, ‘who had the recounting’ were of his opponents political party. Says ‘There was much money used in bribery also against us’. He has lost some money in expenses as well as the salary he would have been entitled to. He will try again in 2 years as he ‘had the support of a large majority of the respectable voters’. 2pp

15 August 1910

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Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. Recounts the circumstances of his wife’s death from Typhoid. ‘She was sick since about the 1 st July…[I hoped] she would pull through like so many other sick spells’. ‘We had the sympathy of the community…She had a fine large funeral with impressive church services…Neither of us had a relative present.’ Michael may come and stay with him for some time. ‘The only drawback in our lives was her frequent sick spells. It was sad news to be sending to her poor old mother in Ireland’. 2pp 28 March 1911 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. He is glad to know John and family are well. Says he owes a letter to each of his three brothers just now. He has not yet written to Father O’Flynn in Portland. Notes that civil service examinations are difficult with so many candidates for a limited number of places. San Francisco is ‘getting busy preparing for the Panama Fair Exhibit’. 1pp 12 July 1912 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. He does not do much letter writing for some time past’ having lost some of the ambition of my younger days’. Has been steadily employed [in a prison] since 1 st December . Mentions Father Gartland who is visiting Ireland for the first time in 25 years. He has not heard from Michael for a month or two. Notes that ‘The girls are good correspondents…interested in the Fair and Irish Feis’. Refers to the ‘Home Rule struggle’ in Ireland, ‘they must not let it flag until victory perches on their banner’. He is involved in local politics and likes ‘to show that an Irishman is able to take a hand in affairs of government’. 2pp 9 November 1912 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. He spent 10 days in San Francisco, which is ‘fine again after the havoc wrought by fire and quake in 06’ . Father Gartland returned recently from a trip to Ireland and reported a ‘great improvement in the condition of people. meals, tea, etc, 5 times a day now’. He stood for election again but despite a ‘strenuous political campaign’ was ten votes short of gaining office. Remarks that the Home Rule debate is still going on in Parliament, and hopes ‘we all live to see the day when Ireland’s lawmakers will meet in College Green’. Mentions the Turkish war which is drawing many Greeks and Slavonians back from America. ` 2pp

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3 March 1913 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. Mentions an execution at the prison where he works. Remarks that ‘our countries are fortunate…in being spared the horrors of wars that are raging in Mexico and Turkey at the present time. People should be grateful to God for casting their lot in peaceful countries and under stable governments’. He is glad to see Home Rule making good headway with the election in Derry, which ‘took the boast and the brag from the Unionists’. Notes ‘Your suffragettes are more warlike than their sisters here’. 2pp 18 June 1913 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John, Tawnies, Clonakilty. Mentions the very dry weather in California. On a 2 week vacation he visited a new mining camp, Rochester, ‘nearer to Ireland than what I have been in 40 years’. If he is successful in his venture he ‘may see the old land ere I die’. Mentions the suffragettes ‘still keeping up a hard fight’, and the 2 nd reading of the Home Rule Bill. He recently acted as sponsor for the boys’ confirmation. 2pp 11 December 1913 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. He was not able to advance John £2000 as the ‘condition of my estate does not enable me to do so. I may some day possibly see the land of my birth, but I doubt it as the world has been treating me’. Intends his remains to lie beside his wife in Carson City. 1p 16 March 1914 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his brother John. Thanks John for the card and shamrocks (for Saint Patrick’s day). Mentions their cousins who ‘are great in acquiring landed property…They have more means by industry at home than if they emigrated abroad’. Hopes ‘that St. Patrick’s day 1915 will find Ireland thriving under Home Rule and enjoying peace and prosperity’. 2pp

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