Hurley Family Emigrant Letters (Ref. U170)

U170/

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