Simon Wood Nichols letter to John B. Wick
Scope and Contents note
Letter and accompanying transcription.
Dates
- 1826
Creator
- Nichols, Simon Wood (Person)
Conditions Governing Access note
Open to all users.
Conditions Governing Use note
Subject to U.S. copyright laws.
Biographical/Historical note
S.W. Nichols is probably Simon Wood Nichols (1796-1866), a merchant first in Savannah, and later in Clinton (Jones County, Georgia) and Clinch County, Georgia, where he was also a county commissioner who helped to select the location of the county seat. John B. Wick (1798-Aft1860) was a merchant and dealer in dry goods, groceries, and crockery in Macon. He is probably the same John B. Wicks who later came to Hixtown, Carroll County, Georgia, in 1830 and built a tavern and grocery to serve miners prospecting gold during the "gold rush" of that time. In this letter, Mr Nichols appears to be working as an agent for Mr. Wick. Nichols mentions E.M. Amos in the letter as being of possible assistance in trading with the Indians as he spoke the Creek language well and they had confidence in him. Elijah M. Amos (1799-1843) was the first sheriff of Crawford County, and Clerk of Superior Court and Post Master at Knoxville.
Extent
0.13 Linear feet (1 oversize flat folder)
Language
English
Overview
This letter was written by Simon Wood Nichols to Macon merchant John B. Wick(s) regarding sales of goods in what were the Georgia boundaries of Creek Nation tribal lands.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Purchased from Americana Books (Stone Mountain, Georgia) in March 2018.
Transcription
Knoxville [Crawford County, Georgia] 16th September 1826
Mr. J.B. Wick Dear Sir,
Did not reach here until last night and I do not find the prospect so flattering as I expected, but the field is yet open for business. I am not able say whether I can get permission to sell in the [Creek] Nation or not and shall have to go to Fort Mitchell before I get permission. Perhaps I may stop at Flint River and sell if the prospect is good. About half the trade depends on having a person that can speak the language. I have made proposals to Squire E.M. Amos to go in the [Creek] Nation and share some of the profits and let you furnish the stock, but he has not yet decided. I thought it would be to our advantage to take him in that way. He can speak the languages well and they have confidence in what he tells them, but there is no way we can do so well with trading with the Indians and if you will furnish the goods, money can be made. And there is at least on half in knowing what kind of goods to buy.
A general assortment of calico. Be sure to get common and good, checks, white and blue beads by [?] You will do well to write to New York for a general assort the articles mentioned and every article of calico, checks and plaids. Let them be the most Fancy colors. I enclose bill.
The mail is starting. I will write tomorrow.
Respectfully,-- S.W. Nichols
Processing Information note
Processed by Russ Lenox, 2018.
- Title
- Guide to the Simon Wood Nichols Letter to John B. Wick LH-0108
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Russ Lenox
- Date
- 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of West Georgia Special Collections Repository
Special Collections, Ingram Library
University of West Georgia
1601 Maple Street
Carrollton GA 30118-2000 United States
special@westga.edu