MsSC 148

MOWRY, Sylvester, papers.

Abstract: Lt. Sylvester Mowry was a member of Isaac Stevens’ 1853 Pacific Railroad Survey (northern route) attempting to locate a route through the Cascade Mountains to Puget Sound.

Biography: Sylvester Mowry (1830-1871) graduated from West Point in 1848, 16^th in his class. In 1852 he was assigned to General Isaac I. Stevens’ Pacific Railroad Survey, where he served as meteorologist to the party exploring passes in the Cascade Mountains of Washington Territory in 1853.

Mowry later was closely identified with mining speculation in Arizona Territory.

Scope and content: The collection consists of three letters written by Mowry during his service with the Pacific Railroad Survey in 1853. The letters all contain good detail describing his experiences and the Western country and its prospects. His letter from Ya-ka-ma (Yakima) is particularly descriptive of Washington Territory and its prospects. He was a notorious womanizer, and repeated references in his letters bear this out.

Inclusive dates: 1853

Restrictions: None

Volume: 3 letters

Accession number: 2000.135

Folder

1 San Francisco, January 31, 1853. To “Dear General.” Good content. Describes San Francisco, the suicide of the first sergeant because of gambling debt, pervasiveness of gambling, discusses investments in mines, etc. 6 p.

2 Columbia City, W.T., June 28, 1853. To Edward T. Bicknall. Will be leaving for the Cascade Mountains with 150 horses and mules and fifty men. He will be relieved by Lieut. Hodges and will be placed in charge of the meteorological observatory. 4 p.

3 Camp on Ya-Ka-Ma River, September 16, 1853. To his father. Full of excellent content about the survey party and the country. Describes Fort Dalles as a “most desolate place and to make it worse, the officers have their wives with them.” Discusses passes through the Cascades for the railroads and states, “The Territory of Washington is worthless for agricultural purposes.” 4 p.