DODGE, WILLIAM E. (1805-1883). American industrialist and “Merchant Prince” of Wall Street, congressman and philanthropist. ALS. (“W.E. Dodge”). 2pp. 4to. New York, February 21, 1868. On a folded sheet of Phelps, Dodge & Co. stationery. To J. C. Newkirk, Esq.
“Your esteem’d favr of the 25 ult and 18 came duly to hand the former enclosing memo obtained from Magoun of lots sold & of those remaining, the latter en check for 200$ on… of payments from Renlack [?] & Franklin. I am perfectly astonished at the obstinacy of the man and cannot understand him at all. I find by looking in my papers that his last settlement was in 1858… With these and the map you can tell pretty well how the matter of the lots stand. But as to what he has rcd I do not see as we can get at it in any other way but by trying to find from the parties as to what they have paid, he has no doubt rcd some 4000$ that he has never paid over. Perhaps if you should say if he will now render a full … that I will take his notes pay at such times as he may desire for the balance due me he may come to terms. Suppose you try him one more with his letters in your hands and the map. I should like with the opening spring to close out what is left for what it can be sold for & will be glad if you will either take it in hand or employ some real estate man to do it. Please get the map corrected by Magoun. (This he will not reprise. I am sure.) and let it be keep carefully as I have no other. Very resp[ectfully] yours…”