John P. Eaker letters to his son Victor from New Mexico and Colorado, 1890-1916Eaker, John P., d. 1914eng34 holograph letters, 26 of them to Victor Eaker from his father John, five to Victor from his half-sister Helen, and two from his half-sister Mary. John describes his life in New Mexico and Colorado, the jobs he holds, and cost of living, the People's Party and secret societies, dispenses advice on pursuing an education and getting along with family members, asks Victor to come west and describes mining life, wages of different professions, and shares his ideas for the future. A few of the letters are also addressed to Victor's younger brother Charlie. The letters from Victor's half-sisters describe John's death in 1914, and discuss other family matters. Accompanied by photographs of John going prospecting in 1913, Victor's half-sister Mary, and two other photographs of one of his half-sisters; Victor's membership card to the North Carolina Teachers' Assembly, and a letter from Victor's teacher congratulating him on his high marks in history, dated 1894 May 2.John P. Eaker left his children Victor, Charlie, and Amanda to be raised by his parents in western North Carolina and in 1877 traveled west in search of a fortune. He married again in 1887 and had four children: Jesse, Mary, John, and Helen. In 1890 he moved from San Pedro, New Mexico to Rico, Colorado, where he lived for a few years before moving to Durango, La Plata, and Silverton, Colorado. He worked at a variety of jobs: carpentry, road construction, mining, blacksmithing in addition to gold and silver prospecting, but he never attained financial stability. His son Victor worked as a schoolteacher and principal in western North Carolina, and served in the Spanish American war.