Dear
Caroline,
I avail myself o the visit of your brothers to drop
you a few lines! I have enjoyed totally good health for the last year. I
have almost got through my debt, having paid $850 within the last 12 months.
It appears by letters from Galesburg that there was considerable
sickness in that place last fall, and in the winter, and this spring. Mr.
Weeks was taken sick last summer and is not able to work yet. Norman
Churchill's wife and oldest son have been sick.
Troy has become a
considerable town. There is a French Academy at Mechanicsburg, adjoining
Troy, taught by Mrs. Alvord, the preacher's wife.
Miss Lydia Ann
Scott is teaching school in Plattan's (?) Prairie. Miss Candace Seybold is
teaching at Mount Zion near Mrs. Teten. Minerva Gaskill is married to George
B. Judds of St. Louis, formerly of Marine Setlement.
I am glad to
hear that the Badgers had sense enough to reject their silly Constitution.
Tseekers (?) have a Convention now in session, in keeping their
Constitution.
James M. Seybold, Samuel Purviance, John Quincy Adams
Gaskill, and Joseph Keho have gone to Mexico, "a soldiering." Zach Hays has
left his bones in Mexico. Norman will tell you about the Duncan mob, and
other matters "too numerous to mention in a letter."
Truly Yours,
George
Churchill
PS: Squire Small and family have got back to Collinsville
Dear
Cousin,
Although I wrote the last letter, I thought I would
write to you again for I wish to know whether you are still in the land of
the living. I do not know whether you know we have moved our quarters or
not. I have not heard from you or your friends in Alton (?) for a long time.
Does Uncle George ever write to you?
We have been in Galesburg five
weeks. Last fall Father and Mother made a trip up this way and after looking
the country over some pitched upon this place. Father bought 80 acres of
prairie, 20 acres of it fenced and brook and a 10 acre town lot adjoining
uncle Norman's half a mile from the farm and about half a mile from the
Academy. So you see we can live in town and work out on the countrywest. In
the spring William and Charles came up and put in their crops. William and
cousin George went down to Ridge Prairie after we came the latter part of
June. Were about 9 days on the road. We camped out two nights and thought it
was not what it was cracked up to be. The weather was generally cool and
cloudy but we met with one sad misfortune. A little this side of Carrolton a
fine horse worth 100 dollars one that Uncle Norman brought from New York
died with the colic. We had to leave one load in consequence. William has
since been down after it which took him 8 days. I think we shall not attempt
moving again ever. I think it is a beautiful country. We came the right time
of the year to have everything look fine. I do not think that Galesburg is
as pretty a situation as some little towns a few miles before we got here.
Too much of it is on low ground. The Ceder (?) Fork a little dirty branch
full of yellow pond lillyruns through it but part of it is on high beautiful
prairie. They have a new Academy three stories high with a cupalo covered
with tin. At noon it can be seen at Louisville about 5 miles from here.
Galesburg probably has as many houses as Edwardsville but there is not more
than two or three that are two stories high. Did you go through Jacksonville
when you moved. It is the prettiest place I ever saw but there are some bad
folks there for the court was trying three men for murder. Two of them were
brothers. They got to quarreling about a hankerchief in a doggery. Two of
them shot him. Then they all pounded him and hooted over his dead body.
The Galesburgars had a terrible Sabbath school celebration on Saturday
the 3rd of July. Three schools met. There were estimates to be about 1200
people. They give a man four dollars an evening for teaching the young ones
to sing. They have a meeting every morning at sunrise and some kind of
meeting ar singing evry evening and Sundays they have hardly time to eat
their meals. I have not been to any of them yet on account of my eyes which
have been very sore and are not well yet. You will think by the many
mistakes I have made but I am not writing to uncle George. Therefore hope to
be forgiven. We live in a fram of an adition to uncle Norman's house. It has
a good roof and that is all. No doors or windows or weather boarding. It is
planked up the sides with large cracks between each plank.
Cousin
Emily is teaching school 16 miles from here. I have not seen her but once.
She is quite large for her age. Round face and red cheeks like the rest of
the children. She is an everlasting talker. Mary Victoria, the youngest, is
three years old and another forthcoming. Uncle Norman thinks his children
are very smart. Sister Mary goes to school with Julia and Norman.
Now for Ridge Prairie. There has been many births, deaths, marriages, and
removals since you left that part of the moral vinyard. I hardly know what
would be news to you or what would not. I suppose you are enjoying the fat
of the land up there and do not care much about it one way or the other. Are
you married yet? Is there many old batchelors up there. We have a right
small sprinkle of them with us and they are not all as handsome as the hills
are high but they are of the Yankee race and no telling howsting they are.
Indeed I intend to go back this fall. I cannot stand so much Yankeeism.
Squire Scott's daughters all stay at home yet, although they think they
the most beaus of any one. They went to St. Louis to see some Negroes
hanged. Uncle George writes. He thinks it would have looked better for them
to have stayed at home. Miss Minerva is almost on the old maid list. She has
no beau now that I know of. Old Burkles (?) was down last winter and every
body would have it that she was going to have him. He has gone again for two
years. Cordelia is the same old "seven and six". Hannah Sybold teaches the
school at Jericho. Report says that she is going to marry Dick Willoughby.
Mary Ann Gillet teaches school at the Setter (?) meeting house. Julia Small
is teaching in Marine again. Mother Small has a great deal of trouble.
Martha is married and got a young one. Janett Gates married James Willoughby
and has got a young one. Ann Henderson married Mr. Peterman and has got a
young one. Polly Hay is married. Mr. (?) Big Haar married. Rebecca Owins,
Tom More married. Malinda Owins, Phil More married. Caroline Mac, George
Brown married. Daphne More, Ray Whiteside married. Hannah Goutreman, Sis
Goutreman married a drunken somebody from Tarepin Ridge. James Whiteside
married Abby G. Hall. Lucius Green brother of Dr. Green married Maria Wilder
and is dead. Mr. Tallia and his wife Eveline have parted. They had a young
one first.
Mr. Lloyd K. Wriston's oldest child has lately die. Robert
Mac has gone back to Greene County. Report said that Sam Telre (?) went to
see Beckyam three times a week and every one thought they would bet married
but they did not. Orson Caswell has got back and is as crazy as ever after
Pharsalia. And Mr. Banks courts Jane. Uncle Levi is as whimsical as ever.
Uncle George has a very excellent famiy living with by the name of Perrigo.
Yankees in descent. Please to write as soon as you get this.
Your
affectionate cousin,
H. H. Weeks
PS: All send their respects to your folks.
Your father was well the last we heard from him. He lives on the American
Bottom.
Addressed to Miss Caroline E. Churchill, Monroe, Greene Co.,
Wisconsin Teritory (Postage 18 ¾)
Dear Cousin,
I improve the present
opportunity to answer your kind letter us at at the time we received yours
we were both unable to write and Lavina is still My health has improved very
much since their and lost summer it was better in menny respects than it had
bin in years before But still I could not write as that seams to be the
hardest thing I can do We had had considerable sickness during the past
summer and fall pretty much every one has bin sick more or less I was taken
sick in the fore part of October and have not intirely recovered my helth
yet Father is just recovering from a severe attack of bilious colic Aurora
has bin quite sick for 2 weaks But when I consider how menny of us has bin
sick & some of us takeen veery sudden & widen I think we have evry reason to
be thankful that we have got along so well and I think that Fathers helth
Leaaving Aaron & my own are yearly improving so that we feal verry much
incourgd We hav long & anxiously looked & waited to here some thing from
Aunt Hulday till at last we are afraid to here though we supposed you would
let us knowif any thing was the mater yet we thought if she had bin well she
would hav ritten all want to hear from hur verrymuich We want to hear from
your Mothers family and your uncle. Tell them we think some of them might
make us a visit I presume you hav not bin east or at any rat you hav not
cauled on us I hope you will not forget that on any account you gave us
consiaderable information uspecting our close neighbours in your last We
hope you will do so now to we want to know all about them Tell Mrs. Hagerty
I want hur to right & I want to see hur I design sighting to hur soon Mr.
Whitcom cauld on us afew days ago & I beleav he is the only one we have sean
from your way since your Uncle caim out with Granmother & I think it quite
to bad we are so far from all our folks that none of them cannot afford to
come I hope you will right now Tell Mr. Bingom we think he might send us a
few lines as there can be no excuse for lawyer when they neglect wrighting
They are so yoused to it it takes them no time & I think it would not take
you & he much time to make us a visit
Giv my lov to all the friends.
Amanda
Burt
PS Cousin Martin has uneez taken an voige for his health ?? sail rount
cape horn & be absent 18 months. Father Mother & the rest of the family wish
to beremembow to you & Bingham & all the friends Abagil still walks with
cruches she says she wants to sea your babe. Lavina says she hasnot
forgotten the ?? she took with you and your moon lite stargaising. Amdeenthe
wants your sisters & Leola should right to her you sey my hand pretty much
out of practis & if you can pick it out it will do. Amanda
Dear Caroline,
I was at Kingston Bluff three weeks ago. Your father
and Adeline and Henry Clay and other more distant relatives were well.
William Wesley Kingston died some time in the winter: so that Samson will be
the sole heir of the Kingston estate - if he lives and he is a puny little
fellow.
I found stuck in a crack of the log mansion at the Bluff your
husband's letter to your father, written last spring.
We have had a
long, dreary, uncomfortable and very unhealthy winter. Since the 1st Nov.
last, the following named persons have died in this vicinity: John
Purviance, son of Wm. F. Purviance Lieut. Thomas McDowell, late of the U.S.
Army in New Mexico Calvin McCray. He leaves a wife and one child, Angelina
Horatio McGray. He left no wife, but several daughters, three of them
married - one to a Mr. Stacy of Connecticut. Mrs. Posey, wife of Jubilee
Posey Capt. Eli Cornwell Mrs. Caroline Curtis Allington Mrs. Caroline N.
Berkey Dewey, wife of Dr. John S. Dewey Mrs. Phebe Benson, widow of Rev.
John H. Benson.
Old Samuel Wood and wife are still alive, and he
still loves a dram (?). Squire Small and wife have separated; and Mrs. Small
teaches a school at Collinsville.
Troy has become a smart town with 3
meeting houses, 3 stores, 3 doggeries, 1 tavern, and any quantity of black
mittens, carpenters and wagon makers. Sundry people are going to California
after gold. A daily mail each way from St. Louis through Troy to the Eastern
cities.
Lydia Ann Scott has become Macdonough Gates' second wife, and
has a boy named Cyrus Scott Gates. They live in Troy where Mac keeps a
school. Old Dctor Gates also lives in Troy. J. R. Willoughby, who married
Jane Scott, has bought the Scott farm. James Taylor has bought the Silvanus
Gaskill farm and Albert Wilson, husband to Hannah Seybold, has bought the
David Gaskill farm. Old Aunt Sally and her family have moved to Alton not
Middleton, but Semple-town. Mary Ann happened to have an heir without a
husband: a thing which sometimes takes place in this fertile country.
Jackson Pelham is paid to be the father: a married man.
In the
Skeamborough or Gilead settlement, Jep Renfro and Benj. J. Hagle still
remain, and so does Andrew Black. The rest of the population are in a great
measure changed.
John D. McMahan has been to Morgan County and taken
a divorced woman to wife. She is a sister of his brother-in-law, Israel
Turner, and has one son.
Knox Co. - I visited Knox Co. in Nov. last.
Jenny Perrigo and Wm. W. Weeks (on NW 18, 9N, 42) were doing well. They had
got a fence around the entire quarter, which, by the bye, was the best land
I saw in my travels being rich and dry, and high and rolling. Wm. W. had a
Buckeye wife named Ruth Vaughan, aged about 17, and I have recently heard
that they have a daughter. Hannah is likely to have plenty of children.
At Galesburg: Emily Amelia Churchill teaches the Female Department of
Knox College - about 75 pupils. John L. Weeks, it is said, is "courting like
smoke." "Boardy Bo" wants to go to California, but can't get off this
spring.
Doctor Felix Oflyng (?) wife, and children, visited this
region last summer. They live at Oxford, Henry Co., Ill.
Candace
Scybold married James R. Moore, stepston of Dr. Gates, and went with him to
the St. Croix Pinery last year.
Our season is more backward than
usual. Peach and cherry trees are in full bloom, and some apple blossoms are
seen. Prospect for plenty of fruit. Suppose you and your husband step on a
steamboat and come down about peach time to St. Louis, and ride out to your
father's on Gov. Casey's Rail Road, the win-work of which is already done.
It is to come almost to your father's.
Please write your father a
good long letter, and tell him to be sure to stick it in the right crack so
that I can read it when I get to the Bluff.
Levi remains about as
formerly.
I like Old Lac's Inaugural, and his Cabinet, and his
administration, and himself, better and better. How is he liked in
Wisconsin? It is said Gen. Cass has again altered his mind since 7th Nov.,
and now repudiates the Nicholson Letter and the Baltimore Platform.
Yours,
George Churchill.
PS: Your father has got up an addition to his
house.
Dear Aunt
we wer relivi from much anxialy when Orren caim home from munroe as we
hav not beow from you in so long we fer to heire atoll best we should here
that we wer deprivd of you all. As we had written several letters since we
had receivd an ansure And we thought you would hav written enny how had you
receivd the ltters but I nead not asshour you how much we wer greivd to lurn
of him your friends (?) ?? And that you were expected to receive we hoape
however it may be otherwise but that wee shall yet see you again in this
life which would be very gratifying.
I asshour you my helth has been
gradually inproveing every year since the first that we hav been in the
country & last summer it was better than it ever had been before Ellin has
had desideedly the best helth during the pas winter & present spring that
she ever enjod before Mother & Omar went last Friday to see Mr. May & found
them well The old gentleman is ded David Mack is in Indana Anak Bansom has
written to them during the winter & says she concluded we had not receivd
hur letter wright soon I must leav room for the rest Lavina Burt to write
this from your affectionate neas. Giv my lov to all the friends.
Amanda Burt
My Dear Aunt. All tho I have nothing to communicate of any great
importance I feel as tho I must say something. If nothing more than to
enquire about your helth whitch I hope is improved considerable to this
time. Sister Amanda has mentioned something about you not expecting to
recover whitch may very in long ? and only till our folks that you are vary
sick and it was found you mite never enjoy much helth again or that you mite
never be again .. better very long at a time. I do hope when I se you again
to se you injoying a comfortable degree of helth all tho we never can hope
to see you young agin in this world. But we do expect to see you bouth
enjoying helth and the viger of youth Where we shall look upon sickness and
old age as ?? words without mentioning ?? things that have ben. We are well
as well as ever. Mother and I have ben to see Mr. ?? folks as easy?// And
desired us to stay up to be very fine people. They had considerable to tell
us but not a great deal more than Amda wrote. They say that David M is in
Indiana and was the rest of them. Mrs. Aly says that they heard from them
after weaks "go and that they over all well. Mr. May is ?. (Impossible to
read the remainder. Penmanship bad, spelling bad.)
Letter signed by Lavina
Burt
Dear Sir, [written to Caroline's husband, John A. Bingham, Esqr.,
Monroe, Wisconsin]
We are well as usual through the blessing of God although the
cholera has made fearful havick all around us. St. Louis with a population
of sixty thousand have had six thousand deaths in a little more than 3
months. Collinsville about 40. Bethville a great many and all the country
towns have suffered more or less but it has now ceased. I hope you will not
think strange that I have not written oftener. Some times it is for want to
paper and forgetfulness. We expected you last fall. Perhaps is was for the
best you did not come as we had the small pox in the family in Sept. but I
should be glad to see you this fall. Fruit is now getting ripe. The summer
has been very wet. Crop rather poor on wet ground. Please write to me where
is Norman and George. Tell them to write to me. I shall soon resume the coal
business for the fall and winter. The old banks fell in this summer and I
have had a new one to open. The business is not done with expense an
difficulty. You have undoubtedly heard of the big fires in St. Louis. 29
steam boats and cargoes. This year has been repleat in the destruction of
human life from every source. Is it not wisdom to be prepared to die. Wesley
Kingston, my step son, died 2 years least. Aged 20 years -------- a railroad
is a bout to be made from the Bluff (half a mile distant) to St. Louis and a
little town built up called Caseybille.
Give my love to all ??
W. B.
Churchill.
Dear Sir, [To John A. Bingham]
Your
favor of 12th inst. Came to hand last evening.
The cholera was very
bad in some parts of this country, and many of my old and valued friends
were among its victims; yet neither myself nor any of my relatives were
affected by it.
I was at the Bluff on the 2d Sep Brother Wm. And
family were then well: but, several days ago Mr. Powell (who lives with me)
was at Collinsville, and saw Mr. Shultz, from the Bluff, who told him that
Brother Wm. Had the fever and several "risings" on his body. I intend to go
and see what the matter is soon.
Levi staid with Brother Wm. Some 6
or 8 weeks till sister Jane became tired of him. He came back Sep 4; and I
think is somewhat improved. Indeed, the fact that he has several times
performed the journey on foot from this to the Bluff (nine miles) shows that
he is far more enterprising than in former years. He occupies the small
framed house which I built for his use.
The Cholera. It is supposed
that about 6,000 persons died of cholera at St. Louis. That place is the
stopping place for vast numbers of Germans and Irish who arrive with the
seeds of the disease in their system, or already suffering under its
attacks. Hence they not only die, but spread the infection among the native
population. The Cholera, and the dreadful fire of May 17, inflicted a
greater calamity than any other city of the U.States ever suffered in any
one year.
Collinsville - 43 deaths by cholera. I cannot name more
than half of them, but among them are some whom Mrs. Bingham and her
relations will remember. I name the following:
Rev. Comfort Robers, P.M.
Miss Ellen Robers
Mrs. E. B. Lockwood (daughter of Capt. Ezra
Post)
A child of the same
George F. Findlay, joiner (he came
to Illinois with Brother Wm.)
John Willoughby
James Peers
Daniel Robertson
Mrs. Annis Small (formerly Mrs. Stocking)
Wm. Herbert Stocking (her son)
Thomas Jefferson Jones
Mr.
Drinkhorn
Mrs. Drinkhorn
Mr. Lancaster's (?) daughter
Thompson
Robinson's daughter
Two children of R. Withern
Austrin W. Beach (merchant)
Barbara, a Dutch girl, living at Squire
Looks.
Troy:
Henry wee-on
Mrs. Sparks
Peter Cox
Miss Catherine N. Swain
A child of Julius A. Barusbacks (?)
5 - the first 2 were not residents of Troy
Highland - a great
many died, but I cannot name any except David thorp and 2 or 3 of his
children.
Marine - This place almost escaped. Major Matthew C. Garey
(?) took the disease and died in St. Louis. A Miss Morrison died at Henry
Anderson's farm. Richard Whiting, formerly of Marine, died at Ft. Madison,
Iowa.
Ridge Prairie - Between my house and the southline of Madison
were the following deaths by cholera:
J. W. Reynolds (teacher)
John Hall
Wm. W. Hall, a son of W. W. Hall
A son of "blind
Billy Hall"
Thomas Fowler
A woman at John McVeg's
Mr.
Brisco's wife and three children
In the west part of the Prairie, 2
or 3 Dutch families suffered severely: 3, 4, or 5 dying out of a family
Indian Creek:
John Springer, Esq. And wife
D. A. Lanterman's wife
Lane (?) Smith
Edwardsville: Isaac S. Slayback; Dr. J. M. S.
Smith (It is said the Dr. took brandy to keep off the cholera and died with
delirium tremens.)
Alton:
Mrs. Bailhache (?), wife of Judge John
Bailhache
Rev. Dr. Wm. Heath (father of Mrs. Bailhache)
Mr.
And Mrs. Bergen Edward
G. Scarritt
Mrs. Mary E. Dolbee
Mrs. Ruby Sinclair
A child of T. P. Wooldridge
Mrs. Olive S.
Emerson
Charles R. Chapman
Mrs. Elizabeth Booth, aged 63
Dr. J. P. Mounier
Thomas Mantle;
And others too numerous
to mention.
Thomas Faherty, formerly of Troy, died at Mr. A. Hoxey's
of cholera - caught at St. Louis. Among the deaths at St. Louis were Isaac
Lockwood, his wife, and one of his children. Mrs. Lamar Seybold, wife of
Samuel Seybold, is dead. Also Mrs. Phebe Benson. They di not die of cholera.
A great many deaths have taken place in the county which I have not
mentioned. Mr. Robert McKee (on the hill this side of Edwardsville) is one.
Supposed to have died of "milk-nik". His hired man also died of the same.
Last winter, spring and summer up to Aug. 29, were very wet. Then we had
3 weeks dry weather. Since that time we have occasional showers. Wheat, hurt
in the shock by rain. Corn, a ?? crop, in consequence of too much wet.
Apples, a short crop. May, a short crop, in consequence of the Army Worms.
We had a good many Peaches, but not so large as usual. You were right in
keeping away from the river during the prevalence of cholera; but you might
have come about the middle of August and been in season for Peaches and not
much in danger of the cholera.
I am glad to hear that Norman and
George are natural mechanics. In that respect, they do not take after their
father.
As the Barnburners of Wisconsin were not able last fall to
prevent the Hunkers and Baltimore Platformers and Slavery Extenders from
giving the votes of the state to the author of the "Nicholson letter",
perhaps it is good policy in the said Barnburners now to knock under to the
Hunkey, acknowledge them to be "Democrats", and then be free to add: "We
Democrats too!" The Barnburners have shown a commendable repentance of their
last year's mis-doinings, by giving up all the offices to the Slavery
extending Hunkery; and if they continue to exercise due humility a few years
longer, they may come in for some of the crumbs which fall from the Old
Hunkers table.
In the State of N.York, however, where the Barnburners
out-voted the Hunkers, the two parties have agreed to "go halvers" in the
division of the spoils - provided always they succeed in getting the spoils.
One who did not know these parties of old time, and heard what they said
about each other last year, would be surprised at their readings to re-enter
into partnership. But as John C. Calhoun said, they are drawn together "by
the cohesive power of public plunder."
Southern Administration. I
suppose very administration since the adoption of the Federal Constitution
has been composed of members from the Southern and Northern States, very
much as the present administration is. And such will always be the case till
the Union is dissolved.
The Cuba expedition, intended to add two new
states to the Union, has been knocked in the head by the present
administration. What would have been done is Lewis Cap had been the
President? What if Martin VanBuren had been elected? In 1836 he said to the
Hon. Wm. Jackson, M.C. from Massachusetts, and others, "Gentlemen, we must
carry the South by adopting southern measures, and the North by party
machinery." Now the South will not be gulled (?) with Irish words and
phrases as "Democrat, Democratic, the Democracy." They will have "Southern
measures" if they can get them: -- at one time they must have Texas: then
they must have slavery extended to New Mexico and California, and next the
re-annexation of Cuba! "Party machinery" does wonders at the North, but the
help of Calhoun and Co. must be had to insure the Presidency to the Hunkers.
Hence it soon becomes a principle with "the Democracy" that nearly
everything which Congress does for the public benefit is unconstitutional
and every thing which the Executive does, is constitutional.
Truly Yours,
George Churchill
Macoupin County ILGenWeb Copyright
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