USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume I > Part 10
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I expect we shall have a hard time of it in getting to Buffalo and getting shipt on board of a vessel as the roads are extremely bad it has rained about every day here for 2 weeks back a very cold wet backward spring. 1/2 the people have not planted their corn yet the last arivals from Buffalo was last Friday 19 May the ice was not out of the Lake yet so they could
with boats from there I fear we shall have a slim chance to engage a passage as there is such a rush to the west this spring. teams have been constantly passing here from Buffalo for 2 weeks past. we need your earnest Prayer for our wellfare we cannot tell anything near what time we shall arrive at Chicago but shall as soon as providence permits if you could be there on
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our arrival it would be a satisfaction. you must consult all outr interests as to that. we shall want to buy a span of good horses immediately on our arrival it would be well to be looking out for them before we arrive Give our Respects To the Boys and Mary.
B Hanks
Independant Grove Sept 22nd 1837
Dear Children
We this evening received your letter of the 20th ult. which gave us much satisfaction we had been long waiting for a letter we are much pleased to hear that Eliza was getting better and also that Eliason health was better we received a letter from Theron & Eleanor and answered the same we are all in good health and spirits we like the country better the more we become acquainted with it in General. I believe it to be a healthy country as any in the United States and equal to any in the richness of the soil we have had a verry warm and wet summer the Crops both winter and spring has come in good Corn is a fine crop and Completely out of the way of the frost we are shelling some of the of Ohio Corn this evening for to grind for mush have had 12 bushell of York Corn ground before the first frost I have seen in Illinois was on the morning of the 20th Sept it has
the leaves on the vines but has not touched the Corn leaves we have sowed 4 bushels of wheat and shall sow two more Next week on part of our Corn ground. our house is verry comfortable for a Log house we are about building a and buttery and petitioning our hous so as to make two Rooms 12 feet by 16. the Land is surveyed North of us within about 11/2 miles of us we expect it will be surveyed here Next Season we are expecting that Congress will do something this Session Respecting Publick Land we
cannot now tell when it will come into market the Settlers that are on the land here feel confident that they shall get their land at Congress price Claims are selling very high here Claims have been sold here since I came from $500 to $1500. Some hold their claims ar $3000 we have 2 grist mills and our saw mill in operation within 4 miles of us one of them a flouring mill with 2 of stones I think this to be a good place for farming purposes and also good for mercantile business the merchant at Elgin 3 miles from us has sold $8000 worth of goods within the last year, and he has but a small assortment, which he fills up monthly from Chicago. I think this will be a good place for you if you follow merchandizing or farming James has raised this year 100 bushels oats 100 bushels corn will have as much as 100 of Pota- toes and turnips to any amount to 200 bushels we have had a better garden than ever we had at Kennedyville all kinds of sauce plenty and mellons as many we wanted we have upwards of 40 acres of prairie broke forty five fenced shall fence this winter 150 acres. we have raised buckwheat enough for our use pumpkins as many as we want for us and cows we have 2 good cows make butter to be verry comfortable No trouble about Pasture the prairie affords first rate pasture our Neighbor has milked 20 cows this summer sold her butter at 2/- per lb. it is all fudge what you heard at Kennedyville about our being so homesick it is true we were a little homesick for a few
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days after our arival but soon got over it and Now we would not care for ever seeing Kennedyville again if our children & friends were here we shall expect you out here to see the country soon if Nothing more.
Give our love to Theron & Eleanor we shall write to them soon Sarah will write you a letter soon & Mother says she will write too
B Hanks
G C Nixon was here staid over night with us he likes the Country has gone in company with two men in Chicago and has gone up the Mississippi 400 miles above Galena building saw mills his partners find money and Nixon goes on with 25 men
Dear Brother & Sister
I have had the poorest health since our folks came I have ever had in this Country I have not been able to work more than half the time since they came I over done myself about that time I have not been confined to my bed. At present my health is good I must urge you to leave that place I think you can make money here as fast as there and have your health which is of more value to you than the United States treasury would be to you My opinion is the same respecting the value of the country that it always has been Wheat is $ Horses & Oxen from $50 to 80 Cows $20 to 30 Hogs $6. on foot Uncle Z has taken a part of my Claim at $275. he is building an addition to my shanty he lives about 40 rods from us we have got a supply of fodder for our horses & Cows our stable and sheds are yet to build I must leave room for the rest
Yours as ever James C Hanks
Dear Sister &
We received a letter from Brother Asahel and your self last evening and was much pleased to have you write some in it Sister I was very sorry to hear that you have been sick so long we all think that if you was here you would get your health Aunts health is better and also the babes how does little Sophia come you must give her a kiss from all of us our folks is a standing here now and saying hurry Lock for they are ready to go to the office and so I must wind up
Eliza and Sophia do write
Sister Locky
Elgin Oct 15th 1837
Distant Brother & Sister
As an excuse for my neglect of writing is the following. It has never been my intention to overstep the truth in my letters to Steuben and my con- science still is clear that the country will bear me out in my representations. I thought Father & Mother on their arrival too homesick dissatisfied & dis- contented to represent the country unprejudiced and I knew their words would and ought to be taken in preference to mine and I expected that my Dear Dear Sisters who never before had known a false report to drop from my lips or pen might think that I had by misrepresenting deceived my kind
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ALIDAR, ILL. SCENE ON Fax Riven
Pratt
BRIDGE ACROSS FOX RIVER. THAT WAS FLOATED DOWN STREAM IN FLOOD OF 1857.
F
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DOWNER'S PLACE IN AN EARLY DAY. AURORA.
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and respected parents ; but their representations since reconciled, agree so well with mine that I think my epistles may be welcomed without distrust
My health is poor. I have not been able to labor more than 1/2 of the summer. My poor health I attribute to over doing about the time father came. I have had a cough by turns since. I am better some than other times iny ups and downs are once in 3 or 4 weeks but of the two I think the downs are on the gain. My cough reminds me of my Dear Departed Brother ; Sister you know that ever since my conversion my Motto has been
Thy servant waiteth, Lord thy bidding. Watching, steering on his bark ; Longing for his Saviours coming For to sink the pilgrims Ark. Then; Oh then, my spirit rising Angels meeting, Saviour saying, Child come home.
18th Yesterday I rode 8 miles down the river to consult a skillful physician, he gives me great encouragement and I am now so heavy laden with medi- cines & Blisters that it is hard to finish my page
Your Brother Jas C Hanks
Ever Dear Sisters
Independant Grove Oct 18tl1 1837
It is with pleasure I devote a few moments of time to hold converse with you by letter Your to long unanswered letters were heartily welcomed by us. I was pleased to hear that your healths were some better especially Sister Elizas. Dear Sister I fear your health will never be much better while you remain at B. Port. This country agrees with me so well I cannot but think it would with you. If you could but once see me you would hardly think me to be that pale sister of yours. Brother's health is quite poor but I think it is owing to his overdoing and not to the country. The remainder of the family are well. Uncle's family are well; the babe is getting fleshy. Dear Sisters how I do want to see you. I cannot have it that I shall always be separated so far from you. Since the arrival of Brother Theron's letter I have cher- ished the hope that I shall enjoy the pleasure of having both of my Dear Sisters in this country. I am very much pleased with our society as far as I have become acquainted with it. I have had an introduction to a dozen or more Eastern young ladies and so far as I am capable of judging all of them well educated and refined. There is a half a dozen more within the bounds of our society which I have not as yet had an introduction to, who in respectability stand on an equal footing. Dear Sister do not think that we are in a heathen land or in an uncultivated society. As a whole it is as refined a society as I ever was acquainted with. We have become very attached to Gen McClures family they almost fill the place of Dea McClures family. The most we regret is that we were not situated nearer them than 31/2 miles. We are looking for Julia and Mary down to make us a visit this week. Mary is expected to be married to a Captain Jemmerson of the garrison of Chicago soon. Sarah appears to be gaining slowly but not able to sit up yet Lock and May are great cronies. We have not been to Aunt C but hope to
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go this fall. From accounts we think ourselves well rid of Kennedyville, although we shall ever respect many of its inhabitants
I am very sorry to hear that my dear little Sophia is so unwell Give her a sweet kiss for me and do not let her forget me. I often fondly embrace her in my arm when dreaming; O that I could in reality. Frank is very happy and talks a great deal about his little cousin Sophia and Aunts. We all send out love to Brothers and yourselves. You must all write to us. I will leave this page for ma to finish.
Your Absent Sister Sarah
Eliza and Eleanor.
Pa's hurry to Elgin flustrates Ma so that she gets me to copy it for her. Sarah
Dear Children
Through the mercy and goodness of God I am in the land of the living. My health is very good. James has given you a description of our feelings; he was much troubled on account of our lonesomeness I must ask you my Dear Children how could we help being lonesome the great distance that separated us. I could hardly be reconciled. If you was here I should be contented. A. B. H. you must not sell and locate yourself until you come and see us. I think you would be much pleased with this country. I think it will be fine for Merchants as well as Farmers. Perhaps it would agree better with your health to go to farming; if you think so come to this country Eleanor you want to know whether the Prairies are as handsome as I expected. I think they are. I could not be contented to go back to Kennedyville and live. You must not give yourselves any uneasiness on our account. I think it is all for the best that we came here. Sarah has got her health. I fear we shall have to pass through another dark cloud of afflic- tion ; but you know a Mother's fears and anxieties are great for her children. James has written you respecting his health but we have the promise that there shall not be more laid on us than we are able to bear. my love to all my Dear Children. this is from your ever affectionate mother
Elizabeth Hanks
give my love to your father and mother and Hannah
Elgin March Ist 1838
Dear Absent Children We received your letter of the 7th Feby yesterday and to-day undertake to answer it although with a heavy heart. we can truly say that our afflictions are great but our God in whom we trust is able to carry us through them all we are all in Tolerable health except James he has been confined to his bed since the 30 January he has not bore his weight on his feet in 3 weeks his physician has given it as his opinion that his lungs are and has about given him up we are now giving him some syrrups and other simple medicines but have but little expectation that he will remain with us but a short time we still entertain hopes that the
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Lord will Restore him to health again. he is in his hands and is perfectly reconciled to his will we try to be reconciled to our situation but I assure you we cannot Describe our feelings on this subject. we were very sorry to hear that Eliza was so sick but we hope she will be restored to health again before this letter reaches you we were pleased to hear that you had a fine son hope it will live and be a blessing to his parents and friends my health is as good as usual I have it pretty hard now taking care of James and do the work necessary to be done we had a very mild winter untill the first of February since that time it has been verry cold but pleasant this is the first stormy day we have had in a month the snow has been about 4 or 5 inches deep for 4 weeks and excellent sleighing. Uncle Campbells family are all well except Aunt she has been to him about two months they think she is now. I shall expect you out here in the Spring
write on the Receipt of this
Yours with Respect
B Hanks
Absent Brother & Sisters
Thursday Evening March 1 1838
Your long expected letter has at length arrived which give us both pleas- ure and pain. I was much delighted to hear that you had so fine a son and hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing him at some future day. Kiss the little darling for me I am very sorry to hear that sister has the fever I hope she has recovered ere this. O that I could run in and see you every day but this cannot be at present. Father has written respecting Brothers health. he is very low and we fear will not recover. He appears quite com- fortable at present. We have a very large singing school at Elgin. there is about 50 that attend the school and as fine looking Ladies and Gentlemen as you have in any of your Eastern schools. I can assure you Dear Sisters that I have become much attached to the Society here but should enjoy myself far better if my dear Brother was only well. Uncle and Aunt Eline have been out to see us. their health and spirits never were better. P C Rue and his wife have also been out they have a sweet little boy. John intends to go after his mother in the Spring. They were well excepting the babe which was quite unwell with a cold while here. I expect Sophia feels quite proud of her little Brother. do not let her forget me. Frank talks a great deal about cousin Sophia. My love to all.
Yours truly
S E Hanks
To All.
Thursday 12 o'clock at Night
My dear Children
Through the blessing of God I am permitted to sit by the bedside of your dear and only brother to watch and keep him from sleeping too long on account of his night sweats. He will not want a mother's care much longer.
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No my dear Children he will go to that Saviour in whom he trusts. O that we could be as resigned to the will of God as he is. He has no doubt of his salvation; no doubts no fears cross that peaceful breast I have heard him sing a few words with the girls they are sitting in the room with him. I must leave my troubles at home and look away to our native land and see my dear afflicted daughter. The hand of affliction has been laid on you several times my dear child. O may it lead you to the Saviour Am I addressing my Child or has that spirit been summoned away to the eternal world. I should like to see your dear little Son and daughter. You must tell our little Granddaughter she must not forget her Grand parents in the far West Perhaps we may be permitted to meet you all again.
Give my love to Theron and Eleanor and tell them they must remember us at the throne of Grace for truly our afflictions are great "but the Lord is able to deliver us out of all of them." My respects to all.
From your Mother
E Hanks
A B and E Hinsdell.
Wheat is selling here at from 10 to 12 shillings Corn one dollar Oats 50 cents Flour at Chicago from 8 to 9 dollars We have about 3000 rails split by the job at one dollar per Hundred and Board themselves I have hauled 1400 out to our lot where we have as before stated.
B. H.
Dear Children
Pleasant Grove 23rd April 1838
I again take my pen to give you some information relative to your moving to this country further than I did in my letter of the 16th int. James continues with us yet and I think probably will until the weather gets warmer we can see no alteration in him for the better but he keeps waisting away the rest of us are as well as could be expected considering our fatigue in taking care of James. we think it will be best for you to move rite on as soon as you can get your business closed. the earlier you can get here in the season the better the Lakes are now clean of ice which is six weeks sooner than they were last season the Steam Boat James Maddison is a good boat and runs regular trips from Buffalo to Chicago if you happen to be at Buffalo when she is in you will do well to get aboard of her we think you had best box up and fetch all your furniture and what goods you can Goods will be very scarce here this year I am informed that there will not be one half the goods brought to Chicago this season these was lost menny of the merchants have not gone after goods and some of them that have gone get no goods. You can have boxes made of good seasoned pine boards and plowed and grooved together to keep out the wet they need not be plained at all you can box up your chairs and fill in with anything that you can get in that you wish to fetch you can bring your crockery safe by packing them well Crockery is very dear here All your necessary kitchen furniture will be wanted when you get here tubs, Churn, Pails & Pans &c you can pack them
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all full in your boxes bring plenty of dried fruit bring if you can blue Broad Cloth suitable for me a coat and pantaloons. you had best bring nails for building a barn etc. Andrew Jarvin and William Rumsey called on us today on their way to Rock River Jarvin lives in Michigan now thinks he shall move to Rock River he likes this country well John Rue is going after his mother this spring if you could come in company with them it would be well he will come out and see if he comes to Kennedyville.
I expect to receive a letter from you soon on your receipt of my first letter Not answered and perhaps I may think of something more that shall wish to inform you, then you will see what I have wrote in these two last letters and answer them as soon as you can we all feel anxious to see you all, write to us often until you start let us know the time If you can get a good hand to work that wants to come to this country encourage him to come we shall want a good hand my man that I hired for $12 per month has left me after working a month got homesick. I have hired another for a month but he is good for nothing and a wages is high here. After all our advice and wants you must use your own judgment about the whole matter as we know that your judgment is good we are perhaps two much interested to give such advice as we should. think the journey will be a benefit to your and Elizas health. I hope the Lord will give your health and strength sufficient for whats before you.
Yours with respect
B. Hanks.
Sister I would like to have you get me Black silk enough for a cape as near like my dress as you can. Ma wishes you to bring 10 yds of blue calico for aprons. Sister you cannot tell with what joy we received the news of your coming to this country. How does Sister Eleanor feel about it dear girl I know it will be hard for her to part with you but we will hope that they will soon follow. Give an abundance of love to her for me. Ma wants you to bring 3 or 4 pounds of stocking yarn for us.
My love to all and kiss little Sophia and Jerome for me How I do want to see the dear little fellow.
Yours truly Sar.
Ma is very anxious to hear how Elinn your health is. Aunt is gaining slow.
Brother please bring me a parasol if you can collect any of Pa's money. Sarah.
Dear Children
T & E Loomis.
You must not think hard that we have not answered your letter before we hardly have time to write to anybody but we feel verry much interested in Asahel and Eliza coming to this country and have wrote to
you have or will see all the letters and know how it is with us we are passing through trials and afflictions which we cannot describe to you The Lord has
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supported us thus far and given us health and strength to take care of your poor but rich Brother he now is not able to help himself at all he is we think weaker than William was a week before he died we try to be recon- ciled and know it is our duty to be but when the time of his Exit comes it will be a trying time we need your prayers that we may have
sufficient to bear ns up under this great affliction we see that God has been good to us in many ways. I left twenty dollars with for you and he will if he has not pay you Twenty Dollars more in good and take his pay out of Notes I left with him. We have had cold wet weather here for about 2 weeks back. I have sowed 8 acres of spring wheat and 5 of oats, and have 6 more to sow. The girls send their love to you and will write soon Mother is almost worn out taking care of James joines me in love to you and to your Father, mother and sister write upon receipt of this with Respect your Father
B Hanks
Elgin, June 14th, 1838.
Dear Children
Your letter dated 30th May was received the 12th int. we are much pleased to hear that Eliza was on the gain and yourself and babes well we are all enjoying good health although we feel verry lonesome at times on account of being deprived of the company and advice of our Dear James, but we try to be reconciled and I think we are as much as could be expected I was in hopes you would have been ready to start sometime in June as it is so much pleasanter and safer coming early in the season I presume you will come as soon as your business and Elizas health will permit we have had very dry weather hear for 2 or 3 weeks until 4 days ago I do not know as it has injured the crops much some pieces of corn planted on dry ground did not come up well my spring crops are doing well now. I was out to Chicago Twice the week before last with a wagon the roads were excellent started from home at 8 o'clock A. M. arrived at Chicago at 4 P. M. I bought a barrel of good Pork for $22. good dried apples at I4s per bushel Peaches at $3.50 Good sugar at Is Coffee 6 lbs for a Dollar business is quite lively in Chicago this Spring more steamboats than usual have arrived there this spring. Geo. C. Nixon and wife caled on us last Sabbath and staid untill Monday 10 Oclock we all went with them to Genrul McClures and took dinner and then he started on for Galena he leaves Mrs. Nixon there and he goes about 200 miles beyond to a place caled the pinary where he is building mills with a Company they gave us the news of Kennedyville from their Description it must be a God forsaken place Scarcely one Righteous person left to save the place I think we are well away from it Nixon told us that Jason had made up his mind to come with you himself see Frank and take another Tour in the west we shall be verry happy to see him here but little Frank he cannot have
I will now mention what artickles we should be glad to have you bring
us you need pay no attention to what we have wrote before as it will be
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later in the season than we antisipated when we wrote before you will get the Stoo Note from Farnums if possible the Taylors Note trad for a wagon if you can if not leave it for collection as soon as due my fanning mill I want taken to pieces boxed up and brought on if it could be sent to Buffalo to the Care of Thomas Dudley I could get it from them to Chicago at most any time I have wrote to Uncle Elisha respecting it. Sell the lumber at Taylor Mill or leave it in the care of J or some other person to sell the other note if you cannot trade them off leave this also for collection mother wants you to fetch her a set of Curtain Calico she thinks you had best fetch a set too for yourselves. mother and Sarah have got them Dark Dresses you may bring one for Locky Sarah wants silk enough for a cape to her black silk dress bring common merino enough for mothers and Sarah Dresses a parasol for Sarah Broad Cloth for me a coat. we can get the other artickles we wrote for before as cheap in Chicago as in your place taking out transportation.
I am now alone and shall not hire any until haying and Harvesting comes on and then I shall want one or two hands for a month or two I think I can get what help I shall want here as there is a number of young men come into the place this spring your goods if you cannot dispose of them there without a sacrifice fetch them along with you you can sell them here I shall send you another Chicago paper you will see some of the prices in that. as this will probably be the last letter you will receive from us before you start I will give you some directions about getting to us from Chicago you will call on J Rue & H Butler in Chicago they will give you some directions if you come from there in the stage you will have to stop about a mile from us at Mrs. Howard you can get the stage driver to take the county road my team can bring your goods from Chicago if the road should be good if not there is teams always enough in Chicago that can be hired to bring them out. if you could take a boy from 12 to 18 years old and bring with you I think it would be a good plan Such a boy can do most any kind of farming here Mother and the girls join me in love to you all hoping by the goodness and blessing of God we shall soon see each other again.
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