USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume I > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
Your son James
I believe I mentioned in my last your present request respecting my agree- ment with I. H. S. it was understood that if he did not come on I would pay him the money and interest $50. the $3. note I will pay if I can collect it If it suits him I shall let Harris Butler have what Jason was a going to have at $1. an acre except the timber
I start in the morning for Fox River they tell me my corn is fit to cut up tell Jason to plant some of the large kind of corn that has the ears as high as a mans shoulders the Ist of June in the warm climate of Steuben and see if it will be fit for harvesting the middle of Sept.
Hermitage Oct 10th 1836 .
Dear Friends
I am now spending my time very pleasantly by my own fire side you! may think it to be a lonely and very unpleasant life but I can say not so My God my bible and my singing book are the best companions I ever enjoyed Were I to be separated from these or the society of man for this life alone I would say deprive me of the latter you probably think that my evening hours must be lonesome but could you unobserved see me spend my evenings I fear you might envy my lonely retreat I have no more fears (or what we call being afraid) than though I were sitting by your own fire side I work till dark but not very hard then cook my supper when cleared up My Bible My God and Singing book are the best of all company I have kept house for two weeks and not one lonesome hour have I experienced
Last Sabbath went to the river to meeting about 31/2 miles south west (the settlement at Elgin?) there is a very interesting bible class which they intend to keep up through the winter there is a dozen men of your own age engaged in it and I think you would enjoy the meetings then a sermon read I think there will be Methodist preaching in this neighborhood once a fort- night after conference I can not well get around flatly contradicting Jasons account of this so much admired country My potatoe tops were as green as in July until the 29th of Sept. My corn was not as ripe as I could have wished it was too large a kind for so late planting I cut it up before the frost and what there was of York State corn was dry and hard I do not believe there has ever been such a growth of corn raised in Steuben with as little labor I will let you know how much there is of it after I husk it
.
·
91
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
Oct 19th I have left off finishing this letter until now because Philo was a going home and you by him would hear from me I am well and very hearty my clothes are all getting too small for I think I am ten or 15 pounds heavier than I ever was in Steuben I know this to be a healthy country and nine tenths of the Eastern people that come here have better health than they ever before enjoyed I sincerely and honestly believe that it would be for your and the families health to come there has not been any ague nor other sickness to speak of for miles around Marcus came here this morning and will be the bearer of this to Chicago he is hearty, and well pleased with the country he says it is very uncertain whether he ever comes back to Steuben to live. The fall has been very cold it is now snowing the ground is whitened
No more J C Hanks
I have not received any letters from home since I came out to the river.
Fox River, Oct. 16th, 1836.
Dear Sister Eleanor
You still have a brother who loves you and is as willing to do your comfort and happiness as he ever has been Sister we should never know how much we loved were we always to remain with each other. I think of you oftener and of your need of a brothers care and advice than when I was first here.
I often think that were you all here I should be the happyest person in the world.
I have got completely above cares and troubles for the things of earth I am no more my own master I am an hired servant to my Heavenly Father. I go to Him for advice in every thing of any importance spiritual or temporal and he is ever ready to give instructions and pay me for my labors And never when I have went to him for advice have I had to regret at doing amiss. Eleanor I have a great anxiety for your happiness and can not be reconciled to your spending your days in that hard hard country. In my travels and new acquaintances generally the first topic is to know what place one or both parties are from. My subject will be so new to you that it will be difficult for you to get my meaning. You recollect that about 10 years ago Howard & canistee were talked of only as miserable places with hardby civilized inhabitants. It was as much as we wanted to know : lie or they are how- ardites. I am not going to give the inhabitants of Steuben as hard a name as had the howardites but I will tell you it makes a difference in a mans being respected in travelling and forming new acquaintances where he is from.
A most every person who has only a verbal Historical account of Steuben think it worse than it really is. To tell a person that I am from Steuben County the next question two out of three times is. that is a hard frosty mountainous country is it not ? the people live mostly by lumbering and hunting dont they? But observe a traveller from the Genessee country and how altered the conversation he is at once considered as a man of national and agricultural intelligence and his company is sought by the wise and
92
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
the learned; and I think ere long this place will be as noted for enterprise and intelligence as any in the united states.
Nov. 21st Sister I have got the start of you a little I had this letter begun before I received your jealous request. I expect now to touch your pride a little and I hope you will not hesitate to show this to friends because of what I am now about to write for I mean what I say. Father in his last complained of hard times and that it was almost impossible for him to raise money to pay his debts. you may think me hard hearted but it was good news to me I shall soon be looking for an answer to my letter titled my last request for your removal and it would be happyer news to me to hear that your property was to be sold at Sheriff sale than to hear you had made up your mind not to come here I firmly believe that it would be for all of your healths to come here
Sister tell my dear parents that I shall almost consider thim them mur- derers of our beloved sister Sarah should her health continue to decline and they neglect to bring her here where I firmly believe they might in a few short months behold her blooming rosy cheeks I often think that this sorrowing world is not good enough for so pure a heart as Sarah yet we can not oh! no! we can not spare her
We have had a pleasant fall for doing fall work not more than 11/2 inches of snow at a time. I am scoring timber at $1. per day I have engaged to keep school in my own district this winter at $18. a mo. all acquaintances except Sarah McChire were well when last heard from She is at Chicago her life is not expected
urge all friend to come to this country and try not to let the unwelcome news come that you have made up your minds to stay To
my sister Eleanor
Your Distant Brother James
Kennedyville Novi 20th 1836.
Dear Son
We received your letter of the 19th Oct with heartfelt gratitude that you were contented and happy in your lonely retreat we are all enjoying a good degree of health at present except Sarahett she is about as usual I was glad to hear that your Corn Crop was good. I have got along with my fall work as well as could be expected I made 9 barrels of cyder sold all but 2 for 14 & 16, - per Barrel Wheat is 14/- per bushel here Corn 8.'- I have sold my Wheeler lot to Jason. Deavenport would wait no longer unless he could have the back interest paid and I could not pay it and thought best to sell it Jason gives me the Debt he had against you of fifty Dollars I have the writing you gave him with his Receipt on the back. Jason says he will build on it but I doubt whether he will. I wanted to pay the bank debt and have him pay that on Gansvort the $50.00-but he would not take the lot on no other condition than turning the $50.00 to you which leaves me in the same imbarrisment as to my debts as before the bank will not renew the Note again I shall have to pay it the 13th of Jany. and I owe Gansvort $80.
-
93
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
which he is threatening to sue for he has quit ( writing worn off ) I have paid (paper torn ) Debt and am trying to make up the money for the bank which I must do as the bank does not discount a Dollar now. 1 have put up one barrel of Pork which I think will fetch me $20.00 and shall have about $20.00 worth of wheat to spare and how I am agoing to make out the money for Gansvort I know not but I must Trust to providence. if you sell a part of your claim or can work it any way to deposit $50. in the Bank at Chicago and send a check on (illegible) Bank it would relieve me from my present imbarrisment Times are very Dull her now the Rail Road is not located here yet and we dont expect it now until Spring I am still of the opinion that I shall sell here the first opportunity and come to Illinois Eleanor and Sarahett are agoing to Pratsburgh to school this winter Caroline & Martha McClure are agoing with them they have hired a room of the Widdow Ellas for 50 cts. per week They board themselves we shall send them pro- visions by the mail man they calculate to stay about 4 months we shall be very lonesome without them this winter but we think it the best for them to go. our new Minister has moved on with his family he will be located some where in this Neighborhood. he is a very fine man and a good Preacher you must write the particulars as to your Crop of Corn and what you are doing there I think it not best for you to lay out too much Expense on your lot untill you are sure of the title we know not what may happen respecting the sale. Hinsdell and family are well they were out here about 3 weeks ago Philo S. says he likes your location well and says he thinks he will come to Illinois in the spring with his family If you cannot make it convenient to send the check you will write me respecting the same. Do not sacrifice any- thing or spoil your calculations to send it as I think there will be some way to pay it if we will put our Trust in him who is able to deliver us out of all our troubles. Sarah thinks her health better than it has been she thinks she shall be able to attend school this winter Your Mother and the girls send their love to you and say you must write often our friends and Neighbors are all well. John H says he shall certainly go to Illinois in the spring.
Write often B Hanks.
Dearest Girls
Elgin March 7th 1837
E. C. M. & S. your welcome letter reached me after a two months passage, And with great satisfaction I have many times perused it. I was much pleased to learn that you were spending the winter so agreeably and profitable. The Lord be praised for the health you enjoy especially for the improvement of Sarah. My health is and has been through the winter as good as it ever was. All friends here as far as I know are well. I still believe this to be as healthy a country as any part of the United States. 1 closed my school Feb 24th The weather and sleighing was good which it was necessary I should improve in getting out my rail timber, which is my present business. I have a heavy spring's work before me but I shall try to take it by the foretop. I intend to put in to spring crops 22 acres a part of which it to fence. You
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
may think me out of place here telling my business to young Ladies, But we are all Farmers.
My greatest earthly wish is that Dea. McClure, - S. Campbell and B. Hanks were settled here on adjoining farms. The claim north of mine is now offered for sale it will probably be sold before my eastern friend will get here. This in a few years will be the most noted part of the United States, and soon it will be a most recommend to a Traveller to say his residence is in North Illinois.
A letter which I wrote last fall headed my last request could not have been received or the question with you would be settled whether you ever come to this country or not I expected an immediate answer to that which if it had been in the negative I should have stired myself to hunt up a pot Wrestler by this time. But no certain answer respecting your coming. must in a few days oblige me to retire a lone to Rosendale Shanty.
I have become acquainted with as fine a lot of Miss's as Kennedyville can produce. Pride Flattery or something else tells me that my standing is as fair as it used to be with the Belles of Both I often fancy I get a look, which says; a call would be acceptable. But I have yet the first girl in Illinois to ask for her Company. There is a better Society of young men than Kenne- dyville ever could boast of. There is to be 2 weddings this week. I received and answered a letter from Vincent which was 3 months coming. He wrote he should call on me in the Spring
as ever Jas C Hanks
Eleanor Carolina Martha & Sarah
Eleanor
You may think as an objection to your coming here that it will take a length of time before you will pass at - with the first Dear Sister your Brother has already done this work. he will warrant you an immediate recep- tion with the first I have left no stone unturned in paving Virtues path for myself and you, and the standing I now possess among the intelligent is my reward I have many friends and no enemies but the Vulgar and Intemperate. Four fifths of the young men who remain the neighborhood where they are raised remain Boys until they are 40 years old. while if at 20, they would leave home in 2 years they might be men
Caroline
Jamés
Be assured your scroll was welcome to your old Friend who for a long time previous had thought himself forgotten and forsaken by his dearest friends at the East. I wish I dared to indulge a hope that your Kind parents might find a home in this Fairy Land. I will be hard for Vincent to come back and stay contented in Steuben County If he should settle in this country and request it I think you had better come
J. C. H.
Sister Sarah
I have been trying to think of some news that would please you and compensate your letter but I cannot I now am sitting in my old school room
LOCATION OF JAMES T. GIFFORD'S LOG CABIN, THE SECOND BUILT IN ELGIN.
VILLA STREET. ELGIN.
97
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
with 1/2 dozen around me talking. It is wet over head and under foot the Snow is melting very Fast We have had 10 weeks good sleighing Sarah I wish you would persuade pa to come I shall forfeit my word if I ever again ask him if he received the letter I wrote last Oct
JCH
Martha
The Old Bachelor is glad to be remembered and consoled by old Friends in his solitary life. Maids in Steuben must get as fashionable as bachelors are here. I wish the - of the beau for the west might be brought up by a dozen of the Belle's of Steuben. (If my credit is good) please give half a dozen of the best old maids a smack for me and tell them we have 2 weddings a week here.
March 8th) I have just returned from a splendid ---- wedding there was 120 guests The house small for so large a company, the fashions are different from ours I have attended 2 and in neither did the groom speak to the bride on the day of the wedding till after the ceremony. He arrived with an excort at the hour appointed and the not is immediately tied. One thing I did not like, the groom was a magistrate and He suffered 2 of the escort in front to carry flags and he followed them in train riding round the house We had a good supper but their fashion is to set a table, which was a lengthy business for it was 8 times filled before all had feasted. Many little oddities were amusing and would draw from me a smile in my sleeve and I think it would you were you to pass a plate of ice cake to a row of ladies and have each so polite as to take a piece with her fork.
No more room
Jas C Hanks
March 14, 1837
Dear Son
We received your two letters yesterday morning with pleasure we had almost despaired of ever hearing from you again you must not let it be so long again it is a great privilege we have now in sending letters free we do not half take the advantage of it as we might I have sent you a nomber of Newspapers some directed to you and F Spalding there is two letters yet unanswered. we are all in tolerable health at this time we have been attend- ing meeting at - held by the P and the Methodist in union mother and myself hav been evry day for 9 days & Locky with us most of the time there has been and is yet a Glorious time of the outporing of the holy spirit a Nomber of conversions already among the No Esq R & Charles L a nomber of women and 30 or 40 we shall go after the Girls at Prattsburgh day after to-morrow the
tomorrow they have had a very agreeable winter they will write to you as soon as they get home Eliza Heath is not very good this winter
she has had 4 or 5
of
this winter. The
and
are
generally well uncle Z and myself will come and see you in May or before if Z sells his farm we shall come early of not we shall start as soon as he has a chance to sell Now for his price 14 Dollars per acre Sally is afraid to have him sell until he goes and sees the country mother will not
95
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
agree to have me sell until I come out and see the country &c. I do not know but I shall yet this Spring if I have a good chance I intend to write evry week to you and you may write to us evry Day if you are a mind what know of being so in writing we want to hear what you are about. The Preemption Law has passed the Senate you will hear from us again SOON B Hanks
Write how far you are from Elgin P Office &C write how much money you think it will take for me to come once and back and whether I had best come with horse & wagon and whether If I do not sell and dont have money to get back you can help me and all about it &c what the name of the man you live with &c
Kennedyville 6th April 1837
Dear Son
I have this day sold my farm to Russell Kellogg and Received $2000 in money for it and Now by the assistance of Divine Providence we shall get Ready for a start to Illinois as soon as Possible which I think will be by the 15th May Unele and family are coming with us we think of selling our teams here and come by water from Buffalo to Chicago I do not think mother could stand the journey by Land through Michigan there will be such a rush to the west this Spring there will be no accommodations on the Road Aunt Sally is very feeble and would hardly stand the journey I want you to write immediately upon the Receipt of this which I have requested S Spalding to forward to you immediately Start one back immediately on the Receipt of this Let us know about Provisions there and whether you will have a place to shelter us a few Days until we can assist you in building a shelter you had best buy a good cow if you can and whether we had best bring a wagon and Harness by water with us or can we buy them there write what pork is and other Provisions put in as much spring wheat and other spring crops as you possibly can if you have to go upon tie some for plowing etc we shall have some money when we get there if we have Stock and grain is very high here I am offered 40 Dollars for the old cow I shall write several times before we start and at Buffalo
B Hanks
We are all well and in good spirits yet and we intend to think it is all for the best that we should come we have earnestly laid the case before the Lord, and there seems to be a door open for our Departure from this place and with the Blessing of God upon us we hope to see you at your place A letter from Hinsdell this evening told they were well but Eliza was very sorry we were going west. our friends all well it is over three weeks since we received a letter from you I expected one before this time the last was 15th July you will try the experiment you will find in the Evening Post I sem you of Raising apples by sticking the sions into a potatoe and bury it all except 2 or 3 inches in the ground write whether we had best bring a barrel of Flour at Sio or can we get it there better
B Hanks
99
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
April 10th 1837
Dear Sir
I have had the pleasure of receiving two letters from you within a week Dated Feb 15 and March 14th and agreeable to promise and now commence my weekly epistles. our mail route has been let but a post master has not been appointed on account of the burning of the General post office. Your letter directed to Elgin has come the quickest of any for the past 6 months My health continues good and all other acquaintances as far as known are well.
It is hard for me to say whether I was pleased with your and uncle Z's reso- lution of coming this spring to see the country. Your coming to see the country before you move will release me from the obligation I am under that nothing within my power should be left un done that should be done to make you all contented and happy. according to your state ment Mother and Aunt are not willing to take my word for the good qualities of this country when I think that Aunt is unwilling to exchange that hill for these beautiful prairies it draws tears from my eyes O Aunt believe my report. I believe it will be for your health and happiness
uncle Z for 10 years you have not known or heard of my telling a lie-could I have a deed of the best thousand acres of land on your hill providing I would come and five on it it would be no more temptation for me to go than the same number of acres would be .on the rocky mountains
Uncle Z I know that you and myself are too near alike for you not to be pleased with this country I must say do sell come and be happy
Everybody here women as well as men believe they are in the best part of the United States this makes contentment and a contented mind is happy
Mother I am sorry that you have to put my kind Father to the trouble of coming so far to look out the road before you will venture to come Mother should you ever be fortunate enough to get here I fear that you will regret that you cannot have it to say that you enterprize and perseverence brought you here. I drew up a paper last fall and got some men to sign it binding themselves to assist in protecting that claim for you until the 4th of July next
The Illinois State legislature has passed an act allowing a man to hold 320 acres of land and to trespass on that the law is the same as though he had a deed
My business is making rails I have got the timber cut for 3,000 1,000 made. I have concluded to hire my board what time I work on my claim 8 acres of my ground I have let to be sown to Spring wheat on shares, I get 1/3 in the - for the use of the ground. Spring wheat in this country has always averaged 20 bu to the acre the winter wheat looks well. I shall try to have me a good garden, plant 5 acres to corn and potatoes sow 6 to oats and 2 to buck wheat. I shall work out some through the summer perhaps with the Boys again at Chicago. Flour is worth $12 corn $1 oats .75 pota- toes 31. Horses such as yours $80. each oxen average price 80. cows
25 Hogs on foot 7 cts pork per bbl $26 Labor I think that good hands may calculate through the season at 1.25 per day
100
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
The hurt that I got has pained you more than me I had called the committee to get a decision on a disputed piece of timber the 4th time and my opponent would never be ready I told him that I should not consent to another adjourn- ment and that he acted no part of a gentleman in objecting as he did on unreasonable grounds to General McClures setting at the last meeting at this alone he got angry and said if you insinuate on my feelings I will knock you down he stooped to pick up a stone I then turned to leave him he threw the stone which I did not expect nor see the motion the stone would weigh 4 lbs I was senseless a few minutes headed 2 or 3 hours. this
was done Saturday evening I kep school monday I have commenced a suit against him my trial come on in June court I am living at Elbert Howard
Yours J C Hanks
I have never received a newspaper from you I hope you will now send them often to Elgin and I shall get them Our spring has been favorable for work but it is backward
Kennedyville May 24th 1837
Dear Son
I now resume my pen for the last time while I stay in this country and the last letter I shall frank for I shall deliver up the Post Office tomorrow We received your letter dated Ioth April and have wrot you since directed to Elgin P. O. we are expecting a letter from you buy mail I received a letter from S F Spalding Dated 22nd April I wrote him the same time I did you after I sold he stated he would send your letter to you the first oppor- tunity I can tell you Dear Son it is a hard thing to pull up and move so far as we are going but through the blessing of our Heavenly Father we hope to go through with it the times are extremely hard here now. I cannot sell the things I have for 1, 4 the value of them and shall have to team some things to be sold when they can be to some better advantage than now we were at Hinsdells and spent the last Sabbath called at W'm Lomises and left Eleanor while we were at B she is a going to move her things tomorrow and go herself next Day it is hard parting, but we hope all for the best we shall start on Thursday next 30th May for Buffalo with 5 teams T 2 M 3 we have got a good wagon and harness to fetch with us I have got 500 Dollars in specie and the remainder I shall have to fetch in bills as the banks in this State have stopt specie Payments all business is at a stand here now.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.