USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Sandwich > History of the Somonauk United Presbyterian church near Sandwich, De Kalb County, Illinois : with ancestral lines of the early members > Part 20
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I think I shall make a good Hoosier except in driving cattle. Yesterday I drove four yoke of oxen between two stumps four rods apart without touching which is better than I could do at first.
Do not neglect writing as long as I have done
Yours sincerely (Signed) William Patten
II. William Patten to Miss Elizabeth Pratt.
Elizabeth:
Somonauk, Thursday, Dec. 28, 1843.
It is with unfeigned pleasure that I sit down this evening to acknowl- edge the receipt of and answer your letter which I received this morn- ing. I have been counting the days ever since I wrote you. At first I thought it would come in about twenty days but at the time when we began to look for one, we received some papers that were about twenty days on the way. You may imagine what my feelings were, when I found I must double the time.
This morning I was about ready to leave Sononauk for Shabbona Grove, when I received the long looked for letter.
It was a welcome messenger. I was pleased with your promptness in writing. All the fault I could find was in not giving a fuller account of
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all that was passing in the vicinity of that much loved but now far dis- tant land. Every occurrence whether trifling or serious is interesting.
It was with painful and melancholly feelings that I received the ac- count of Cousin Mary Henry's departure for that bourne from whence there is no return. Alas! how soon are our long cherished hopes of earthly happiness and pleasure cut short. William's grief must be deep. He almost idolized her. How many warnings do we daily have of the uncertainty of life.
With all the assurance which we have that the time of our sojourning here being short and very uncertain, we go on building our hopes of earthly happinesss as if we were to remain forever.
We have also been called on to mourn the loss of one of our number. Small as was our circle a break has been made in it. Jonathan B. French was taken from us Dec. 26 (1843) at a quarter before nine A. M.
He gave the fullest evidence of dying in the faith and hope of our Savior. He was spared the full possession of his senses to almost the last moment of his existance. He was perfectly calm and resigned, anxiously waiting for the hour when he should be called to pass the Jordan of death and appear before that merciful Redeemer who died that we might live.
His death and previous conversation has made a deep and I trust last- ing impression on us all.
Well may we with the Psalm wish that we may die the death of the righteous and our last end may be like his.
Dr. French received during his protracted illness all the attention that duty and affection required. No mother could have shown more kindness to a son than Mrs Beveridge did for him.
She was with him the most of the time for the last three weeks. His distressing complaint, a chronic diarrhea (He had consumption) kept one and sometimes two constantly in attendance. James Beveridge waited on him a month, until he left for school in Mount Morris, then John Bev- eridge took his place until his school commenced Dec 5th, since then William French has cared for him assisted by the rest of us.
I was with him the day he died. This is the second death I have wit- nessed in Illinois. Alas! what a contrast between them. The one receiving every assistance that the kindest heart could suggest. The other with scarce a friend to moisten his dying lips. The one giving the clearest evidence of a hope in that better life that is to come.
The other to all appearance having scarcely a knowledge that there was a Savior, before his Judgement seat he was to appear. May God grant that these dispensations of his Providence may be blessed to our use, that our hearts may be softened, that they may be the means of weaning us from the things of this world and set them on Him who is able to make us wise unto salvation.
I do not know but that I gave you a too dismal picture of the health of our friends in Somonauk. This fever and ague is not very serious if
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properly treated. It lasts but three or four hours at a time, with some- times a week in between.
It is not considered much more dangerous than toothache. There is plenty of medicine that will cure it if properly taken, but there are few who have the patience to continue taking it and lay idle the requisite length of time. They feel so much better in a day or two and there is usually so much to do that they commence work, which usually brings on the shakes again.
The health of the neighborhood has improved very much, there is not to my knowledge a person confined to the house, within ten miles and but few who are not in the enjoyment of perfect health. I am still of the opinion that it is healthier here than in the east, where a proper choice has been made of location and house, some of the houses are not fit for hog pens. In the chamber where we sleep we can count the stars through the roof, sometimes our clothes are wet in the morning, if we are not careful to lay them in a sheltered place.
Dec. 30th .- I have a poor opinion of building log houses in this country. It takes the same amount of flooring, roof &c that a frame one does. The most of the houses built recently have been small frame ones, costing from one to two hundred dollars. This is almost as cheap as a log house can be built and made comfortable.
It was something like this description of Houses that I wished to put up but the expense of board and other extra expenses would run up the cost in money out, to more than I could afford at present. It was this that led me to that proposition in my letter to Alexander. I should have liked to have had your opinion but the improbability of receiving an answer in time to be of any use has in a measure compelled me to adopt the log house plan.
The cellar is almost dug and the foundation laid, for a house twenty feet square. I could not get logs for a longer one, indeed it is difficult to find logs that will do at all. They are either too large, crooked or too short. It would be no trick at all to put one up if we had the eastern hemlocks to get the logs out of.
It requires a lot of hewing to get the logs in any kind of shape that will answer. There was another difficulty at the time I wrote. The claim of about fifteen acres of timber that was given up to me by Mr. F. turned out by measurement to be about twenty-five and he has recalled his gift.
I do not know as yet for certain if he will let me have any of it or not. According to the claim rules I hold it. Nothing but the fear that I will enter all of it will bring him to terms.
If I were able to deed the eighty acre lot the house will be on and the forty the timber is on, it would make a farm 80 rods wide and 240 long. The creek runs through the forty. This would make us a good and hand- some a farm as I have seen in Illinois or any where else of its size.
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The other eighty I claimed lies between us and Howisons and it is not possible that any one will meddle with that for some years to come as there is plenty of good land elsewhere.
I am determined if possible to keep clear of small debts.
I have received my box of goods and they were all safe. Mr. Beveridge is now in Chicago and may bring the wagon home if the roads are not too bad. We have had considerable trouble about our land in Shabbona Grove, it was to have been surveyed the next week when I wrote and was not until last week.
We had been over to see about it four or five times.
It is quite an undertaking to walk nine miles and back again without the satisfaction of accomplishing anything. It has prevented us from doing anything about getting out rails and to crown the whole we have been set by the surveyor, about half of the width of the lot west, which throws us into a grove of large maple timber, which is of no use to us as it is too far to draw wood (7 miles).
When I went east I left particular instructions not to pay out the money with out ample security that the contract would be fulfilled, in- stead of that, there was not even a receipt taken. The one who owns the land is a perfectly irresponsible and slippery case and to make the matter worse the land was entered in another mans name upon whom we have no hold, so we are obliged to take what we can get and hold our peace. I was provoked when I came back and found things in this shape. I would about as soon have thrown the money in the fire, and getting timber we do not want is not all, it is land another man claims and swears that if we attempt to cut a stick, he will shoot us as quick as he would prairie wolves.
I thought I would mention this so that if we are missing some night, you may be prepared in a measure for the news.
The title to what we get is perfectly good.
You will see by what has been written that you are coming to a civil- ized country as all the ways of lying and cheating are as well understood here as in the east.
There has been a perfect turmoil all the fall and winter about land claims. The high prices of produce has made money more easily obtained and every one seems to be looking about where he can obtain the most with what he has on hand. The certainty that the canal will be completed as soon as practicable has set speculation completely afloat and they are all going to be rich in a short time. I almost believe a near market is a curse instead of a blessing. It seems to make people more grasping and covetous.
You ask what gave me the blues and you can form some idea of how many vexatious circumstances I had to contend with by reading the fore- going account. All this with ill health and the thought I was separated.
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from nearly all that I loved was enough to give any one a touch of the blues. I almost wished I had never attempted to settle in the west but things now wear a different aspect.
I was not well the first two or three weeks after my return but since have enjoyed excellent health. I think if those I left in the east were here I would enjoy living here as well as I ever did in my life. Tell Eleanor her apples were distributed according to her directions.
Jennet Henry sent some apples and chestnuts. They were a great treat here. We had some long talks over Greenwich matters over them.
There is a minister now at Mr Beveridges to preach for us tomorrow. A Rev McClintock or some such name. He arrived a few hours after we buried Dr French. We would have been pleased if he had arrived sooner as it made considerable talk in the neighborhood, our burying him with- out a sermon or even a minister in attendance. It is considered all im- portant here to have a funeral sermon and they will sometimes send a great distance for a minister when on other occasions they would not go to hear the best gospel sermon ever preached.
You will all be pleased to hear that Mrs Beveridge is enjoying quite good health. James Beveridge is at Mount Morris at school. Thomas is as healthy as I ever saw him. John Beveridge is teaching about twenty scholars, not including the retinue of dogs, which are too difficult to count. I think however there are not more than forty.
Some one opened the door one day when they all took a notion to run in. When John was trying to drive them out, they commenced fighting and such a racket they made, would be hard to beat. There were no lives lost however.
William and James Howison are well. We now intend to begin chop- ping Monday if nothing prevents us. I have been making an ox sled, which the boys advise me to tie up nights to prevent its going into the woods to steal rails but I think it is not necessary as nothing that belongs to me would enter a business where there is so much competition. You mention having a singing school at Lake, but you must not think we are entirely destitute of music here. The wolves have taken it into their heads to serenade us almost every night. Just imagine fifty dogs and cats all barking and making a noise together and you may have some idea of it.
They will come as near the house as they dare and commence, that sets all the dogs in the neighborhood barking and one might as well sleep in Bedlam.
We are having a mild and pleasant winter so far. If all of the winters are like this we shall not regret leaving that cold, frosty country.
There has not been more than two or three inches of snow at a time yet. That was in November. December has been a beautiful month.
I am now at John Walker's and expect to remain here the most of the time until March, when with the Howison boys we will set up house- keeping for our selves.
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I have made a trade with J. Shaw by which I am to use his oxen when I want them until spring, that is better than to get them of my own and buy feed for them.
The sickness of the boys prevented their getting much cut for me. I do not know as half I have been writing will be of interest to you but I have plenty of time to write mornings and evenings and nothing else to write.
You must not mind my sending such a blotted sheet as it was written mostly by candle light, and does not look well beside of yours
Yours,
Signed William (Patten)
I should like to keep this open until Monday to give you an account of the sermon but if I do may not have an opportunity to mail it for some time.
I shall endeavor to comply with your time of writing but do not know as I can get papers to send you but will do my best. I was pleased that you are on good terms with my folks. visit there as often as you can, for my sake if not for your own. I would not for the world have any misunderstanding between you. Give my respects to all our mutual friends.
W. P.
III. Mrs. William Patten to her sister in Cossayuna, Washington County, New York.
My dear Sister : Somonauk, Illinois, Aug. 1, 1845
Your letter dated July 4, and 11, came last week. It was received with joy. I had become quite anxious to hear from home and began to think they were rather tardy answering my letters.
My health is good, I never felt better than I do this day. James Miller (the Baby) is well. The day he was three months old he weighed 16 pounds.
Your present came just right, it was what I wanted and intended to get at the first opportunity.
The 4th (of July) was celebrated by the young people of Somonauk at Mr. Arnold's, about two miles from here. I attended, there were 27 couple, but few others except relatives and close friends of Mr. Arnold's. It was called by the young people an "Independence Party."
Perhaps you will wonder how I came to be invited. Mrs. Arnold is a sister of our nearest neighbor Mr. George Hough and they insisted on my going with them. I also had an invitation from Gilbert L. Hough, another brother and the orator of the day.
An arbor was erected under which we had our dinner, and I never sat down to a table more bountifully spread, everything you could wish was before us.
The young people were neatly and fashionably dressed and appeared as well as any company I ever saw.
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Our orator was a prairie boy not twenty years old, who had never been to an academy but sixteen weeks and has not been highly favored with common schools. His oration evinced talents of a superior order.
William went Thursday afternoon with Mr. Beveridge to Sycamore to attend an Abolition County convention and a Democrat celebration on the 4th at that place. He was a delegate to the convention.
William and Alexander have harvested their wheat and five large stacks were built this week near the house. They are now at Mr. Bev- eridges and expect to be there a week after this.
I am with Mother Patten as we are both left alone, when the boys are gone. I stay with her and she is very kind to me and I like her very much.
Martha's school closed yesterday, she had a very pleasant school, she was very much attached to her scholars and they appeared to love her sincerely.
Write what William Henry says about this country and about the way people live here. Affectionately your sister
Elizabeth Patten.
IV. William Patten to his wife Elizabeth Pratt Patten.
Elizabeth :
Council Bluffs, Apr. 12, 1850
We are now at Council Bluffs, have been here a week tonight, are all in good health and good spirits. We are living in a small cabin about ten by twelve feet square.
This is the great Mormon settlement. There are some ten or fifteen thousand of them in this vicinity. To all outward appearances they are an honest, industrious people, with a very respectable amount of intel- ligence for a back settlement, and as happy, with any amount of peddling and singing going on among them. Some of their songs describing their persecutions and pilgrimages would bring tears from any one.
They are stowed away here in the hills so thick. It is the hilliest coun- try I was ever in, and to look at, as barren a one, but they say the valleys are very fertile, yielding some sixty or one hundred bushels of corn to the acre.
I never saw so large an agricultural population stowed in so small a space. The Californian's are scattered up and down the river for fifteen miles, Kanesville being the central point. We are about seven miles from Kanesville in a north east direction, in what is called Brown's camp.
Every little hollow contains from three to a dozen families and is called a camp. We paid fifty cents for corn, two dollars per ton for hay and fifty cents a week for the cabin.
We cook in the cabins and sleep in the wagons. Most of the Cali- fornian's are similarly situated. Corn is now sixty five cents a bushel, those who came first paid only thirty.
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Some companies talk of starting next week. We do not intend to start until there is grass, if it is not until July. We are in hopes of starting two weeks from next Monday.
Those who are acquainted with the trip, say that it will be impossible for those that start before the grass is up, to keep up their teams. The Mormons do not intend to start until the first of June.
We are living a dull, monotonous life and could get very homesick if we were to indulge in such feelings.
I fear I shall receive no letters before we start as the mail contractors have given up their contracts between here and Des Moines, so there is no eastern mail from this place.
We are living beside a man who has been to California and back, he thinks with good luck we can go from here in one hundred days. He thinks we have a very good outfit.
There have been two deaths among the Californians, one shot by ac- cident and the other died with lung fever.
They all appear to be in good health that I have seen. I have not seen any place yet that I would exchange for Somonauk to spend my days in.
Iowa, a large portion of it, is rough and hilly, and in one place we came sixty five miles without seeing a house, it was prairie, with one exception of about half a mile, all the way. We had a very pleasant trip to here. The distance here must be five hundred miles.
I have not slept in a house since we left home. It is supposed there are about two hundred wagons in this vicinity. There have quite a number turned back already.
I wish you would write about two and a half months before you think I will arrive in Sacramento City.
April 20th I began this letter some days ago, but did not mail it on account of the delay in the mail.
We are now preparing to start a week from Monday. It has been very cold with considerable snow. There is scarcely any appearance of grass yet.
Some companies have started and report says they are in snow a foot deep. It has been a very backward spring. Corn is now $1.50 a bushel. We have plenty to last us until we start. I met Andrew Watson and three of Alex McFarlands boys here. There are people from Washington, Iowa here who want to go in our company. We are to have no labor on the Sabbath, no liquor drinking, no gambling or other immoral conduct in our company. We elect our officers today. I am one of the committee to receive applicants and examine outfits. We have thirty three wagons and are to have but forty and about one hundred and twenty men.
Some of the companies have bands of music with them. We have black- smiths and other mechanics in our company. I wish you were along. There are women here with their husbands, who appear to enjoy the trip.
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There are a great many fine men along and quite a number of the companies have regulations similar to ours, others are as rough as city rowdies, drinking and gambling all the tiime.
Yours affectionately
William Patten
V. William Patten to Elizabeth Pratt Patten.
Elizabeth :
Laramie, May 28, 1850.
I write again a few lines with the wish that they may find you in the enjoyment of good health and all of the blessings that are promised those to whom God has chosen for his own.
I write under the influence of painful feelings. Small as was our number, one of them is missing.
James Walker was taken ill Friday night, the 18th inst. On Saturday he drove his team and wagon until afternoon, then he was taken in so much pain, that he was unable to do so any longer, that night he was very sick and on Sabbath day, he appeared some better, in the earlier part of the day and in the evening he was somewhat worse but the Doctor that belonged to our company did not think him seriously ill.
On Monday our company started on with the expectation that we would be able to follow that afternoon. We start then but found he was unable to proceed. The Doctor remained with us until Tuesday evening when we had to send him forty miles, before morning, in order to overtake the company.
On Monday night James was very sick. His disease was inflammation of the bowels. We had another Doctor to see him that night and the next morning, when both Doctors pronounced him convalesing.
He continued, as we supposed getting better until Wednesday noon, when we hailed another Doctor, who was passing. James was then up; dressed and sitting on a trunk in the shade of the wagon.
We wanted the Doctor's opinion as to the propriety of moving on.
He thought James convalescing and that the ride, if anything, would be beneficial in producing the operation of medicine given that morning. We took the loading out of one wagon and our clothing and placed a straw tick filled with prairie hay under him and started on with the company, the Doctor was with, in order to have his advice.
During the ride he complained some of pain and feeling tired. During the night I gave him three injections and in the morning after a free elimination he seemed to feel much better and the Doctor advised con- tinuing on with him and we did so and during the day he appeared quite cheerful and told me repeatedly, that he did not feel much pain but was weak and complained considerably of the heat (it was very hot) on our arrival where we stopped to camp he got out of the wagon and sat on the eavener and while there he had a sinking spell and came near fainting.
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He soon revived and lay down on some blankets in the shade of the wagon. We washed him and was about changing his clothes and pre- paring a bed for him on the ground, when he arose, went around the wagon he was lying beside, to the front of the other wagon, where A. B. was standing, grasped hold of him and sank to the ground dead, without a struggle.
You may judge our feelings. I cannot describe them. Such a shock I never received before. We buried him as respectably as circumstances would permit and proceeded on our way with heavy hearts. It is sup- posed that mortification had set in the morning before the elimination from his bowels.
We have just overtaken our company at Laramie 120 miles from where we buried him. Our Doctor thinks there must have been some in- ternal disease not perceptible.
I wish you would send or go over to Mrs Walker, with this letter and tell her I intended writing a more full account of his sickness and death to her, but we have had to drive very hard to overtake our company and we are under the necessity of moving on immediately, as there is no feed here for our horses.
James wanted that John should be advised, not to undertake this trip on account weakness of the bowels. It is almost certain death to anyone subject to looseness of the bowels.
I am sorry I have not time to write more. I intended to have lain here all day instead of little more than an hour. I will try and write Mrs Walker from Fort Hall or Salt Lake.
We are all as well as could be expected. Our teams are in good con- dition. We are 522 miles from the Missouri river and half way to Salt Lake. There is considerable sickness among the emigrants. We had the small pox in our company. I was vacinated and it worked well, some dozen pits filled on me.
I shall try and have letters ready for any opportunity of sending them after this. The train is all hitched up and I must close and if should find feed within two or three miles, I will write to Mrs Walker this evening and bring it back here to mail.
We are leading a hard life, up night and day. It would take a heap of gold to tempt me to try this trip again. Everything like regularity has to be given up, either of living or anything else. Water is most abominable. It is thick with sand and clay.
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