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 21
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Take good care of what you have for its very doubtful if I am spared to return, a great many are going back from here. We have had hard work to find feed for our horses, and our troubles are just commencing.
You can have no idea of what a jaunt this is-Sand, Sand, Sand to eat, sand to drink, sand to sleep on, and sand to be buried in. The train is moving on and I must close. May God bless you now and evermore.
(Signed) William (Patten)
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VI. Mrs. William Patten to her husband.
My Dear Husband: Somonauk, June 3rd 1850
The letter you wrote me from Kanesville, I received the 21st of May and Alexander received one the 11th of May.
I presume mine was delayed or miscarried, it was so long in coming. I wrote three letters to Council Bluffs, not knowing but you might have to remain there some time.
My second letter was written the next week after the first. My prin- cipal object was to tell you about a letter that was written by a man, who had traveled, last season, all over California. The subject was the health of the miners.
He said improper food was the main cause of their sickness-that if they would use beef and fish instead of pork, use rice, beans and wheat meal, instead of fine flour, Indian meal and drink chocolate, boil their food instead of frying it and work reasonably, resting in the heat of the day, they would enjoy as good health as at home. He thought the climate healthy.
I have many reasons for being anxious you should keep well, but the main one is that you may come home sooner.
I feel at times so lonely, am like a divided being, feel all the time as if something is lacking to make things seem as they used to, yet I am getting along quite comfortably this summer but often think what shall I do next winter? I do not want to stay here alone.
I do not like to go home to stay so long. I sometimes say to mother (Patten) that I shall not worry about it for if I live some way will be provided.
If it were not such a long disagreeable journey, I would be in Cali- fornia, before many months. If you like the place so well that you would like to stay two or three years and think it best for me to come, I will, if spared, come next spring.
I presume by the time you reach Sacramento, you will be so sick and tired of the long journey and every thing there that you will almost shudder at the thought of any one you feel an interest in, ever attempting the journey.
Rev J. P. Miller (pastor of the South Argyle U. P. church) is very anxious to go to Oregon this summer, if the Synod will give him an ap- pointment. He and his family will go to Oregon City.
Would it not seem strange, should you visit at that place, to find your- self and Mr Miller on the shores of the Pacific.
I hope you will be able to obtain some agreeable employment through the winter as I know you would almost die of the blues, to be cooped up in some back place, without news or change during the wet season.
A number of letters have come to Somonauk, since you left. John Arnold writes he is doing well. Thomas Latham was in business in
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Sacramento and made $600.00 in a week. Dr Merriman was heard from at Chagrees. Oliver Pearson is in Sacramento.
May 25th, I sold the wagon to Peter Dobbin for $65.00. Everything in my care seems to be doing well. I have the calf pasture fenced and the calf in it. They have reduced breaking teams a good deal this summer. Mr Wilmarth and H. Merritt are each breaking with one span of horses and Mr Hough uses three horses. The men breaking for Robert have a yoke of cattle. Mother went to Plainfield last Saturday with Rev. French. He preaches there half the time this year.
John Boyd and Mrs Easton joined at the last sacrament. Simon Boyd and a son of Alexander Beveridge have been here two weeks.
Mr (Robert) Graham, wife and five children are here and more are expected in the fall. Mr French has a Bible class at 10 A M. the day's he preaches here and there is a Sabbath school every Sabbath, under the care of our people.
Mrs Howison was anxious the last time I saw her for fear you were suffering for water on the plains. It has been very dry here and very backwards.
It was published in the papers of the third week in May that the emigrants, who started first to cross the plains were in distress and had sent back an express for assistance.
Last weeks paper states that gold had been found in the streams, this side of the mountains.
Your letter to the Editors of the Tribune was published in the Tribune and Gem and extracts were printed in the Herald and Watchman of the Prairie.
You must write to Greenwich, N. Y. as soon as you reach Sacramento, for I may decide to go home this fall and in that way would hear from you sooner. Brother Moses wrote that he would have gone with you, if he had known it in time.
Brother Nelson wrote he was glad some of his kin had enterprise enough to undertake the journey. Remember me to your company and write particularly about Mr Blair.
I think Alexander will write in two weeks. I want two letters there as soon as you reach Sacramento.
Oliver Pearson starts home Oct 1st, perhaps you can send your journal by him. I intend writing once in two months unless you direct otherwise.
I hope that you will do so well that you will be satisfied to come home a year from this month, for if you live through next fall, I do not want you to risk another there
If a few months trial satisfies you that the climate does not agree with you the sooner you come home the better
The papers state more than forty thousand will cross the plains this summer
Now for a recipe for fever. Put as much salt in any quantity of vinegar as it will dissolve. Take a tablespoon full at a time for an adult,
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as an emetic, at first, then continue it until there is profuse sweating, when the fever is rising, take it as the stomach will bear, followed by copious draughts of warm herb tea-keep warm until better, be careful about diet and exercise for a few days.
It is recommended for all kinds of fever, pleurasy, sore throat and dysentery.
I hope you will get some good dried herbs before you go to the mines. If you see Oliver Pearson he can tell you where to get them. Prepare your salt and vinegar and keep it corked for use
I have the Water Cure Journal, I wish you could have read them I have given both remedies for fever and dysentery and the sick may take their choice
The author of the letter mentioned was a Dr and was made so (water cure) by powerful medicine. The old practice I believe. Don't stop where there is no good water
Oh! William, I did not think I should feel as I do. Almost every hope of future earthly happiness is associated with your return, if disappointed the future looks dark and unpromising to me. Have just read of 65 miners from Michigan being murdered by the Indians. I almost feel that I had rather you would remain in San Francisco than risk your life in the mines but you will know when there what is best to do.
No one that went from Cambridge (N. Y.) have done well, the Argyle boys have not been heard from.
I duly commend you to God, knowing he can preserve you from all evil, support you in every trial and restore you to your family if it is His will. I rejoice that you have an Arm on which to lean that can never fail you and that He has said, "My Grace shall be sufficient for thee." Build on that foundation and it will never fail nor put to shame.
I will kiss this spot and may your lips next rest on it
Write as often as you can.
Yours affectionate wife (Signed) Elizabeth Patten
VII. Mrs. William Patten to her husband.
My Dear Husband:
Somonauk, June 15 1850
The first week in June I wrote you a full letter, but fearing some- thing might prevent its reaching Sacramento I decided to write again and have Alexander write too, and think one will reach you. Last weeks paper states that letters sent to California should be prepaid. I did not know it was necessary when I sent the last letter, I gave you all of the news in the other and will only name a few in this. We are all well and it is very healthy here
Last weeks paper states that grain and water are abundant on the plains, but that a number had died of cholera in some companies. The news came by emigrants, who weary of the journey, had returned.
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Letters have been received lately from California, that came in six weeks. How glad I am they can come so soon. You do not know how pleased I was that I could hear from you so soon after you get there. Many rich mines have been lately discovered. Several from Somonauk have recently been heard from and all expect to do well this summer. If you have your health, I doubt not but you will too. All write it is healthy there if they take care of themselves
One gentleman, a physician, who traveled all over California last years says, that the only cases of incurable diseases he has seen were made so by taking powerful medicines.
If you have the means when you reach Sacramento do buy the best kind of provisions, even if it is much more expensive.
Oliver Pearson leaves Sacramento Oct 1st and hope you may see him and can send by him your Journal
Robert Graham, wife and five children came last month and more are expected from Ohio, this fall.
Rev James P. Miller and family expect to go to Oregon City this summer A long journey for one of his age, but he is very anxious to go.
Elizabeth Miller is to have $500.00 a year for teaching.
There were letters from Oregon in the last Repository that gave the country a great recommendation and I almost wish you were there instead of California. A man could make there all he would want in a few years and at the same time enjoy an excellent climate and health. If you do stay until next fall I wish you would go to Oregon to spend the rainy season. Common laborers there receive $50.00 a month and I feel sure you could get into business there that would pay your expenses. I suppose you will go so far from Sacramento, it will be useless to write to you often
It will be fourteen weeks next Monday since you left and more than that many months before we meet again
Mother has been at Plainfield two weeks and Mrs. Alexander is with me. I could not write a full sheet and have Alexander write and thought you would like to hear from him.
Yesterday I was told they (Patten and Beveridge) had sold over one hundred dollars a day, since their new goods came.
Mrs Lay and Harriet Fay start soon for the east. Colonel Alexander has been here today. He admires the country very much. He said he had counted on a great visit with you and was disappointed not to see you. He says a number of the Argyle and Cambridge company went right to the mines. Cousin John Robertson was one of them. Duncan Hall was stabbed at San Francisco
I fear this will try your patience but there is so much I want to write. May God bless you and keep you from all evil. Receive this with much love from your affectionate wife
(Signed) Elizabeth Patten
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GEORGE HOWISON TO MR. ALEXANDER HENRY GREENWICH-COUNTY OF WASHENTON-STATE OF N. Y.
Dear nephew and neice
Somonauk
I Received your letter from Miss Mcneice and we was all verry happy to hear of your welfare and this comes to let you know that we have ben but porley in our health we have all had the Illinois sickness save Robert he has had his health verry well we are all well except Margaret and my self Margret has been sick for six wicks and she is verry sore Reduced but she is now on the gain I am so as to be around most part of the day I some times takes the Shakes after Dinner and at night and for all the sickness we have had I think everything of Illinois and if you saw our plase you would think everything of it as I do if the boys be spared to pay for it, there is plenty for them all to work, the place is 240 acers if not more and that is a verry good farm ther is over 20 acers of wood on the place it is rather thin as the house heath taken a good part of the principal wood that was on it we have one yoke of first rate oxen 2 cows 2 calves and 10 acers of first rate timber at Shabners grove these things are all payed the wood cost them 57 Dollars and 25 cents money is verry scarch hear at present they want a nother yoke of oxen so as that they may brack up some more of the land to have plenty to work on, they can get plenty to work on the share but there is no profit on working on others land when one has plenty of ther own Alexander if you and your Wife was hear you Could have a good living if you was farely Stearted by working half of your time that you work in Greenwich I should like verry well to see you planted down beside us and we would have a talk about old langsin My wife thinks so much of Isabel for a neigbour that she wished verry much to be near hir Alexander Mcneice has taken up his residence hear after traveling throu all the stats from Salem to Illinois he came to us and stoped with Mr. Beveridge for about 3 or 4 weeks and looked around hear and Could not sut him self then away he went to wisconsin and spent 4 weeks there and returned back to us and acknoleged that this is the only place he had seen, therefore Alexander I would wish verry much that you would come out along with Thomas Bevaredge and my Alexander as I think that Alexander will be Coming out to us we had a very pleasant passage from Troy to Buffalow at buffalow we went to the Steam boat the neil and set of at 7 oclok at night and Just as we was sterting a thunder storm broke out but the carred on and we had a verry rough passage all the night on the morning hir main shaft brok and then we had to ly about a day till they got hir fixed and then they got hir wrought in to erie and then the madison came up the next morning and we was all put in to hir and the neil returned back to Buffalow to be repaired the were a proper night sickness and puking but we had a verry pleasant passage after that when we landed at Chicago James were redey for us we had as rough a passage from Chicago to
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Somonauk the rods was so bad owing to the wet season the oldest settelrs niver saw such a season in Illinois, the rods is good now we have had a good Iry fall we have had some verry havey thunder storms in the harvest which did a great deal of damage to the crops we had 6 acers of ots you niver saw the better of them either in Scotland or in america and it nocked them flat to the ground if they had ben properly attended to they would turned 60 bushels if not more to the acer we have a pretty far crop of spring wheat and our Corn heath don verry well considering the most part of it had neither plow nor how in it, you have had a great many Deaths around you I was very sorry to hear of Mrs Mc dougal and Mrs Matthew and Mrs allexander John Shaw Mrs Becop thomas henry hath tired in keeping house death makes great alteration I hear that William Henry is still going to law but it is with a woman now I hope that his plea is good and that he will gain the day give my best respects to Petter Alexander his Wife and famely I estem them verry highly for ther kindness to me and my famely give my Respects to Hiram Matthew and Docter Mack W Thomas while James Boyd sam curtus Moses Curtus Mr Stewart and Jared Stewart Walter Stewart Mr Henry and his famely both single and married Mr. john Alexander and his famely, give my Respects to thomas Beveridge and his wife my Wife has hir best respects to Petter Alexander and his wife and often she speaks about them I think more about greenwich than Scotland the people is settling very fast around us now ther is 5 fameleys settled around us this Summer and mor expected therefor Alexander I wish you to Come and Sellet as soon as you can for we want good neighbours and if James Henry was hear he would be transported in working the land hear a man that is brought up on a farm hear would be unfit to work on a farm in greenwich being so mountaneous My Wife has hir best Respects to william henry and she is glad to hear that he is going to get such a good match Isabel my wife thinks that you have don well by your Cows considering the pasture She often said that they would have a poor pasture with his great Stock of horses you didnot mention how Alexander Crop of corn turned out on hogs back if he had 40 or 50 bushels to the acre if we wer all to gether what a chate we would have about things but I dont wish to mention what is past and gone I was verry glad to hear that your father is so well put up I wish it may long continue for old people neds nursing and if he comes to ned it I could have wished him a better one I was sorry to hear that Robert was seized with such a dangerous Complent it would answer very ill with a empty pocket but I am glead to hear that he is in the way of Recovery I am sorry that he heath left you in such a bad situation but the thing that cannot be cured must be endured every one has there troubels and ther triels but when they are brought on with there own hands they have the more to reflect but I wish that we had you both out at Illinois and I think that you would be Releived out of a great maney of your troubels you did not mention aney thing about the wood
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on williams hill I hope that you will asist Alaxander as fare as in your power as you know that Alexr is very bashful and give him a eye look and what you done for him we will done as much for you if provi- dence spares you and us to meet if we can we will do as much for you I have now news at present I do not middel with other folks afairs and therefore if I cannot write what is good a dont write what is bad my famely Joines in wishing you both well and hops to see you both soon. No mor at present but Remains your Welwisher George Howison De- rect George Howison
Somonauk Deckalb Illinois
Illinois November 4th, 1844
MR. J. M. HUMMEL TO MR. ANDREW GRAHAM
My Old Friend Andrew:
Sandwich, Ill., March 4, 1927.
You pulled the right string-to the bureau of information desired. I ought to know about the Beveridge double log house. My grandfather, John Eastabrooks, and his sons Decatur and Bradbury, came to Squaw Grove, De Kalb County, Illinois, in the spring of 1835, about the time the government was removing the Indians across the Mississippi, and settled on claims north of the Grove. John Sebree had settled on the south side the fall before-1834.
In 1836 John Eastabrooks and son, Bradbury, made a deal with Reuben Root for the land that later became the property of George Beveridge. Root also had owned, by Squatter's Rights, the farm of the late William G. Beveridge but had sold his rights to Lucian Frisbee.
The log cabin that Robinson, the trapper, had built early in 1834 not affording sufficient room for John Eastabrooks' family, he built a larger log cabin near it on the north bank of the Somonauk Creek, fronting south, a few yards north and east of the bridge now spanning the stream. In 1836 John Eastabrooks returned to Pennsylvania and brought back his wife and younger children, using a farm-wagon which my father built for him.
My father, Peter F. Hummel, a son-in-law of John Eastabrooks, was persuaded by Mr. Eastabrooks' glowing accounts of the possibilities of the West to exchange his property in Pennsylvania for Bradbury Easta- brooks' one-half interest in the Root land, and in November, 1837, started for his western home with his wife and five boys. The boys were taken with measles on the boat. Arriving in Chicago in the midst of winter weather, with deep snow on the ground, the exposure was so severe on the journey out to the claim that a relapse was the consequence and three of the boys, aged seven, five and three years, died. They were buried in one grave in the cemetery now known as Oak Ridge, on the Somonauk Creek, five miles farther south. This triple grave was the second grave made in Oak Ridge, the well-known pioneer, Anthony Har-
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mon, having laid a sister there in 1836. Oak Mound was later chosen for a burial-ground.
When father Hummel came another log cabin was built adjoining the Eastabrooks' cabin and the two families lived side by side, the place thenceforth being designated "the double log house." This house faced the road running east and west, somewhat nearer the road than the present house. The rooms were quite large-had to be for two families. I came to life in 1841, so do not remember father and John Eastabrooks, but my memory retains a vivid picture of this double log house. I have been in it but have no recollection of a fireplace. As a small boy of seven and eight years I frequently saw it when it was the Beveridge property, and I pronounce the accompanying picture perfect.
In the spring of 1838 John Eastabrooks took over my father's interest in the claim and father settled on a new claim two miles east of Freeland Corners on prairie land. Later in the year George Beveridge made a trade with John Eastabrooks, giving him a quantity of woolen cloth, a team and conveyance for his Squatters Rights and improvements.
The home of Robinson, the trapper, built in 1834, disappeared in 1835. In the spring of 1838 Eastabrooks bought father's interest in the Beveridge land and father built a larger house near Frank Wilson's, and two log houses after that. Later that season George Beveridge came. He had been interested in the manufacture of woolen cloth. Bringing with him a quantity of cloths he persuaded grandfather Eastabrooks to let him have his claim in exchange for cloth, telling him he could sell it to settlers and make a profit. So they traded.
Mr. Beveridge bought a yoke of oxen, a plow and other implements from Lucien Frisbee, whose children all died of consumption.
All that the settlers could sell was Squatter's Rights, as the land was not surveyed until 1847 and 1848. Then deeds were given at $1.25 an acre. I recall several instances when greedy individuals took deeds for claiming, when parties had improvements, thereby trying to steal the improvements.
The settlers were organized to protect each other's rights and, when such dishonest methods were resorted to, settlers waited on the depre- dators with tar and feathers, and unless they turned over the property to the rightful owners they stripped and tar and feathers applied and run out of the country. I attended one such case of self appointed justice and came near seeing another one but the settlers formed a wedge, with pitchforks and clubs in their hands, and as they neared the house one of those inside came running out with a white flag and agreed to leave the matter to three old settlers to settle, and chose Squire Shonts, E. L. Brady, and Banker Johnson. They decided the land must be re-deeded and the settlers paid whatever expense they had been to. Settlers had to band together to protect their rights.
My father enlisted and was a soldier in the Mexican War, 1847-48. In 1849 he went to California in search of gold but did not live to return.
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These were hard years for us. Our family was separated for a time. Four of us children were out doing our bit to save the home and make a living. At seven years of age I was put out for a time to work for my board, living with Heman Westfall, west of Freeland Corners, where John Fanning now lives. My work was milking cows and doing other chores, dropping corn and potatoes, in fact any thing a boy could do. My brother James was doing the same thing for William French. It was kind of these men to give us the job. Sometimes I got permission to go fishing, would go to the point where the road crossed the Somon- auk by the George Beveridge home. I always went to the house to get a drink and of course "Aunt Ann" would invite me in.
When I was eight years of age I drove three yoke of oxen breaking prairie. My wage was 121/2 cents a day from sun to sun. As there was no money I was paid in corn, wheat, fat pork, beans-anything to. sustain life and keep body and soul together. We had a mortar to reduce corn, wheat and other cereals to make them edible. Our electric light was a strip of a rag in a cup or a saucer in which was lard. After candle moulds came, candles were indulged in only by the most well-to-do. I first cut grain with a sickle, later with the cradle. Small grain was all stacked and threshed by means of flails in the fall of the year. The manipulation of the flail is quite an art. After a few years we got things straightened out and were at home again. I think the double log house was removed about 1850 or 1851.
Now I have digressed and rambled hither and thither-and the most part of what I have written you did not request, therefore I shall make no charge.
Anybody can draw a double log house; I am not a draughtsman, so would make poor work of it. Yours,
(Signed) J. M. Hummel
THE REVEREND J. P. MILLER, PASTOR OF THE SOUTH ARGYLE CHURCH
The following was received too late to be included in the reference to the " parent church " on page 244. The church records show that the Rev. James P. Miller was installed over the congregation at South Argyle in October, 1829. In 1844 he was appointed by the Eastern Synod to visit the Somonauk Church and was with that congregation for two or three Sabbaths, giving them wise counsel and great encouragement in their Christian work. He resigned in 1851 to accept a missionary appoint- ment to Oregon, where he died three years later. The South Argyle Church furnished so large a proportion of the pioneer members of the church at Somonauk that relations between the two were very close. The Rev. Miller was entertained by Mr. and Mrs. George Beveridge during his missionary visit. For letters, etc., referring to him, see Index.
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