| Madison County Letters© - 20Feb1843 Copyright 2000 Fredi Perry In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data and images may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for other presentation without express permission by the contributor(s) Ridge Prairie, Madison Co, IL Feb. 20, 1843 Dear Caroline, I rec'd your letter of Jan. 29 on Saturday last and have read it to Mrs. H. A. W. Perrigo. She is well but has a sick baby born Dec. 26, 1832 named Harriet Drusilla Perrigo, who is very sick and requiring the constant attention of eithr the mother or a hired girl. The basby is named after its deceased Aunt Harriet Perrigo and its grandmother Drusilla Perrigo. It has three "ague cakes", on on its face, one on its right wrist, one on its body. Thus far it has not found this world a very pleasant one. Nan Tayo says it is "nine daby and sitters" (my baby and sister.) The old folks and Nan Tayo are going to leave us the first of next month to live on Widow Parkinson's farm near Highland. Cold weather - At Galena the mercury has this winter sunk in the thermometer to 32 degrees below zero. Here only 2 degrees below. And yet I find it plenty cold enough here. You are still further north than Galena and must have felt tolerably cool weather. No wonder that Felix O'Flynn could not stand it among the Badgers. Your father has had fever and ague for companions all the fall and winter. He has at length got into the coal business and has a boy and team engaged in hauling coal to St. Louis, and a digger at the Bluff. Fletcher Robinson was married last week to one of old John Lamm's girls. Your father and step mother attended and when they went home on Friday, your stepmother was lying down in the wagon sick. So I am told by Mr. Corwman and Jemony (?). The Rev. John H. Benson died at his home in this vicinity of consumption on Sunday, Feb. 5. Was buried at Collinsville on Tuesday after. Had left a large and needy family. Mr. Wm. Weer, Jun., a graduate of McKendrie College keeps school at our log school house; Miss Laura M. Smith, at Troy; Mr. Kenny at Posey's. Mr. O. P. Hare at Mt. Gilead. Five or six girls from this neighborhood attend Mr. Braley's Academy at Collinsville. Your Pa and I concluded to buy that letter from Monroe. Found it signed "Gorge Churchhill jun." I am still of the opinion that it is not Martin George's writing or spelling. It looks like a female hand. So Uncle ??? has become Lawyer and Landlord. Does he practice at the Bar in both capacities? IR. Perrigo, jun. and lady and daughter live in my home. They have Miss Mary Ann Gaskill, while David's youngest, as help. They had Miss Mary Ann Sackett for 8 weeks, and paid her 8 silver dollars; but money would not make her stay any longer. The hard times do not affect the girls: but they increase their wages as money grows scarce. I suppose the immigration to Wisconsin keeps up the prices of provisions there. Is your mother married yet? How is GrandMa? The Smalls: I have not seen them for a long time except Miss Charlotte Elizabeth whom I saw at Minerva's last Saturday. I learn that Mr. Small has sold his house to a Mr. Tufts, a tailor from St. Louis, and is to build another, and that he Smalls and Tufts all live now in the same house. Miss Julia, I think, is at Monticello Seminary. If you want t a letter from Miss Mary C. Weeks, write to her and say that you will pay postage both ways. Then I think you will have a letter from her. Mr. Brady has built elegant Academy at Collinsville. Some of the young theological students have erected a framed house to study in, which they call "The Dormitory". Some of the wags had called it "The Gospel Factory". Mr. Blood (?) intends the theological and Latin students. Rev. Mr. Chamberlain preaches at Troy every other Sunday. He was once a missionary to the Cherokees. The people talk of erecting a meeting house at Troy. They now meet in the store house formerly occupied by T. T. Kreffs. (?) I attend there sometimes when the traveling is had, but usually alternately at Collinsville and Marine Settlement under the ministration of Rev. J. L. Darrow of the Protestant Episcopal Church to whose communion I belong. Before you write your letter to Pa, inquire of Landlord, Lawyer, Gardner where Monroe is; and tell your Pa all about it. I expect to go to Kingston Bluff about the time your letter gets there and shall expect to see one well filled out. You might have put about twice as much matter in the letter now before me. Tell Master George to write a part of it so that I can see his genuine writing and spelling. I suppose you have frequent preaching at Monroe, and therefore I have not filled my letter with exhortations: but you must permit me to ask you to turn to Ecclesiastes XII, I, and to follow the inspired advice there given. Much of your future happiness depend upon seeking first the Kingdom of heaven. Those who have postponed this all important concern have always had reason to repent, then delay. Hasten (?) to be wise; Stay not for the Morrow's here Wisdom if you still despise Harder is it to be won. Truly yours, George Churchill PS: Uncle Levi remains in status quo. His house was as fine as a fiddler when he went into it. Now is somewhat resembles a pig pen. At any rate, he lives above board, for there is a thick dark colored court between him and the floor. |