Introduction
This document was developed from four papers of Miles Blythe McCorkle, that were stored in an envelope from "Zinser & Hartong,Dearlers in Drugs, Books, Stationery, Paints, Oils, Glass, Brushes, Perfumery, Surgical Instruments, Fancy Goods, &c., &c., Washington, Ill." Although not dated, it is believed that this envelope was the property of Miles Blythe McCorkle as he left Washington, Ill to move to Bedford, Iowa in 1878. This would place the envelope as at least one hundred twenty-one years old, in 1999.
The first document contained in the envelope was a letter written by Miles Blythe McCorkle to his wife Martha Lucinda Gorin McCorkle, and their children on March 29th, 1878, as he traveled from Washington, IL to Hiawatha, Kansas, [where the letter was written] to inspect prospective farms for purchase. The letter was written on lined stationery, 8 \'bd by 11 inches, folded at the left, and embossed in the upper left hand corner with a building containing one large dome and two smaller domes, believed to represent the federal capital building. This letter was written in ink and filled completely the four surfaces of the folded paper.
The second document was also a letter, written four days later on April 2nd, 1878, again in Hiawatha, Kansas. This letter was written on the same stationery as the first letter, but was written in pencil. In both letters it was noted that Miles Blythe McCorkle did not start his sentences with a capital letter, unless the sentence happened to start with the word "I". And further, it was noted in both letters that his signature did not include the lower case "c" in his last name, e.g. " M. B. M Corkle".
The third document, undated, and un-signed and in pencil, is believed to be written by Miles Blythe McCorkle, as it also was stored in the same envelope as the two letters above, and contained the same style of writing, as again the first letters of the first words of sentences were not capitalized. This third document, referred to here as "This little volume", appears to contain religious thoughts or teachings. It was written on lined paper, 127 mm by 198 mm [5 inches by 10 inches], apparently taken from a writing tablet, and not of the type of stationery, as the above letters were written. Three pages of paper were employed, two of which were still joined at the top from the adhesive of the tablet. One page was written on both sides, on page was written on only one side, and the third page was written on both sides, although the second side was only one-half filled with writting.
The fourth document, again undated and unsigned, is believed to be written by Miles Blythe McCorkle, for similar reasons as the third document. It was also stored in the same envelope as the previous three documents, and first words of sentences were not started with a capital letter. This document was written in pencil and was on lined "legal size" paper, 194 mm wide by 317 mm long. This paper contained a margin at the left of 39 mm set off by a vertical set of three lines, red-blue-red. As this paper was filled on both sides with writting, and the writer ran out of space, additional space was created on these margins, on both sides of the paper, for additional writing. Lines were neatly drawn with a straight edge, which was followed by script. Although not stated as such, from the context of the document, it appeared to be a sermon or at least a religious admonition.
These documents were very difficult to read. Thus, during the transcription process, a computer and a Hewlett Packard Scan Jet 4P scanner were employed, which digitized the image of each page. With the aid of Visioneer Communication, Inc.'s Paper-Port software, version 3.0.1 and JASC, Inc.'s, Paint Shop Pro, version 4.12, images were magnified 200%, the contrast increased and the brightness reduced. This enabled the transcription process to proceed with greater accuracy. Editorial comments by the transcriber are enclosed are enclosed in square bracket, [\'85.]. Footnotes were also used as appropriate to assist in explanation. In those situations, where the spelling of a word or name was not recognizable or could not be inferred from surrounding text, the space was filled with question marks and then enclosed with square brackets, e.g., [???].
Letter of March 29th 1878
Hiawatha
March 29th
Martha and Children
I have been at this place two days. was at Will Patrick's Thursday night. he is in the best part of Kansas I have seen. the soil is very good. principle objections is scarcity of timber and is very broken. at least looks so to a person from Ills. seen one farm liked. I believe would buy it if I could get it for a fair price but it is owened by a German he knowd he has a good thing. says he will sell it but asks more than it is worth. will try to describe it (Page 2) is three miles from Hiawatha on walnut creek north side contains 400 acres. from the north to the south line it is a gradual slope not too broken just rolling enough. near the south line walnut and mulberry creeks comes together making a stream the size of walnut at Eureka. here is 60 acres of timber. And the nicest gravelly feed lot I ever seen. Such farms are very scarce in any country. farms that can be bought at low figures are not what we want. shall remain in Kansas several days yet. shall go to north Missouri from here. you had better write me at Bedford, Iowa. forgot to tell you, I received your letter at Hiawatha you have no idea how glad I was to hear from you all. seemed almost like getting (Page 3) home. seen Billy Smith and his father. they have a very nice place. seem to be well pleased. must tell you about a trip I took yesterday across into Nebraska went in a small wagon with two others about 2 o'clock in commenced to rain. we started back it soon began to snow, I know now what a Kansas snow storm is. we had it to face on the open prarie it was just terrible. the driver did not go the course, I thought was right. told him to let me out he did so. I started in direction of railroad. struck it at Hamlin found no Public House except an Irish boarding house. waited at depot four hours for train. came to this place wet and hungry as a wolf. made me think of home just a little. I am at a good hotel (Page 4) here.
Will Patrick has come to town wants me to go home with him and stay over Sunday. shall do so. will finish writing tomorrow. Sunday morning had a severe frost last night. think fruit must be killed was a fine prospect for peaches. you ask about my linen think linen and money will fail about the same time. when that takes place think I will make a first class tramp. glad to hear you have all doned the blue ribon. hope when I get home to find you a sober family. shall not be at home for two or three weeks yet. shall keep you posted as to whereabouts.
Very much love to all.
M.B.MCorkle
Letter of 2 April 1878
Hiawatha
April 2nd 1878
Martha and Children
This has been the longest and most lonely day I have spent since I left home. has not ceased raining to day. have been housed all day. left Wills yesterday morning. expected to leave this place tomorrow but want to look at two or three farms here yet. when it quits raining. there is some good land here. but most of it is too broken. find the people here very kind and clever especially when they think there is a (Page 2) prospect of getting some money. they are mostly eastern people. in my last letter, I did not think to say anything about the garden plant it all. potatoes will be as profitable as any thing. And will give Sannie employment.
April [???] as I have a few minutes before train time will say a few words. am a little tired. Walked 12 miles this morning before breakfast. shall leave here to day for Marysville Misouri. if you have written me at Bedford. when you get this you better write me again at the same place. I am getting along slower than I expected. at present I am not in very good company. at my left sits a horse thief under guard. to the right an Indian. Must get ready for the train.
Good by
M. B. MCorkle
This Little Volume
This little volume small as it is contains more that is of interest to the human race than all of the voluminous that have filled the world. it tells us of an endless life how we may obtain it. tells us of a death that never dies. and how we many shun it. the teaching of this book has met with bitter opposition since its existence. yet there is not a person on the face of the earth that can pick a single flaw in the morals it teaches. this opposition continues at the present time with unabated virulince. is it not singular for if every person lived in harmony with the teaching of this book what a happy world it would no one would be wronged where ever we went who ever we met. we would feel assured they was our friend. and would take an interest in our welfare. yet there is today men with giant intellect who are using all the powers (Page 2) of their minds to dethrone the author of this book and blot its teaching from the face of the earth. and what is it the enemys of this book propose to give us in exchange for the hope it inspires in the human hart of an endless life. I will till you what they propose to give us in exchange for this soul churing hope. when we are laid in the silent city of the dead they propose to inscribe on the marble that marks our last resting place. that Cheerless Gayless Godless Epitaph death in an eternal sleep.
All organized bodys of human beings whether religious or otherwise have their rules and by laws for their government. in all the vast number of these. in the world to day there is but one rule of faith and practice that is perfect but one that a divine author all others are human full of errors at their abetors admit in their acts of changing them. this divine one that is perfect and complete in all its parts admits of no change and that person who dares to take from it or add to it has the anasema the curse of the Eternal Jehova resting and abiding on them. we as a people take for our rule of faith and practice the perfect one that has for its author the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Such is the volume we place in the hands of every correct that comes in the Church at this place we prize this volume for its contents in it we learn it is not all of life to live in this world it it we of a life after the joys and the sorrows ahs ended a life of endless happiness where there is nothing to mar that happiness. not with standing there is great efforts being made to blot this volume out of existence yet today you may strike the boundary line of this little books influence and you will at the same time draw the boundary line of civilization and refinement. blot out the light this volume reflects on the world and darkness and gloom would brood over the race of man. there would be nothing to light up the darkness of the tomb and beond it all would be wrapt in deepest gloom.
Such is the volume we place in the hands of every convert that comes in to the at this place, in behalf of this congregation of which you are now members I will present to you a copy of our rule of faith practice. you have while in the morning of life taken the most important step of your life. you have just started in the Christian race to follow the Savior that shed his precious blood to redeem you from death you will find as you travel along lifes pathways that snares and pitfalls will beset you on every hand but follow the directions given in this volume and you will ever be kept in the way that leads to Heaven immortality eternal life may heavens choicest blessings rest on you as you travel lifes uneven way and may your efforts to obtain eternal life be crowned with success.
Sermon
I am sorry any thing has occured to render it necessary for me to say what I feel almost compeled to say. I shall speak plainly but in all kindness. and not for the purpose of wounding the feeling of anyone if I know any thing of the prantings of my own heart I have no such desire. but I must say the Brethren and sisters who went out of this Church some eight months and have willfully absented themselves from it ever since are not members of the Chrisian Church in full fellowship. now let us if it be possible divest ourselves of prejudice and every thing like a partisan spirit. and calmly and deliberately look at these things as they really are. you left the Church abandoned it. since that time you have not supported it by your influence or in any other way. on the contrary your influence has been against the Church. during all of these weeks and months of your absence from the Church. there has been a little feble band of disciples of Christ. who have met every first day of the week to worship and to commenorate the suffering of him who died to redeem us. you knew of these meet ings. you had every reason to believe the worship at these meetings was conducted in strict accordance with Apostolic teaching you knew. the Bretheren and sisters conducting these meetings stood on the original ground of this reformation and the identical same ground on which this congregation was first built up. and not withstanding you could not scripturally object to any thing we practiced in the worship. yet you with held your influence and support from the Church. is this the practice of members of the Christan Church in full fellowship. and your recent course will almost justify the conclusion you had determined to destroy the Church. to crush the little struggling band who met here to worship is harmony with Apostolic practice. we believed we could better promote the interest of the redeemers kingdom by being more fully organized. acting on this we chose from among us persons to fill the different official positions in the Church. when you learned this and it looks very much like when you seen the Brethren and sisters meeting here although few in numbers was determined Apostolic Christianity should not go down in this place. you without giving us any warning when we had quietly met to worship you swooped down on us with all the numbers you could muster. not to unite with us in worship this was not your object. not to join with us in commenorate the sufferings and death of our Savior. this was not you object as was plainly to be seen. I will let your actions speak for you. you trampled under you feet the authority of the Church. ignored the officers you yourselves assisted in placing in authority over us. was this conduct in harmony [with] the gospel of love and peace. was this your act in accord with the teaching of Christ and his holy Apostles. was this the practice was this the deportment of members of the Christian Church in full fellowship. can you say it is.
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