skip to main content
Language:
Search Limited to: Search Limited to: Resource type Show Results with: Show Results with: Search type Index

1839-01-26 Bloomington IL

Not for publication, reproduction, sale, or release to other persons or institutions without the express written permission of the archive which holds the original document and of the David Davis Mansion Foundation.

Digital Resources/Online E-Resources

Citations Cited by
  • Title:
    1839-01-26 Bloomington IL
  • Author: Patricia Kasbohm Schley, David Davis Mansion ; Davis, David ; Davis, Sarah W
  • Subjects: business ; courtship-marriage ; I&MCanal ; politics ; transportation ; Travel
  • Description: Bloomington IL January 26 1839 (AL 2) DD+SWD-WPW Page 1 of 4 Not for publication, reproduction, sale, or release to other persons or institutions without the express written permission of the archive which holds the original document and of the David Davis Mansion Foundation. Bloomington Ills Jan’y 26, 1839 My Dear Sir I have delayed writing you for so long a time that I am really ashamed to take up my pen. When I arrived at home there were so many things to occupy my mind for the first 2 weeks that I hardly had leisure moments enough to spare in writing. Besides I rested easy inasmuch as Sarah was writing frequently. I wrote you a few hurried lines a few days after our arrival by Sarah’s request which I suppose you have recd before this. You learned from Sarah’s letters while on the road & since our arrival how we fared in our journey. If I had thought that we would have had as many difficulties to surmount as we had I believe that I should have remained in the East with Sarah this winter. When we left Philadelphia for Pittsburgh then seemed to be no doubt but that the Ohio river [sic] was in good navigable condition. The rise of water in the tributaries to the Ohio was but temporary, however & soon subsided. We thought with others that we might reach Cincinnati by water & accordingly embarked on a Steam Boat though at the time, I was firmly persuaded that we would not be successful. The journey across the mountains had been a fatiguing one to Sarah & I was disinclined to take the stage, while even a forlorn hope remained of descending the Ohio river [sic] as far as Cincinnati. Had I have been alone I should have taken the stage at once. The journey from here to Pittsburgh is attended with but little fatigue & inconvenience when the Ohio river [sic] is in good navigable condition. To a lady in the winter, a journey by land through Ohio & Indiana is fatiguing & excessively unpleasant. Sarah, however, bore it like a hero= [in all?] she never complained & was uniformly in good spirits - Bloomington IL January 26 1839 (AL 2) DD+SWD-WPW Page 2 of 4 Not for publication, reproduction, sale, or release to other persons or institutions without the express written permission of the archive which holds the original document and of the David Davis Mansion Foundation. She kept her health well -& did not seem at all fatigued when She arrived at Bloomington. Our House, we found, unfinished. The cold weather set it too soon for plastering. We will probably not get to housekeeping until May. We are boarding at my boarding Hotel & have quite a comfortable hotel room. Sarah is quite happy & contented. She has made many valuable friends. Her health is very good & the town pleases her. Her heart still clings to Lenox ~ Contrary to my expectations, she has not been homesick altho not a day passes in which her parents & friends at home are not present to her. Mr Colton was very attentive to business during my absence. I should have lost considerably by my absence had it not been for Mr Colton. Our business will not be as profitable for the next year should we continue in partnership. People are about winding up their old matters & are commencing anew. Our Legislature is now in Session. Contrary to belief, the administration party have a majority of 1 or 2 in the on joint ballott [sic]. The Inaugural message of our new Govr I sent you. He is a man of no talents – will give no character to our state, or to his own party. I went to Vandalia about the 1st of the month & left Sarah in the charge of Mr Colton. It was with great reluctance that I parted with Sarah, tho but for 2 weeks but Mr Thomas, one of the representatives from this County, thought it advisable for me to visit Vandalia then & accordingly I went. I am desirous of receiving the appointment of District Attorney for this Circuit & thought the elections would have come on the forepart of January. The elections will not take place until next month. I spent a week at Vandalia. My friends will support me warmly. Parties, however will ex Bloomington IL January 26 1839 (AL 2) DD+SWD-WPW Page 3 of 4 Not for publication, reproduction, sale, or release to other persons or institutions without the express written permission of the archive which holds the original document and of the David Davis Mansion Foundation. Party spirit, however, seems to influence entirely the deliberating of the Legislature. If I am defeated, I shall not be much disappointed. As soon as the elections are over, I will notify you of the result. I hope I shall succeed. One or two new Circuits will be created in the State. Our old Judge, probably the best lawyer of the State, will I think preside in this Circuit. The bar will be pleased by it. Our Legislature will do but little this winter, other than what is done in the Usual Courts of legislation. Legislation in our Western States – is generally based upon barter, trade & intrigue – “You vote for my measure & I will vote for yours” seems to be the way in which things go hereabouts. The legislation is for making all the offices elected by the people. Time will alone determine whether they succeed. - [The Interna]l Improvement System will be preserved. Internal ___[damaged]___ the System is perfected, the State will be what ___[damaged]___ in the extreme contemplating the making of nearly 1100 miles of Rail Road [sic]. Bloomington is the Termination point of a rail road [sic] from the Ills river [sic]-& is also on the line of the Central rail road [sic] – which runs from the mouth of the Illinois & Michigan Canal to the mouth of the Ohio river [sic]. We are quite favored provided we have any “lettings” on said roads the ensuing season. ~ There seems to be a doubt with some whether we will obtain money to carry on our system State Bonds are said to be a Drug in the Eastern Market. If the State has to report to Europe for money, there will be but little work done this winter or the ensuing Summer. I will send you the report Bloomington IL January 26 1839 (AL 2) DD+SWD-WPW Page 4 of 4 Not for publication, reproduction, sale, or release to other persons or institutions without the express written permission of the archive which holds the original document and of the David Davis Mansion Foundation. of the Board of Fund Commissioners – and also such papers as will be interesting to you. I must close this letter. It has been written in haste. Sarah wants the bal[ance] of the paper. I will write you at least once in a month. It will always afford me pleasure to hear of the “ways & doings” of Berkshire. I believe I love Masstts more than I do any other state. My sole attachment to the West is caused by a belief that I can do better. I have a hope of being able, one day, to live in Masstts. My best love to Mrs Walker, Brother, Sisters, & all. I hope that you may never hear a bad account of me from Sarah. Respectfully yours DavidDavis Hon. Wm P. Walker P.M. Lenox Berkshire County Massachusetts My Dear Father, I was very glad to receive your short P.S. in George’s last letter. If you see Mrs Sedgwick will you tell her that the bundle she sent to Josiah has been delivered to him. Mr Davis sent it by a gentleman who went to the town where Mr. D is. He took the bundle – but returned no thanks to the bearer – and sent none to us - I thought it a __damaged__ singular. Mr Davis has been weighed – he only weighs 2__ damaged __ ]po]unds. I think he is a fair __damaged__ to become great. Everyone here says he grew after he left Bloomington. Love to all. I am as ever your affectionate daughter S.W. Davis Part of: David and Sarah Davis Family Correspondence -- Illinois Wesleyan University -- ALPL https://www2.illinois.gov/alplm/library/collections/Pages/Manuscript.aspx
  • Publisher: Tate Archives & Special Collections, The Ames Library, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL 61702
  • Creation Date: 1830
  • Language: English
  • Source: Open Shared Collection
Back to results list
INSPIRE LIBRARY - TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY (84-028) 37 755 057 Feedback
19 Nguyen Huu Tho St. Dist.7, HCM thuvien@tdtu.edu.vn

Copyright © 2017 INSPIRE LIBRARY - TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY

Searching Remote Databases, Please Wait