Letter home to Eckford, Mich., 5/2/1854
Chicago: Dirt and Dutchmen;
a great deal of boating
including the wrecks of 2 vessels;
an objectionable water source;
but give me my own sweet home
including the wrecks of 2 vessels; an objectionable water source;
but give me my own sweet home
The following is a letter from William W Wells to Martha B Wells. They are the parents of William Ozias (our hero, 9 years old), John M Clark (5½ yrs) and Martha Ida Almyra (3 yrs, 4 mo)In transcribing the letter I have followed Wm.'s spelling and punctuation and general layout. My notes are enclosed by [ ].
PJW 3/22/99
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Chicago may 28/54 How I long to see you all again, it seems like a great while indeed since I left you how do you all do and how do you1 get along for (I am lonely without thee my own dear bride) I promised to write you what I saw but I cannot for my mind flies from here to Eckford and back again so fast that it is almost impossible for me to write anything the most there is here is Dirt and Dutchmen for Chicago is mostly composed of those two materials in all their varieties it is Dutch Dutch Dutch all the town over or at least so far as I have been and that is no small part you may be assured, J[?] Bs brother is verry kind to show me some of the sights
and this forenoon I had a very good Pilot in the shape of a little dutchman
that works in the shop with me he seems more inteligent
than most of them do and can talk English so that I can understand half
or two thirds he says there is a wagon shop across the
street from here where they have 30 men and
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 Chicago's fourth City Hall,
(1854-71) |
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they are all Dutch but just
one 2
there is a great deal of boating done here it is boats boats boats on the river and lake shore for miles each way I have been walking about most part of the day and have been to see the wrecks of 2 vessele that were destroyed in the gale that I told you about before I left the maste of one just show out of the water within a few rods
from shore it foundered itself to pieces against the
breakwater and 3 poor sailors undertook to save themselves by jumping on
to it but were dashed about by the waves and killed the
other boat sank in deep water about a half a mile out
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 Chicago in 1854,
... boats boats boats |
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used here and I shall follow the beer
system while here for the water is enough to sicken the dog
I have not seen one glass of good clear water since I left michigan nor
do I expect to again until I return to it I do not like
this western country as much as I thought for although there is some of
the farms that are verry nice indeed but give me my own sweet home and
somebody may have this)
there has been 2 fires since I came one that destroyed a great deal of property I am working for Boosman and probably shall while I stay here
and will not be many weeks
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you need not write to me after receiving this unless you here from me again for it takes so long for letters to come from Mich. here that I may be on my way home before an answer could get here tell the boys to remember and be good and obedient and they shall have a small present when I get home tell M. I. A. that pa says she must not run away but stay with her mother and pa will bring something home for her) and now Ma I want you to keep up good courage and hope for the best Wm To M B Wells - end of letter - |
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notes
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Table of Contents | Wells Letters
edited by Peter J Wait, 5/8/2000