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PUBLICATIONS

OF THE

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN

EDITED BY

MILO M. QUAIFE

SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SOCIETY

WISCONSIN HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS COLLECTIONS, VOLUME XXV

CAPTAIN THOMAS BOTTOMLEY, RECIPIENT OF THE LETTERS

Reproduced from a Contemporary Silhouette

PUBLICATIONS OF THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN

COLLECTIONS, VOLUME XXV

AN ENGLISH SETTLER IN PIONEER WISCONSIN

THE LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 1842-1850

EDITED WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BT

MILO M. QUAIFE

SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SOCMTT

\^.

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PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY MADISON. 1918

,1^'^'.

Y.3lS

COPYRIGHT 1918

BY THE

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN

1250 COPIES PRINTED

DEMOCRAT PRINTING COMPANT, MADISON, STATE PBINTBR

CONTENTS

Page Preface 9

Historical Introduction 13

Letters . 21

Appendix 223

Index 237

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page Portrait of Captain Thomas Bottomley . . Frontispiece

Home of Edwin Bottomley 58

Martha Bottomley . . . . . . . 104

The Bottomley Homestead and Its Surroundings . 172

English Settlement Chnrch 194

'PREFACE

For the greater part the preliminary information which should be put before the reader of this volume is included in the historical introduction. Here, it seems desirable to call attention to the editorial principles which have governed me in the preparation of the volume for the press. In general the original manuscript has been reproduced verbatim. In a few cases obviously inadvertent and meaningless errors of the writer have not been reproduced in print. Commonly, however, such errors have been reproduced, accompanied, where deemed advisable, by the editor's interpretation printed in brackets. The original letters are without para- graphing; for this feature of them as printed the editor is, therefore, responsible. With respect to capitalization and punctuation, the original manuscript has been carefully fol- lowed, with one important qualification. In the manuscript the sentences commonly run into one another without any indication of the close of one and the opening of a succeed- ing sentence. For the convenience of the reader, in such cases, the transition point between sentences has been indi- cated by the introduction of the spacing known to typesetters and proofreaders as the quad. To do this involved the fre- quent application of an editorial interpretation, not neces- sarily infallible, of the manuscript. However, the careful student who wishes to see the copy, with respect to this mat- ter, just as it runs in the original manuscript, may do so by the simple process of ignoring these printers' quads. The great majority of readers, it is believed, will welcome the editorial assistance which is thus afforded them.

10 PREFACE

I desire in closing to express my appreciation of the public-spirited generosity of Miss Arminal Ann Bottomley, of Eochester (deceased in 1916), whose gift of her father's papers to the State Historical Societj^ has insured their per- manent preservation and rendered possible the preservation of the record here presented to the world of scholarship. The facts concerning the early life of Edwin Bottomley were largely supplied by her. I am under much obligation, also, to Mrs. I. W. Moyle, of Mukwonago, who first informed me of the existence of the Bottomley papers and has at all times displayed an active and sympathetic interest in the matter, first of their acquisition and later of their publication by the Society. For indispensable editorial assistance in the sev- eral processes of preparing the copy for the printer and see- ing it through the press I am indebted to Annie A. Nunns and Marguerite Jenison of the Society's staff; and to Lydia Brauer, now of Greenwood, Nebraska, and Mary Farley, now of Chicago, formerly members of the Society's staff. The index is the work of Miss Jenison.

M. M. QUAIFE.

Madison, March 1, 1918.

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION

The papers presented in tMs volume require but little edit- ing. They themselves tell with sufficient completeness, for the most part, the story of the life and strivings of the sturdy Wisconsin pioneer who wrote them. It remains for the his- torical introduction first to sketch the career of Edwin Bot- tomley prior to his coming to America and second to place both his papers and his life story in their proper historical setting.

Edwin Bottomley was born at Mossley, Lancaster, Eng- land in the month of December, 1809, the oldest son of Thomas and Hannah Bottomley, who were in comfortable middle class circumstances. In due time the child was sent to school where he acquired the elements of a modest educa- tion ; from his Christian parents he received the usual ortho- dox religious training; and as he grew up he developed a marked fondness and talent for music. His father removed to Huddersfield when the boy was twelve years of age to en- gage in the manufacture of woolen goods, and here the son began to work in the factory. In time the father again re- moved, this time to South Crossland to become manager of the Crossland mills, a position he continued to hold for twenty-four years. Here, beginning at the bottom, Ed\s"in Bottomley at length attained the position of designer of pat- terns in the mill. By way of outside activities he became leader of the choir in Crossland church and in December 1829 the husband of Martha Jessop. She was the orphan granddaughter of a local physician, like her husband a typi- cal representative of the sober, hard working, middle class population of England.

13

14 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

In a limited way fortune smiled on the young couple. Both in the mill and in the connnunity Edwin Bottomley's posi- tion was a relatively enviable one. In the community he was esteemed for his sobriety and industry. As the son of the manager of the mill and the leader of the village choir his social standing was not to be despised. The nature of his work in the mill rendered his employment more constant than that of most of his fellows. The services of the skilled pat- tern-maker could not well be dispensed with, while in times of business depression or laxity the weavers were sure to suffer. In another way, too, the pattern-maker prospered. Beginning with the autumn of 1830 additions were made to his family with the regularity and frequency characteristic of the period until, at the close of a dozen years, it numbered one dead and five living children.

The birth of these children constituted the chief factor in the epochal decision of Edwin Bottomley's life. Reflecting on the miseries of his fellow-laborers and the practical cer- tainty that his own children must in due time become factory workers and partakers in these miseries, he determined to make a different future possible for them by migrating to America. This resolve was first made known to his friends at a social gathering. Many of them found it impossible at first to credit the announcement. It was persevered in, how- ever, and within three weeks Edwin Bottomley was on the ocean with his family and numerous household goods, their destination the distant Wisconsin frontier.

At this point the letters of Edwin Bottomley to his father take up the narrative of his career, carrying it forward to the untimely end in the autumn of 1850. But eight years of life and labor in the land of promise were allotted him. How he made use of them, the letters themselves reveal. Our atten- tion may now be turned to placing his life story in its proper historical setting.

To this end our reflections may be permitted to take a somewhat general range. Various conceptions have been held concerning the field of history and the forces which de-

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION 15

termine its course. That history is chiefly made by common men, and that he who would truly estimate its course must acquaint himself intimately with the lives of such, is my pres- ent thesis. The year of Edwin Bottomley's birth was the annus mirahilis which witnessed also the birth of Lincoln, Darwin, and Gladstone, and many another notable nineteenth century leader. For our humble subject no share of credit for the distinction which attaches to the year of his birth can, of course, be claimed. Rightly viewed, however, his life story does not yield in importance even to those of Darwin and Lincoln. In all the world there was but one Charles Dar- win or Abraham Lincoln ; while of Edwin Bottomleys, hum- ble, hard-working. God-fearing, there were millions. And the story of these millions is in the aggregate more impor- tant, their contribution a more potent force in history, than that of a Darwin or a Lincoln.

Such considerations lead us to a proper perception of the significance of the papers which compose the present volume. Unnumbered millions of Old World subjects have, like Edwin Bottomley, hopefully set sail for America, their promised land. Like him, most of them have been poor in worldly goods but rich in anticipation and hope for the future. Most of them, too, have been sturdy in body and mind, and have come prepared to endure toil and hardship without stint in order that their children's future might be wrought out. Not all of them, alas, especially in these later days, have been as well prepared to adapt themselves to the new environment, or as fortunate in converting themselves and their families into Americans of the best type, as was the subject of our sketch.

What Edwin Bottomley 's contribution to America was we have briefly seen. Summarized in a sentence, it was his own sturdy. God-fearing character, thoroughly disciplined by his years of industrial service, the hope to achieve a future for his children, and the will to endure all necessary hard- ship to this end. Not to be omitted from the inventory was the wife, of like characteristics to those of her husband, and

16 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

their still-increasing brood of offspring. To the newcomers America offered the opportunity to become members, on terms of economic and social equality, of a new society. The virgin Wisconsin prairie might be had by anyone who would take it, at a merely nominal price. What should be made of such an opportunity depended, as always in this life, upon the qualities which the newcomer might bring to the task. What Edwin Bottomley made of his opportunity can now, after the lapse of seventy-five years, be measurably told.

Settling in western Eacine County, he acquired a tract of land in a community which quickly became known as English Settlement, a designation it still retains. To the original acres others were added from time to time. The rude hut, hastily erected for a shelter after arrival, shortly gave place to a substantial brick house. A neighborhood school was erected, and within a few years a church. A plank road, built inland from Racine, gave commercial outlet to the lake shore. In all these enterprises our subject took an active, often a leading, part. Suddenly, with but little more than the foundations of his New World enterprise established, came the dreaded fever, and therewith, for Edwin Bottom- ley, the end.

Well and truly had the foundations been laid, however. That future of opportunity for his children, the aspiration for which had driven the immigrant from England, was se- cured. Already the eldest had been married in the new church — the first marriage to take place there — to a sturdy young farmer. Other marriages followed in their turn. To- day upwards of 170 living descendants of the original im- migrant, representing four generations, are scattered over Wisconsin and the states farther west. Almost without ex- ception those of the first and second generations are farmers. Of the third generation but few are farmers — carpenters, mechanics, tradesmen, civil engineers, and electricians being among the occupations most numerously represented. The fourth generation is still too youthful to permit of any oc-

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION 17

cupational classification. The church which Edwin Bottom- ley took a leading part in founding is still in thriving condi- tion. The shares of stock taken by the original subscribers seven decades ago are still held, for the most part, by their descendants. In the graveyard adjoining sleeps the pioneer himself and many of his descendants. His influence, like the soul of John Brown, continues *' marching on," its circle ever widening.

Edwin Bottomley was a common man who, like thousands of his kind, came to pioneer Wisconsin and assisted in laying the foundations and developing the material resources of the commonwealth. His story is important not because it is unique, but wholly because it is typical. In the long and sometimes tedious letters which with filial love he penned to his faraway parent is revealed not simply the soul of one English immigrant to America, but the souls of millions of his kind who have made the journey to the New World be- fore and since his time. In the intimate pictures of his daily life are mirrored with marvelous fidelity the lives of thou- sands of our Wisconsin pioneers. In the story of the unfold- ing life of English Settlement we may see the development, in similar fashion, of hundreds of Wisconsin communities.

In one respect only was Edwin Bottomley 's career unique. He told its story minutely and the record has been preserved. The annals of the poor are short and simple chiefly because their makers commonly lack the inclination and the ability to record their life stories. In the present instance both the ability and the inclination were present. That the record was made not consciously for its own sake but rather in the form of intimate letters from a son to a father does not de- tract from its value. Month by month the epistles received by the father in England were carefully filed away, so that with but few exceptions the original correspondence still stands complete. Although not written in the form of a journal the record constitutes virtually a diary of the writ- er's eight-year career in America. It contains, moreover, much in the way of family and neighborhood news and a»-

18 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

counts of daily trials and aspirations which would hardly have been included in a formal journal. Some years after Edwin Bottomley's death the father himself came to Ameri- ca, and the package of letters was thus returned to the very homestead from which they had originally gone forth. Here they were lovingly treasured by a daughter, the Arminal Ann of the letters, until in the autumn of 1914 she turned them over to the custody of the State Historical Society. Their interest and value as a typical record of the way the foundations of the Commonwealth were laid is felt to be such as to deserve for them the wider access and usefulness which comes with publication.

M. M. QUAIFE.

Madison, June, 1917.

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY

LivERPOLL May 11*^ 1842 Dear Father :

We have arived Safe at Liverpool and Both W°^ Morton & George Armitage' are very well Satisfied with the the Ship and Captain. I have asked the captain when he thinks we shall Sail and he Says it will Be Satnarday. if My Brother Henry comes on f riday he will find her Lying in the Princes Dock I Shall Be Glad to See him You mnst Ex- cuse Bad Inditeing as we are all hurry and Bustle the Shipe is very Clean and the Captain appears a Sober and Inteli- gent man Give my Love to my Mother and Brother Henry and his wife and all our freind[s] and Kelations and accept the same yourself

From your Affectionate Son

Edwin Bottomley Pleas to Let George Armitage Mother See this Letter

Satuarday May 14' got to Black rock cast anchor and Lay wile 4 next morning George was not very well rather stuff in his Breast But all the rest where well in health But all Bustle could not find the things we want so well owing to the Box Being cramed

Sunday May 15^^ 5 0 Clock this morning we are being towed out into the Irish Chanel By a steamer George is a Deal Better this morning and all the rest are very well and

* These men, newly married, with their wives had decided to come to America also; the entire party, under the leadership of Edwin Bottom- ley, thus included himself and family, William and Sarah Morton, and George and Sarah Armitage.

*From this point to the close of the entry for June 13 we copy from a small blank book used by the owner both as a diary of the journey and as a miscellaneous memorandum book.

21

22 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

we have all had a good night [ 's] rest consider [ing] the Place we are in 2 0 Clock we have just had a very good Dinner some good ham and Pottatoes and I am very near roasted with cooking we are sailing very steady and the sea is very Bentyful and the welch hills are on the left of us

Monday 16^^ 6 0 Clock we have Passed a very good night and are all very well not one of us as been Sea Sick the chilldren are all as lively as can be and Skip about like little lambs 2 0 Clock Our friends at Crossland may be wishing that we where enjoying as good a Diner as they are and we think they ave not relish [ed] theirs any better than we have Done ours for we have good app[e]tites and that mind a bad Dinner But ours was not amis good ham and Pottatoes and our entertainment as good as theirs every bit our Sar- rah is astride off the cannon on the quarter Deck and the others Singing and Skipping

tuesday 17^^ 2 0 Clock we still remain in good health and good Spirits But Sarah Morton is rather cross with the oth- er passengers which come past wile we are getting our meals we Pass our time as much as Possible on the Deck as the wether is very fine and we have Ireland on the right of us wich is the starboard side of the Ship 8 0 Clock we are Sailing with a head wind and the Last Point of Ireland is just in sight and I think we may take a Last Look at [it] when w^e go to bed as it will have Disapeard Before [morn- ing]

wedensday 18^^ 6 0 Clock this morning we are Driveing throug[h] the waves with a strong head wind and the ship is all on one side the chilldren and women are all sick W"^ is Sick and myself not very well But so that i can go about and assist those that cannot [help themselves] George is very well 5 0 Clock Hannah & Ruth are got well and my- self e all the rest are sick yet

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 23

thursday 19 6 0 Clock this morn we are in sight of [a] wreck and we are making all the [speed] we can to theire asstance the vessel is in an awkard situation for getting to her as the wind is completely an head of us while going to her assistance 10 0 Clock we are getting to her but the crew must either be lost or have had assistance before as theire is not a living person in sight their is nothing can be seen of the ship excepting her hul and masts the captain says she is water lodged and must be loaded with goods of a buyant Discription so that she cannot Sink but will soon break up 5 0 Clock George and Myself e Hannah and ruth are all that is well the rest are all sick

Friday 20^^ 5 0 Clock afternoon nothing but sea sickness and gruel making and emptying the chamber vessels william is rather better but the rest are all sick martha and our little sarrah are the worst Myself George Hannah & Ruth are all well

Satuarday 21^^ 5 0 Clock Afternon the si[c]k have all been on Deck to Day But are very little better excepting sar- rah morton the rest are about the same as they where yesterday, we still continue to have head winds and the sea runing high you would laugh to see us wa[l]k on Deck we have to catch at any thing we can and go with our heads first the same as if we was face[ing] a very strong wind

Sunday 22"*^ 5 0 Clock afternoon we have had rather calmer weather to Day and we are all tolerable well except- ing martha and she is rather better

Monday 23^ 8 0 Clock we have had a very fine Day and all are getting very good appetites excepting my Wife and She is nearly well of Sickness we have been gratified By Seeing a number of small wales this afternoon theire as been 4 at once in Sight Blowing up the water like steam one of them within a few yards of the ship

24 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Some of our Bread was gone Bad and we Shall throw it overboard

24 Tuesday 8 0 Clock at Night we have had a strong wind all Day and it is increasing we expect to have a rough night the wind roar[s] as hard through the riging of the Ship and makes as big a noise as ever i heard it make in Honley wood and the ship Bounces on the water like a cork i should think it rises and falls at each end 18 yards and is Diping it[s] nose in the water very often the waves are rolling mountain high

25 Wedensday 5 0 Clock Afternoon as we expected we had [a] rough night and it continued rough wile 4 0 Clock this afternoon when the Wind changed more in our favour But you may depend upon it we had no pleasant time of it for we could not cook anything safely the motion of the ship threw the kettles and pan off the fire we could scars- ley stand any where without having hold of something, my wife and sarah morton w^as not so well But all the rest are enjoying good health

26 Thursday 8 0 Clock we have had rather calmer weather to Day But the wind continu[es] ahead of us and we Do not get forward as fast [as] we could like though the ship is considered one of the Best for sailing with head winds it is stated By the Sailors that she can Sail within 3 points of the compas that is if the wind be Due west she can Sail Due west within 3 points, all are well in health excep[t1ing my Wife and shes rather Better

27 friday 8 0 Clock we have had another rough Day to Day the wind has Been as strong and the sed as rough as it was on wedensday the 25 all are well excepting my wife and She has been rather worse to Day.

28*^ Satuarday 8 0 Clock we have had another Boister- [ous] Day the wind as been very strong and the sea as

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 25

rolled more to Day than it has any other Day since we Set Sail althoug[h] the Sun Shone with great Splendour W" Morton has been very much relaxt in his Bowels And my wife has not been so very well

29^^ Sunday 11 0 Clock The weather is very calm this morning and we have a party Singing and praying at the main mast other [s] sit reading all sorts of Books and 2 Sailors sparing on the other end of the Deck 7 0 Clock we are Sailing very nicely with a South west wind and all are very well excepting my wife and she is a Deal Better But we have not seen an oak tree in Leaf all Day But we Spoke with a vessel from New Castle Bound for Quebeck name Honch Wallace about 4 0 Clock this Afternoon.

30 Monday 8 0 Clock we have had a fine Day But a Strong head wind excepting about 3 hours this morning when we had a favourable Breez and we went through the waters at a ralway speed we Baked some fat cake in the frying pan this afternoon and we where as Bussy as Gyp- sies amongs[t] the smoke and fire wile our eys where nearly smoked up

Tuesday 31«t 7 0 Clock we Passed a Dreadful [night] last night soon after we got to bed the Ship Beg [an] to rool very hard and the sea and wind Began to roar as if it was Bent upon the Destruction of every thing floating upon it Betwixt 12 & 1 0 Clock it was the worst it was so bad that we could Scarcely keep in Bed by any means I had to lay my legs across sarrah and Arminalan and hold myself by the Birth above us to Keep my wife and Tho^ on the other side the Lugage Belonging to the Passengers rooled about and cans and Pots where strewed about in all Places and the noise all made was beyond Discription their whas scream- ing and Praying in every corner and the Sailor [s were] cursing and the waves rooling over the Deck all at one time amidst all the turmoil the grim monster Death entred and

26 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

took away the life of a child Belonging to a person named Joseph Steel of Ashton. it was not weel when they came on Board and it was launched into the Deep at 4 0 Clock this afternoon the Captain read the Buyring lesson over [it] with great solemnity.

June 1®^ Wedensday 8 0 Clock we have had another tine Day though very cold and our sarah and tho® are not so very well all the rest are well

June 2^^^ Thursday 8 0 Clock the wether as been very cold and very fogy and the winds are not so very favourable our sarah and tho^ are not so well But all the rest are But we can scarcely keep ourselves warm Do what we will

June 3^^ friday 8 0 Clock we had a very strong north wind this morning and we have made a good Days journey But the wind is very cold Sarah and Tho® are in the measles their are a good many chilldren that have them some pas- sengers say that the child that whas thrown over Board Died of them But I Dont think that is the cause of so many haveing them But that it is owing to the changes of weather which the[y] are exposed to and the crowded state of the Ship we can now see an Ice Berg very Plain and according to the captain ['s] statement it is 180 feet out of water and the Base at the surface of [the] water is 360 feet on the sid[e] we can see But it appears larger [than that] from us

Satuarday June 4^^ 8 0 Clock we have had a fine Day and this morning we had 2 other Ice Bergs in sight and a Large field of Ice and this evening we are Becalmd and the surface of the sea is as smoth as glass Tho® and Sarah are Doing very well all the rest are well

Sunday June 5^^ 8 0 Clock the weather as been wet to Day But we have fair wind and we Drive through the waters very fast Tho^ and Sarah continue to Do wel all the rest are well

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 27

Monday June 6^^ 8 0 Clock the weather as been wet to Day and the wind continues favourable Tho^ and Sarah continue to go on very well my wife as not been so well to Day But all the rest are well exep[t] George who has got all [a] little cold

Tuesday June 7^^ 8 0 Clock the weather has again been wet and Cold But the wind continues favourable and we have had a fine race to Day with another Ship we came in Sigh[t] of her about 11 0 Clock and we passed her at 4 0 Clock. Tho^ & Sarah continue to get well George is Better to Day all the rest are well

Wedensday June 8^*^ 8 0 Clock the weather as been very fine and warm But we have made very little way to Day and we are now Becalm [ed] Tho^ & Sarah Still go on well all the rest are well

Thursday June 9^^^ 8 0 Clo[ck] we have had a Good Storm to Day and the weather wet and cold this evening we had another funeral tlus afternoon of a Child Belonging to John Jacson of Leeds the name of the Child was John D. it was not well when it came on Board we had an accident about 6 0 Clock this eve wich might have been Serious had it happened in the night we w^here Sailing with a stiff Breeze when a Squal of wind came on very sudenly and caried away our fore Jib Sheet and broke a part off the* bow sprit as thick as my middle and about 7 yards long and all the male passenger [s] had to assist the Sailors in getting the other Sails taken up Tho^ and Sarah Still get well all the rest are well

friday June 10*^ 8 0 Clo[ck] we had another wet and cold Day and very fogy and we canot go on Deck Tho^ and Sara[h] still keep getting Better all the rest are well

llSatuarday 8 0 Clock we have had another cold and wet Day and Strong head winds the Captan Sounded this

28 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

afternoon and the water was 35 fathoms Deep and we think we are on St Georges Banks But it is only our judgment we are all well to Day

12 Sunday 8 0 Clock the weather has been a Deal warmer to Day and the wind as been very still and we have made very little way we are all very well

13 Monday 8 0 Clock w^e have had a very warm Day and we have been very Bussy washing the cloths that we have worn on our jurney for we expect to land in a few Days But we have made very little way for we have Scarcely any Breez at all we all continue in good health

2"^ letter

MiLWAUKiE July 24th 1342 Dear Father :

I write these few lines hopeing they will find you in good health as they leave us at present I hope you will excuse me for Breaking of [f] my last letter in the maner i did but you would see what was the cause if you received the letter which I hope you would I shall now comence with the re- mainder of our journey and Proceedings up to the Pressent^

• • *

Tuesday June 14*^ 8 0 Clock the weather has been wet and fogy which as prevented us from getting our Cloths Dry and we are on the look out for a Pilot.

Wedensday June 15**^ 8 0 Clock we have had a fine Day to Day and we have got our cloths Dry we got a Pilot on board about 10 0 Clock last night and we anchord in quarin- tine about 4 this afternon and all are very buysy prepareing for landing the harbour is one of the most Beautyfull in the world a Discription of which I sent in my last

' The portion omitted from the letter simply repeats the diary of the Toyage, which has already been glren.

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 29

we left the vessel about 4 0 Clock on Thursday the 16^^ in a small sloop which took us to the custom warf where our goods where examined and the Officers behaved very well scarcely Disturbing anything in our boxes we left the warf about 7 0 Clock but had got very little way when the Breeze Died away and we whas compeled to go back with the tide to the warfe again and we lay theire while 11 0 Clock at night when we started again and arived in new york at 2 0 Clock in the morni[n]g which place I call the Slough of Despond their are hundereds of vagabonds or Scamps or you may call them what you will who will crowd around people when they land and offer theire assistance but will in generaly make them Pay Dearly for it But they where all of them in Bed when we landed we left New York on the friday Night at 7 0 Clock for Albany and we arived at Albany at 5 0 Clock on Satuarday Morning we saw Scotch Jemmy at New York and he is as fat and as red as ever he whas we left Albany at 2 0 Clock on Satuarday the 18^ of June and we landed in Buffalo on Satuarday 25^ at 3 0 Clock in the morning our journey from Albany to Buffalo whas one of moderate comfort But trade in all Places on the line of [the] canal is generally flat owing to the Disturbed State of the money affairs of the States* we left Buffalo on Satuar-

•The following account in the small diary already referred to elabor- ates somewhat upon the account given here of this portion of the jour- ney:

the Canal Runs up the Valey of the Mohawk which is thickly wooded on the sides and a very rich Soil in the Bottom the valey grows narrow- er till we get to a place called" Little falls which is a very rocky part the rocks are of the most stupenduous Size and are very hard the valey then Opens again into a fine cuntry and is rich Land while we get to Utica which Is a very Dul Place the cuntry is then varied with good and Bad land as far as Sirocuse at which Place theire is a great many Salt Spri[ngs] and a large manufactory of Salt which is Performed By Pump- ing the water into Shallow wooden troughs and the evaporation is per- formed By the heat of the Sun and very Beatiful Salt It is the next Place of Note is Rochester — and it is a very handsome town the river runs t[h] rough it and theire is an aqueduct arch over the river and the canal passes over the river trade is genealy flat in this Place the next Place of note is Lockport and their is 5 of the finest locks at this

30 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

day 25 at 3 0 Clock in the afternon and arived at a Place called Fair Port about 8 0 Clock on Sunday morning to take in fuel we got to Cleveland about 12 0 Clock and remained while 6 0 Clock on monday morning to get one of the cranks hooped which whas craked with being Keyed to tight we called at a place called Toledo on the Mamo [Maumee] a river in the state of Ohio at the west end of Lake Eri[e] a very unhealthy place we arived at Detroit about 2 0 Clock on Tuesday morning and remained their e while 3 0 Clock which is a large and Busy Place the next Place we called whas Huron which is a small Town at the South end of Lake Huron we took in a quantity of wood On Wedensday we called at a place called Prestkeil [Presque Isle] on the west Side of Lake Huron The Inhabitants suport themslves by fishing and Suplying the Steam Boats with wood On Thurs- day we called at Manatoo [Manitou] Island which is in the straits betwixt Lake Huron and Lake Michogan we should have landed at milwaukie on Friday morning early But the lake was rough and we where compeld to go to Chicago a large Place at the South end of Lake Michigan we re- mained there while 7 0 Clock on Sunday and arived at Mil- waukie on Monday the Memoreiable 4^^ of July which Day is honored with great festivety throughout the United States we took a room the same day we landed along with Joseph Mitchel of Lockwood & James Dawson and we Begun our first Night as low as we could for we had no bed except the Bare Floor and our Shoes for our Pillow the rea[son] was thiere came on a very heavy thunder storm so that we could not get ou[ms. torn] and lugage from the wharehause we had left them at

we got our lug [age] [and] Beds on the next Day and we Bought a cooking stove which cost us £60^0'* and got so [me] Provisions and William Morton George Armitage

Place that theire is anywhere theire not much trade carried on at this Place we arived in Bufflo on Satuarday morning about 10 [o] Clock and left again at 3 in the Afternoon this Place is full as lively as any Place we have seen

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 31

Joseph Mitchel and myself along with some others went out to Snail Lake" to Examin the cuntry the Land is gen- eraly good all about but is 2i/^ Dollars per acre owing to the government giving a portion of land to a canal com- pany to form a canal from Milwaukie to rock river and they have advanced the land to the above price to make up for that they have given them But the company have aban- doned the undertakeing and very few people like to settle on it though those that have settled on it expect to have half the money returned if the canal is not caried out we then went out to yorkvile But we did not like the land so well we went out with John Haye Walter Hays Brother who has 80 acres their e and he is like an old hermit neither wife nor child and he has to cook and wash and milk his own cow for himself and Bake his own Jony [cake] which is made of Indian Corn

On Satuarday the 16^*^ of July we heard of James Tin[ker] Scot and Woodhead who where at Kochester and we set out on monday to that Place wh[ich] is 30 old Fashioned miles and we Purchased 80 ac^es of land adjoining them which had Been claimed by a man named Flint who had got some Lumber ready for a small house for himself and we shall have to pay him 40 Dollars for is claim and the Lumber and we think it is worth it for the Location is very good the Racine and Burlington road runs through the Land we have Bought and our house and James Tinkers will Be within a few 100 yards of each other and within 3 miles of Rochester and 5 of Burlington W"^ Morton and me are going out to morrow (Monday 25^^ of July) to build a house for our fami- ly as soon as Possible for a bad one of our own will be better than one of another Persons George Armitage is working at frame house building and will continue while we are ready to go to our 0A\Ti house and then we shall all go together I have now stated our Travels and Procedings up to the Present in as short a maner as I could if every thing whas

' Modem Lake Pewaukee.

32

WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

related Particular it would fill a sheet 4 or 5 times as large as this I now conclude this letter * * *

your a:ffectionate Son and Daughter Edwin Bottomley Makth Bottomley

* * * Pleas to let W"^ Woodhead of Armitage Fold know That his Son Joshua's youngest child Begun in the meassels on Thursday the 7*^ of July and Died on Tuesday the 12^^ at 1 0 Clock at noon and was buyried on wedensday the 13^ in the Buyring Ground for the Valley of Rochester and nothing could exceed the kindness shown by the neigh- bours they brought theire wagons and caried them to the Place and Back

An Account of the Expenditure Since June 17^^ to No- vember 5^ 1842«

fare from New York to Milwaukie

for Lugage at 175 per 100 w 3300

fare from Steamer up to Milwaukie

Storage of goods at Milwaukie

Boarding on the canal at 8 per Mile 360 Miles

80 Acers of Land at 125 per ac

Flints Claim .

to Cockcroft & Co.

to M'* Godfrey

Stove &"" ...

Share of 1 Yoke of oxen

1 Cow & Calf

1 Cow & Efer

2500 Shingles at 350 per 1000 to M^ Belden for Lumber Naturealizing

2 Axes at 1.50 1 Scythe & Handle 1 % Wimble . .

120.00

57.75

2.00

4.00

28.80

100.00

38.72

10.82

6.00

29.20

24.20

15.00

15.00

8.75

5.29

1.00

3.00

1.50

.75

"This account is copied from the small memorandum book which has hitherto been referred to.

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY

33

1 Spade	1.00
2 Chamber vessels	. . . .50
1 Glass Lamp ....	. . . .50
5 Milk Bowls ....	1.25
1 how [hoe]	.63
1 Buck Saw	1.00
1 Draw Knife ....	. . .50

Letter No 3

Rochester November 25^** 1842 Dear Father & Mother Likewise B^ Henry

And all relations and Friends :

I Take this oportunity of writeing thees few lines to you hoping they will find you in good health as they leave us at pressent excepting my wife who as a Deal of Pain in the head But she is able to attend to the Family We rec^ your first letter on Honley Feast wedensday and we Devoured at the contents of the letters with as great eagerness as any Beef whas Devoured at Hon- ley feast your Second Letter which was unexpected But was gladly accepted came to hand on the 19^*^ of November. 1 was sory to hear of the Disturbance which had taken Place in the manufactureing Districts also that Charles Wood had been sent to york for aiding in them and I whas glad to hear By your second Letter that all was again Peaceable also that trade whas rather Better and Provisions Lower

My seccond Letter to you contains no i[n] formation further than that we had purchased 80 acres of Land and that W°^ and me where going to prepare the House for the familys and George whas working at milwaukie we re- moved to our New habitation on the 4^ of august just 1 month after landing at milwaukie our first work whas get- ting our hay and then we Ploughed 2 acres and Sowed it with winter wheat and it is got into good condition and is now covered with snow, you may be surprised that we could

34 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

get hay sufficient for to winter 3 or four head of cattle But their is plenty of it and we could have got as much as would have wintered 5 or 6 times the number had we had time, al- though the hay is not like that on cultivated land it is very good for the cattle the hay grows mostly on the marshy land and consist [s] of a strong kind of grass along with wild Hysop and Mint and various kinds of herbs and the hay has a very Beautiful smel

the 80 acres of Land which we have Bought runs half a mile from east to west and a quarter of a mile from North to South about 10 acres of the east end is wood land and the other 70 acres is intercepted with trees in various places in some parts of it we could plough 10 or 15 acres without a tree on it the Soil is of various qualities that on the flat land is about 2 feet thick of a Black Loam and a Clay Bot- tom which is the Best for Indian corn pumpkins cowcumbers melons &c that on on the elevated Parts consist [s] of about 3 inches of a Black Soil on the top. and underneath to the Depth of 2 or 3 feet of Brown intermixed with Clay which is first rate (as the Yankes say) for wheat.

the House or Shanty that we are Liveing in is made of Slabs which are cut of[f] the trees at the Saw mills when they S[q]uare them and the Slate is composed of Shingles which are thin pieces of Pine about 15 inches long and are made like large chips the method of Slateing a house with them is this they cover the Spars with inch Boarding and then nan the Shingles on them after the same maner as Blue Slate is laid on with you our house was 8 yards by 4 and was Dtvided into two rooms one 14 feet by 12 and the other 10 feet by 12 But we have made a little addittion to the smaller room which makes it 18 feet by 10 we Dug a sellar for another house which I intende to build before another winter setts in w^e have sunk a well and have got very good water at the Depth of 18 feet in Diging the well we found 2 petrefied Shells similar to Cockles But rather largei

we have 2 milk cows 1 effer [heifer] 2 calfs and an ox one of the cows gives very little milk the Other calfed on

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 35

the 16*^ of November and will be of great service to us this winter and we expect the effer will calf in [the] Spring also the other cow the first cow we Bought which is that which is nearly Dry we gave 15 Dollars for her with the calf about 3 months old the cow that calfed on the 16 and the effer we expect calfing in Spring we Bought them Both of a Drover and gave 15 Dollar [s] for them Both and I think you could not purchase tow [two] to equal them for 15 Pounds the yoke of oxen which Ja^ Scot and me join at we gave 45 Dol- lars for

I will now give you a Description of the Climate as well as I can But as I have no thermometer you must not expect me stateing the temperature in degres. for the first 3 months the weather was rather warmer than it is in England the Sun S[h]ining with great Splendour and the air very pure the changes from fair to rain are more suden than with you after a fortnight or three weeks of fine weather with a Sky as clear as Crystal the atmospher Becomes suddenly filled with clouds Big with rain and electrical fluid when it Bursts forth with tremendous violience the lightning flashing through the clouds with awfull grandure and the thunder Bursting forth with a noise that makes the earth tremble at its violence the rain Pouring down in torrents for 3 or 4 hours when it will cease and the sun will Burst forth and Shine as before Such was the weather till the latter end of Sep^ when we had warm Days and frosty nights which withers the veg[et]ation very fast and causes it to burn with a Swiftness indescribable at the time when the fire sweeps over the cuntry, which generaly takes place the latter end of October

the fire Broke out in this neighbourhood on the 26*^ of Oct*" the wind Blowing from the west and Driveing the fire in an Easterly Direction about a half a mile on the South side of our house on the 27*^ just after we had got our Diner while George & me where getting a pipe of tobacco our Ruth came Tuning into the house with terror Depictade in her counten- ance and saying that the fire whas coming towards the hay

36 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Stack we imediately ran out and saw that it whas and the the wind was Blowing from the South with a strong Breez and Driveing the fire Before it right towards our house and Hay Stack and was as much as Ja^ Tinke[r] Squire Hiench- life George and myself and the woemen could do to Save them By Beating the fire out with Boughs and throwing water on the ground no sooner had we got ours safe than we had to run to Ja^ Tinkers to save the house and Stack and from theire to Scotts the fire continued with unabated fury all that day and night iluminateing the Heavens and we could when the night set in see it from our Door in lines of 2 or 3 miles in length Driveing away towards the north leave- ing trees Burning Behind it which stud lik[e] burning bea- cons in the Blakned Space for Several Days and then fell with a tremendous crash, we had taken the precaution to Burn round our stacks but the Dead leaves had fallen on it and had the fire come in the night Both Stacks and Houses would most likely have been Distroyed.

winter as sett in sooner than usuall and the ground is now covered with snow and the Frost is very keen and would be called very cold weather with you our house is not one of the Best for keeping the snow out and frost for we get snown on in bed which [when it] is heavy weather and when we get up in a morning we have to pull our shoes off the floor By main force for the[y] freez to the floor very soon with having nails in them But we can stop at home while we get our Breakfast Before we turn out to work and come in again when we do not like it.

In your last letter you wish to know on what river we are situated and what part of the teritory we are in and how far we are from a Place of worship. I will now do my best to make you understand on what part of the teritory we are and as you have a map like mine I will take it as my guide you will perceive the Illinois River has three small Rivers runs into it, the first is a very small one opposite to the letter R the next is opposite to the letter P of the word Potawato- mies the next is opposite the letter A in the same word

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 37

that opposite the letter P is Fox river and appears to rise in a range of hills in Wisconsin teritory we are near as I can judge where the river seems to rise we are 30 miles from the line which seperates Illinois and Wisconsin and 20 miles from the lake Shore we are on the east side of the river and about a mile and a half from it

the river runs through rochester and we are about 2% miles from the town theire is a small chapel there and we go when the weather is fit I have taken my Bass [viol] several times and the minister and congregation where very much Pleased and I expect from the conversation which I had with the minister that they will give me a salary for Playing for them (But wether I shall receive it in money or wheat I canot tell) we have had the Minister Preaching at James Tinkers twice and M"" Nobles Son (from Rastrick) has preached for us once we are now trying to get a school in the neighbourhood and if we succeed according to our ex- pectations it will Be within half a mile of our house

their is a great number of English settlers near us we have Joseph Scholfield of Honley about a Mile and a Half from us and John Earnshaw is about a mile from us Jo- seph Cockcroft and 2 Brothers about a mile Distante James Scott about % of a mile from us James Tinker is our near- est neighbour and is within 3 hundred yards Abraham Hay of New Lathe Hill is within a half a mile and Joseph Mitchel of Lockwood. your information about this person has rather surprised me But I always thought he had not left as he ought to have Done he has a large quantity of Shawls with him which as he told us he got from Edinborough in exchange for some cloth that he had of a person at Leeds But I believe he has not much money he paid for his land in money But Since then he has caried on a system of Bar- ter and he has got a Brick house Built and nearly finished in- side he as Bartered for 4 Towns Plots in Rochester at 25 Dollars each, each Plot measuring 20 Yards by 20 he has 3 Sons with him John, Andrew, & Joseph

38 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

I hear By your Last letter that George Beaumont David Parkin David Armitage & Ben" Marston have made up their minds to come to this cuntry and they Desire me to purchase them 160 acres of Land in this neighbourhood But I think we had Better take a Diff erant step we will Pre [e] mpt 160 acres for them as good Land [as] we can find which will secure it for 12 months so that they will have no occasion to send the money. But bring it with them But if they have send the money Before you receive this I will get the money and keep it for them till they arrive and then they can pay for the Land if it Pleases them (We Shall have to preemt it in George Armitage 's name because is name is not on the Land office Book and they will not allow a person to preemt Land who has Purchased any)

as they have made up theire mind to come I hope they have resolved to face all Danger and Difficulties and Persevere in theire journey till they arrive at its end Believeing them to have done so I will give them a little advice Be causious in conversation with persons on Ship Board always keeping the Place of your Destination a secret and when you arrive at new york stop as little as Possible But you must not take your fair any further than Albany and you must not take it in any office in the city But go to the steamer and take your Lugage with you and make your Bargain with the captain or Stewart But Do not put your lugage on Board while you have made your Bargain. Proced in this maner at every Place you stop at and when you get to al- bany take your fair to Bufflo and from theire to Racien where you may hire a team and wagon that will bring you to Rochester you must allways Bargain with the parties the same as you would Do with an Irish Peddalar for they will always ask enough to Bate a little on

We have had John Deurnerly at our house a few Days h6 had traveled all the way from Canada on foot except crossing the river at Ditroit he came through Michigan and the north end of Indiana and he says he shall come with his fam- ily to this part of the cuntry as soon as he can for he likes

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 39

it Better than Canada or any part he has come through he came here expecting to find Grayham's family amongst us and he was Greatly Disapointed when I told him they where in Upper Canada he also thought of going as far as loway to see John Hobroj^d But the weather is not fit and he is go- ing Back again to Canada he is enjoying good health and he left his family in good health and he sends his Best respects to all his shopmates and friends

Dear freinds and fellow workmen you may wish to know how I like this cuntry for myself I like [it] very well and the more I Persever I shall like [it] Better you must be aware that a new Settler in this cuntry as to strugle with Difficulties but hopes of future reward (ivhich can not be realized in a cuntry wher Labour the sorce of all Real wealth is troden under foot By Monopoly Taxation and Opprssion) gives him strengh to Persever I do not expect to realize a great fortune here But I do hope to place myself in circum- stances on[e] Day or another so that I can see my children smileing around me in contentment and be able to assist theire parents in theire Declining years and sooth the pillow of afliction, which is worth all that I can Do and no more that I Desire, and with no other object In View Did I emi- grate to this cuntry we have not so many Places of amuse- ment nor so many Publick houses here where we can meet and chat over public affairs But we enjoy ourselves By meeting at one anothers houses and a more chereful party than we are you canot find anywher we amuse ourselves by reading and Singing and I am teaching James Tinker and a few others to Sing, this winter. I now conclude this letter with the Kind love and Prayers of your Grand Children and Affectionate Son & Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

a Single Letter costs me 27 cents and a Double one 52 a News Paper 3 cents the Last Letter you send cost me 27 cents Give our Best respects and those of the Chilldren to Mary Ann Bottomley

40 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

No 4 April 22*^

Rochester Racien County March 17'*^ 1843 Dear Father & Mother :

we received yours of the 2*^* of Feb^ on the 8*^ of March and was very glad to hear that you was nearly got well of your Sickness and we hope before this arives you will be perfectly recovered to health and we are thankful to god we have the Pleasure to inform you that all our family are in joying very good health, acording to your letter it appears that you have had a very mild winter while we have had one of the most severe that as ever been experienced by the old- est settler the snow begun to fall on the 10^^ of Nov^ and continued to fall till the ground was covered to the Depth of 18 inches which remained till the midle of Jan^ when we had a thaw which nearly cleared the ground in which state it onley remained a few days when we had another fall of snow as heavy as the first and [it] is on the ground at present the frost has been very seveare at times, in the second week in Feb^ the Thermometer stood at 26 Degrees below zero, we have Lost 2 calf s By being froze to Death one 6 weeks old and the other 16 weeks M^ Nobles has lost one horse one calfe two pigs and a quantity of Poultry Ja^ Scott has lost one ox and two pigs But thees circumstances perhaps would have been prevented had we had sufficient time before the winter set in to have made our cattle sheds more complete our hay has run short and we have to buy at from 5 to 8 Dollars per ton which has been very expensive the old Set- tlers have been Deceived with this winter as well as the new ones.

so much for the gloomy side of the picture which \\ill cause you to think we have had a hard time of it and not been able to Do any thing but we have stood the severe w[ea]ther full as well as the natives and we have been out in the woods choping when few of them would venture out James Tinker George Armitage & myself have cut as much wood as will fense ten acres for me and five for James Besides 11 Logs tliat we have got to the Saw mill you must understand we

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 41

cut this from government Land and some of It we f ecthed 2 miles Tell John Tinker from me that we are not afraid oi Informers here for it is a general Practice in the winter sea- son followed By both natives and new settlers and in Proot of which i can state that theire are no less than 4000 Logs lying at the Saw Mills of Waterford and Eochester and in the river ready for rafting Down when the Ice Breaks up and the greatest part of thees have been cut from govern- ment Land.

Dear Brother:

according to your Letter it apears that England is Labour- ing under great Dificulties Political Disension or agitation, comerce cripled and the happiness of its people Destroyed By the Powers that be resorting to that ever failing remedy Taxation which as proved Sir Robert 's calculation to be but a phantom which instead of relieveing the cuntry as added another million to the Debt which hangs like a millstone round its neck and for ever will remain till theire is a great reduction in the national expenditure (what Does Jonathan More think of Sir Robert)

while you are strugling with the above Difficulties we are contending with the Difficulties attendant on an emigrants life which generaly appear more Difficult than they realy are owing to them being in a f oriegn land and amongst strangers and I must hear state that the woemen in general are the most Disatisfied with theire situation one of theire com- plaints is they have had to be without sugar in theire tea several times our Breakfasts have generaly consisted of milk Poridge ; Coffe Bread and Butter, or Pork our Dinner of Pudding, Pork and Potatoes our super same as Break- fast with exception tea instead of coffe our Furniture con- sists of 3 leged stools and two short Logs with a Board Laid across for seats and 2 Barrels of Flour 1 of Indian meal all ful and our Packing Boxes for our cloths our milk is get- ting very little owing to the Hay which we have Bought not Being so good as our own our Pork is nearly finished and

42 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

it is Becoming a scarce articale in the cuntry it is now sell- ing a[t] 5 cents a Pound Last November we could have bought it at 2 cents per Po[u]nd [ms. torn] Business is very flat at Present and all person [s] are very anxious for the Breaking up of the winter when it is expected theire will be a great Demand for labour in Eochester.

such is our state at pressent and I hope in my next to give you a more chering account we shall as soon as the weather will permit comence spliting our Logs into rails and get our fencing Done as soon as Possible so that we can get our indian corn Potatoes oats and Barley Pumpkins Cucum- bers and mellons &*^ in the ground and I hope before another winter setts ia we shall be Better Prepared for it than we was when this sett in.

I was greatly surprised to hear of Joseph Sykes's conduct and is suden Departure from England But you will be more surprised to learn we have had him hear and I Belive their is no person Better known than he is his exploits have placed is name amongst the greatest scoundrels in america the 1^^ Chapter of his exploits you may perhaps have seen in the Letter Jas. Tinker send to M'' Joseph Battley which con- tans an account of his courting a young Laday at milwaukie of Great respectability to marige But he was missiag the Day the ceremony should have Been Performed which caused the Landlor[d] to look after him whom he Discoverd had gone to east Troy thither he went and to Ms great surprise Discovered our hero makeing love to another Young Laday and he was greatly offended By the Abrupt appearance of the Landlord whom he satisfied By telling [him] he would Be over at milwaukie in a few Days as he had some money coming Due from a M^ Dove to whom he said he had lent 1000 Dollars the land lord returned home and in a few Days M^ Sykes Arived Accompanied by the father of the young laday when our hero with Great Pomposity ordered super for them Both which was quickly served up the Land- lord Lnediately sent off for M*" Dove (haveing found on his arival from east troy that M^ Syhes Statement was fals)

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 43

when M"* Dove arrived he broke in upon our hero and his in- tended father in law During theire comfortable repast when such a seen to [ok] Place that is beyound the Power of my pen to De[s]cribe which ended in our hero's flight By which means he naroly escaped Being tar[r]ed and Feathered

we was not aware at the time we heard of thees pranks Being Played by a Mr. Sykes that Joseph Sykes of Nether- ton was the man But since he arived hear is conversation and is conduct have proved him to be their auther on his arival at rochester he Put up at the tavern But a friend whispered to the landlord that is packet would not back his appearances the landlord mentioned the subject to him which caused him to leave his Over Coat and Spectakeals he came to me and stated is circumstances and asked me if I would find him meat a few weeks and he would work for me at any thing I could find him to Do But I told him I could not Do with him which caused him to Billet himself upon Ab™ Haye and in [a] few Days after he forged Abr"* Hayes name to a bill of 5 Dollar for which he obtained a pair of Boots of a Person named Jackson in Kochester when Jack- son found it out that the Bill was a forgery (which he did by Desireing Ah"^ Haye to take up the Bill) he immediately or- derd a writ and had Joe taken up But he has settled the af- fair for the Pressent and has sumonsed Ab°^ Haye for a Debt which he says abraham owed him in England the case is to be tryed next Tuesday more in our next

I saw Jolm Gudger and his family and John Wood his Wifes Brother at milwaukie about the Last [of] July Gud- ger Bought 120 acres of Land at Snail Lake near Praire VilF about 25 miles west of milwaukie they where all in good health Frank Moss Bought 80 acres adjoin [in] g him and the[y] Both left milwakie about the same time we Did. James Dawson and his family went to Prarievile about the same time James haveing got work theire his Family where all in good health I have not heard any thing about them since But will make some inquiery about them

*Now known as Waukegba.

44 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

In Respect to B^ Pauls request I will answer for myself that I am not taken in for I calculated on Difficulties and theirs as been no more than I contemplated and I will heare state was i in england and knew all I know now I would come to this cuntry in Better spirits than I came with Before hear I hope to rear my children in the love and Fear of god although we have no school for them yet their morals are not contaminated By Being imured in a factory I now conclude this Portion of my lette[r] with the respects of my wife and chilldren and myself to all

•Dear father:

You will be very anxious to know wether I have heard any thing from M^ Miller or not I wrote to him on the 22^^^ of Dec^ informing him of what you intended to Do and re- quest [ed] him to forward the money as soon as he could af- ter he got the order I Eec^ an answer in the midle of Jan^ stateing that he had been informed of your intentions By his father in Law and that he would forward it to me on its arival or else would inform me so that I might fetch it I got another Letter from him on the 4^^ march which stated that he had got the order to pay me 21£ But owing to the Depres[s]ed state of trade he had not been able to sell any of the goods he had rec^ from his Father in Law and he thought it would be 2 months at the least before he could raise me the money which I am sory to say will rather Dis- apoint me as you would see by my last letter that I Promised to Pay W™ Morton his money in May (who is now very sick of typus Fever the Particulars of which you will see in Georgs Portion of this letter)

you will see by the former Part of this letter that Ja^ Scot had lost an ox But I must inform you that it was not one of those we join[e]d at his Proceedings did not altogether satisfy me and I made him a Proposition that he should either Buy my Share or I would Buy his and we agreed that I should have them and pay him 20 Dollars in [the] spring which was is share the enclosed Letter to M^ Tinker & M'"

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 45

Wo[o]dhead contains an account of his conduct to Joshua Woodhead which I Desire you will not make Publick the Oxen have Been of great service to me this winter in Draw- ing timber for fencing with and I am glad I have got them from him for they are a yoke of very good oxen

the Distance from Rochester to Quincy will Be as near as I can judge By the map about 300 miles the Last Letter 1 rec^ was 3 weeks in reaching hear from the time of the Date and I am afraid it will not be a very conveinient way of sending money I think money sent the same way as Ja^ Tinkers whas sent would be the most adviseable way With regard to Th^ Hobsons request I can only say I think theire would Be not much chance of getting so large a sum of Jo- seph Mitchel at Pressent for he as over reached himself hear and the fingers of the law have hold of him already for Debdt and theire are several people who want money of him and he canot pay them his wealth chiefly consisting of shawls which he Brought with him we have not pre[e]mpt[ed] any land nor did we intend to do [so] till early this spring But if Miss Holroy should come here I will render all the assistance I can to her and I think she may Do well with the money you state she will have

My brother Henry Desires to know what sort of a house I intend Building to the request I can hardly tell how to an- swer for I have not made up [my] mind wether of wood or Bricks a Brick house would Be the most comfortable and in less Danger of Fire But I can assure you the house we live in has been a cold one this winter and I should like to have a better Before another winter sets in But how I am to get it I can not tell at pressent I shall write again in about 6 weeks and we shall arange our letters as you Desire I now conclude this letter with the kindest love of your Grandchildren and May the Blessing of god rest upon you is the earnest Prayer of your Affectionate Son & Daughter

Ed^ & Marth Bottomley

46 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Dear Mother Brothers & Sisters :*

we rec[e]ived your letter on the 8^^ of March and we weare happey to heare that you was in joying good helth but I understand you have had A verrey niield Winter and much Sickness I was not [so] much sopriesd to hear that my Granmother was dead has I was at others you mentioned in your last Letter, we have had one of the Severrest Win- ters that ever was witnesst by the houldest Settler but I ne[e]d not say aney more about the Winter for Edwins Let- ter will give you A full acount of it

Dear Mother you wish to know if our Provissions be as good as yours I should say they are and they are verrey cheape in Comparisen to what they are in England A Bar- rel of best flour which contains 196 lb [costs] three Dollars and [a] half, good beef three cents pr lb. Pork as been Selling for sum tim[e] at 2 cents pr lb but it is now got up to 6 cents. Sugar is 10 cent pr lb. Treacle 12 cents pr quart. Coffee 16 cents. Tea from 2s 6d to 5s pr lb. tobacco Is pr lb. and other things in proportion. Clothing his Expencive

it appears to me that my Sister Elizebeth was rather of- fended that I had not send her word in my last letter how we landed our Clothin[g] and pots My sister Sarah had four tea cups and tea pot bro[ke] belongen to her Chiney and I belive that was the greatest loss we had in our pots, our Clothing was Clean and Streit as they were when you sa[w] them pact. Edwen had one Large Box of Clothing Spoild it got wet but they was not aware of this and when they came to open it they was Mildue and sum of them was readey for falling to peaces.

I was verrey Sorrey to hear that John and Nathaniel was Listed for Solders and Sarah Ann was verrey much Troubled and She wish[es] to know sum thing of her Sister Hannah where She his and what She is doing. My Brother and Sister Sarah are yet living with Mr Frost but I am Sor- rey to inform you that William his Sick he was taken 111

•This letter, written by George Armltage, was enclosed with the pre- ceding letter of Edwin and Martha Bottomley of Mar. 7, 1843.

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 47

on 6^^ of February and he as had a Docter attending him every day since the 12^^ of February he has been verre}' bad and unsencable at times Mr. Blood his Docter Called it A bilious Fevour but last weak Mr Frost advised him to Change his Docter for he was A fraid that M[r.] Blood did not understand his Complaint on Friday the 10*^ of March they tould Mr. Blood they Should try sum other Docter and they Send for Mr Dyer A Docter from Berlington and he tould them it was the typus feveur Edwen and me went to see him last Sunday on the 12^^ of March and Mr Dyer Came wile we was there and he tould us that he was verrey danger- ous I went again on the 16^^ for I was verrey ancious to see him better before I anser your letter the Docter had be[e]n that morning and he tould them the fevour was at turn and he appeared to be sum little better I am afraid there will be A verrey large bill before he his well Mr Blood Charges 6s per day and Mr. Dyer 2 doUers a day.

I must inform you that Mr Sykes from Netherton arived hear A few weaks ago and he as been passing from one place to another as A Compleate Gentalman but he allways for got one thing that was to pay for his bord. we heard of Mr Sykes Several times before we had an opertunity of seeing him but at last he came to Rochester and put up at the taverren as usal but the Landlord was pritty Sha[r]p for he took Care to keep him no longer then his over Coate and Specttacles would Cleare and he turned him out without over Coat and Specttacles but you must be aware while he was passing from one place to another and cheating every one he Could he was allways prepared for his journey he had no lugage excepting his over coat and he had the mis- f ortion to lose that but you will hear more about his Conduct in Edwins letter for I must come to A Close and I hope you will excuse me for not giving you Sattisfaction and neglect- ing to answering your questions

• • •

From your affectionate Son and Daugher

George Armitage

48 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Edinbro Near Rochester Racien County August 19th 1843 Dear father & mother :

I am afraid you will be quit[e] out of Patience with me for not writeing to you before this but I trust the reason which I shall state will be sufficient to give you satisfaction with this compliment I shall proceed with my letter which I hope will find you all in the enjoyment of good health as it leaves us at pressent with the exception of Ariminalann who has been sick of the ague 4 weeks But she is now a Deal better. Since I last wrote to you we have had another girl added to our family circle and by the help of God my wif ee recovered better than she ever Did in England and the Child is as fine and as handsome as any we have had before and we have named it Selina

We received the Box which you sent by (William Wood) Safe and all the articles was free from Damage for which we return you our most sincer thanks likewise to all our f reinds for their Pressents. I stated in my last letter that I thought we could not get any land Broke for spring crops which was the case But I am happy to inform you we' took another step which is likely to be more to our advantage for the next coming winter James Tinker and John Wilson and myself took five acres of land {which had grown crops last sumer) on shares as we call it. that is the Person owning the land finds the seed and we find the labour and we have half the crop and the owner of the land the other half we have 2 acres of Pottatoes 2^/^ Indian Corn 1 of Gates and our crops look very well By the assistance of a f reind whose name is Alexander Stonehouse we have got a first rate breaking plough and by putting our oxen together we have formed a good team we have 2 yoke of M^ Stonehouse 's Ja^ Tinkers 1 John Earnshaw's 1 and mine in the team which is five yoke by thees means we have gon[e] on with Breaking for winter wheat very well Ja^ Tinker and me have broke about 4 acres each and we have broke 2 acres for Joshua Wood- head he has lent us is yoke so that we should have one yoke at liberty to lead Hay with we are now buysy with our hay

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 49

and we intend geting as much as will fit should the winter be as long as the last

I shall now give you a descr[i]ption of the weather in the spring we had a Deal of thunder acompanied with heavy showers of hail and rain on the night of the 31^* of may we had one of the heavyest storms that was ever witnessed it comenced about 8 0 Clock and continued till about two next morning with very little intermision we could Distinctly hear the lightning iss similar to a Peice of Iron heated to a whealding heat when taken out of the fire by a smith and the flashes was so rapid that the atmospher appeard in one continual Blaze the peals of thunder followed as quick as the report of [a] gun after the flash with a noise that made the earth to tremble the rain pouerd Down in torrents which caused the rivers and creeks to swell to a greater height than they was at the melting of the snow in the spring the lightning split several trees in our neighbourhood

the weather since then as been very warm and Dry which has made the wheat grow very fast the major part of which is now cut and stackt the wheat that we had Promissed very fair But the hogs got in and trampled it and eat it so that it was not worth cuting and rakeing and we have turned our cattle into it which will help to fatten them I intend killing one of them this fall which is very fat already th'* other two I shall keep as they are Both good milk cows my stock at pressent consists of 3 cows 1 ephier 1 calf [1] Yoke of Oxen 1 Pig 4 hens and Cock and 20 Chickens 1 Cat and 4 kittens, this last fortnight we have had [a] few shower [y] Days which has been very beneficial to the pottatoes Indian corn &c and they are now looking very well. In your lagt letter you Desired to know what things we had spoiled and how it hapned which i will state to you as near as I can recolect.

When W" Morton and me came from Milwaukie to get the house ready we brought the tool Box and that large Box with the clock in and [the] chilldrens cloths such as frocks petti- coats shemeis shirts stockings &c. the night after we got

50 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

heare their was a heavy rain the house not being shingled we covered the box with hay and when we uncovered it we thought the rain had not got into it which caused us not to open it till about a month after when we Discovered our mis- take the rain had got in [and] caused the clothes to mildew and those that was close to the clock where staind some of the venereing came of [f] the clock some of the cloths was got right with washing and Bleaching them But a good quan- tity [of] peices came out of them which had to be mended up But takeing all together the loss was a mere trifle ex- cepting the trouble of washing and mending them so little that I never thought it worth while troubling you with it

On the 4^^ of July a party of us went Down to Burlington to the celebration of Independance and on our road theire we Broke my Bass having it in the wagon under one of the seats which rested on each side of the wagon the seat slipt off at one end and fell upon the Bass and broke the Belly in which is still in Peices yet for I have not had time to mend It. We have got our setlement formed into a School District to itself and we have had a few meetings to choose officers and make arrangments for a school But no further Buiss- nes has been Done than choosing officers we have three trus- tees M^ Aimes a Magistrate and a Blacksmith is one M' John Earnshaw and M^ John Nobles the other two M"" Ja^ Tinker [is] the s[c]hool tax gatherer and they put me on for the Clerk and I think we are in fair way for geting a school as soon as people are more at liberty

we have had one Death in the settlement Charles Cock- roft from near Huddersfield Died on the 10^ of august and whas buryed on the 13^^ in the Burying ground at Eochester in a very respectable maner the old Settlers Brought their wagons and carried the f reinds to the Chapel and from their to the Burying grond and Back home again free of any ex- penc[e] the wagons are not great heavy things like an English wag[o]n But light Drawn By two horses and made more for speed than carrying great weaghts for you would

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 51

seldom see a Yanke Drive a horse at a walk they mostly go at a smart trot

all the chilldren send their Best respects to thire Grand- mother for thire new frocks and they all fit very well and I Beleive all the Presants Pleased them all very well except- ing our Thomas who was greatly Disapointe[d] because he could not ride his pony he is now got a fine boy and he ofthen talks what he will Do when he gets biger such as Driveing oxen and choping fire wood and helping his father to fenc[e] our Sarah is as mer[r]y as ever and her Lisp- ing tounge is never still excep[t]ing when she is asleep theire is one little circumstance which as been omited in my former letters concerning her which may aford you a little amusment at least while you read it. on our passage across the ocean one morning theire was a number of whales in Sight Blowing up the water to a great height George Armitage and Arminalann and Sarah where on Deck and the Chilldren wanted to look at the wales George lifted Arminalann up to look at them and a person standing by lifted Sarah up and kept showing her the foam on the tops of the waves to satisfy her but it appears they Did not for she turnd her face to arminalann and said, a lath (lass) their nought nohut, thuds (suds); which caused the by- stander to laugh very much Arminalann is the same old woman as she al[ways] was But is not very well at pres- sent but better than she has been as I have stated Before Hannah & Euth are got two big girls and are a help to theire mother, and I often think it would Please you very much to hear all of them sing a hymn which was composed by a young man near Salendin Noock the words you will find on the Direction side of the letter

I must conclude this portion of my letter With the best wishes and prayers of all the chilldre[n] and my Wife and Myself that if we must never meet on earth again we hope to meet again in heaven Give our love to all our f reinds and relations and accept the Same yourself

from your Affectionate Son and Daughter Edwin & marth Bottomlby

52 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

to mary wood Dear cusin:

according to promisse I now adress the[se] few lines to you hopeing the[y] will find you in good health as they leave us at Pressant excepting arminalann who as been sick of the ague But is now a Deal better Your Present I recei^ and was very glad to have some token of respect which I hope may continue as long as it Pleases god to let us live on earth and that we may both meet in heaven is my constant Prayer as for saying how I like the cuntry all I can Say is I am Happy with a good husband and I know it is my Duty to strive to make him happy also and I say with the words of Kuth wether thou goest I will go and where thou Diest I will Die I was safely Deliverd of another girl on the 24^*^ of may and I recoverd better than ever I did in Eng- land and we have named it Selina * * *

from your Affe® Cusin Marth Bottomley

Edinbro Near Rochester Racien County August 19*^ 1843 Dear Father & Mother & B^ Henry :

It was with feeling of great thankfuUness we received you[r] two Last letters that of 2"^ of may in the Begining of June and that of 2^^ of June on the 30^^ of June and our feelings on the recept [of] it are beyond my power [to] Describe we where thankful to God for enableing you to send us the assistance which you did for we was in no very pleasant circumstances at the time owing to not haveing re- cei^ the money from M^ Miller and I am Sorry to say we have not receiv^ it yet we got the money from M"" Steinheil in the Begining of this month and me and martha went to millwauke to get the Bank note Depossite changed into specie when we bought a quantity of groceries sufficient for 5 or 6 months I have paid Ja^ Tinker Joshua Woodhead and Squire Hinchlife theirs. The enclosed note in my last letter would inform you how I was situated and what money I had to live on

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 53

since that time we have lived as well [ms. cut] had to Borrow money of M"" John Wilson (But not till nes- sisity forced me to it) to keep my family on on the 24^ may which was the Birth Day of our Selina we had nothing in our house excepting potatoes and milk and you may Judge of my feelings Better that [than] I can Describe them, on that night previous to going to bed my wife De- sired me to bring in some fire wood for she Did not feel well she still keep geting worse untill about half past 10 Oclock when she was safely Deliver^ of the Child their [was] no one in the house excepting our own family the Chilldren all asleep in bed you may ask why I did not fetch a Doc- tor the reason whas I could not leave her and the night was very stormy thunder and lightning and betwixt the flashes was very Dark so that in all probabil[ity] I should have lost my way had I atempted it as soon as the child was born I went [and] called James Tinker and wife up and told them to come as soon [as] possible and I went Back to her I had left and with her instructions I performed the Duty of Midwife as well as I could Ja^ Tinker ['s] wife Brought her a little tea and sugar and we got some flour of them and with Borrowing a little money of M^ Wilson we have got on Prety well since

I have made an agreement for 20 thousand Bricks and I shall comenc[e] my house the Begining of next month the Plan I have not properly fixt But I will send you the Plan of It in my next I have thought at having it 8 yard by 9 and a story and a half High as near as I can say at pres- sent it will cost about £50 But I will write again in 6 weeks when I shall be able to give you more information I have paid all my Debts and W°* Morton and me have ordered a Deed drawing up and I Shall pay him as soon as it is ready I shall lay out no more expence in Building than I can help being aware how you are situated I want to trouble you no more than I can help and I must here state that what assistance you render me if I have no other way of Paying you you may keep an account against me and re-

54 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

ducted it of [f ] my share of the Property if I have any share in it I am afraid I shall [be] to[o] late for the Post which causes me to Draw my letter to [a] close give our kind love to all relations and freinds and accept the same Yourself from Your Affectionate Son and Daughte[r]

Edwin & martha Bottomley

Dear father:

I Desire you to go to M^ Milner and get the money from him and transmit it the same way as you Did the last I wrote to M^ Milner in march and Desired him to send me the money as soon as possible — he had Promised to get it ready for me in may I waited Patiently till the Midle of June when I stated to him if he Did not send me the money in one month from the Date of my letter I should write to England for it I have not rec^ neither money nor an answer to my letter and I Desire you to go and get it from M^ Milner for I sh[o]uld not like to be short of money this fall as it would be of more service to me then than any time of the year as I could then Purchase wheat for half the price I could any other time Pork also I can Buy at a cent and [a] half which at any other time would be 5 cents if you Do me this favour you will much Obleidge

Your Affectionate son [Signature cut from the manuscript]

the Hymn

Farewell my friends below, time passes fleetly

when moments are improvd

time passes sweetly

in Jesus we are one

when a few years are gone

Before the Shinny throne

wee'l meet in Glory

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 55

the woes of life we feel and its temptations then let us nobly fill our proper Stations Soldiers of Christ old fast the wars will soon be Past when victory crowns at last wee'l meet in glory

then o what Joys will crown That happy meeting wee'l Bow before the throne each other greeting refresht again we'll start though for a while we part yet always joind in heart wee'l meet in glory

Rochester Octo^ 7^ 1843 Dear Father & Mother :

I have the pleasure to inform you that we are all of us en- joying good health at pressent though theire as been a Deal of Sickness in the neighbourhood it hath pleased god to grant us good health (it as been the ague which the most of people have been aflicted with) the sumer has been very warm and we have had very changeable weather the last six weeks from hot to cold and a Deal of Rain

I have got 6 acres of land broke and I have sown two with winter wheat the other 4 acres which I have not fenced I intend for my spring crops such as spring wheat potatoes Indian corn &c I forgot to state in my last that one of my oxen had got is horn pulled off while M^ Stonehouse whas ploughing for W°™ Crowther they wher going very close to a tree and the yoke behind mine got fast by one of the oxen wanting to go on one side and the other on the other and when the first yokes whas Backed to looss them the chain was slack [e]ned and one of mine threw in is head and caught the chain with his horn which was not seen by the Driver when he started them again and when the chain got tight it pulled his horn off which has rather Disfiguerd him but he is no worse for work.

56 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

we had a quantity of Indians campt on our land a few weeks since for one night and I and martha along with sarah morton went to them they was very civil with us and they told us as well as they could they was going to chi[c]ago with skins of various animals to sell such as racoons musk rats minks squerll & the[y] appeared to be the most happy race of peopl[e] I ever Did see. tlie woemen (squas) where buysy cooking the men sit smoking and some of the chill- dren climbing up small trees and throughing themselves off on the ground the chilldren that sucked they had them in a case or Box something like that old fidle case that I gave Joseph parkin and had them reared against a tree

I am now very Buysy with my house the cellar of which I am walling with stone which we get out of the Land they are a kind of hard heads and we get Lime stone out of the hilly Land to Bed them with, they make an excellant wall the cellar will be 14 feet by 16. W"^ Crowther formerly of Lockwood has been walling it But he is now in the ague he fell sick last Satuarday and he continues to be very ill this week we are Drawing Brick and timber and prepareing the Beams and joist [s] for the floor W"^ Morton & George Armitage are assisting me as well as they can George has had one of his Old asthmatical rounds this last few Days so he has not been able to Do anything But I expect he will be well in a few Days M^ Thomson one of our neighbours has come home this week from Rock river where he has been working all sunamer and I have engaged him to help to Build the house and if W"^ Crowther Does not get well in time I shall wall the inside myself and By thees means I hope we shall get It coverd In Before winter sets in

It would Pleas you greatly to see the chilldren with what Delight the[y] help to unload the Bricks Tho^ & Sarah are generaly the most active handleing the rough Brick with theire Little hands and talking about how warm they will be iu the winter from what they was the last Sarrah is the same little wild girl she was in England she often talks of her Grandmother and her little companions Tho^ is got

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 57

a fine Boy he is very fleshe and enjoys very good healtli Arminalann is got qmt[e] well and is very eherefuU Han- nah and Ruth are got two great girls and are a help to their mother Selina is a fine little girl we had her ehristned about 5 weeks since at M' Earnshaw's wher we have preach- ing every Sunday afternon and we have a sabath school held theire also, we had a person from the American Sabath school Union a few weeks since and he made us a pressent of a small Liberary for the use of the chilldren and he promised to pay us another visit in a short time and render us all the assistance he could

I see By the papers that Political agitation is still alive with you and I think the Powers that Be have theire hands- full what with corn Law [word illegible] and the Irish re- peal question and rebecca and her Daughters they will have work enough to keep the helm and avoid the rocks and sands which the vessel seems to be sorounde[d] with. Politicks are a subject that we are never troubled with hear and we might be without a government for any trouble or expenc[e] they are to us we have no Police men nor Poor Law com- misioners nor are we troubled much with tax gatherers theire as been a person round to mak[e] a valuation and we expect to have a small tax on our Land according to the im- provements we have on it this tax I am Informed we shaJl have to pay every year. our officers such as magistrates, Balif, &c are all working men and stand on equal ground with ourself if the [y] wont work they must not eat.

tell Brother Henry not to let me have quit[e] so much of Politics in his next But teel me something about my old acquaintances and how they are geting on at Crossland Church or some kind of a tale and how old Sam^ Witworth is geting on and ask him if he has not got an old Piano which he can fix (as the yankees Say) to the tail of one of your newly invented flying machiens and Desire the conductor of the machien to cut its tail off when he Passes over Roches- ter Racien county Wisconsin teritory and I will Be on the Look out for it

58

WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Dear father if you have an opurtunity I should like you to send me a quantity of Reed Dents such as are used for about a 10 Bear reed as I intend trying to make some coarse flanel which I think would be a profitable Buissnes their is a small carding mill at Waterf ord about 4 miles off and an- other is nearly Built at Burlington their has been a large Flour mill (grist mills their are called here) Built at Roch- ester this sumer the Iron foundry has got complet[e] But you must not imagine the Mills and Foundry to be such as you have in England But Picture to yourself what they was in England 30 or 40 years ago the Flour Mills have from 2 to 4 run of stone and are worked Day and Night. Tell Benj° Wood that I have not had an oportunity of see- ing his Brother John for I have been so engaged that I could not well go over so far the Distance from Rochester to Prairevil is 25 miles I intend to go over as soon as ever I can make it convenient I must now Draw my letter to a close with the Best wishes of my Wife and Chilldren to all relations and freinds and accept the Same Yourself

From Your Affectionat Son & Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

! - • "' -••^-/^ ^^ #

s

^^^'TTN

n

f^^^^^JU, i^*^^*^***

11^

^i/-c-U-C

yrSpt.*^

C&1

I

\in^n^

tcu^^

Plan of the house the cellar goes as far as the wall marked X it will be two stories high

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY . 59

I have not time to Draw you the front as it is time for my

leter to be at Kochester for the mail But their is a person

by the name of Fitchcroft coming Back to Berybrow and I

shall send you a drawing of the Place he leaves here next

week

• • •

Dear Father:

In the other part of my letter you have a scetch of the house I intend Building and I Desire you to say wether you think I am Building to[o] large or not the cost I can not exactly state at Pressent But I Judge about £50 it will take about 23000 Brick the price at the yard is 3 Dollar [s] and a half about 80 Bushel of lime at 10 cents per Bushel for Drawing the Brick that I cannot Draw with my oxen I have a Dollar and [a] quarter per 1000 to pay I have not sufficient time to Draw all the Bricks with the oxen and I have got John Wilson to Draw what they cannot, theer is lime and Sand timber and various other things which would cost a great Deal which I can Do with the oxen

I have engaged W™ Morton and George Armitage to as- sist I shall have to pay them 12 Dollars a month each and Board which is as little as I could get any person for and 1 think they are Deserveing of it they have promised that if I was pinched for money to let their wage stop in my hands till next march But I think I shall get through if you can send the money that M^ Miller should have paid me But I shall strive to lay out as little as poss[i]ble for I Do not want to trouble you for any more money if I can help it by any Possible means in my Power you will Be aware of my circumstances By my former letters I have paid my Debts and I have settled with W" Morton about the land and have got the Deeds Drawn up and I have them and as soon I can conveiniently I will give you a statement of what I have laid out so that you will see for yourself that I have not wasted the money in riotous liveing But that I have eaten the Bread of carefulness and I hope with the Blessing

60 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

of god to succeed in my undertakeing By Patience and Per- severance such is the Desire of your affectionate son [Signature cut from the manuscript]

Rochester Wisconsin Teritory Dec"" 6*^ 1843

Dear Father:

# « *

your letters of Sep^ 16*^ Oct^ 2^^^ Oct 17^^ have all come to hand and we where glad to hear that you where all enjoying good health and that trade was better. We are thankfuU to you for your kindness towards us the money which you sent By the mail of the 17*^ of oct"" I rec*^ last week F Steinhiel Esq had the goodness to send it forward without waiting for a letter from me But I am sory to inform you that I have not rec*^ the Box of Clothes which you sent By M^ Pickering last Sep^ nor a letter from him either. the reason that I rec*^ neither I cannot comprehend wether he is stoping in new york or he is come to his Brother in Illinois I do not know But I shall write by the next post to his brother in Illinois and I Desire you to send me the adress of his Brother in Law at new York so that I can write to him if I have ocasion to Do so I have sometimes thought that he must be stoping in new York this winter and intended bring- ing it with him in the spring my reason for thinking so is that he might not land in new York while the End of Oct' which would be to late for him to come up the lakes on ac- count of the lakes being closed (as they term it) that is be- ing froze which generaly takes place about the begining of Nove' at the Northern end of lake Michigan and lake Huron and It would be very expensive for him to come by the stage or mail so far. especialy if he had a quantity of Lugage But if he be stopt in new york I am su[r] prised he Does not write. But hope it will arrive safe and that no misfortune has happened to him.

While I am on the subject of Disapointment I may as well state that I have not rec^ the money from M^ Milner of Quincy Adams County Illinois nor have rec^ any communi-

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 61

cation from him since last March and if M*" Ja^ Miller Does not like to pay you the money on the asertion of this note on account of Its being enclosed in another person ['s] letter I shall mention it again in my own letter in a month from the Date of this but I hope he will so that the thing may be set at rest

we have got the house covered in and are very buysy with inside work to get it so that we can get into it the next week the weather as been rather against us for a few Days at time[s] the frost being rather to[o] strong we could not wall But by takeing fine Days and bad Days altogether we have succeeded we had a fall of Snow the Latter end of bct^ which covered the ground nearly a foot Deep which remaind about a week since then we have [had] very little and take the winter generaly so far I think it is very fine

I had entend[ed] not to write till I had seen John Wood but owing to the house being as it is I could not well go and see him till we get into it But you may tell Ben" Wood that I shall go and see him or get him to come over to me before I write again which will be a month from the Date of this if I am spared in health I saw a Person on Monday last who had come from Snail lake and he told me that John Wood had left Gudger and was liveing with an English man a Butcher about a mile from Gudgers and that he was in good health

I sent you a Drawing By a Person named Fitchcroft and hope you will have rec^ it befor this you must excuse me for not Doing it as well as you have seen for I only had One Brush that I cou[l]d Paint with and I hope it will give you some Idea of the Land and how we are situated, as soon as I can make it conveinient I shall send a Drawing of each house as a present to the parents of all of us.

You Desired me to state how my clothes fit me But not haveing rec"^ them I cannot tell But I think they will be large enough if ever I get them although I have enjoyed very good health ever since I came to this cuntry I am not as heav}^ quit[e] as I was when I was in England But if

62 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

they are a bit to[o] large they will be no worse for it you Desire in one of your letters to know wether I can make my Bass as good as it was or not and I Belive I can although I have not put It together yet you also Desire to know what articles would be of service to me that you could send them for me by Sheard in the Spring I cannot scarcely tell what to ask for I think you[r] kindness to me and my family as allready been very great and I do not want you to injure yourself no more than what can be avoided on our account But if you could send me a Jackaurd [ Jacquard] for about 40 Healds and a quantity of logs and pegs I should take it as a great favour for I mean to have a loom and a Small Jenny as soon as I can make it conveinient a few reeds Dents would be of service to me * * *

your affectionate Son & Daughter Edwin & Martha Bottoml[ey]

N** 1 Letter after this [I] Shall number them

KocHESTER January 4*^ 1844 Dear Father & Mother :

According to promise I now take up my pen again to adress a few lines to you hopeing they will find you in good health as they leave all of us at pressent our chilldren are all as lively as Poss[i]ble especialy Tho^ and Sarah who are continualy Pulling and hauling little Selina and Jar a little one with another which is the Better nurse Tho^ is very fat and thrives very fast and he can sing with his sisters when they sing their little hymns and he often talks about his grandfather and Grandmother his mother had been wash- ing him one Satuarday night and when she was combing his hair she ask[ed] him if she must cut off a lock o| hair for his Grandfather and he said (yes Do) and send it him which you will find enclosed in this letter

I was sory that I could not give you any inf ormatio [n] about the Box which you sent By M^ Pickering (in my note enclosed in James Tinkers letter) for I am aware that it would cause you great uneassiness But I ham happy to

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 63

inform you that I rec^ a letter from him the same night that James Tinker [ 's] letter went to the Post office and had I got it an hour sooner I should have gone to the Post office and taken the letter out again But I was aware the mail would be Closed before I could get their and I was compeld to let it go and I was very ill greived about it for I was sure it would cause you great uneasiness But I am happy to in- form you that the Box is safe in M^ Pickering ['s] care at new york M^ Pickerings Passage from Liverpool to New York was upwards of 40 Days so that it was the Begining of November before he landed and a few Days elapsed Before he could get the Box clear of the custom house owing to a circumstance of Perfidy (as he terms it) on the part of some informant against the captain for haveing smugled goods on Board, however he managed to get the Box safely through without a single article being turned up by giveing a fee $5 Dollars which he thought best to do rather than have any further trouble after that he begun to make e[n]quireies about sending the Box forward to me but his Brother In Law and Several Others advised him not to send it till he had writen to me as they was aware that the Lakes would be closed before the Box could be got to Racine and most likely be lost or the goods spoiled By remaining all winter perhaps in the Vesel or in a warehouse I wrote Back imediately and Desired him to let it remain at new York till spring in his care and then send it if he Did not come himself accord- ing to his letter he thought he should not come west as he had been sick ever since he landed at new york nothing semed to Digest properly and Dyspepsia is the result which is comon to Englishmen when they first come out

We removed into our new house on the 10^*^ of Dec^ it be- ing my Birth Day and I can assure you we feel a Deal more comfortable than we Did in our shanty although it is in a un- fin[i]shed state we have the front Door nailed up with Boards and a good Door to the Back which is more convein- ient for us at i)ressent the chamber floor is laid Down But not nailed as the Boards are not Dry the house and kitchen

64 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

floor is nailed Down and we are fin[i]shing laying the floor in the little room to Day the walls are all unplastered as I Dont intend haveing them Plastered till Spring so that it will give me a little more time to Do the finishing work my- self this winter when the weather is not fit to work out of Doors

I repaired my Bass on the friday before Christmas Day and I have made it as good as ever it was and we had a first rate Christmas tell Joshua Sykes and Joseph Scholfield that we had as good a set of Singers as they had and more Pleasure attending we went Down to Eochester and got theire about 2 0 Clock in the morning every house whas in Darkness and all the Inhabitance asleep (not being aivare of us going to vis[i]t them) we comenced Singing at A M' Godfrey ['s] who is the Oldest Settler in this Part and then we went through the (village or town) the Inhabitance of which wondered whatever theire was to Do one man thought it was the Indians that was comeing to Drive them out of the to^Ti and at the Tavern the Boarders tumbled Down stairs one after another some of them half Dressed wondering what theire was coming they Invited us in and Desired us to go up stairs into the Ball room and Sing for them their they would have made us all as Drunk as pi- pers with Spirits if we would have taken It. the Inhabi- tance Generaly was greatly pleased and they wish us to go round the next year again and they will be better prepared for us.

the winter has been very open so far on. the ground at Pressent is scarcely coverd with snow we have had more rain already than we had all last winter and theire is no comparison Betwixt this winter and the last

Dear Father, in referance to your question about hired help, it has caused me to adopt a plan which I leave for your consideration hopeing it will give you great Satisfa[ction] for it is my opinion it will prove the best Plan I could adopt not only for me but a person whom you have taken great In- trest in, the Person['s] name is John Wood Ben° Wood['s]

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 65

Brother In your Last letter you Desired me to make en- quireies about him and find him and have a personal Inter- vew with him I attended to your requests as soon as pos- sible and found that he had left Gudger and was liveing with another person I wrote a letter to him requesting him to come over to me, and Sent it by a person that was going into the neighbourhood wher[e] he was liveing he came over and I had a good Deal of conversation with him about Gudg- ers conduct towards him which according to his statement has been every thing But kind his toes was froze last win- ter By being compeled to wear tight shoes (Because Gudger either could or would not provide him with a pair of Boots untill shame compeld him) Both is toes was frost bitten but he did not looss either of them although they was very bad one of them is not quit[e] well yet his clothes are nearly all wore out and he had no place that he could call a home I took into consideration his situation and your kind intention to assist me in improveing my land and I con- cluded to make an engagement with him and make him a home rather more comfortable than what he had been I have engaged him for one year our agreement is this I agree to give him 50 Dollar [s] in money and 3 Shirts 2 pair of Stockings one pair of trowsers and a pair of Boots we wash and mend his clothing and Board him and if he should be sick we attend him and when he recovers he agrees to work his time up at the first look this agrement Appears low wage But I believe it is more than a person can make clear when he as employment to get at Different places and his washing and Board to find for himself During the time he his out of work so that in one years time a person who engages by the year knows what he can realize But one that Does not he is uncertain what he can realize besides being tossed about from place to place amongst strangers whom he knows nothing About.

shuch is our agrement and I Promiss Both you and his Brother Ben*^ that I shall make him as comfortable as I can and that my conduct towards him shall be such as will guard

66 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

him against all sceens of vice and wickedness and perhaps lead him in the path of virtue and the fear of God which I Beleive as not been the case with whom he as been liveing although he seems to have a nobler Principa[l] within him than those that should have been is guide in this western world who I understand is an Infidel and works as hard on a Sunday as any other Day and has compeled him to work on the Sunday also.

I intend to fense as much as I can this winter It is my intention to purchase a quantity of rail[s] and to cut some off my own land besides as theire is no government land as [any] where near that I can cut any off [of] (James Tin- ker has bought 10 acres of timherd land about 6 miles off and given 5 Dollars an acre for it he said nothing to me about it and of course I have nothing to Bo with it, al- though we are great freinds and I hope for ever shaU re- main) the e[n] closed his for his Father I have 4 acres Broke which is unsown which I intend sowing with Spring wheat I have two acres of winter wheat in and the two acres which we broke the first sumer I shall cross Plough and Plant with Indian Corn and Potta[to]es and if I can fenc[e] in as much as I anticipate I shall Break about 10 acres for winter wheat next sumer

I had intend [ed] sending you a detailed account of the expence of Building the house But for want of room I Shall omit at pressent as the Post office authorities are very strict at pressent I expect this letter will be charged double for the last letter you send was treble and cost me 75 cents [word illegible] them up as this is for future if you have any enclosed peice I have paid all Demands against me Both for Bricks time timber Glas — and for Drawing Bricks and for mason work W^ Morton & George Armitage I have paid them 15 Dollars and Shall have the remainder to pay in march according to agreeme[nt] they will want for Both together about 50 Dollars more I have about 28 Dollars left and I have Bought a quantity of wheat and Paid

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 67

for it some for seed and the remainder for flour which will fitt wile [last until] we have some of our own or nearly

Pleas to make enquireis about the Bible which my Gran- mother had as she Promised it [to] our Hannah and if you can get it send it By sheard I should like you to Enquire where George Livesy Joseph Livesy['s] son [of] Dungeon Bottom is and send in your next Dear Father I have not received anything from M*" Milner of Quincy adams county Illinois and should like you to get the money as soon as you can and send it me if you can spare it me you will under- stand By this letter how I am situated and I hope I have giv- en no offence in any of my letters to cause you any unpleas- antness if I have I hope to be forgiven for it would be a greater Sin than my consince would let me comit against a father who has been so kind to me who by is kindness has placed me and [my] family in a comfortable home and I hope I shall neve[r] cause one tear of greife to Wet is furad cheeck for misconduct on my part so long as I live no Dear father shuch I hope as not been the case and I hope it never will and May the Lord keep and Guard me against such con- duct is the sincer Prayer of

your Affectionate son

Edwin Bottomley

EocHESTER April 18^*" 1844 Dear Father & Mother :

I received you[r] letter of the S""^ of March on the 13^ of April * * * along with your letter I rec^ the Leeds Mercury wich you sent and two letters from F Steinhiel of New york containing the money which was sent for Tinker, Woodhead, Hinchlif e, Armitage, and 40£ from Sheard which surprised me very much owing to it not being mentioned in your letter, according to your Desire I went to his father in law and read him that portion of the letter which concerned him and I told him what I had received from Sheard. the cost of sending money to here costs about 3 Dollars for 20£ but if I have room I will give you the Items.

68 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

we have had a very mild and open mnter and Spring has burst upon us in all its beauty the low land is covered with fresh grass and the trees are beginning to show theire leaves and we farmers are as busy as we can be geting in our spring crops I comenced sowing my spring wheat on Easter Tues- day instead of going Down to Huddersfield, and It has all- ready begun to show itself in its green robe I am geting my garden seeds into the ground as quick as I can I am afraid that those chesnuts which you sent me will not make any thing out I put them in the ground in drils about 4 inches Deep last fall and I beleive the frost as ingured them for on examineing them a few Days since they appeared to be rotten in the inside But I shall let them remain undes- turbed a while to see wether they will grow or not I Buryed the haws last fall and the fleshy part is Decayed I shall put them in Drils in a few Days and I hope to raise them

But I must return to what I have Done this winter you will perceive by my letter of the 4^^ of Jan^" that I had been busy with our house till that Period nearly which prevented me for [from] going to visit uncle Sam as we call him that is getting timber off government land which is geting very scarce about here now that has any timber on John and me went as far a[s] Eagle lake about 4 miles off and we got timber that made about 3 hundred rails I then Bought some fallen timber of James Walker and I got a 1000 rails out of it for which I paid 6 Dollars I have got 700 of them home and their is 300 on his land yet I got about 400 off my own land which make[s] 1700 rails that I have got this winter I have removed my fenc Back, south (refer to the Drawing) and encircld that land which was broke on the outside of the fence when we removed into our new house we was without stairs into the chamber and we used a step ladder John and me have put a new pair of Stairs up and though I say it my- self they are such that no Joiner would have occasion to be ashamed of all [so] we have made a new 4 post Bed Stead a Stand and put a cellar Door up, steps into the cellar, a new

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 69

mantlepeice and I have a frame for a Jenny made which is to have 20 Spindles in

I am glad you are sending the Iron work &c belonging to a Jenny for 60 Spindles But I must make the small one the first which will be more like what we call a billy than a Jenny it will be a rather curious construction for I have to contrive according to what I have to make it with I shall send you a Discription of It when I have completed it and I shall finish it at as soon as I can But I shall attend to the getting in of my seed while it is fine weather and when it is not fit to work out of Doors I shall employ myself in makeing the Jenny and Loom. It is my intention to Break about 10 acres this next summer if I can and sow it with winter wheat, the cost of Breaking up the land is 31^ Dollars an acre in- cluding all expences that is if it be By hired Labour 3 Dol- lars for work and Vituals included

in your letter of the 2*^^ of Dec"^ you Desire to know what kind of macheinery we have in this cuntry in my letter of Jan^ 4^*^ I Beleive i stated something on the subject But to be certain I will here state that manufactory is in its I [n] fancy spinning on one spindle as it was in England in times gone by. some card it themselves and others get it carded at the mill which is as far as it is manufactured at any mill in this part of the cuntry within 18 or 20 miles which is the cause of me makeing my Jenny in the maner I am so that I can Both slub it and spinn it myself in the same letter you mention that It was rumored that Isaac Bottomley was go- ing to marry Kuth Littlewood I should like to know wether it as taken place or not if it as give my respects to them both and that I wish them much happiness.

Those joiners tools have been of great service to me which you sent and they have enabled me to Do vairous things which i could not have Done had I been without them unless I had Borowed from other Persons which would have taken as much time [as] would have done the job the cans and all the other articles where of service to us and for which we return you our most sincere thanks we sold the milk sives

70 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

amongst our neighbours with the exception of one which we kept for our own use. the rifle I cannot handle with the Dexterity and certainty of [a] yanky I set of [f ] one morn- ing this last winter to try if I could kill a Deer I ranged the woods a long while without Discovering any But Just as I was makeing up my mind to return home I saw six laid Down under some trees on the Plain below wher[e] I stood But as soon as I begun to Descend the hill towards them they Bounded across the plain I tracked them over hill and Dale a long time till I begiin to be tired and then I gave up the chase But how far I was from home or where I was got too I had no more knowledge of than if I had been taken their Blindfold I saw a boy chopping trees Down and from him I learnt that I was 6 miles By the section lines South from home the house of his father was a short Distance off and I went to light my pipe they where just siting Down to their Diner they calld it But it was nearer Drinkin time than noon, they invited me to sit Down with them I accepted theire Invitation and got my Diner with them smoked my pipe and then returnd home.

I am informed that a person called Joseph Nobles has told a Dismall tale about this cuntry and that their was no person in the english settlement that Did not rue the Day they left england now how a man who profeses to be a minister of the gospel of our lord and Saviour Jesus Christ could have the Impudence to state shuch a falsehood surprises me But the poor simpleton is like to make some plausible tale to get is freinds to take him in But he ought to have spoke truth which I here state he has not with the exception of one or two in the settlement all like this cuntry very well and for myself I say as I have said befor was I in England again and knew what I know and all the Difficulties stareing me in the face which I have experienced since I came to this cuntry and they have been more thane Joe Nobles as experienced My first work I did would be triping Back to america and to this part with all its wolves, rattlesnakes, misquoties, pork and Pottatoes &c&c If you have an opurtunity tell Joe

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 71

Nobles the worst wish I wish him is that he may have as many potatoes and as much pork as he had to begin this last winter with if he had stopt 0 — But by the by he can earn a sovering a week now he as got back and I should think as he has said so much against pork & potatoes that he eats sov- erings and then retires to is closet to Drink wine although he is a profesed teetotaler I know he likes wine snugly But I have Done with such a man whose tounge speaks falsehood and practices Deceit.

Dear Brother :

in you[r] note enclosed in Ja^ Tinkers letter you said something about my old Freind Sam^ Witworth and Prom- ised me more particulars in your next I have rec^ your let- ter But canot find his name mentioned in another you stated somthing about my hat turning fortunteller But I expect you have failed in your machien and my hat will have to re- main at home a word or two on thees subjects in your next will much oblige your Affectionate Brother Give my re- spects to the choir at Crossland Church also to M^ Johnston for his complement and tell him that my Bank charges very little Discount on the money he has sent me for the bills are very acceptable and I Back them without any fear of the parties failing that is[s]ue them.

Dear Father :

the money w^hich you rec^ from M' Milner and sent I rec^ the week after my letter of the 4^^ of Jan^ also yours of Dec** 2°^ and according to your Disire I wrote to his Brother But thought It rather an awkard Business for when I wrote to him last spring I stated to him that If [he] did not send me the money in a month from the Date of my letter I should write Back to England for it But I wrote to him on the 30*^** I stated to him that I had writen to England and that his B' said I was to aply to him again for it as he had wrote an or- der for him to pay it me last July, this was the particulars of my letter I told him not to Deceive me the same as he Did

72 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

last STimer but to state how and when he could pay it either in small sums or all at once I rec^ one Back the End of Feb"" the followin[g] is a copy

QuiNCfY Feby 12—1844 Dear Sir:

Yours of the 30th of Jany I have before me and if any thing is calculated to increase my troubles it is to know that one entirely unknown to me is made to partake of them, if my last letter in [any] way mislead you or Disapointed you it is because I am Disapointed myself It would be im- possible for me to inform you how I have become enibarassed as I am But I will state that I have (at the expence of over $15,000 Built a mill on a stream that has nearly Dryed up I then altered It to a steam mill and when I last wrote to you [I] had some hope of Doing suflBcient to enable me to pay you something if not all but alas our harvest last year was so bad that we have not had one tenth work for the mill so that it pays noth- ing. I am rather astonished that Brother Joseph Should Satisfy himself by telling you he had ordered me to pay it you Because my son who maried his Daughter left me last april to return to Dalton with every appearance of my suffering for want of the necessarys of life and this [that] I have not wanted it is becase a kind and Indulgent providence has heard my prayers and granted me my Daily Bread it is true I owe my Br more than your Demand and had I the means both you and he should be paid I will state another fact that will show you how impossible it is for me to pay anything at pressent tho' I hope and trust all will be eventually paid my property at the lowest estimate exceeds my Debt by full 14,000 Dollars but as their are judgements out against me my property is entirely out of my power and my creditors can take and Sell either personal or real estate as they think proper Last Friday the Sheriff Sold all my personal property except such as the law alows me which is $75 worth of Househould furni- ture I hope Sir this will not mislead you I have told you my precise situation and assure you that I am more sorry that you should suffer on my account than I am for my own sufferings for I am one of those who believe that all things will work together for good to them that love the Lord and I am Sure I Do I will conclude by wishing you all the temporal prosperity consistent with your eternal welfare and remain Dr Sir

Yours Respectfully

Thos Milner

as soon as I got the money I paid off my bills I had left about 30 Dollars w^hen I had Paid [them] off which is within a few Dollars of being spent We are as careful as ever we can be of spending anything un[n]essesary I have bought John a Pair of Boots a cap and fited him up with a suit of Sunday clothes his every Day trowsers are nearly out and I have none that I can spare I shall have to get him some

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 73

either one way or the other I had a cow that ealfed on the 16^*^ of april which will be of service to us

in referance to the question about my land I take it to be this (Do I consider I have sufficient wood.) in answer to the question I must say that I have as much as I want unless I could buy some nearer than 6 miles off for this reason their is a[s] much fire wood on government land within 3 miles as will serve a number of years. I can get fire wood there and safe my own that is on my land and haveing timber a great way off ther farm is inconveinient as a proof I can say that James Tinker Gave one Dollar per 100 rails for a per- son to Split them on his timberd land and found him meat and they cost him one Dollar per 100 Getting home and more now I could have Bought rails at 12 Dollar per 1000 within 4 miles and I had 2500 rails offerd me at the same price about 2 miles off and had I had the money I should have bought them although their is no Doubt but wood land will be valuable in the course of a few years I have wood on my own that I think wdll serve for fire wood a good number of years I have heard that a person owning an half a section of moderate timbered Land the corner of which comes up to mine is offering it at 3 Dollars per acre wether it be true or not I cannot say I should have no objection to buy some of that if I was able But Dont think he would sell in less lots than 40 acres

now in answering this question I Do not wish to construe the Idea that I want you to help me to get some for I think if you can render me any assistance I think I can turn tha? assistance to better advantage than laying out on timbered land and I am thankfull to god for his goodness in assisting and Enableing you to Do what you have Done for me I have stated to you how I am situated and what I have Done since I wrote my last and what are my intentions and if you can help me in the least without harming yourself I shall take [it] as a great favour I engaged John thinking It would be better than hireing my Breaking which for 15 acres would have cost 45 Dollars and I am very well satisfied with him

74 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

I might say more on the subject but my paper is nearly full and I must conclude * * *

your Affectionate Son & Daughter

Edwin and Marth Bottomley

Eecept for Syrup

to 1 lb of Dark Blue voilets 2 quarts of Boiling water 1 lb " Feild — Do 1 Do

stir them well and cover them up and let them remain all night next wring them out with the hand and for 5 pints of the liquor add 12 lb of refined sugar and put it on a slow fire and Boil it wile the sugar is Desolved take the scum of [f] with a spoon which will be soon after it begins to boil

5*"** Letter this Year

KocHESTER Racien County WISCONSIN T^ Juue 27^^ 1844 Dear Father & Mother:

we received yours bearing date April 16^^ on May 21^^ * * * I was sorry when I read your letter that you had been Disapointed in not receiving an answer to the letter you send last December But I hope you have rec^ mine of the 18^^ of April Which I think will satisfy you on that account

George Sheard arrived here on the 18^^ of June he came here on horse bac[k] from Racien to get wagons to fetch his family and Luggage and M^ Hockins the Birmingam Black- smith and his family we was very Buysy Ploughing But we gave all up and got 4 wagons we put 2 yoke of oxen to each wagon and set of [f] next morning James Tinker Joshua Woodhead Samuel Stonehouse and John Wood went with them and a very Difficult jurney they had owing to their haveing been so much wet weather off Late the roads where very Bad they set off on the wedensday morning and got Back on the Friday night and Both the oxen and men where completly exhausted the Luguage and every thing was safe George Sheard and his Family are liveing in our shanty I gave him liberty either to live with us in our house or in the shanty I had made some repairs in it and made It mod- erate [ly] comfortable on purpose for him if he choose to

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 75

live in it and if he had not like to have lived in it I should have made room for him in our house But he is very well satisfy^ with it and he may live in it as long as he pleases rent free

we opened the Box which you sent and found every thing safe not a Single article had been Disturbed since you put them in the Box and I cannot express in words my thankfuU- ness to you for the articles it contains the chilldren jumped for joy and I never saw them so impationt in my life they watched for the wagons all Day on the Friday till the[y] came in sight and as soon as they appeard off they went like an arrow from a Bow to meet them and they return thanks to their Grandfather & Grandmother and all whom have send them pressents and to aU their little companions they send their best respects

the other Box which you sent by M^ Pickering we have not got yet George Sheard Did not land at new york as he con- templated he came by the ship Careo and landed at Boston and came from there to A[l]bany by the railway so that he had not an opurtunity of seeing M"" Pickering which you ex- pected him Doing ; his arival here happend very lucky for me he came here on the tuesday about noon and a Person named Henry Robertson was going to New York on the wedensday morning to meet his Wife and family and I encluded at once to send for the Box By him haveing no opurtunity of writeing in the afternon owing to makeing arangements for the wagons to go to racien I got up early next morning and wrote a letter to M^ Pickering Desireing him to send the Box by the Bearer If he was not comeing forward But If he thought of comeing I Desired him to come with him as he would find him a Pleasant companion on his jurney and I expect to have rec*^ the Box before you get this

Dear Father in your last letter you Desire to know what quantity of land I have broke this sumer and what kind of crops I am Likely to reap. I have Broke 5 acres allready for winter wheat and I expect to break other 5 or 6 acres more If I am Spared and has my health and I shall sow

76 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

about 7 or 8 acres with winter wheat and leave the rest for spring wheat you may wish to Know the Differance be- twixt winter wheat and Spring wheat only being a young farmer it will be rather Difficult for me to explain I am informed whether correct or not I cannot say that in Eng- land theire is no Differance betwixt the wheat sown in spring and that sown in the fall , But here theire is if you was to sow winter wheat in the spring it would not grow to any thing scarcely But take that wheat and sow it the next Spring then you get a good crop which i am inf ormd was the way spring wheat w^as raised at the first and is now gener- ally] used it shrinks rather more than winter wheat and I have now told you as much as I Know myself and now I shall state what my crops consist off which I consider are looking very well generaly I have 2 acres of winter wheat 3 acres of Spring wheat 1% Indian corn 1 acre of Pottatoes a large quantity of Pu[m]pkins which are growing with the Indian corn a quantity of water melons, cowcumbers, squash and about % of an acre of Sugar beet a quantity of carrots, cabadge, curled Kale [and] onions I have sown them Seeds which I had from Joshua Sykes and some of them have grown But the other [s] have not white Beet has grown very well the red Beet a little of it as grown, Cabage, Kale, Coliflower, Lettuce, Mustard, Cress, Parsley, minianett, Hysop, sweet margrow, turnips, and Carrots, have all grown and thrive very well some few of the flower seeds are just makeing theire appearance But wether they will come to any thing or not I cannot say I intend sowing a little Buck wheat this week or [the] Begining of next as it is about the right time now to get it in.

In your Letter you Desire to know what are the general prospects of this settlement which are in my opinion very good those settlers that came in about the same time that I did have all of them crops growing which will suply them with food and every one appear [s] to increase in energy as their Prospects Brighten in ref erance to some of my neigh- bours finding springs in Breakeing up land all I can say is

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 77

that I have never heard of them finding any But their are several springs round about James Scot as one that he fetches water from which is near to the creek side But the Best Spring that their is about here is on Creamers Land which Joins mine in this maner rj-n the star Denote

the Place where the spring is the j ■ .1 ■ * — letter 'B where my house stands and is nearly [:* I half a mile from

our house and we fetch our water ' — ' from it that we

Drink it is about as strong a spring as old Moll and comes out of an hill ^ide the other springs rise on the marshy land and are not as good

the articles which you have had the kindness to send me I shall put in operation as soon as I can But I can not Do much towards them this sumer as I shall have a good Deal of work on the farm which I must Do If I have health which I hope I Shall I shall comence getting my hay in about 3 weeks and get Done if Possible befor harvest after harvest I in- tend to Do what I can towards fencing the land in which I am breakeing up which will take a good Deal of work the land which I am Breaking is on the west side of my house which you will see by the Drawing is high land and trees growing on it John is cuting some of [the] trees Down while I am writeing this Letter to prepare for breakeing up the rema[i]nder of what I intend Doing this sumer It is my intention to run my fence from the two Large trees at the Bottom of the road which Leads up to the house Along the Burlington and Racine Road to the west end of my land and on the west end to the south side and on the South side to Mitchels fenc and from Mitchels fence to the South East corner of that Lot which is marked on the Drawing and an- other fence from the South west corner across the Land to the South Line which will then be fenced in as the Plan will show this I intend to Do if I can Buy any means the doted lines will show where I intend to run my fence which takeing all together will be about one mile of f enceing that peice betwixt mitchels fenc and the Lot now with crops in I intend for my Pasture in the plan you will perceive

78

WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

a star near to the word north which is the place I have thought of puting the cow sheds and Barn But wether I shall or not I have not right [ly] made up my mind that work I shall let alone this sumer

%:uj^U

Dear Father :

Tell my Brother Henry I shall expect a few lines from him in the next I Dont know wether I can excuse him this time or not But I supose I must he promised to state more Par- ticulars about my old Freind S^ Witworth and I want to know something about my hat starteing off on its jurney or wether it will have to stop at home or not I hope he as got the receipt for Syrup and Shall be glad to know wether he has tried to make any or not

I understand Joseph Nobles has stated that theire is no Sabath in Wisconsin if you have heard of it I hope you wont beleive him I stated something about is statements in my last If he had stated theire was a few hypocrites like him- self he would have been nearer the truth for I am sure theire is a Sabath in Wisconsin and to say theire is none would be as great a falsehood as to say that god was never wor- ship [ped] in England Before churches and Chapels where built and I think no one that knows what worshiping god is will Dare to say so In my opinion It would be one like himself that Did For I Do know this by him that he pro-

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 79

fesses one thing and Does another he profesed to be a christian and a Teetotaler when he was here but he liked to Drink wine for when he had got Diner he would retired up Stairs with is wife and thire they Drunk wine toge[ther] they had concealed theire he will perhaps say that he took it as medicine but if he D[id] he did not take [it] openly (no more about him at pressent) we have service every sun- day at M"^ Earn[shaw's] and a Sunday school and Joseph Nobles father and me teaches every third Sunday and the other neighboors take the other two and I here state that the Sabath is keep as Holy as it is in England

our Sarah has just told me to send word for her Grand- father S Grandmother to come George Sheard Desires you to let his father Imow that he as arived here and that they are all very well and that they have got all their Luguage safe and to state that they had not one box opened by the custom house officers he intends writeing by the next mail he would have writen by this but he is busy with Differant

things so that he canot and he begs to be excused

• • •

I now conclude this letter with thankfullness to god for his mercies to us and [may] he continue to grant them to you my Dear Father & Mother is the sincere Prayer of

your Affectionate Son & Daughter

Edwin & Marth Bottomley

KocHESTER Sep^ 18^^ 1844 Dear Father & Mother :

I received yours bearing Date August 17^^ on the 12^^ of Sep^ and was glad to hear that you continued in the enjoy- ment of health which I am happy to inform you is the same with me and all the family * * * i shall now comence my letter and I must beg your forgiveness If I omit some- thing which you Desire to know but I shall Do my best to no- tice all you wish But you will be suprised when I state to you that your letter gave me the first inteligence about the Box you sent By M^ Pickering that I have rec^ since H Eob-

80 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

ertson left here when Mr. Robertson had been gone 8 weeks I wrote to M^ Pickering concern [in] g him for we was afraid some accident had befallen either him or some of his family as he had not writen to Ja^ Tinker which I understood he In- tended to Do as soon as his wife landed at New York on the monday after I sent a letter to M^ Pickering which went on the Satuarday James tinker and myself went Down to Ro- chester and we found a letter had been laying at the post Office for James Tinker since the f riday before from Henry Robertson which stated that owing to particular circum- stances he was compeled to go to England and in the letter he stated that James whas to sell his property and pay his Debts the Date of M^ Robertson ['s] Letter is August P^ which was the Day he was seting sail for Liverpool and that of mr Pickering to you is Dated July 6*^ according to your letter so that Robertson must have had the Box Delivered to him a month bef or he concluded to go to England and wether M^ Pickering has got it Back from him or not I canot tell But I am Expecting a letter this afternoon from M^ Picker- ing and If I Do not I shall try to secure some part of his property to night. I must now go to the postoffice before I can go on with my letter

Wedensday Morning % past 5 oclock and I have only 1 hour before this letter must be off to meet the mail or it will not go the mail of the first of Oct^ their was no letter for me last night and I imediatly set to work and must beg your forgiveness if it ofends you as you will have to be in- volved in the transaction but I hope it will be no expence to you Henry Robertson ['s] land was sold on monday and the only property that was left was his horses and wagon I went to a person in Rochester wile I was theire who had been a magistrate and I asked is advice on the subject and he told me that I could not lay hold of any of his property by the law till I had further evidence I then stated to him the plan I had thought of, that is this on my return I went to James tinker and Bought the horses and wagon and all that belongs

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 81

to them for 150 Dollars by giving a note payable 6 months after Date at M^ Tho« Bottomley South Crossland England this note to be sent to M^ Eobertson for him to receive the money from you now I must state to you the plan you must pursue if you find that the Box he had Deliverd to him by M^ Pickering be lost through is negelegence or that he has turned it in to money for his own use which is this when he or is order makes aplication for the payment of the note you must protest against It and then the note will have to be re- turned for payment to me and if it comes to me I shall object to paying it while I know something of my property which he had intrusted into his care and if the party aplying for the money proced with law and comes to trial to compel me I shall state the value of the property as an offset which I shall take care to make high enough to pay him and should the Box arive here all safe I hope you will Do your endeav- our to assist me as it is the only plan I can take to secure the value of the property you send me which would have been more use to me at pressent than the wagon and horses for they will cause me to get more hay to keep them on this win- ter and I shall have to make a stable for them which will be a little expence to me But I hope and trust all will work together for good

I will leave this subject as it is at ^pressent and proceed with something Else as my time is getting on I have har- vested my wheat and got it threshed and I have about 40 Bushel[s] which is rather a light crop for the first year But the season as not been a very favourable one owing to so much wet I have got as much hay as would have served me if this circumstance had not taken place my Indian corn and pottatoes will be a prety go[o]d crop Beets will be rather Deficient But for what I have I am thankfuU for as I think all together will serve for food till another harvest which I hope will be better I have Broke the 10 acres of land as it is marked in my last letter But I shall not sow any of it with winter wheat my reason for not sowing it is I am afraid it would be much injured by the pigs and Cat-

82 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

tie as I canot fence it in while winter I have Bought some seed wheat 15 Bushel of M^ Frost which I could have paid for with some of those aprons in the Box had it arived in time. I have sown 5 acres of winter wheat in the Inside of the fence and 3 acres is allready up the other two I fin- Li] shed sowing yesterday I have got 12 Bushels of a new kind of Spring wheat from a person that owed me 3 Dollars the wheat comes to 9 Dollars and I intend sowing 8 acres of the new Broken ground with It in the Spring we have had a very fine seed time so far and it look[s] very likely to con- tinue for some time I must now conclude this letter or part

of a letter as [it] is 7 oclock and I must be at Rochester by 8

• * *

Your affectionate son and Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

Rochester Raciene County Wisconsin Nov'" 14*^ 44 Dear Father & Mother :

We rec^ yours of Oct^ 4^*^ and where very thankfull to hear that you where all in good health as thank god this leaves us all since I last wrote our Tho^ as been rather unwell and as had a very sore arm but his arm is got nearly well and he is now quite well in health it was the scurvy that he had in his arm and we have used an ointment made of gunpowder and tallow last which as done it a great Deal of good and I beleive it will cure it with this exception we have all en- joyed good health aU this sumer our Selina can now run about and can talk very well she is one of the livelyest lit- tle girls you ever saw and she often makes me think of what you used to say about my sister what a fine little girl she was.

We have had very fine wether the last two months we have had very little rain we had a fall of snow on the 18*^ of Oct^ which Disapeared in a few Days since then the weather has been warm while the 12^^ of this month which was very cold and now the 14*^ we have a hard frost but no snow on the ground George Sheard and his family are still

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 83

liveing in my shanty but are going to remove into theire own house in a few Days they are all enjoying good health I read them that part of the letter which said anything about them and they send theire best respects to you I have not heard George say when he will write but expect he will write as soon as they get into theire own house

I forgot to mention in my last that we had Henry Buck- leys Nephew over at our hous in the begining of Sep^ and he brought me those Bobbin bits which you sent by him he liked the cuntry very well but theire was not company enough for him he said his uncle liked [it] very well he wished me to say that they where all in good health and where Doing very well. Tell Joseph Perkin that his brother W"^ is alive, and in good health and he says he gets plenty of something to eat and he whishes to know wether Lydia and her Son thinks anything about comeing to him and what means they could make for he feels very Desireous that they should come for he thinks Ely would be of great service to him and so think I he intends writeirig soon and the reason why he Did not write sooner is that he had not got a Settle- ment with Drakes but he ha's now got one and will write as

soon as conveinient

* # *

John Wood took the horses and wagon and went to see Gudger last week and my Wife and Sarah Morton & Mitchell went with him to see James Dawson Gudger is Doing very well and he still keeps a member of the Congregationalists James Dawsons wife came Back with them and she wishes you to tell Her Father John Kilburn that they are all in good health and that they have been Expecting a letter from him some time. Dear Father you Desired me to engage John Wood again and send you word what terms we had agreed upon I have not made any agreement with him yet for he has sent a letter to his Brother at Philadelphia and he as not got an answer back from him and if his Brother sends for him he will go their, he is in good health and he as been

84 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

expecting a letter from his brother or some of the family some time he sends his kind love to them all.

in one of your letters you wish to know wether I had Dis- coverd any Springs in my land I must now tell you that I have found one near to the Indian trail I have Dug a new Draw well and stoned it and have got excellent water the well is 14 feet Deep and as 6 feet of water in now the well is near to the house I have cross ploughed 6 acres of the 10 acres which I Broke this summer and I shall cross plough other two if I can this fall for I intend to put 8 acres of spring wheat in of a new kind called the edge row wheat which has yeilded large crops this last sumer in my last I stated what quantity of wheat I had I have reaped about 45 bushel of Indian c[o]rn 52 Bushel of potatoes 8 Bushel of Beets [and] 5 Bushel of carrots I have Planted an orchard of aple trees and a few Plumbs I have 100 apple trees 3 years old and 4 Plumb trees which John and me have got from the woods the aple trees I had of a Gardener he

charged 10 Dollars a 100 and gave me 12 months credit

• * *

I must now conclude my letter as my paper is getting full and I feel I have not said all I should have Done But I hope you will ac[c]ept this and may Gods Blessings rest upon you all is the sincer Prayer of your

Affectionate Son Edwin Bottomley

Rochester Racien County Wisconsin T^ Jan 14^** 1845

* * •

•

Dear Father :

in refferance to your question of what advantage will the

horses and wagon be I Shall endeavour to explain and I

must say that a wagon is as nessesary to a farmer as a

plough for a person without one as to Depend on the good

will of his neighbours for the loan of one if he as to take his

corn to the mill or loading hay and vairious other things

wherin a wagon is more usefuU than a slay (sleigh) though

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 85

pepole will use a slay for leading hay if they have one of theire own before they will troble their neighbours, a slay is better than a wagon when theire is a suffieent quantity of Snow but at other times a wagon is prefferable and to say the least of It It is a very usefuU article, as for the horses I can only say theire advantage over oxen is the quickness you can Do anything from what you can do with oxen you can go a journey sooner with them with more ease and with a small plough One hores [horse] will cross plough when the land is got mellow and loosse with ease and a Deal faster than what any person could Do with oxen But I Do not wish to keep neither horses nor wagon against your wish the only object I had in v[i]ew at that time was to secure the value of the Box the wagon as I stated in my last is not much worth and we have had to put new spokes into one wheel and their is another which wants some puting in the horses are good ones and one of them is with foal and if I keep them I shall try to raise a few foals from them and I have no Doubt that if I had a small breaking plough I could

Break with them and my oxen which is what I want to Do

• * •

John Wood is liveing with me yet although we have no par- ticular agreement for another year I have agreed to give him at the same rate for the time he is with me at home and working on the farm as he had the last year I have also taken some work to Do at Racien which is Drawing wood for a M^ Norton of Burlington who as some timbered land at Raciene and as engaged to cut and Draw 1000 cord of wood a cord is a pile of wood cut into 4 feet lengths and Piled up 4 feet high and 4 feet wide and 8 feet long they will Draw about a cord at a load on a Sleigh John and me have made a new Sleigh and shoed it with Iron and have [it] all ready for going as soon as theire comes any snow John will take the horses and while he is Drawing wood I have agreed to give him 10 Dollars a month my Bargain with M"" Norton is this he gives me 25 cents a cord and finds corn and Hay for the horses and Boards the man he will be able to Draw 5 cord a

86 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Day so that I shall recive as much clear besides paying John as I give him.

We are sending our Hannah to school at burlington and she Boards at the aforesaid M^ Norton and She has kniting and sewing to Do for her board we have some kniting and sewing at home from them to Do she likes the school very well and she is much respected at the School and M^ Nortons we shall continue to let her go this winter if we can spare her.

the winter has been very fine so far the ground has not been covered with Snow above two or three Days which is rather against us at pressent and I am rather afraid it will hurt wheat if theire Does not come some snow soon I am puting up that fence up the road side and I feel glad that I Did not sow that peice I Broke last sumer on account of the winter being so open which would have been very bad for it with it not being fenced in my last you would see what I had crossploughed and what I intended to Do which I hope I shall be able to accomplish befor the Spring sets in if the Lord spares me and grants me health which he as so bou[n]- tifully bestowed upon me and my family since we came to this cuntry * * *

you[r] Affectionate Son & Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

Dear Brother Henry:

I am suprised at not receiving some short epistle from thee lately Shurely I have not offend [ed] thee If I have it is unknowingly and on that account I must ask forgiveness I shall now ask a question which I hope thou will answer in the next letter in the letter of the 2^^ of march 1844 theire is this sentance in (Sheard will Bring you a few pots) now I wish to know what kind of pots they where and what quan- tity. George Sheard gave my wife half a Dozen cups and plates; now I want to know wether George said to you he would give us some pots or you Sent some pots by him.

you have often asked me to give you a statement of the

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 87

expence in sending money which i will endeavour to give you as well as I can the fixt value on English pound sterling is 444 cents and when the rate of change on England is 9 per cent then an English pound is worth 484 cents I have rec*^ money when the rate of change has been 8 per cent, 8^4 & 9 & 9% which was the case when I rec^ the last money Sent the comission and Brokerage has always been 1% cents for every Dollar on the real value the postage from England to new york is 25 cents and a letter From F Steinhiel Esq with a check is 52 cents by this statement you will be able to answer any person Desireing to know the postage will be the same for a small sum as a larger But the cost of comision and Brokerage will be in proportion to the sum my paper is full and I must close and may God Bless you and all your fam[i]ly is the sincer Prayer of

your affectionate Brother

Edwin Bottomley

KocHESTER Racine County W T March 11^^ 1845 Dear Father & Mother :

I now take my pen to adress a few lines to you hopeing they will find you all in the enjoyment of good health as thank god thees linens [lines] leave us all with the e[x]cep- tion of Ruth who as been rather unwell thees last few Days but I hope she will soon be well again I stated in my last that we had sent our Hannah to school at Burlington and on what terms and that I thought that we should let her go all winter If circumstances would admit But I see as we are situated we cannot well Do It and we have taken her home she has earned 3 Dollars towards her Board while she has been theire and Martha has knited a few Stockings and two Muffs which will be 1 Dollar towards Hannahs Board and Hannah is going as a servant to M*" Nortons in about a fortnight and She is to have i^ Dollar a week they want her about a month which will be a trifel more towards her Board.

88 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

John Wood as been at Eacine 7 weeks Drawing wood for M^ Norton I shall send for him home next week as I want a great many Eails Drawing [drawn] yet for the winter has been so open and we have had so little snow that I have not been able to Draw many I have got 600 home and I have 1400 more to fetch the Winter has been very open we have not had above 8 or 10 Days of Sleighing all winter for when we have had any falls of snow theire never as fallen above 4 inches which as melted away in a few Days the wether for this last fortnight as been like an English snmer with the exception of a little frost at nights

I have pnt up my fenc along the Burlington and Racine road and made some little alterations about the house the side next to mitchells is open yet and I shall Ditch that if 1 canot get my Rails in time the other end I think I can get rails for I have pnt the Jenny Rim together and made the frame for the head I shall have to make it more like a billy than a Jenny so that I can spinn out of the roots or cardings as we call them I intend to complet it this spring if Pos- sible. * * *

Give my Respects to John Beaumont and give him the seeds enclosed and tell him I should like him to try to raise them so that you can taste of the fruit which when green if the[y] are cut into Slices and simered in a little water just suficient to keep them from Burning made into pud- ing with a little Sugar they will have the taste of Goos- bery when Ripe Boiled in Sugar they will have the taste of figs perhaps some of them will be Yellow and some red when ripe the Plant is very much like a Pottatoe Plant and we Sow them in hills 3 seeds in a hill the seed about 4 inches

0 o apart in this way . • . and the hills 4 feet in this way o o Put them in [at] the Begining of may in good Rich Soile Give My Respects [to] all my Old Shopmates and tell th[em] 1 am Glad to hear that trade is pretty Good also to the sing- ers at crossland Church and to the Masters and theire fam- ilys and all my Freinds and Relations

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 89

Give my Love to Brother Henry and Family and I Desire him to give up Paying to the club at crossland for me also to give my Respects to all the members and I hope the[y] will enjoy theire meetings in Frendship Peac[e] and Broth- erly love such is my farewell wish to them I must con- clude this letter and may god Bless you Both Father and Mother and the whole tribe is the Earnest Prayer of

Your Affection [a] te Son and Daughter - Edwin and Makth Bottomley

Rochester Racine County W. T. America May 3*^ 1845

Dear Father & Mother :

• • •

Since my last I have happend a misfortune which has caused me a great Deal of Pain and uneasyness of mind I strained my knee joint by geting over a fenc one nighit when I was going to borrow a persons waggon for Joshua Wood- head to go with me the next Day for a load of rails he hav- ing promised to go if I would get him a waggon I was get- ting over the fence before the house where I was going their being no other road when I was on the top rail it roled over and I slip[ped] of [f] with my left foot and my right foot catched on the top of the fence in such a maner that it twisted my knee joint nearly round I had hard work to get home * I went to bed as soon as I could but I could not sleep and In turning me in bed I went Sick and when I tried to get up in the morning I Did the same but I got up by bit and bit and walked as well as I could about while breakfast time by Doing so it felt a Deal better I then went for a load of rails about 6 miles and I Did the same for three Days to- gether which I believe Did it a Deal of hurt for after that It begun to grow stiff and for three weeks I was afraid it would never be right again for it got so stiff that I could not bend it at all without taking hold of It with my hands and bending it by force which caused me a great Deal of Pain I got a M"" Bancroft to examine it and he said theire was nothing broke but the muscles where Badly strained he

90 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

gave me a bottle to rub with which Did it a Deal of good and it is now so that I can walk prety well I continued to Do something every Day although it caused me a great pain ever since it was Done

this M^ Bancroft has left here for england and he is bring- ing a few pressents also a letter from our hannah to You and it is the first letter that ever she wrote and you must excuse her little erors the pressents are from the chilldren with exception of a ruler which I turned myself for you out of a rail which had been grown on the land which I now ocupie theire is two small bags from Arminalann and Sarah the green one for Hannah Bottomley the other for Sarah Wood Hannah sent a Sissors guard and a Ear of Pop Corn for her Grandmother their is a lock of Selina['s] Hair in the Let- ter for her also Euth sends her Grandmother a bag of Indian Corn Meal and a lock of her Hair for Mary Ann Bot- tomley Their is two ears of Corn of our own Growing for you, two for our Henrys two for Gledhills, two for Mary Wood, one for Mary Ann Bottomley, one for Marths Father Edward Schofild Timmenets. their is a few Icory [hickory] nuts also, theire Is a rackoons Skin for Benjamin Wood which is Brother John as sent, thees pressents though tri- f eling will I hope be rec*^ by you M^ Bancroft set off Sooner than I expected and I could not get the things I promised for you in my Last he promised to bring the pressents over to you he was before he came to this cuntry employed at the Halifax Infermary as an Apothicary or something of that kind * * *

Now with regard to Mary Ann and her husband. My opinion is that if he could come and buy land he would Do ful as well as he would any other way But if he be a man that understands farming and can Do all kinds of work he would make a good liveing in this cuntry almost any where But [it] is Dangerous giveing advice on a subject like this for some people form expectations of this cuntry before they come which would be impossible to realize in any cun- try in the world for I have thought sometimes that some

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 91

people imagine that when they get to this cuntry they will find fish in every pool of water fruit on every tree and that wild fowl will come to them to be shot furnished houses on every plot of land they want to purchase and that they will have nothing to do but sit them Down in ease and plenty when they get here. I must Say there is plenty of Fruit and fish and fowl but they are the same in this cuntry as in any other, no catch no have we had 4 wild Ducks this morning But we dont spend much time after them things theire are improved farms which could be bought very cheap cheaper than a stranger could make a farm and others that let theire farms on shares and some people Do well with takeing them now I dont know Tho^ for I never saw him in my life and I canot say which way to be certain would be the best for him to Do But if I must give him advice on the sub- ject I shuld say expect nothing but what you mean to la- bour for and be determined to get a comfortable liveing by your labour and then you will get on in this cuntry if ever you should come, your family is small which would be an ad- vantage to you in some respects should you come and set- tle some where near where I am I would render you what assistanc I could and that is as much as any man can prom- ise and fullfiU

I shall now give you a statement ow I am getting along as the Yankes say. this spring I have put in 6 acres of Spring Wheat and It is looking very well 1 acre of barley 2 1/^ of oats so that I have about 15 acres with crops growing on at pressent and I intend haveing about 4 acres of In- dian Corn one of Turnips [and] one of Pottatoes I have from 40 to 50 acres fenced round my 2 cows have calfed this Spring one of my mares as foaled a very fine colt and they are both in good condition. John has been working with the horses at Racine this winter 9 weeks hauling wood for a M"* Norton he might have Stop[ped] about 3 weeks longer But I was compeled to have him at home on account of my being So lame and the condition that the mare was in and the winter haveing been so open I could not get all my

92 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

rails and I have got 80 rods of Ditch fenceing Done at 44 cents a rod I had only Intended haveing 50 Done But the men could not get the water off so the[y had to] Do other 30 rods and cut through a hill and make the Ditch 4 feet Deep so that they could get the water the way that Ditch fenceing is Done is by cuting a Ditch 4 feet wide and 2 feet Deep and 2 feet wide at the Bottom and they take the turf or sod and makes a Bank 4 feet high setteing the grass side out and then Backing up with earth out of the Ditch. Ditch fencing answers two purposes it Drains the land and makes an Excellent fenc.

Dear father W" Perkin is at pressent at our house, have- ing Been Down to Rochester to meet the mail in the expec- tation of haveing a letter From his Brother Joseph and he is greatly Disapointed for he wrote to them Last Dec^ and their e has been a letter answered which went at the same time as his did two months ago and he thinks thiere has been sufficient time for them to have answered his and if they have not answerd his letter when you get this he Desires that they will send Ely imediately if they Do not think at his mother comeing along with him But he would rather his mother came also for being single handed he canot get on as [he] could like and if none of them are for comeing he will be under the nesisessity of takeing some other steps for he says that it was on Elys account that he came to this cuntry W T and Bought land and if he \Nill not come and help his uncle to farm he thinks he will not Deserve to enjoy the property after he is no more so he will leave it somebody else or Sell it and if the[y] are not for comeing at all he Desires them to write Imediately wat they are for Doing

Dear father I had this letter part writ6n and Intended [sending it] on the 1^^ of May But as you Promised to write by the mail of the 4^^ of april I [thought I] would wait as long as I could so that if any thing wanted answering I would have answered it in this we have a post every other Day now and this will leave Rochester to morrow morning the S""^ of may should you have anything in your next that

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 93

wants answering I shall write imediately if not I shall wr[i]te by the first mail in July from Boston the Postage will be reduced after the first of July to 10 cents for [a] Sin- gle Letter that is sent above 300 miles and 5 cents for under 300 which will be a benifite to us

Dear father if you could get me about 2 bushels of Chev- alier Wheat and Send It By Charles Haye of Lockwood who is come over to see his Parents I should be very thank- ful I understand it is grown mostly in the farming Dis- tricts in the South of England and Some has been tried nearer you about Rastrick and it may have been nearer you it is grown a great Deal in France and on the continent of Europe and I think it will answer in this cuntry well Pack it in [a] good Box so that it will be kept Dry tell Brother Henry to Send me the Anthem Judge Me 0 Lord by him also if he can get it my Paper is nearly full and I must close so God bless you all and Every one of you and May his mercy guide us in this world that we may all meet in Heaven is the Sincer Prayer of

your affectionate Son & Daughter Edwin & Marth Bottomley

Rochester 17^ of June 1845

Dear Father & Mother:

• * *

I have the pleasure to inform you that Jane Cockcroft and her Sister in Law arived here on Friday Night the 12^^ of June She is in good health and Spirits She landed at Millwauke on the Tuesday along with Cusin John and Betty who went from millwauke on thursday on their Journey to Gorstville John wrote to me when they was half way be- twixt A[l]bany and Buffalo his letter was dated the 24^ of may and contained But a few lines he only said that Jane and her Sisterinlaw where on theire Journey home and that he had not time to write from Boston and Jane would tell me all about them and he would write again to me when he had got Settled he stated no time when they

94 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

would be at Millwauke nor wether they intended comeing by a Steamer or Sailing vessel up the lakes so that I could form no Idea what time they would be at millwauke * * * so I have not had a opurtunity of seeing them had I seen them I should have told them to be on theire guard for I have been informed that a many people who have come out as mem- bers of the Temperance Emigration Society^ have been greatly Dissatisfied with the procedings of that society when they have got theire That is where the society have bought Land and I shall be sorry if John and Betty are Dissapointed in theire expectations and be so situated that the[y] canot extricate themselves from the society But if he writes to me acording to promise I shall endeavour to give him as much information as I can and if he wants any assistance in any way if I can by any means render him any I will in reference to your request about Jane Cockcroft I shall act as you wish because I have that opinion of her that she will Do her best to pay me as soon as She can and I must thank you for your kindness in sending the articles which you have sent by her and you must accept the thanks of my wife and chilldren for the same who I can asure you have not f orgoten yoii * * *

I shall now state to you how my crops are my winter wheat is likely to be a better crop than what I anticipated early in the Spring and my Spring wheat is very good and I think will be as good as any in the Settlement Barley and oats will be rather light Indian corn looks well pottatoes are only just coming up the Winter so far on as been very favourable and their is every appearance of this Summer

•The British Temperance Emigration Society was organized at Liver- pool by Robert Gorst, Charles Wilson, and Charles Reeves Dec. 26, 1842. As a result of its activities several hundred persons migrated from Eng- land to Wisconsin during the next few years, and settled in the vicinity of Mazomanie in western Dane County. A good brief account of the Society's activities is given in William Kittle, History of the Township and Village of Mazomanie (Madison, 1901), 9-47. In the Wisconsin His- torical Library are several boxes of letters and other manuscript records pertaining to the history of the Society and the settlement.

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 95

being Dryer than the last I have comenced Breaking more land and I am not Disapointed in my expectations about breaking with my horses and oxen I have got a plough that cuts and turns a furrow 14 inches wide and they walk away with it with ease a few of my neighbours thought I should not be able to break with my team but I think they are con- vinced other ways now Ja^ Tinker and M^ Stonhouse have let thire oxen out along with the plough that we bought Last Spring but one to Richard Haye and Sam* Stonhouse and I supose they will have to break for Ja^ and M^ Stonhouse for the Loan of the cattle and plough but how much I Dont know they have kept their e arangements very close I have got a New cross plough and I think it is one of the best Pat- terns of a Plough for cross Plough or for general use after the land has been broke that as ever been introduced into this part of the cuntry Joshua Woodhead Scot and Squire Hinchly [and] M"" Stonhouse have got one also

Dear father I have just returned from Joseph Cockcrofts who returned from Millwaukie last night wdth Janes Lug- age and the Box we opend the Box last night and found all the things as you had packed them not a Single article have- ing been Disturbed while I am writeing Marth and the Chilldren are examining the things with countenance beam- ing with gratitude and thankfulness to you all for your goodness towards us and may god reward you all is my sin- cer prayer Jane and her mother and her Sister are come- ing up to our house this afternoon to theire tea and we shall make her as comfortable as we can for I think she as Done her Duty for I am sure she as had a Deal of trouble and care

with the quantity of Lugage she has had

• • •

we remain Yours Affectionate Son & Daughter

Edwin & Marth Bottomly

the name of those seeds I sent are Tomatoes my Knee is a Deal better and I think will soon be right 1400 Rails Ja^ and Company Split

96 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Dear Father :

I shall now relate to you my reason for writeing rather sooner to you than what I thought I should when I wrote last and I hope you will forgive me if I have Done anything which to you may seem rather unne[ce]ssary for I am sure was you here and Saw my situation and the ne[ce]ssisty of my Doing as I have Done you would say I had Done right in the first [place] on rec[ei]ving the money which you sent me which my Uncle Benn had the goodness to Lend I was Determined to have a new wagon But when I came to count the cost I found I should not be able to Buy one so I got a wagon maker to make me 4 wheels and axels and John and me took the Iron work of the old wagon and the frame work and fixed it on the new axels and wheels which Saved me about 20 Dollars and now I have a good wagon and I have got a new set of harness (what you call geers) for the other was hardly safe with a good load the old harness ansswers for ploughing with and other jobs about the farm

I got a breaking plough that is the Iron work for one and wooded it myself which cost me 10 Dollars besides my labour we Broke about two acres for Indian corn with it in the spring but I found it would not answer when the ground was got dry and I was afraid I should not [be] able to breake as I had anticipated and I was aware the fault was in the plough and how to Do I could not tell for [my] money was nearly spent But about the same time theire came a Black- smith to work at Kochester who had worked at Sharp and Eoberts's at Manchest[er] 5 years his name is Hutchison and [he] begun to make Ploughs which worked easier and Better than any had Done before so I took him my Plough and wished him to alter it but he said it would cost as much as a new one would. I made a bargain with him to make me a new plough and take the old one [as] part payment and we can plough with ease for which I shall have to pay 10 Dollars somtime in October the cross plough will cost me 9 Dollars I have Paid for 50 rods of my Ditch fence and I have 30 rods to pay for in the month of Sep^ the price I

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 97

stated in my last and I state [d] in my last I wished you to send me the remainder of the 50 which uncle Ben lent me Dont fail if Possible to send it by the first mail of August for I Borrowed the same sum of a man last winter and he will expect it being paid in the early part of Sep^ and I shall not like to Disapoint him

Dear father I am afraid you will be hurt by thees state- m[ents] which I hope will be the last time I shall have to make such like and I shall now turn the other side I want about 25 Dollars of M*" Norton for hauling wood for him and I think I shall be able to sell some wheat if It turns [out] as well as I think it will but how much I canot say and I ex- pect being able to make something this fall by fetching in store goods and If Jane Cockcroft shuld get a situation She will perhaps be able to pay me a trifle so that by one means or another I shall be able to Get through I think and if I can only clear myself this fall I shall have acomplished that which I came to this cuntry for that is a situation in life that I can mantain and bring my family up by my in- dustry and have a home in future years for me and then if it Pleas God and is will be Done

you may perhaps think I have been more extravagant than I had occasion [to] be But you know w[he]ther I was guilty of Speaking falsely when I was in your Pressence every day and I shall only Say that I regard truth as much now as I Did then and may god always Keep me so and I can assure [you] our table is sup[p]l[i]ed with frugality and we have not Bought a Single article of furn[i]ture exceping a half Dozen chairs our Boxes that we brought from England serve to put our Cloths in nor [and] our Beds cost nothing but the wood our house is still unplastered and our cham- ber floor not fixt but is so that the Chilldren slips through with their legs sometimes I only state thees things to con- vince you that I have laid the money out in the most nesses- ary articles and By so Doing I have rather gon[e] a head of those who will live high let other things take theire luck and who will have harder [work] to get through this fall than

98 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

me and If I was pind [pinned] would not be much troubled about it I will give you a chapter for yourself in my next about them I would [have] given you one [this time] but I have not room and my time is out it wants 25 minuts to 12 and I must be at Rochester by half Past [twelve] in time for the mail God Bless you all is the sincere prayer of

your affectionate Son Edwin Bottomley

Rochester Racien County W T Sept^ S*"^ 1845 Dear Father & Mother :

We rec^ yours bearing Date 17^*^ of July on the 10^^ of august and we was sorry to hear that our mother was sick but we hope that she is recoverd again to health before this time I have the pleasure to inform you that we are all enjoying tolerable good health with the exception of my wife who has not enjoyed good health this Last 2 months But she has not been confined to bed she has been able to attend to the house

the wether has been very hot this summer which I think has been the cause of her not being well some Days the thermometer has been as high as 120 Degrees But I must here state that theire is a Differance in thermometers for I hung both mine out one Day and the one with the Metal Back was 120 and the other 108 they where Both Placed on the wall side by side and Exposed to the Suns Rays and theire was a Difference of 12 Degrees in the Shade they keep Both alike the reflection of the metal is the cause in my opinion of the variation and I should say that the hotest Days we have had has not been above 112 Degrees

although the wether has been very hot and Dry we have Excelent crops in your letter you Desired me to Send word what kind of crops I had and I can assure you that I never answerd a question with a heart more full of gratitude to god than I answer this I shall state my crops seperate as I have got all thrashed out and measured up I had 5 acres of Winter Wheat and I judge their was about half an acre

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 99

killed out with frost from that I have reaped 84 Bushels I had 6 acres Spring Wheat from which I have 105 Bushels 1 acre of Barley from which I have 20 Bushels and I have 80 Bushel of Oats off rather Better than 2 acres which in the whole is 289 Bushels of Grain My Indian corn is not quit[e] ripe and I expect a good crop from it I expect about 200 Bushells off the 5 acres so that I shall reap about 7 times the quantity I had last year fr [o]m about half [twice] the quantity of land I had about 9 acres last year and about 19 this in grain I intend to put in about 12 acres of fall wheat and about 6 acres of Spring wheat if I am Spared in Health, although our wheat crops are not as great as are grown in England yet I think we Shall be able in a Short time to grow nearly as much to the acre as is gen- erally gorown in England for their as been in this Settle- ment 261 Bushels of wheat grown on 9 acres which is 29 Bushels to the acre and it was the first crop that had been grown on it of any kind the land was broke last Summer and Sown with wheat last fall. Should the wheat which you have sent arrive in time I shall sow some of it this fall if not I shall sow it in the spring

In your letter you Desire to know how the Cloths fitted which you have sent me I must say that they have one good fault that is they have plenty of room in them for I do not carry as much flesh as I did in England although my health as been as good since I came to this cuntry as I ever enjoyed in my life

I smoke tobaco a little which I think as a tendancy to keep me rather thin in flesh you will be rather surprised to hear that John & Betsy Dyson My Cusins are at pressent at our house and little Samuel they have been Disapointed in theire expectations like a great many others who have come out as members of the Temperans Emigration Society and I think the sooner that Society is broken up and the better for I am certain according to the information that I have of It that it never will answer to the general good of all Its mem- bers far better would it be for any man to come to this

100 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

cuntry with the little he has than pay his money into such a swindling concern I had Intended to have given a full ac- count of the abominable procedings of Its leading men who I beleive are enriching themselves out of the society But I will in my next just expose the rascals tell my Uncle Ed- ward and all my relations and f reinds who are members that I Desire them all to withdraw from the society as soon as they can and secure as much of the money they have paid in

contributions or in any other way as well as they can

* * «

I intend going to Millwaukie to morrowe and John Dyson is going with me to see if he can get a situation of any kind theire and if he Does get one most likely Betsy will go and all if he can take a small house which i think is the best Plan they could adopt in their pressent circumstances I shall Do all that I can to assist them and if Samuel will be any incon- venince to them he shall stop at our house and I should not like my Uncle Edwards to feel troubled abou[t] him for he is just as happy as a child can be he has a good play mate in our Sarrah for she is the same Merry little Sarrah she alwas was

Tell my Brother Henry that IVF Bancroft ['s] information about Bricks is not right the sumer that he was here was very wet which was not favourable for makeing Bricks and theire was not many made But the generality of Bricks are as good and will stand the weather as well as they do in England the Bricks that my house is Built with are as hard as Bricks can be and theire is net a single Brick in the whole Building that is injured with the weather in the least But I shall paint the out side when I have got the Inside more comfortable

Dear Father you must see Benj** Wood and tell him that John Wood has a chanse of learning to be a Black Smith a M'' Hutchinson who was a Smith at Sharps & Roberts [in] Manchester the Last 6 years before he came to this cuntry has offerd to teach him is trade if he will stop with him three years and he will give him 50 Dollars the first year 60 Dol-

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 101

lars the second and 70 the third besides his Board so he will have to find his own cloths out of his wages and John thinks he should like to go if his parents have no objections and he wants them to write Imediately and state what they would like him to Do for my own part I think if I was Young like him I should take it if his parents have no objections he will and I promised him that he shall make our h[o]use his home if he goes to it and we will Do anything for him that we can if sickness or any other misfortune happen we will Do our best to make him comfortable Benj" must write

imediately after you recive this

• * •

Your Affectionate Son and Daughter

Edwin & Marth Bottomley

Rochester Racien County W T October 31^^ 1845

Dear Father & Mother :

• • «

I shall now proced with my letter and I have the pleasure to inform you that my cousins Maryann and Tho^ Hall ar- ived here on the 13^*^ of October and are at our house at pressent and since theire arival I have felt as If I was in old England amongst my relations and freinds and I think sometimes you will all be coming one by one like Jonny lin- gos sheep and I should be glad to see you all here John and Betsy Dyson are at Millwauke and are Doing very well I think Betsy is makeing 6 Dollars a month for nursing a lady who is confined and board and John is receiveing 75 cents per Day he is working for a man who his building a new Baptists chaple Samuel is liveing at our house and you may tell my Uncle Edward & Aunt Fanny that while he stops with me I shall treat him as one of my own.

Dear Father I have also the pleasure to Inform you that I have received the Box you sent by Preston and we have this evening 29^^ of Oct' rec^ John Woods Letter and I Perceive by the Inclosed note from Brother Henry that you was ex- pecting receiveing a letter from me by the mail of the midle

102 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

of Oct^ and I feel very sorry that you will be Disapointed It was the 3^** of ocf when I got the Box about 10 0 Clock at night and befor 8 next morning I had Sown about half a bushel of the wheat on a peice of Ground which I had in readyness for It and It is now looking very nice and green and I must here state that all my fall wheat is looking better than any I have ever had since I came to this cuntry I have from 12 to 13 acres in and I intend puting in about 7 or 8 of Spring wheat if all is well you will perceive by the time the Box arrived that I could not have sent a letter by the mail you expected we are very thankful to you for the contents the coat fits me better than any you have sent me before but it is rather strait under the arms the others being rather to wide which is a very good Fault.

Dear Father by the time this arives I hope you will have received the Long promised Drawing as I sent It by John Nobles who left here for England on the 2^<^ of this montli Ocf along with his wife who is M^ Bancrofts Daughter who came Back in the Early part of this sunnner and as I sent no Explanation along with it I will endeavour to Give it you now But first I must Beg you will excuse any faults in the Picture for I have Done it as well as I could but not as well as I could have liked But you will be aware theire is a Great Deal of Differance betwixt handleing a Penciel or Paint Brush and a Plough and I Practice the latter a great Deal more than the first the house is as near Proportion- able as I could Do It the other parts I gues[s]ed at them as near as I could at the left hand side of the house theire is three Children to represent Arminallann & Sarah & Sam- uel usking a little Indian Corn which I had got of [f] the Ground to make room for the wheat which you sent me Samuel is sit [ting] Down and the other two Standing on the right hand theire is my Wife with little Selina by the hand and in front of them theire is Thomas EoUing a pumpkin at the well is Hannah Drawing water (and our Ruth Says that She and her father are in the house) the Building which is coverd with Straw represents the cattle shed and

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 103

that in front of It is the Shanty we lived in which I now use a part of for a Stable and the other is for a work shop I have my turning lathe set up in it in front of It is John coming up with the hor[s]es and wagon the cattle are in the yard the two largest represent the oxen and the Black one a young Bull which we have killed for Beef the other two are the Cows one of them laid Down and the other standing in the Green Wheat is the young Colt which came off the Bay Mare in front of the House is the garden that Portion which is Dot[t]ed with Red Represents the tomatoes such as I send you some seed of to the left is a little sweet Indian corn and above it are the cucombers water melons Squash & m front of the Garden is where the Pottatoes grew with this Explanation I think you will make it out And I must say that the Drawing in General represents the Place very well I Expect John Nobles will bring it over to your house and you can give him somthing for his trouble if you pleas he intended going to his f atherinlaw at Hallifax the first and If you should hear nothing of him Before this by inquireing at M^ Bancrofts you will get to know the whearabouts of him

we have had a very fine fall so far on the weather as been very fine and warm in the Day time and a little frost at Nights I have got all my crop secured and so have a great many of the settlers here I am Sorry to Jiear that the crops in England are inferior to last year as it will raise the Price of the Poor mans Loaf and I expect he has to be very care- full how he lays is earnings out allthough trade is pretty good while you are cuting the cuntry up with railways we keep trudgeing along with our oxen and wagons and I think the who, Awa, of the ox Driver sounds as Pleasant as the shrill wistle of a Railway Engine

W™ Perkin is very much obleidged to his Sister for the Pressent She has sent him and he says he was very carefull in opening the waistcoat and examining the Pockets for a letter from them but he could not find any he is still liveing by himself and strugling with the Difficulties subjected to a

104 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

new settler you must Give his respects to them and accept the same yourself Dear Father in referance to John Wood I shall leave him to choose for himself wether he will go to Rochester or not if he Does go My house will be open for him at any time should Sickness or anything happen I will attend to him as if he was on[e] of my own the, man that he intends engaging with is at pressent Sick and when he will have to go I cannot tell

Tho^ and Mary Ann are with us and most likely will stop with us all winter Tho® is just the right sort of a man for this cuntry and he has laid a helping hand on in helping me to get my Indian corn, Buckwheat, Beets and a few Sweed turnips and Should he stop all winter I think he will earn his meat at something or another and if John Goes I shall per- haps try to make some kind of agreement with him Mary Ann has not been so very well since she arr[ived] she caught cold comeing up the canal and she has been affected with a reuhmatic Pain in her right Shoulder that for several Days she as been so that she could not use her harm she is now a Deal Better and she has the Chilldren around her teaching them theire Lesson and acts the part of a School Misstres for them and they are quit[e] Delighted with her Tho^ his more fit for this cuntry than any Baker and if I must tell what I think John Dyson will never rest till he can persuade Betsy to come Back to England.

martha my wife sends her thanks to Ann Brother Hen- ry ['s] wife for her Pressents and to all who have been so kind as to remember her and she Desires that you will send word in your next if you can recolect what Part of the Box that you Packed those white and coulerd Bibon which you sent in Squire Hinchlife['s] Box or what kind of a parcel they where in for she has never had them She Desires you to remember her to Joseph and Mary Wood and She says you must tell my Brother Henry that she thinks he had not better comence Farming in England but come to this cuntry and buy a Piece of land near to us as their is a piece of Ground which corners ours which a land Speculater holds

MARTHA BOTTOMLEY From a daguerreotype taken about 1866

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 105

and it could be Bought for a 1000 Dollars their is about 300 acres and it is as good a peice of land as can be found takeing all together an [y] where Eagle Creek runs through it and their are several Springs upon it and [it] would make either a good sheep farm or wheat grown Farm and I think their would be water to Suply a grist mill 9 months in the year at Least and good Fall and then we should be near neighbours * ♦ * Tho^ & Mary Ann Send their kind love to you all and accept the same from the whole tribe of Chilldren and From

your affectionate Son and Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

Rochester Wisconsin Teritory Jan" 7^^ 1846 Do - Do - Do Jan^ 15^^1846 Dear Father & Mother Brothers & Sisters :

It is with feelings of Disapointment That I take up my pen to write a few lines to you for I was in the expectation of rec^ a letter from you by the mail which arrived yester- day but alas no letter was their for me

• * *

I have the pleasure to state to you that we all are enjoy- ing prety good health at pressent though some of us have been rather unwell lately our Selina and Tho" have been the worst of the children and I have not been so very well for a few weeks but thank god we are all enjoying good health now the winter so far on as been very fine with the exception of a few keen frosty Days which where so keen that we could do nothing out of Doors we have had some little snow which as enabled us to use our Sleighs some lit- tle but at pressent their is not as much snow as covers the ground since the new year set in we have had weather more like spring than winter but this morning the 7^ of Jan^ we have had a little more snow and the Elements looks rather stormy.

On Christmas Day we had a tea party for the purpose of raiseing a little money to purchase a few bibles and other

106 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

books for the Sunday school the Tea party whas at our house theire was 7 trays provided by Differant Individuals and about 85 set Down after tea we had a meeting at the School and Adresses where Delivered by M^ Angear former- ly of Cornwall M'* Joseph Woodhead from Berybrow and a M^ Green formerly of Hekmondwike betwixt the adresses Peices of Sacred musi[c] where sung the profits realized by the tea party amounted to $11.62 eleven Dollars and six- ty two cents which will be apropiated to the above named purpose.

I was at Millwaukie about 6 weeks since and my Cousins John and Betsy Dyson where both well and where Doing prety well John was working at the New Baptists Chaple which is building theire they promised to write to me in fortnight or three weeks but I have rec^ no letter yet Sam- uel is at our house I am Sending him to School this winter as theire as been a teacher engaged for our School for the same and then he will have to help in the farm John and Betsy did talk of geting him a situation as a man who was a painter wanted a little boy to assist him and they promised to let me know but as they have not done [so] yet I have made up my mind not to let him go for I think that I if I keep him and School him this winter I shall have the first claim to him when he becomes of Service to me but if My Uncle Edward and Aunt Fanny wish that he should go to them then I shall let him go but if they D[e]sire him to stop with me he Shall Do so

Cousins Tho^ and Mary ann are at our house Tho^ is a man fit for this cuntry had I known him before I left Eng- land he most likely would have had to come with me he as made himself very usefull about the place theirs not a mo- ment from his geting up to laying Down but what he is Do- ing something Mary Ann Employs herselfe in instructing the chilldren somtimes she feels a little home Sick but that will wear off I expect next summer / have made a bar- gain with a man for a forty acres of land about 1 mile from our house theire is a Small frame house on It and about 3

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 107

acres broke and their is moderate [quantity] of timber on it I have agreed to give 140 Dollars for it It is considered one of the best fortys any where round about for mdkeing <A small farm I have thought of makeing some kind of agree- ment with Tho^ for him to go and live upon it but I have not come to any Desided arangement yet on the subject. I was glad to heare by James Tinkers letter that John Nobles had arived Safe in England and I hope you have rec^ the pres- sent which I sent you which I think will answer the question B'" Henry had in is last about what quantity of cattle I had with the exception of the Pigs for I recolect now that theire are none in the Drawing we have killed two and I have other two fatning one of them is a sow that is with pig we shall take the young pigs from her when they are about a month or six weeks old I have other 11 one of them is with pig they are not made up but are at liberty to go out and pick up what they can they would be worth in England abou[t] ten or 12 pound as pigs where selling when I left what they would fetch now I canot tell if I could take them by the tail and throw you a few I would for a Christmas Box Do so, as I understand they are very Dear with you for the[y] would not fetch not many more Dollar here than they would Pounds with you

Dear Father In my Last My Wife Desired you to tell B' Henry about a peice of Land she thought would fit him for a farm better than any he could find in England and I Desire to state that theire is a good Chance for any one who is De- sireous of comenceing that Buisness likely to hapen in this settlement theire is a man whose name is J. W. Ames who is Desireous of going to Callifornia and he offers his place for Sale for 1200 Dollars he as a good Frame house a good well of water and a good Frame Barn 40 feet by 30 together with various other out Buildings nessesary for carying on farming he has 160 acres of Land 80 of it fenced in he has 20 acres sown with fall wheat which is in excellent condi- tion and from 15 to 20 acres ready for Spring crops of vari- ous kinds the Racien and Burlington road runs close past

108 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

the house the man wishes to sell out before may as he will have to go with a company which are going to the above named place and I here State had I the money I would give him is price and let him go for I Do think it is worth the money he asks. I Do not state this to induce any of you to come to this cuntry But their may be some one amongst you for any thing I can tell who may have a Desire to come for I am aware should trade be bad as is likely acording to report your situation will not be as comfortable as it has been, and I have not the Least Doubt but you often think about me and my fam[ily] and thinks you could like to see us and I hope you all will allow me [and] mine to indulge in the same pleasant thought and I have often thought how pleasant it would be for some of you to be here that we might have one anothers assistance as we used to have in times gone by but wether such will ever be our Lot or not is Only known to God and I pray that it is will may be Done.

Dear Father the former part of this letter I wrote last week but we had some buisness going on concerning the erec- tion of [a] Chaple which particulars you will find in the ad- dress^^ to our fathers Bretheren and Freinds in England and a copy of the Eesolutions and a List of Subscribers which will acompany this and will be Directed to either you or Cristopher Tinker or W™ woodhead whom we have nom- inated as a committee in England to corespond with the man- ageing committee here which consists of Joseph Woodhead James Tinker and Myself, the address will give you all par- ticulars of our situation and the resolutions will give you some Idea of the Form of Its government in the Subscrip- tion List you will see names classed together which are all of one Family the Father entering the names of his wife and Chilldren so that they will have a voice in the govern- ment of the Chaple Now Dear father I shall leave you to act as you think best in this matter as I think you are quali- fied to judge for yourself

^ For this address see post, appendix.

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 109

Dear father their is a person liveing in this settlement whose name is John Shaw he will be very much obleedged to you if you will make some inquires about a Joseph Senior who is his Wifes brother he wishes to know wether he has ever got any letters from them or not and if he has they wish him to answer them Imediately I understand this Joseph Senior his a butcher and he Married Elizabeth Stocks of Berrybrow * * *

your affectionate Son & Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomlby

Rochester Wisconsin Teritory Jan^ 15*** 1846 Dear Father:

In my Letter I have given you a plain Statement of the events that have passed since I last wrote to you but their are some things which I wish to mention more particular the first is concerning the land I have agreed for and the circumstances conected with the bargain When Cousin John & Betsy Dyson where at our house he Desired me to write to the man who owened the Land he is liveing at Mineral Point his name is Richard Dohson John Desired to pur- chase the Land but being not qualified to pay for it all at once he wished to pay some portion then and the other next summer accordingly I wrote to the man and he send an an- swer back that he would not sell it on those terms and so that matter dropt untill about a week after Tho* & Mary ann came this Richard Dobson came over into this part for some things he had left and he called at our house one evening and in our conversation he asked me what I considerd the Land worth at the time I wrote to him and I said about 120 or 130 Dollars and he said it was worth more and he thought it was worth 1'30 Dollars and I then asked him what he would sell it me for and give me 12 months credit and he said 150 Dol- lars I said it was to much and I told him I would give him 130 Dollars During this conversation I was washing my- self in the kitchen and our martha came in and wished me to bid him 140 Dollars but I did not say any thing"more to him

110 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

untill he got up to go away when I said now what did he think of my offer 130 Dollars, he said I cannot take that but I will tell you what I will do I will half with you I will take 140 Dollars for it I then told him I would consider on it and let him know in the morning. Martha and me talked it over after he was gone and we thought we could manage to pay for it in the time and accordingly I struck the Bargain in the morning marthas intention and mine was to make it a home for Tho^ & mary ann for them to have During their life for a small rent Just sufficient to pay the Interest of the money invested in It

W^ Perkin has made them a very good offer and I almost think they will accept it he Offers to give them his land and house if they will keep and maintain him in a respectable maner so long as he lives, that is he will Deed the land to them and have a life Interest for himself in it they have not come to a final bargain Last Satuarday night Tho^ Wished me to go over with him to W"^ Perkins and hear what he had to propose I went along with him and William Perkin Proposed the same I have stated which i found he had proposed to Tho® on the Wednesday before he had gone theire without saying any thing to me. On our return home I proposed to Tho® that I would Let him the forty acre 1 have mentioned on terms something like the following That was that we would work both places together this next sum- mer and the next fall he should go on the forty acres him- self I would keep them for his help and the next fall would allow them as much Wheat and Pork and Pottatoes as would keep them while the fall after when they would have of theire own I said he should have it 2 or 3 years rent free and then he should pay a small rent of from 20 to 30 Dollars a year for life that is I would give him a Leas to that effect for life he said" he would take some time to consider on It he has said nothing to me yet Decisive which offer he will take but from what Mary ann has said to martha Tho^ thinks that W™ Perkins would be home for them imediately I shall let them make theire own choice freely and then they cannot

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY HI

blame me but I Do think my offer is as good as the other and if I must express my Desire it would be that they would accept my proposeall not that I wish to reap any benif [i]t by it and what I wish them to accept it for I Dare not state in this but I shall state it to you at some future time if God permits

Dear father I shall now proced with something else. James Tinker and Joseph Woodhead are both writeing to their fathers by this post and theire [are] a few persons names mentioned in their letters whom some of the Subs[c]ribers desire should be solicited by you the committe in theire name and I shall give you a few the first is Tho^ Wilson Esq Birkby near huddersfield and Jerrymiah Ryley Esq of the Same place thees two you may Solicite in the name of Jo- seph Cockcroft I shall now mention a few you may Solicite in my name if you pleas the first are Mess*"^ W. W. & H Stables Uncle Tho^ Hawkard at Mossley and as many of my Relations and freinds as you think fit Jonathan Roebuck Robert Roebuck Edmund Schofield My wife['s] father Paul Gledhill young Richard Haig Walter France Joshua Sykes Joseph Schofield Samuel Pontefract Benn Wood George Haye of Netherton and any of my old Shopmates you think fit Brother Henry will perhaps use is influence in our be- half amongst his acquaintances

Now Dear Father I should not like any of you to think that I bargained for this land with an Intent to Depend upon you for help to pay for it for I am Dertimed [determined] to raise the miney myself if all is well But I must Say that T feel anxious to see your next Letter as you and Brother Henry promised to render me help to pay Johns wages he has not gone to the Smith trade and what he Intends to Do about it yet I cannot tell he is at our house yet But I have made no Bargain about wages nor Shall I do [so] while I see what turns up May God Bless you and my mother and soften the bed of Afflicton

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

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Rochester Racien County, W T March ll^*' 1846 Dear Father :

• * * I shall now Proced to give you some information concerning my own affairs for I have a great many things to write about and you must excuse me being as short as Possible on every subject Tho^ & Mary Ann are gone to Live with W" Perkin they have been theire about 5 weeks and W™ has not Said anything about fuUfiling his Promise to Tho^ (you will know what the Promise is by my last let- ter) allthough Tho^ has an agreement Drawn up and has signed it himself to give W™ when he fullfilshis Promise the agreement will give W™ Security for the conduct of Tho^ and Mary Ann towards him During his life I am afraid that they will not be comfortable For W" his a very curious Tempered man and by what Mary Ann told me last night the jaring string of Discord has begun to viberate and wether they will stop or not I canot tell I do not want them to stop at a place where they can not be comfortable I shall Do what I can for them in reason

Tho^ had a very narrow escape from being buried alive in a well which he was Diging their John Wood whas helping him winding up the earth when Tho^ had got about 30 feet Deep haveing gone About 15 feet through gravel and Sand it begun to Slip in at the Bottom when he saw his danger he called to John to wind him up and John had to exert all is strength which is not a little to wind him up for the Bucket was filled with earth so that Tho^ had to stand on the Bucket and hold by the rope the well filled with earth as fast as John could wind him up to the Depth of 15 feet had a weak- er Person than John been their he Tho^ would have lost his life.

John is not with me at Pressent he is liveing at rochester it will be nessesary for me to give you a particular account of this circumstanse at Christmas John asked me about makeing a fresh agreement and I told him I could not Say any thing Definite about makeing an agreement for another year but he might stop as he was a while longer and I would

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 113

see about it my reason for giveing him this answer was is conduct towards me and especialy towards martha had been rather unjust for the last two or three months. Last Septem- ber he had an offer by a Smith at rochester which I consid- erd a very good one and he appeared rather anxious to go and on thees grounds I did nothing to hinder him for he wanted me to do all I could for him in makeing the bargain I enquired what other Smiths was giveing such individuals as he wished me to Do so that I could make arrangements for him he wished me to ask his brothers advice which you know I did and the answer was he might Pleas himself when I had Done all this and the Person had been up at our house to talk with me about it he then begun to say he Did not know wether to take the offer or not and I asked him is reason he said he could not tell but I soon suspected what was the cause he had just begun to keep company with a young woman at Rochester W"" Crowthers Daughter form- erly of Lockwood and from the opinions I have heard W°* Express about the situation which John had in vewe and how he would have to work and the like I knew that that was the cause of John Breakeing up the Bargain in the way he did. they work no harder at that place nor any other and they have has good Board as at any place in the teritory so that their was no just ground in that to break up the bargain in the way he did he might have been keep rather more under subjection than I have done which would have been a benifit to him at his time of life for since that time he begun keep- ing company with the above named person he has been rath- er out of his Place

I shall say no more at pressent about his conduct for it greives me to have to sa}^ so much for I respect him as much as if he was my own child I will just state breifely how we seperated on the 16th of Feb^' in the evening I was write- ing a letter to a M' Vale agent for the American Sunday School asociation for some bibles and other Books for our School when John asked me to look his account up and sec what he wanted of his last years wages I told him I would

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as soon as I had finished my letter which I Did when I found he wanted 50 Dollars haveing had 50 in money and clothing During the year when I was just going to bed he asked me if I was for making another agreement and I told him I thought I could not make an engagement for another year as things had turned out But I [would] find him as much work as I could and Pay him after the same rate as I had Done before and he might make our house his home and get a little work any where else ocasionly just as jobs turned up so that it would ease me of my expences a little he Did not seem anyway Displeased with my proposals and Said nothing but well next morning I wished him to take the letter Down to rochester which I wrote the night before and I expected he would take the horse and go theire and Back Directly but instead of that he washed himself and trimed up went with- out [the] horse and it was 10 0 Clock at night when he came Back next morning he got up and went to help Tho^ with his well having agreed with Tho^ to work out a Clarinet which John had had of him at night he whent down to see is sweetheart and it was 12 0 Clock when [he] came home he went again next morning to his well Diging But has never been to Sleep in our house since But has gone to Board and Sleep at W^ Crowthers his reasons for Doing so I canot tell but he told Tho^ that he would not stop with me for the same wage as he had done If John thinks he can mend himself I am perfectly willing for him to try I shall give him no more and wherever he gets more wage he will have to earn it (Better than he has earned what I have given him) he is well in health but has no particular job at pressent I shall still consider myself Bound to look after him and advise or reprimand as I see fit I shall pay him is wage as soon as I can Give my Respects to his Brother Benjamin, if you think fit you may read this Portion of my letter to him but I leave this to you to use your own judge- ment but I think you had better read it to him so he may judge for himself wether I have acted unjustly towards John or not you can omit the words I have run line round.

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 115

on the wedensday after John left John Dyson came over for Samuel as they had made an engagement with a man who was going out 30 miles north of millwaukie to go out with him John was to have 13 Dollars per month and Betsy was to have as much washing and sewing as would amount to 50 Dollars per year they will have to find their own food and live in a log house on the farm near to theire master Betsy wanted Samuel to nurse the Child She was confined the Begining of Feb^ and has a girl and is Doing well theire was a heavy fall of Snow the Day he came so I took him and Samuel Back on the Satuarday in the Sleigh and Brought a load of Iron Back for the Smith at Rochester o'.i the monday so now we have only our own family now and we feel very comfortable we have no one to Pleas nor Dis- plees we can talke our own affairs over without any one interfering or interupting us and I beleive we shall try to keep ourselves so for I think I can get along this sumer without any other help than what my own family can render unless it be in harvest when I may perhaps have to get flome assistance

I have made some alteration in my house since I last wrote I have got the Chamber floor laid and I [have] moved that little frame house which stood on the 40 acres I mentioned in my last [and] Sett [it] against our Back door and it makes a very usfull Place to wash in and will [be very] convenient for us in summer to set our stove in when it is to hot weather to have any [fire] in the house we moved it by puting two trees under the sills of the house which an[s]werd the Purpose of a Sleigh we then yoked 4 yoke of cattle to each tree and and drawed it on the snow we make nothing of moveing a house now we moved squires Hinchlifes But we had 30 yoke of oxen yoked in the same way and a grand Sight it was.

in referance to keeping more cows I had intended to get other two cows this spring but I do not know wether I shall be able or not a good cow is worth 15 Dollars I have two

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Cows one of them Calfed last friday so we have milk again for the Chilldren I understand Joseph Sykes is liveing near to Delevan about 20 miles from us and is renting a farm but how he is situated I canot tell Martha & me in- tend going over to see them some time soon aiid then I will send you Particulars in referance to the Profit of keeping cows I must say that they are very Prof [i] table But I will not say the[y] are more Profitable than farming as my neighbours call it they mean Growing wheat, which I think will be the most to Depend on But keeping cows is one im- portant Branch of Farming

now Dear Father what follows you can cut off for I write this for your own perusal and must say that I never have said so much to no other Individual on earth it is on the state of [my] mind on religious matter you will recolect that my Wife was a member at the Church and It is to her that I attribute my being so happy in beleiveing on the Lord Jesus Christ while in England when I saw her Praying to god every evening for me and the family my consince told me that I was not doing my Duty to my god and where Do you think her conduct brought me to my knees and ask Pardon of that god I had so long Slighted It was at my grandmother ['s] the last night I Sleept theire and the first after leaveing my own home for this cuntry and never have I omited doing neither on Ship Board on our journey, at home or abroad to fall on my knees to render thanks to the god of all mercies for his mercies to me and my family and ask Pardon for my sins and I feel thankful to god that such a change was wrought on my heart in the way it was the class meetings are held at M^ Nobles now my wife is a member of that Body But I am not I may at some future time state my objections to you their as some little un- pleasantness been created amongst them by Joseph Wood- head his Concience will not allow him to join them Be- cause they are not Wesleyans more of this in my next

My Chilldren are all well and send theire kind love to

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 117

their Grandfather and you must accept the same yourself from

your affectionate Son & Daughter Edwin & Martha Bottomley and may God bless you

Dear Father:

In my other Portion of the letter I have endeavored to give you a statement of things concerning my own family I shall now endeavour to answer your questions which you ask in your last letter the first I shall answer is about the school we engaged a master at Christmas for 3 months at 15 Dollars per month and It will be rather heavy for us for theire is no public money voted for school purposes for this year so that each [person] sending Chilldren will have to pay their proportionate Share of the School masters wages I have send three and I expect my proportionate Share will be about half a Dollar per week which I shall not regret paying for he is an excelent schoolmaster I never saw chilldren improve as fast in my life as they have It would Do you good to hear our Tho^ spell and answer sim- ple questions in Geography and all the rest have improved very much

we have preaching in the School on Sundays but we have been Disturbed by the catholicks who where oposed to meet- ings being held theire thire was four of them came about 6 weeks sine last Sunday and one of them orderd the min- ister out and an other laid hands upon Joseph Wimpen and pushed him towards the Door he had just finished teach- ing a portion of the Sunday [school] scholars and the Schol- ars where just begining to sing a hymn to close the school before the service comenced when they came in the chill- dren ran out very much f rightend I was going down to the preaching and I meet our Sarah comeing runing and Crying and I asked her what was the mater she Said [the] Catho- licks had come and turned them all out our Hannah was coming runing behind her and Tho" a little behind Hannah I gave Hannah my bass and I then run to the school and

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they where just going away I felt very much hurt at such like conduct and a few of us mett on the monday night and we agreed to ask the advice of a Lawyer M"" Nobles and me and James Scott whent to burlington and we found that they had broke the Laws of the teritory and we order [ed] a warrant for each of them the Sheriff apprehended them next morning and took them to Burlington we followe[d] after with our witnesses but the trial was put of [f] while the second of Feb^ each being bound in 200 Dollar for theire appearance with two Sureties as [I] shall not have room to give you a Detailed account of the trial I shall just state that the one who orderd the minister out was fined 7 Dollars and all expences for Disturbing people assembled for the worship of god the other which laid hands on Joseph wim- pen was fined 5 Dollars for an asault and 5 Dollars for Dis- turbing the people assembled to worship god the Law of this cuntry protects on[e] religious Denomination as well as another all are alike I will endeavour to give you the law as it stands on the statute Book-Law That if any person wilfully Disturbing any people assembled for the worship of God in any place whatsoever [he] shall be fined in the sum of 20 Dollars and not less than 5 Dollars this is the sense of the law but it may not be worded exactly right

I have writen the other part of this as far as the infor- mation about John Dyson and Betsy which was all the first Part of this first letter containd and when I had filled the other side of this Sheet I found I should not have room for what I wanted to state So I com[m]e[n]ced writing over again it is in a bad form but you must sort it out as well as you can I Kec^ the news Paper you send at the same time you send your las[t] letter and I Should feel glad if you could send me one every month I shall Do as you wish me to write every month it will be a little trouble for [me] But nothing in comparison to [the] trouble you have been at for me and my family and I Shall feel glad to Do anything for you that I can I am afraid I shall omit Something which I ought to have stated but I have wrote all Day and while

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 119

late last night and my mind is got so bewildered that I canot recolect anything more

I have just thought of something Else you want to know what kind of a winter we have had the winter has been very like the two last we have had some keen frosty Days and we have had about a month of Sleighing Since Christ- mas the snow is all gone and to all appearance Spring as set wild Ducks and Geese are flying north yesterday and to Day we have had rain and theire is every appearanc of Spring Give our respects to Brother Henry and Family also to Mary Gledhill and Family and all our freinds and re- lations and may God Bless you all is the sincere prayer of your Affectionate son and Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

Rochester Racien County W. T. April 16^*^ 46

Dear Father :

• • *

when I got Brother Henrys Letter and read the contents of It I was very much affected with feelings of Pleasure and Thankfullness to my old fellow workmen for theire Liber- ality in contributeing so much as a token of respect to me for the purpose of Building a chaple in our settlement it caused feelings of by gone Days to fill my bosom which had to be releived by tears, it gave me great satisfaction to know that I was not forgoton by them for I have not forgoten them nor do I think I shall ever forget them and how can I when every Day I shall have the Pleasure of Seeing from our house after the Chaple gets built a monument partly raised by theire contribution for the Purpose of worshiping God and when I enter it on the sabath how shall I feel my tonge is not able to express nor my pen able to write my feelings I shall conclude with a hope that gods blessing may rest upon them all and hope that they will feel thank- ful when they attend a place of worship knowing that theire old freind Both in prossperity and adversity Edwin Bot- tomley has a prelivige of Singing the Praises of God at the

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same time in a place which they have help[ed] to build for which I return them my sincer thanks

Dear Father we jointly return you our Sincer thanks for the interest you and our freinds have shown towards us in the maner you have adopted for our benifit and we hope and trust you will be rewarded for your exertions we had a meeting last night to Desid^ upon a site for the chaple and it was unanimously agreed that it should stand on M"^ Stone- house ['s] land he haveing generously oferd to give the land for that purpouse it will be the most central place in the settlement and will be near the school house on the contrary side the BurlingtowTi and Racien road the size of the chaple is not yet Desided upon nor the form of It But we have an Idea of haveing it 40 feet by 30 and basement story under the Chaple for a sabath School if we can raise sufficient funds I have Drawn a plan for one of that Dimensions the end of the Building to form the front the interior of the chaple will be in this form theire would be a loft on the end which forms the front which would take about 10 feet in breadth and 30 feet long in this form under the loft to

li

form a vestery at one end 10 feet by 8 and another rom at the other end the same size for stairs into the loft and admit of stairs comeing up out of the school so that the scholars can come out of the school into the loft without going out of Doors or into the body of the chaple a por- tion of the loft to be occupied by the singers the Pul- tit to be at the oppisite end of the chaple which acording to the Plan would be flat or as [you] will perhaps better un- derstand the congregation will be all on a level the plan whas highly aproved off by some but was rather objected by some who want it to be something in the form of [the chapel at] berry brow to have a riseing Gallery but James Tinker Joseph woodhead M*" Nobles and Myself are aware

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 121

that it will cost more to build one in that form than the other which I have Drawn, which plan will be adopted I canot Say. we shall be governd by our resourcees and the wishes of the subs[c]ribers in my next I hope to be able to give you a scetch of the form we have adopted.

the Weather since I last wrote to you has been very un- settled we have [had] a Deal of rain and snow which made the ground so wet that we have not been able to get our spring wheat in yet on Friday the 10^^ of April when I awoke in the morning it was snowing and the ground was covered about 6 inches deep about 9 0 Clock it turned [to] rain which continued to pour down in torents all Day on tuesday the 14*^ in the morning the ground was coverd with snow again to the Depth of about 2 inches which van- ished like a mist before the sun I sowed about a bushel of the wheat you sent me on the 9^^ of April the day before the heavy fall of Snow and Rain I had intended begin- [ning] to sow my other spring wheat this morning but their has been some rain this morning which will prevent my sow- ing to Day it is now about 10 0 Clock and the Sun is break- ing out and theire is every apearance of haveing a fine Day should it be so I shall comence to morow I have about 8 acres ready for Seed

In My Last I mentioned about John Wood if you have not said anything to his brother you need not Do it you m[a]y tell him that he has got married and I hope things will turn out well for him but in my opinion he as acted rather hastely but I hope she will make him a good wife and he her a good husband he was married on thursday the 9^*" of April in my last I thought I should not engage any help except in harvest but martha and me considered the sub- ject over and we thought it would be better to make some arangement with cousin Tho^ for him to help me and upon what terms so that we should have an understanding one with another so I proposed to him to give him 10 Dollar [s] per month for 3 months labour to be performed in 6 months comencin[g] first of April and end[ing] on the last of Sep^

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sometimes he will be working [for me] and Somtimes for himself or others they are still with W™ Perkin but have not made any final settlement yet they are both well I have not heard any thing from the Baker since I last wrote Dear Father I should feel glad if you could send me a cir- cular Saw about 16 or 18 inches [in] Diameter by Wood- heads family when they come I want I[t] to cut up my rail fences and form them into picket fences which is likely to be the best and most Durable fenc I shall work It by a jin with the horses My Mare foald on Sunday the 5^^ of april the foal is a filly and marked like the Colt she had last Spring I have James Nobles fin[i]sh[ing] off the house and makeing it ready for Plastering which I hope to acom-

plish this Spring

• * •

From your Affectionate Son & Daughter

Edwin and Martha Bottomley Dear father send if you pleas a pair of Black Stocking [s] for Martha by Woodheads family theire is not any to be got in this cuntry

Rochester Racien County W. T. May 17^^ 1846 Dear Father:

According to promise i must take this oppurtunity Sun- day morning of writeing to you or I shall be to Late for the mail of June 1^^^ if I do not for I am so situated at pre s sent that I have no time to spare on other Days we are all en- joying good health at pressent thank god my Wife is bet- ter than She has been this long while Cusin Tho^ Hall is sick which has happend rather unfortunate for me as this is a very buisy time and I Depended on him for help as you would see by my last letter he gave up work on thurs- day the 7^*^ of may on Sunday morning last I was going over to see him and I met Mary Ann and him coming over to ours house to get me to take him to Burlington to the Doc- tor I went with him Down in the wagon and the Doctor bleed him and gave him some little medicine he his at pres-

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 123

sent some little better but he will have to take great care or his complaint will be fatal he as all the symtoms of a confirmd consumption but I hope he will take a turn for the better old W"^ Perkin has not yet fulfilled his promise to them which I think has made him rather uneasy and in my opinion has been one great cause of his pressent illness Mary Ann is well and She as plenty of work cleaning Bon- ets and makeing [them] both Tho^ and her are very much respected here I hope it will pleas god to restore him again to health his will be done.

with Tho^ being sick it has caused me to be very buysy and had it not been for our Hannah and Ruth I do not know how I should have got through so far when Tho^ left work they offerd to Drive the team for me now the girls in your neighbourhood would think it a Disgrace most likely to bee seen Driveing Oxen and hor[s]es but they where glad they could render their father so much service and last night when we had done our work for the week we all felt thank- full that we had been able to do so much this Last week we have got 2i^ acres of Oats and 2 acres of Barley in and we have had rain which prevented us for Doing any thing in the land for 2 Days

I shall just relate a little circumstance which will suit you to Smile at if nothing Else a fortnight Since yesterday our hannah went to Cousin Thomases for a bonett which Mary Ann had been cleaning for Selina Cousin Tho^ had been useing my oxen a few Days and he asked her if She would bring the oxen home and Sleigh which he had had also and she told him She would the roads where very bad and when She got to the School house She Saw M"^ Drummond the Minister comeing wadeing along through the mud he was comeing to hour house to Stop all night She invited him to ride with her on the Slay and he accepeted her invitation now picture to yourself a respectable minister rideing on a Sleigh and a young girl for the driver which with you would have been rather an odd sort of a sight but with us such things are thought nothing off now I would not have you

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think that I make my Girls Do this kind of work nor do I in- tend [to] I only state this to show they are willing to Do any thing they can Do nor would I have you to think they are Defficient in what females ought to know I Do not think their are many that excell them in Domestic Labour or in needle work our hannah has a peice that she worked at 6 weeks very hard this winter while Cusin mary ann whas here which would satisfy you on that subject if you could but see it they have some Stockings to knit for M^ Nortons family of Burlington

The Weather Since I last wrote to you has been very un- settled so that it has been very Difficult to get on with our spring work we have had a Deal of Kain which causes the ground to be wet and bad to work I have got about 7 acres of Spring wheat in and it is looking very well my winter wheat Looks well with the exception of a few places where we cut some trees off this winter what is the cause I canot tell unless it be with trampleing it in geting the trees off I shall comence to morrow if alls well ploughing for corn I intend puting in about 5 acres which 3% acers will be old Land and 1% on new Broke Land I have Lent my oxen out for two months and the Person will Break me 5 acres of Land for the Loan of them so that I shall get 5 acres broke without any labour of my own and it will be as much as I intended Breaking this sumer

Dear father the Plan of the Chaple which I had drawn has been adopted by the Subs[c]ribers and was approved off by all except one who thought It would be to[o] Large but his arguments where rather against him for he stated that it would be large enough to seat 300 people comfortably but it will only Seat 180 alowing the pews to be 2 feet 6 inches wide and allowing 22 inches for each individual the sub- [s]cribers alone and their family amounts to 119 and the Persons who reagular[ly] attend including Sub[s]cribers amounts to 186 and theire is every prospect of an increase in the congregation the Idea that James Tinker and my- self Woodhead nobles and several others [have] is that

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 125

if we canot raise sufficient funds to finish the whole build- ing off is to finish the Chaple and leave the Basement story- unfinished in the inside for a while and make the old School house answer for our Sabath School till such times as we can finish the other but I hope we can finish all and then we can instruct our children on the Sabath without fear of interuption as you will see by one of my former Letters we have been I should have felt glad if we could have built it of Brick but we cannot for we should have to Draw the bricks about 6 miles and [this] would be a great Expence we have got the heavy timber for the frame given by Differ- ent individuals in the Settlement John Hockins the Birm- ingham Blacksmith has given us 12 trees 5 — 30 feet 4 — 22 feet and 3 — 18 feet and I think with the help that each can give we shall be able to complete both School and Chaple we canot state what the exact cost will be but we think about 800.00. eight hundred Dollars will finish both Places

in my next i will send you a Sketch of the Chaple and school as [it] is intended to be when finished you must give my respects to my old masters and theire familys and my thousand thanks for theire Liberality in our b[ehalf] it gives me great Pleasure to think that I am Still remembered by them [although] we are so far separated and I hope and trust we Shall never forget each other I can safely say that I respect them and all their familys as if I was still in theire employ and may god bestow his blessings upon them is the sincere prayer of theire Servant Edwin Bottomley Give my Eespects to M' Hough Uncle Tho^ and James Buckley and all who have contributed any thing in our behalf and give them my sincer thanks and I hope god will bless theire endeavours with that reward which he has promised to those that Love and fear him

with regard to that omission in the address we send you it whas an over sight in us had theire been any in our set- tlemt who where Socinians or any others who Did not be- leive the new testement we should most Likely have adopted one more plain and Spesific we shall give your advice Due

126 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

consideration and most likely adopt some of It if not all. tell Benjamin Wood that John is gone to work with the Blacksmith I have named before he as made an engage- ment for 3 years and he likes [it] very well I must now close my letter and m[a]y God bless you all is the sincere prayer of

your affectionate Son and Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

Cusin Tho^ has been at hour house this morning Monday and he is a Deal Better Dear father if you have not sent the Subscription before this arives if you could lay out about 23 Shillings of it in purchaseing a white counterpain for a bed for a f reind of mine here and She will pay me the money

Yours Affectionate Son

E BOTTOMLY

EocHESTER Racien County W. T. Juue 14*^ 1847 Dear Father:

I now Take up my pen again to write a few lines to you hopeing they will find you all in good health as Thank God they leave all of us here at pressent we rec^ yours of May 2^^ and where glad to heare you where all well and that you had succeded so well for us in behalf of our Chaple I shall now proceed to give you some information concerning it and I promised in my last that I might send you a Draw- ing of it in this letter but I must beg you will excuse me as you will see by this letter that I am as buisy as a man can be I comenced on f riday morning last to Draw a plan of the frame work for the chappie and it took me while Satuar- day noon to finish it in the afternoon M^ Stonehouse M"" Noble Tinker, Hellewell, and myself went to Draw some logs together for the men to get squared for the frame we have let the squareing of the Timber at 3 cents per foot the men will comence on wedensday next [if] all [is] well we have not let the building of the chappie yet but we shall Decide

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 127

upon that this next week wether we shall let it by estimate or engage men by the Day I cannot say yet but that will be decided at our next meeting which will be this next week all are Desireous to have it finished this summer if Possible and I promise you that theire shall be all the exertion given to it that I can give and I think that will not be a little as I expect a good Deal will Depend upon me as the chappie is being built according to the plan I have made :

Besides the chappie building Buisness I have another to attend to which will take up some of my time at the last Towns meeting at Burlington which was in april I was put on path master for the road District in which I live and I shall have about 15 men working on the road on monday and Tuesday which I shall have to superintend now being ap- pointed to this office will take 7 or 8 days of my time Dur- ing the summer thees buisness of a publick nature I have to attend to besides my own private concerns and those are not a little I have made an engagement with a man to come plaster my house next monday but one and I Shall have the lime and Sand to get previous to that hay time and Harvest will soon be here which must be attended too and theire are other things wants attending to Dayly on the farm so that you will perceive my time is prety well employed at pressent Tho^ Hall is rather better but is not fit to Do heavy work yet he has helped me a little this last week and perhaps he will be able to help a little this next should he not I shall be compeld to get som little help other ways

I shall now close thees subjects and give you a st[ate]- ment of the weather which as been rather wet this spring which has thrown us [behind] with our spring work and it has rather injured corn and w[h]eat in some places I planted some of my corn over again this last week a good Deal had roted in the ground on account of the wet and cold I made a machien to plant corn with which makes the furrow and drops the corn every two feet and covers it up the macheine is Drawn by one horse on nice ground I could

128 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

plant as much corn in a Day as 4 or 5 men would Do the other way thire are great complaints about the wheat crop in the cuntry their are some crops in the settlement which looked well in the spring which as turned out to be chess in- stead of wheat it is called Slane or Slain in some parts of England about where Tho^ and Mary Ann came from My wheat is prety good their are some few Bunches of chess in it but nothing worth nameing

Dear Father would you be so kind as get Cousin Robert Hollingworth and John Beaumont to send me a few cutings of goosbery trees if they send any you must ty them to- gether and then get some moss and put the cut ends into it and Ty a wet lin[en] or woolen cloth over it and put them in a cann and the lid should fit tight but it must be so that they can take it off and wet the cloth ocasionaly on the road M'' noble is sending for some by his Son John and I think you had better give those you send into his care

in your letter you wished me to send word how Joseph Woodhead was going on amongst us I am sorry that the few lines I send you should have caused you so much un- easyness but I am happy to state [to] you that I think along with my f reind Nobles that his conduct will not do as much harm as we thought it would at the first though he still keeps aloof from the other body I mean those members in the set- tlement he has been to a quarterly meeting of Episcopall methodists lately and one of the minesters Promised to come preach in the school house on a week night imedi- ately after I went Down with an intent to hear him but the man Did not come so Joseph gave us an Explenation on the first chapter of Genesis we shall keep your advice in mind and keep a watchfuU eye upon him but we do not ap- prehend yet much Danger from him nor any one else as all seems at unity in ref erance to the chappie and may god keep us so Our Thomas send[s] his thanks to his Grandfather for the pressent he send him and he says he will give his first cliping of wool to stuff a choushin for the pulpit in the new chappie

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 129

Dear Father I must now close but theire is another thing which if I Dont me[ntion] I know you will find fault with me afterwards as you Did once that is we expect to have an Increase in our family as my wif[e is in] the family way she enjoys very good health now and I hope she will continue our Sarah happened a misfortune this week She had got a small axe which I have and was cuting a chip with it and She it her finger and cut the end nearly off betwixt the nail and firs[t] joint' She went Sick this morning when I dressed it but it is Doing well we shall I hope and trust be better provided with food at the birth of our next than we was at our last I expect the event will take place if alls well Late in the fall Give our respects to all our relatives and Friends and May God Bless you all is the sincere Prayer of

your Affectionate Son and Daughter Edwin & Marth Bottomley

Rochester Racien County W T August 3^^ 1846 Dear Father:

* * * I shall comence on a differ ant subject now and hope things will be for the best, every one in the Settlement is busy in their harvest which I am afraid will not be very good takeing it generaly winter wheat the rust has taken it very bad this sumer and the wheat is very much s[h]runk spring wheat is generaly speaking very good I finished my winter wheat cuting on Friday the 24^^ of July and some of it will be only moderate quality and some prety fair wheat my Spring wheat is very good Tho^ and Mitchel are cuting it now Friday the 31®^ of July my oats are a very good crop but we had some heavy rain last week which laid some of them which will cause some loss my Indian corn some of it is good and some of it almost lost in weed[s] and it will be like to take it[s] chance now If I was not to tell the cause you would probably blame me for neglect in the first place some of the corn rot[t]ed in the ground and we planted it over again and that threw some

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of it latter than the other part and before the later part got out of the ground the weed[s] had begun to grow (this sea- son has been [a] fine season for weeds if nothing else) and before I could get into it the man was ready to plaster my house and that had to be attended to or else let alone this sumer again and I Did not like the Idea of that I Shall not say what trouble for three weeks we had with plastering to you for you are aware what such like work is, but I am thankful it is Done and well.

I had intended Tho^ to have work[ed] on the farm what he could wile w^e w^here plastering, and I engaged Mitchels son to help and cary lime &c but Tho^ was working himself to death for Old W™ Perkin to Please him and could not Spare time to come [and] do any thing for me and I feel very much greived about it for all has ended as I have long expected for I do not believe any one could live with him long on peacable terms they have not left his house yet but I ex- pect [they] will Do [so] in a few Days I feel very sorry that ever they went near him for I Do not expect he will ever get paid for what he has Done for him had he taken the offer I made him they would have been far better off and it would have answerd better for me for Tho^ is a man I do not like to part with if I could make arrangements to have him near me I would have put them [up] a house on the fort[y] acres I bargained for if I had the means now for I thirds he would take the offer I made him but I shall have hard scrapeing to raise pay for the land as circum- stances has turned up.

Dear Father the Above Portion of this letter I wrote on Friday the 31^^ Ins^ and it is now monday the S""^ of August the reason why i Did not finish my letter on f riday whas this Tho^ had been working for me all the week and he came in and we begun to talk things over a little about what steps he intended to take and he said he could not tell what way to Do he said they where expecting some money from a M'^ Midgley when you send the remainder of the chaple money which they thought of buying forty acres of land with but

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 131

he said they would not be able to buy any stock and he said he would rather work out a while than go onto land of his own without money to go along with if he could only meet with a comfortable situation and I found by what he said he would like to come and work for me if I could Do with him I thought the subject over in [my] mind a little and on the Satuarday I asked him again what he would engage for for one year and he said he would work for me a year for 100 Dollars and I expect we shall make a bargain but I shall have to put them a little frame house of some kind up some where neare if I can by any means so that Tho^ will be near his work I hope we shall make on[e] another comfortable and may god bless our endeavours

In your Last you Desired to know how that wheat you sent had [grown] that % bushel which I sew last fall was all killed out in the wi[nter with] the exception of a few roots which are now nearly ripe I sew [some] in the spring which will not head at all and if you was to see it you [would not] beleive it was wheat it appears like a fag feiled [field] in England I shall sow what I have left this next seed time and I think it will answer very well if it be got in in good time

Dear Father you will want to know how we are geting on with the chaple we have two men working at the frame work and I saw one of them this forenoon and according to what he said it would be ready for raiseing in about 3 weeks I must now close my letter for my paper is almost full and I have had hard work to put this much together for I am not very well yet though I am better a Deal to Day than I was last week I rode the horse to the Doctor this forenoon and it gave me a good appetite for my Diner the man that has her under hand thinks he can cure her but she will have a stiff neck my wife and Chilldren are all very well the chilldren send their kind respects to their e Grandfather and all their uncles aunts and little cousins and may God bless you all is the sincer Prayer of

your affectionate Son and Daughter Edwin and Martha Bottomley

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Tho^ and Mary Ann Send their kind respects to you all and mary Ann Says that if uncle Benn knew what trouble it was to kook on a log fire he would buy them a new stove

Dear Father :

In my letter you have a statement of my circumstances and Situation and what I should like to Do which I hope I shall be able to acomplish I Shall now state to you for your own information my Plan the Payment for the land I Bargaind for will be Due in Octo^ 2T^ and I Shall write to the Individual this week to try to make arrangements to pay him next summer and propose to allow him some in- trest for his money if I can make arangments with him I shall be able to get through prety well I think and almost am certain that he will comply with my request, finishing my house and Plastering will cost 50 Dollars and Tho^ and Mitchel['s] wages wiU amount to nearly 60 Dollars and if wheat Does not advance in Price It ^vill be as much as I can do to pay my Debts and put Tho^ and Mary ann a house up which I think would answer very well for both of us if I can accomplish it I shall write to you again Imediately after I recive your next letter which I hope to get in time to write by the mail of the midle of Sep^ and hope I Shall be able to send you a rather more Pleasant Letter than this I hope it will Pleas to god to restore me again to health I Patiently sub- mit to his will and Put my trust in him for he as been help in trouble before and has always brought me through my beiDg Brought so weak this Last week with Sickness has caused me to feel very anxious for Tho^ to be near me for I have thoug[h]t if any thiug was to happen me he would be able to cary on the farm in your next after rec^ this Pleas give me your opinion on thees matters by so Doing you will much oblidge

your Affectionate Son

Edwin Bottomley

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 133

EocHESTEB W T Sep 18^^ 1846 Dear Father :

I am again permited through the mercy of God to write a few lines to you and I hope the[y] will find you in good health as thank God they leave us at pressent we rec*^ yours of August 2^^ also of August 16^ and I have rec^ the money which you sent and are very thankfuU to you for your kind- ness towards us I have wrote to James Dawson to inform him and I expect he will come for his money in a few Days I have paid Squire Hinchliff his I should have Deffered writeing till after Woodhead had arrived but I was aware that my last letter would make you rather uneasy as I was not well in health when I wrote last but I continued to gain Strength Daily and I was able to follow my work in about 10 Days their has been a great many sick Joseph Mitchel formerly of Lockwood Died on the 12^^ of august after a few Days Sickness he begun with the Dihoreha and he was seized with Cramp in his limbs something in the same way as a person in the Cholerea Joshua Woodhead has been Sick about a fortnight and he is not able to Do any work yet his wife also has been Sick a few Days but is got better their complaint has been the Billions Fever which complaint has been very prevalent of late also the ague James Tinker has been unwell a few Days but is geting better both his wife and Chilldren have been Sick in the ague but are got nearly well.

Dear Father how my intended arangments with Tho^ would satisfy you I canot tell But I must here state that they are all fallen to the ground and from what I think now I Dont think I shall make any more bargains with him untill either him or Mary Ann knows their own mind a bit better which is in the fault I canot tell my last letter would in- form you of their intended Seperation from old W°^ PerMn after I wrote that Tho^ wanted me to ask M'' Nobles to let them go and live in [a] house of his which I Did and M' Nobles gave them leave to live in [it] while John came and

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I expected them removeing I had made my bargain with Tho^ though we had no writen agreement and I was Both- ering myself how I must Do to get them a house up Tho^ was working at our house and when he came one morning to his work he told me that Mary Ann and old W"^ had made a fresh bargain and I said what was it he said old W™ had offered to sell them his Place and Stock for 300 Dollars and mary ann had writen to England to a M'" Midgley for the money now this was all done without Tho^ knowing any- thing about it while the letter was gone in a few Days after this I told him he should begin to Plough he Did so I went with him to help to set the lands out and while we was Doing it he told me he wanted to go and plough Old Wil- liams [land] and he said he thought I Should be able to Plough as I had Joseph Mitchel working for me I canot tell you how I felt just then for he had been telling about Old W"^ conduct to him only a few Days before and he said he would never Do another job of any kind of work for him till he had had some kind of a settleing with him and he knew it was imposible for me to get through my work without some help just then for I had my oats to Stack and I had some hay that wanted attending to and had a good Deal to cut also It was a rather wet morning that morning and I told him If it cleared out to [a] fine Day we would Stack the oats he said Joe and me could stack them so then I told [him] we could for I saw he was determined to go [and] Plough for old W™ and he went

Joseph Mitchel ['s] time was out the Day but one after that so then I was left to myself the wether was [such] for nearly a week that I could not Stack my oats when it came a fit Day Our Hannah and me begun to Stack them we had got two Loads up and Tho^ came and help[ed] me to finish he came unsend for and begun to help without any asking when we had Don Stacking the oats he told me M^ Healy of Eochester had Sent for him and Wanted him to go work for him and he thought we had not better make the Bargain

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 135

good we had talked about and I told him it would be all right to me which way he Did For I had made up my mind that I would not fasten myself to him though I Did not know how I was to get through my work But I got Joseph Mitch- el to come [and] help me two Days to Stack some hay which I had Down and thank god I have been able to get on prety well for our Hannah said She would Drive for me while I Ploughed and we comenced a fortnight ago last monday and we Ploughed with my oxen from 12 to 14 acres up to last Satuarday night that is in a fortnight I comenced Sowing last monday and our Hannah and Ruth [h] arrow it one with oxen and the other with one horse the other is not fit to Do any thing nor Do I think it ever will be and had I known that it would have been the trouble it has I would have Shot it at the first when the complaint broke out for it has been more loss to me already than she is now worth I have har- rowed in about 5 acres of wheat and Shall put in other 7 I had intended finis [h]ing this week so that I could have had a Day for Honley Feast but to Day thursday has been wet and I am afraid I canot finish

in your last you Desire to know what kind of a wheat crop I have I have not thrashed my wheat out yet but I Expect it will not be very good as you will see by my last letter wheat is now selling at Eacien for about 55 cents per Bushel flour 314 Dollars per Barrel. We are Progressing with the chaple as fast as we can we raised the Basement story about a month since and we Did intend to raise the other part on Honley feast monday but with so many being sick and people being so busy geting in theire seed I expect it will be wedensday before we can raise it I have been turn- ing some ornaments to Day for the window in the front to Day before I comenced writi[ng] this letter Give my re- spects to the singers at Crossland Church [and] tell them I should be glad to have theire attendance at our opening but I am afraid my horse would not be able to undertake so long a journey I hope they sometime Sing the short measure

136 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

tune I composd and think of him that used to associate with

them

* # #

Your Affectionate Son & Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomly P, S John Wood and wife have both been Sick but are geting better John as had the billions fever and Sarah the Chill Fever I have Just heard that cousin Mary ann is ill of the Chill Fever I Expect I Shall be able to finish geting in my wheat to morrow Satuarday Sep' 19 hannah and Euth are both harrowing I shall finish Sowing this after noon

EocHESTER Eacien County W. T. Sep' 18^^ |46 Dear Father:

You must excuse my letter for being Short for I am very busy as you will perceive by my letter owing to the conduct of my cousin had he worked is time up that he agreed to Do in [the] Spring I could have bestowed more labour in geting in my winter wheat he has only worked 2 months labour for me in the whole Since the first of April and about 15 Days in harvest I shall have to give him rather more than what we agreed for in the Sprin[g] He would not work for me at that price During harvest but I shall drop this sub- ject and watch how things will work patiently but I will Say this they mil have to seek a great while before they find a better Freind than I have been to them it was on theire ac- count that I bargaind for the land last fall and had Tho® worked As he agreed to Do for me in the Spring I Should have been better Prepared to pay for it than I am for when I was the busyist in the Spring he was Sick and then when I begun to plaster my house he could not render any help for he begun to get stone and roots out of the land belonging to Old W"^ so that he could have some land broke which is unbroke yet and when ever I have wanted his help the worst he has always had something to Do for Old W"" but I Dont think it his all Tho^ fault he has had Mary Ann and old W™

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 137

Wavering minds to Deal with and therf ore I excuse him but I Shall let them get more settled before I medle again

in your last you Desire to know how I am coming on with the Land above named I am Sending a letter to the man that owns it, to Day [which] the Chilldern will take along with this to the post this afternoon the letter States to him that I am afraid I shall not be able to raise the whole of the money this fall I State that I Shall perhaps be able to Pay him from 50 to 100 Dollars and if that will Satisfy him I will pay him Lawful interest for the remander till I can raise it. the letter also states that if he has made some engagements and will be fast for the money to write back imediatly and let me know, if it Should be the Case I shall have to borow some money if I can I Shall let you know the result in my next

I shall act as you Desire about Woodheads but I think Jo- seph has been rather craming his father and f reinds if it be as you have heard but I Do not fear neither Joseph nor his father ever haveing any more influance than what will fall to any one Joseph has not as much as he thinks he has, and old W"" Woodhea[d] will have something else to Do when he gets here than seek the favour of man and I think a great many of his hopes and Expectations will be blasted when he arives here I Do know this Old W"" is coming sooner than he should have Done to be comfortable at the first and if I had been expecting my father coming I Should have acted Differant from what Big Joseph has Done and the rest of them I Shall write as soon as they arrive

I Remain Your Affectionate son

E BoTTOMLEY

Rochester Racien County W T Oct' 29^ 1846

Dear Father :

• - • •

In my last I promised to write to you as soon as W°^ Woodhead arrived but circumstances which this letter will inform you of what [have] prevented me on the 22''^ of

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Sep my wife begun to have symptoms of the Billious Fever but she continued to stir about till the thursday the 24^^ when she had to take her bed and She continued very ill till Sunday morning and tlien She was a little better and She got up in the forenoon and remained up all Day but on the monday morning the fever returned with greater violence and I sent for a Doctor philips who gave her some little medicien which broke the fever he attended her on the mon- day Tuesday and wedensday on the thursday she got up a little and continued to get better a little every Day till thurs- day the 15 of Oct^ when she begun with the Chill fever and she was confined to her bed for another week but we Did not get a Doctor again for her but I went Down to Eochester and Bought some medicen for her which Did her a Deal of good and she is now able to walk about but is still very weak now I must tell you a little about myself on Sep^ 26 we raised a portion of the chaple and we had some very heavy lifts and while we where thus employed W"^ Woodhead and his family arived and we welcomed them with a shout while I was theire at the raiseing I Did not feel well my hands and feet felt to burn with an unnatural heat but I continued at the raiseing while after sun down and when I came [home] I choped firewood for the Sunday which made me sweat hard for I was in a hurry to go and see W"^ Woodhed which I Did and he told me the fate of my Box and Tink- er ['s] when I came home I went up stairs to keep my wife company and tell her the news and while I was sit [ting] ta[l]king with her a coldness came on me as sudden as could be I then went Down stairs and sit Down close to the stove and smoked a pipe of tobacco I then got up to go to bed and I begun to shake very hard and continued to Do some time after I got into bed on the Sunday morning I got up prety early but I Did not feel well and when Selina and Tho^ Dressed I took them and I thought I would have a walk as far as Cousins Mary Ann and TJio^ but we meet them com- ing to see martha so we turned back with them on the mon- day morning I went to help Squire to thrash he fin [i] shed

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 139

about noon the same machien that had thrashed for Squire then went to scots and I had to go and help Scot as I had promised him though I was more fit for bed we finished about noon on the tuesday I came home and cousin Mary Ann was come over to see marth and I went and Laid me Down on the Chilldrens bed an hour or two on the wedens- day morning I felt better and I went to assist at the raising of the chaple as we agreed on the Satuarday to finish on the wedensday but I had to leave about 3 o Clock in the after- noon and I had hard work to get home when I got home I begun to be very feverish and I continued very bad all night on the thursday I was a little better and I Did a little work about home on the f riday morning I felt worse but I got up about 7 0 Clock but I could Scarce hold my head up about 11 0 Clock in the forenoon i went to bed and I begun to Shake again and I continued to Do for about 20 minutes after that the fever came on and continued while 11 0 Clock at night and I had a Shake every other Day after that [dur- ing] the fever while the thursday after which was the 7^^ of Oct*" when I got some powders that broke it from the same Doctor that attended my wife it is now three weeks since I broke it and I have had no relapse I have been able to Do some little work the last 4 Days I finished Diging my pot- tatoes yesterday which the girls had left to Do and to Day I have got a few carrots it is now bed time and I Shall leave off for to night

Friday Octo*" 30**^ I have been to Rochester to Day with some wheat to grind and have called at the Post office but theire is no letter about the Box I shall say more on this subject Afterwards

Dear Father I have given you a breif statement of o^r Sickness and you will perceive that my wife and me where not fit for any thing for nearly a month and had it happened that Hannah & Ruth had not had their health I cannot tell what would have become off us for those who both you and me have rendered an helping hand to in the time of need seem to have forgoten the time they required a freind I

140 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

have stated in my letter when Cousin Mary Ann was at our house and Tho^ also nor has Thd^ Don any thing for me since the time I mention in my last I expect he is tired of the place he went to first for he has been spliting rails for an- other man since and what he is Doing now I canot tell but I know that he was so situated During my Sickness that he might have come and chop[ped] me a little fire wood if he could have Done nothing else but thank God he did not leave us without help our Hannah and Ruth have had to Do the work they have taken the ax and choped fire wood and when they had time gone and got Pottatoes harnessed the horse and Drawn them in and every thing have they Don which they could Do to prevent me for bringing on the Ague by any kind of exertion (it is a complaint that is very soon brought on again if a person begins to Do any thing to soon)

the person that I had ingaged to thrash my wheat came with his machien on Tuesday the 19^^ of Oet^ and my quan- tity of Grain is as follows 110 Bushels of winter wheat off 12 acres 80 Bushels of Spring wheat off 6 acres 50 Bushels of oats off 2% acres the oats where Laid Bad by some heavy [rains] before they were ripe which Destroyed a good many of them I had 29 Bushels of [barley] of [f] 2 acres My winter [wheat] has yeilded about one half my spring wheat two thirds and my Barley about two thirds of what My last years crops Did in proportion to the same breadth of Ground the oats would have been as good as last year but for the rain laying them * * *

Monday Nove' 2"* Dear Father:

Since Diner I have been Down to Rochester to see if their was a letter from new york but their is none I begin to feel very uneasy about it as it is 5 weeks to Day since I wrote to new york and what is the reason that their is not a letter I canot comprehend and I shall have to send this letter without any intelligence about the boxes but I Shall write

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 141

you a short letter [if] alls well by the next mail I expect we shall have another ad[d]ed to our family before then My Wife is very feeble but I hope it will pleas god to suport her in the hour of affliction.

Dear Father in looking over my other sheet I see I have not Stated any thing about my Indian corn and pottatoes My Indian corn was a poor crop the reason I stated in my last and when I fell Sick the ChiUdren could not wash and Dress that horse that was Sick and I turnd it into the field that it might help itself and Orderd the Chilldren to get what the[y] could as I Serve the pigs with it and they run it nearly all over while I was Sick in that way and I believe it as answerd a very good end for the horses neck is nearly healed up and She has improved very much in condition and I have 4 very good pigs nearly ready for the butcher so that has not been lost my pottatoes are rather a small kind but are good and we Shall have as many as will serve us but I shall not Have any for Sale

Dear father in your last you mentione[d] what you in- tend to Do for me Both in regard to the land and assisting m paying cousin Tho^ if I had made an agreement with him I feel thankfull to you for you[r] past kindness and I feel ThankfuU to you for your prof erd help more thankfull than I am able to express but I feel sorry that ever I involved myselfe in the way I Did as circumstances as turned out for I Bargaind for that Land with the sole intention of accomo- dating my Cousins and had he taken my offer they would have been as well as they are and I should have been able to have paid somthing handsome if not all as his conduct to me has caused me to have to hire help at the Dearest time of the year Joseph Mitchells] wages came to 30 dollars and I have paid 15 and you will perceve by my Other Sheet that I had the thrashers at a time when my wife was sick in bed and myselfe could scarcely walk about I had to get 3 hired hands two of them I shall have to pay in money the other I can work back

142 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

M' Nobles behaved like a freind to me he came himself and brought one of his boys and when they had done I asked him how I must pay him wether in money or help back and he gave me this answer he says Dont yon trouble your Self about that we will make things right and when I have got my turnips and a few other things in he would come and give me another Day or two to help me with my pottatoes &c so if [my] relations care not how I get through thire is some that will give me a helping hand in time of need one of the young men that help[ed] to thrash came and led me some hay which I had mown the week before I fell sick he came unasked and after he had Done got me some fire wood up to the house

Tuesday Morning Nov 3^^ Dear father :

I shall now state to you that I received a letter from Eich- ard Dobson the man I Bought the Land off in answer to that I wrote to him previous to writing my last to you and he states that he will be in want of all the money by January as he as made ingagements which will requ[i]re it by that time and that he will be at our house by the midle of this month and would like to have it then if Possible now when he comes I Shall make some arrangements with him and get him to wait if I can while the Latter end of Jan^ and If I cannot I can perhaps Borrow it while then at a trifleing in- terest which will perhaps be as good a plan as I can Do for it would be some expence to me to have to take him the money and get the Deeds Drawn out there and if you can help me this time I shall feel very thankfull to you for your kindness I think I can spare as much wheat for Sale as will pay most of my other engagments if it pleas god to grant me my health and my wife a safe Delivery we can get through

now in answer to Your promise for next summer I can say I Do not want you to injure yourself on my account and I feel confident that I can Do better than I ever have Done if me and my family enjoy our health as we have Done up

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 143

to this fall since we came to this cuntry the condnct of Tho^ together with our sickness instead of being an injury will I trust in the end be a blessing to us for my Chilldren Hannah and Euth are Determined to work what they can in the land and theire are plenty of jobs which will be no Dis- grace for them to Do such as helping in the hay and Plant- ing corn and Several other little jobs which take time for me to Do which they can Do with propr[i]ety and leave me more at liberty and if I require any help I shall engage some one for a short time at once and if I want any assistance I will let you know in time * * *

Your Affectionate Son & Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

KocHESTER Kacien County W T Dec' 17^^ 1846 Dear Father :

* * * in respect to the articles you have sent in the box I must say that theire is not a article which you have sent but what is of service to us and are very aceptable to us at pressent some of the Pound print is already con- verted into frocks for the chilldren and some of the linsay into petticoats the bolts will be of great service to me and would have cost me as much here as they will now with the additional expence the prints and Cloth &c would have cost rather more here than they will under pressent circum- stances so that it would have taken as much money to buy the articles which the box contains here as they will cost now But still the money might have been of more service in some respects and in others it would not had we had the money some would have been used for other purposes and left short otlier things which we are compeled to have as it is and if they are not all wanted imediately they will be at some fut- ure time if alls well and we send you our sincere than[ks] to you and all freinds for them

We got all our articles which was mentioned in [your] letters except the two razors and Some wool for the Chill- dren to knitt some st[ockings] with which you talked of

144 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Sending One of those parcels Which was for my wife con- taind print for 3 Small frocks and another her dress peice muslin Delane and the other 12 pair of Stockings thees wher the contents of thees parcels and you will be best able to Say wether they was what you send or not what make[s] me mention thees in this way is in your letter you mention the Stockings and Dress peice and a number of Small parcels for martha contain [in] g articles which she would know what they where for. had we not had a list from you we should have had more trouble than what we had for the goods had been all unpack[ed] at new York and all our prints had got into James Tinkers box and some of his par- cels into ours but all got their own excep Sarah Morton a black Satan handkerchief for her was missing the Shirt and waistcoat for G Armitage where Safe it has been an expensive affair to you and caused you a great Deal of trouble but it would have been worse had no other person taken the subject out of Woodheads hands for I am certain that every thing would have been lost had I not writen to Umber Dambman &c New York whose exertion in our be- half was very good they Did all they could to get a free Permit for the boxes but could not and they had a great Deal of trouble to get them into their care owing to them being left in the maner they where and we owe them great thank [s] for their kindness

My brother Henry Desired to know wether our pottatoes wher good or not and if I should have hay sufficient for my cattle this winter and I am thankfuU to inform him our pot- tatoes are good and I think we Shall have sufficient I Shall have Plenty of Hay for my cattle and although I may not be able to pay all my Debts I shall have bread for my Chill- dren and Pork sufficient for them also I killed two hogs last week one weighed 187 lb and the other 175 I have other three feeding which weighs about the same now so that I Do not fear but what I Shall have a sufficiency for myself and family and I feel thankfull to god for it Dear fathe[r] Give Our Respects to my Old masters and their familys and

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 145

tell them we got the books they send and that it gives us Pleasure to know that we are still rememberd by them Give our respects to M*" Hough and to the Singers at Crossland Church and to all my fellow workmen at Crossland Mills and to all relations and freinds and may God bless you all is the sincere prayer of

Your Affectionate Son and Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

Rochester Racien County W. T. March 4^^ 1847 Dear Father:

* * * I still feel that I am not clear from the effects of the ague my last letter would inform you that I had had a relapse of the complaint and [I] must inform you that I have had two or three attacks since I wrote to you but they grow weaker every time it is Monday the first of March and it was a month last satuarday since I had a shake since then I have employed myself in the house in fixing up the pantry with cupboards and Shelfs and a flour bin last week I have been makeing a Bookcase and Drawers but have not quite finished them. * * *

I have had a boy to chop fire wood and serve cattle &c this last few weeks which as enabled me to keep more within Doors I have some thoughts of keeping him all sumer but have not yet Determined should I Do so I shall inform you in my next the winter has been rather severe and we have had several cold spells for a few Days at time[s] the ther- mometer being 10 Degrees below zero in the midle of the day when the rays of the sun have not been obscured by a single cloud we have at pressent a great quantity of snow on the ground and we have good Sleighing

in your last you expressed your fears that I Should not have sufficient hay for my cattle but I have the pleasure to inform you that I Shall I got my hay principaly before I fell sick Joseph Woodhead and Joshua and James Scott owed me some labour for the loan of my wagon and they each gave me a Day of mowing I happend to have cousin

10

146 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Tho^ and Joseph Mitchel at our house then so that along with myself theire Avas 6 of us and we cut a good quantity of hay and I got it well stack [ed] without any rain to Do it harm we cut near to fox river and the rest I got off my own Land which I had inclosed I expect I Shall be rather short of grain for my horses and I Shall have to buy some for them

you would see by my last that I had lost one of my colts the other Died in a few days after the letter left I hopened It and found that Bots in the stomach was the cause of its Death and also the first for their symptoms wher both alike, the Bot is a short thick worm which horses are more sub- ject to in this cuntry than in England on account of the Bot fly which is very prevalant here the fly will Blow a hores [horse] on its legs and under its jaw and when the horse goes into the stable he will rub the blowings off his jaw or bite them off his legs and by thees means get into his food if the horse be in good condition the horse will void them but should the [y] happen to be in low condittion they will adhear or stick in the stomach and eat the iner coat of the stomach away which causes Death my colts was rather poor on ac- count of not being taken up befor the grass had begun to wither but Sickness prevented me for attending to them sooner. I have lost one calf this winter also in one of the cold spells it got froze to Death and one of the mares has sliped her colt what has been the cause I cannot tell for she has neither been drawn to hard nor kickt that I know of this is a full list of my misfortunes

we are now in the midst of Political agitation the consti- tution which has been f ormd by the convention to form a state government is now before the people for them to sanc- tion or reject and it causes a good Deal of agitation and po- litical Discusion. and I almost expect the constitution will be rejected by the people

we had our annual meeting of the subscribers belonging to the new Chaple in Jan^ to Elect trustees and Sexton the

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 147

trustees will be chosen in the maner Uncle Tho^ Halkyard recomended M^ Noble James Tinker and Myself wher chos- en for trustees [and] Squire Hinchlife for the sexton when the trustees where elected we cast Lots who should retire the first year and it fell to my lot to retire after one year James Tinker Second M^ Nobles third the Chaple is now at [a] stand on account of [the] wether but I expect we shall have the men to work as soon as the wether will admit you will recolect that W^ Woodhead promised 2 pounds before he left England but he has thought proper to alter it to 5 Dol- lars since he came I have got 7 Dollars on my own account

from him when I shall get the other I cannot tell

• * •

James Scott has let his farm for 22 Dollars a year to a Joseph Cockcroft Jane Cockcrofts cousin who has maried W°^ Woodheads Daughter Ann. James Scott is working at Waterford woollen mill and he intends takeing his family and keeping a boarding house he thinks it will [he] better perhaps than maJceing 3 Dollars per iveeJc from his Butter makeing besides [fattening] a great quantity of Pigs on his Buttermilk He will think Differant before next Sep^ Josh- ua Woodhead is gone to work their also wether he means to leave his farm or not I have not heard but this I know he will have to Decide very soon or he will be the worse for it. Jane Cockcroft is maried to Eichard Dobson him that I Bought that Land of and they are intending leaving this neighbourhood and going to Mineral Point I have not Set- tled with him yet but expect to Do [so] before he goes

Dear Father we christend our child on Sunday Feb 7^^ and Its name is Cecelia Marth the Minester was M'" Green he came from the neighbourhood of Horbury and I belive he is [a] good Christian both in profession and practice we had him at our house to Diner the same Day the Chilldren are very much pleased with their little Sister and almost differ which must Nurse it the most I have hung the like- ness you send me up in the little Eoom as we call it and the

148 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

chilldren oft take theire little sister to look at its grandfath- er the Chilldren are all in good health and as lively as lambs My wife is better in health than I expected from what She sufferd previous to her confinement I shall leave of [f] now till tomorrow as I am anxious for a letter from

you and it is the post day to morrow

* * *

Your Affectionate Son & Daughter

Edwin & Mabtha Bottomley

Brother Henry :

I have thought it my Duty to send enclosed in this letter a note to the Lodge at Crossland which is Signed by M^ Drum- ond minister belonging to the association methodists who preaches in the Settlement and he stops at our house some- times all night and sometimes at other freinds in the Settle- ment their his no Deffin[ite] time Stated in the note of the length of time I have been Sick in the whole but I can with truth Say that it has been over 6 weeks in the whole which I have not been able to Do any thing and up to the Date of the Note when I was Able to Do a little Nessesity compeld me so to Do but at best I never was able to Do half a days work in a Day from the effects of the complaint I leave my case in thire hands believeing they will Do what is right

I remain

your Affectionate Br^

Edwin Bottomley

EocHESTER March 17^^ 1847 Dear Father :

* * * I shall now proced to notice a few remarks in your letter which a note of mine caused you to make now Dear father when I said that I Should be under the nessesity of refuseing your request if you Desired me to come back to England I did not mean that I had no Desire to see you all and if I was to say so I Should not speak the truth for I of-

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 149

ten think of you all and It woold be a happy Day to me to once more behold you all again but wether Such will ever be my lot or not To see you all again in this world is only known to god but if it be is will that we must not meet on earth again I hope and trust that we shall meet in heaven

Dear father you know what a fathers Love is for his chilldren both when he Dandles them on his knee and when they are gone from his owti fire side to strugle with the world for theire Daily bread so that you can judge of my situation as well if not better than I can myself thees Lit- tle ones look to me for bread yet and my object in comeing to this cuntry was to enable me to procure them this and although we have been Disapointed in our crops and afflicted with Sickness I have not [the] least fear but I Shall have sufficient for them and I beleve when they have to strugle for themselves they will be better able to Do it in this cuntry than in England and Dear father I Do beleive this that thire are no chilldren that would be glader to behold theire Grand- father and none more willing to make him comfortable than Mine would be If it please god that they must ever see him again and theire is not a Son & Daughter who would more willingly pay a Debt of Gratitude to a father and attend to his wants when he is no longer able to strugle with this world when his feeble limbs where scarce able to sustain theire precious burthen, than Your ever loveing Son & Daughter they woud willingly attend to all his wants and Soothe his journey to the tomb With paitience and with love I shall leave this Subject and Shall paitiently submit to the will of god

Dear Father, the next Subject is a hard task to me and none but a Loveing Father Should cause me to enter on it but as it is your request you Shall have it in plain terms as near as I know myself, you request me to send an acount of my Debts. I am afraid they will Suprise you at the first glance but after you have gone through with them I think you will be Satisfied with my Statement

150

WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Thees are Debts which I have accounts of

For groceries since Last Spring to Mess Hulbert & Rays

To Captain for his horse covering Both Mares -

To W^ Crother for Shoe mending and makeing -

To Richard Haye for help- ing to thrash wheat - -

To Nimrod Gooder do - -

To Tho« Brown do - do -

To Tho« Hall Ballanc Due yet for three months -

To Joseph Mitchel Jun'^ Ballanc for Labour in Sumer ------

$40.00

14.00

5.00

1.50 1.50 1.50

7.00

5.00

$75.50

a» o

O

a

a

r— I r— t

o

p

This is what I Paid for Labour Last Sumer about 8 dollars of Mitchels was for attending Plasterer

Paid to Tho« Hall During

sumer $14.50

do -to Joseph Mitchel do 25.65 Both theire Ballances in the above statement - - 12.00

$52.15

a;

tH

o P

Dear Father, the above statement will show you that my Debts which I know Positively are 75 Dollars and 50 cents theire are 2 other individuals which I am owin something to but I have not had an account nor Do I expect either of them will trouble me about it while next fall one is James

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 151

Noble for joiner work puting wash Boards, and Surbases and makeing two Doors previous to the house being plastered the other is the Plasterer I gave him 5 Dollars when he finished and he said he would make his bill out somtime he said he was in no hurry about it also during our Sickness Last fall with me haveing money in my hand belonging to the chaple I had 15 Dollars from the same which I shall have to make good which in all will perhaps be about 110 Dollars which will I think be the utmost that they will all Eeach. Their is one of thees sums I Shall pay if I can by any means that is Tho^ Halls Tho^ as not asked me for it but mary ann rubs rather hard about they could have this thing and the other if they could get what they had owing them I am Determind to pay them and be no Inderance to her getting what She wants

Dear Father:

as I have s[t]ated my Debts with the exception of the pay- ment for the land I Shall now give you to understand how I am prepared to meet them you will be aware that you send me 31 pound to pay for the Land with which [I] would have done and the Land would have been paid for had it not been for Woodheads Blunder you are aware that I ordered the parties at new york to reduct out of what they next reed on my account whatever they paid for the Boxes which they Did which was 61 Dollars and 72 cents which left me that [Sum] short of being able to pay for the Land now had the parties here been able to have refunded me the money and me have been able to have paid my Share it would have made no Differanc the Land would have been paid for but you are aware such was not the case now I shall have to make up the Deficiency out of what you send last letter with [the] Exception of what squire pays me as J. T will not be able to pay me if Squire pays me I Shall have about 5 Dol- lars spare when I have paid for the Land and to enable me to pay Cousin Tho^ Hall I Shall Sell some hams which I have to spare above what I shall requir for my own use the

152 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

rest of my Debts I hope to [be] able to pay them next fall if it pleas god to grant me health

I close this catalogue of Difficulties with informing you that I Shall have flour enough for my family and Pork and pottatoes and we had a cow calfed about 10 Days since so that we shall have milk and butter and the hens are begun to Lay the other cow I expect we shall have to feed this next sumer for she is [with] out calf I had forgot to say that we had plenty of beef and venison I went out with oth- er two Individuals a few weeks Sine and we killd 3 Deer with thees provisions and my debts as the[y] are I beleve theire are people worse [off] than I am and this I can say I am thankfuU that I am so well provided for I Do not murmur nor Do I feel much afraid but what I can get through if I have my health I still continue in moderate health all the rest of the family are well and the Chilldren send Love to theire Grandfather * * *

your affectionate Son and Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

EocHESTER Racien County W. T. May 3^^ 47 Dear Father:

Sunday May ^ * * * we are sorry to hear by your letter and the News paper you send me of the Distress ajid and Disease in Ireland Scotland and England when I read the accounts in the Leeds Mercury of the Distress in Irelaiid it affected me very much to think of people starveing to Death by the way sides and if I had a few of them here poor as I am I could keep them a few months and not starve my- self and I would gladly Do it and if I have a previledge of Doing somthing when the lakes are open as it is rumored the vessels will take produc for the Destitute in Ireland free I shall Send a few Bushels of wheat and a little pork if all's well

monday night May 3''^ We have had a cold Spring so far on winds from the north and north East which makes vegetation very late winter wheat is killed out in a many

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 153

places and is not looking so very well in the settlement mine is injured some but [I] hope it will Revive a little when the weather moderats and I think it will be better than a many- expect for the last spring but one was simalar to this and wheat looked very bad but it turned out better than any one expected I have sown 4 acres of Spring wheat which looks well and I finished sowing oats and Barley last friday the 30^*^ of april I have 3 acres of oats and 2 acres of Barley in and some early pottatoes I intend to put about 5 acres of indian corn in this spring if it pleas god to grant me health

Joshua woodhead and James Scott and theire familys are gon to live at waterf ord about 5 miles from here Joseph Cockcroft who maried Old W™ Woodheads Daughter Ann is liveing on Scott's farm and he is to pay him 22 Dollars a year rent their is another man named Fowler who has taken Joshua Woodhead ['s] farm on Shares but I Do not know the particulars about the agreement but Joshua wanted to have 30 Dollars a year and a wel Dug so you see he wanted some one to give him 30 Dollars and dig him a well for the use of a farm that he could not make a liveing on hut he thought some one else could and so he would go and work in a factory again and try to obtain a liveing in a maner he has had the honesty to repremend and Slight in letters to England which you are aware of a Boiling Stone never gathers no moss and perhaps they will want to Roll bach again yet,

I have Settled with Richard Dodson for the land and his Wife who was formerly Jane Gockcroft and they are gone to Mineral point I have got a Deed from him and I Shall get it Recorded next time I go to Racien George Armitages wife has had a tumor taken out of the Back of her neck about 3 weeks since she is now got almost well from the effects of the operation W™ Morton has had his cattle Shade and about 100 Rails and his Sleigh Burnt about a fortnight since by a fire he set himself he set fire to a marsh a short Distance off so that he could mow it better

154 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

for hay and the fire spread and got the over hand of him and Set fire to his cattle Shade which was built of Logs and coverd with Straw.

Tuesday Morning May 4^^ the Ague continues to affect some at times this Spring James Tinker and his wife have each had a Slight attack James about a week since and Jane was Chilling yesterday Squire Hinchliff and his fam- ily are all well Squire is building a new kitchen to his house and makeing a sellar under it James Tinker intends to build one this summer but wether he will or not I canot say

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

Dear father :

if you have received my last letter you will find theire a particular Statement of my affairs and of the intention I had of hireing the boy that I had During my Sickness I have made an engagement with him for a year comenceing on the first of March and wether his mother will want any wage while is time be out or not I canot tell as She intends to let it remain in my hands if Possible but I expect She will have to Draw something at times as she is a widow with a large family and in makeing the bargain I promised I would let her have some when she wanted [it] his wage is to be 45 Dollars for the year and 3 months schooling

we have one cow that gives milk and I Shall try to get an- other or two more if I can this sumer you will See by the fore part of this letter that I intend to put in about 5 acres of corn I Shall put in more I expect, my reason for Doing so is to clear some ground from weeds and it is my intintion to get a Small hoeing plough s[o] that I can plough be- twixt the corn with one horse the boy I have engaged can work at any job on the farm and so far this Spring I have got t[h] rough my work with more ease to myself than I have Done befor and I feel confident I shall require no other help this sumer if it pleas god to grant me health and I hope and trust he will but if he should Be pleased to afflict me again I Shall submit to his will without murmoring for I

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 155

hope and trust I have learnt better than to murmor at his Decree and it greives me to hear J, T. [ 's] wife Jane Mur- mor and he so Discontent and it maJces James also he told her a few days Since they never would prosper as long as she went on as she Did keep this to yourself I have told you before time that they would have to be more carefull before they prospered and I beleive James sees that him- self and with him Desireing her to be as economical as she can it may perhaps make her a little uneasy they have Both been to blame in this respect since they cam to this country but I hope they will see theire eror and put right about some of his fall wheat looks bad I now close this opeing it will be worth reading with well wishes of my chilldren to you all and may god bless you all is the sincere Prayer of your affectionate Son & Daughter

EocHESTER June 3^^ 1847 Dear Father:

Monday morning May 31^^ I am again Permited to ac- knowledge the recept of your Letter of may 3''^ which we rec*^ on. the 28^^ and we where glad to hear that you where enjoying a tolerable degree of health I also be[g] leave to acknoledge the recept of a letter from New york contain- ing the Sum of 10 pounds which you had the kindness to Send me and I beg that you will accept our heart felt thanks for the kindness you have shown towards me and my fam- ily Both at this time and on other occasions and may god re- ward you for your kindness towards us I have the Pleasure to inform you that we all are at pressent enjoying good health and I have been enabled to get through my Spring work very well the boy that I have got has been as much service to me as any one I have ever had when I want any thing doing he goes and Does it as I wish to have it Done without proposing any other way by thees means I can form my own plans and have them executed without any others interfereing

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156 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

I have put in from 6 to 7 acres of Indian corn and % an acre of Pottatoes and the Boy Ploughed the greatest part alone I have put my corn rather Diff erant this season from what I have Done before I made an article while the boy was ploughing, to mark the ground in rows 4 feet 6 in apart and the cor[n] we planted in the rows 4 or five seeds at a place 4 feet 6 in apart also which you will understand by

the figure by Doing it this way I shall be enabled to work the ground with a small plough and one horse During the sumer which will be a great benefit to the crop and the ground also it is the plan adopted by the best farmers round here and it answers as well as summer fallowing my corn is just comeing up Satuarday morni[n]g we had a heavy thunder storm and Satuarday afternoon and yesterday was very wet should it come warm after the rain the corn will take no harm but if cold it will most likely prove rather injurious as it will have a tendancy to rot in the ground

My spring wheat Looks pretty well the Dry winds this Spring have injured the winter wheat materealy besides being injured by the winter I have just been and exam- ined mine so that I could give you an account of mine and according to the best of my judgement I Do not beleive I Shall have above half a crop the English wheat which you send me is completly destroyed various are the opinions of my neighbours of the cause [of the] winter wheat being killed out and Some have Determined not to put in much winter wheat but rely chiefly on Spring wheat Probably I Shall not put in as much fall wheat in this season as I Did Last but I am of an opinion that theire is a fault in our method of Doing our work in puting in our winter wheat I am convinced of one fact and that is we have not put our Seed in Deep enough and by not being in a sufficient Depth it is sooner affect [ed] by the frost and by the Dry winds in

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 157

the Spring My f reind M^ Noble is of the Same opinion as myself I Shall if god Spares me health and Strengh this summer endeavour to mak a machine to sow wheat in Drills 8 inches apart and by this means get in my seed Deeper than usual and more to an equal Depth I could fill my letter with various arguments in favour of my opinion But I will leave this subject for the Pressent

I Shall now Proceed to give you some information about the chaple we finished shingleing the roof a fortnight since and the joiners will probably comence work next week and continue till we can have service in it if not wihile it is com- pletly finished I have about 90 Dollars in hand to go on with and by [the time] this is expended we shall probably be able to collect our subscriptions all the subscribers in the settlement are very a[n]xious for it to be completed this summer and I belive they will all Do theire utmost to pay theire Subscription in time if they can by any means the enclosed Plan will give you som Idea of the form of the Building and we have a burial groun conected with it the ground is the gift of M^ Alexander Stonhouse and contains about an Acre and a half we have got the Deeds Drawn up and Syned and every thing secure in that respect their have ben already 5 interments in the burial ground

Tuesday Night June 1^^ to Day I have been Shooting Black birds which have been takeing up my corn theire is a good Deal of trouble with thees gentlemen they take up the corn as soon as it appears above ground to get the seed from the bottom of it theireby Destroying it. I must not forget to inform you that our Hannah has begun to teach School in the School House belonging to the Settlement She comenced last monday but one She has 15 Scholars and I expect She will be able to make somthing to help us along a little but we Dont intend to charge [a] great wage for her as it is her first comencement.

Some few weeks ago when I was Down in Rochester I Saw a Model of a machine which I thought was a curious invention it was to work a Saw Mill the Saw[s] are gen-

158 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

eraly worked with a crank which gives a up and a Down every revolution of the Crank or axle but this gives two ups and down[s] of the Saw for one revolution of the axle the plan of it I had intended sending in this but I Shall not have room but will if posible in my next it would amuse you to see it w[ork] if it was of no other use but I think [it] might be of use amongst so [me] kinds of machienery

I rec** a letter From Cousins John and Betsey Dyson who are got Back to Milwaukie Betsy and Samuel have had the ague 4 months while they where in the woods they came back to liiilwauke Last Dec"" and John is got into a bakers Shop as a jurneman and it is the Only Place he is fit for the[y] are Doing prety well and to Day I have rec^ one from M' Pickering which is [a] very good and long letter in it he States he intends to come to England next year if god Permits But he should like to come by way of Wiscon- sin and Pay me a visit and from thence to Illinois to his Brother and form [from] their to England By way of New York and will Probably call to see you if all is well.

their are some questions in Brother Henry ['s] note which I will endeavor to answe[r] the Flour we have here is bet- ter than the flour we used to get in England Pork is most generaly Bareled in this cuntry with the exception of the hams and Shoulder which are Salted and then Smoked Flour is 6 Dollars per Barrel it as advanced li/^ Dollar [s] this Last 3 weeks Barel Pork 6 cents per lb hams and Shoulders from 7 to 8 cents in referance to the Freightage per Barel to new york I cannot tell for I Do not know but I will make inquiries when I go to Eacien wether we could Do any buissnes in that line or not to any advantage is more than I could tell I have my Doubts upon it

Now thire is another Plan for a man to make good use of a small capital ocasionaly and theire has been one of the Best opurtunitys since last harvest If I had had 100 or 200 pounds last [autunm] I could have cleared from 75 to 90 per cent on the capital besides clearing all expences the way I Should have Done would have been this I would have

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 159

gone Down to Eacien and Bought wheat of the farmers at from 50 to 60 cents per Bushel which was the price it was selling at I would then have stored it and sold it out this spring which I could have Sold for a Dollar which is the Price it is selling [at] at pressent and I beleive it will be more before [it is] less I would not have Sold a grain of mine before Spring but nessesity compeled me my paper is full and may God Bless you all is the Sincere Prayer of your Affectionate Son an[d] Daugh' Edwin & Martha Bottomley

EocHESTER Eacien County W. T. July 3'^ 47 Dear Father :

I am again permited through the mercy of God to take up my pen and address a few lines to you and am thank [ful] to inform you that we are all enjoying Good health with the ex- ception of myself I have got a slight cold and my mind has been very much Disturbed this last week by the Death of Joseph Schofield and the Duties which have fallen to my lot to Discharge but I hope God will be my suport and my guide in my pressent perplexing circumstances on thurs- day the 24^^ of June his wife send up for me and my wife to go Down and stop with Joseph all night as he was very ill and not likely to live long accordingly we went Down and we stopt with him while his Death which took place on Fri- day the 25^^ about % past two o Clock in the afternoon from the time we got Down to Eochester on the thursday afternoon I was constantly at his bed Side his wife being in a Debilitated state of health and with over exertion had to thake her bed before he Died and as he wished me soon after I got theire to be executor along with his wife should he be taken away which was almost the only words he Did say after I got theire before he Died so that the whole Duty fell upon me to look after his funeral and get some one into the house to attend his wife and the oldest boy who was so affected at the Death of his father that he has been confined to bed 4 days

160 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Miss" Schofield is getting better and I hope she will be able to attend to her affairs a little very soon how his af- fairs are i cannot Say but am rather afraid they will be some trouble attending them he has made no will he has left a wife and five chilldren theire is a letter which Joseph had part writen which I shall fill up and send to his brother who lives I understand at Marsh, Honley My wif es father Edward Schofield at Timminets is his uncle the complaint which he Died off the Doctors called a colaps congestion he had an attack about 3 weeks preivious to his Death of gastric remitent fever as the Doctors called it from which he slightly recoverd he was up at our house the tuesday but one before he Died and on the Satuarday he was out of Doors a good while about his horses and it was cold and it is thought by some that he caught cold and brought on a re- laps which ended in congestion you had better see some of his friends and read this to them as I may not have room in the part writen letter to say much about the circum- stance [s]

NB he was intered in the Buirial ground conected with our chaple on satuarday the 26 of June

Dear Father:

I shall now proceed with my own af airs and I hope you will excuse me If I am very breif as you will be aware that I am very busy both with my own work and what has fallen to my lot by the above circumstance I shall state that I rec^ from James Tinker the sum of 40 Dollars and I have given him a Draft on you for £ 8~5~0 which he will send by this mail to Tho^ Hanson who I think is liveing somewhere about Heighley and perhaps he will come over for it or he may send the Draft in a letter to you should he Do either way you will know best how to act

the weather has been very favourable so far on this sum- mer for our crops in general spring wheat is looking very well in the settlement Indian corn has been rather a failure in some farmes the Black birds haveing used very bad and

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 161

on some what we call the cut worm has Destroyed a Deal and they have sown turnips I made [a] Drilling machine to sow turnip seed a few weeks since which has been of great service to them in geting in their turnip seed in my Indian corn is looking well I have just finished ploughing it and hoeing once over and it looks prety I shall plough and hoe it once more and then let it alone the Black Birds took about half an acre at one corner but the[y] Did it very little arm elswhere some few hills where Destroyed by the cut worm but not many takeing the whole it promises well for an ex[c]elent crop

I have got a little plough and the boy is trying it while i am writing our Tho^ riding on the horse and guiding it he is greatly set up with is new job I promised him he shall help George next week Hannah keeps on her school and she as 20 scholars I have ploughed up the ground that I sowed the chevelear wheat which you sent but which was killed out with the exception of a few roots which I have taken up and transplanted I intend sowing turnips on it but the ground want[s] rain or I Should have sown them to Day my potatoes looks [well] we have not got any of our earlys yet but perhaps we shall next week my Spring wheat looks well winter wheat is a poor crop and I think will hardly pay for labour but we must try some other way to get in our seed and I think we shall succeed better in future and I intend to make a seed Drill if circumstances will admit I have got 4 young effiers one of them has a calf an[d] I have made a bargain for them with Richard Haye for 35 Dollars to be Paid any time this year

I Shall just state how I treated myself in regard to ague and I would like M^ Dyson's opinion about it During the absence of the ague I always had a great Desire for beer last march after an attack of the ague I got a half a barrel 60 quarts and I worked in the house prety hard I Drunk the beer as I used to Do in England to my Dinner and oca- sionaly through the Day I have never had an attack Since I got another half Barrel about a month Since and am using

11

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it the same way and I feel it does me a great Deal of good I have not the thirst for so much water as what I have been in the habit of Drinking in hot weather you will be sur- prised when I say that a man will Drink from two to three gallons of water in one Day which I think is not good I have [had] some conversation with a Doctor and he reco- mends beer I have about 2 acres of Barley which looks well if alls well I Shall make my own malt and brew my own [beer] I must now close my letter and may Gods blessing be with you * * *

Your Affectionate Son & Daughter Edwin & Makth Bottomley

Rochester august 19*^ 1847 Dear Father :

Comence this Letter August 16^^ # # # y^^ ^-jj p^^.^ ceive by my last letter to you and in one I Send to John Schofield of Honley that I have a great Deal of care and anx- iety on my mind therfore if I make a few blunders jn my letter i hope you'l forgive me I Shall if alls well write to John Schofield as soon as I can give him a fair statement of his brothers affairs the Chilldren are all well and very comfortably situated I should like him to write as soon as he can after you receive this if he as not wrote before.

I Shall now proceed to notice the remarks in your last let- ter in referance to your advice about sowing winter wheat the plan I like very well and if I can I Shall put in about 4 acres the way you mention I have a small plough which I got this sumer to plough betwixt my corn which i think will Do for ridgeing with I am afraid I Shall not have time to make a Drill as I have had a good deal of time to looss in at- tending to Schofields affairs it has rather thrown me a lit- tle behind with my work I have hired no one to assist me except the Boy before mentioned and he works very hard and I have got nearly through with my harvest but I have my hay to cut yet and I almost expect I Shall have to get a little help more than what I have for I am almost run of [f]

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 163

my feet with one thing and another but if it please god to grant me health I have no fear but what I can get through if I canot get any help otherwise

Wedensday Night 18^^ I have just finished harvesting my grain and I feel almost flushed myself for I am very well tired I Shall comence haying as soon as I can the season is a fortnight or 3 weeks latter than last year In referance to the money to which I had from James Tinker my last would inform you of and I return you my sinser thanks for it I rec*^ Squires Money and paid it over to him

Now Dear father in referanc to keeping my grain while Spring and for me to Send you word what money I Should want to enable me to Do so I am at a loss what to Say about It for your kindness as been so great to me before time that 1 Do not want you to put yourself to any inconveinience though I am certain you will help me in a time of need If I ask you for it and I am Thankful to god for the many helps you have been able to send me through his mercies my rea- sons for Saying that I am at a loss what to Say on the Sub- ject are thees I have had so much to attend to lately that I Do not know particularly how my own affairs are but I think my Debts will not Exced the sum I Send you word in [the] Spring I have paid some of the Debts that I men- tioned to you then and I have had to be at some little ex- pence in my journeys to Southport on Scholfields account which I Shall get Back when the property is Sold and Dear father if you feel De^^reous to send me some money this fall I promise you that I Shall use it to the best advantage I can both for you and for me I can asure you that my concience has never accused me of Spending money carelesly since I came to this country for any thing now I Shall leave this Subject as it is the most Delicate subject and I can not Do it justice and may god bless you for what you have done for me.

I Shall now proceed with another Subject that is the Sub- ject which you and my Brother Henry have had some con- versation about of establishing a Merchantile buisness be-

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twixt you and me my brother Henry in the note in Squires letter mentioned about me buying flour and sending it to you in the Last he recomends rendering lard which he thinks would be profitable also. I Shall state my opinion on the Subject more fully than I have Done before and Shall give you my plan also to buy flour alone here and send it to England and Depend on the fluctuations of the market for profit would be Doubtful sometimes it would make good profits and at other times it would hardly pay and then theire would be risks of Losses in conveying it the expence in getting a barrel of flour to new york will average one Dol- lar and [a] qu[a]rter from Racien takeing all together and it would cost 4 Dollars at the mill and It will cost 25 cents carige. to racien so that when a bar el got to New York it would cost five Dollars and a half this statement is what it would average as near as I can make it.

I Should take another course if I had [the] means which would answer better for both sides I Should buy wheat and get it floured my object for Doing so is two fold the first is I get my flour cheaper and I get the bran and Shorts for other purposes which I could feed a quantity of Pigs with or give to the cows During winter By thees means I could raise a quant [it] y of Pork and make Butter or chees which 1 could turn into money here or send to you From October to the Latter end of March would be the time that I could lay out money to advantage in this way and I have no objec- tions of Doing what I can for the benifit of us all if you think fit to enter upon it and I am fully satisfied that a buiss- nes caried on this way would answer well I could purchase wheat at an averige of 65 cents per Bushel wh[ich] 5^^ Bushels would yeild me a barel of flour and pay for grind- ing and the barel also which would make the flour come in at 3l^ Dollars per Barel at the mill the other expences would be the same as in the above statement now this state- ment is not made low to induce you to enter upon this buissnes but on facts which are true and you will be able to

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 165

see wether you can sell the flour in England to advantage or not I think you would be able to get it at from 28 Shil- lings to 30 at the most Delivered at your house Should the wheat market be as low as it was last winter I could turn a little money over if I had it as I mentioned in my last.

My fall wheat I have got stacked and I have had my bar- ley trashed out and I Judge I have about 40 bushels I may perhaps have from 80 to 100 Bushels of fall wheat my spring wheat is not Stacked yet but is a prety good crop my oats are good also but have Shaked out a little with being over ripe my Indian corn Look[s] very prety and promise [s] fair for an abundant crop but it is a thing that is very temp[t]ing to cattle and we have some of the most unruly cattle round us their is in the teritory my out fences are prety good but their are fences adjoin [ing] mine which are Deficent which if they was to break through they would soon be in my lot I am rather awkardly situated in regard to fencing that farm which Mitchel used to have theire share of fencing is not Done betwixt them and me and I Dont know when it will be I almost expect the man that is on it will leave it this fall and if he Does I Shall be com- peld for my own Safty to fenc of [f] from it For I want to be so that I can rest in bed without fear of my crops being Destroyed and I Should like to Do it this winter if I can by any means it is after 12 o Clock at night and I must go to bed

Thursday Morning 19^^ G.Oclock Joshua Woodhead has sold his farm and oxen to a M"" Putman a Ducth man for 300 Dollars and Abraham Haye has sold his for 800 Dollars to a Ducthman also and is comeing also back to England but wether he will come back this fall or next Spring he canot tell but he wishes you to inform Samuel Mitchel, Barber at Lockwood Bar that he is well James Tinker and family are all well I received Doctor Dysons letter and I think I men- tioned it in my next after it and I am thankful to him for his

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kindness give our respects to Mm and accep the Same yourself and May God bless you all is the sincere prayer of Your affectionate Son and Daughter Edwin & Marth Bottomley

Dear Father :

I Shall now give you a statement of the Stock I have about my Place at pressent I have 4 cows which are give- ing Milk two of which where Schofields I Should like to buy thees for myself if they are sold I have 4 Ephers Some of which will calf early next Spring and one old cow which is very good beef which I Shall kill this fall and 2 calf s We have 15 pigs of our own and 25 of Scholfield little and big one yoke of oxen and two horses I mentioned in my last how I bought 4 of my Stock of Richard Haye and the terms I have a prety large stock at pressent and they will be a great help to me next Sumer if I can keep them I have had some thought of Selling my oxen but Dont know wether I Shall or not yet

you see by my letter that we are getting a quantity of Dutch people near us they may make good neighbours but I Do not like them as well as English for one thing theire are principaly Catholics and I expect theire will be more of them as that Speculaters land which corners mine is for Sale I mentioned in one of my former letters the Discription of the land and that it would make an exelent stock farm be- ing well watered and Plenty of timber on It for every pur- pose theire is 300 acres of it and [it] could have been bought last winter for One thousand Dollars and I think would be bought for the same yet paying a part Down at the first and the other by installments after I have felt a great many times A Desire to have this peice of ground and I must acknowled[g]e that I feel so now but I Dont See any probability of being able to purchase it before some one else will as Dutch people are fond of being together and I expect before another Sumer is over it will be sold if some is not

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 167

Sold before this goes out a great many of the Settlers get theire Hay off this Lot I have got some off every season and I Shall have to get some off this but Should the Dutch people get hold of it this Previlige will be Distroyed both

for me and all the rest most likely

• « •

your affectionate Son and Daughter Edwin & Martha Bottomley Excuse Blunders for I have not time to correct

KocHESTER Racine County W T OgV 15^ 1847 Dear Father:

I am again permited through the mercie of God to write again to you and I hope this will find you in the enjoyment of good health since I wrote last to you our Ruth and Ce- celia have both had the ague all the rest of us are well Both of them are a Deal better than what they have been and I think with a little care will soon be right Cecelia be- gun with fits at the first but I think they where caused by her teeth as she was about cuting some at the time the first fit she had she begun about 12 0 Clock at noon and she con- tinued in It while about 4 0 Clock in the afternoon we all of us thought she would have Died in it her left harm and leg where convulsed and her eyes and mouth Drawn to the left side also while her right side was of a Deathly appear- ance we got mustard plasters to her feet as quick as we could and we gave her a few Drops of oil of mint I would have given her a little tincture of asfoetada if we had had any but we where without and through the blessing of god the means we used proved of service she had several fits after but none as bad as the first they came on every other Day gaining three hours every time growin Slighter every time till they ended in the ague she is now nearly well

the boy that I have has had the ague and has only been able to work about a fortnight this 8 week which happend ratlier unfortunate for me I have had to get some help in

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my hay which has cost me 13 Dollars which I could probably have Dispenct with had he continued well I have got my grain thrashed out and I have stacked my straw which will be of service to me this winter I have not quite has much hay as I had intended to have but I Shall have a good crop of turnips and I have cut my Indian corn Stalks and Shall stack them which are good feed for either cows or horses so that I think I Shall have plenty of feed for my cattle I have of winter wheat 79 Bushels 65 of Spring Wheat 40 Bushels of Barley 100 Bushels of oats I will send in my next all be- ing well what I have of Indian corn potatoes turnips &c we have about 6 wagon loads of Pumpkins we begun to get our potatoes yesterday and they appear good

I have put about 4 acres of winter wheat in 2 acres of which I put in as you recomended as well as I could and it looks very well now I found it rather a Dificult job to Do but experians gives a man knowledge I could Do it better and easier had I it to Do over again. I ploughed my ground a regular Depth and then harowed it well and then let it lay a Day or two I then comenced ridgeing it and then I found wher I had missed it the stuble which I had turned Down in ploughing being under the surface of the ground kept geting on the point of the plough which made it Difficult to keep the plough in at all the small plough I could Do noth- ing at all with and I got one of my other ploughs which Did a little better but it made the ridges wider than you stated had I ploughed the ground very thin at the first and then harowed it it would have brought more of the stuble to the surface and then when I begun to ridge gone a little Deeper I should have Done what I ought to have Done and have saved myself a good Deal of trouble but I was determined to Do it if possible so I persevered and got through as well as I could I have not had an opurtunity to make a Drill so I Sowed the other on the ground as the plough had left it and then I harowed it well and Rolled it time will Deter- mine which of the two is best I like ridgeing very well and

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 169

I intend trying it again if this Does Not answer my expect- ations I have begun ploughing my ground for spring crops and I Should like to plough [it] all if I can this fall I have ploughed about 3 acres and Shall continue as long as the wether will permit.

Dear Father I have the Pleasure to inform you that Henry Swallow arrived here on tuesday morning the 5^^ of October he brought the articles which you sent me for which I am very thankful for he is very well in health and Spirits I have got a promise of a situation for him at the place where John Wood is working at The Boss as they call the master here says he thinks he can find him work in about a month if he can get in their and behave himself he will have a good situation of it far better than shifting about from place to Place and geting work as it happens we had Enoch Smith at our house on Honley Feast wedensday we had a good peice of beef for him to partake of and we enjoyed our re- past very well he had come from Ohio to this teritory to buy land and he bought 80 acres at Chibogan [Sheboygan] which is abou[t] 50 miles north of milwaukie he went back to Ohio on wedensday the 6^^ of October he intends bring- ing his famil}^ up next spring Mary his wifes Sister is maried and is liveing in Illinois about 30 miles from Chi- chago Enoch will be settled about 80 miles from here when he gets his family to is place.

I have got the property belonging to Schofild valued and I had intended sending an account of his affairs to his brother John this mail but I have not got an account of all his Debts but shall be able to write to him in about a month the chilldren are all well and where glad to receive the pres- ents he sent to them by Henry. Scott is comeing back to his farm again and is going to try farming once more and I think Joshua Woodhead would feel more at his ease if he had his to come back to now but he has sold his the place where they worked at has b[een] stoped about 2 months and they are out of work Scott will tell his great tales again per-

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haps when he writes to his freinds in England but its not all gold that gliters yet with scott he will perhaps learn bet- ter sometime

• • •

your affection [ate] Son & Daughter

Edwin and Martha Bottomley

Rochester December 2'^*^ 1847 Dear Father :

We rece^ your letter of Ocf 16^^ on the 24^^ of November and where very glad to hear that you where all in the enjoy- ment of health and I am thankful to god that I can say the same by all of us our Ruth is got well of the ague and is now able to go about as usual your letter must have been Delayed on the road somewhere for I got the letter from new york 7 Days before I got yours which letter containd the sum of 50 pounds Lacking the expenses at new york for which we all return you our sincer thanks and may God bless you all is the sincere prayer of your ever loveing Chilldren Now Dear father I Shall proced to relate to you something which may rather surprise you but If it Does I hope it will not offend you as I can safely and truly say to you that I never ventured on any thing in all my life for the benifit of my family that has given me as much sactif action as the step which I have taken since I last wrote to you had I not Done as I have In all probability we should have been placed in rather hawkard circumstances

in my last letter but one you will be aware that I men- tioned to you about a peice of Land which cornered mine and that I had always had a Desire to purchase it but I was afraid that it would be bought before I Should ever be able to purchase it and I almost had begun to Despair about it previous to receiveing your last letter but one which gave me some little hope that I should be able to purchase it but even then I had my fears that some of our Dutch neighbours would be before me from the course which they where take- ing and the conduct they showed towards us by stoping a

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 171

preveledge which we have enjoyed ever since we came and I am certain they [acted] from no other motive than that they intended to buy the land sometime and under that Idea they thought they had more right to it then me and the other Settlers, which conduct urged me to take the step which I Did for on receveing the Letter from New york which I Did on the wedensday afternoon on the thursday morning me and my wife set off to Milwaukie cousin mary Ann went with us but She was completly ignorant of our buisiness which no one knew anything about it not even any of our chilldren I saw the person that owned the Land and had a good Deal of Bargaining with him he wanted 12 hundred Dollars for it and pay the money Down but at Last I Bar- gained with him for 11 hundered Dollars by paying 100 Dol- lars down and agreeing to pay him 300 Dollars on the first of next June he then gives me a Deed and I give him a mortgage security for the pa3anent of the rest in two years from the first of this month

I Shall now proceed to give some explanation of the map which you will find enclosed in this by Doing so I Shall endeavor to show you the advantages I Shall reap and the Disadvantages I Should have had to Suffer had I not have bought it the Lots marked round with yellow and green belong to the Dutch Settlers the Lot marked round with green belongs to a person named Dalman he Settled about the same time as we Did and [we] have always been good neighbours the other Lots marked round with yellow be- long to individuals who have come this Summer you will perceive that the two lots marked yellow and both my lots all corner together the Lot belonging to putman is fenced to the corner and the other Lot belonging to Aterman & As- man is fenced as the Doted Line runs now had Aterman & Asman Shifted their fenc on the Line and joined to Dalmans corner we should have been blocked out of the Lot I have just bought and from the conduct they have shown it was theire intention to Shut us Out if Possible you will perceive their is a Spring marked on the new Lot in the 40 acres that

172 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

joins my old Lot this Spring is of great service to us for watering our cattle at. it never freezes over in winter and has never been Dry since we came to this cuntry in the Dryest weathear about 3 weeks ago I sent William to water the horses first thing one morning which is my regular prac- tice while he was watering the horses Putman came to him and was very cross with him for muding the water which was very little to find fault with for the spring is so strong that it will clear itself in one minute let it be stired up ever so bad I sent him again at Diner time with the horses and when he got theire Putman and one of them at the other place had been and put two Logs of timber across the Spring so as they could not Drink when he came back I felt very greived about it and felt inclined to go and Raise my neigh- bours and pull the Logs off but again I thought it would perhaps be best to let it alone as I had then resolved to pur- chase it if I could by any means theire is another Disad- vant[a]ge which we Should have suffered on account of Pastureage for our cattle During sumer if they had blocked us out our cattle would have to travel from 1 mile to two before they could have got to any open ground

I Shall now Describe the Land which I have Bought it is marked Round with Pink like the old Lot and it contains 8 forty acre Lots with the exception of what fox river takes off of the two forty's on the west Side of the Lot Eagle Creek runs through the 4 north fortys Divergeing north and crosses the line a little before it gets to fox river the land on the north Side of the creek is good Land for wheat grow- ing as it gently Slopes to the South and that on the South side of the creek is Rolling land some of it good wheat Land and the other is good hay land all the waste land theire is in the whole Lot is about 20 acres of marsh land and with a little Draining will be first rate hay Land

Now Dear Father you will perhaps feel Desireous to know what I intend [to] Do with all this land and I feel it my Duty to lay my plans before you as I Shall have to Depend on your

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 173

promised assistance and if you and my Brother Henry whas here and could See the ground and could converse with me on the Subject I Doubt not but you would enter into my plans and render me all the assistance you had in your power and for all the assistance you feel Disposed to render me I will if you require it give you security on my property here I hope you will excuse me if I Speake my mind freely on this subject, the mortgage which I Shall have to give will be for 700 Dollars and the Intrest on that will be 10 per cent which will be 70 Dolars per year or about 15 Pounds English money which is a great intrest But I could not get it Less and I had intended to have had longer time to pay it in but he would not bargain for any less time though it may be that when I make my payment in [the] Spring I could perhaps get another year but I will not be certain of that by this Statement you will see that I Shall have to scrape hard to meet my payments and I Shall have to raise about 70 Dollars this Spring to make up what you promised into the sum [which] I Shall have to pay next June which will be as much as I can Do be [sides] paying for the cows I have had of Schofields Property and some hogs for which I shall have to pay 40 Dollars I expect to raise from 80 to 100 Dollars worth of Pork I have 14 pigs feeding which are geting into very good condition and if I can pay all my Debts and raise the 70 Dollars I Shall feel very thankful. If all is well I Shall sell my oxen in [the] Spring and pur- chase some more cows I have 8 cows young and old 6 of which I expect will give milk next sumer and I Should like to make my number up to 20 which would be a great help towards paying both Interest and stock, out of the money you sent me I paid an 100 Dollars for the Land and I had 136 Dollars left out of which I have paid about 70 DoUars of Debts the other I have yet and I Shall settle some more ac- counts as quick as I can for I Do not like being in Debt, thank god I Shall have sufficient for my family the coming vear and plenty of feed for my cattle I had about 250 Bush-

174 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

el of corn and 350 Bushel of turnips and about 40 bushel of Pottatoes my pottatoes where Small a great many of them but are good the other portions of my crops you have in my last

in Eeferance to Brother ['s] sugestion about setting a small mill on some part I think theire would be fall in fox river for a stream wheel power on the creek their is more fall but I think thire would not be water enough above 7 or 9 months in the year But thees things will have to be left alone for a while for they are things that would require a great outlay of capital and perhaps not be as beneficial as' other things. Since I Bought the land James Scott who is come to his old place has said to an individual that he would try to trade with me for forty acres of the Land for two vil- age Lots he has at waterf ord But Scott will be mistaken in that as he as been in a many things before Joseph Dalman when I told him I had bought it wanted to buy one forty of It but I Shall not sell any of it if I can strugle through with- out Now Dear Father I would Like Brother Henry and you to consult together about this mater and Send me an answer as quick as you can after receiving this wether you approve of my proceeding in this mater as I have Done and what plan you agree to assist me in

John Wood has left his master the man as not behaved very well to John lately and John thinks of Begining for himself and I Shall Do what I can to encurage him for I be- lieve he is the best Smith we have any where round here and Probably he will ask his brother Benjamin to help him some this next coming Summer he intends working for another man for this winter for more wage and Doing what he can for himself that way I had intended to have wrote to John Schofield this mail but I [have] had so much to Do Lately that I canot But will write to him by the mail in January you may tell him that is Brothers Property Both real estate and credidts Due to him amount to 1250 Dollars and his Debts to about 700 Dollars a list of which i will send him

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 175

when I write the chilldren are all well May god bless you all is the sincer Prayer of

Your ever loving Son and Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley.

• • •

Rochester Racien County W. T. Jan^ 24^*^ 1848 Dear Father:

We rec^ your letter of Dec*" 2^*^ and wher glad to hear that you where all in good health which thank god I have the pleasure to inform you is the same with all of us at pressent our Ruth has been Sick since I last wrote to you but she is now got well our little cicelia has Just begun to walk and She is a cheerfull little girl and I may here say that we are all a cheerfull family happy in our worldly circumstances for we want for nothing to feed our bodies nor for any thing to Clothe them and Shelter them from the keen cold frost of winter and we are happy because we can mingle our prayers to god who gives us thees blessing [s] with heart felt thanks- giving every evening round our own fire side

• • •

we are sory that theire is so much Distress in England and that thousands are starving for the want of bread while we have enough and some that we could spare and would gladly give it if we had the means of sending it we have killed 14 hogs average about 160 w[t] and have Barreled the side pork and the hams and Shoulders I intend to smoke and oddments we have to live on and I think sometimes we can never get through while they are good and I would glad- ly give a quantity of them to any that are in want if I had the previlidge for I believe theire is not one in this Settle- ment that would thank me for any of them I would not have you to understand by thees statements that every one is free from want of Somthing or another for theire are some that have hard to Strugle for theire are a many things besides food which a man wants who as a family to make him comfortable in this world as we call it but he can Do without thees things better than he can without food, which

176 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

is the most comfortable think you he that hath food for his chilldren and wants only a few more means or time to enable him to get by his own industry every thing that will make him comfortable or he who sees his chilldren round him starveing for food and can not by any means see a possi- bility how he can obtain sufficient for them what comforts he has otherwise he will part with if he be a man of feeling even his household furniture and the bed from underneath him if he can by thees means obtain food for them their are many of the former class in this country but you would have to travel long and hard to find one of the latter if I was asked the question wether this country or my native land I liked the best or which I prefer I Should answer Decidedly this though I love my native land as the place of my birth and a many that are thire and I love my Adopted country so much that I intend to spend my Days in it for I Do not feel the least Desire to come back to live in England but their are a many theire I Should like to see in this

Dear Father you wish me to say something about the chappie we have not Done so much at it this winter owing to the joiners whom we have employed haveing been em- ployed at other places at times and another reason is the partial failure of the wheat crop last season prevented the subscriptions for being paid, we had our anual meeting to Elect fresh trustees on Wednesday the 19**" of this month and it would have given you great Delight to have seen the spirit manifested at the meeting theire is no want of Disposition amongst the subscribers and they feel Determind to pay as soon as they can they have all given there note for security so that we are safe and could comple them by law to pay but we Do not feel Disposed to Do so while we see the Dispo- sition manifested their is But would rather proced Slowly with the work than create any unpleasantness the windows are got into the chaple and we have got a stove in we had our love feast in it on Christmas Day and we have had ser- vice in it once since when the congregation was to large for the school I was at Kacien last Satuarday and I asked a

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 177

Lumber Merchant if he would credit us lumber (timber) to finish the place while the next fall and he said he would we Shall have a meeting next week and Decide what steps to take and in my next I will give you a report of our proceed- ings the trustees are Myself Jas Tinker & John Noble if our chaple Does not get on so fast we have a revival in re- ligion which if it continues will fill our chaple with a Devout congregation and may god in is infinite mercy continue his work till every house in this settlement becomes a house of prayer J Tinker still keeps from mingling with us and if [I] feel as if I could give up all that I posses if he would come amongst us we have a weekly prayer meeting and it has been held once at his house and I Dont recolect that he has been to one which has been held at any other house in the Settlement may god have mercy on him.

I must answer a few questions in my brothers letter or he will perhaps think I have f rogot them we have wood floors and a pleasant fire on the hearth in winter the fire place is nearly like we used to have in England when the oven and Boiler and grate are taken out we have a stove in the kitchen to cook on and bake our bread and if Ann had one of them in England My Wife says she would prefer [it] to the fixings she has now for my own part I prefer the fires that we have here to those we had in England and have no hesi- tation in saying however prejudiced he may be that any per- son will like them better when they have felt their e Efects for one winter

I hope you have heard from John Schofield about what I Desired you to Do for me and hope you will excuse me for takeing the plan I Did for I was almost at a loss what to Do when John Wood came to me about it he had rec^ [word] from his Brother inlaw Charles Wood who he under- stood to be badly off and John felt a Desire to help him a little and he came to me and beged me to make a way for him and I hope for thees reasons you will excuse me for Do- ing as I Did for I Do not like to Do any thing this way with- out your consent John Wood is gone to work about 40

12

178 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

miles west from Eochester to a place called white water Henry Swallow is gone to work at Burlington he has made a bargain with a man named norton for two months he is rather Sorry at Loossing his Swetheart and would rather have given two or three Dollars than have lost her Squire Hinchlif and family are all well and they Desire his father to answer theire last letter if they have not Done [so] be- fore you receive this Squire and his wife have both turned to be religious James Tinker and Family are all well and

the health of the Settlers generaly is good at pressent

• * *

Your Affectionate Son Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley The Winter has been very open yet we have had very little snow we had some cold wether about Christmas but takeing it altogether so far it has been the mildest winter we have had * * *

Rochester Eacien County W T April 28^^ 1848 Dear Father & Mother :

* * * Dear Father you must excuse me for not writ- ing sooner after receiving your letter as I have been very busy with my Spring work this last month the weather has been very Dry with cold bleak winds and frost in the nights which keeps vegetation back but we have been able to get our spring wheat in earlyer this spring than we have been able to Do before I finished geting in 16 acres on the 17^^ of April and on the 18^*^ we had one of the most Stormy Days I have seen since I came to this cuntry it Looked as if we Where going to have mnter in good earnest we had a heavy fall of Snow but the wind was so Strong that it Drifted all into heaps the wind was very strong it blew a great quantity of trees Down and fences it blew one tree Down in our catle yard and several on the new lot I went to Eacien the Day after with Mr« Crowther whose husband Died about 5 weeks since James Tinker and me went with her to prove the will as James & Me wher witnesses while

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 179

theire we saw a steam Boat which had run ashore in a sink- ing condition but no live[s] where lost it Was expected that a great Deal of Damage would be Done on the lakes

I sowed about 3 acres of oats yesterday and to Day is a wet Day on Monday Last the 24"^ I went out west to white water for John Woods furniture as his wife is now liveing with her mother Mr^ Crowther and John will leave when he has Done the work he has taken which will last him about 2 months he intends comencing buisness in the settlement this next fall if all is well. My crops this season will be as follows 4 acres of winter wheat 2 acres of wich you will recolect I put in the plan you recomended all of which looks prety well considering the winter I have 16 acres of Spring wheat in I Shall have about 4 acres of oats and about 4 of indian corn and about 2 acres of root crops

I shall now proceed to answer a question in B^ H['s] Let- ter wether a Forigner can purchase Land in this cuntry or not and wether he can will it to his chilldren In answer to the question I say that he can Just as well as if he was a citizen of this cuntry But in referance to the buisness we have in hand theire will be some little Difficulty in it that is this you are aware that a mortgage vnW. have to be given for the security of the payment of the remaining Portion of the money this mortgage would have to be signed by both Brother Henry and his wife and me and my wife had we been paying for it all at once the Deed could have been made to us bothe from the parties owning the land so theire would have been no trouble in sending the Deeds over to England for Signature this you will be aware would be the process which the Law requires I feel very anxious that you should be perfectly satisfied in the arangments and it Shall be my Duty to make you so wether the Individual will be willing to accept the mortgage Drawn up in the name of B"" and Me is more than I can tell I Shall think the mat- ter over and I will adopt those means which I think will be for the best for all parties. But I hope Dear Father and Brother Henry theire is a Law which binds us together

180 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

stronger than the Laws of our cuntrys that is the Law of Love one for another and I hope to be the Last that will sever one fiber of this cord which binds lis together, and may God preserve us by his Love till we have Done with things of earth and finaly land us on cannans happy shore I Shall write to you again Imediately after receiving your Letter of April 29^^ or May 6^^ and will inform you how I have gone on in the buisness I Should have wrote to John Schof [ield] this mail but I Shall let it alone a few weeks as I Shall then have [more] to write about then than what I have now give my respect to him and [tell] him the children are all well.

I had like to have forgot to say anything about the road into the new lot I have mentioned it to one of the parties but they Do not understand much English nor Do I under- stand Dutch so I could make nothing of it with them But it will make very little Differance wether they refuse or not if they refuse to sell me a road through their is another method I can get one that is I can apply to the commision- ers of highways for to lay me a private road through and the[y] will notify the parties to meet them and state theire objections if the[y] have an}^ and the Damage which the road will cause to them after they have Done that the com- misioners will proceed to lay out the road and award such Damages as they think will indemnify them for Damages rec^. the Law of the cuntry provides that every one shall have a road into his land but the above is the way to proced when they are refused this privelidge.

we still keep our prayer meetings on we have one on the thursday evening and one on the sunday morning besides the class meeting on the wedensday afternoon I feel sory that J. T. Should write in such a maner as would lead his father to think that he was a member amongst us but I feel more sorry that he absents himself from the means of grace as much as he Does I wish to Say as little as possible about any one but hope he will Learn better and may the Lord awaken him to a sense of his Duty his my prayer we are

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 181

Doing a little at the chappie now and hope it will soon be Teady for Plastering Squire & his family are well Scott and his family are well James Tinker and his family are well also Tho^ Hall is well but mary Ann is like a creaking gate wether her body or her mind is the worst I cannot tell she somtimes talks of coming back and sometimes she is for going to live in rochester or some other town as the fresh air of a cuntry life Does not agree with her my wife wishes you to give her respects to Betty Eoebuck and family and to her father at timenets and tell him that she says she will get out of the corner and write a few lines to him somtime soon, our little Cecilia can walk and talk a little and if we ask it where Grand Father is it will point at your picture and say see thee all the chilldren are well and sent theire love to theire Grandfather and Grandmother and may God bless you is the sincere prayer of

your Son and Daughter Edwin and Martha Bottomley our Hannah intends to comence her School on Monday 1*^ of May My Wife wants you to send her a few Dark blue Voilet Seeds in your letters this Sumer and a few wall flower Seed and a few Stock Silliver one kind in a letter.

EocHESTER June 13^^ 1848 Dear Father & Mother :

We rec^ Brother Henry's Letter of April 29^*^ on May 24^ also one from New York containg the money which you sent along with that for John Wood which I paid over to him which Letters I must say elevated my Spirits a good Deal I was very sory that you had been Expecting a letter from me and that you where afraid some thing was amiss with us the only apology I can make is that time past along faster than I was aware of owing to the Religious excitment which has been keep up the Last winter and Thank God our meet- ings are well atended yet though people are very busy with their work with thees remarks I Shall proceed to notice your letter I was sory to hear that you wher unwell but

182 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

hope you are got quite well before this preivious to receiv- ing your letter I begun to feel a little uneasy as you stated in your letter preivious that you wr[o]te a fortnight before you send the money when it got within about a week of the time I had to pay and [I] Did not receive one I be^un to study which would be my best way to Do for I Did not like to write to the parties for fear they might thake advantage if I Did not fulfill my agreement and I have reasons to think [this] would have been the case If I had not been able to have paid at the time

I Shall now give you my proceedings Since recivei[n]g your letter along with an acount how we have benn in health since then on Monday the 29"^ of May Me and my wife got up very early to start on our journey to Milwaukie and Ruth got up to make our breakfast while she was Doing that She had a sick fit and her mother had to thake her to bed but be- fore we where ready for going she was able to get up again And we left home hopeing She would be better when we got to Milwaukie the man that I contracted with for the land was gon Down east and had left orders with his brother to receive the moneys and give recepts to any individuals who Should make any payments During his absence so that I Did not get the Deed made out nor was their any ocasion for marth to have gone as theire was no nessity to give a mort- gage unles I had got a Deed martha would have had to have signed the mortgage had theire been one given I paid three hundred Dollars with the intrest which amounted to 15 Dollars and he endorsed it on the Back of the contract I had some conversation with the Brother and when he under- stood which tract of land I had bought he told me that his brother had had orders from his father to offer me one hundred Dollars as a rue Bargain his father thought he sold me far to[o] cheap so if I had not paid at the time he might have been desireous to Breaking the bargain I then asked if his father had any thing to Do with the land and he said he had no title wathever in the land but the title was solely with his brother him that I Bought it off but that his

)mN

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 183

father along with some more capatilist[s] found the money to buy the lands which he owns in the teritory which is some thousands of acres and that theire is a bond betwixt them which secures both Parties for the money the[y] invested in his care he is expected to be Back about the first week in July and I Shall see him as soon as I can conveniently after his return, halpast ten at night and must go to Bed

June 14^*" I Shall now State how we found our family when we got home again and how they had been During our absence on the monday our hannah fell Sick twice at the s[c]hool in the fornoon and Ruth had to teach for her in the afternoon and on the tuesday they wher Both Sick in bed so theire was only Sarah and Arminal to Do the work and take care of the child On the wedensday ruth was a little better but hannah was very sick in bed when we got home in the afternon I gave her an emetic imediately which operated very well her complaint proved to be the chill Fever which is similar to the ague they had a cold chill and after that comes on a voilent fever every other Day the complaint used her very bad for about a fortnight but she is now got better and will be able to comence her school again on mon- day all being well She has had a very bad finger for about 5 weeks The complaint was the felon in [t]he for [e] finger but it is geting well also Ruth has had a Slight attack of the ague within [the] Last fortnight but she is getting well also thees circumstances has keep my wife very busy since we came back and has made her feel rather unwell at times

but I hope things will be better with us in a few Days

• • •

John Wood went with us to Milwaukee and bought some Lumber to build a Smithy and a quantity of Iron him and me comenced building his Smithy on monday the 4^^ of June James Tinker helped tuesday f riday and Satuarday we Did all the work with[i]n ourselves Build his fire place with bricks and got him to work on the Satuarday he has had plenty off work This week and theire is every prospect of him Doing well he wished me to say that he and his wife

184 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

where well and that he feels very Thankfull to his brother Ben for his kindness and that [he] has been expecting a let- ter from them some time

Give my respects to John Schofield and tell him that I had intended writing to him by this post but I have not got through with some accounts which I wished to have settled before I wrote to him but I will write to him as soon as I can perhaps in a fortnight or three weeks Samuel Helle- wells wife died May 29^*^ and She was buried on the 31^^ you can let her Daughter know if you have a opurtunity Jo- seph Kaye him that went with me to London is liveing at Snail Lake near to Prarieville and is Doing prety well I Saw Goodger John Woods Brother inlaw a few weeks since and he lives neighbour to Kaye I must Say before I close that my crops all of them look very promising and I think better than they have ever Done since I came I must now close my letter and may god Bless all of you is the sincer prayer of

your affectionate Son & Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

Rochester, W. T. September 4*^ 1848

Dear Father & Mother:

* * «

I am of the same opinion as you that theire are a great many things to take into consideration before a man De- cides to come to this cuntry and the things vairy according to the situation of the man and his intentions and your considerations are amongst the many I know that it is hard work for an Lidividual to leave the social circle of freinds and aquaintances and seek a new home in a forigen land amongs[t] strangers and [this] is one [thing] that a great many do not consider as the[y] ought thees things wheighed heavy upon me before I decided to come to this cuntry I had a Duty to perform which when put in the op- pisite scale out weighed all I had a riseing famil[y] and though I had a good situation my mind was filld with Dark

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 185

f orbodeings for them and to cut the mater short what would have been my prospects had I stoped till now for you are well aware that theire as been very little use for any one in my situation since I left and though I [have] been a heavy burden upon you since I came to this cuntry I know that you would not have sufferd me to want had I Stopt in England had misfortune overtaken me theire and I was fully con- vinced in my own mind that that soon [would] have been the case with me and probably by this time the help which you had lent might have vanished as the Dew before the morning sun but thank god such is not the case the help which you have given me has been vested in good property and in such a way as can bee seen and felt and enjoyed for the god of providence is the rewarder of my labour and he Does not require me to opress the poor, and thanl^ god I have not to rouse my chilldren at the sound of a bell from their beds and Drag them through the pelting storm of a Dark winters morning to earn a small pitance at a factory no thank god such is not the case with us the sun is our guid and when the storm pelts against our windows and [it is] not fit to labour I can sit comfortably with my family and employ my time in improveing thire minds such is our situation now dear Father With your assistance and the Blessing of god and I leave you to judge wether Our situa- tion would have been as comfortable as it is had we stoped in England while now and our prospects for the future as substancial

in ref erance to the hot weather in sumer which my mother Doubts wether she would be able to stand it or not I think thire is not much fear if that be the only objection she has to this cuntry this sumer as been no hoter than an English sumer and I think she would be very comfortable here for I think arangments could be made which would Satisfy Both of you if you could hear my children plan for you it would make you smile while tears of gratitude run Down your cheecks your Desire Dear Father to have a home as long as you can is perfectly right and a Desire which you ought

186 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

to have gratified and one which you shall if you think proper to come to this cuntry and I have health and strength to la- bour but Dear Father I hope you will forgive me if I ask you a question that is this are you satisfied in your own mind that you can have such a home as you Desire to have in your Declineing years suposing you stop in England can you have a home wher you can live mthout toil or care a home wher you can meditate on the mercies of god without any one to interfere and Disturb your meditations a home where you can contemplate the glories of that heavenly world which I trust we are all aming at a home in which you can enjoy that peace of mind which passeth all understand- ing and from which your happy spirit can take its flight to region [s] of eternal bliss without regret a home like this is what you ought to enjoy but I think in your pressent sit- uation you have no sure prospect of such a home as this and 1 am aware such a home as this would be a hard matter to gain and Especialy in England where their e are so many fluctuations of trade which you are aware will affect cottage property in greater or lesser Degree

Now I Shall [state] the plans which we have talked over for your comfort should you decide to come to this cuntry our plan is for you to have a house built anywher on the land where you choose for you to live in and a garden that you can cultivate to your own taste and you can have a cow or two for your own use and It is Decided By the chilldren that arminalann must help her grandmother in her house- hold work and milk her cows and dear Father you shall be at liberty to just pleas yourself what you Do wether any thing or nothing but one thing you shall be sure of as long as i am able to plough a furrow you Shall have what you need to Suport you both from the fruits of my labour which it Pleases almight [y] god to give me and as for Society and neighbours I think you would be Satisfied with [them] we have good ministers to preach to us on the sabath and meet- ings during the week and the sabaths are reveranced as much in our neighbourhood as in England and in referance

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 187

to your property in England I Shall leave you to use your own judgement wether you sell it or not or leave [it] in the care of any one or more you may think fit if brother Henry and his family would come with you I Should Say Sell it at once But I leave the matter with you and may the Lord Direct and preserve you amidst every trial and Difficulty

I Shall leave the above subject and give you some inform- ation about ourselves we have had a Deal of Broken weather During harvest and It as made the harvest last longer [than it would have done] had we had fine weather I finished my grain Stacking last f riday sep^ 1^ and I have a good crop of Wheat this year according to my judgment I Shall have as much wheat this season as I have had in all the seasons set together before and though the harvest as been wet I have secured my grain without any Damage Worth mentioning I have cradled my grain myself and our Hannah and Ruth and Old George Gill have raked and bound up the wheat and we have got through prety well the girls have helped in the hay and we have finished that also the pottatoe crop is injured this season but to what extent I am not able to state the tops are withered and we have found some roted potatoes

now dear father in referance to the payments for the land I canot tell yet how I Shall have to Do but I hope I Shall be able to pay the intrest this november which is all I expect I can pay but I Shall see how things turn up And I will let you know as early as possible but I wish you not to make yourself uneasy about it you will see things will work to- gether for our good sumtimes I have felt rather Down- cast since I rec^ the information about your change in cir- cumstances and have almost felt to blame myself very much for entering into the contract but when I look at the great- est motive which induced me to enter into it I feel perfectly satisfied I have acted right and the circumstances which have happened to you will cause me to state to you that se- cret motive which would have remained conceald unless thees circumstances had happened till some future time.

188 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Ever since I came to this cuntry I have had a presentiment in my mind that you all would have to come to this cuntry and which I Still beleive will have to be the case and I felt anxious to secure the land so that we could be situated to- gether and I can say this we have such an oppurtunity of makeing ourselves comfortable as scarce any family for it is the best lot of ground for a Dairy farm of any in this neighbourhood this is not my opinion alone but [that] of many of my neighbours and cusin Tho^ is surprised that Brother Henry Does not come as [he] talked about going into farming in Wales when he came to this cuntry

my paper is nearly full and I must close we are all well thank god send word in your next who the man is that as taken your place and who the two men are who told them you where makeing a fortune I hope Dear Father you study the contents of this letter over and If you feel any Desire about coming to this cuntry speak your mind freely and if I have said any thing amiss I hope you will forgive me and may God bless you all is the prayer of

your Affectionate Son & Daughter Edwin & Martha Bottomley

Dear Father :

James Tinker wishes you to tell his father that his family are all well and that he has got the adress of Bostock the man who came from Nurfield and he is in Michigan. John Woods wife got to bed last Thursday but the child was Dead she is Doing Very Well. Old George Gill is with me yet and is Very Well he has been very usefuU to me this harvest he as bestowed great care in setting up the Shocks which as been an means of Preserveing the grain from Damage we had a meeting last night of the comittee of management belonging to the chapel and it is our intention to Get it plas- tered this fall and finished off we have had preaching in it all sumer the crops in the Settlement have been abun- dant

I shall now close my letter with the wish that you will

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 189

weigh the contents of this letter over in your mind and if you Decide to come to this cuntry let us know as soon as possible and if you Desire any advice from me ask it and I will give it you to the best of [my] judgment and if you De- sire any preperations to be made for your reception I will cary them into effect and I leave you now to judge wether it would not be better for you to bring the property which by your industry you have earned in former years and in- vest it in property which will not be subject to so many changes as it is now and wher you may live with less care and anxiety than what you can where you are this is the opinion of every one I have conversed with on the subject and their are here [many] who would be glad to see you be- sides my Chilldren and

your affection [ate] Son and Daughter Edwin & Martha Bottomley

Rochester Racien County State of Wisconsin

Feb^ 5^^ 1849

Dear Father & Mother :

« « *

in referance to the Land contract which in your last you where anxious to know how I had got along with I Shall Say that in the begining of november I was almost fast what way to Do as the grain market was very low and the roads very bad and I Did not like to sell my grain to raise the in- trest money which was Due on the 19^^ but he who has opened a way for us a many times made a way for us this [time] Standing at my Door one night meditateing what way to do theire came a man past who had wanted Last Spring to buy that forty acres which I had and as he was passing me he said 0 what say you about that forty yet what will you take for it I told him I would take 180 Dol- lars for it well he said I will come Down and See if we canot bargain for it he came Down a few nights afterwards and offerd me 170 Dollars he had only offerd me 140 for it before and we finaly agreed that he should give me 175 Dol-

190 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

lars 100 Dollars Down then and the other 75 with intrest on the first of next November by this I was enabled to pay my intrest which was 70 Dollars which will keep that buisness right while next november

we have all enjoyed tolerable health Since I last wrote to you with the exception a kind of an influenzy which as af- fected some of us but we are all at pressent enjoying toler- able health we shall probably have one more of a family before you get this. Our Sarah has had three fits and they have come on about every 8 weeks the first used her very bad she was about 8 hours in it and was very much con- vulsed the second was not as bad as the first and the Last one she had on monday the 29^*^ of Jan^ was very Short I have got some advice about them and I hope by the blessing of god we Shall succed in cureing her of them she is the bold Spirty Child she always was and Stout and healthy with this exception.

this winter has been very much like [the] first w^inter in regard to its severyty wee have had plenty of snow to make good Sleighing and the frost has been at times very sever but we do not suffer the same inconveniences we did the first winter we have a comfortable house and plenty to eat and no fear of want before us we have killed 8 pigs average about 130 pounds this Last month which we shall keep for our own use and we have grain to make our flour off and to Spare for other purposes

Our Chaple was opened on new years Day the proced- ings where such that if you had been present [they] would have highly gratified you thear was a tea party the pro- ceds of which will be applied in completing the place, after tea, the Meeting was adressed very eloquently by a M^ Lee, M^ Tucker and the ReV^ W"^ Drununond. M^ W"^ Wood- head in the chair the Service comenced by Singing the Hymn Before Jehovahs awfull throne ye nations bow with Sacred Joy. Tune Creation. Prayer by M^ Lee. Anthem Bless thou the Lord o My Soul. Adress from Mr Lee on the Goodness of God towards us. Anthem Blessed be thou

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 191

Lord god of Israel. Kent Resolution V^ moved by M^ Lee seconded by M^ James Tinker, That in Dedicating a house to the service of god we gratefully acknowledge the good- ness of the Devine Being manifested in many temporal and spiritual blessings mth which we have been favoured as a comunity. And Especialy in thus being enabled at a com- paratively early Period of our Settlement to Erect a place for Devine worship Passed unanimously. Adress from M"* Tucker on the Subject of keeping holy the Sabath Day. Anthem Holy, Holy, Lord, Mozarts 2''^ Reso'* Moved by M' Tucker Seconded by E Bottomly. That having thus as a comunity openly avowed our principles by the erection of a Place for Publick worship we will by a strict observeance of the Sabath and a devoted attention to the Ordinances of Religion endeavor to maintain our Christian Character and by Diligently walking in the principle of the gospel our- selves we will endeavour to leave to the riseing generation a practical Conmient on the princeples we profess by liveing the religion we beleive and teach. Passed. Adress from M^ Drumond. Anthem Plead thou my Cause. 3^^ Resolu- tion moved By M^ Drummond Seconded By Joseph Wood- head that this meeting gratefully [ackjnowledge the as- sistance they have received from the Subscribers and Pat- [rons] and more especially are our thanks Due and are hereby tendered to our Freinds in England for theire noble Display of Christian Benevolence in responding so munifi- cently to our appeal for help Passed with enthusaism. Afterwards a few minor resolutions and some singing the Service was closed by the congregation Singing Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow &c And Prayer from M' Drummond. I Could Write a long letter about my feelings During this service in referance to all of you But if I was to Do [so] it would not Shorten the Distance betwixt you and us But when I cast my eyes over that congregation and could not See a Father or Mother Brother or Sister or Freind whom I had asociated with in my native cuntry I Could not help wishing they where here I could Fancy to

192 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

myself how happy you would have been But I hope we Shall meet in a nobler congregation above if we never meet again on earth.

I had a letter from John Dyson some time Since which states he intends to come again to Wisconsin in the spring to buy a peice of Land and he wishes my advice about it I have not Answerd it yet and what I Shall say to him about it I Do not know, but he is liter for a twon [town] than a cuntry and will Do full as well in a kneading trough as be- hind a plough the letter States that Cusin Joab Taylor in- tends comeing to this teritory also this next sumer. * * * your Affectionate son and daughter

Edwin & Marth Bottomley

Rochester Racien County Wisconsin April 4^** 1849

Dear Father & Mother :

* * •

In my last I stated that we expected another addition to our family and [I] have the pleasure to inform you that my wife was Deliverd of a Daughter on the 19^*" of Feb^ and she has recovered very well though we have had one added to our family we have also had one taken from our circle and is become a wife our Hannah was maried on the 6^** of March to a young man named Tho^ Bro^vn a very Indus- trious and persevering young man he owns that Land that Mitchel of Lockwood used to own which adjoins mine when I last wrote I Did not expect it to take place so soon or I should have intimated it to you. Joseph Woodhead was maried on the 13^^ of March to a Miss Roantree who came to this cuntry Late Last Summer and Joseph expects a hit of brass, it will be well if all ends well but I Doubt It

the winter has been sever we have had a good quantity of Snow and keen frost one morning I took the thermome- ter out and it fell Down to 10 Degrees below zero in about 10 minutes but the winters are more healthy than in Eng- land we Do not often have any Damp foggy weather but

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 193

generaly Dry with keen frost and a Clear blue sky this Spring we had plenty of water in the rivers and creeks by the thawing of the snow in some places the rivers have been very much flooded and a good Deal of Damage done in Chichago all the bridges in the town have been taken away by the flood and a good many cannal boats and other vesels which had been laid [up] in the river During winter where all jamed together in one mass along with the ice which floated Down the river and wher Driven out into the lake some where sunk and others so much Damaged that they will be useless^^ theire has been some little damage Done in Eochester Burlington and waterford such as the bur [s] ting of the mill Dams but are now all got repaired

the ground has been Dry enough to plough this last week and people have been very busy prepareing theire ground for Spring crops I Should have sown some to Day but we have a rain with the wind from the east and I expect we may have a few days of wet which will prevent us for a little while Doing much towards geting in our crops I put in about 4 acres of fall wheat last fall and it looks very well.

I had a letter from Cusin Joab Taylor about 3 weeks since wishing for some advice about comeing out west as he stated it was and always had been his Desire to be a farmer and he stated that he Did not like the factory any better in amer- ica than in England I wrote him a letter back about 10 days since and gave him a plane statement of facts concern- ing w[a]ges of hired men with a little advice how to judge the matter and left him at liberty to Decide for himselfe I

"The event here referred to still stands as one of the notable disas- ters In the history of Chicago. Prior to the construction of the canal at Chicago the Des Plaines River was likely, in time of spring flood, to dis- charge through the south branch of the Chicago River into Lake Michigan. This diversion of the current of the Des Plaines was certain to take place whenever, through the failure of the ice on the lower Des Plaines to pass out, the natural current of the stream below the point opposite Mud Lake was obstructed. Such a flood is recorded by Marquette in the spring of 1675. For a fuller description of the notable flood of 1849 see J. S, Currey, Chicago: Its History and Its Builders (Chicago, 1912), I, 363-66.

13

194 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

promised I would Do all I could for him should he Decide to come and if he comes so long as I live he shall have a f reind in me . he stated that he intended to send some money to his father in a few weeks and if he came out west he should start in May which will be a very good time for him to come as labour is in great Demand here During the sum- mer season and I have no Doubt but he may Do well here he gave me all the particulars of his mother [ 's] Death which corespended with your statement in your letter tell Kester Smith that I have not heard any thing of his brother Enoch since he was here in the fall of 1847 and wether he has come up to this cuntry or not I Do not know but if I have an opur- tunity of gaining any information I will and will inform you of the same.

It was our towns meeting yesterday at which meeting they elect the officers to manage the towns buisness for the coming year the[y] Elected me as one of the supervisors their are 3 whose buisness is to superintend the affaris of the town James Tinker whas Elected a Magistrate theire are 4 in the township thire Duty is the same as in England though it requires no property qualification in this cuntry yet their Decision is as binding as an English Magis- trate [ 's] Sam^ Stonehouse whas Elected as constable their seems to be a general Disposition manifested by the Ameri- cans to go hand in hand with forigners and allow them to join in the govern [ment] of town and state * * *

your affectionate son & daughter Edwin & Marth Bottomley

Dear Father:

My last letter will inform you how I had proceeded last november concerning the land which is under contract But I Do not recollect wether it contains all that you Desire to know in your last but I beleive that some of my letters since the contract was made gives all particulars But I will com- ply with your request the contract was made the 19*^ of November 1847 which was for $1100.00 eleven Hundered Dol- lars to be paid as follows $100.00 one hundered Dolars then

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 195

and 300.00 three Hundered Dollars on or before the first of June 1848 and the remaining $700.00 seven Hundered Dol- lars on or before the 19^^ of November 1849 the intrest to be paid anually till the stock was paid the Intrest is 10 per cent I paid $70.00 seventy Dollars last november as In- trest and if I Do not pay up the stock before next Novem- ber I Shall have $770.00 seven hundered and seventy Dollars to pay next november which is the extent of time I have to pay in if I Do not pay then the man could break the con- tract And we should have to loose what we had paid since you where turned away from the factory or aU this last win- ter especialy since I rec^ a letter from you before the last my mind has been very much cast down for I could see no way for us to escape loossing the money which had been paid and I have wished many times that the contract had never been made But as often as I have been cast Down so often have I been lifted up when I remembered the remark- able Deliverance god hath at a many times wrought in our behalf and I have yet still some hope that all will work well if It be the will of god that we must succeed in getting it we shall succeed and If not It will be our advantage in one way or another, though If I must speak according to my feel- ings at pressent I feel anxious to have it secured some way or another amongst us for I am certain it will be of service to us as a family what ever Brother Henry and yourself agree upon will satisfy me and if you have any thing to pro- pose speak freely in your next and I Should like you to write imediately after receiveing this if you have wrote just before which I expect you will according to what you state in your last I Shall now conclude and may god bless yon all is the sincer Prayer of your Son

Edwin Bottomley

* • •

Dear Father :

If you Decide to come to this cuntry my advice to you is in the first place to have as little lugage as possble and in crossing the atlantic to look out for a good vesel I am in- formed that theire are steam vesels besides the mail steam-

196 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

ers which are preferable to sailing vesels and when you get to new york if you intend to go to philidelphia I should ad- vise you to send your lugage forward directed for me at Kochester in care of some of the merchants in racien Partic- ulars of which I will inform you in my next at every place you stop at you will have to be on your guard against being imposed upon by the swarms of runers who infest every place on your rout keep a sharp eye about you be f reindly with good behaved passengers but very reserve [d] in refer- ance to money matters in short gain as much information as you can on your journey and give all you can about your own cuntry but watch every one as if he was your foe but treat all kindly, travel just as you would in your own cun- try when you take your passage from new york take it to albany & from thence to Buffalo by railway and then by steam Boat to Racien and when you take your passage go on to the steam boat and take it on the boat you will find a clerks office on board you can Bargain as hard as you please in my next I will give you more information con- cerning your Lugage and perhaps a few things will be use- full for you to bring of which I will think about and inform you also Give our respects to all freinds a[t] Crossland when you see them I should have no objection to See M*" Walter fullfill his promise you may tell him so if you pleas

from your Affectionate Son

; E BOTTOMLEY

Rochester State of Wisconsin June 29**^ 1848 [9] Dear Father & Mother :

We rec^ yours of May 18^^ on the 18^^ day of June and where glad to hear that you where all well which thank god I have the pleasure to inform you is the same with us at present I have a few strange circumstances to mention in this letter and I think I canot Do better than state them at the commencement the first is I rec*^ a letter from Tho^ Hil- ton which stated that he had seen a letter from Netherton and the letter stated that I had begun Manuf actoring and he

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 197

wished to know If I could give him and Jonathon Lees of Netherton and [a] man named Shaw work, the last individu- als family are liveing in one of yonr houses in Mossley. he stated that the[y] all three had not had above half work the last six months and the [y ] often talked of settleing in some new cnntry either to comence farming or to work at theire old trade I wrote back to him giveing him a few state- ments of facts leaveing them to judge for themselves what course to adopt he stated that they jointly could raise a few hunderd Dollars.

The next but not least is this on the 9**^ of June on re- turning from some towns buisness who should be at our house to greet me on my return but James Halkyard from Midge Hill near mossley though I never had much acquain- tance with him I knew him as soon as I saw him it would be useless in me to give you a discription of our chit chat since he came you can better imagine it that [than] I can discribe [it] he wrote to his father about a week since and I expect he will stop at our house till he gets an answer back his intention as far as I can learn is to go see a man named Winterbottom in Missourie and from thence Down the Missipi to New Orleans and then back to England and if by the journey to this cuntry he can only break off the bad habits he has formed it will be well for what a pity it is to see a young man Drawn away from the path of virtue and godliness in to the ways of Sin since he came to this cuntry I beleive he has been very temperate from his own statement and since he came to Our house I can vouch for it and he seems determined to break off is bad habits and choose a better path which I am aware no pains have been spared by his parents to instruct him in neither by precept nor example and if ever he returns again to his parents may they have to rejoice in god theire saviour that those prayers have been heard which have ascended from theire family alter in behalf of theire Prodigal Son and may god guide me in giveing him such advise as will be of service to him for I feel my weakness for it is hard to advize those who

198 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

know the way as well as he Does and may the lord have mercy on him

Give my respects to Uncle Tho^ Halkyard and all [his] Family also to uncle Ralph and Family I wrote a letter to Joab last week giveing him such information as I thought would be nessesary for his journey as he intends coming west about the later end of July. On my journey to Eacien a few weeks since I met Joseph Sykes wife going out to see some of her freinds I only passed a few words with her she stated they had been living in southport which is about 10 miles from Racien but Joseph was gon to Chichago and she was going to stop a few weeks with her freinds near where they had their farm wether he has let his farm or sold it I do not know.

Dear father I am glad to hear that you feel more settled in your sitiuation than you did and I think you have cause for thankfulness when you see how your old master [s] are behaveing towards theire men packing first one off and then another and I hope you will find that all things work to- gether for good to those that fear god. we had [a] rather wet Spring which made seed time rather late but crops are looking very well wheat is heading out Potatoes look well yet Indian corn will be late in this Neighbourhood I have only just sown my turnips I intend begining of haying in about a week and geting what I can before harvest for I in- tend to Do my work this season within ourselves as much as Possible I may have to get some help in harvest about a fortnight but that is all I calculate upon for I intend to

Do all I can to raise as much money for as I can by all

possible means I had intended breaking up about twenty acres more land this sumer but I could not see my way clear and so I have dispencd with that while some future time as I could not have Done it without hiring help either one way or the other

Give My respects to John Schofield also to Abraham Firth and if they have not wrote me before you receive this tell them I should like to know somethrag about the money

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 199

at Honley as soon as possible as I am in want of It I rec^ a letter from new york the same Day I rec^ yours containing the money for Squire which I gave to him Squire had wrote to his father a few days before I rec^ yours so they will have heard from him before you get this most likely [His] Family are all well James Tinker and his family are all well The Pla[nk] Road between Racien and Rochester is progresing rapidly there are a good many men working on it they have completed about 6 miles of it already and Intend finishing it to Rochester befor winter sets in the road will be of great service and will make property more valuable adjacent to it.

Tell my mother I Should like another Slip of Paper from her containing some more of her sugestions I hope what I said in my last has given no offence we have christned our Child Mary Ema and it is a very fine child our Tho^ has not got any Sheep yet for I did not want him to buy any while we had some more land fenced in but since your let- ter came he has been very anxious to get some I have promised to go Avith him to a man that is selling some off he has betwixt two and three hundered sheep and they have pastured a great Deal in the Land Contracted for if ever I get it fenced in I intend keeping a few Sheep our Tho^ is geting very usefuU he and W™ will be able to help a good Deal in another year or Two if they are spared I must now draw my letter to a close with the best wishes of our Hannah and Her Husband and all the rest of our children to their Grandfather & Grandmother who would be happy to see you * * *

Your affectionate son and Daughter Edwin and Martha Bottomley

Rochester July 5^ 1848 [9] Dear Father :

In referance to the land contract I am almost at a loss how to proceed in my adress to you for if I make a state- ment what I can Do myslef theire may be some uncertainty

200 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

about it as a good deal will Depend on the price of grain in the market but however I will make a statement of my in- tentions which by the blessing of God may enable me to raise something towards it It is my intention to Sell my Oxen this fall which may raise about 50 dollars and I have made arangments with Tho^ our Hannahs Husband to thrash me a quantity of wheat out as soon as Harvest is over and if the market be prety good I may be able to raise another 100 Dollars that way so that would be 150 Dollars which I think I can be certain of Raising from my own re- sources theire is 75 Dollars Due on the Land which I sold which will pay the intrest so that the 150 Dollars will be to- ward the stock the money which you mention of Schofields Estate will not be Due while Novem[ber] 1850 if it had been Due this next november it would have helped a good Deal The money will have to be paid to me as I am ap- pointed guardi[an] for the Chilldren and If I use it for any purpose I Shall have to pay la [w] full Intrest for it which is 7 per cent, this is a short and plain statement of Facts I am not surprised at you thinking the money would be Due this next November For I myself thought it was the case but in looking over the Deed more minutely previous to settle- ing up the Estate I found out my eror and If I let the money out I Shall be held responsible for it so that whenever it is paid I Shall probably make use of It for Purposes which I think will be to my advantage and will be more secure for the Children of the deceased

dear Father you will see by my general letter what I in- tended to Do and what I have relinquished Doing for the purpose of Enableing me to Do as much as I could towards raising money for the Land If I could have Broke up the Land I had intended Doing it would have been of great help to me as I could have put in about 15 acres of fall wheat which is not as liable to kill out on new broke ground as the other and next sumer I should have been able to have fal- lowed some ground this I have been willing to let alone for the pressent and I am willing to Do more if no other

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 201

way can be adopted I am willing to sell the greatest por- tion of my stock Which consists of 8 cows 1 yoke of Oxen and 1 Hefir an 6 calf es and 1 Span of Horses I am willing to part with some of thees and face Difi&culties I have had to encounter before if it can not be avoided we have been striveing all this summer to be at as little expence as we could and have been endeavouring to pay off some little Debts and to get clothing for the chilldren by selling the butter and sometimes we have sold as low as 8 cents in the pound before we would go into Debt we are now barelling our butter intending it for sale in the fall to get nessesaries for our Family for the winter so that what wheat I can get into market before November will be for the purpose be- fore mentioned. Now I Desire that you and brother Henry and Abraham if you think proper talk the matter over and come to a conclusion what you can Do as soon as possible and let me know and then if [it] be nessesary for me to borow some money here I Shall have time to get it but I Do not think I can borow money on good security at less than 12 per cent I must now close my letter and leave you to act the way you think best and then I must try to make up the difficiency and may god crown our efforts with success

Your Affectionate Son

Edwin Bottomley I wrote my letter Last week but haveing to assist in make- ing arangements for the Sabath Scholars for the 4^^ July independence day it prevented me for writing this while the 5^ of July

Rochester State of Wisconsin Oct*" 6^^ 1849

Dear Father & Mother :

• • •

I have the pleasure to inform you that we are all enjoying tolerable health with the exception of myself at pressent but I am able to go about my work though I feel weak. Since I had [have] Done harvesting I have had a pain in my breast which at nights has been very bad at times but I

202 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

have got a plaster on it now and I think It will releive me I have got through my Harvest and haying without any hired help which has been prety hard work for me to acomp- lish Tho^ our Hannah ['s] Husband has helped to stack my wheat and I have helped him in return by this means I have been able to get along without haveing to pay any money for help. Euth and William bound the wheat as I Cradled it and it was work enough for James Halkyard to set it up into shocks he helped a little in the Hay which I got before harvest James came here on the 9*^ of June and the first 5 weeks he did not life his hand to Do any thing the re- mainder of the time he stoped he Did a little ocasionaly he left here on the 24*^ of august for Milwaukee I got a letter from him that he was leaveing as he could not get a situa- tion and intended going to Buffalo he ordered me to Direct any letters that I rec^ for him to the Post office theire I have not rec^ any for him since he left.

In your letter you Desired me to write to you and let you

know how matters was when I wrote to you in July the

prospects of having an abundant harvest where then very

promising but we have been Disapointed about the time I

wrote we had some hot weather along with a Dampness in

the atmosphere which Did considerable injury to the wheat

crop and grain of other kinds my Winter Wheat which

was 4 acres is not worth thrashing I Shall have to feed it

to the cattle my Spring wheat which to appearances in

July would have yeilded from 25 to 30 bushels to the acre

has yielded about 11 Bushels last season from the same

ground I had 389% Bushels of wheat 139 Bushels of oats

[and] 17 Bushels of Barley this season I have 194 Bushels

(18 acres) of wheat 124 Bushels (3 acres) of Oats [and]

9 Bushels (% acre) of Barley the oats have yielded prety

fair by examining thees statements you will perceive that

the Differance betwixt last season and this is 218% Bushels

from the same ground includeing the winter wheat this you

percive is a considerable loss and you may probably think

that it will make us feel rather Down cast but I can assure

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 203

you though wee feel the Disapointment yet at the same time [I] Does not cause any Dispondency. Previous to receiving yours I must acknowledge that we often times ponderd over in our own minds how we could meet the Difficulties that stood before us but since receiveing yours and now knowing what we have to Do it seems as if it had given fresh energy to us. I canot raise much from my crops toward the land besides suplying the wants of my family and I have come to the conclusion to borrow the money which I shall need till I can turn myself other ways I have allready Spoke to an individual who has promised to get me what I want with 12 Days notice I Shall Borrow as little as possible as I expect the intrest will be 12 per cent.

The Property in this neighbourhood is likely to be ad- vanced in value considerably owing to the Plank road come- ing through the settlement as the company have Determind to bring a branch to burlington it will come on the old road past James Tinkers and our house which is about 20 rods from our house and will take the old road most of the way to Burlington and according to the price which land has raised in value on the line already made, the land contracted for would now be worth two thousand Dollars and I have no hesitation in saying that the man would not Sell it for less had he to sell it now so that I think it is worth making some exertion for. The road is formed of Plank the width of 8 feet and a turn off track of earth on one side so that teams can pass one another the toll for traveling on the road is 11/^ cents per mile for a two horse team and wagon they expect completing the road to Burlington in a month the road costs about $1600.00 Sixteen Hundered Dollars per mile.

Dear Father after Settling for the Land I Shall Send you all particulars concerning it what I have had to Borrow and in what Situation it Leaves us and I hope you will not trou- ble your self with any kind of Fear concerning it for I have no Doubt but I can make arngements that will enable me to

204 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

settle for the Land with the help which you have been en- abled to render me * * *

your Affectionate Son & Daughter

Edwin & Martha Bottomley

January 1, 1850 Dear Father & Mother:

You will I have no Doubt before this wonder what ever is the matter that I have not writen before this time and as an apology will thake up paper I Shall at once state that we are all well in health thank god which I hope this will find you all enjoying good health once more Since I last wrote to you I have had a many hopes and fears but I am happy to state to you that all are passed away, and the Land is now paid for and Deeded to me as the Deed had to be Drawn in conformity to the contract, and I think we shall have no Difficulty in arranging matters betwixt ourselves.

I Shall now proced to state all that has passed since I last wrote and then I think you will excuse me for Delay you will perceive by my last letter the circumstances I was placed in and also what I intended to Do to raise as much money as would make up besides what you where sending the man that I had spoke to about lending money and who promised to get it me If I would give him 12 Days notice could not get it and I was Disapointed and when time Drew near that the payment should be made I was very much cast Down and could scarce tell what means to adopt I tried several times to borrow the money of persons who would gladly have lent it me and are in the habit of lending money but owing to the Partial failure of the crops the[y] could not get any money in which was Due, and then I gave up the Idea [of] Borrowing the money and thought I would take what you send and try to get a Deed and give a mortgage for the remainder though it was a course I Did not like to adopt as it would give the Individual an opurtunity to break the contract and raise the Price of the Land or broke the

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 205

bargain altogether, but circumstances prevented me for [from] adopting this course

I got Br Henrys letter on the 12 of nove*" which informed me of the change in the agency also theire adress, but the name was wrong the name is A Speirs Brown and he wrote it A Spreirs Brern and as he Did not say that I Should have to write I expected the money would be forwarded as usual and I waited while the mail came in on monday the 19^** the day the money should have been paid and theire was no let- ter for me from new york I then came home and wrote off to new york and Send W° with the letter that night to be ready for the morning mail, this was another Disapoint- ment to me as I had got money to make up the remainder on the Saturday night on Saturday while meditateing what way to Do I bethought me that Thomas our Hannahs Hus- band had a payment to make to a certain Individual which I thought would wait while Spring and I went to see the person who consented to wait while Spring and Tho^ Let me have 150 Dollars but when the money whas not come I felt Downcast but I thought it would be best to go to MillwauMe and See the individual and State the case to him Martha and me went on the Tuesday and after I had told him how I was situated he simed better Satisfied than I expected I then Paid him 220 Dollars which was 70 Dollars intrest and 150 towards the stock and I Promised to bring him the re- mainder as soon as I got the remitance from new york. on the Friday after our return from MillwauMe I got a letter from New York which stated they had rec*^ orderes to pay me the money you had sent and they wished to know how I would have it sent I had stated in my letter which I had sent how the[y] was to send It but when I saw theire Sig- neture I was afraid the Direction would be wrong and I wrote off to them again and after waiting a sufl&cent time for an answer I begun to have fears again and on Satuarday the 22nd of Dec*" I wrote another letter and went with it to the Post office and their was [a] letter laying for me which had been overlook[ed] on the friday containg a Certificate

206 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

of Deposite on the Union Bank New York for the sum which you had sent I went to Millwaukie on the 27*^ and Settled for the land as before stated.

Since I last wrote to you we have all enjoyed good health with the exception of my wife she I think got cold on our journey to Millwaukie and for a few weeks [had] a good Deal of Pain in her limbs and head but She is now got well. Mary is a fine little girl and She can nearly Avalk to Day be- ing new Years Day the Chilldren are going to have a Sleigh Ride Round by Rochester and Burlington the ground is at pressent coverd with Snow and we have had a few Days of very severe wether but to Day it is a little milder and the chilldren wish to enjoy themselves. We have the Plank Road finished Past our house and within a half a mile of Burlington and while it was being made through the settle- ment we had a quantity of the men boarding with us which keep us very throng [ed] but it was a help to us other ways I Shall write to you & Brother Henry again in about a month and give you more particulars about our concerns and I must now close with the well wishes of all the Chilldren who wish you all a happy new year and may the Lord grant that it may be a happy year to all of you is the sincere prayer of

Your Affectionate Son and Daughter Edwin & Martha Bottomlby

Rochester Racien County State of Wisconsin July 1^* 1850 Dear Father & Mother :

After waiting some time I take this oportunity of writ- ing to you hopeing thees lines will find you in good health as I have the happiness to inform you is the case with us at present I wrote to you on the 2"^ Day of Jan^" giveing you the Particulars of my Doings in referance to the Land and what means I had adopted to meet my engagements. I wrote again to B^ Henry on the 19^^ of Feb^ which letter contained my propositions concerning the land which propositions I

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 207

felt willing to abide by if accepted by you and B' Henry on the 14*^ of June I rec^ a letter from B^ Henry inform- ing me that you where all well which letter also containd the sugestion you had made to B"^ Henry in the matter and I can say that I am perfectly satisfied with it. But in his letter he does not say wether you ever rec^ my letter of Jan^ or not and the letter which you wrote in Jan^ would leave before you would get mine so that I have note rec^ any information wether you rec^ it or not this is one rea- son why I have Delayed writeing being in expectation of re- ceiving a letter from you another is that B'' Henry in- formed me that Mathew Beaumont of Honley wood bottom was coming to America with Henry Swallows brother and I thought I would wait his arival before I wrote and I have the pl[e]asure to inform you the[y] both arived here on Friday the 28*^ of June in good health and Spirits

we had begun to be very anxious to know something about them on account of a serious acident which had happend on the Lakes the steamer Griffith was burnt on Lake Erie near Cleveland on the morning of the 17*^ of June and it is suposed not less than 300 lives where lost and about 30 where saved the princaple part of the Passengers wher emigrants the fire whas discovered about 4 0 Clock in the morning and in less than five minutes the ship was envel- oped in flames and the poor emigrants as the papers state whire Driven over board like frightened sheep by the in- tense heat of the flames, this circumstance hapening about the time that we expected they would be on the lakes excited our fears and we where very glad when they arived here in safety they was on the canal at the time of the accident he brought the parcel which you sent safe and we are very thankfuU to you for your kindness give my respects to Joe Parkin & Sam* Pontefract and tell them it gives me great Pleasure to know that I have still a place in their memory and tell them I shall take the first opurtunity that I have of Sending them some of the musick of this cuntry the in-

208 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

closed you can give to S Pontefract and I should wish them to try it on the organ at Crossland Church it is a tune which I have selected from a collection of tunes by the Bos- ton Acedemy from various Authors and being something in the English style is one that I like.

Dear Father I shall now try to give you a statement of things more conected with ourselves this spring I was summoned to attend as one of the grand jury at the county court just at the time when I Should have been geting in my seed and I was away from home 10 Days which threw me a little later with geting in my seed than I intended my boy W"' had to Do all the ploughing and I got our hannah's hous- band to sow some for me and look after W™ which he kindly did for me while I was away the Spring has been very Dry crops on high Dry land are very thin but mine are looking prety well and Some of my neighbours also the last few weeks we have had plenty of Rain and vegetation is in a flurishing condition at pressent and I hope our crops will turn out well we are milking 6 cows at pressent and our young stock looks well I have Old George Gill with me and I intend breaking 8 or 10 acre[s] more we are clearing the stones and cuting some trees out and I am anxious to get it Done as I should like to get some hay before harvest

Old George wishes you to make inquieries about a Daugh- ter of his whom he expected coming here this spring having rec*^ no letter from them he wishes you to get his wife or some of them to send him word what time they sailed and by what vesel if they have sailed and if not wether they intend comeing or not as he has some intentions of coming to Eng- land this fall but has not fully Decided for he somtimes thinks he should not like [it] in England and if he Did not he should come back here again and it would be a great ex- pence to him and a loss of time he would like to know how they all are and wether his son Richard be in work or not and if his Daughter is not coming he would like to know theire reasons

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 209

dear Father Mathew Beaumont tells me you have re- moved to netherton to Joseph Sykes old place and my B"" Did not mention it in his letter which left 14 Days afeter Mathew Sailed he stated that both you and my mother wher well but Did not say anything about you being flitted I hope no unpleasentness has arisen but that you have re- moved so that you might be more comfortably situated in referance to the house and nearer your Old acquaintances I should like to see you and my mother nicely situated here but am Avilling to waite the Lords time and keep hopeing and hopeing and if we never meet again on earth let us strive to meet in heaven.

I have had some thoughts of building a kitchen to our house this fall for we are crampt for room but this will de- pend on my crops and the market but [I] should like to build one if I can for in the winter we are more in need of one than in summer in summer we have our stove set in what we call a kitchen at pressent it was the house that was on the 40 acres of land that I bought which I removed to the Back of our house but it is so open that it is very little use to us in cold wether.

I rec** the money for Squire Hinchlif e which you sent and paid it over to him his wife was confined about 5 or 6 weeks since and she has another boy she has not recovered as well as usual but is now able to go about her house af- fairs the rest are all well J Tinker & family are well we had W™ Haigh of Quarmby in our Settlement a few weeks since he gave us a lecture in the chaple he has been travel- ing through the state selling the pattent right of various ar- ticles one of them is a pattent churn James Tinker has bargaind for the Pattent right for this county for the churn wether it will be any benifit to him or not time alone will de- tirmine but I hope it will my paper is geting almost full and I must Draw to a close

your affectionate son & daughter

Edwin & Marth Bottomley

14

210 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Rochester Racine Co^y Oct' 6^^ 1850 M*" Tho» Bottomley

Sir: It is with feelings and emotions of a very painful character that I communicate to you, (at the request of your son Edwin) the mournful intelligence, that Edwin and fam- ily are at present ** wading through the deep waters of af- fliction''. The family is afflicted with the desease here termed ** Typhoid fever". Ruth was the first victim whom it attacked. She was first seized with the complaint about six weeks ago. I am happy to say however, that she is now convalescent, and able to sit up some, but so weak and re- duced, that it must take some time to restore her to her us- ual health and strength Edwin was the next sufferer, it is about two weeks since he was seriously afflicted, and he is stile in a precarious condition. And next Martha, the wife, and mother, with the unremiting care, attendance, & anxiety and the constant watchings and labour, broke down, and had to take to bed, a few days ago so that at present there are three persons, afflicted, in one house, comprising the heads of the family. Now Sir I need not enter into de- tails, and attempt to describe the mournful consequences re- sulting from this pitiable and unhappy state of affairs, this you can readily immagine. In a large family, when both the heads are laid low by desease, and incapacitated from attending to their duties, the result cannot be other- wise than distressing in the extreme. Be assured Sir that it is not my design to give additional & unnecessary pain by representing things worse than they really are.

I have written these lines at intervals while waking and watching with your son Edmn. Hannah and her husband are here. Ruth as I before observed is recovering, and I fer- vently hope that Martha the mother, may not be so seriously afflicted, as Edwin, the father is at present. I would fain hope that Martha's disorder is nothing more serious than physical prostration caused by a lack of natural rest and over-exertion. However it cannot be denied that this ** Ty- phoid fever" is somewhat similar in its nature, symptoms.

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 211

and results to the "ship-fever" and when it once attacks one member of a family it is extremely likely to [attack] the whole — or at least that portion who may be pre-disposed at the time to catch the desease. Let ns hope that the worst is past. The doctor told me this morning, that although Ed- win could not be considered altogether free from danger, yet his symptoms were decidedly favourable ; and he thought he would recover. Let us then hope for the best. Edwin would have def ered writing a little longer, to see how things turned, but he was afraid that George Gill would get to England & see you before you got a letter, and as Ruth had been sick for some time before Geo left, and as Edwin was far from well at the time, he was afraid that if you did not receve a letter you would be getting very eneasy and anxious.

When you see my Father would you be kind enough to give him our kind love, & inform him that at present we are all in moderate health. Tell him also that I am expecting a let- ter from him And with best wishes for your health and prosperity, I subscribe myself

Yours Respectfully^^

M*- Tho« Bottomly

Rochester Nov'' 19**^ 1850 To M' T. Bottomley

Dear Sir : I take up my pen once more to communicate to you the mournful details of the continued suffering of your Son Edwin's family In my last I think I told you of the sickness of Ruth, & Edwin & Martha & Thomas I am happy to say that Ruth is restored to her usual health and is able to attend upon the others. Martha and Thomas are also im- proving, being able to sit up a little occasionally. About 12 days back your son Edwin was considered as improving. At that time I had a letter partially written to my father but in consequence of Edmn manifesting symptoms of a relapse I defered posting that letter untill I could communicate some

**The signature has been cut from the letter. The writer of it was James Tinker.

212 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

thing posative in the case. I can now do so. And I do as- sure you that it is with feelings the Keenest anguish that I report the painful fact of the decease of your son Edwin. Edwin was reduced by the first attack to a mere skeleton, & his nervous system was completely shaken; and hence the vital principal was too enfeabled to sustain successfully a Second attack. After this relapse he gradually sunk under the power of the fever. For the last week every day was ex- pected to be the last. I believe he Suffered little or no pain, for when asked how he felt his invariable reply was ''first rate." During the latter part of his sickness he wandered considerable. He often immagined that you were present and gave directions providing for your entertainment & com- fort. He frequently addressed himself to his father, and carried on the conversation as if you were present. He ling- ered on in this way untill last Sundy the 17^^ inst at 2i^ 0 Clock P. M. when the vital spark became extinct and he quietly fell asleep without a struggle Edwin lived the life of the upright, and his end was peace. I assure you that Ed- win was universally esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. And this mysterious dispensation of Providence will be regarded as a sore affliction, not only by his large, suffering, and bereaved family ; but also by a num- erous circle of friends & acquaintances. I never saw such an expression of sympathy as has been exhibited by the neigh- bors, during the sickness of Edwin. His death is regarded as a public & general loss. But our loss is unquestionably his gain, & therefore we ought not to mourn as those without hope. He has ''fought the good fight he has finished his course, and he has gone to receive the crown of his reward'' God grant that we all may be prepared to meet him amidst that glorious company of Saints, who throng the courts of Heaven — Amen. The funeral took place yesterday the 18*^ inst at 2 0 Clock P. M. The officiating Minister was the Rev. Mr. Drummond who improved the occasion by preaching a very impressive discourse. There was a very large attend- ance at the funeral— the Meeting House was completely

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 213

filled. I never saw such a general and universal exhibition of sorrow, manifested at the funeral of a private individual before.

But I must leave this mournful subject; in order to give you some account of his still suffering family. For further particulars I must refer you to the accompanying letter to my father who will no doubt furnish you with the same.

I am sorry to inform you that since I last wrote M. Beau- mont, W™ Schofield, Tho^ Brown and his wife, your grand- daughter Hannah, are laid low with the fever. The distress- ing fact cannot be concealed that the house at present is more crowded with the suffering victims of decease than a regular hospital. And no one can fore see the end. Tho" Bottomley & Willam S. are gradually improving M. Beau- mont is also convalescent, one week ago last Sunday we brought Mathew down to our house to make a little more room for the rest. But his place was soon occupied by your grand-daughter Hannah. Last Thursday evening, Hannah was confined and delivered of a fine daughter. All things considered she is at present going on very favourably. Ed- win was permitted to see and able to recognize his little grand-child before he died. Martha is also improving she is able to sit up a little occasionally. But as might be ex- pected, the recent afflictive despensation of Providence in taking away the Partner of her bosom — the husband of her youth, has sorely tried her spirits. God help her! she is wading through the deep waters of affliction. She is left with a large family of fatherless children one half of whom are prostrated by desease! Oh! the prospect is dark and dreary the family are the victims of desease — their head is cut off in his manhood — their supporter their comforter & their guide is laid low in the cold tomb, and the mother is left to battle with the trials, and hardships of a selfish world alone. I must say considering all the circumstances, she bears up wonderfully. And I can only earnestly repeat the aspiration that the God of Mercy may help her ; for I know

214 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

not to whom she can look for assistance but to the Father of the fatherless, and to yourself!

I am sorry to say that Tho^ Brown is considered at pres- ent, by the Doctors as very dangerous However he has youth and a good constitution in his favour and we hope for the best. I cannot at present communicate to you any infor- mation relative to Edwins private & business affairs. I pre- sume however they will write again, as soon as circum- stances will permit In the mean time they are anxiously ex- pecting a letter from you. I may observe while I think of it that Edwin has made his will and arranged about the dis- posal of his property. But space forbids my giving you the particulars in this note. I know the facts communicated in this mournful epistle will affect you painfully and I can only pray that God may afford the consolation which He alone can give — I am Respectfully

James Thinker.

Written at the request of M*"^ Bottomley

P. S. I have just learned that there is to be a consulta- tion of Doctors tomorrow, over the case of Tho^ Brown a Doctor of advice from Racien is to be in attendance

Rochester Ja** 25*^ 1851 Dear Father :

I am permited by the blessing of God to take up my pen to write to you and though I write in the midst of affliction and bereavement I have great reasons to be thankfull and I hope these lines will find you all in the enjoyment of good health which is the greatest blessing while surjurnors hear below we recieved yours of Dec 19 on Saturday *^18 of Janary and we where very sorry to hear of Brother henrys sickness and we hope by this time he is got quiet well I can- not tell you how we have been ever since the 23^* of last August to Jan *^16 the Doctor has never mised above one day at a time and from Sep 15 up to Novem 17 we had sel- dom les than too visits in a day but thank God we are all re- covering except Selina it was six weeks last thursday since

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 215

Arminal Ann begun and Ann Schofield begun on the f riday after Arminal Ann was [sick] three weeks and we did not expect her living from one day to another but she is able to sit up a little but not to walk Ann and Sarah and Cecelia Martha is improving and the too boys are going to school On the seventh of January William Morton Alfred Aspinal and myself went to racine to prove the will and I will send you a copy of the same in my next letter for we had to leave it at racine and on my return I found Hannahs baby very sick and it died about one oclock in the night and we buried it on the tenth

Father you wished to know what we thought of doing I have thought of keeping the farm for it was Edwins last wish that I should keep the children together as long as I could and I think I cannot if I let the farm because the rent would hardly support the family and I should not have em- ploymen[t] for them all I thought if we grew a little wheat to suport the family I should not have to hire much only in hay and harvest for the girls say they can plant corn and potatoes themselves but I should like a little advise for you see the boys are but young Thomas ten and William thirteen last November I hardley know how to act I should be very thankfuU if you would give me a little advise about the mat- ter

Dear Father you speak about us returning but I feel it my duty to stay hear and strugal with the cares of this world so long as the lord sees fit to spare me when I hope to join the happy spirit of him that is gone before in our fathers house above may the lord grant that we may all meet there where sickness and sorrow never comes where parting is no more Is the sincere prayer of your Afilicted Daughter Dear Father I feel very thankful for your past and profferd as- sistanc there is one thing that has given me a great deal of uneasiness of late wether Edwin told you or not I do not know but he borrowed two hundred dollars at twenty five per cent intrest to make out for the land the payment is

216 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

due the first of May and if you could assist me to meet it I

should be very thankful

• * *

your Affectionate Daughter

Martha Bottomley

Will of Edwin Bottomley

The last will and Testament of Edwin Bottomly of the Town of Burlington County of Eacine and State of Wisconsin.

I Edwin Bottomly, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, and being of Sound mind and Memory, do make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner and form following, to wit : First I give and bequeath to my be- loved wife Martha Bottomly, during the term of her natural life, the Sole interest, possession, and use of all my real and Freehold Estate, Lying and Being in the Town and County aforesaid, and known and described as follows, to wit : The north west quarter of the north East quarter, and the north East quarter of the north west quarter of Section No Twenty four (24) in Township No Three (3) north of Range No nineteen (19) East, containing Eighty (80) acres. Also the South East quarter of Section No Fourteen (14) and the west half of the South west quarter of Section No Thirteen (13) And lots No Four (4) and Seven (7) of Section No Fourteen (14) All in Township No Three (3) north of Range No nineteen (19) East. To have and to hold the Same to- gether with the whole of my personal property, or the resi- due after paying my just debts, all my goods chattels, &, of what kind and Nature Soever, during the term of her natur- al Hf e.

And it is further my will and desire, that on the death of my Said beloved wife Martha Bottomly (providing my youngest child Shall have arrived at age) then the whole of Said Real and personal Estate Shall be valued, and appor- tioned Equally amongst my beloved children. And on the

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 217

death of my Said beloved wife, I hereby give and bequeath the Same equally to my beloved children, Hannah Bottomly, Euth Bottomly, Aminal Ann Bottomly, Sarah Bottomly, Thomas Bottomly, Celina Bottomly, Cecilia Bottomly and Mary Emma Bottomly.

And it is further my will and desire that Should the de- cease of my Said wife Martha Bottomly take place prior to the time when my youngest child Shall have arrived at age the profits or income of which She was in the receipt, from the whole of Said real and personal Estate, or So much thereof as may be found needful. Shall be applied and Ex- pended for the Support and Education of my Said youngest child, or So many of my Said children as may be minors at said decease until the Same arrive at age; after which the whole of the remainder & residue of Said real and personal Estate Shall be valued and apportioned as before provided.

And lastly I hereby nominate. Constitute and appoint, my Said beloved wife Martha Bottomly, and my two friends William Morton and James Tinker, jointly and Severally to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby re- voking all former wills by me made.

In testimony whereof I hereto Set my hand and Seal, and publish and declare this to be my last will and Testament this tenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thous- and Eight himdred and fifty.

EDwm Bottomly Seal

The above instrument consisting of two half Sheets was now here Subscribed by Edwin Bottomly the Testator, in the presence of each of us, and was at the Same time de- clared by him to be his last will and Testament ; and we at his request Sign our names hereto in his presence, as attest- ing witnesses.

James Tinker Thomas Brown Alfred Aspinell

218 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Inventory of Edwin Bottomley's Effects

A true & perfect inventory of all the real estate, and of all and singular the goods, chattels, rights and credits, which were of Edwin Bottomley, late of the Town of Burlington, county of Eacine, and State of Wisconsin, deceased, at the time of his death, made by Martha Bottomly, James Tinker, & William Morton, Nominated & appointed executors, by the last will & Testament, of the Said deceased, with the aid and appraisement of John Hockings Sen and Christopher Rown- , tree appraisers, for that purpose appointed by the County Court, of the County of Racine, and duly qualified according to Law : Such inventory, and appraisement being commenced on the nineteenth day of March 1851, and closed on the same day at Burlington in the Town of Burlington, in the County of Racine and State aforesaid

The North West quarter of the North East quar- ter, and the North East quarter of the North West quarter, of Section twenty four (24) Township Three (3) North of Range Nineteen (19) East- Thirty five acres under the plough, and greater part fenced, & a brick house upon it Yearly value $50.00 $1000.00 The South East quarter of Section fourteen (14) and the West half of the South West quarter of Sec- tion Thirteen (13) and Lots No four (4) and Seven (7) of Section No fourteen (14) all in Township Three (3) North of Range Nineteen (19) East— AU unimproved — $1100.00

Chattels & Yeakly income

8 Cows of an inferior quality $10.00 each - - - 80.00

5 Two year old heifers $ 6.00 each - - - 30.00

4 Calves $ 3.00 '' - - - 12.00

2 Horses from 16 to 18 years old 95.00

4 SmaU pigs ------- 4.00

2321.00

LETTERS OF EDWIN BOTTOMLEY 219

Amount Brought forward ------- $2321.00

Poultry ..-.-..------- 3.50

1 Old Waggon _..--. 15.00

3 Old Ploughs & one Harrow ------- 12.00

1 Fanning Mill ------------ 14.00

1 Eight day Clock ----------- 15.00

2 Conunon tables ----------- 4.00

10 Old Chairs ------------ 2.00

4 Bedsteads ------------- 8.00

1 Shot gun ------------ - 5.00

1 Rifle --------------- 5.00

1 Cooking Stove & Furniture ------- 10.00

1 chamber Stove ----------- 3.00

1 Laith & tools ------------ 10.00

1 Circular Saw ------------ 5.00

Sundries ---.--.--..-- 4.00

$2436.50

A Seperate & distinct inventory and appraisement of all the household furniture and other personal property allowed and selected by the widow of Edwin Bottomley, late of the Town of Burlington County of Racine deceased

Furniture

1 Eight days clock ---------- $15.00

2 Common tables ----------- 4.00

10 Chairs ------------- 2.00

4 Bedsteads ------------ $ 8.00

1 Old Gun ------------ - 5.00

1 '' Rifle .._.-.- 5.00

1 " Cooking Stove & Furniture ----- 10.00

1 Small Chamber Stove --------- 3.00

$52.00

220 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Other Personal Property

8 Cows --------- $80.00

4 Two year old Heifers 24.00

2 Horses ----- 95.0O

$199.00

APPENDIX

AN ADDRESS FROM THE INHABITANTS OF THE ENGLISH SETTLEMENT, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THEIR FRIENDS IN ENGLAND, ON BEHALF OF THE ERECTION OF A NEW OHAPELi^

ADDRESS.

Dear Fathers and Brethren.

We have spent, the most interesting part of our lives, the years of our childhood, among you, and many pleasing re- flections are associated therewith. It was then, that we were taught to reverence the God of our Fathers. We wor- shipped in the same Sanctuary, at the same time, and were partakers of the same blessings with yourselves. And al- though we have removed to a far distant land, yet the Insti- tutions and Associations of youth are still dear to us. We still, find that we are social beings, and that, no temporal ad- vantages will compensate for the want of Christian inter- course. We cannot forget the Institutions, and the Chris- tian privileges of our earlier years. Nay we will not. Rather *let our hands forget their cunning' than we should forget the worship of our Maker. We love to attend to hear the preaching of the Gospel. But *how shall we hear with- out a Preacher, ' and how shall he preach, or we hear, with- out suitable convenience. Our Religious Services have hith- erto been conducted under very great disadvantages for want of a convenient place of worship. Until within the last few weeks our only place of meeting has been a private

'• Reprinted from a contemporary four-page circular in the possession of Miss A. A. Bottomley.

223

224 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

house. At present, however we have one Service each Sab- bath in the District School, which is far too small to accom- modate the Settlers. Besides its occupancy as a preaching place, is otherwise attended with unpleasantness, and un- certainty. In our School District, there are a number be- longing to the Roman Catholic persuasion, who loudly pro- test against the School being appropriated to any other use than the one for which it was built. They also deny that the Trustees, have the power to grant it, for any other purpose. This gives rise to much unpleasantness, and unkind feeling, and is an additional inducement to us to make a strenuous effort for the erection of a Preaching Place of our own.

We have also a thriving little Sunday School, which is laboring under the same disadvantages, as our Congrega- tion. We have plenty of Teachers, and plenty of books, but no convenient place in which to instruct the children.

Besides all this, we have no Burial Ground, and for us to take the bodies of our dear departed Relatives and friends to a distance of four miles, and there leave them in a wild uninclosed piece of land, is both unnatural and unkind ; and not all agreeable to the feelings and habits of an English- man. This dear Brethren, is a simple, honest and plain statement of our situation. And these disadvantages are not likely to be removed, unless we can receive some little pecuniary aid. We have therefore, thought it expedient to introduce the subject to your notice. This decision, how- ever, to appeal to your christian sympathy, and to solicit your generous aid in the erection of a place of public wor- ship, has not been hastily, nor inconsiderately adopted. In- deed, after frequent and somewhat perplexing discussion about the 'ways, and means,' to be employed in raising the necessary funds, to effect our object, we concluded that this was the only course, we could adopt with any prospect of success. Our encouragement and hope are grounded in the knowledge we have of the deep interest you have ever mani- fested for our welfare, both temporal and spiritual. Know-

APPENDIX 225

ing also the interest you take in, and the sacrifices you are willing to make for, the success of any object calculated to promote the moral and religious dignity of our fellow-men ; we feel confident that we are not beating the air, or building our speculations on a sandy foundation, while in this appeal to your christian liberality.

Our object is to erect a Chapel sufficiently large to accom- modate the whole Settlement ; to be the property and under the control of the subscribers residing therein. And in re- gard to its management, to be entirely independent of any one Eeligious Sect or Denomination. The necessity of this will be obvious when we observe that the inhabitants con- sist of various congregations and Denominations. We can- not each build a Chapel, nor can any one separately, and therefore we have come to the conclusion to make one gen- eral effort for the benefit of the whole. It is our unani- mous opinion that the management of the Chapel ought to be placed in the hands of three trustees, to be elected annu- ally by the subscribers ; with restrictions, prohibiting its be- ing appropriated to any purpose having an immoral ten- dency.

For the accomplishment of our great and desirable ob- ject, we propose to raise from five to six hundred Dollars. And, although we are willing cheerfully to give our last dol- lar, yet our circumstances are such, as to render it utterly impossible for us to raise the whole sum. You are aware that we have had to encounter the difficulties, and privations attendant on the commencement of a new business, in a new Country, with but very limited means. We therefore confi- dently hope, that as our means of contribution are necessar- ily very small, this plain statement of our necessities will be favorably received, and induce you to give us that help of which we stand so much in need, thus proving that our con- fidence has not been misplaced. It is not necessary that we dwell more at length upon the subject, as we send herewith a full copy of our proceedings and also a copy of our sub- scription list. We therefore conclude with the sincere

15

226 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

prayer that our call will be heard and responded to; and that numbers actuated by the noble and lofty principles of Christian Philanthropy will liberally assist us in this great undertaking.

Signed this 15th day of January, 1846.

Joseph Woodhead, '

James Tinker, ► Managing

Edwin Bottomley, J Committee.

iKesolutions passed at a Public Meeting of the English Settlement, held at James Scott's, on the Evening of Tues- day Dec. 30th, 1845, to take into consideration the propriety of Erecting a Chapel in the Settlement.

Edwin Bottomley, Chairman.

James Tinker, Secretary.

PEEAMBLE

WHEREAS there is happily a general disposition mani- fest amongst the Settlers to reverance the Sabbath and at- tend Public Worship, and whereas the present place of meet- ing, (the District School,) is not only too small to accommo- date the Settlement; but its being used as a Preaching Place, is also attended with much unpleasantness, on ac- count of the determined opposition of a few bigoted Eoman- ists. And whereas the erection of a suitable place for Pub- lic Worship, would be likely to induce numbers to attend the Preaching of the Gospel who are at present indifferent with regard to the observance of Religious Ordinances; and hence be the means of extending the hallowed influences of pure and undefiled Religion, which is the only firm founda- tion of individual happiness, the real bulwarks of national morality and greatness — therefore,

APPENDIX 227

Eesolved, 1st — That it is desirable to have a Chapel suf- ficiently large to accommodate the Settlement; and we hereby pledge ourselves to use the most strenuous efforts to erect one as soon as we possibly can.

Eesolved, 2nd. — That it is desirable to raise by subscrip- tion the sum of from five to six hundred Dollars for this purpose. Attached to the Chapel there shall be a public Burying Ground. The management of the Chapel and Bury- ing Ground should be placed under the control of three, Trustees, elected annually by the subscribers. Always pro- viding that the Chapel shall in no case be appropriated to any use having an immoral tendency; — neither shall it be granted for the diffusion of infidel doctrines.

Resolved 3rd. — Any person subscribing the sum of Five Dollars, shall be qualified to vote on the election of Trus- tees. No subscriber shall have the right to more than one vote, which right he shall have the power to sell, providing the purchaser be approved of by two thirds of the subscrib- ers— he may also bequesth it by will at his decease.

And if from any cause the right of any subscriber shall become extinct or lost, his or her place as a voter shall be replaced by a majority of two thirds of the subscribers

Resolved 4th. — That a managing Committee of three be appointed, who shall devise the necessary ways and means for raising subscriptions; and shall have power to solicit and recieve the same.

Resolved 5th. — That Joseph Woodhead, James Tinker, and Edwin Bottomley, be the Managing Committee, and are hereby recommended to draw up an Address to our Friends in England, containing a full statement of our case, and re- questing their aid. The Address to be presented to the next Meeting for its approbation.

Resolved 7th. — That this Meeting be adjourned to Wed- nesday, Jan. 7th, 1846, at Six o'clock.

Signed on behalf of the Meeting, EDWIN BOTTOMLEY, Chairman. ^

228 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Resolutions passed at the adjourned Meeting, held at James Scott's, January 7th, 1846.

JAMES TINKEK, Secret.^y. JOSHUA WOODHEAD, Chairman.

Resolved 1st. That the Address presented by the Manag- ing Committee be adopted ; and a copy thereof sent to Eng- land.

Resolved 2nd. — That a Managing Committee be nomi- nated in England, with power to add to their number, to co- operate with the Managing Committee here.

Resolved 3rd. — That Messrs. Christopher Tinker, Thomas Bottomley, and William Woodhead, be solicited to act as this Committee.

Resolved 4th. — That no resolution adopted shall be al- tered except by a vote of two thirds of the subscribers. Signed on behalf of the Meeting, JOSHUA WOODHEAD, Chairman.

We respectfully solicit your co-operation towards this benevolent and christian object- Communications to be address to the Acting Committeb, Christopher Tinker, Armitage Fold, ) Near William Woodhead, Ditto, ) Hudders-

Thomas Bottomley, South Crosland. ) field. Armitage Bridge, near Huddersfield, February 24th, 1846.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS for the Erection of a NEW CHAPEL, in the English Settlement, Wisconsin, United States, America.

Alexander Stenhouse, ----------- 5 00

Ephimey Stenhouse, ----------- 5 00

Agnes Stenhouse, _-_--_. 5 00

Samuel Stenhouse, ----------- 500

John Nobles, -------.----- 5 00

Martha Nobles, . . . . 5 00

APPENDIX 229

Allan Nobles, 500

Henry Nobles, - 500

Samuel Hellewell, ._. 500

Frances Hellewell, 500

Law Hellewell, 500

Allen Hellewell, 50O

Edwin Bottomley, 500

Martha Bottomley, .._ 50O

James Tinker, 5OO

Jane Tinker, 500

Joseph Woodhead, - 500

Joshua Woodhead, - 500

Ann Woodhead, - 500

James Scott, 500

Sarah Scott, 5OO

John Earnshaw, -- 500

Carried forward 110 00

Brought forward, ------ HO 00

Sarah Earnshaw, ----_. 5OO

Joseph Wimpenny, - 50O

Samuel Teal, --------- 5 00

M. Teal, -------- 5 00

William Parkin, 500

Titus Marsland, ------- 5OO

William Scholfield, ---------... 5 00

Eleanor Scholfield, ------------ 5 00

James Noble, -------- 500

Zylpha Noble, -------- 5 00

Squire Hinchliffe, --- 5 00

Ann Hinchliffe, -------- 5OO

William Bancroft, ----- 500

Joseph Cockcroft, ------------ 50O

Hannah Cockcroft, ------- 500

C. M. Brown, --. 50O

Elizabeth Brown, 500

15. 11. 0

230 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

John Shaw, -------.-.--_. 5 OO

Mary Shaw, -------.--.... 5 oO

Joseph Cockcroft, ------------ 5 00

Total (Dollars.) 210 00

W. B. Micklethwaite, Printer, Mossley, near Manchester.

A LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS TOWARDS THE EREC- TION OF YOUR CHAPEL

Tho« Bottomley's Book^*

Mess" W W & H Stables 10. 0. 0

The Workmen of Mess*" Stables

as a Token of Respect to Edwin

Bottomley Toward the Erection

of A chapel

Tho^ Bottomley ---------- 3 0 0

Henry '' ------_..- i 00

John Gledhill ----------- 1 00

Rv^ G Hough Incumbent

of Crosland Church ------- 1 1 0

Scholefield Cookson & C« ------ - 2 00

W^ Wrigley ------ 1 10

John Dyson Surgeon -------- 1 0 0

Jon^ Roebuck - --------- 1 00

John Buckley CornHill ------- 5 00

Rob^ '' '' -._.--- 1 0 0

Mark Andrew Mossley ------- 1 00

James Buckley Bullshead ------ 1 00

Collected By Ab"^ Jilliot - - 0 18 6

Ralph Taylor ------ 0 10 0

A Friend p^ Tho« Halkyard ------ 0 26

Benj'^ Wood ----------- 1 00

Independent Odd Fellows ------- 2 00

Co operative Society -------- 2 00

Crispen Barker ---------- 0 10 0

James Blakely ----- ----- 0 10 0

'* From the original manuscript preserved in a scrapbook belonging to Miss A. A. Bottomley.

APPENDIX 231

Paul Gledhill ----------- 0 10 0

Ed*^ Beaumont ---------- 0 10 0

Kichd Haigh ----------- 0 10 0

Geo« Roebuck - ----- 0 10 0

John Scholefield ----- 0 10 0

Hannah Holmes ---------- 0 10 0 ^

Benn Batley ----------- 0 7 6

Ah*" Haigh ------------ 0 7 6

Geo^ Carter ----------- 0 50

W"^ Silley ------------0 50

Martha Oldfield -.--.----- 0 50

John Scholefield ---------- 0 50

Mr« Ann Firth ----------0 50

Geo« Hellawell ---------- 0 50

John Wood ----------- 0 50

John Cook ------------ 0 50

Carr^ Over --------- L 57 19 +

T B act continued --------- 57 19 +

John Armitage Carter -------- 0 5 0

Hamor Oldfield ----------0 26

Joshua Sykes ----------- 0 2 6

David Byram ----------- 0 0 6

John Wrigley & Sons Workmen - - - - 1 0 6

A Friend ------------ 0 10 0

L60 0 0

W"™ Woodheads Book

W" Woodhead ---.-.---- 2 00

John Bottomley ---------- 0 50

James Wagstaff ._.-- 0 30

John Lockwood ---------- 0 26

W"^ Dawson ----------- 0 26

John Oldfield ----------- 0 26

Henry Smith ----------- 0 26

Cha« Hirst - - - 0 10

Nathan Gledhell ---------- 0 10

232 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

W"^ Walker ------------ 0

Benj** Naylor ---- 0

Geo« Atha ----- 0

W"^ Claye ------------ 0

Joe Spencer - ---------- 0

John Chapel 0

James Scott ---- 0

Joe Berry ------ 0

W° Stocks 0

F Vickerman -- 0

Dead man Stone

Sunday Schoolars - -- 0

Teachers - 0

Tho» Sheppard 1

A Friend 0

WH - 0

John Bowker 0

A Friend ----- - - 0

Joseph Benson ---- 0

Hiram Foy ------------ 0

JL - 0

John Ellis - - - 0

A Friend ------------- 0

Henry Washington --------- 0

Tho- Shaw 0

John Haigh Qnarmby -------- 0

Benn Brooks - 0

W" Willett ..------.--- 0

Henry Wilkenson --- 0

Hugh Williamson --- -- 0

Joseph Thornton 0

Joe Hawkyard --- 0

0	6
2	6
2	6
1	0
2	6
2	6
1	0
2	6
5	0
4	0
8	01/2
14	9
0	0
5	0
5	0
3	0
2	6
5	0
2	6
2	6
5	0
5	0
2	6
2	6
10	0
2	6
10	0
5	0
2	0
1	0
2	6

10 0 31/2 [10 0 31/2] Less W" Woodheads - 2 00

Carr* up 8 0

APPENDIX 233

Brot up 8 0 31/2

Collected by John Nobles of Eastrick

Sam^ Haigh 0 30

Tho* " 0 3 0

Betty " 0 2 0

Grace " 0 2 0

W" Firth 0 26

Martha '' - - - 0 2 6

Mathias Shaw 0 10

" Jun' 0 10

L8 17 3y2 Christ^ Tinker Book

Tho» Brook Esq' 5 00

Christ' Tinker 3 00

John '' 10 0

Ric* " - - . - 10 0

Joseph Hinchliff - 1 00

EUiott " 0 5 0

MissH " 0 5 0

M' Parkin 1 00

M" Amas Oldfield 0 26

A Friend 1 00

Do - - - 0 10

Friends - 0 29

L 13 16 3

W°»Woodheads 8 17 3y2

Tho" Bottomley's 60 0 0

L82 13 61/2 W™ Woodhead bringing

his own 2 00

Grand Total - - . - 84 13 61/2

2

INDEX

INDEX

, Samuel, with Bottomley family,

99, 100; goes to school, 106; leaves Bottomley family, 115; illness of, 158.

, William, in Bottomley family,

199, 202, 208, 215.

Agriculture, pioneer conditions in, 33-34; breaking land, 48, 55, 66, 69, 70, 75, 77, 81, 95; planting, 42, 48, 68, 76, 84, 91, 102, 123, 124, 152-53, 156-57; 160-61; harvest, 81, 82, 84, 94, 98-99, 103-104, 129-30, 135, 136, 140, 144; 162-63, 165, 168, 173-74; 179, 187, 188, 202-204; planting to- matoes, 88 ; planting fruit trees, 84 ; wheat attacked by rust, 129, 135; com attacked by blackbirds and cut worm, 160-61; method of planting wheat, 168-69.

Ague, in English Settlement, 48-, 52, 55, 56, 133, 154, 167, 182; in Wis- consin, 158; treatment for, 161-62.

Aimes, , school trustee, 50.

Albany (N. Y.), route via, 29, 38, 75, 93, 196.

American Sunday School Union, rep- resentatives from, 57; Bibles or- dered from, 113.

Ames, J. W., farm described, 107-108.

Angear, , address by, 106.

Apothecary, at English Settlement, 90.

Apple trees, planted, 84.

Armitage, Mrs. , mother of

George, letter to, 46.

Armitage, David, decides to emigrate, 38.

Armitage, George, English immigrant, 21; on shipboard, 22, 23, 27, 51; in Milwaukee, 33; makes settle- ment, 30-31; helps fight fire, 36; preemption in name of, 38; cuts timber, 40-41; illness of, 56; helps build house, 59; paid for work, 66; money sent to, 67; gift to, 144; let- ter from, 46.

Armitage, Sarah (Mrs. George), Eng- lish immigrant, 21 ; illness of, 153.

Aspinell, Alfred, witnesses will, 215, 217.

Bailiff, in United States, 57.

Bancroft, , apothecary, 89; re- turns to England, 90; tells of brick- making, 100; daughter of, 102.

Bank, discount charged at, 71.

Baptist Chapel in Milwaukee, 101, 106.

Barley, planted, 42, 91, 94, 123, 153; crops, 99, 140, 168, 202; malt made from, 162.

Bass viol, played by Edwin Bottom- ley, 37, 39 ; broken, 50, 62 ; repaired, 64.

Beaumont, George, decides to emi- grate, 38.

Beaumont, John, tomato seeds for, 88.

Beaumont, Mathew, English immi- grant, 207; illness of, 213.

Beef, price of, 46; supply, 152.

Beer, as cure for ague, 161-62.

Beets, planted, 76; crops, 81, 84, 104.

Bible, inquiry concerning, 67; raise funds for, 105-106.

Billy. See Jenny.

237

238

INDEX

Black Rock, near Liverpool, 21.

Blackbirds, eat corn, 157, 160-61.

Blacksmith, at English Settlement, 96, 100-101, 126; John Wood becomes, 174, 183-84.

Blood, , doctor, 47.

Bobbin bits, brought to Edwin Bot- tomley, 83.

Boston (Mass.), Atlantic port, 75; mails from, 92.

Boston Academy of Music, collections of tunes made by, 208.

Bots, cause death of horse, 146.

Bottomley, Ann, gifts from, 104.

Bottomley, Arminal Ann, on ship- board, 25; illness of, 48, 52, 215; news of, 51, 57; gift from, 90; property bequeathed to, 217; pa- pers in possession of, 223, 230; gift of papers, 10, 18.

Bottomley, Cecelia Martha, christen- ed, 147; illness of, 167, 215; news of, 175, 181; property bequeathed to, 217.

Bottomley, Edwin, early life, 10, 13- 15; emigration to United States, 14r-17, 22-29; arrives in Wisconsin, 30; buys land, 31, 106-107, 109-110, 170-71 ; plans for paying for land, 137, 142, 172-73, 195, 200-201; pays for land, 153, 18^83, 204-206; builds house, 31, 34; breaks land, 75, 95; sows crops, 33-34, 48, 55, 66, 68, 76, 84, 91, 102, 15&-57; harvests crops, 81-82, 98-99, 103, 129-30, 135, 140, 144, 162-63, 168, 179, 187, 202-204; plants orchard, 84; do- mestic animals owned by, 34r-35, 44, 49, 80-81, 91, 144, 161, 166; fire on land of, 35-36; cuts timber, 40-41, 73; builds fences, 66, 68, 77, 86, 88, 91-92; diagram of fences on land of, 78; works land on shares, 48; helps neighbors with work, 115, 138-39, 183; hires labor, 65, 130, 154; applied to for work, 196-97; hires out horse and wagon, 85, 88; sells forty acres, 189-90; builds new house, 53, 56, 63-64, 68; dia-

gram of floor plan, 58 ; draws sketch of, 102-103 ; map of homestead and surroundings, 172; map described, 171-72; teaches Sunday School, 79; on committee to solicit funds for church, 108, 111 ; chairman of meet- ing, 227; religious convictions of, 116; draws plans for church, 120, 126; trustee of church, 147, 177; school clerk, 50; district pathmast- er, 127; supervisor, 194; executor of Schofield will, 159, 162 ; on grand jury, 208; account of expenditures, 32-33, 96-97, 132, 149-52; makes spinning jenny, 69; makes corn planter, 127-28 ; makes drilling ma- chine, 161; makes furniture, 68-69, 145; in Milwaukee, 52, 100, 106, 182, 205-206; in Racine, 176-77, 178-79, 198 ; in Whitewater, 179 ; leads sing- ing, 39, 64; hunts, 70; illness of, 88-90, 105, 131, 133, 138, 140, 145, 201-202, 210-211; treatment for ague 161-62 ; party at home of, 106 ; visitors at home of, 83, 95, 197-98, 202 ; plans for John Wood, 83 ; John Wood leaves, 112-14; offer of, to Thomas Hall, 110-111, 130-31; of- fer refused, 133-34 ; plans for father and mother, 184r-89, 195; plans for mercantile business, 163-65; money sent to, 52, 60, 141^3, 155, 163, 181, 205-206; makes draft on Thomas Bottomley, 166; roadworkers board with, 206; debt paid to, 71; letter to, 72; grandchild of, 213; death of, 16, 18, 212; funeral, 212-13; will, 217-18 ; inventory of property, 218- 20.

Bottomley, Hannah, mother of Ed- win, 13.

Bottomley, Hannah, daughter of Ed- win and Martha Bottomley; on ship- board, 22, 23; news of, 51, 57; in- quiry about Bible for, 67; goes to school, 86; works for Mr. Norton, 87; helps with farm work, 123-24, 134-35, 136, 140, 143, 182; teaches school, 157, 161, 181; illness of, 183;

INDEX

239

marriage of, 192; message from, 199; property bequeathed to, 217. See also Mrs. Thomas Brown.

Bottomley, Henry, message for, 45, 57, 78, 93, 100, 107, 144, 148, 158, 177; letter from mentioned, 101, 181, 205, 209; letter to, 33, 71, 86; gift to, 90; advised to immigrate, 104- 105, 188; plans for establishing mercantile business, 163-65; propo- sition made to, 207; illness of, 214.

Bottomley, Isaac, congratulations to, 69.

Bottomley, Martha, English immi- grant, 21; on shipboard, 23-25, 27; illness of, 33, 138-39, 141, 183, 206, 210-11, 213; daughter born to, 48, 53, 192; at Milwaukee, 52, 182, 205; sees Indians, 56; visits Prairieville, 83; knits, 87; advises buying land, 109; requests seeds, 181; John Woods' conduct toward, 113; as- sists neighbors, 159; proves will, 215; property bequeathed to, 216; executor of will, 217, 218; gift to, 86, 95, 104, 144; letters from, 52, 215.

Bottomley, Mary Ann, gift for, 90.

Bottomley, Mary Emma, named, 199; birth of, 192; news of, 206; prop- erty bequeathed to, 217.

Bottomley, Ruth, on shipboard, 22, 23; discovers fire, 35; illness of, 87, 167, 175, 182-83; 210-11, 213; helps with farm work, 123, 135, 136, 140, 143, 187, 202; news of, 51, 57, 170; gift from, 90; property bequeathed to, 217.

Bottomley, Sarah, on shipboard, 23, 26, 27; accident to, 129; news of, 51, 56, 62, 100; gift from, 90; iU- ness of, 190, 215; property be- queathed to, 217.

Bottomley, Selina, birth of, 48, 52; christened, 57; illness of, 105, 214; news of, 62, 82; gift from, 90; property bequeathed to, 217.

Bottomley, Thomas, son of Edwin, on board ship, 26, 27; illness of, 82,

105, 213; news of, 51, 56-57, 62, 161, 199; gift to, 128; property be- queathed to, 217.

Bottomley, Thomas, father of Edwin, 13; silhouette of, frontispiece; pic- ture of, mentioned, 147-48; illness of, 40; money from, 52, 60, 133, 141-43, 155, 163, 181, 205-206; gift from, 48, 69-70, 75, 77, 83, 95, 101- 102, 104, 128, 143-44, 169; gifts to, 62, 90, 102; asked to collect debt, 54, 59, 67; note payable by, 81; draft on, 160 ; on managing commit- tee to solicit funds for church, 108, 111, 228; extract from subscription book of, 230-31; plans for mercan- tile business, 163-65; trouble over position of, 187, 195, 197; advised concerning immigration, 147, 184- 89, 195-96; asked for aid, 195, 201, 215-16; moves to Netherton, 209; emigrates to America, 18.

Bottomley, Mrs. Thomas, thanks to, for gift, 75; gifts for, 90; illness of, 98; message for, 199.

Boxes, sent to settlers, 48, 60, 75, 95, 101-102, 104, 14^-44; trouble with, at customhouse, 63, 144; delay in receiving, 75, 79, 140; plan to se- cure value of, 80-81; payment for, 151.

Brauer, Lydia, aid acknowledged, 10.

Brick, for houses, 37, 45, 53, 56; cost of, 59; paid for, 66; made in Wis- consin, 100.

British Temperance Emigration So- ciety, sketch of organization, 94; members ' disappointment in, 99 ; ad- vice to withdraw from, 100.

Brokerage, charged on English money exchanged, 87.

Brown, A. Speirs, merchant. New York, 205.

Brown, Thomas, marriage to Hannah Bottomley, 192; threshes wheat, 200; aids Bottomley, 202, 208; lends money to Bottomley, 205 ; illness of, 211, 2ia-14; witnesses will, 217.

240

INDEX

Brown, Mrs. Thomas, child bom to, 213 ; child dies, 215. See also Han- nah Bottomley.

Buckwheat, harvested, 104.

Buffalo (N. Y.), immigrants at, 29- 30; route via, 38, 93, 196; work sought in, 202.

Burlington, settlement near, 31; road from, to Racine, 77, 88, 107, 120; lawyer at, 118; doctor at, 47, 122- 23; Fourth of July celebration at, 50; carding mill at, 58; school at, 86, 87; work in, 178; flood, 193; plank road through, 203, 206.

Burlington township, land in, 216, 218.

Butter, profits in making, 147; bar- reled, 201.

Cabbage, planted, 76.

California, emigrant to, 107.

Canada, route from, 39.

Carding mills, at Waterford and Rochester, 58.

Careo, immigrants arrive on, 75.

Carrots, planted, 76; harvested, 84, 139.

Catholics, protest use of school build- ing, 117-18, 224, 226; settlers, 166.

Cattle, price of, 32, 35, 44, 116, 161; food for, 34, 168; belonging to Ed- win Bottomley, 34-35, 49, 73, 91, 152, 154, 166, 173, 201, 208; freeze to death, 40, 146; accident to, 55; sheds for, 40, 77 ; trample crops, 81, 165 ; profit in raising, 116.

Cauliflower, planted, 76.

Cellar, of Bottomley house, built, 58.

Cemetery, at English Settement, lack of, 224; ground given for, 157; burial in, 160.

Chapel. See Church.

Chess, grows in wheat, 128.

Chestnuts, planted, 68.

Chicago (111.), immigrants in, 30; In- dians go to, 56; flood in, 193.

Chicago : Its History and Its Builders, by J. S. Currey, reference to, 193.

Chicago River, floods, 193.

Christmas, carols sung, 64; party, 105- 106; services, 176.

Church, in Milwaukee, 101, 106; in Rochester, 37; in English Settlement, 17; services, 57, 79, 117, 180, 223^ 24; laws relating to, 118; plans for erecting, 108, 124r-25 ; address on be- half of erection of, 223-30; aid in erecting, from England, 119-20 ; dia- gram and description of floor plan of, 120-21; probable cost of, 125; contracts let for, 126-27; work on, 131, 138, 139, 157, 176-77, 181; serv- ice held in, 176; annual meeting of subscribers to, 146-47, 176; opened, 190-91; doctrine of, 125-26; meet- ing of managing committee of, 188; lecture in, 209; funeral of Edwin Bottomley in, 212-13.

Chum, patent for, 209.

Cleveland (Ohio), immigrants pass, 30; steamer burned near, 207.

Climate, electrical storms, 35, 49, 53; snow storms, 178; spring, 68, 121, 124, 126, 152, 178, 193, 208; sum- mer, 95, 98, 185; autumn, 82, 103; winter, 36, 40, 61, 64, 105,145, 178, 190, 192-93; suitable for brickmak- ing, 100.

Clothing, damaged on journey, 46, 49- 50; gift of, 51, 60; flt of, 61-62, 99.

Club, at South Crossland, 89; insur- ance benefits of, 148.

Cockcroft, Charles, at English Settle- ment, 37; dies, 50.

Cockcroft, Jane, arrives at English set- tlement, 93 ; aided by Edwin Bottom- ley, 94 ; at Bottomley house^ 95 ; sit- uation for, 97; married, 147.

Cockcroft, Joseph, payment to, 32; at English Settlement, 37; at Milwau- kee, 95; rents James Scott's farm, 147, 153.

Cockcroft, Mrs. Joseph (Ann Wood- head), marriage of, 147, 153.

Coffee, use of, 41; price of, 46.

Commission, charged on English mon- ey exchanged, 87.

Congregational Church, member of, 83.

INDEX

241

Corn, Indian, use of as food, 31 ; meal, 41, 90 J soil suitable for, 34; ground ready for, 55, 66, 96, 124, 15^-154; planted, 42, 48, 76, 91; diagram showing method of planting, 156; crops, 81, 84, 94, 99, 104, 129-30, 141, 165, 174, 179; climate suitable for, 49; machine for planting, 127- 28; blackbirds in, 157, 160-61; cut- worms destroy, 161; stalks for cat- tle, 168; gift of, 90.

Com law, in England, 57.

Creamer, , spring on land belong- ing to, 77.

Crossland mills, manager of, 13.

Crowther, Miss , 113. See also

Mrs. John Wood.

Crowther, William, land broken for, 55; has ague, 56; daughter of, 113; John Wood boards with, 114; death of, 178.

Crowther, Mrs. William, at Racine, 178 ; daughter with, 179.

Cucumbers, soil for, 34 ; planted, 42, 76.

Currey, J. S., Chicago; Its History and Its Builders, (Chicago, 1912), refer- ence to, 193.

Customhouse, baggage examined at, 29 ; difficulties at, 63.

Cutworms, destroy com, 161.

Dairying, profits in, 116, 147; farm

for, 188. Dams, burst, 193. Dane County, Wisconsin, immigration

to, 94. Dawson, James, English immigrant,

arrives at Milwaukee, 30 ; at Prairie-

viUe, 43. Dawson, Mrs. James, at English Set- tlement, 83. Deer, in Racine County, 70, 152. Dents, reed, request for, 58, 68. Des Plaines River, floods Chicago, 193. Detroit (Mich.), immigrants pass, 30;

route via from Canada, 38. Deumerly, John, trip from Canada,

38-39.

16

Ditch fences, made, 88; description of, 92; cost of, 96.

Dobson, Richard, land purchased from, 109; plans for paying, 137, 142; paid for land, 153; married, 147.

Dobson, Mrs. Richard, at Mineral Point, 153. See also Jane Cockcrof t

Doctor, at Burlington, 47, 122-23.

Drilling machine, made by Edwin Bot- tomley, 161.

Drummond, William, Methodist min- ister, 123-24, 148; makes address, 190-91; presides at funeral, 212-13.

Ducks, wild, in Racine County, 91.

Dutch, settlers in English Settlement, 165, 166-^7.

Dyer, , doctor, 47.

Dyson, Betsey, with British Temper- ance Emigration Society, 93-94; at English Settlement, 99, 109; in Mil- waukee, 101; finds employment for Samuel, 106; birth of child to, 114; illness of, 158.

Dyson, John, with British Temperance Emigration Society, 93-94; at Eng- lish Settlement, 99, 109 ; finds work, 100, 101, 106, 115; wishes to return to England, 104; employed as baker, 158; letter from, mentioned, 192.

Dyson, John, surgeon, advice asked concerning ague, 161; letter from mentioned, 165.

Dyspepsia, attacks immigrants, 63.

Eagle Creek, in Racine County, 105.

Eagle Lake, timbered lands on, 68.

Eamshaw, John, at English Settle- ment, 37 ; school trustee, 50 ; services at home of, 57, 79.

East Troy, 42.

Easter Tuesday, sowing begun, 68.

Edinbro, in Racine County, letter from, 48, 52.

Emigration. See Immigration.

England, factory life in, 13-14; eco- nomic distress, 33, 39, 41, 175, 197; political agitation, 57 ; railroad build- ing, 103; wheat grown, 93, 99; price

242

INDEX

of flour, 165; emigrants return to, 61, 71, 79-80, 90, 93, 102, 158, 165, 211; address to friends in, 223-28; subscribers to church, 230-33.

English Settlement, in Racine County, 16, 36-37; church in, 17; address on behalf of church, 223-30; subscrib- ers to church, 228-33; school in, 37, 50; crops, 76, 99, 129, 188; minister, 68-69, 148; blacksmith, 96, 100-101, 183; illness, 48, 52, 55, 56, 133, 136, 190, 193; stories con- cerning, 70-71 ; plank road through, 203. See also School and Church.

Erie Canal, immigrants on, 29, 104; cost of board on, 32.

Europe, wheat grown in, 93.

Factory, life in America, 193.

Fairport (Ohio), a lake port, 30.

Farley, Mary, aid acknowledged, 10.

Farms, improved, for sale, 91, 107-108, 134, 165; price received for, 165.

Fences, rails cut for, 40-41, 42; built, 66, 68, 77, 86, 88; broken, 165; dia- gram of, 78; ditch, 88, 92, 96; pick- et, 122 ; on Ames farm, 107.

Fever, in English Settlement, 133, 136, 138.

Fires, on prairie, 35-36; on lake steamer, 207.

Fitchcrof t, , at English Settlement,

58 ; takes drawing to England, 61.

Flannel, plan for manufacture of, 58.

Floods, in Wisconsin and Illinois, 193.

Flour, supply of, 41, 53, 152 ; price of, 46, 158; cost of sending to New York, 164.

Flour mills, at Rochester, 58.

Food, supply of, 41, 52, 81, 97; price of, 46; lack of, 53. See also Prices.

Fourth of July, celebration, 30, 50, 201.

Fox River, source of, 37; plans for mill on, 174.

France, wheat grown in, 93.

Frost, , Morton family with, 46,

47.

Fruit, trees planted, 84; supply of, 91.

Furniture, in Bottomley house, 41, 97;

made by Edwin Bottomley, 68-69.

Gill, George, works for Edwin Bot- tomley, 187, 188; message from, 208; returns to England, 211.

Glass, for Bottomley house, 66.

Gooseberry bushes, clippings from re- quested, 128.

Griffith, steamer, burned, 207.

Grist mills, at Rochester, 58; water- power for, 105.

Godfrey, , carols sung to, 64.

Gorst, Robert, organizer British Tem- perance Emigration Society, 94.

Gorstville. See Mazomanie.

Green, , address by, 106.

Grist mill, at Rochester, 58 ; water pow- er for, 105.

Gudger, John, buys land at Pewaukee Lake, 43; conduct towards John Wood, 65-66; John Wood leaves, 61; church member, 83.

Gudger, Mrs. John, at Milwaukee, 43.

Haigh, William, sells patent rights, 209.

Halkyard, James, journey through United States, 197-98; at Edwin Bottomley^s, 202.

Hall, Mary Ann, advised concerning immigration, 90-91 ; at English Set- tlement, 101, 109; teaches children, 104; does millinery, 123; illness of, 137; Edwin Bottomley^s plans for, 106, 110-11; William Perkin^s offer to, 110-11, 112, 133-34; indecision of, 136-37, 181; urges payment of debt, 151; in Milwaukee, 176.

Hall, Thomas, advised concerning im- migration, 90-91; at English Settle- ment, 101, 109 ; accident to, 112 ; ill- ness of, 122-23, 126, 127; Edwin Bottomley's plans for, 106, 110-11, 130-31; William Perkin's offer to, 110-11, 133; works for Bottomley,

INDEX

243

104, 121, 136-37, 146; leaves Bot- tomley, 134-35; lives at Perkiii's house, 112; works for Perkin, 130, 136 ; money owed to, 151.

Hams, sale of, 151.

Harness, purchased, 96.

Hay, grows wild, 34; shortage of, 40; purchased, 41; threatened by fire, 36; cut, 33, 48-49, 77, 134-35, 14&- 46, 162; crop of, 81, 144, 167-68.

Hay (Haye), Abraham, at English Settlement, 37; name forged, 43.

Hay (Haye), Charles, goods sent by, 93.

Hay (Haye), John, English immigrant at Pewaukee Lake, 31.

Hay (Haye), Richard, breaks land, 95; sells heifers, 164, 166.

Healds, material for requested, 62.

Healy, , resident of Rochester,

134.

Hellewell, Mrs. Samuel, death of, 184.

Hickory nuts, gift of, 90.

Hilton, Thomas, letter from mentioned, 196-97.

Hinchcliffe, Squire, helps extinguish fire, 36; money sent to, 52, 67, 133, 163, 199, 209 ; box sent to, 104; buys plow, 95; grain threshed, 138-39; house moved, 115; improvements on house, 154; owes Edwin Bottomley money, 151; news of, 178, 181.

Hinchcliffe, Mrs. Squire, son bom to, 209.

Hobroyd, John, settler in Iowa, 39.

Hockings, John, appraiser, 218.

Hockins, John, English immigrant, 74; gift of timber for church, 125.

Hogs, owned by Edwin Bottomley, 144, 166, 173; freeze to death, 40; trample wheat, 49 ; ready for market, 141, 175, 190 ; profits in raising, 107, 147.

Holroy, Miss , intends to emigrate,

45.

Homestead, Bottomley, woodland on, 73; fences around, 68, 77, 86, 88, 92, 96; spring on, 84; photograph of, 58, drawing of described, 78, 102-

103; map of, 172; map described, 171-72.

Honch Wallace, passed at sea, 25.

Honley Feast, celebrated, 169.

Horses, freeze to death, 40; diseases of, 131, 135, 141; die, 146; method of driving, 50-51 ; purchased by Ed- win Bottomley, 80-81; use of, 84r- 85, 95.

Houses, built by Joseph Mitchell, 37; on Ames farm, 107; moved, 115; for Thomas and Mary Hall, 106-107, 131, 132; Edwin Bottomley's, built, 34; plans for second, 45; work on, 53, 56, 61, 68, 88, 122, 126, 130; moved into, 63-64 ; cost of, 59 ; dia- gram of, 58; photograph of, 58; drawing of, described, 61, 102-103, description of interior, 97, 177; ad- ditions to planned, 209.

Huddersfield (England), mill town, 13, 68.

Hunting, in Racine County, 70.

Huron (Mich.), passed by immigrants, 30.

Hutchinson, , blacksmith, 96 ; John

Wood works for, 100-101, 104, 111, 126; John Wood leaves, 174.

Hymn, composer of, 51 ; words of, 54— 55.

Hyssop, grows wild, 34 ; cultivated, 76.

Iceberg, seen from ship, 26.

Illinois, boundary of, 37; settler in, 60, 67; route via, 158.

Illinois River, 36.

Immigrants, to America, 38, 39, 74, 83, 93-94, 101, 137, 169, 188, 192, 194, 207; expectations of, 90-91; return of, 61, 71, 7^-80, 90, 93, 102, 158, 165, 211; ships carrying, burned, 207.

Immigration, purposes of, 14-16, 44, 97, 149 ; results, 17 ; voyage to Amer- ica, 21-28; journey west, 28-29; from Canada, 39; to California, 107; advice concerning, 38, 90-91, 104- 105, 184-89; 195-96, 197; difficultiee

244

INDEX

of, 41; society for promotion of, 94, 99-100; men fit for, 104.

Indians, at English Settlement, 56.

Indiana, route via, 38.

Influenza, in English Settlement, 190.

Insurance, benefits of South Cross- land lodge, 148.

Iowa, settler in, 39.

Ireland, coast passed, 22 ; repeal ques- tion in, 57; economic distress in, 152.

Irish Channel, immigrants in, 21.

Jacson, John D., death at sea, 27.

Jacquard, request for, 62.

Jenison, Marguerite, aid acknowledged,

10. Jessop, Martha, married, 13. See also

Mrs. Martha Bottomley. Jenny, spinning, plans for making, 62 ;

frame made, 69 ; rim for, 88. Joiners' tools, use of, 69.

Kale, curled, planted, 76.

Kaye, Joseph, English immigrant, 184.

Kenosha, Edwin Bottomley at, 163; resident of, 186.

Kilbum, John, message for, 83.

Kitchen, plans for building, 209.

Kittle, William, History of the Town- ship and Village of Mazomanie, cit- ed, 94.

Labor, conditions in England, 39; de- mand for, 42, 194; furnished by neighbors, 56, 59, 95, 124, 138-39, 141, 145, 202; terms of, for year, 65. See also Wages.

Lake Erie, route via, 30; steamer on, burned, 207.

Lake Huron, route via, 30; freezes over, 60.

Lake Michigan, route via, 30; freezes over, 60; Chicago River empties in- to, 193.

Lancaster (England), emigrants from, 13.

Lands, public, in Wisconsin, 16, 40-41, 68; price of, 31-32, 66, 105, 107, 165,166, 171, 189-90; purchased, 31, 43, 106-107, 109-10, 170-71; purchased by foreigners, 179; preemption, 38, 45; speculation in, 182-83; timbered, 66, 73, 85; improv- ed, for sale, 104-105, 107-108, 134, 166; breaking and clearing, 55, 66, 69, 73, 75, 77, 81; taxes on, 57; Ed- win Bottomley's, described, 34, 172; damage done by storm, 178 ; effect of public improvements on values, 203.

Land office, regulations of, 38.

Lee, , makes address, 190-91.

Leeds Mercury, copy of received, 67, 152.

Lees, Jonathan, applies for work, 197.

Lettuce, crop of, 76.

Lime, price of, 59.

Limestone, for cellar, 56.

Little Falls (N. Y.), route via, 29.

Littlewood, Ruth, message for, 69.

Liverpool (England), British port, 21, 80; British Temperance Emigration Society organized in, 94.

Lockport (N. Y), described, 2&-30.

Logs, request for, 62.

Loom, plans for making, 62, 69.

Lumber. See Timber.

Machinery, in United States, 69; for planting com, 127-28; for sawmill, 157-58; for drilling, 161.

Magistrates, in United States, 57, 80, 194.

Mail, cost of sending, 39, 66, 87, 93; service to Rochester, 92; sending money by, 45.

Malt, plans for making, 162.

Manitou Island, immigrants pass, 30.

Margrow, sweet, growing, 76.

Marston, Benjamin, decides to emi- grate, 38.

Manufacturing, in United States, 69.

Maumee River, town on, 30.

INDEX

245

Mazomanie, British Temperance Emi- gration Society at, 93-94 ; History of Township and Village of, by Will- iam Kittle, reference to, 94.

Measles, on board ship, 26-27 ; in Eng- lish Settlement, 32.

Melons, soil for, 34 ; planted, 42, 76.

Methodist Episcopal Church, quarterly meeting of, 128 ; minister of, 148.

Michigan, route via, 38 ; settler in, 188.

Midgley, , money expected from,

130, 134.

Miller, James, debt to Edwin Bottom- ley, 44, 52, 59, 61.

Mills, at South Crossland, England, 13; at Rochester and Waterford, 58, 147; built by Thomas Milner, 72; machinery for, 157-58; plans for building, 174.

Milner, Joseph, debt to Edwin Bot- tomley, 54; pays debt, 71; money owned by brother, 72.

Milner, Thomas, debt to Bottomley, 54, 60-61, 67, 71; letter from, 72.

Milwaukee, letter from, 28 ; immigrants in, 30, 33, 93-94; Edwin and Martha Bottomley in, 171, 182-83, 205-206; fare to, 32 ; tavern at, 42-43 ; luggage arrives at, 95; work sought in, 100, 202; Baptist Chapel in, 101, 106.

Milwaukee and Rock River Canal, lands on, 31.

Mineral Point, resident of, 109, 147, 153.

Minionette, planted, 76.

Mink, furs, 56.

Mint, grows wild, 34.

Mitchell, Andrew, at English Settle- ment, 37.

Missouri, settler in, 197.

Mississippi River, route via, 197.

Mitchell, John, at English Settlement, 37.

Mitchell, Joseph, arrives at Milwaukee, 30; searches for land, 31; at Eng- lish Settlement, 37; debts of, 45; fences on land of, broken, 165 ; death of, 133.

Mitchell, Jr., Joseph, at English Set- tlement, 37; works for Edwin Bot- tomley, 129, 130, 132, 134, 135, 146, 154, 155, 156, 162; wages of, 141; illness, 167.

Mohawk Valley, canal in, 29.

Money, methods of sending, 45; cost of sending, 67, 87; discount on, 71; value of English pounds sterling, 87.

Morton, Sarah, English immigrant, 21; on shipboard, 22, 24; dishes of, broken on journey, 46; sees Indians, 56; visits Prairieville, 83; gift for, 144.

Morton, William, English immigrant, 21 ; on board ship, 22, 23, 25 ; makes settlement, 30-31, 33; debt to, paid, 53; helps build Bottomley house, 56, 59 ; paid for work, QQ ; illness of, 44, 46-47; fire on land of, 153-54; witness of Edwin Bottomley^s will, 215 ; made executor, 217, 218.

Moss, Frank, purchases land, 43.

Mossley (England), Bottomley's birth- place, 13; printing at, 230.

Moyle, Mrs. I. W., aid acknowledged, 10.

Mud Lake, cause of flood, 193.

Mukwonago, resident of, 10.

Muskrat, furs, 56. \

Mustard, crop of, 76. , i '• •

Naturalization, cost of, 32.

New Orleans (La.), route via, 185.

New York, immigrants in, 29, 60, 63, 196; customhouse in, 63, 144; im- porters in, 144, 151; merchant in, 205; fare from, 32; journey to, 75; route via, 158; money sent from, 181; price of flour in, 164.

Newcastle (Eng.), port, 25.

Newspapers, cost of sending, 39; cop- ies of received, 67, 152.

Nobles, John, son of, 37; school trus- tee, 50; teaches Sunday School, 79; returns to England, 102-103; helps with harvest, 142; trustee of church, 147, 177.

246

INDEX

Nobles, Mrs. John, goes to England, 102.

Nobles, Joseph, preaches, 37, 128 ; tells of English Settlement, 70-71, 78; character of, 79.

Nobles, Mrs. Joseph, in English Set- tlement, 79.

Norton, , wood drawn for, 85, 88,

91-92; Hannah Bottomley boards with, 86; money owed by, 97.

Nunns, Annie A., aid acknowledged, 10.

Oats, planted, 42, 48, 91, 123, 153,

179; crops, 94, 99, 140, 165, 168, 202;

stacked, 134. Ohio, immigrants pass, 30. Onions, planted, 76. Orchard, planted, 84. Oxen, use of, 45, 48, 59, 95; accident

to, 55 ; advantage of horses over, 85 ;

house moved by, 115.

Parkin, David, decides to emigrate, 38.

Parkin, Joseph, music promised to, 207.

Parsley, planted, 76.

Peel, Sir Robert, English prime min- ister, 41.

Perkin, Joseph, message to, 83, 92.

Perkin, William, urges relatives to im- migrate, 83, 92; gifts to, 103-104 relations with Thomas and Mary HaU, 110-111, 112, 123, 130, 134 indecision of, 136-37.

Pewaukee Lake, immigrants at, 31 Gudger buys land at, 43 ; news from, 61; settler at, 184.

Philips, , doctor, 138.

Pickering, , box sent with, 60, 61,

79, 81; voyage to America, 63; let- ter sent to, 75, 80; plans to return to England, 158.

Pigs. See Hogs.

Plank Roads. See Roads.

Plow, new model, purchased, 95; breaking, made by blacksmith, 96; hoeing, 154, com, 162.

Plum, trees, planted, 84.

Police, in United States, 57.

Politics, in Wisconsin, 146.

Pontefract, Samuel, music sent to, 207- 208.

Poor law commissioners, in United States, 57.

Pop com, gift of, 90.

Pork, scarcity of, 41-42; supply, 144, 152, 175, 190; price of, 46, 54; meth- od of preparing, 158.

Porridge, use of, 41.

Postage, price of, 39, 66, 57, 93. -

Potatoes, use of, 41; planted, 42, 48, 94, 153, 156, 161; ground for, 55, 66, 76; crops, 81, 84, 139, 141, 144, 174; use of, 53.

Pots, broken on journey, 46; sent with George Sheard, 86.

Potawatomi Indians, habitat, 36-37.

Poultry, freezes to death, 40; belong- ing to Edwin Bottomley, 49, 152.

Prairieville. See Waukesha.

Preemption, of land, 38, 45.

Presque Isle (Lake Huron), immi- grants pass, 30.

Preston, , English immigrant, 101.

Prices, apple trees, 84 ; beef, 46 ; board, 86; bread, 103; brick, 59; butter, 201 ; church, building of, 125 ; cloth- ing, 46; doctor's services, 47; do- mestic animals, 32, 35, 44, 81, 107, 116, 161; flour, 46, 135, 158; freight- age, 164 ; hay, 40 ; house, building of, 53; household implements, 30, 32^ 33; land, 31-32, 105, 109; land, im- proved, 107, 165, 166; land, timber- ed, 66, 73; lime, 59; money, sending, 67; plow, 96; pork, 42, 46, 54, 158; postage, 39, 66, 87, 92, 93; rails, 68, 73; rent, 110, 147, 153; sugar, 46; tea, 46; timber, 32, 73; travel, 32; treacle, 46 ; wagon, 81 ; wheat, 54, 82, 135, 159, 164r-65. See also Wages. Pumpkins, soil for, 34; planted, 42, 76; crops, 168.

INDEX

247

QuAiFE, M. M., editor, 18.

Quincy (111.), distance to Rochester,

45; letter from, 72. Quincy Adams County, IlL, resident of,

67.

Raccoon, furs of, 56; gift of skin of, 90.

Racine County, settlement in, 16; deer in, 70; wild duck in, 91; county court, 208, 218.

Racine, roads from, 31, 33, 77, 88, 107- 108, 120; plank road from, 16; route to, 63, 196; price of wheat in, 135, 159; John Wood in, 85, 88, 91- 92; steamboat ashore at, 179; deed recorded, 153; will proved, 215.

Racine and Burlington road, 31, 77, 88, 107-108, 120.

Rails, cut from government land, 40- 41; split for fences, 42, 95; cut for picket fences, 122; cost of splitting, 73; purchased, 66; number procur- ed, 68; drawn, 85, 88, 89.

Railway, to Buffalo, 196.

Rastrick (England), emigrant from, 37; wheat growing in, 93.

Reed, plans for making, 58.

Reeves, Charles, organizes British Temperance Emigration Society, 94.

Religion, Catholic — Protestant dispute, 117-18; meetings held, 181.

Rifle, experience with, 70.

Roads, plank, to Racine, 16; between Racine and Rochester, 199; through English Settlement, 206; between Burlington and Racine, 31, 77, 88, 107; condition of, 74; method of procuring, 180; cost of building, 203; town improvements on, 127.

Roantree, Miss , marriage of, 192.

Robertson, Henry, goes to New York, 75; sails for England, 79-80.

Rochester (Wis.), settlement near, 31; town plots in, 37; mail service to, 92, 98; plank road to, 199; ceme- tery in, 32, 50; flood in, 193; black- smith at, 96; Joseph Sykes at, 43,

47; John Wood at, 112; carols sung at, 64 ; distance from, to Quincy, 111., 45; distance from, to Waukesha, 58.

Rochester (N. Y.), described, 29.

Rock River, canal route to, 31.

Routes to the West, 29-30, 38, 75, 195- 96; to the East, 158; from Canada, 38-39; from Wisconsin to New Or- leans, 197; effect of seasons on, 60, 63.

Rowntree, Christopher, appraiser, 218.

Ruth, Book of, quotation from, 52.

Sabbath, observance of, at sea, 25; nonobservance of, 66, 88; services on, 78-79, 186.

Salt springs at Syracuse, 29.

Sawmills, at Rochester and Waterf ord, 40-41; machinery for, 157.

Sand, for Bottomley house, 59.

St. Georges Bank, on coast of New- foundland, 28.

Schofield Ann, iUness of, 215.

Schofield, Edward, gift for, 90; death of nephew, 160.

Schofield, John, message to, 184, 198- 99.

Schofield, John, at English Settlement, 37; death of, 159-60; animals be- longing to, 166 ; property of, valued, 169, 174r-75; money due estate of, 200.

Schofield, Mrs. Joseph, illness of, 159- 60.

Schofield, William, illness of, 213.

School, in Burlington, 86-87; in Eng- lish Settlement, 37; district formed, 50; teacher engaged for, 106, 116; Hannah Bottomley teaches, 157; used for Sunday school and church services, 117-18; building for, 224, 226.

Scott, James, farm of, near Rochester, 31, 37; purchases oxen, 35; sells oxen, 44; animals belonging to, freeze, 40; house of, threatened by fire, 36; conduct toward Joshua Woodhead, 45; spring on land of.

248

INDEX

77; buys plow, 95; exchanges work with Edwin Bottomley, 139, 145; rents farm, 147 ; works in mill, 153 ; moves back to farm, 169; wishes to make trade, 174; meeting at home of, 228.

Scurvy, in English Settlement, 82.

Seed, wheat, bought, 82.

Senior, Joseph, inquiry concerning, 109.

Senior, Mrs. Joseph (Elizabeth Stocks), 109.

Shaw, John, message from, 230.

Sheard, George, goods to be sent by, 62, 67, 86; money sent from, 67; arrives, 74; route of, west, 75; lives in Bottomley shanty, 74^75; new home of, 82-83; message from, 79.

Sheboygan, settler at, 169.

Sheep, plans for buying, 199.

Sleigh, use made of, 84r-85, 105.

Smith, Enoch, buys land at Sheboy- gan, 169; news of, 194.

Smith, Kester, message for, 194.

Smithy, at English Settlement, 174, 183.

Snail Lake. See Pewaukee Lake.

Soil, described, 34; for tomatoes, 88.

South Crossland (England), milltown, 13 ; home of Thomas Bottomley, 81 ; club at, 89, 148; workmen at, con- tribute to building of chapel, 119, 120.

Southport. See Kenosha.

Springs, in neighborhood, 76, 105; diagram of location of, 77; on Ed- win Bottomley 's land, 84; on ad- joining land, barred, 172.

Squash, planted, 76.

Squirrel, furs of, 56.

Stage, travel by, 60.

Steel, Joseph, child of, dies, 26.

Steinhiel, F., money from, 52, 60, 67; cost of letter and check from, 87.

Stocks, Elizabeth. See Mrs. Joseph Senior.

Stonehouse, Alexander, helps break land, 48, 55; gives land for ceme- tery, 157.

Stonehouse, Samuel, goes to Racine, 74; elected constable, 194.

Storm, at sea, 25-26.

Straw, stacked, 168.

Sugar, lack of, 41; price of, 46; sup- plied by neighbors, 53 ; used in mak- ing syrup, 74.

Sunday School, in English Settle- ment; gift of library to, 57; serv- ices of, 79; quarters for in new church, 125; pupils of, celebrate Fourth of July, 201; need of quar- ters for, 224.

Swallow, , English immigrant,

207.

Swallow, Henry, English immigrant, work found for, 169; at Burlington, 178.

Sykes, Joseph, conduct in Wiscon- sin, 42-43, 47; lives at Delavan, 116; at Chicago, 198; house at Netherton, England, 209.

Sykes, Mrs. Joseph, news of, 198.

Sykes, Joshua, message to, 64; seeds from, 76.

Syracuse (N. Y.), salt works at, 29.

Syrup, receipt for, 74.

TA^^ERN, at Milwaukee, 42-43 ; at Roch- ester, 64.

Taxes, on land in United States, 57; in England, 41.

Taylor, Joab, intends to come to Wis- consin, 192; letter from mentioned, 193-94; letter to mentioned, 198.

Tea, use of, 41; price of, 46; sup- plied by neighbors, 53; party, 105- 106.

Thomson, , helps build Bottomley

house, 56.

Timber, cut from government land, 40-41, 68, 73; for houses, 54, 59; cut into rails, 42, 66; price of, 32, 73; on land in Racine, 85; gift of, for church, 125, 177.

INDEX

249

Tinker, Christopher, on managing committee to solicit funds for church, 108, 228; extract from sub- scription book of, 233.

Tinker, James, farm of, near Roch- ester, 31 ; breaks land, 48 ; buys tim- bered land, 66; hires out oxen, 95; helps extinguish fire, 36; learns to sing, 39; sells Robertson's property, 80; helps build smithy, 183; buys patent right, 209; services at house of, 37 ; on committee to solicit funds for church, 108, 111, 227; secretary of meeting, 228 ; church trustee, 147, 177; school tax gatherer, 50; mag- istrate, 194; illness of, 133, 154; at Racine, 74, 178-79 ; debt to Edwin Bottomley, 151, 160; box sent to, 144 ; money sent to, 52, 67 ; news of, 155, 178, 180; message from, 188; letters from, 210, 211; executor of Edwin Bottomley's will, 217, 218.

Tinker, Mrs. James (Jane), gives aid, 53; illness of, 133, 154; discontent- ed, 155.

Tobacco, used, 99, 138.

Toledo (Ohio), immigrants pass, 30.

Toll, charged on plank road, 203.

Tomato, seeds of, sent to England, 88, 95.

Transportation, across Atlantic, 21-28, 63; to Wisconsin, 29-30, 38, 75, 195- 96; up Great Lakes, 94; by ox team, 74; cost of, 32; effect of seasons on, 60, 63; damage to luggage, 46, 49- 50; difficulty with luggage, 95; cost of freightage, 164.

Treacle, price of, 46.

Tucker, , makes address, 190-91.

Turnips, planted, 76, 91; crops of, 104, 168, 174; sowed by drilling machine, 161.

Typhoid fever, in English Settlement, 210-15.

Typhus fever, in English Settlement, 44.

Umber, F., and Dambmann, New York importers, 144.

United States, immigration to, 14-17, 21-29, 38, 93-94, 99-100, 137, 149, 169, 188, 192, 194, 207; advantages of living in, 39; government of, 57, 180, 194; public lands in, 16, 31-32, 38, 40-41, 68, 73; manufacturing in, 69.

Utica (N. Y.) on canal route, 29.

Venison, supply of, 152. Violets, used in sirup, 74; seeds of, re- quested, 181.

Wages, for blacksmith's apprentice, 100-101; breaking land, 69, 73; building house, 59, 66; building church, 101; drawing bricks, 59; drawing wood, 85-86; farm work, 64, 114, 115, 121, 132, 141, 154; housework, 87; nurses, 101; school teacher, 117; squaring timber, 126; in England, 71. See also Prices.

Wagons, described, 50; bought by Ed- win Bottomley, 80-81; use made of, 84-85; repaired, 96.

Wheat, soil for, 34; difference between spring and winter, 76; planted, 33, 48, 55, 66, 68, 82, 84, 91, 102, 124, 152-53, 160-61, 162, 178, 193; har- vest, 81, 94, 98-99, 129, 131, 135; 136, 140, 165, 168, 174, 179, 187, 202; seed, 6&-«7, 93; method of planting, 168-69 ; machine for plant- ing, 157; cause of poor crops, 156; snow needed for, 86; injured by rain, 127; weeds in, 128; damaged by rust, 129; trampled by hogs, 49; price of, 54, 82, 135, 159, 164^5; held for higher price, 159-60 ; profits in growing, 116.

Wall flower, seeds requested, 181.

Waterford, sawmills at, 41; woolen mills, 58, 147; town lots in, 174.

Water power, for grist mill, 105.

Watermelons, planted, 76.

250

INDEX

Waukesha, 43.

Weeds, growth of, 128, 130.

Well, built, 34, 84, 114; on Ames farm, 107; Thomas Hall falls in, 112.

Whales, seen from ship, 23, 51.

Whitewater, John Wood at, 178, 179.

Wilson, Charles, organizes British Temperance Emigration Society, 94.

Wilson, John, takes land on shares, 48 ; lends money to Edwin Bottomley, 53; draws bricks, 59.

Wimpen, Joseph, in Catholic-Protest- ant dispute, 117-18.

Wisconsin, English immigrants to, 14, 17, 38, 74, 93, 101, 137, 169, 192, 194, 207; public lands in, 16, 31-32, 38, 40^1, 68, 73; boundary of, 37; government, 57 ; laws, 118 ; constitu- tional convention in, 146; Sabbath observance in, 78; immigration to, under British Temperance Emigra- tion Society, 94.

Wisconsin Historical Library, records of British Temperance Emigration Society in, 94 ; Bottomley Papers in, 18.

Women, contribution to immigration, 15-16; complaints of, 41.

Wood, Benjamin, message to, 65-66; 100-101, ia4, 126, 184; gift for, 90.

Wood, Charles, English political agi- tator, 33.

Wood, John, in Milwaukee, 43; leaves John Gudger, 61; works for Edwin Bottomley, 64-65, 68, 7^73, 77, 96, 112-14; visits John Gudger, 83; in Eacine, 74, 85, 88, 91; rescues Thomas Hall, 112; works for black- smith, 100-101, 104, 111, 126; court-

ship of, 113; marriage, 121; in Whitewater, 177-78, 179; sets up smithy, 174, 183-84; ilhiess, 136; gift from, 90; aids brother, 177; money sent to, 181.

Wood, Mrs. John, ill, 136; lives with mother, 179 ; child bom to, 188.

Wood, Mary, letter to, 52; gift for 90.

Wood, William, English immigrant, 48.

Woodhead, Ann. See Mrs. Joseph Cockroft.

Woodhead, Joseph, speech delivered by, 106; on committee to solicit funds for church, 108, 111, 227; works for Edwin Bottomley, 145; marriage of, 192.

Woodhead, Joshua, farm of, near Rochester, 31; death of son of, 32; breaks land, 48; buj^ plow, 95; money sent to, 52, 67; in Racine, 74; in Rochester, 147; illness of, 133; works for Edwin Bottomley, 145; rents farm, 153; sells farm, 165; out of work, 169; chairmen of meeting, 228.

Woodhead, Mrs. Joshua, illness of, 133.

Woodhead, William, on committee to solicit funds for church, 108, 228; extract from subscription book of, 231-33 ; changes amount of subscrip- tion, 147; plans to emigrate, 137; arrives, 137-38; boxes sent by, 144; daughter of, 153; chairman of meet- ing, 190.

YORKVILLE, immigrants at, 31.

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