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HADLEY FAMILY LETTERS - 1840, 1845
Alabama, Chicago, Wisconsin, and St. Louis!
(Please don't contact me as I am not related, and did not have this item, I happened on it on EBay.)
Offered (on EBay) are four letters written by members of the Moses Hadley family of New Hampshire who eventually migrated west and settled in Chicago.
Moses Hadley was born on 26 April 1773 in Nottingham West, New Hampshire. He was the son of Nehemiah Hadley and Hannah Emmerson, who were married on 19 August 1762 in Hudson, New Hampshire. Moses married Nancy Wells (1782-1865).
It appears that the family became scattered across the country, including Alabama, Pennsylvania, and the Wisconsin Territory, before finally reuniting and settling in Chicago.
The four letters include:
1. Mary (May) Ann Hadley in Greensboro, Perry County, Alabama to Ann (Nancy) Elmira Hadley in Sewickley Bottom, Pennsylvania, dated 12 March 1840.
There is a red cds GREENSBORO ALA. MARCH 19 and a manuscript “25” rate notation. She writes about living in the household of Richard Booker Walthall (1794-1849), a prominent citizen and member of the state legislature from Perry County, and provides details concerning her teaching duties. She also gives scathing opinions about Southern people – especially women – and writes about how she wants to leave the area.
2. Mary Ann, Maria, and Elijah Hadley in Chicago to their sister Ann (Nancy) Elmira Hadley and parents in Walworth, Wisconsin Territory, dated 26 March 1845.
This letter apparently was hand-carried. There are no postal markings. Much of it concerns the children’s hopes that their parents will soon be able to sell their property in the Wisconsin Territory and come join them in Chicago. They try to convince their father not to sell the land too cheap because he is desperate to leave. There is also other family news, such news of the girls’ teaching professions and Elijah’s work in the field of dentistry.
3. James M. Stryker, Southport (now Kenosha), Wisconsin Territory to Ann (Nancy) Elmira Hadley, c/o Dr. Elijah Hadley, No. 88 Lake Street, Chicago, dated 15 October 1845.
This letter was hand-carried. The top half of the address panel has been torn off. James M. Stryker (1819-1887) was an early settler and merchant in the area. He writes concerning an order for a dress and other goods, and requests that Hadley’s account be settled. From the tone of the end of the letter, it appears they knew each other on more than a professional basis, but I haven’t determined the exact relationship.
4. Mary (May) Ann Hadley in St. Louis, Missouri to her sister An (Nancy) Elmira Hadley in Chicago, dated November 1845.
There is a red cds St. LOUIS MO. NOV 15 and a manuscript “10” rate notation. This letter was written while May was enroute from Chicago to Columbia, Tennessee where she was to teach. She describes the terrible boat ride to St. Louis, asks her sister to write, expresses her happiness with her current situation, and mentions someone from Pittsburgh whom she met on the boat.
Transcriptions of the letters follow:
FIRST LETTER
At Mr. Walthall’s Mar. 12th 1840
Dear Sister
Yours of the 16th ult. just received and I beg you will for future fulfill my commands literally lest I become infected with your old malady the blues. I was about writing again thinking you could not possibly have received mine. I want you to write [illegible] than you have. I should be glad to receive a letter every week. You must now wait till my answer reaches you, but keep writing every opportunity. I am more secluded than you are having as you might say no society whatever and my greatest pleasure is the reception of letters. I am obliged to room with three of my pupils of most incompatible dispositions and you may judge is my situation is enviable. I do wish we could have had a situation together. We might have been society for each other.
I was very glad you got the [illegible] safe. I was somewhat concerned for the fate of my handiwork after you cautioned the Dentist about papers.
I want you to send me a description of the fashions in your quarter.
Bye the bye I received one from Miss Manger a few days since. I wish you would explain your stiff [illegible] for I get impatient waiting for the denouement. What late hangs by I could not make out what?
I think the Dentist is getting homesick and I could be so too if it were of any use. I shall be so lonely when he leaves. But I trust we shall all be united under more happy auspices. You must keep up your heat and preserve your health and spirits – don’t let the blues get the better of you. We are better off than thousands more deserving than we are. But with all the trials and disadvantages of my situation I would not exchange lots with the sick daughters of my employers, possessed of every advantage of fortune with hundreds of servants at their command – they are most envious and apparently unhappy seemingly grudging to other’s every satisfaction, and if I placed my happiness on what constitutes theirs, such as fine dresses and being able to outshine their neighbors in equipage &c I should be truly miserable.
Sunday and I reserve my pen – there being no church service to attend, besides it has been raining all the morning. What do you think of Alabama winters – the peach trees are in full bloom by the first of February & peas are three or four inches high. Yet strange to add I saw two days since a few flakes of snow.
You speak of having grown brown, no wonder I suppose you bituminous coal, while I was in Tuscaloosa I became almost Indianized in complexion, but a few weeks residence in the country has restored my complexion. But I am suffering from the humorer you recollect I had before I left home. It continues to spread on my neck and is exceedingly unpleasant and troublesome. However I am in hopes warm weather will relieve me in a measure as last summer I had very little of it. With regard to the [illegible] they are much here as elsewhere making allowance for education and circumstances. On the whole I think theirs superior to the ladies but they lack refinement and therefore do not please me. Mr. Walthall has two sons just finishing College at Tuscaloosa. Very obliging [illegible] of lady’s but perfect [illegible].
Two of my pupils talk of going to Mobile [illegible] and you may suppose I am not adverse to the arrangement. I have fourteen scholars and four of them are boys and give five music lessons daily out of school hours so you may judge my time is pretty well taken up. I have a class in French but do not teach Drawing not having time. I have painted but one piece since I came to Alabama. Grace [illegible] and her father talk pretty. The Dentist is well – saw him two or three days since, said he wrote you when he would come on. If I could make a tolerable salary I should be glad to go with Mr. O’s school next year. I am engaged here for the present one, but do not like the South any how and shall remain no longer than I am obliged too. You must write often and particular. I am very glad to hear of James’ convalescence.
I think your style a little ambiguous. Please be more explicit. What did you want the Dentist to come up by the first of April for? Suspect you are looking for some company their from the West – Ah! Ah!
Your Affectionate Sister May
You must direct Greensboro Perry Co. Col. R. B. Walthall care
SECOND LETTER
Chicago Mar. 26th 1845
E.W. has just been here and wishes me to write to you in time for the mail for tomoro, so here goes. I am well as usual, and am teaching. I have but few scholars but think I shall have more before long – have been teaching 4 weeks. Your letter to E.W. and Sis May was received. We were glad to hear that you were all well. I have suffered much anxiety, on your account this winter and assure you that every means in my power has been put in force for your relief. I think there is little doubt that you might make money here painting, either curtains or miniatures. I have been trying to hurry the Dent to make some effort in your behalf. He does not seem in a hurry; I think however, that he will make some definite arrangement soon, he wants Father to sell the very first opportunity. You mentioned in your letter that our place would not bring more than three hundred dollars, now that is all bash; it must and will bring 500, Eri. says it is worth that at all events; I do hope that we shall be able to sell soon; if that property was disposed of a place could soon be provided near Chicago for the old people. I have scarcely slept nights when thinking of you all out at that dismal place, and the fear that you would not have everything which you would need. E.W. has tried repeatedly to send out to you but could find no opportunity, indeed it is next to impossible to send to that immediate vicinity. I hope that my school will prosper if it should not, I must [illegible] some other line. Sis May talks of going South tho I hardly think she will go. I suppose she could get scholars sufficient to support her here, but on the whole I would as soon advise her to go to Columbia, for this season at least; the truth is she is not popular except as a teacher. Sis A. stayed here four weeks and then E.W. took her to Laporte. She will remain with Mrs. W. –will probably come to C. or go to some city this Spring. The flower business will I think be profitable. [illlegible] was looking very well – but I must bring my letter to a close as E.W. and Eri want to write. Tell Father to keep up the steam and Mother to hold on to the safety valve, you reptile!! Why did you not write to me of something else but H.B. He is a matter of small interest to me I assure you; do send some papers. I have sent papers to you every week and sometimes oftener, do you receive them? I direct to Bells. Write soon. I shall send Father the last Tribune. Love to all Sis
Dear Father – I learn from Elijah that you are getting quite impatient to get out of the wilderness, and I don’t blame you in the least for being impatient, but I feel in hopes that you will very soon be releases from the barrens at Blufton Park – for a more convenient place near Chicago. Prospects look more favorable and I think you will be able to sell this Spring for about $500. I was sorry to hear that you were willing to take $300 for your place, because it is worth more and can be sold for more, I would not offer it for less than $500. Say to Elmyra that she must talk bigger than $300 for Blufton Park its a fine place. I am glad to hear that you are all well.
Yours Respectfully
Eri Reynolds
[THE FOLLOWING IS WRITTEN AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE LETTER AND IS RATHER DISJOINTED AND HARD TO DECIPHER]:
Father and Mother
Keep up good [illegible]. I feel in hopes that you will be able to sell your place some time in the course of this Spring. I shall be glad to have you live near Chicago. All you Dear Friends out in the woods Miss Maud since has said that I am proud of my baby. I should be if she was not the crying thing she is. There is no mistake she really is the most beautiful little creature that is when her face is still but I suppose I must have patience with her as she seems to have the [illegible] of her.
Tell Father that the [illegible] bill has passed and the canal is going to be completed to Chicago. I will send him the papers as often as I can procure them. If you have an opportunity don’t fail to send that watch and school bell and also my books now don’t fail for I am labouring under a great disadvantage.
The babe is well and as handsome as a drawn sword. Sis J. is proud of it as you please. [illegible] is married. I don’t go no where nor see nobody. I am in hopes that you will come to Chicago soon and make lots of money. Tell Mother the Dent would have sent out some apples if he could have found a chance.
Take good care of all the plants and roots so that we can have them adorn our house down here. You could get board here for about $1.50 or $2 in good private families. Mrs. Marsh has been quite sick all winter and has a son, but perhaps they would like to have you spend some part of the summer with them. Received a letter from Sis just last week. They were all well. Sis J. is mother mother mother to all – intents the children are very pleasant and sweetly.
Sis May has pupils enough now to support her when you write to her don’t mention the [illegible]. The Dentist does some little business. He stays very close to his office.
[AND THIS IS WRITTEN ON THE ADDRESS PANEL]:
I have no time to say a word as the Driver is waiting & will leave – Ann talks of coming out before long. Business is dull &c
Yours Truly
EWH
THIRD LETTER
Southport Oct 15 1845
Friend N.E.H.
Yours of week before last was duly recd. & should have been as duly answered but for an opportunity of sending directly to you. We send by the bearer of this the articles ordered & hope they will suit. Miss Syker’s with [illegible] selected the dress & think myself they made a good selection. It will certainly make a pretty dress. The other articles as were as possible are put up & the bal. of your a/c is [illegible]. I will send you the [illegible] for – but do not recollect the amt. of your a/c. You will therefore please send the sum to me when you send the [illegible] and the amt will be remitted without delay. The dress we sent up we payd. less than we usually sell the same &c &c. If you have an opportunity to send the [illegible] soon please do so otherwise I will send by the first opportunity as I will need them soon. This gent is not returning at present. We are now boarding at the National. Have pretty good times – hope to get keeping house in the course of two or three weeks. Expect to see you soon. Cannot write any more at present as the gent is waiting. Excuse this.
Very Respectfully Yours &c
Jas. M. Stryker
Regret much you could not attend the party had – real good time & everything just right. JMS
FOURTH LETTER
St. Louis Nov. 1845
Dr sis N
I sent a line from Peoria to Dent. setting forth my whereabouts and advising him of my progress & I intend writing to you in course, you will learn by this that after a most uncomfortable trip down the Illinois on a small freezing machine, we have arrived here, no better health and spirits than could have been expected under the circumstances. In a small cabin a few feet square were huddled about thirty or forty passengers – and more children than John Rogers had, into the bargain. I wish you could have seen the sleeping arrangements – but I leave you to imagine. Mr. Mulford is very attentive and I am so fortunate as to have his protections to Nashville. We start tomorrow on the Louis Flynn for Smithland where we shall again change boats. My health is aside from the fatigue of traveling, fine.
I wish I could see you all tonight. You must write so I shall find a letter for me when I arrive at Columbia. I am happier than I ever have been in the prospect of being from home, not that I love my friends less but feel that a change like this will have a salutary effect on my permanent happiness.
Give my kind love to all. I pray Heaven keep our hearts true to ourselves and each other.
How does Sis [illegible] progress with her law suit? Do you hear anything from the board of health? Tell Sis [illegible] I shall write her next.
St. Louis is smoky almost as Pittsburg - there has been no rain since Sept. here.
There was a young [illegible], with his Sister, a widow, came down the river in company with us, from Pittsburg named Udle. Do you know him? He is blind of an eye. I am so stupified that at present it is impossible for me to be interesting so the sooner I close this disjointed epistle the better. Shall probably not write again till I am at Columbia. Till then I remain
Very Sisterly Yours
M.A. Hadley
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