Letter from James Caldwell to W.W. Thomas, November 20, 1881
File — Box: MS 014-4-01, Folder: MS 014-4-01-060
Identifier: MS 014- series MS 014-4- file MS 014-4-01-060
Letter from James Caldwell in North Topeka to W.W. Thomas in Harrisburg, Indiana.
Scan not available
Transcription:
North Topeka Nov. 20th 1881 W.W. Thomas
Dear & much esteemed father Your last letter that I received from you whas dated Aug 17th I also received shortly afterwards the minutes of the Association All of which was very thankfully received & read with much interest
Would offer some appology for not writing sooner but appologies are not of much consequence The main reason however is feeling my utter inability & capacity to write anything that would be interesting to you having worn threadbear all my ups & downs trials temptations sorrows & affilictions through which I have been paysing in the short period of my existence But I know & feel that I have many things to be thankful for the maker & governor of all things I let Gold Pence read your letter so that he might know what you had to say about the divided state of our baptist people. He seems to regret & lament as much as any one the sad state into which many of people & churches have drifted & I think is considerably
aroused to the duties of his calling He has recently been in Mission attending some appointments there he said however he stiad at one church about all the time he was there having come up such an interest that he could not seemingly get away to fill any other appointments or attend the preachers union During the meeting there was eight added to the church 2 believe all by experience & bapitsm he left them enjoying the fruits of the spirits & blessings of our hevently father since his return we have had meeting three sundays in succession having meeting last sunday to attend to the audience of baptism Geo Banner & his wife having been received during the week before by experience At the close of the meeting the door of the church being opened Leah Caldwell (John's wife) came forward oclated her experience & was received So the three were baptised at the same time with a warm good feeling amongs the members of the church & good interest with them without Yesterday & today in the regular church meeting time Today was communion with the church We had good preaching through out the meetings We can but hope it is but the beginning of better times We are expecting Gld. Sears here about holidays probably will be in this neighborhood about a week I have never heard him but those that have seen & heard him like him very much
Well in regard to business matters Lawrence & ever since we left 2nd, I have been nearly constantly employed having tended quite a large crop of corn though it is true it did not yield anything like a usual good crop yet at present prices worth probably as much as a good crop would be for then prices are low accordingly. After the corn was laid by we broke thirty five acres of follow ground for wheat & rye that done we commenced haying ( that was the 18th of July) We continued putting up hay till about the 1st of Sept. Moving about two hundred & fifty acres averaging about a ton to the acre Then we cut up about thirty acres of our corn after which we sowed our wheat & rye We had one hand to help us all the time through haying two After the above mentioned worke being done I went to buying cattle have bought & collected & now on hand one hundred & twenty three & I think a very good straight nice bunch of steers mostly two years old Today we have been branding them, quite a job, but it is best for sometimes one will get away & if he is branded we are pretty sure to get him We have our corn all gathered except what we cut up Lawrence has been going to school for over a month I mention this routine of business not in a way of boasting but thought it might interest you as much as anything I might write & it would give you some idea of how we have been employing the time
I have not felt as well during this season as I usually have took coles last spring before I left Ind. & it settled in my breast & has troubled me considerably ever since still I have not stoped any on account of it Lawrence is well & young very fast There are four of us now here in family two young men besides ourselves One of them took care of our cattle last winter the other one is a hand that I had summer before this the one I had for a cook we helped gather our corn thru fall he talks of staying all winter & do the cooking for his board The other young man is going to take care to feed our cattle this winter Both of them I think are very industrious fine young men Now I believe I have told you all about what we have been doing & how we are living since we left you last spring whether it will interest you or not you can have it for what is worth
I humbly hope & trust all this time we have not been unmindful of our Creator whose watchful eye has ever been ever us whose guardian came has ever been found about us to shield direct & protect us through all the ?? that our life has been his too The only thing I have to regret is that I have not loved him more & served him better but my very best efforts need praying for As to coming back there have no time set think it best under all the surrounding circumstances for us to remian here for a time yet. Would be pleased to see you & all the rest of the relatives & friends but if we are never permitted to see each other face to face may it be our happy lot to meet in heaven above whose all is love ?? separation sickness sorrow & death cannot come but will form in that everlasting song to God & the Lamb With love to yourself & all inquirers James Caldwell
(top of fourth page upside down) Nov 22nd 6 a.m. Expect to go to Topeka to day will mail this A splendid bright pretty morning with pretty sharp post As to your wants you will please let me know in your next & Write as soon as opportunity offers J.B. Lawrence says tell Harry is anxious for a letter from him
envelope: Addressed Mr. W.W. Thomas Harrisburg Indiana Postmarked North Topeka Station Kansas Dec 28 1881 3 cent washington stamp various numbers added on both side of envelope
Scan not available
Transcription:
North Topeka Nov. 20th 1881 W.W. Thomas
Dear & much esteemed father Your last letter that I received from you whas dated Aug 17th I also received shortly afterwards the minutes of the Association All of which was very thankfully received & read with much interest
Would offer some appology for not writing sooner but appologies are not of much consequence The main reason however is feeling my utter inability & capacity to write anything that would be interesting to you having worn threadbear all my ups & downs trials temptations sorrows & affilictions through which I have been paysing in the short period of my existence But I know & feel that I have many things to be thankful for the maker & governor of all things I let Gold Pence read your letter so that he might know what you had to say about the divided state of our baptist people. He seems to regret & lament as much as any one the sad state into which many of people & churches have drifted & I think is considerably
aroused to the duties of his calling He has recently been in Mission attending some appointments there he said however he stiad at one church about all the time he was there having come up such an interest that he could not seemingly get away to fill any other appointments or attend the preachers union During the meeting there was eight added to the church 2 believe all by experience & bapitsm he left them enjoying the fruits of the spirits & blessings of our hevently father since his return we have had meeting three sundays in succession having meeting last sunday to attend to the audience of baptism Geo Banner & his wife having been received during the week before by experience At the close of the meeting the door of the church being opened Leah Caldwell (John's wife) came forward oclated her experience & was received So the three were baptised at the same time with a warm good feeling amongs the members of the church & good interest with them without Yesterday & today in the regular church meeting time Today was communion with the church We had good preaching through out the meetings We can but hope it is but the beginning of better times We are expecting Gld. Sears here about holidays probably will be in this neighborhood about a week I have never heard him but those that have seen & heard him like him very much
Well in regard to business matters Lawrence & ever since we left 2nd, I have been nearly constantly employed having tended quite a large crop of corn though it is true it did not yield anything like a usual good crop yet at present prices worth probably as much as a good crop would be for then prices are low accordingly. After the corn was laid by we broke thirty five acres of follow ground for wheat & rye that done we commenced haying ( that was the 18th of July) We continued putting up hay till about the 1st of Sept. Moving about two hundred & fifty acres averaging about a ton to the acre Then we cut up about thirty acres of our corn after which we sowed our wheat & rye We had one hand to help us all the time through haying two After the above mentioned worke being done I went to buying cattle have bought & collected & now on hand one hundred & twenty three & I think a very good straight nice bunch of steers mostly two years old Today we have been branding them, quite a job, but it is best for sometimes one will get away & if he is branded we are pretty sure to get him We have our corn all gathered except what we cut up Lawrence has been going to school for over a month I mention this routine of business not in a way of boasting but thought it might interest you as much as anything I might write & it would give you some idea of how we have been employing the time
I have not felt as well during this season as I usually have took coles last spring before I left Ind. & it settled in my breast & has troubled me considerably ever since still I have not stoped any on account of it Lawrence is well & young very fast There are four of us now here in family two young men besides ourselves One of them took care of our cattle last winter the other one is a hand that I had summer before this the one I had for a cook we helped gather our corn thru fall he talks of staying all winter & do the cooking for his board The other young man is going to take care to feed our cattle this winter Both of them I think are very industrious fine young men Now I believe I have told you all about what we have been doing & how we are living since we left you last spring whether it will interest you or not you can have it for what is worth
I humbly hope & trust all this time we have not been unmindful of our Creator whose watchful eye has ever been ever us whose guardian came has ever been found about us to shield direct & protect us through all the ?? that our life has been his too The only thing I have to regret is that I have not loved him more & served him better but my very best efforts need praying for As to coming back there have no time set think it best under all the surrounding circumstances for us to remian here for a time yet. Would be pleased to see you & all the rest of the relatives & friends but if we are never permitted to see each other face to face may it be our happy lot to meet in heaven above whose all is love ?? separation sickness sorrow & death cannot come but will form in that everlasting song to God & the Lamb With love to yourself & all inquirers James Caldwell
(top of fourth page upside down) Nov 22nd 6 a.m. Expect to go to Topeka to day will mail this A splendid bright pretty morning with pretty sharp post As to your wants you will please let me know in your next & Write as soon as opportunity offers J.B. Lawrence says tell Harry is anxious for a letter from him
envelope: Addressed Mr. W.W. Thomas Harrisburg Indiana Postmarked North Topeka Station Kansas Dec 28 1881 3 cent washington stamp various numbers added on both side of envelope
Dates
- November 20, 1881
Extent
From the Series: .33 Linear Feet (1 Letter size document case.)
Creator
- From the Collection: Johnson, Timothy (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Fort Hays State University Special Collections Repository