| Title: | James Sloan, Illinois, to Andrew McReynolds, Michigan. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2487 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Sloane, James/2 |
| Year | 1843 |
| Sender | Sloane, James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | businessman |
| Sender Religion | Latter Day Saints Church |
| Origin | Nauvoo, Illinois, USA |
| Destination | Michigan, USA |
| Recipient | McReynolds, Andrew |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | cousins |
| Source | T.2304/2: Presented by Illinois State Historical Society |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9409331 |
| Date | 02/01/1843 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT/JW, 26:09:1994. |
| Word Count | 881 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Nouwoo, Ills [Illinois?] Jany. 2nd 1843. Dear Cousin I received your welcome letter of 23rd feby. [February?] last,in due course, & wrote to you some time after, but have not since heard from you, & as it is now over 10 Mo's [months?] since the date of yours, & as life is uncertain, I feel a great desire to write to you again, not that I have much to say, but in order to draw a reply from you, neither have I much time to devote to myself, in this or any other manner, but this I commenced on New years day, although dated as it is, & I am now about to finish it at Bedhour [bed hour?] on old years night. When I think of our near relationship, I must suppose that your and & Mothers natural affection is as great for my welfare, both here & hereafter, as mine can be for you, I am anxious that we should hear from each other occasionally, also that our offspring should have knowledge of their predecessors & family connexions [connections?] so far as we can, I never before knew the real necessity of having a perfect knowledge of the Genealogy of my forefathers & kinsfolks so much as I now do, but shall not say more on this point at present,in hope of hearing from you soon,for I wish to know whether you profess & practice any & what religion, or if you have any desire to hear of my experience & practice in that respect, if so,or that you have not any particular objection, I will give you some account of it in my next. I wish you to enquire of your mother & & let me know her mothers (your grandmother Sloans) first name also her (& my) grandmother Sloans first name, I have seen a good many new years,with much feasting, but as my pay is little more than a labourers or common Mechanick's [Mechanic's?] & that I got into Debt through sickness, I have to do with common fare these times, & although these Circumstances have been brought upon me by the Gospel of Jesus Christ which I have hearkened unto, yet I am content, & hope to be enabled to abide so, therein,through this vale of Tears, that in the end I may reap the reward of my labours. I hear there is a Person of the name of John C.Bennett in Detroit, or has lately been, if there now & he makes statements such as he has done about Joseph Smith & others of this Church, they are false, and unfounded I am knowing to several of his falsehoods while here. I copy you some of my Brother Geo's letter to me of the 1st of Oct. last, he says "our family are all well at present, the children all had the measles this summer, & are quite recovered, Jesse & I are in health, with occasional rashes Mary jane returned yesterday Evening from Steubenville female Seminary next summer 6 mo's [month's?]) session will finish her, as far as we think necessary, she had an excellent dismissal. George is studying Latin, & is about beginning Caesar. Eliza Sinclair, T. Burns, & H. Bartholomew & families are well. Business has become over done. I have purchased out Mr Stanton's interest in the store, & he has connected himself with John Robertson. My other Partner Atwell leaves on Monday for Philadelphia, & we are opening a Cash & produce Store only, as we have a great deal due us us in the country. As soon as our new goods come on I intend to pack you a few presents,& as E. Woolley has promised to call on me on his return from the East, I will send it by him. I had a letter from uncle George last Week, they are all in health there,but times hard and oppressive. Thos's [Thomas's?] son John, expected to come out, this fall, but has put it of for some time. Mr. MacKenzie is still alive, Old Thos [Thomas?] has moved to Dungannon, in New Town. I have purchased out my Partner in the Mill & Lots, & $500 a year until the year 1850. It is not good property these difficult times, Wheat here is only 50 cts [cents?] a lb. I am in hopes in this course to get in wheat for my Debts in Winter. If I am successful in getting in trade this Winter, & that the new ready pay business succeeds, I might be enabled to visit your City, with some means in Spring. at present I am considerably cramped, as we never experienced so much difficulty to collect & pay our debts" It is a cold night, & I don't feel that I have anything to add, but that we have had a severe Snow & freezing Winter so far, & about 4 to 6 inches Snow in addition last night. We are on the River here, & it answers well to get firewood off the Islands, it was difficult to get milling done until of late, we have now two good Steam Mills in operation in the City. I wish to know of your Brother John & Sisters, also of Robt Bolton & John Brown. & conclude in haste. your ever Affect' [Affectionate?] Cousin James Sloan |
