| Title: | John Houston, Indiana to Mrs Houston, Larne. |
|---|---|
| ID | 1479 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Houston, J N/62 |
| Year | 1836 |
| Sender | Houston, John N. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Indiana, USA |
| Destination | Larne, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Mrs Houston |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | son-mother |
| Source | T 2581/9: Copied by Permission of J. Robson Esq., 150 Gilnahirk Road, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9007114 |
| Date | 24/04/1836 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 07:02:1994 |
| Word Count | 793 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Indiana 24th April 1836 Dear Mother I left NEW ORLEANS on the 4th and it took 13 days to come up here the distance being upwards of [1400?] miles. The name of this place is MADISON it is a very fine little town, standing upon more ground than Larne but not so populous there is 10 times as much business done in it as in Larne, The Shops Stores and Houses are good and remind me very much of Bmena [Ballymena?] there are 30 or 40 fine Houses now building & property increasing so much in value that Building ground in town which 3 years ago was sold at 250 dollars is now selling at 1,000 dollars. I have no doubt but in 20 or 30 years "MADISON" will be larger than Belfast. I am quite comfortable in Mr McCleans. He is a Native of Newry who was deeply engaged in the Rebellion & had to leave Ireland then. He is not in any Business nor Farms any land but his Houses in town let for near 4,000 dollars a year and he is still building more which are taken as soon as finished. His son with whom I made the acquaintance in NEW ORLEANS is in business very extensively but entirely in the Wholesale way. I was much surprized [surprised?] at the extent of his Stores & the large business done. This is a most delightful & Romantic Country. it is almost impossible to describe the beauty of the Trees, Woods & Waters that surround "MADISON" Every Farm House has a Peach Orchard and in many places Peaches Plums Apples Plums Quinces &c &c are growing wild about the Hedges & Woods. The Farmers have no other way of using the principal part of these kind of things than by feeding Pigs on them & which is also very profitable. there is scarce a ma [man?] in the Country has not 30 or 40 Hogs fattened every fall you may have some idea of the numbers in the Country when I assure you there were 33,000 Hogs made into Bacon & Pork last year here and 150,000 in a town 50 Miles further up the "OHIO" called CINCINNATI this Pork & Bacon goes chiefly to "NEW ORLEANS" #PAGE 2 & thence to the West Indies etc etc It is very difficult to get Serveants [Servants?] here, Mr McCleans people keep TWO a Man servant who lives in the House & his Wages are 3 Dollars p Week & diet - A Woman, her Wages 1 Dollar p Week they come into the Parlour & take their Meals after we have done but are scarce satisfied at this arrangement there are No shoes Blacked in the House or clothes Washed. The shoes in MADISON are all sent out to a SHOE BLACKS Shop, which is a business of ITSELF. No Servant or "HELP" which is the proper name here would Black or clean shoes at all. Mr McClean Keeps a carriage & two Horses, the man servant looks after them & jobs about the Store. I am out Riding very frequently with the old Gentleman & have seen a great deal of the Country Kentucky 30 April 1836 I am out here on a shooting Excursion looking at this "STATE" ere I go [torn] the River, "KENTUCKY" is leveller [torn] [torn] "INDIANA" the Climate much the [torn] [torn] as regards appearance, a PERFECT "EDEN" Winter only lasts about 2 Months, not commencg [commencing?] till January & ending in March, the Farmers dont House their Cattle or Sheep at all but let them roam at large through the Woods where they get plenty to eat. I must leave MADISON in a few days & go up the River towards Quebec: if Mr Agnew Farrels place in on my Route I will call with him & stop a day or two & will also stop a day or two at the FALLS OF NIAGARA. Remind me to all my Friends at home. I saw Mrs Blairs death in a NEWSPAPER called the OLD COUNTRY MAN which Mr McClean gets, though I am now near 4 Mos [Months?] from Home I have got no letters since I left Larne. "THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE CASE" as I have always been most particular in writing home. I trust you & my Sisters are in good Health. I remain Dear Mother Yours Truly Jno [John?] Houston #PAGE 3 MADISON 4 May 1836 I have all in readiness to proceed up the River to "LAKE ERIE" & expect to get away to day [today?] AM IN EXCELLENT HEALTH & SPIRITS the kind manners & civilities I have experienced here from these people the McCleans, are almost past tale & more particulary as they can never expect a return from me Yours J:Houston [John Houston?] [addressed to:] Mrs Houston Care of Mr Sam Houston Larne Co Antrim Ireland [postmarked:] LIVERPOOL 2 SHP LETTER JU25 36 |
