1843: John Lowden Wright to Sarah Evans

This letter was written by John Lowden Wright (1797-1856), the son of Samuel Wright (1754-1811) and Susanna Lowden (1763-1800). John was married twice; first to Elizabeth Strickler (1800-1822), and second to Ann Evans (1806-18xx). John and Ann had several children; his youngest — at the time this letter was written — is mentioned as a healthy 10 month old boy, James Mifflin Wright (1842-1902).

John wrote the letter to his Aunt Sarah Evans who was presumably married to one of Ann Evan’s uncles. Nothing more found on her.

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TRANSCRIPTION

Addressed to Mrs. Sarah Evans, Near St. Clairsville, Ohio
Attention of Mr. William Ritche

Columbia [Pennsylvania]
October 27th 1843

Dear Aunt,

Your letter by William Ritche was received and we were much pleased to hear from you. It was so long since we heard from you that we was fearful something was the matter, for the last letter I had written had never been answered, or if it was, we never received it. I wrote to John Greenleaf to know whether anything was the matter as we had heard nothing from you so long. He answered my letter & stated that he had just got home from visiting you & were all pretty well.

We are all pretty well at present altho the most of us had a touch of influenza. Ann is getting quite fleshy & I think grows more and more like her Mother every day. All the children are very well. Our youngest was ten months old yesterday & is a fine healthy boy. He creeps all over the room. We call him James Mifflin after our much lamented friends James E. Mifflin — this I mentioned in my last letter to you but do not know whether you ever received it.

I received two letters last season — one from Hiram Kinsey & one from one of Mr. Pennington’s sons, a lawyer, wishing me to have the deposition of Jacob Hinkle taken in relation to the sale of a horse, which there was some dispute about. I went to York and attended to it and forwarded it to them from York but never heard anything from them since on the subject. I wish if you see them you would mention it to them. If they answered it, I never got it.

Grand Papa Charles & all the rest of the family are well. Samuel Truscott’s family, including Sarah Downey & Isaac are all well. Sarah has just returned from a visit to Squire Clyde & Susan who she left well. She says Susan is very handsomely fixed & the the Squire very clever and wishes all of Susan’s friends to come and see her. The last accounts from Uncle Isaac [Conrad] Evans was from Sally Wallace who was here on her return from there. They were all well. Isaac Connard was as well as usual but very frail. Aunt Hanna was well as could be expected as her time of life and enjoying as good health as usual.

Elizabeth Wallace has been married some months to Dr. McFurson & are at house keeping. The Doctor is a very clever & steady man. Joseph, their son, has studied law & has been admitted to practice at the Harrisburg bar. Evan Green has been married some time but not to S. Downing but to the widow of one of his nephews in Philadelphia. I think I mentioned in my last that Hannah Evans had married Col. Shock, the cashier of our bank. Samuel W. Mifflin is married to one of William Martin’s daughters — sister to John W. Houston’s wife. It is reported that Houston Mifflin (Joseph Mifflin’s son) is to be married in the spring to Elizabeth Heise.

I suppose you have heard of the death of our old neighbor James Cresson. He died in Philadelphia thisspring & Aunt Cresson is now living at Uncle William Wright’s. Their house has been shut up ever since his death & is for rent.

John McKipect Jr. died about 2 months ago. John Hoover was buried last Sunday & G. W. Ralston (son-in-law to Jacob Mathios) was buried on Monday. I do not know whether you knew him or no but I think he was married while you were here. He was a painter.

We had a great deal of dysentery here this summer and several deaths. Our little John and myself had it but in a very mild form & we soon got over it. Our place is at present quite healthy.

You wish to know how your bank stock comes on. There has been a large sale of the stock belonging to the State at Philadelphia this week which sold for 45 dollars per share & it is thought the price will increase. There has been but one dividend declared since you left here of $10 which I have given you credit for. I expect there will be another some time fall of $10 more which will amount to the sum I advanced you when you left. As soon as I get any more, I will let you know and forward it in any way you may direct.

Times are beginning to get rather better & I hope stocks will soon be getting better but it will be some time before they will get to par value and I suppose you would not like to sell at much less. However, if you should wish to sell and will state what you will be willing to take, I will do all that lays in my power to sell it for you.

We had an abundance of peaches this season but the apples are rather scarce owing to a long spell of wet cold weather in the spring just about the time the blossom was falling. The corn crop never was finer but the potatoes in some places entirely failed & are likely to be very scarce & dear owing to the very wet weather we have had since harvest.

As I have nearly filled this sheet, I must close. Ann & all the children join in a great deal of love to you and believe me yours very respectfully, — John L. Wright

P. S. Please write soon and let us know how you all are and particularly how Evans Greenleaf is coming on with his nursery. If he should be to see you or you write to him, give him my best respects & tell him I wish him success but hope he has become a tariff man. When he last wrote to me, he exalted a good deal about the Locofoco’s gaining Ohio in the Election of 1842. Ask him how he likes it now. Tell him also that I would like to have a long letter from him & hear all about how he is coming along.