The Andrew Wylie Family Letters - Indiana University Bloomington

movement I am taking, to tear myself away from the endearments of home is a thought that I
cannot entertain with dry eyes. But it must be done. With me it is a matter of life or death. And
I am rejoiced to find that all my friends and relatives concur in opinion as to the propriety of the
movement. All join in love to you. Write me soon & believe me affectly. your
Brother John
John Wylie, Richmond, Indiana to Andrew Wylie, Jr.
Richmond
Nov. 10 th 1853
Dear brother,
We—myself, wife, & babe—returned yesterday evening from a visit of two weeks to the
old Homestead. We found them all well and enjoyed our visit much. Whilst there I received your
last letter expressing much satisfaction that I had found the means to take my family with me. So
far is this from being the case that I shall be troubled to find the means to take myself. You must
have misapprehended my letter entirely. In it I stated if I could sell out my interest in the estate to
you or someone else—in that case I could take them. Relying on assurances of pecuniary aid from
home I wrote you some days ago that you need not give yourself any further trouble in the matter.
But on visiting home I found that owing to some unlooked for circumstances I could not get as
much as would be necessary. And that Elizabeth’s scheme of selling the property all depended on
a wild notion of John Orchard’s which fell through. So then [one word] property sold of course
I could not receive the assistance intended. But notwithstanding all this I could have got along
without troubling you had it not been for a piece of disagreeable information I received from New
York stating that the fare on the steam boats had been more than doubled. So that instead of one
hundred dollars it will require about three hundred from NY to San Francisco, so that I must raise
some more money or abandon the matter altogether. It will take at least $250 and I must at last
avail myself of your kind offer although under the circumstances of your embarrassments it is
unpleasant. But my interest in the Estate will, at the most secure yourself, or in case of your death,
your family from any loss. There is a Dr. Hufford an acquaintance of my wife’s folks who has
been in Cal 2 or 3 years & who is now in the states on a visit. He expects to return on the Steamer
for the 20 th of this month & it is not unlikely that I may go with him. So you may look for me
soon. However as the vessels depart on the 5 th & 20 th of each month, and as it is now so late in the
month I may not get off till the 5 th of Dec. I thank you for your cordial invitation to visit you &
shall probably accept your hospitalities for a day or two. What is the most direct and cheap route
to Washington? Perhaps if you write me immediately I may hear in time to be benefited. Lizzie
sends much love to you. Trusting to see you soon. Remember me kindly to Carry. I am affectly.
Your brother
John
John H. Wylie to Elizabeth Wylie, Bloomington
Richmond Thursday, Nov 10 th 1853
Dear Sister
We arrived here safely yesterday evening -- The journey was tedious & vexatious -- The
hack to Martinsville was bad as hack could be & beat & banged us about from one side to the
other most mercilessly -- But we got into Martinsville in good time & were treated by the landlord
most kindly Got up next morning early went to the cars found the locomotive had got off the track
and were detained in consequence about two hours And the effect of this ultimately was to throw
us over one day at Indianapolis at the cost of a day & two or three dollars--so that we did not get
home till yesterday evening The babe behaved well and gave us but little trouble She seemed
delighted to get home and appeared to recognize the folks -- I found a letter from my brother-inlaw
at New York containing information which rather depressed my spirits. The steam ship lines
have lately raised the fare to Cal[ifornia] to more than double the recent rates--First Cabin passage
at two hundred and seventy five dollars. So that it will cost at least three hundred dollars from
New York to San Francis co -- Scandalous--shameless extortion it is, but cannot be helped -- If I
thought my health would hold out through the winter & spring I would hold over and cross the
plains next summer--but I am afraid to incur that risk
And now that I have undertaken the matter it must be gone through with -- I also found
a long letter of twelve pages from Dr. Johnson of Oregon (a brother of the Rev M Johnson who
died at Indianapolis two or three years ago) to whom I had written last spring. He gives a good
account of the country & says that the climate is similar to that of Cal. except that the latter is
warmer in summer In Oregon the settler with a wife & child would be entitled to 480 acres of
land after a residence or an occupan cy of four years which at the end of that time will be a fortune
for there every thing the farmer produces commands a high price -- Dr J’s brother who went out
with him was affected with bron chitis & cough with difficulty of breathing so bad that he had to
be propped up in bed & could scarce walk a quarter mile -- He has recovered his health entirely &
is robust. That is encouraging--
The steamer leaves on the 20 & 5th of each month -- I have learned that there is a Dr
Hibbard an acquaintance of Lizzie’s friends who has been in Cal- 3 years He is to return on the
20 & they desire that I should go along which I may do--But must raise more money -- I directed
the coat to be sent to Orchards. Dear Liz I feel deeply grateful for the affectionate kindness &
aid extended so cheerfully by all of you I shall always bear it in grateful remembrance and should
it please a kind Providence to restore me to health & life I trust that I may one day be able to
reciprocate it -- Lizzie sends much love to you all Love to Mother & all & believe me your affect
brother, John
Andrew Wylie Esq.
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