The Andrew Wylie Family Letters - Indiana University Bloomington

& can take exercise that is pleasant & healthful -- I rise early to breakfast, mount a horse which
the Dr has at my disposal & to the woods the woods away--now gallop ping at a furious rate--now
sauntering along at my leisure or stopping to eat blackberries, which abound upon this place,
and upon which I have been luxuriating for the last three days and above all I am not oppressed
with the dreadful fear that I may not be fully & completely welcome. All these favorable circumstances
have influenced my health for the better & are such aswill restore me if restoration be
possible Give my love to Irene--I trust she & the child are doing well -- Have not heard from
home lately--but indirectly through my wife that Redick had lifted my note to Mr. Bickle for
which I am much indebted to him & shall so acknowledge myself -- Lizzie says that she had
written you some time ago as also to Jane but had not received a reply from either -- I do hope
that you will make yourself better ac quainted with her, if for no other, for my sake and for the
sake of my child--correspond with her & answer her letter at least quarterly--So that if I should
die you may know something of those whom I have left behind me & whom I have so much loved
-- The McKee family are all well Andrew says that he had intended writing to Mr. Bell but is now
too busy -- We have fine healthful weather & great preparations are making for the celebration of
the Fourth.
believe me affectly
your brother John
John H. Wylie to Margaret Ritchie Wylie, Bloomington, Indiana
Encinal [California] Sept. 15 1854
Dear Mother:
I often hear of those at home through other members of the family but am not often
gratified by a letter direct. I think the Wylies have an inherent dislike of letter writing and this
added to a want of practice renders it a great bore. In this way I account for the fact that I have as
yet received nothing from Redick and so seldom from Jane. Tell R. that I have felt quite jealous
for I have ascertained that he has actually written to Mr Bell. Now if he can write to Mr Bell
why not to me! I know that he is very busy with that farm--Hogs, horses &c &c but then there
is every seventh day one of which he might devote to a long letter to me telling me all about his
farming operations--How his fruit trees, stock &c are prospering? Red you must do it--I’ll take
no excuse--Sit down as soon as you have read this & when it is fresh on your mind it may be done
easily -- My health is about as it was when I last wrote you--seems to have reached a certain point
and then become stationary -- This climate seems to sustain and brace up my general system, but
does not overcome the irrita tion of my lungs--it is too cool & windy. I still suffer a good deal
from embarrassed respiration at times cough considerably and spit more or less blood -- I must
seek a milder a softer air if I would hope to remove these symptoms --The winters here are more
pleasant & milder than the summer And on this bay, I believe, though it is one of the healthiest
spots on earth, that nine tenths of the year the weather is disagreeable to one not engaged in active
out door exercise. To day it is cloudy & chilly and I have on my overcoat & it has been so for
the last ten days -- Visions of the beautiful clear warm september weather with you, come to my
memory, by contrast and I long for the Seven League Boots that I might step over and enjoy it, &
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flee away again when the winter comes with its biting frosts. I dont think that it would be safe for
me to risk an Indiana winter, otherwise I would start home with Dr Hibbard who expects to return
some time in November -- Nor do I think it best to remain here. I think that this climate has done
about all it can for me, and I must either go to some other country or to sea. I have been thinking
of the Sandwich Islands which are now of special interest, as the pros pect is that they will soon be
annexed to the U.S. The climate is said to be most Heavenly and the Physicians of San Francisco
generally send their patients there. But to put into execution either of these plans I must have
money shall soon be strapped & unable to work. I dont know what I shall do. I should be unwilling
to apply to the McKees under any circumstances. They would favor me with a pecuniary
loan very unwillingly unless they could be assured of the return of the amount with three or five
per cent. a month in a short time--at least so I think. I am loth & ashamed to again apply to the
Homestead for assistance, but don’t know how else to avoid the alms house or what is about as
bad the unwilling hospitalities of relatives. I had hoped ere this to have been able to help myself
otherwise I might have thought it best quietly to await my fate at home. I thought that I might
borrow say $200 from Dr. Hibbard which might be paid bythe family in the course of six months
or so after his return to the states. On the strength of such an assurance I think I could get the
money, though I have said nothing to him on the subject--Please let me know immediately by
return mail what can be done-- For I must away from here by November. Of course my intrest in
the estate may be held liable for what money I may get – Say nothing to Andrew about this for I
have already received as much assistance from him as he is able to render.
There is a matter that has been for some time past, pressing heavily upon my mind & that is the
last resting place of brother Sam. Had I not been stricken by ill health I myself would have long
since placed a stone to his memory, for he was a favorite & much loved brother. It is a disgrace
to the family that his remains have been so long neglected. Cannot something be done -- It would
not cost much to erect a simple marble tomb stone. Mr Carey (Mr Browns son in law) promised
me that he would place a head board & foot board with his name or initials. But the place can be
found by applying at the office of the company. I have written to Elizabeth on the subject & shall
also to Anderson from whom I recd a letter by last mail. The wildest & most unmanage able of
the flock is about to prove the most sedate & Reverend. San Francisco & the State generally has
just passed through the most intense political excitement. The city has been so long under the
control of party hacks & Shoulder Strikers & so shame fully managed & brot to bankruptcy--the
people arose in mass, and by means of the Know Nothings who elected their whole ticket, placed
good men in office & established order -- News to the same effect is received from the principal
towns of the state & the reign of demagogues seems at least for a time to be sus pended -- Love to
Mary the Dr, Red & Jane & much affection for yourself dear Mother I am as ever
your loving son John
John H. Wylie to Margaret Ritchie Wylie, Bloomington
San Francisco Oct 15 th 1854
Dear Mother:
Since I last wrote you my health has been about stationary and I have come to the
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