The Andrew Wylie Family Letters - Indiana University Bloomington

if it can be had on reasonable terms. Mr Withers sold, and I bought, sight unseen, for $6000.
The Mineral Spring alone is worth more than twice that, and the land would now sell for 15$ an
acre without reference to the spring. Farming there is much easier than it is about Blooming ton.
Everything almost being done by machinary. There is hardly another such stock farm as this one
is, in the whole west. My purpose in writing the above is to say to you, not to make any bargain
with Hight. I am revolving a plan by which you may be made as independent as a lord, and the
family live in comfort wherever they please. If they should not wish to go with you there, they
might reside at Wheeling or any other place they might prefer. If I had things arranged as I wish,
I should like nothing better than to pass every summer, at the “Yellow Springs.” As to proximity
to market, you would be as well off--indeed as to the Southern market better off--than you are
at Bloomington. Burlington is a fine growing young city, with a population now of 5 or 6000 I
should think, situated on the Mississippi which connects it with the South, and having exten sive
railroad connections, East, West & North. Consider these things cooly. I will write you again
after my own views have been better settled. Don’t talk on the subject out of the family.
I shall remain here two or three days more. St. Louis is a great place--far before any other
of the Western Cities. With much love for all at home, I am yr affectionate brother
Andrew Wylie
There is a first rate plank road out to the land from Burlington, and it can be easily driven in two
hours.
Lizzie Leeds Wylie, Richmond, Indiana to Elizabeth Wylie, Bloom ington, Indiana
[summer, 1855]
Dear Lizzie
I can hardly persuade myself to take a pen in hand to write to any one The act brings
with it so many sorrowful and over whelming recollections, The last time I held a pen I was
engaged in writing to a dear Husband lines that were alas destined never to reach his eye, Oh
dear Lizzie what shall I say of this great grief Thee has lost a brother thee knows how much
sorrow that brings to thy heart but I have lost more than a brother sister mother or Father I have
lost a husband, It seems to me as though I have been suddenly cast from light into darkness my
life a wreck, I can hardly yet realize that so much misery is mine. All my thoughts plans hopes
asperations were so intimately entwined with his life that it never seemed to me he could die,
I could not believe in so terrible a finale to so great a sacrifice After enduring the torture of so
trying a seperation for so long a time I could not dream but that the reward would come in the
shape of his restoration to health, And then dear Lizzie he almost always wrote so cheerfully to
me that even at the time of his death I was dreaming of his speedy return counting the weeks &
days untill that return but he will never return he is dead dead I shall never again be folded in
his dear arms never behold those bright eyes or hear that dear voice all is hushed in death He
has gone to join that little band of loved ones that have gone before Oh it is only in the blessed
hopes held forth by religion that we can find consolation in the hours of our afflictions, I pray
God this great sorrow may sanctify my soul and prepare it for a happy reunion in the abodes of
bliss, my health continues about the same I do not have as many hemorrhages as formerly but
believe I raise more corruption my neuralgia is about the same. I have just returned from a short
190
visit to the city the Dr recom mended change of air & scene for me so they thought they would
take me a short trip first I was much better while there, They wish to take me to the springs next
but I have not as yet deter mined I have quit taking medicine almost entirely substituted riding out
every day, When I look back & think how much I have suffered physically as well as mentally
I feel surprised that I am as well as I am for more than a year I have suffered with the neuralgia
hour on hours I lay awake at night groaning with the most exquisite pain for the last three month
I have never slept or but rarely except under the influence of an opiate that of itself is enough
to undermine ones health, I have done everything for it. but can find no relief I consulted the
Physician of the city but they could recommend nothing but what I had tried They say its my
mind causes the neuraliga but cannot understand how it can produce the pain, I have lost my
hearing on that side entire ly the use of the sinews of my neck just below my ear there is a lump as
large as a walnut all caused by this horrible neuralgia, in one respect Im a good deal better [page
missing?] Please write if this comes safely to hand
Andrew Wylie Jr to Elizabeth Wylie, Bloomington, Indiana
Washington August 25 th 1855
My Dear Sister
I am fearful that you will regard me as very fickle of purpose, or hasty in making
propositions, when you come to read what follows in this letter.
Unexpected obstacles have prevented my carrying out the plan about which I wrote you
a week or ten days ago. Mr. Withers, I found on examination, had made a lease of the farm for
seven years, and had bound himself also to sell to his tenant at a fixed price at any time within
that period. The tenant is not willing to relinquish his bargain, and thus my cherished hopes are
to be disappointed. Mr Withers, when he spoke to me on the subject supposed there would be
no difficulty on that scene, but it has turned out otherwise. Besides this, the party who owns the
adjoining tract of 114 acres on which the buildings were erected, and which I hoped might be
had for a moderate price has advanced his figures so much that I refused to buy of him. This last
obstacle, however, would not be insuperable as we might build on the other land a better house
than his at a less price than he sets upon his, but the first obstacle is one that cannot be got over.
In any event, however, I think you ought to get everything ready for a sale of the home mansion
and surrounding property. If that can be sold Redick and I can arrange some plan of operations
either to get more land near Bloomington, or for him to go upon the Iowa property, and the rest of
the family reside where it may be most pleasant for them. I agree with you all perfectly that there
is too much capital locked up in the Bloomington home property.
In order to procure a sale of John’s interest with as little delay & trouble as possible, I
herewith send John’s note to me for $250, with interest due upon it from the 14th December
1853, making it now about $300. I have assigned it to Redick so that he may unite it with his
own claim, and he can account with me for the proceeds hereafter. In fact I presume the widow
[Lizzie Leeds Wylie] and her friends must themselves desire a sale, and would gladly join in the
proceedings in court necessary for that purpose.
Carry and Andrew returned a few days ago, altogether unexpectedly to us as in her last letter she
191