The Andrew Wylie Family Letters - Indiana University Bloomington

1857
Irene Wylie Bell, Wheeling, (West) Virginia to Andrew Wylie, Jr. Letter from William B.
Sprague to Rev. William Wylie enclosed, with comments added by Irene (those comments here
placed in brackets).
January 5 th [1857]
Dear Andrew,
I forward you this letter at Uncle William’s request, and he desires you to answer it for
him. His is too feeble to undertake the task. I wrote down a few answers to the questions in
pencil, [these are inserted above, contained in brackets] as we talked over the subject together.
I wrote you two weeks ago which letter I hope has reached you. I wrote Anderson on Christmas.
Please write us soon. Love to Carry Anny
Your affectionate sister Irene
[Enclosed letter, with comments in brackets, follows.]
Albany
26 Dec 1856
Rev. and dear Sir,
I wrote to my friend the Rev. Dr. Joseph Smith some time ago asking for the material for
a brief sketch of the Rev. Dr. Wylie, for a work in which I am engaged commemorative of the
prominent deceased clergymen of this country. He referred me to you, noting that Dr. Wylie was
your brother; and unless my memory greatly deceives me, I wrote to you immediately on the
subject, but not having received an answer, I have always supposed that my letter did not reach
you. What I wish to obtain is not an estimate of his character—for Dr. Baud has furnished me
that already—but the facts necessary to a brief sketch of his life. All that would be necessary to
my purpose might be included in the answers to some such questions as the following: When
and where was he born {in Washington County, about 1765}; what were the names of his
parents {Adam & Elizabeth}; how did he spend his early years {with the family on the farm
& at common school}; under whose instruction did he prepare College {under Uncle William
who gave him instructions in Latin and Greek}; at what college was he educated {At Jefferson
College}; when did he enter and when graduate; did he teach a school after having College {yes},
if so, where and how long; when did he make a profession of religion {about his 17 th year} &
what church did he join; under whom did he study theology {Dr. Anderson}; what was the history
of his connection with Jefferson College; when and by what body was he licensed to preach {By
the Ohio Presbytery}; where did he commence his public labours; when and where was he first
settled {As president of Jefferson College and preached there in the neighborhood} and when
did he leave the place; when and where was he settled afterwards and for how long a time; when
did he join the Episcopal Church and what led to it; when was he seated in that church; did he
continue to preach till near the close of life; what was the nature and duration of his last illness
and what the time & circumstances of his death; when and to whom was he married; how many
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children had he and did any of them enter any of the liberal professions; did he leave a widow and
does she still live; what are the titles and dates of his publications. Any other interesting facts in
his history would of course be thankfully received.
I have yet another favor to ask of you—I have occasion to refer in a note to the Rev. James
Adams, who, I understand, was settled for a time in your vicinity in the Presbytery of Ridstone.
Can you tell me where he originated, where he received his education, where he received his
ministry, and when & where he died?
Hoping you will excuse me, stranger as I am to you, for making myself so troublesome, I
am,
My dear sir,
With great regard
Faithfully yours,
W. B. Sprague
Rev. W. Wylie
{Uncle says it would be well to mention that father’s father was brother to the late Dr. Wylie of
Philadelphia.}
Anderson M. Wylie to Elizabeth Wylie McCalla
Theo’l Seminary
Fairfax Co Va Jan 19 th 1857
My Dear Sister
Your letter I received upon returning to the Sem, day before yesterday, after spending my
holidays in Philad’ & Baltimore. I cannot now write a very long letter to you for I am really so
pushed with work that I do not know to what to turn first. I have certainly written two or three
letters to you that you have never received, for you make no mention of them & it was but a few
weeks since when I wrote you quite a long one. I spent a little over two weeks in Philad and
enjoyed myself in a quiet, but very great degree. Quite a number of students went on and we
were shown a great deal of attention, but not enough I think to spoil us, for can say for myself
that I am glad to get back to my delightful Sem. Life. Oh it is delightful to be employed for God,
and as for me I ought to be singing His praises all the time, for surely there are few who have
been more highly blessed than I. I found my friends in Philad, as usual. Craig [D. Ritchie] sends
his love to you. Will Letterman & I took our Christmas dinner with Mrs. Dorsey, and spent the
afternoon & evening with Craig who is very successful at entertaining. I did not meet Theo Jr.
who did not come down. Theo Sr’s Church is now about the largest in the city & recently there
were nearly 80 added to the communion. I stopped in Balt, for two days. All except Aunt Jane
were well. These relatives I have reason to esteem very highly, for they treat me just as one of the
family, & few men are more highly beloved than Dr. L. [Letherman]. Though I met with a great
many young ladies I am not yet seriously affected & from present prospects there is no telling
when I will, for it seems much farther off than four years since.
Dear sister I pray you may be happy in your new situation, and by looking to God I know you
will be prepared for any situation in life. Oh if we would all simply commit our all to God, who
has assured us of His infinite love in giving his only Son, & that he therefore with him will freely
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