The Andrew Wylie Family Letters - Indiana University Bloomington

him -- or if you do not feel like parting with her--if she is now gentle & can be trusted more than
Sal -- keep her & I shall try and devise some other mode of getting along -- I left my cane -- Let
Sam bring it with him or if he should not come this way--let him take it to Cin as I can have an
opportunity of getting it from there.
Samuel T. Wylie to Andrew Wylie, Bloomington, Indiana
Cincinnati Sept. 19 th 1850
Dear father,
I am in the Queen City once more, though I became so fond of the Country & of
locomotion during my recent trip, that I hardly feel as much at home as I did before I started.
I got along rapidly and without difficulty from Indianapolis to Richmond. The road was
much better than we had passed over previously (about half pike & plank) & Fan seemed to have
had at least two hundred and fifty weight taken off of her spirits.
I found John in good health & spirits. His old practice is coming back to him rapidly & he
is acquiring new. He had three or four new calls among the Germans while I was with him. He
says he would rather have their practices than any other in the town or country, as however poor
they always pay without waiting to be dunned two or three years.
I remained in Richmond from Thursday until Monday following & during that time I
spent two evenings with John’s Dulcinea & her sister. I suppose thay have heard that the family
are op posed to the match & regarded me as an agent sent to report what sort of looking animals
they were. I infer this much from the fact that they appeared quite embarrassed the first evening
I was there. The next time I went they were more in their ease and appeared to better advantage.
The oldest sister (Kate) is a very pretty sweet looking girl. The younger (John’s) does not
strike one as handsome at first sight, but grows in good looks upon acquaintance. She has an
intellectual looking head & a fine eye, but is too fat about the chops. In manners she is somewhat
countryfied, at least has not as much refinement and grace of manner as some city ladies I wot
of. In conversation she is animated and sprightly. I did not see the mother. The father is dead.
The only other member of the family I saw was a brother & I only saw him long enough to be
introduced. Richmond is rather on the line of improvement, though not very rapidly.
I called to see Miss Laws of whom J had a strong notion for awhile. She is quite a handsome &
a very agreeable girl & is a star of attraction in the society of Richmond which I did not think the
town possessed. Upon the whole I think Richmond a pleasanter place than John represents it,
though certainly it is inferior to Terre Haute in the quality of the society.
Aunt Abbie left here yesterday afternoon on the Cars [train] for Columbus. She remained
at the Burnet house for a couple of days, at the end of which time the river was so low, that no
boats were running in which a white person would take passage. She went without company, but
I think she will have no difficulty in getting on.
I was quite surprised the other day by a call from Fee, on which occasion he informed me “his
lady” was in town & wished to see me. -- Nothing like perseverance!! They both expressed great
regret that you were not at home to perform the ceremony. They said you was their first choice--
Prof Wylie 2nd & Hughes 3d. He told me he enquired on Tuesday evening if you were at home &
78
was told you would not be back for a week. If he had inquired on Wednesday, I suppose he would
have found you at home.
Tell Liz that Maud Cox will not go to house keeping before next spring. Aunt A- went
down the river to Henry Yeatman’s with her and spent a day. She was delighted with her visit. I
have not seen Maud myself but a minute. I hope you will not fail to be at the Convention if it is
at all possible. You should strain a point to come. Your friends here are enquiring after you & are
anxious you should be here.
I have a word to say in relation to the intercourse of Judge Otto with our family. Do not
invite him to the house again—it puts him in a disagreeable dilemma. He is a friend of yours &
dislikes to appear to neglect your invitations to visit the house & at the same time he will not do
it, being entirely satisfied that mother did make the remarks which were reported to him. I know
his authority for believing as he does & can’t see how he can believe otherwise. The mischief is
done so far as the family is concerned & can’t be remedied. He is a friend of yours no doubt, &
that is all that is of much importance--so let the matter rest as it is, & don’t annoy him with any
more invita tions.
Love to all.
Your affectionate
Son Sam
A. Wylie D.D.
Bloomington Ind.
P.S. I think it is John’s intention to be married some time in the winter, though I said nothing to
him about it. – Enclosed you will find the recpt of W.K.S which you gave me by mistake for the
one to John.
Andrew Wylie to Margaret Ritchie Wylie, Bloomington, Indiana
New Albany Sept. 22 d 1850
Dear Wife
I learn from John Anderson that James Flack a nephew of his and grandson of Dr John
Anderson, after whom our Anderson was called, & whom as you know I so dearly loved while
he lived & whose memory I cherish, is now with the Rail road corps of engineers operating at &
near Bloomington & my object in writing to you now is that you may employ Redick to find him
out & pay that attention to him which is due not only for sake of our friend his grandfather now
no more, but also on his own account: for from what I learn of him here he is a very excellent
& promising youth. His acquaintance may be of advantage to Redick & Anderson, as I firmly
believe a blessing from God descends on the children & childrens children of those who fear God
according to the promise annexed to the fourth commandment.
When the engineers are at Orchards young Flack will be among them and may be easily found out
& introduced to our family and treated with such kindness as I know you will be disposed to give.
I preached here yesterday, and have been most kindly treated by the minister Mr Martin and his
79