Letter to Miss Anna Nash

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

2021.2.700

Scope and Content

A four page letter on blue paper, written on both sides to Miss Anna E. Nash, Louisville, Kentucky (Care of Col. D.W.C.Rowland). The first three pages are 14" long and folded 4 times, the last page is 8" long and folded 3 times, all to fit into a 3½" x 5" matching blue envelope written and postmarked July 11 1874 with two 3¢ stamps.The letter begins halfway down on the first page, and continues sideways at the top of page 1. The sender's name is illegible initials.

Context

St Joseph Saturday Morning July 11 1874 To My Dearest Friend Yours of the 7th was received Thursday the 9th . . .it made quite a quick trip of it. Please accept thanks for the promptness in which you answered my last letter and hope I may hear from you . . . while you are absent. Don't let this be the last I shall write to you as usual and only on your good judgement whether it will be . . . for you for you to answer or not you have arrived at an age when you should be the judge in this matter. I cannot look upon you in any other light than my intended wife and shall act accordingly. You have promised to be my wife provided your mother consented and she has promised to give her consent when you return. And I accepted the situation and am now awaiting that time to come and hope it may not be for distant knowing these facts as she does. I think she should in justice to me . . . you at last that privilege. Mrs N___ has oftime told me that "I never seem to understand her" I confess I do not now. I have read your letter over and over again for the last two days and would have answered it before but knew not what to write. You say that every time they write they speak of me having such a gay time . . . around with the young Ladies. I have been out driving several times with them but have not taken any one the second time. I have been out with Miss Hemphill Miss Campbell visiting Cal Ridenbaugh Miss Ridenbaugh Miss Zimmerman at the . . . . Miss Penick Miss Wakefield of Savannah and Miss . . . of Memphis besides your Mother and Lizzie and with all this can truthfully say that I have never been so lonely in all my life as since you left the city. After my days work is over if there is no lodge meeting I get out my house and drive around town aftime alone but not always as you will see by the above list of names who have been very kind in helping me to drive away the monotonies of time. I will give you a sketch of how I have spent the time since I last wrote Monday eve called on Miss Sallie Smith found her at home this time. She is a very pleasant and agreeable young lady. Drove over to your Grandmothers Tuesday Eve. It was a very fair proposition but don't know whether I would like to or not. I rather think not. What do you think about it? Mrs N. asked me to call again Mrs Caster to and Miss Hasau to and play croquet. Mrs Caster thanked me for the group said she was very much pleased with it. Went driving with MissMaharr of Memphis on Wednesday night we just drove around town for about two hours.started with Mr. ? ? ? partook of ice cream then drove to Mr ? ? ? where she is visiting ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? the door steps until quite later watching the lightnings and approaching storm which came about 12 o'clock the first rain we have had since you left. Thursday eve took Mr. John Marlow driving we drove first to Miss EcliPz and Mr Marlow ? ? ? enjoyment with her for the annual concert of ? ? ? ? ? on friday night. I did not get out of the Buggy. We then drove around the hills and Lovers Lane down 3rd to francis, up 7th to 6th, up 6th to hall then once around the cemetery hills to the avenue then up Francis and to the Stable ? ? ? our team and he accompanied me to the ice cream saloon we ? ? ? them ? ? ? Friday eve I spent at the RA Chapter and confined ther ? ? ? of Mr E. Masters & Royal Arch had a host of visitors from Kansas, Chicago and other places. we had a fine time but as you are slightly affraid of masoning this may not be interesting to you. So you see my time has been pretty well taken up during the week. Saturday night this 4pm Mr Railey & Johnson down to the picnic of the H? ? ? ? tused society in the ? ? ? East of the Patee House Ave ? ? ? ? was to late to see much but enjoyed what we had. Found Mrs Nash there, Miss Kate, Mrs Biggerstaff, Mr & Mrs Mayor Hosea, Mrs Hall & Mr & Mrs Carter spent a very pleasant hour with them. Mr & Mrs H told u of their pleasant trip in Minnesota a little after dark Mrs N Lizzie & myself started for home but changed our minds when we struck 3rd street and started for "Lovers Lane" we ? ? ? the line in good order had a very pleasant drive and reached home a little before ten. Mrs N. invited me in and read ? ? ? of your letter to me and told me that she thought I should do likewise to her when I hear from you. (The top 5" of this next page has been torn off, so it is missing part of the whole) Write soon ever yours. JMA (it continues) I have received an invitation to attend a party at Mr. Ridenbaugh's given to Mrs Campbell the young lady of the south visiting there. Miss Anna R__ was around with a list of ? ? ? for me to check from but I didn't check I shall go alone if I attend. And you think of me in your dreams I hope they are pleasant thoughts. I too dream of you ofttimes have had several dreams of you lately. And do you still think it is mesmerism. I hope you have dreaded ? ? ? by this time so you can give me answers when you write again. be frank with me as I am with you. There is no use of our being so distant any longer. I did address you as "just friends" in my last and thought it very appropriate and to make it more binding and to speak the sentiments of my heart could find nothing more appropriate than my "Dearest Friend" to commence this with hope you will accept the term. I know this will be a very gloomy letter to you and have a good notion to tear it up and ? ? ? ? some other time. but will ask you to excuse mistakes bad writing and I will try and do better in my next, but when will you be where I can write again. (the remaining writings are part of the torn section, so the next page does not follow logically) you and the young ladies to Lexington on my way and spend Sunday with you & cousin Phoebe. I think I shall have a very nice young man accompany me as he talks of it now. Mr Wilson is married and will be in Louisville on the 16th at the Golf House. He would like to have you call Mrs. W thinks that ? ? ? ? ? Miss May from an excuse to write. Mr. Blackmore tolds me this eve that he heard that I was to start for Kentucky in a few days with a married woman but wouldn't give me any of the particulars so I don't know who he has reference to, it can't be Mrs. W. When we came back we drove to the fair grounds and had several races with different ? ? ? and charley beat them all. Mr Raily done the betting on my side and invariably won. We reached home about dark - dusk Ms. R. is right ? ? ? more days says that he intends to spend the summer with us. Mr. Fackler leaves in a few days for Minnesota to be gone several weeks. Mr ? ? , his two daughters & Mrs J M Frazier left about a week ago for California for their health. Mr. Bennett has gone home to Brooklyn as he didn't stay long in St. Louis but believe he intends to go back there and try his luck again. Mr. Higgins is driving away at his ? ? ? Mr. Blackmore is sitting around at his corner at the Paciffic House and he has written to Miss G__. at last it seems that the spirit moved us both about the same time. I didn't think he could stand it much longer his Nellie being also gone has him quite disturbed as a Lover but as he is right quick in making more ? ? ? I don't think he will suffer much. ? ? ? Mr. Rowland make the ? ? ? ? about Mr. B__ as he did about me writing to his daughter? Of course Mr Marlow is in your family and privileged, present my kindest regards to Mr & Mrs Rowland also the young ladies, And li'll "Cousin Ned" that I will accompany him and the family to Mammoth Cave provided we can start on the 18th or 19th of this month and let me know at once so I can make arrangements. I have always been anxious to visit the cave and don't know when shall have another such opportunity. I want to be in Detroit on the 4th of August and if you are ready will accompanying

Letter to Miss Anna Nash

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St. Joseph Museums

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