Name/Title
Stevens letter, 1841Entry/Object ID
2021.39.383Tags
1840s, PostageScope and Content
Letter to Charles Stevens, Warren, from T. Stevens (Thomas).
"Sterling June 16 1841
Mr. Charles Stevens
Dear Sir, agreeably
to your request when you left here I
can now inform you when the Land Sales
will take place - the 16th of August
next is the day that Mr. Van fixt for the
sale of a vast extent of country including the
Rock River from Stephonson to the line of
Wisconsin Territory (excepting Saxon Township
and some fractional townships on the extremes
they having been previously sold Saxon last
season) and his successor Mr. Tyler equally
tyranical steadfastly adheres to Mr. Vanburens
proclimation in spite of lamentations here
or elsewheres - We call their acts tyranical
because the country is without a currency
because it comes at a time of general bank suspensions
and consequently exchanges are most ruinous
and no money of course can serve our Masters
next the Lord. But if a reform administration
intends to carry into effect the meas-
ures of a repudiated one it must abide the
consequences which I predict will be to share the
same fate. The idea of replenishing a bankrupt
Treasury out of the infant settlements of the
West is monstrously absurd and will in my
humble opinion be met by the execrati-
ons of the whole country - But I am straying
from my point - I merely meant to state to you
when the sales would take place and also to
inform you of the eventual termination of the
contest concerning the location of the County
of Whiteside County. This place has after so long
a struggle been by the commishioners duly declared
the permanent seat of justice by all the deeds and
acts required by the legislature creating or concerning
it and so much does the act partake of the nature and
essence of a contract that no law save an ex post facto one
can remove it. The canal at these rapids is be-
gun and perhaps one third of the work done by for
want of funds on the part of the State is suspended.
However the Legislature at its last session passed an act
granting a charter to a joint stock company to
finish the work, but I am not aware that the
stock is taken yet.
Now sir if you have spare funds on hand and still
wish to enter land in this vicinity as you intimated
when you left I presume you can - you could
now have a chance to enter with the consent of
Claimants at 20 shillings per acre in this
immediate Neighborhood and perhaps get a portion
of timberland and as things are now shaped the
probability is that the terms will b no harder at the
tie of sale - If P W Bowman would come
and enter a piece I think it would b well for
him. Inform him of the death of his sister Mary
Pratt. She died on the 4th of May of inflamation of
the stomach and bowels. I shall write him soon
and wish him to write me when you receive this.
We have a pleasant and fertile country to
inhabit and one to that in my opinion ill eventual-
ly prove healthy notwithstanding the two past seasons
have been unhealthy - the crops look fine and prom-
ise an abundant harvest.
I send this without correcting the mail
being close at hand.
All are well
C. Stevens Yours affectionately P. Stevens
(sideways in margin)
Send to Rock River Rapids PO Whiteside
County Please write immediately"Collection
The Richard Morton Hess and Phyllis Lafferty Hess CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2021.39Source or Donor
Hess, KennethLocation
Location
Container
Hess Collection Box 3Room
ArchivesBuilding
Morgan History CenterDate
December 7, 2021Notes
Folder: Stevens FamilyRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Stevens, Charles, Stevens, ThomasRelated Places
Place
* Untyped Place
Warren, Ohio