Jane Ely's Letters,  1852-1858

January 19, 1852

My dear parents

I have at length seated myself to answer your letter, after defering it from time to time looking for a more convenient season. I have followed your example in letter writing to faithfully but it was not intended. I have had a great deal to occupy my time. Little Helen has become a very troublesome child. I think she is teething and dont feel well. It is very difficult for me to perform all my household duties, many things have to be neglected. I hope you will excuse my negligence in not answering your letter sooner. I mean it shall not be so again.

Mother I was deeply affected in reading your letter to learn the painful suspense you were subjected to nearly one week during our dear Helen's sickness and death. I can hardly realize it is so. O shall we never see that dear face again? Yes Mother, hope speaks and whispers comfort in pointing to a future world. I can say amen to father's sentiments expressed in his letter. She has gone only a little before us. How short life is at the longest and how vain to place our affections upon earthly objects. My dear sister's death has brought me nearer to God. I see her constantly before as she was in her dying moments. Her face lighted up with an angelic smile as she said Jesus and angels I am coming now. O how beautiful! We need not wish her back but rather wish we were in her place. Mother, be comforted she died in the Lord, her soul is secure and she is free from trouble. Sometimes I feel like mourning and lamenting her death but such feelings always give place to a spirit of rejoicing that it is so well with her. How numerous our company of friends have become that have gone to another world, and we have this to comfort us that all our new friends that have died had given evidence of their adoption into the family of Christ while in this world. I feel when I think of this that it belongs to me to prepare to meet them, that when I come to die they may welcome me to join the happy throng that are around the throne of God.

I have received one letter from William and one from Ade. I expect to hear again soon. In my last letter to them I expressed an ardent desire that William should visit Detroit. It would be such a comfort to you but I suppose it is very difficult for him to leave his business. I hope you will have the pleasure of seeing him before long. I presume you would like to know what change I have made in my dress. I have not been to much expense. I have a very plain neat black straw with wide white ribbons for strings, only one black dress. Oh yes, and a very fine ____ shawl. I have sold my shawl and my new one is larger and much finer, it is not black but it is mixed. I wear the one dress every time I go out, but hope to get a better supply soon.

Our church are having a very interesting meeting now. Mr Ely has a minister helping him by the name of Cake. He is staying with us and has been here one week tonight. There has already been some conversions and they will probably continue their meetings some days yet. I can not write a lengthy letter this time. Mr. Cake and Mr. Ely are both sitting by talking and I can not write, and I wish to send this without any more delay. Charles goes to school and learns very fast. He can say the multiplication table any pair as fast as you can ask him. I think he will be uncommonly good in figures.

I have written to Harriet recently but have received no answer, how is she? I received a very feeling letter from Matthew. He wished me to write him all the particulars of Helen's death. I did so as far as I had received them.

Mother I wish I could receive a visit from you and father the coming summer. What do you say?

Tell Janet I will answer her kind letter soon. Mr. Ely sends his love and Charles sends a kiss to Cara. Give my love to all

Your daughter Jane

Wabasha Prairie Dec. 7, 52

My dear afflicted Mother

I received your letter dated the 14^th ult two or three days since. There has been a great deal of irregularity about the mails, but we hope a system is established now that will give us our mails in season.

I was not disappointed in your letter, you manifest the same feeling I supposed you must possess. I wish I could be with you to sympathise with you and mingle my tears with yours. I can hardly realise that my dear father has gone. O how can I have my friends drop off in such a way, that dear sister took her departure, and I was not with her to bid her farewell. I mourned that I had not that priviledge and now my beloved father has gone. I often think of him as I saw him last. I bid him farewell then forever. I often looked upon him and my eyes would fill with tears, while I thought I never should see him again, still I indulged a hope of seeing him, but it was a hope without expectation. When I think of the happy change he has made I am reconciled, and feel anxious to be likewise prepared. I am glad that you stay where you are this winter. I think you can pass the time much pleasanter as you will miss father less. I hope you will go down to Shuyler to pass away the time. I am also pleased to hear you anticipate visiting Matthew. I think you will enjoy a visit in Phil. very much. I know Ale will do every thing to make your visit agreeable, but Mother I was sorry to hear you express yourself as you did about my being so far that you could not give me a share of your time. Mother that made me unhappy, to think you could not spend a portion of your time with me because I was so far west, when you could come easily in two days from Detroit. I shall not put up with that decision if I have to go all the way there for you. I shall anticipate a visit notwithstanding what you write. I hope to spend many of my future days in your society, if that desire is not reciprocated a sad change has come over the heart of my Mother. I think we acted according to our own best interest in coming to a new country. I know we shall have a great many privations to endure, but our compensation is a house of our own. I never liked the idea of moving from place to place as ministers are accustomed to, if we found a place where we could obtain a good salary it is all expended in moving. I do not think this is a proper state of things. I presume the fault lies in the minister as well as in the people, but I did not wish to live so. I wanted a place I could cultivate as my own and take pleasure in making improvements. In old settled countrys property is held so high that there was no probability of our securing a place and a living at the same time, here we have an acre of ground on the town site, and a beautiful claim in sight where can be made a splendid farm, it now will furnish all our wood, and by cultivating a few acres next summer will furnish almost a support for our table. As to a living a very little will do us at present in the clothing line. I make over and mend and thus go ahead of my neighbors, and as to the eating part we are glad to get the substantials letting alone the knick knacks. We ordered from St. Louis a bill of goods to the amount of sixty dollars, and expected a draft of that amount sent there at the same time to meet the bill, the draft was not sent till late in the season, the goods were shipped as soon as it was received but cold weather came, the river froze up and we are left without sugar or molasses in a place where there is no store and none to be had. We have had a bill of goods twice sent from St. Louis but we sold as long as we had because our neighbor wanted and we thought ours new supply would come in time, very much disappointed for we have in that bill of goods almost anything in the eating line that would make us comfortable. Still I am thankful for what we have. A good cow gives us milk and butter which are luxuries indeed, and many a good dish of samp and milk I have already enjoyed.

Mr Ely preaches once in two weeks here and Mr. Hamilton once in two weeks, of course it is all free gratis fornothing. By the way Mr. Hamilton resides here with his family. I made Mrs. H a visit a short time since and we all had a great deal to say about the people of Oriskany Falls, they know much more about them than I do. I find Mrs. H a very pleasant lady and am pleased with her society. We are living in our new house, the kitchen only finished, it is 16 feet square with a porch and a small room by the porch. It is very comfortable compared with the shanty we lived in during the summer. We hope to finish our house another season. We are having a well dug near the back door, which will be done tomorrow. Mr. Ely put up hay during the summer which is worth sixty dollars, and this winter he is going to fence and improve our claim. So you see we can find enough to do. We are by ourselves now none but our own little family which gives me time to do some sewing and mending.

We have no school and I am teaching Charlie. I find it rather hard work as he is pretty full of play. Helen Mae is a perfect chib chub about as large one way as the other, she is as large around the waist as I am lacking two inches. She talks every thing very plain, but she has such a violent temper when she is crossed. She is so different in that respect from Charles, yet she is a very affectionate child. Whenever she wakes up in the night she puts her arms around my neck and never tires in kissing me. She will get mad in one minute and tell me to go away and if I attempt to go she will scream and want to kiss me. I used to think her father would never like her as well as he did Charles, but her affectionate ways have won him over. He will do anything for her, he is a very indulgent father to both children.

So Joseph has gone to Australia will I hope his fondest dreams may be realised and he be spared to return with continued health to enjoy all his gains. You speak of this being a sickly climate, it is only sickly as any new country subject to ague and fever. We have been uncommonly blessed with good health for which I trust I am thankful. Charles has had a few chills, but we break them without any difficulty and he dont seem to be much affected, but many of our neighbors are very sick with the ague, perhaps our turn is to come.

I was sorry to hear Harriet's health is no better. I shall write to her very soon. I would now but I think you would prefer hearing from me again in two or three weeks. Give my best love to her and Ette and their husbands. Also remember me to all my old acquaintances. I think I shall write to Mary Helen Babcock as she is so near and being in Galena, she can do me a good many favors as I can have opportunities of sending for plants and shrubbery. Well Mother I will leave this for tonight as my hand is quite tired.

Yours in affliction and sympathy

Jane W. Ely

Direct your letters,

Winona
Wabasha Prairie
Minnesota Territory
Dec 11th

Winona June 12th 1853

My dear Mother

Your letter came the 4th of April did not reach me till June the 8th four days since. I was sure there was one somewhere on the way for we have had a great irregularity in the mails, owing to the refusal of the line of boats to take the mail for what the agent of the Post Master Gen. offered them. It is since settled and we have a mail three times a week. I was very happy to hear from you and to know that all was well. I hope you had a pleasant trip to New York and are now safe in Detroit. O How I wish I could see you now and hear you tell all about your travels. I was considerably encouraged in your last letter about your coming to Minnesota. I hope sometime to enjoy your society here. I wish it was so that you could come this summer at least in Sept. but I do not expect it. I expect to need a good mothers care and as I have no dear sister near to call upon, and not even a physician nearer than La Crosse, I should urge my mother to come by all means if it was at all consistent, but I must consult your comfort as well as my own, in the first place you need rest and quiet, and then I cannot make you as comfortable as you would be in Detroit. I rather think we shall not finish building this summer as we hoped to do, we cannot obtain at present a good title to our lots as we are on unsurveyed territory and we feel that it is a little unsafe at present to make many improvements. If I only had one more room I should insist upon your coming and spending the winter. I think you would be pleased with the country. People are coming and going back into the country about 15 miles where there is any quantity of the best kind of land with pleasant trout streams found by the coldest springs. It is very healthy only a few cases of ague. My health has not been quite so good this spring as usual but I am better now as well as can be expected, the children both are very hearty and Helen dear is the most loving little creature you ever saw. She never has had a days sickness since the swelling she had a year ago, as a family we have enjoyed uncommon health, besides we have all the comforts of life. We have a good cow and all our groceries right at hand by the quantity. The place grows soon this spring, there has be a great deal of contention with regard to claims, one man shot another about a month ago, the man shot had his arm broken and lies helpless still. There has been a great deal of excitement and feeling among the people which makes it unpleasant to me, but they say it is always so with claimants on government land, as a general thing they dont have any law or dont recognise any law. Several have come on to this prairie since we have and have obtained valuable claims by what is called jumping Our claim is in the country and rather than to get into difficulty with our neighbors I would be willing to let any opportunity pass by of jumping another claim.

I shall be obliged to write a short letter this time, I have had so many interruptions. I canít tell how many times I have seated myself to write and before I get through three or four lines someone comes in. I must send this tonight for you are anxious to hear I know. We still have charge of the Post Office, which is more trouble than it is worth. June 17th. It is sometime since I commenced this letter and I will try to finish sure. I seem to have a great deal to do though there is no one in the family besides our own. Mr. Ely is engaged farming mostly at least he is trying to raise enough for our own consumption. We had some peas for dinner and a strawberry pudding, besides a roasted Buffalo fish stuffed, it weighed nearly 7 lbs after it was dressed. There is no danger of starving in this country. One man planted corn a week ago and it is now big enough to hoe. All we want here to make it pleasant on this prairie is trees for a shade. I did not succeed this spring in getting a single tree of any description to put on our lots. We cant get any short of Galena a distance of nearly a hundred miles. I hope to get some this fall. We can get forest trees enough and I will have some sugar maple too. I remember how beautiful these maples were on our old farm. Mother that is a sacred spot to me, how I would love to visit it and go over every part of it. Give my love to Kirkland and Janet. How does she feel about having a pair of twins? Tell me all about them. How I wish I could come and see you Mother. I know Mother you must have a great many gloomy hours. You were glad no doubt to get back to Detroit though you must feel sad at times, I is well you have two babies to take up your attention. Mother answer this immediately. I am very anxious to hear. I hope the letter will not be so long coming as the other.

Your daughter

Jane W. Ely

Direct your letters to Mr. Ely and there will be no postage to pay.

Winona Minnesota Territory

August 1^st (53)

My dear Mother

Your letter was duly received. I was glad to hear from you once more. I had waited I thought a long time for a letter and at length became very anxious. You letter relieved that anxiety, but I was distressed to learn the desponding state of your mind. I wish I could afford you some consolation but what can I say. I can only refer you to the true source of consolation and hope, if you can find no comfort there where is it to be found. "Rest for the weary soul tis found alone in Heaven."

I am very sorry that we live so far away on your account as well as my own though I am far from being sick of the country, but I wish I could be near you to visit you once in a while. I had almost flattered myself that you would come here this fall, but the state of your health disappoints me, still you may get better so that you can come next month. Mr.Ely talks of going away to spend the winter, he thinks he could leave me if you were only here. We now expect to put up the other part of our house during this month the workman will be here this week to frame and enclose it by the 1^st of Sept. by that means we secure our lots, after that we expect to finish off at least one room so we hope to be comfortably fixed by winter. We never have regretted our choice of location. We still think this is to be a very important place, the country back is filling up rapidly and settlers are coming here every day, new buildings are going up fast and we confidently expect one of these days to see this a place. But it donít make much difference to me, I would as soon be in the country on our claim as any where, you know I always liked a quiet life, but I would prefer to have my Mother with me, let me be where I will.

Oh Mother I wish you could see little Helen Mae she grows so interesting. She often talks about you. I asked her one day what she would do if the Indians should come and take away her Mama. She said she would have her grandma. She often speaks of her grand pa and Aunty being dead. She can talk as plain as any one and is all the while asking questions, where is God? Where does he live? She wants to see him. Where are grand pa and aunty? I really cannot satisfy her with my answers. She is so affectionate. Today she had a long nap, waked up and called for me I lay down beside her. She says aint you good ma to do this.

August 28, 1853A

Winona Min Ter Aug 28/53

My dear Mother

It is Sunday noon, Mr. Ely has just returned from meeting which was held in Mr. Hamiltons new house yet unfinished, he brought in with him one of our good neighbors to assist in dispatching a large watermelon nearly as large as a patent pail, which grew in our garden, where by the way are more left of the same sort. How I wish you could enjoy them with us. In two weeks we will have muskmelons in abundance and you are so fond of them, do manage it so as to give us a call just in the nick of time. My health is rather poor, uncommon for me even under existing circumstances and then the worst of it is I can get no help not even to do my washing except Mr. Ely, and I have no promise of help by and by. What do you think I will do, besides we have hands to work on our house that board with us. It comes hard to do the work I assure you. I need not say do the work for it is left undone. I can only get something to eat and wash the dishes. It is a very healthy time here now, no sickness. The crops have done well, better than was expected. We have raised an abundance for our own use of corn, potatoes, beans and all garden vegetable. We feel more independent than ever before. We are living in a house of our own which when finished will be a good comfortable house. With our cow I make our own butter and we have our groceries of the large quantity. Sugar by the barrill, coffee by the sack, our meat is all we have to buy by dribs, and as we have three pigs we like soon to be nearly independent in that respect. But Mother after all I want the society of my friends. I am contented in every thing else but this, but we cannot have every thing we want & there will always be some deficiency.

I was glad to learn by Matthews letter that you had recovered in some measure your wonted spirits. Your last letter made me feel sad enough, you seemed so disconsolate.

You wished to know if I recollected Solomon Giles very well and I think he was a very promising young man. I would like to receive a letter from him. I wish I could take a trip some time in that region of country and see my relatives once more. If my life is spared perhaps I will. Our first object now must be to secure a good comfortable home, this leads me to think of the more important one of securing a home in Heaven, where we will meet our friends to part no more. What is this life? Why should we place so high a value upon earthly things. Mother if you felt prepared for an exchange of worlds would you not consider it gain to depart? If we feel so enough to possess more of a missionary spirit and listen for them that are not prepared for death.

I thought of you a good many times when Matthew and his wife were with you and felt a longing desire to be there too. Is M as full of fun as ever? Ale begins to look care worn dont she? Is not she and Janet a pretty good match?

I was glad to get from Matthew a little of the needful as have no income all the arrearages dont come amiss. I want to write to him this afternoon and you must excuse me if I cut short this letter. Helen talks of you every day. It is her mama and her grandma.

I received a letter from Mrs. Ream a day or two ago. her health is good but her little girls health is very delicate. They have improved their place very much since I left. His father has died leaving $8000 to be divided among four or five children. His portion joined to what he had and has, makes them quite wealthy. She writes that she misses my society very much. I learned from her that Jane Creed had married Mr. Fall who had returned from California with a purse of $80,000. So Mrs. Creed has managed to get three rich husbands for three of her daughters. Mr. Fall has taken his wife and returned to California. Charley sends love to his Grandma, and says I must tell you about his white calf. He has one a year old and wants another to match it so as to have a yolk of steers this winter. That is the height of his ambition. Give my love to Jany and Kirkland, dont they ever get the Minnesota fever? It prevails to a great extent all over the United States. Have you heard from Joseph. I should think it time you had. Mr. Ely sends love.

From your affectionate daughter

Jane

Winona Apr 5th 1856

My dear Mother

The time is drawing near when I want you with me especially. The ice has just left the river and we shall look for boats in a day or two. The house we are to occupy is going ahead as fast as possible and the family who are to take possission of this we shall look for next week. I hope I shall keep up till the time comes, you know I am generally ahead of the time, if should be so now I dont know what will become of me. Sophonia has promised to live with me till she gets married, she is not an ordinary girl but more like one of the family. I enclose a thirty dollar draft and want you to bring me a table cover one or two nice table cloths and some chintz for curtains. I also want some nice warm edgings for trimming small garments. I want such as will do for night caps also I can get nothing of the kind here I want you to get Helen a bonnet if you can find one at this season, you know what difficulty we had last year. I dont want you to trouble yourself too much about any of these things if you can find them conveniently do so if not come without them, if you see anything you think we need that is good and cheap exercise your own judgment and if I have not sent money enough you know we will make it all right when you come. I would like a carpet but I dont like you to be troubled with it, if I could get another like the one I have on the floor I should be pleased, it is now just as pretty as ever though considerably worn.

George and Bennet have bought an interest in Miniska and they think they have made a great strike, they can already realise one hundred per cent if they choose. Mr. Ely purchased last week 20 acres joining the town plot and have the refusal of 20 acres more for two weeks yet. I proposed to Mr. Ely to give you that chance if you bring your money with you, it is a good investment, one that will bring you two or three hundred per cent in less than a year, the place is to be a great business place everybody says. Mr. Ely gave only ten dollars per acre, if you had invested your money here one year ago in real estate even in town lots you would now be worth two thousand dollars easy. You recollect that lot Mr. Ely sold Mr. Wharton giving him a house for a deed of two hundred dollars, he has been offered eight hundred for one half now, it is a corner lot and is a good business lot.

George is not going to Chicago at present he is going up to St. Cloud his property has increased rapidly there, he is very much elated with his prospects in the west. I discharged them as boarders about a week ago. Now Mother I will leave the rest to tell you when you come. I wrote a long letter to Harriet after writing you the last, I talked loud to her about the west I strove to make her sorry she had give up coming. Give my love to all, kissing the dear little ones for me.

July 20, 1857

Winona July 20th 1857

My dear Mother

I feel that I must write you today. I have written to Charles and it is all I have done today of any consequence. I have been sick this morning went without my breakfast as a dose of medicine, have been abed two or three times. My tongue is very much coated and I have a bad head ache. I think I shall feel better tomorrow. My girl left the day you left and for nearly a week I had no help. I thought it was well for me for I felt so badly that nothing but work would have kept me up. I had a raw Norwegian only a year from Norway she was green enough. I still had most of my work to do. I kept her one week and dismissed her, then I was fortunate in getting a good Irish girl, that was raised in New York lived twelve years in two families, she is decidedly the best girl I ever had, the washing and ironin look as Margarets always does. I have nothing to do about the house unless I check. Mrs. Abram is here, she has had some sewing to do and has been one week with Mrs. McCutcheon staying here nights. I am very glad to have her here, she feels quite at home. Mr. Ely is going to take me out into the country this week or next. We are going to Chatfield, Rochester, Preston Wausica and all those new towns you have heard talked about. I have a ride two or three times a week to one of the farms. We have something in the way of garden vegetables all the time from the one you preempted, Mr. Dunn is the tenant. We brought last Saturday a half bushel of peas some beans and new potatoes. Today Mr. Dunn brought nearly a bushel more of peas. We have two thousand heads of cabbage growing finely. Everything in this country in way of crops looks better than ever before. Wheat they say will yield on the average thirty bushels to the acre. We shall probably be gone in the country eight or ten days. I had not heard from Charles for four weeks until today I received two letters one written on the 29th of June the other 11th of July. He said he felt very sad because his little bretten had died. He said it seemed as if something bad would always happen when he was gone, he could hardly realize it was so. Wished me to kiss what children was left tor him. He seems very well contented. Mrs. Saly goes home this week. She is very much elated. We go into our new meeting house next Sunday. We had the last Sociable here, took the bed out and have not put it back. I have bought a What Not, paid eight dollars. My parlor looks quite nice with the new curtains. Mr. Ely says he will get me a sofa. I asked Maty what word he had to send to Grand Ma, he said tell her he wants her to come home. I send you Hats letter I did not send it by Matthew as I had just received it. Matthew returned last evening. I know nothing of his future plans. Give my love Ally and her Mother, tell them I am very sorry it is not for their interest to come here. I hope they will locate somewhere they will do well. My love to Kirkland and Nette. If you have not written, write immediately. I want you to write every month on the first day and I will write you on the 20th, now Mother let us be regular in this will you not promise? I received from Caroline Champion, she wished you to make a visit. Mr. Tucker says he wishes you much joy in your new home. He hopes you will live to come out here again. Mr. Ely says tell Mother there is a great hole in the family.

Your daughter Jane

Oh Mother I miss you so much when I want to talk about my dear little Henry, there is no one can sympathize with me as you can. O there is such an aching void. Janet can sympathize with me she knows what it is.

August 15, 1857

Winona Aug 15th 1857

My dear Mother

I received your letter last week and was very happy to hear. I was beginning to feel very uneasy knowing that you were not well. I hope hereafter you will be very punctual in writing dont let anything but sickness prevent. I fixed upon today to write a few letters and was fairly at it when in came Mrs. Mc Cutchen with her work. I laid aside my writing and took my sewing in a little while. Mrs. H. S. D. Balcomb came and made one of her long calls, before she left Mrs. Robberts came in with her babe, after a while the first two left. Mrs. Robberts remained to tea, after she left I was preparing to go to writing again, when Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius called a few minutes. Yet not withstanding all I have written to Patience a long letter and one to Charley. I will finish this and write to Harriet tomorrow. I am writing a great deal more than I have done for years before, indeed I never had so much leisure before since I was married. I have sewing enough to do, but nothing that drives me particularly. Now Mother remember your promise write on the first day of every month and I will write on the fifteenth.

Mr. Ely is up to St. Paul I expect, he left Thursday evening for Red Wing to see Welsh about Robberts lot. He said when he left that he might go up to St. Paul and as he has not returned I think he has gone. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are up there and expect to come down here and spend some time. They write to Mr. Ely to delay his journey West for they wished to go along but we were all ready for a start and did not wish to stop. We had a great time on our trip west, some parts of it we enjoyed very much others not quite so well. We were absent ten days. I felt very uneasy about the children. I was constantly in fear of something I knew not what. I shall never be contented to leave my children again. O Mother such an aching I have when my heart dwells upon my loss. I can derive comfort only in thinking that my loss is his gain. How soon the time will come when all of us will be in the "Spirit Blessed". O may we live in view of that fact. I will tell you something about our journey. We took our own horses our big covered wagon that chest Harriet left we filled with provision. We took two comforts in case we had to camp out. We started out and went as far as Mrs. Shetlows the first day. The next day we went to Chatfield took dinner with Mrs. Gere. There Mr. Ely got a buggy and took me down to Preston to look at his property there. It is good property but he paid a great price for it. The town is a very flourishing place, with good water privileges. His land has a mill seat on it and will be worth some day more than he paid for it. Preston is fifteen miles from Chatfield, we staid over night and returned to Chatfield the next morning. We took dinner again with Mrs. Gere and started for the West. We had six miles of heavy timber to pass through the other side of Chatfield and I never saw such bad roads. I got out and walked most all the distance, there was no comfort in riding. Once they were upset Matthew on the lower side, Mr. Ely said it was his weight that carried them over. I was glad enough that I was walking. Beyond the woods we had rolling prairie. Matthew shot some prairie chickens, which we had cooked that night at a place where we stopped called Hamilton, a new place just laid out with one tavern one store one blacksmith shop and a few dwellings. The next day we went on through Austin about twelve miles and camped out. I slept pretty well but thought I should not try it again if I could help it, after the romance was over there was not so much fun in it. Austin is situated on the Cedar river it has good water privileges and is the County seat, it bids fair to become a place of some importance. We had travelled that day over twenty miles of prairie without seeing a house. There are five townships in a body owned by speculators. It seemed very dreary, beyond Austin we found more cultivation. On the borders of the Cedar some splendid farms were opened. I never saw better fields of grain, Wheat was already for harvest. We put up the next night at Somerset a place with two or three log houses. That night we had a fearful thunderstorm, it seemed two or three times that the house was struck. The next day we went on to Wilton, which is as far as we wished to go. Abbot lives there and owns considerable property. You recollect Mr. Ely endorsed for him and he has had it pay, he went out to see if he could get anything. He bought forty acres of him joining the town. It is a beautiful spot the county seat of Wauseca County, growing very fast. He gave me a deed of the land. Matthew thinks some of going there to live, but not this fall. We returned a different way came through Rochester, found a better country, and more inhabitants. We were gone ten days. It rained nearly every day on our return, consequently the roads were bad enough. I was glad to get home I assure you. I think the country is all it has been represented, all it wants is labor to till the soil.

Winona Aug 31st 1857

My dear Mother

I feel that I must write to you today knowing that you are sick and unable to write to me. I have just written to Harriet and to Charles. We received two letters from him this morning. He is very regular in writing home. Mother I cannot tell you how uneasy I have been about you. I have felt several times like taking the first boat and going post haste to Detroit. I think Allie ought to write every day as long as you are sick. She would if she knew how I felt. Mother if you get over this attack do be careful what you eat. Cannot the doctor do any thing for you to prevent such frequent attacks of that complaint. I hope everything will be done that is possible. Mother if you are very sick do send for me. I will come to you if possible. When you get better I suppose Allie will start for Winona. We shall look for her every day. Matthew is after an office from the Republicans would you think it, after what he has said against them? If he is defeated it will be because he has not previous to this attached himself to that party. The nomination takes place on Wednesday if he is nominated I think he will be elected for the Republicans have the majority in the county, he has the majority of the delegates in Winona in his favor. His friends are working hard for him. I really hope he will get it.

Mrs. Abrams is with me yet, she has sore eyes and cannot see. She thinks she took them from Mr. Jains family they have all had sore eyes this summer. I saw Doctor Ford yesterday he says it is quite healthy here considering the season.

Mr. and Mrs. Hill have been here. Mr. Hill went out into the country with Mr. Ely and Mrs. Hill remained with me. They left last Saturday were here about ten days. I have had a great deal of company but got along with it first rate. The girl I had when I wrote last was a married woman and went to housekeeping two weeks ago. I now have Julia and Mrs. Numan has Cara. Julia is a pretty good girl but not as good as the other. George boards here but Matthew does not, he thought he would not change as he expected his family on any day. Our meeting house is most done, it will be ready for Mr. Slocum to do the painting this week, it presents a fine appearance.

Helen goes to school to Mary Langdon. Matie is a good little boy, takes a great liking to Mrs. Abrams, he went with her to have his picture taken but they did not succeed that time. I shall go soon with him and Helen. Mother I wish you to go and have yours taken just as soon as you are able. Will you not for me? I hope this letter will find you a great deal better, if so dont fail to write immediately and if not will Allie please to write often. My love to all.

Your daughter

Jane W. Ely

September 8, 1857

Winona Sept 8th, 1857

My dear Mother

I have just returned from Allies and I have resolved that I will not defer writing any longer. Allie came last Thursday. They went to housekeeping on Saturday on fourth street below Ripmans. They disliked very much going so far from us, but it was the best they could do. Their house is a story and a half with five rooms and a shanty two rooms below stairs with a pantry and two above. I went with Ally on Saturday to help her get settled and today have been down all the fore noon and staid till 2 oíclock. They think they shall be very homesick indeed. Ally commenced teasing Matthew to pack up and go back to Detroit. She had her heart set upon Detroit and she will not be pleased here. I was very much pleased to hear by Kirkland that Your health was improving. I hope you will take care of yourself. Mr. Ely has been teasing me to write to you to come back. He thinks your health is better here. I tell him you will not listen to it till you have been down to see the girls. I had a letter from Hat. last week, she says they are about breaking up again, they are going some where she dont know where, she says anywhere but Oriskany Falls. She says I need not be surprised to see her here, what do you think of that Mother? She did not say one word about Ette. O Mother my house is full all the time, it seems to me I cannot get any time to sew. I have made my calico dress and made Helens Chambray and her green plaid, finished Maties pants, made another white sack for myself, and apron for Helen two for Matie, with two or three shirts for Helen is about all I have done. I have bought some things for the house, last week I had a large company to dinner and I went out and bought a splendid Caster, and not long since I had quite a tea party the Hamilton tribe. I bought them some Goblets and a handsome glass butter dish. I have not bought my sofa yet, am waiting to be suited. I have become a teacher in the Sabbath school, have a class of house girls, Julia and Carrie are two of them. Our sociable meets here tomorrow evening. I shall try to get Ally to come. I think she would be more contented if she would go out and get acquainted. I shall expect a letter every day from you and will write often myself. Give my love to Kirk and Nette, kiss the children for me, from Your affectionate daughter

Jane W. Ely

P.S.I forgot to mention that Mr. Ely has got his life insured for three thousand dollars, so if he should die I would be well enough off and if he lives he can manage our affairs.

Yours &c J. W. Ely

Winona Oct 5th 1857

My dear Mother

I made you a promise to write every Monday provided you promise to do the same when you are able. I have not heard whether you agree to that or not yet, but I think you will. At any rate I am going to write to you today to tell you about my taking Allie a riding to one of the farms. We went right after dinner. She took Matty along. It is a beautiful afternoon. We brought home cabbage, squash, lima beans, onions, tomatoes and beets also some cucumbers. Allie seemed to enjoy it very much, she has made up her mind to remain in Minnesota till spring. She thinks she be contented that long. Mrs. Seely has returned and appears as ever. Tonight our Baptist brethren meet together to consult about giving Mr. Cornelius three months notice to leave. Mr. Ely has heard today the object of the meeting, he means to oppose it. All are pleased with Mr. Cornelius but his wife has such a bad influence, her going with Charley Hamilton so much caused people to make remarks about Mr. Cornelius. They thought he was not half a man to permit such things, this was the commencement of the disaffection, and any little fault in him they exaggerate and think it is about time for him to leave. It is no more than we might expect, it only verifies the saying that as soon as the Church build a meeting house they must have a new minister. I am sorry because I think they will not easily get another that will please them as well. I am also sorry for Mr. Cornelius, poor Baptist minister! I think he is to be pitied, who could blame him for leaving the ministry? Driven about by the whims of Church members! Nobody can say anything against him but a few whimsical members imagine it is time for a change and behold they effect it, in consequence of their being not enough of sufficient stamina to oppose such movements.

Mrs. Seely has been in and wished me to send her love to you. She says she wishes you would come back. Helen says ask Grandma for her if she is better. I think Helen is improving, she loves to read and loves to go to school. She and Jenny take a great deal of comfort together. Mattie is a good little boy, they are both more easily governed than they have been in times past. My dear little babe I miss as much as ever. Allieís little boy makes me think of him. They were all here and spent a day one day last week and her boy walking around by the chairs kept me in mind all the time of my missing one. Oh how my heart aches for that dear creature, but I must go to him he can never come to me, he has only gone a little before us, only a few years and we shall all be gone. Mother wont that be a happy meeting with us all in that happy land if we are saved through Christ, only think of that mansion prepared for usí. We think a great deal of a home here. A nice house to live in surrounded by our friends, but what is it compared to an eternal home with our Savior and all our friends that have gone before us. The Christians hope should take away the sting of death.

I have not heard from Charley for three or four weeks, it is vacation with him now, and I suppose he finds so much to do gathering apples and nuts that he dont know how to spend the time writing letters. I have told him to write to you and I think he will. Matthew is selling boots and shoes, business is a little more brisk here now. How do apples sell with you by the bbl and what is the price of butter? I wish Kirkland could send us on a firkin of prime butter such as he orders for himself. Give my love to him and Nette.

Your daughter Jane

Mr. Ely has returned, no one dared to say anything about removing Mr. Cornelius.

Jane Ely's Letters 1845-1851