| Madison County Letters©
- 27Sep1849 Copyright 2000 Fredi Perry In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data and images may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for other presentation without express permission by the contributor(s) (To John A. Bingham) Troy, Madison Co., Illinois, Sep. 27, 1849 Dear Sir, Your favor of 12th inst. Came to hand last evening. The cholera was very bad in some parts of this country, and many of my old and valued friends were among its victims; yet neither myself nor any of my relatives were affected by it. I was at the Bluff on the 2d Sep Brother Wm. And family were then well: but, several days ago Mr. Powell (who lives with me) was at Collinsville, and saw Mr. Shultz, from the Bluff, who told him that Brother Wm. Had the fever and several "risings" on his body. I intend to go and see what the matter is soon. Levi staid with Brother Wm. Some 6 or 8 weeks till sister Jane became tired of him. He came back Sep 4; and I think is somewhat improved. Indeed, the fact that he has several times performed the journey on foot from this to the Bluff (nine miles) shows that he is far more enterprising than in former years. He occupies the small framed house which I built for his use. The Cholera. It is supposed that about 6,000 persons died of cholera at St. Louis. That place is the stopping place for vast numbers of Germans and Irish who arrive with the seeds of the disease in their system, or already suffering under its attacks. Hence they not only die, but spread the infection among the native population. The Cholera, and the dreadful fire of May 17, inflicted a greater calamity than any other city of the U.States ever suffered in any one year. Collinsville - 43 deaths by cholera. I cannot name more than half of them, but among them are some whom Mrs. Bingham and her relations will remember. I name the following: Rev. Comfort Robers, P.M. Miss Ellen Robers Mrs. E. B. Lockwood (daughter of Capt. Ezra Post) A child of the same George F. Findlay, joiner (he came to Illinois with Brother Wm.) John Willoughby James Peers Daniel Robertson Mrs. Annis Small (formerly Mrs. Stocking) Wm. Herbert Stocking (her son) Thomas Jefferson Jones Mr. Drinkhorn Mrs. Drinkhorn Mr. Lancaster's (?) daughter Thompson Robinson's daughter Two children of R. Withern Austrin W. Beach (merchant) Barbara, a Dutch girl, living at Squire Looks. Troy: Henry wee-on Mrs. Sparks Peter Cox Miss Catherine N. Swain A child of Julius A. Barusbacks (?) 5 - the first 2 were not residents of Troy Highland - a great many died, but I cannot name any except David thorp and 2 or 3 of his children. Marine - This place almost escaped. Major Matthew C. Garey (?) took the disease and died in St. Louis. A Miss Morrison died at Henry Anderson's farm. Richard Whiting, formerly of Marine, died at Ft. Madison, Iowa. Ridge Prairie - Between my house and the southline of Madison were the following deaths by cholera: J. W. Reynolds (teacher) John Hall Wm. W. Hall, a son of W. W. Hall A son of "blind Billy Hall" Thomas Fowler A woman at John McVeg's Mr. Brisco's wife and three children In the west part of the Prairie, 2 or 3 Dutch families suffered severely: 3, 4, or 5 dying out of a family Indian Creek: John Springer, Esq. And wife D. A. Lanterman's wife Lane (?) Smith Edwardsville: Isaac S. Slayback; Dr. J. M. S. Smith (It is said the Dr. took brandy to keep off the cholera and died with delirium tremens.) Alton: Mrs. Bailhache (?), wife of Judge John Bailhache Rev. Dr. Wm. Heath (father of Mrs. Bailhache) Mr. And Mrs. Bergen Edward G. Scarritt Mrs. Mary E. Dolbee Mrs. Ruby Sinclair A child of T. P. Wooldridge Mrs. Olive S. Emerson Charles R. Chapman Mrs. Elizabeth Booth, aged 63 Dr. J. P. Mounier Thomas Mantle; And others too numerous to mention. Thomas Faherty, formerly of Troy, died at Mr. A. Hoxey's of cholera - caught at St. Louis. Among the deaths at St. Louis were Isaac Lockwood, his wife, and one of his children. Mrs. Lamar Seybold, wife of Samuel Seybold, is dead. Also Mrs. Phebe Benson. They di not die of cholera. A great many deaths have taken place in the county which I have not mentioned. Mr. Robert McKee (on the hill this side of Edwardsville) is one. Supposed to have died of "milk-nik". His hired man also died of the same. Last winter, spring and summer up to Aug. 29, were very wet. Then we had 3 weeks dry weather. Since that time we have occasional showers. Wheat, hurt in the shock by rain. Corn, a ?? crop, in consequence of too much wet. Apples, a short crop. May, a short crop, in consequence of the Army Worms. We had a good many Peaches, but not so large as usual. You were right in keeping away from the river during the prevalence of cholera; but you might have come about the middle of August and been in season for Peaches and not much in danger of the cholera. I am glad to hear that Norman and George are natural mechanics. In that respect, they do not take after their father. As the Barnburners of Wisconsin were not able last fall to prevent the Hunkers and Baltimore Platformers and Slavery Extenders from giving the votes of the state to the author of the "Nicholson letter", perhaps it is good policy in the said Barnburners now to knock under to the Hunkey, acknowledge them to be "Democrats", and then be free to add: "We Democrats too!" The Barnburners have shown a commendable repentance of their last year's mis-doinings, by giving up all the offices to the Slavery extending Hunkery; and if they continue to exercise due humility a few years longer, they may come in for some of the crumbs which fall from the Old Hunkers table. In the State of N.York, however, where the Barnburners out-voted the Hunkers, the two parties have agreed to "go halvers" in the division of the spoils - provided always they succeed in getting the spoils. One who did not know these parties of old time, and heard what they said about each other last year, would be surprised at their readings to re-enter into partnership. But as John C. Calhoun said, they are drawn together "by the cohesive power of public plunder." Southern Administration. I suppose very administration since the adoption of the Federal Constitution has been composed of members from the Southern and Northern States, very much as the present administration is. And such will always be the case till the Union is dissolved. The Cuba expedition, intended to add two new states to the Union, has been knocked in the head by the present administration. What would have been done is Lewis Cap had been the President? What if Martin VanBuren had been elected? In 1836 he said to the Hon. Wm. Jackson, M.C. from Massachusetts, and others, "Gentlemen, we must carry the South by adopting southern measures, and the North by party machinery." Now the South will not be gulled (?) with Irish words and phrases as "Democrat, Democratic, the Democracy." They will have "Southern measures" if they can get them: -- at one time they must have Texas: then they must have slavery extended to New Mexico and California, and next the re-annexation of Cuba! "Party machinery" does wonders at the North, but the help of Calhoun and Co. must be had to insure the Presidency to the Hunkers. Hence it soon becomes a principle with "the Democracy" that nearly everything which Congress does for the public benefit is unconstitutional and every thing which the Executive does, is constitutional. Truly Yours, George Churchill |