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Individual:
An Illinois Journey in 1837
By the late Hon. Peter A. VOORHEES, Franklin Park, Somerset County, New Jersey
[Note The following letter was written by the late Hon. Peter A.
VOORHEES, better known as "Sheriff" VOORHEES, then of Six-Mile Run (now
Franklin Park). It was addressed to Henry Vroom DeMOTT, of Middlebush.
According to the then custom it was folded and sealed, without envelope,
and endorsed "Single Sheet," and also "25," the latter indicating the
amount of postage.]
"Middletown, Kentucky, December 9th, 1837.
"Dear Uncle: According to promise, I now embrace this opportunity of
addressing a few hasty lines to you. And in doing so I feel grateful to our
Heavenly Parent for that kind care and protection which He has manifested
towards me in all my journey, and can this morning say that I am well, and
I hope that these few lines may find you and all in the enjoyment of the
same inestimable blessing; and then, though far distant, we may unite our
praises and bless our God for all His mercies towards us. I shall now give
you a brief detail of my journey and leave particulars until I see you.
"We left the 12 of October and reached Fairview in Illinois the 16 of
November. Just five weeks, but we did not travel on Sundays. Lost some time
for rain, besides our visiting on the road, and some distance out of our
way we travelled to see the country. I think we rode about 26 or 27 days,
making about 1050 miles, and old Blackyı took me safe through. We had good
company, mostly good roads, and for the length of time the finest of
weather. We travelled to Wheeling 8 in number, with 5 carriages, and
attracted a good deal of attention, being generally treated with marked
respect. But it was hard on their coffee pots and tables where we supped
and breakfasted; and here I would remark that our specie came sometimes in
excellent demand. I spent one week in Fairview, Illinois, leaving there the 23
of Nov. and going by water to Louisville, Kentucky, which I reached Decır 2
in the morning, having lost some time waiting for the s. boats, and then
one of them broke its main shaft and laid us by, but we landed in safety
and were taken off by another boat. But our passage was pleasant, for the
weather was warm and up to this is warm still. I found my friends all well
and doing as well as they can.
"But perhaps you would ask how I was pleased with the country? I would
answer, in general I was much disappointed. Some parts about which I had
heard much bragging I disliked, while on the other hand many places cried
down appeared to take my eye. This arises in part from the attachments
which people have to their situations and their endeavoring to build up
their neighborhoods, and next, I perhaps viewed it in a different light
from what I would if I had intended to emigrate. But in short I do say it
is the garden of our Republic. I may be mistaken, but I think the soil as
rich as ever the sun shone upon, and with proper cultivation these Western
States will become (and very soon, too) the pride of our Republic. Do not
think I brag when I tell you I believe I can do better here with 10 dollars
that I can with 100 in N. Jersey. I have seen many openings for a man with
$1,000 capital in 5 yrs. to realize 10,000, yes, 15,000 dollars advance. In
short there is no business in which a man of enterprise may not embark and
realize a tenfold increase.
"Almost all of our number purchased land at Fairview. Abm. CORTELYOU
bought 200 acres for $2,300, a delightful place. Daniel POLHEMUS bought 240
acres. 80 acres of which is good woodland, for $1,800. Cheap; cheap! John
G. VOORHEES bought 240 acres and five town lots one with a new frame on
itand 3 log cabins and 1300 rails to be delivered on the farm for $3,325.
Abm. WILLIAMSON bought 80 acres next to town for $850, and Henry KOCKS
bought 140 acres for $1,650, besides some breaking and rails. And there are
some fair bargains yet to be made. I traded Black for 5 acres of land next
to town and two town lots, so now I am a landholder in the West, --an
honor, you know, for a Jerseyman Yankee.
"Fairview is a Jersey settlement and Mr. WILSON has organized a Dutch
church there, and they are in fine spirits about building a house next
summer. They have set off their lot for the church and subscribed about
$1,100 in a little time for the work. We must remember them in N. Jersey
for they have the only Dutch church West of the Alleghanies.
"And they feel very near to me as a people. The Sabbath we spent with
them was a precious day. You may judge when I tell you such men as Peter
PUMYEA and Lawrence WILLIAMSON and others were bathed in tears, and some
asking what they must do to be saved. My Dear Uncle, here is an open door
for usefulness, and I must confess that a strong sense of duty bore hard
upon my mind when, with earnest persuasions and entreaties, they plead with
me to move among them. I love them as a people; their town is a strict
temperance town, and all long for the establishment of a church among them.
The Lord prosper their efforts!
"Pennsylvania is the finest improved State I ever saw. In Ohio I saw
the finest corn, and in Illinois the best wheat, and the prettiest prairie
in Indiana. In Kentucky I have seen some delightful situations, and around
Lexington it is hard to be beAter. I had the honor of seeing and passing
over the plantation of Henry CLAY. A delightful one it is, too, but for its
buildings, which are but common. But its beauty for scenery and richness of
soil are rarely equalled. I had not the pleasure to see either him or his
son, he being at Washington and his son in the Legislature at Frankfort. I
think I will leave Kentucky on Monday, the 11th, for Cincinnati; tarry 3 or
4 days in Ohio, then make for home by the way of Washington, Baltimore and
Philadelphia. I think I will be home by New Year with luck, but if you see
our folks tell them not to look for me until about the 8th or 10th of
January. I long to hear from home, as I have had but one letter.
"I remain, your friend,
"Peter A. VOORHEES.
"I spent a day or two in Springfield. Saw Lewis, Cornelius Van
NOSTRAND and Cornelius Van LIEW. All Well."
-Somerset County Historical Quarterly, vol 7 no 1, Jan 1918 pages 53-55
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