Samuel P. Davidson letter
Collection — Folder: S0335
Identifier: S0335
Scope and Contents
This hand-written letter is dated July 30, 1840, from Printer’s Resort, Harrison Co., Ind., and addressed to “My Dear Brother.” The envelope is addressed to Isaac Smalley, Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois. The letter is three pages long and written in ink.
Samuel explains why he is happy to live at Printer’s Resort. First, his family is satisfied; second, it is healthy and they have good neighbors. They have erected a meeting house, Wesley Chapel, which is part of the Corydon Circuit, and have two preachers. In reference to politics, he wrote: “The spirit of the world is not getting into the church, but the church is gone out after the spirit of the world.” Concerning his wife, he wrote: “Lydia’s health is very bad.” He says that “I am still farming and making my bread by the sweat of my brow. Our crops have failed entirely with us. Many have plowed up their grain fields and planted corn. We have not had, on an average, in our section more than two bushels per acre of wheat. Our corn crop looks promising, although we want rain bad.”
In his P.S., Samuel wrote: “What has become of your brother David? I cannot learn anything of him. I have some idea of making another trip down the river this fall with potatoes, apples, [sime?] and oats.”
The letter is signed: I ever remain your sincere friend and brother in Christ, Samuel P. Davidson.”
Samuel explains why he is happy to live at Printer’s Resort. First, his family is satisfied; second, it is healthy and they have good neighbors. They have erected a meeting house, Wesley Chapel, which is part of the Corydon Circuit, and have two preachers. In reference to politics, he wrote: “The spirit of the world is not getting into the church, but the church is gone out after the spirit of the world.” Concerning his wife, he wrote: “Lydia’s health is very bad.” He says that “I am still farming and making my bread by the sweat of my brow. Our crops have failed entirely with us. Many have plowed up their grain fields and planted corn. We have not had, on an average, in our section more than two bushels per acre of wheat. Our corn crop looks promising, although we want rain bad.”
In his P.S., Samuel wrote: “What has become of your brother David? I cannot learn anything of him. I have some idea of making another trip down the river this fall with potatoes, apples, [sime?] and oats.”
The letter is signed: I ever remain your sincere friend and brother in Christ, Samuel P. Davidson.”
Dates
- 1840
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Samuel P. Harrison was born about 1810 in Maryland. He lived in Harrison County, Indiana, when the federal censuses were taken in 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. On May 27, 1830, he married Lydia Raitt, who was born in 1810.
Source:
Information Found within Collection and www.ancestry.com accessed Oct. 10, 2013.
Source:
Information Found within Collection and www.ancestry.com accessed Oct. 10, 2013.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection includes one item.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from the Putnam Bookshop on 1963/06/10.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing and finding aid completed by Nikki Stoddard Schofield during October 2013. EAD finding aid completed by Bethany Fiechter on 2018/05/12.
- Title
- Samuel P. Davidson letter
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
