Newberry Library - Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Antoinette Brigham Putnam Metcalf (wife), Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1850-1866

Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Antoinette Brigham Putnam Metcalf (wife), Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1850-1866

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Open book Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Antoinette Brigham Putnam Metcalf (wife), Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1850-1866

Title Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Antoinette Brigham Putnam Metcalf (wife), Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1850-1866

Creator Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, 1822-1898

Date 1850-1866

Place United States

Subjects Bowdoin College, Brothers and sisters, DuQuoin Coal Company, Illinois Central Railroad Company

Format Business records, Correspondence, Diaries, Genealogies, Invoices, Manuscripts, Personal narratives, Records

User-Contributed Transcription Isaac Jackson Co. IllinoisJuly 6 1851Dunbarton Sabbath Afternoon July 6 1851 I cannot give the name of this place, for I doubt if it has one.It is somewhere in Jackson Co. Ill; about 10 miles East of Murphysboroplace itself is simply the residence of an old Pennsylvania Dutch farmeraway in the woods not a little way from every body and every where. I wish you could see the house. It is a log house, or rather two log houses a dozen feet apart, one room each with a roof over the space betweenthus making a third room with the ends all open. This third middle roomis, at this season at least, is the one principally used as a sitting and eating roomand is really very comfortable. The family here I should think must be near a dozen, and our party make about as many more! Only three rooms you remember!This is said to be one of the best stopping places in this region.However there is a good airy barn on the premises, and beside the porchbetween the two rooms is a good sleeping place for me, and as they give me my choice, I get along tolerably well. My worst trouble with this country is the lack of good water. Thepeople here make this the reason for drinking immoderately of Coffeeand also of ardent spirits. In fact, I have been remonstrated with very seriouslyupon this score and assured that the only way was to dilute the water of the Country with a little Brandy or as the Dutch do with WhiskeyMy persistence in taking it pure appears very strange to them I suppose.Where I now board I have even seen Children soaking their bread in WhiskeyAs others would in milk.Last Sabbath I did not go to Church. Today I have been sorry I did not try harder last Sabbath as I am here in a still more as I am here in a still more uncomfortable placeand no possibility, as I can find, of getting to any kind

Transcription Status Needs review

Transcription Note This document was transcribed by volunteers as part of the Newberry Transcribe crowdsourcing initiative.

Archival Collection Title Isaac Stevens Metcalf papers, Midwest Manuscript Collection

Link to Catalog View finding aid | View record

Call Number Midwest MS Metcalf Box 7 Folder 174

BibID 821787

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 3092px × 3897px 68.98 MB

Filename 998217878805867_mms_metcalf_box_07_fl_174_010_001.tif

Unique Identifier NL11FJGW

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