BLACKWELL FAMILY Henry B. Blackwell Blackwell, Hannah (Mother)Chicago Ills Dec 18, 1858 Dear Mother - Considering that you are a burning & a shining light in the Roseville Tabernacle & a constant attendant on the ministration of the sainted Pingree, I do think you are a very hard customer! I have been in Chicago nearly three weeks & have written you letters & not line have I rec'd in reply. Evidently Peck has corrupted your morals & I shall have to import the alarming Spurgeon himself to bring you back to a sense of your duties! I am very glad to hear that you and Marian have settled for the winter in the Holden house & hope you will find the change a comfortable one get a fine view is very ice, but a warm, snug, cosy home is preferable at least with the thermometer at 10 degrees below zero as It was below the day after Geoguin Sides left our system. This raw, chilly, Chicey weather has given baby a devilish cold & she wheezes like a pair worn out bellows. But I hope she is over the worst - she was quite sick last night. Lucy is pretty well & I am growing fat & saucy. Since I last wrote you, ourhitherto somewhat meagre bill of fare has expanded beyond the dopublicity of description. Liver, tripe, souse, horse-radish, plums soups of astonishing flavor, macaroni, cheese, squashes, & many more glorious revelations of provender!!!!! I have had to buy prepared chock & powered arrowroot & pulverised charcoal, so as to keep our fangs in proper order for their arduous duties. Mrs. Rowland Ellis & Mr and Mrs Harwood & Mr & Mrs Newhall have all called on Lucy. Moreover Lucy herself has entered into relations truly sisterly with a large house full of boarders. She is only to be found by me now a days, by minute enquiries at the doors of Mrs Chase, or Mrs Togginson, or Mrs Sawyer, or Mrs Johnson. She censures tobacco using to a considerable circle of gentlemen, who listen approvingly & do not light their cigars until they have gone 25 feet from the front door. Then, I see them smoking violently with perturbed consciousness. On the whole, we are pretty comfortably off, but Lucy counts the days till our return. Why does not the demon Marian pour forth her venom upon paper & mail it to me. Why does she not keep me posted up in the prices of Roseville real estate & enliven me with gorgeous (though delusive) estimates of the probable quality and price of our future currants & blackberries. Mother dear - God bless you & make you worthy of so excellent a son as--affectionate H B. B.La Crosse Wis June 21, 1856 Dearest Mother I have just written to Sam a long & circumstantial account of our journeyings which please consider as addresses specially to your honored self. We had rather a fatiguing time, but on the whole I think, a pleasant one. Commend me to a Wife when one travels hereafter. If I ever go on collecting trips in Heaven, I shall always get you, or Lucy to accompany me. I wish a hundred times a day that you were with me & shall be most happy when I have a hometo which to welcome you. It seems positively unnatural to leave you in the close, hot atmosphere of Walnut Hills while we revel in a continual breeze which makes the long hot days her quite endurable even with the thermometer at 100 in the sun. I have made some good purchases for Edward B. Howells & myself here. I suppose you have been gladdened by an unexpected visit from George, who writes me that he has gone to Pittsburgh to bring round a ferry boat for the company. Good bye dear Mother & believe me. Ever your Harry.Chicago, July 7, 1859 Dear Mother Lucy is much better and I hope will grow entirely strong before long. She bathes in the Lake almost every day. We have built a bathing-house on the shore and when the weather is warm she and Alice go down about 1/4 before 6 o'clock P. M. At 6 P. M. I arrive on the cars and go straight to them. By the time we get through our bathing and take off our wet clothes, Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood and their sister Miss Pratt arrive. Our bathing-house is on the beach, about twenty-five feet from the water, tho' in stormy times, the waves dash all around it. We have a broome in it to sweep out the sand and a pail of water to wash the sand from our feet. The water of the lake is clear and very cold. We cannot stay in with comfort, more than fiveminutes. You may rely on my taking the best care I can of Lucy until you see her again in September next. With love to all Very truly yours Henry B. BlackwellTerre Haute Sunday Aug. 6./58 Dear Mother I reached this pleasantest of the Wabash River town yesterday evening, glad of a quiet Sunday in my own room--which is better than any where else, except under the old Maple tree. Not the least among the pleasures in store here, were the four or five letters, which I received. One from you, one from Lucy, one from George, two from Sam. Tell George that I have not time to-day to answer his, but will try to do so before long. I read your letter my dear Mother with that mingled feeling of pleasure & pain which your letters always occasion me--pleasure in them for the warm affection & sympathy which your children never fail to find in your heart & which, believe me, I value more than words can express--pain--because it is evident that you so utterly misunderstand & fail to comprehend the motives & purpose of my life. You cannot make allowance for those intellectual differences of opinion which Nature or in other words God himself has created & which are a part of the very constitution of our beings. Why cannot you perceive that I value all I find good & true in the Bible, as heartily as yourself. If I think I see (as I do) that the Bible has thrown the sanction of Religion over Slavery, War, Polygamy & Cruelty--you ought not to wish me to accept if all, until I change that opinion. You do not surely want me to justify these crimes. And yet if I took the Bible & swallow it whole, I should be compelled to do so. But all that you really believe in the Bible, I do also--not [*I start for Wisconsin tomorrow morning --when that reaches you I shall be there.]Terre Haute Sunday Aug. 6 /50 Dear Mother I reached this pleasantest of the Wabash River towns yesterday evening, glad of a quiet Sunday in my own room - which is better than anywhere else, except under the old Maple tree - Not the least among the pleasures in store here, were the four or five letters, which I received - One from you, one from Lucy, one from George, two from Sam. Tell George that I have not time today to answer his, but will try to do so before long. I read your letter my dear Mother with that mingled feeling of pleasure & pain which your letters always occasion me - pleasure in them for the warm affection & sympathy which your children never fail to find in your heart & which, believe me, I value more than words can express - pain - because it is evident that you so utterly misunderstand & fail to comprehend the motives & purposes of my life - You cannot make allowances for those intellectual differences of opinion which Nature as in other words God himself has created - & which are a part of the very constitution of our beings - Why cannot you perceive that I value all I find good & true in the Bible, as heartily as yourself - If I think I see (as I do) that the Bible has thrown the sanction of Religion over Slavery, War, Polygamy & Cruelty - you ought not to wish me to accept it all, until I change that opinion - You do not surely want me to justify these crimes - And yet if I took the Bible & swallowed it whole, I should be compelled to do so - But all that you really believe in the Bible, I do also - not [*Mother!*] [*I start for Wisconsin tomorrow morning - when this reaches you I shall be there.*]because it is in the Bible, but because it has a response & a sanction in my own moral sense. You believe in an intelligent, benevolent, just & omnipotent Divine Parent. So do I. You believe in the importance of faith & trust in Him--so do I. You believe you are a sinner & need his forgiveness & so do I. You believe we should regulate our whole lives by the Highest rule of Right--so do I. You desire to struggle against temptations of all kinds & to combat every besetting sin--so, I trust, do I also. You believe that God has manifested his love to Man & in a thousand ways attracts us to Him--so do I. In the technicalities of theology we do not agree & certainly, in this world, we never shall. But in all that constitutes the Divine life we do agree & it is monstrous that you should think of me as a hell-bent blasphemer & God only knows what all! I certainly do not set up for a Saint & that, for the best of all possible reasons I am quite conscious of not being one. But believe me, my first step towards becoming one is not to become either a liar or a lunatic & I should certainly be one, or both if, with my present convictions, I said that all the Bible is true & from God. If you are willing to accept that apostolic definition "this is true Religion to visit the Fatherless & the Widows in their affliction & to keep ourselves unspotted from the World!" & then I will very sincerely promise to try unworthy as I am, to virify my life by the spirit & influence of that Religion. Dear Mother, if peaches are not too dear, please buy & put up about twenty bushels of them for winter use without much sugar either in glass jars like Beimeths or in the cans with screw tops made of pewter. Yr HarryChicago, Ills. Dec. 18, 1858 Dear Mother - Considering that you are a burning and a shining attendant on the ministrations of the sainted Pingree, I do think you are a very hard customer! I have been in Chicago nearly three weeks, and have written you three letters, and not a line have I received in reply. Evidently Peck has corrupted your morals and I shall have to import the alarming Spurgeon himself to bring you back to a sense of your duties. I am very glad to hear that you and Marian have settled for the winter in the Holden house, and hope you will find the change a comfortable one. A fine view is very nice, but a warm, snug, cozy home is preferable, at least with the thermometer at 10 degrees below zero. This raw, chilly Chicago weather has given baby a cold and she wheezes like a pair of worn-out bellows. But I hope she is over the worst. She was quite sick last night. Lucy is pretty well, and I am growing fat and saucy. Since I last wrote you our hitherto somewhat meagre bill of fare has expanded beyond the capability of description. Liver, tripe, souse, horse-radish, plums, soups of astonishing flavors, macaroni, cheese, squashes, and many more glorious revelations of provender!!! I have had to buy prepared chalk, powdered orris root, and pulverized charcoal so as to keep our fangs in proper order for their arduous duties. On the whole, we are pretty comfortably off, but Lucy counts the days till our return. Why does not the demon Marian pour forth her venom upon paper and mail it to me? Why does she not keep me posted up in the prices of Roseville real-estate and enliven me with gorgeous (though delusive) estimates of the probable quantity and price of our future currants and blackberries? Mother dear, God bless you and make you worthy of so excellent a son as Your affectionate H.B.B.June 1st 1841 Kemper College St Louis Mo Dear Mama How is the state of yr bodily health? I am in an "awful fix" for this morning I was told that tomorrow Miss Lucy & hideous John were going to start probably two morrow for New York, so that I've got to write 9 letters get a lesson in Political economy, one in Latin, Greek, Algebra & history eat my breakfast lunch & supper, say my prayers four times (twice up at College & twice down here), sing two hymns & read the morning & evening psalms for the day, & if possible go four miles & back to the Mississippi to take a swim for I & several others are going to take a skiff along, & swim the river if possible, it is about a mile broad, & I don't expect to be able to come it all before 9 o clock this evening. In about five weeks I suppose I shall be on my way to the queen of the West. Whether I got a chance to go to College or not I intend to study like "scizzors" as the people here till I am able to do so. I hope that you are not sick as Sister Hints in her last letter because it is very uncomfortable state for a person to be in. I am just in my element at present - -we have most delightful weather (for me). The sky is without a cloud & the sun is so hot that I am seriously afraid he will hurt himself. The day before yesterday the thermometer stood at 80 at 8 o clock in the morning in the shade & I felt so brisk & lively, as you can have no idea. I am afraid from Sister's letter that money matters are in a very bad way, but I hope they are not in as awful a way as she announces for she says there is very serious danger of "bursting a boiler". I have lately grown as fat & ugly as a dutch Washerwoman & not at all like the tall, thin, solemn, quiet, grand kind of studentJohns & Greene. How does Mr. Mills' church get along? I see his name as well as that of Mr. Johns on the list of those who made such a rush at the Unitarians about the bible society. Have you ever attended at St Pauls since I left? How do you get along for beer & Haughton's Bitters while I am away? How does Sister's headache get on? If she was down here, she would certainly be cured in regards to cold feet. I have yet no letter from home fore over two months & I am in a great hurry to get one. Good Bye. I remain dear Mama - Yr Affectionate Son Henry B. Blackwell [*Gentleman, Scholar, & master of the Languages*] we read of in romances. How does it happen that no body ever writes to me but Sister & her's are so scarce that I don't think I get one in six months. She is the only correspondent in the family. Give my love to Mr's & Mrs' Emery Ellis, Smith [*Mrs. Blackwell Cincinnati Ohio*]Johns & Greene - How does Mr Mills' church get along? I see his name as well as that of Mr Johns on the list of those who made such a rush at the Unitarians about the bible society Have you ever attended at St Pauls since I left? How do you get along for beer & Haughton's Bitters while I am away? How does Sister's headache get on? If she was down here, she would certainly be cured as regards to cold feet - I have got no letter from home fore over two months & I am in a great hurry to get one - Good Bye - I remain dear Mama - Yr Affectionate Son Henry B Blackwell [*Gentleman, Scholar, and master of the Languages*] [*Mrs Blackwell Cincinnati Ohio*] we read of in romances - How does it happen that nobody ever writes to me but Sister & her's are so scarce that I don't think I get one in six months - she is the only correspondent in the family - Give my love to Mr's & Mrs' Emery Ellis, SmithDear Mother--Cincinnati Sunday May 6. 1855 Lucy & I reached New York safely the same afternoon we left West Brookfield about 3 o clock and went straight to my sisters' house. Lucy had a bad head-ache & went almost immediately to bed woke next morning much better. We spent Wednesday in New York & left on Thursday morning on the New York & Erie Railroad which passes through some very beautiful mountain scenery. In one place for five miles the road was blasted out of the perpendicular rock with gunpowder & runs halfway up the mountain with the Delaware river about 100 feet below and a similar wall of rock opposite. It seems as though the opening, through which the river flows for five miles, must have been rent by an earthquake. Thursday night at 10 1/2 o clock we stopped at Sorning{?} & went on next morning at 5 o clock. Friday night we stopped at Cleveland on the shores of Lake Erie & Saturday morning at 8 o clock took the cars again. We reached Cincinnati Saturday night at 6 o clock and found my brother Sam waiting with a carriage at the depot. We came straight up to Walnut Hills and this morning Lucy feels a good deal rested and has taken possession of her room & unpacked all her trunks. The weather has been very fine. We find all our forest trees here in full leaf. The grass is quite high. The fruit trees have shed all their flowers & everything looks more like summer than spring. Sarah has not yet come over to see us. She expected Lucy sooner & spent the Saturday of the week before at our house, supposing she would find Lucy already there. We shall go over tomorrow to see Sarah at the Refuge. Lucy will be very quiet and comfortable here and will have a good time to rest. I hope that we shall soon be able to report her health as strong as it used to be. I think she has worked much too hard during the past few years and shall try to persuade her to give herself more comfort. You may perhaps remember that when Lucy & Sarah came out together last winter you sent by her a present of an apple to my mother. It never arrived, for Lucy very improperly ate it. This time, she picked out the finest apple you gave us and presented it to Mother as a gift from you. Mother desires me to say that she thanks you for it & will try to send you a specimen of our Ohio fruit, this next Fall. Lucy's father warned us, as we were leaving that life would not always be sunshine with us. Please tell him that, so far, the sun hasdone nothing but shine every day. I never saw such steady fine weather. We have not yet had the first quarrel either & have made up our minds to not have any hereafter. I think you may all be sure that Lucy & I will get along nicely together. We both say to each other just what we think and feel and speak right out on all occasions. Although we did not put any notice of our marriage into our newspapers, we found that they had published it two days before we reached home. Lucy is so well known that the news flies fast. Please give my love to all my new relatives and friends and believe me. Your affectionate Son--H.B.Blackwell(Letter from Henry B. Blackwell.) Chicago, Ills. Dec 5, 1858 Dear Mother-- Lucy and Baby and I are safely arrived in this great, dirty city. We got to Albany about 6 P.M. on Monday & remained there over night. Next day we reached Niagra about 10 P.M. Next morning (Wednesday) we went to Niagara falls about two miles above. Baby showed her sense of their sublimity by going soundly to sleep. Wednesday afternoon we travelled along through Canada to Detroit & on through Michigan to Albion where we slept Wednesday night. Thursday we came to Chicago. Friday & Saturday we hunted for a good place to board & have at last found a very nice quiet house, in a large garden where we have two comfortable rooms on the second story, with a fire & a carpet & a large mahogany bedstead, a wardrobe and a closet, a table, two chairs, one rocking chair, gas-light, a washstand & for a poker a long stick, which serves to stir the coal fire occasionally. We are in what is called the North side of the city near the Lake, and I think when we get a little settled we shall be very comfortable. Tell father that the old razor is much better than it was when new. He has made it so sharp that i am afraid to strop it for fear of spoiling the edge, so I merely wipe it & put it away after using it. Lucy says I never was so well shaved before since I first made her acquaintance. I think I must send my razor by express to Father about once every six months to put it in order. Baby was very good natured & bore the journey very well. She would wake up in the middle of the night & fairly dance for joy to see so many new sights. But after all, Sarah's advice to us to ride all night was good & when we return I think we shall try to go right along without stopping. We shall try to find a good nurse girl to help Lucy with the baby & thus give her more leisure than she now has. Several friends of Lucy have called upon her here; Mrs. Harwood (formerly of Cincinnati) Mrs. Emma Newhall & others. So you may feel easy in knowing that in case of sickness or trouble, Lucy will not be without helpers. I will write often to let you know how we are. Love to all. I hope the children will not forget the baby! Yours very truly Henry B. Blackwell P.S. Our address will be care of George A Carnes, Bookseller Chicago, Ills. (note added by Lucy Stone) Father told me to tell the whole story, and I am sure he wont be satisfied until he knows how much we pay ($17) Seventeen dollars per week, and our washing extra. So somebody has got to earn some money. I believe I left baby's stockings. Keep them. Much love LucyChicago Ills: Dec: 5 1858 Dear Mother - Lucy & Baby & I are safely arrived in this great, dirty City. We got to Albany about 6 P.M. on Monday & remained there over night. Next day we reached Niagara about 10 P.M. Next Morning (wednesday) we went to Niagara falls about two miles above. Baby showed her sense of their sublimity by going soundly to sleep. [Thursday] Wednesday afternoon we travelled along through Canada to Detroit & on through Michigan to Albion where we slept Wednesday night. Thursday we came to Chicago. Friday & Saturday we hunted for a good place to board & have at last found a very nice quiet house, in a large garden where we have two comfortable rooms on the second story - with a fire & a carpet & a large mahogany bedstead - a wardrobe and closet, a table, two chairs, one rocking chair - gaslight, a washstand & for a poker a long stick, which serves to stir the coal fire occasionally. We are in what is called the North side of the City near the Lake - & I think when we get a little settled we shall be very comfortable. Tell Father that the old razor is much better than it was when new. He has made it sosharp that I am afraid to strop it for fear of spoiling the edge, so I merely wipe it & put it away after using it. Lucy says I never was so well shaved before since I first made her acquaintance. I think I must send my razor by Express to Father about once every six months to put it in order. Baby was very good natured & bore the journey very well. She would wake up in the middle of the night & fairly dance for joy to see so many new sights. But after all, Sarah's advice to us to ride all night was good & when we return, I think we shall try to go right along without stopping. We shall try to find a good nurse girl to help Lucy with the baby & thus give her more liesure than she now has. Several friends of Lucy have called upon her here: Mrs. Harwood (formerly of Cincinnati) Mrs. Emma Newhall & others. So you may feel easy in knowing that in case of sickness or trouble, Lucy will not be without helpers. I will write often to let you know how we are. Love to all. I hope the children will not forget the baby! Yours very truly Henry B. Blackwell P.S. Our address will be Care of George A Carnes, Bookseller, Chicago, Ills: [*Henry B. Blackwell 1858*]Father told me to tell the whole story, and I am sure he wont be satisfied until he knows how much we pay - [$17.] ($17) seventeen dollars per week - and our washing extra - somebody has got to [pay] earn some money. I believe I left baby's stockings. Keep them. Much love Lucy.Mother StoneDear Harry/ the Apostle speaks, cautions, against foolish jesting, which is not convenient and accidently read the first sentence of a letter of yours from a friend in Chicago and could not help feeling that disposition, in you, needed guarding--or it will be injurious to character. I love that natural inhibith{?} fullness it is a great blessing. I feel that you are going to learn much longer than you have ever done May Jesus convince & convert & lead you to consecrate heartly life to him! While health is spared is the time --the passing of time will quickly pass and then you would give world, if your for a well grounded scripture hope in Christ! Your affectionate Mother H B I have a letter you left of Georges lest you may want it as referenceHannah Blackwell 1858? to HenryHannah Blackwell 1858? to Henry(H. B.B to Lucy Stone's Mother) Chicago, Ills. Apr. 3, 1858 Dear Mother: Lucy writes me that Sarah says you are sick. I hope that it is nothing serious and that before this letter reaches you, you will be well again. Lucy says she has written to you that she will go to you if you need her. I have written to Lucy to ask her to do so. Certainly no one on earth has equal claims on Lucy's love--not even our baby--for you have worked so hard for your children and have devoted all the best years of your life to them, and I am sure that all of them (sons-in-law and daughters-in-law included) would be very glad to repay you in care and affection if it were possible. I want to tell you how much I owe you for having given me so good a wife. I ought to love you as well as my own mother, for all I owe my Mother is my life, and I should not value that much without Lucy. But a great many persons beside me, thank you for Lucy. Wherever I go, people speak to me of her with great respect and affection. I do not believe that any one in America has so many warm friends as she. I often feel sorry that in consequence of Lucy's having married me, you and Father no longer have her so often with you. An own daughter is such a comfort to every parent! Now, we have a larger house than we need in Orange. We can give you and Father a nice bedroom on the ground floor, next to our own. We have an acre of excellent land for Father to work in. If you will both come down and live with us the remainder of your lives, if you do not outlive us, I shall be very glad and will do all I can to make you both happy and comfortable. I am in earnest in this proposal. Lucy misses you very much and since we cannot come to you, why will you not come to us? With love to all. Your affectionate son Henry B. Blackwell