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Jennie McQuivey to Theodore Drake
dated: November 31, 1869
My Dearest Friend,
With pleasure I sit down to write you this long delayed letter, hoping you will forgive
me for not writing sooner, as it was not for lack of love for you. We are all pretty well
now excepting Mr. Sharol. The former owner of this place. I have not been very well but
am well now. Well they are gone. (Pa and Mr. Sharol) and I can write in peace. Mr.
Sharol said he couldn’t see what I was writing, Pa wants to know who am I writing too. I
hardly know what I am writing about, there is so much talk talk talking. It has been quite
a while since the family was alone. Mr. Sharol & family will leave in two weeks. It will
be lonesome but I will be glad on some accounts. Mr. & Mrs. Crandall were here today
have just gone home. they are all well. his California brother is here, will stay till spring.
Harvey wanted to give me a kiss. he sent me. but I guess he fibbed, as I have never seen
his brother. he is trying to [jersnacle] the Crandalls to go with him to California, they
seem favorably impressed with his description. Mr. Crandall says he shant go without Pa.
I shall do all I can to discourage the ----. it seems strange enough here & we have had
change enough. Pa is -----teris & longer than in wisconsin. He has been out in the deep
snow every day to work. he could not have done so last winter. It is ---- we have all had
colds but I presume the weather is the same in wis. I like the country as well as there, as it
is thickly settled. there are more thieves here. I think you asked me to tell you all about
the farm. we have a good house and barn and the house across the road is on our farm. a
family have just moved in Mr. John King has a wife and a little girl about 3. she is a
Missourian and is only --, I don’t see how they will get along. they had only about $100
to buy everything. He is to chop wood this winter. but I suppose this isn’t very
interesting. there is quite a forest on the south and some on the north that belongs to us.
our house is quite a distance from the road and considerably higher. the nearest neighbor
is Mrs. Madison & east Mrs. Pearsons, and next Spauldings. There is a family of Drakes
and from New Jersey too. The oldest is a girl about my age and her name is Jennie too.
there are 3 or 4 Mary Janes, Jennies & -- down here so I am not needed. I have seen 13
or 14 of the young men around here. when Mr. Sharol threshed ----- collectively they
were a homely set. sometimes I think I will go to school just to get acquainted. several
young ladies attend. I might have had the school my self if I had not been so foolish it was
not engaged until the 8th. I didn’t know who the clerk was nor the family here and I
dreaded to go among strangers to inquire and then not get it. I am real sorry I didn’t.
(they hired a woman that don’t like teaching at all. she gets 30 dollars a month) I would
then have easily got acquainted. there are no families with young folks very near here and
I think I shall have a lonesome time this winter. it has seemed so far from Clymen, until
last night, I got such lots of news in your letters, I have felt better ever since. Well I will
-----------------. I am so sleepy I will go to bed and dream about you all. (I was up late
last night) Good Night -----. Do not feel slighted because I have not written. after this I
will sit up nights but what I write of -----. please write me a good long letter as soon as
you have time. Dora do not make an old man of yourself. I shall not (faith I can’t)
Jennie
Theodore Drake to Jennie McQuivey
Clyman, Wisconsin to Waukegan, Illinois
December 5, 1869
My Dear Jennie,
Your kind letter recd. a few days ago reminds me of my duty to write to you at once. I
must confess that I had the blues in the worst kind of way until I recd. your long letter
which done me lots of good. Jennie why in the world didn’t you write sooner. I imagined
everything was the matter but could come to no conclusion where it lay. was very careful
not to have them too hastily drawn, but all is well that end well. folks are all well I
believe. I suppose you enjoy yourself very well in your new home. at least I hope you do.
I wish I could give you a call some of these long evenings. I get so lonesome. I would
enjoy nothing as well, it would seem so much like the past. I intend to come down this
winter. you must tell me how far you live from town, in what direction and the name of
the town you live in. Oh well you just come to the depot thats the best way. you didn’t
give Fay much satisfaction did you. I am glad of it. I don’t think it is necessary for him to
trouble himself about us. he thought you might do better down there. it makes me a little
vexed to think of it. he musent say anything to me, everyone has something to say to me
about Jennie to plague me. say nothing against you. nor hadn’t better because I am
particularly sensitive on that point. I suppose H. folks would like to know some things,
but never will from me. Ellen is going to leave there this week. Marshall Dille was down.
I took him to the depot to night. when we went by Caspers he made the remark that if
McQ’s were here I would enjoy myself this winter. I told him I thought I would. he
thought we was going to be married. I was just looking over your letter, the first sheet
you wrote. you say there is more thieves there than here. have you had anything stolen or
what makes you think so. I suppose your Father don’t care to become acquainted with
any more Drakes. but Jennie that need make no difference to you and me. the fact is they
have never said as much about him as his supposed friend Mr. Hurford. he is a snake in
the grass! don’t tell your father anything I write you. there must be plenty of young men
down there. you have seen 13 or 14 of them, how many more is there. be careful Jennie,
don’t let them steal your heart. I hope I am quilty of that. but I guess such is not very
interesting. now for sheet No. 2, & so you have had a party-how happens it that
Crandall’s neighbors is so much better looking than yours. but Jennie don’t always judge
by appearances. but I suppose your fellow has gone by this time. let me know when you
have another one & I will come down. you know I
Because we had been going together so long. I told him that made no difference. he is
none the wiser for I told him nothing. Ella Fisher made us a visit. she has broke up house
keeping & is living in Beaver Dam. She sends her best respects to you. Martha received a
letter from Carrie Northrup. Mary is not going to be married this fall. her intended is not
ready. she is having quite a serious time of it ----- ----. Jennie don’t write to Mrs.
Hurford, don’t gratify her that much. I use her well though & she does me. I will tell you
some news in my next-if I get them correct. I hope your Father won’t tear any of my
letters open. don’t let anyone see them. keep all of them. Jennie I don’t want to burn
your letters. I think to much of them. & this winter you know you requested me to do so.
So when are you going to send me that photograph. what did Lina say about our
arrangement. what did she think about it.
DEC. 8
I did not have time to finish your letter on the 6th but have time now. so will finish. we
have moved in the new house. (don’t feel any bigger) & have taken down the old one.
Charley hurt his leg pretty bad. there was a frozen piece of dirt fell on him. he has to use
a ------ & cane but I think will get over it before long. Bruno has taken down his old -----
house. Mr. Glover is very unwell so that to keep to his bed. Byron & Mary Jane were up
here the other evening. there was an oyster supper at the grove last night at -------