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Theodore Drake to Jennie McQuivey
Clyman, Wisconsin to Warren, Illinois
dated: Jan. 23 1870
Dear Jennie,
I received a note from you last Wednesday Jany 19th in Linas letter. did not expect it, but
was looking for one received yesterday, an ans to the one written Jany 8th. the first was on
your birthday, the 19th. I thought of you in your distant home & that I would like to be with
you once again, that I might assure you that I still care for you and banish your doubts if
possible. but Jennie, what put it in your head to write me such a letter. it seems to me as
though you did wrong if you did not intend to trifle with me. but don’t never write me another
such letter I -----. you can’t imagine how I feel but am sorry that my letter caused you pain on
my account. you have written me two letters that discouraged me but your last letter removed
all doubts about your sincerity. I can not do otherwise than trust you and hope that you may
never have occasion to distrust me. Jennie, we are both old enough to make our choices. I
have made mine & can never give it up. but at the same time, if your heart is not mine, we
never will live happy if our hearts are not true. our future days will be dark. I never could
consent to marry a person I did not love, or that did not love me. I have said it from a child. I
live for the time I may claim you as my own. then, & not til then will my future happiness be
complete. perhaps my views of matrimony do not agree with yours. if a person cannot better
him or her self in getting married they had better remain single. with such a partner as I trust I
shall find in you. I do not fear to venture. I have always had an idea that we would meet with
some opposition from your folks, but hope not. Hope they will not let their prejudice rule their
better sense. but Jennie, I will come down & see you, nothing else would take me there. I
can’t say what time but next month before the 22nd, would like to be there the 22nd but will
have company, L.W. Dill & wife. will write & let you know. there was a load of young folks
over from Lowell(14 of them) Friday night. brought music & had a good time, but there was
one absent I wished here. it was Jennie. the girls & self were to Lowell to church. took
dinner at Mr. Wrights. was up to Mr. Richards last week M.s, girls were with us. Jennie I do
not ------ what M.s said about my taste! did I ever tell you that-I had told Lina of our
engagement-or did she say that I did. I never told her nor no one except Tim & regret that,
but will bring our Parents acquainted with it after I see you, Lina also. You are looking under
a wrong idea about Lina. Well Dear, I will close for this time will write soon again. Lina is a
sewing down at Millers, she will write you from there. hoping you will trust a true heart.
I remain your own
Dora D.
Jennie McQuivey to Theodore Drake
Warren, Illinois to Clyman, Wisconsin
dated: Feb. 11, 1870
Dear Friend,
My patience is exhausted & I write now to know the reason of your silence. You told me
you would come down before the 22nd and would write to let me know when you were
coming. ever since receiving your letter I have looked & waited for another to announce your
coming. Dora, the 22nd will soon be here. are you not coming. I shall be greatly disappointed
if you do not. please write as soon as you receive this.
in haste
Jennie
We are having a great Revival here.
We are all well
Theodore Drake to Jennie McQuivey
Clyman, Wisconsin to Waukegan, Illinois
dated: Feb 12, 1870
Dear Jennie,
I don’t suppose you are expecting a letter from one so far away but I will write again, as
you occupy my thoughts most of the time. I think it well improved, but I don’t know what to
write that will interest you, it seems as thought this would be a poor letter. we have had
splendid weather this winter. 71 days of sleighing yesterday. I have made good use of it going
to the woods twice a day for the last three weeks. Mr. Crandall is here, or in the town here,
just called a few minutes. I think he might have made us a longer visit. I don’t know when he
will return they are having a great revival at the Grove. had preaching every night for six
weeks. have made quite a number of converts, to numerous to mention, among them is Wm.
Christie. quite a change since last summer. then he did not believe in our Sunday school. Dr.
Stork is another. I sincerely hope it will do them good. Lina is at the Grove on a visit, will
return tomorrow I expect. there was a load of young folks from the Grove at our place
Monday night. Addie Wright was over and made us a visit a spell ago. I suppose you are
having a fine time this winter & enjoy yourself much better than if in Clyman. well I am sorry I
can’t enjoy it with you. I heard your Pa was going to sell out again. if he does get him to
move back to Wis. or nearer Cly. how is that old lover of yours, Old Back. well Jennie I want
to see you very bad. I will come down next week Wednesday or Thursday if nothing prevents.
Would like to come the 22nd but expect company and can’t. but don’t look for me because I
don’t want to disappoint you. I can’t promise for sure that I will come but will if possible, if I
don’t come next week I will the week after sure. ------- was buried Thursday at the Grove.
Mr. Guman is not expected to live, is very low with consumption. Thos. [egan] has got the
small pox. had it very bad but is recovering. Mr. & Mr. G.W. Damp are out from Missn. on a
visit. Tim is not married yet, neither am I, but Jennie I may be sometime, but I am like W. b.
poor fool don’t wish to have you disclose it. I was talking with Lina about the matter the
other day. she never said a word to me about it until I mentioned it to her. We was talking
about Ed C. I thought it a good opportunity so I asked her if Jennie had told her anything
about us. she said yes & told me what it was. she thought Mother expected it. wait til I see
you & have a good long talk with you, that is what I desire. well Jennie I will close hoping to
see you next Thursday. with much love I remain true
Theodore Drake
Respects to all