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Theodore Drake to Jennie McQuivey
Clyman, Wisconsin to Waukeegan, Illinois
dated: March 20, 1870
My Dear Jennie,
Such a lonesome day I seldom see it has rained most all day and stormed every Sunday
since I came from your place. there is more snow on the ground now than any time this
winter. I wrote you a week after I came back. did you receive it. I have looked for an
ans, ever since. I am anxious to hear from you. why don’t you write. Hand recd. a letter
from your father one day last week. we have got company today. _____ Cole, he came
here yesterday. has made Hurfords a visit. he was showing some Photos, but did not see
yours. I told him he had one that he had not showed me, but he didn’t say anything.
Every one that sees me asks me something about Waukeegan. Mother was up to Millers
last Thursday, Miz M. said she supposed she (mother) would soon have a new daughter a
big one. she told her that there was no danger of it. Lib & Miz. Frand were wishing me
much joy when I came back. but Jennie they don’t find out much by me. they all know
where I was & that is all. there is going to be a great exhibition at the Grove wednesday
night for the benefit of the church. the Grove folks are getting it ---. I wish you was here
to go with me. I would just like it. I dreamed about you several times since I came back.
something about your letters. but I hope it will never come to pass. Jennie how long did
you wish my ring on for. has it passes. and what was it. Lina wrote a piece in my last
letter to you. did she say any thing about us. I told her I had asked your Pa. write me
what he said about it. you must come up here this summer. I shall look for you. How do
you get along with your church affairs. thirty eight has joined the Grove Church. all of
the converts except Libbie Miller. Lib is a hard one. Jennie the next time I see you, I will
tell you some statling news. that is to me. perhaps you have known it before. it was told
to me by two or three but I don’t want to have it start from me. I can’t blame some folks
for being unhappy. Miz Nottingham is expected up soon. I believe that her and the
children ---- -- Finch. Jennie it’s my opinion that they are going to part. but don’t say
anything about it. it may not be so but if they do Amanda & her man will part. I hope
they will never come back here to live such a tribe as some of them are. what I tell you is
confidential. How is Orman C. & the rest of the fold. is Herman going to stay with you
again this summer. are you a going to teach this summer. You better come up here &
teach. if you will I will get you a school. I would like to be where I could see you often
but can’t unless I come where you are. I suppose Em [Danck] wil teach our school this
summer. Baker has been here since I came home. I believe he had been drunk by his
looks.
Monday morn.
Jennie, I am going to the Grove this morning with ---- Emma is better. I shall expect a
letter from you.
Dora
Theodore Drake to Jennie McQuivey
Clyman,Wisconsin to Waukeegan, Illinois
dated: March 30, 1870
Dearest Jennie,
I received your letter sunday & the reason of my hasty reply is on account of some
news you wrote me in yours about Tim.. well Jennie I have made it my business to see
him about it. he told me how it was. it troubled me some at first but have since felt
different about it. because I think it will do neither of us any harm. & more I have never
been ashamed of you or of the choice I have made. well to my story. Tim said that he
had known it (what Harve said) for some time & thought of course you had told me &
was waiting for me to mention the subject to him & as he was about to leave ( he went
north last night) he wanted the thing cleared up. well it took the trouble to go to the
grove with him to see a certain person to prove that he never told [Harve] Crandall any
such thing nor never mentioned anything of the kind. this person said that there never was
anything of the kind mentioned in his presence. Jennie that witness was W.H. Hurford &
that he did not say a word to him at no other time while he was up here only in the
presence of Hank. Tim says he can also prove it by Ellen, as she was present at one of
the meetings. I will tell you Jennie my opinion. Harve prides himself on being a cute
defection and has taken this course to find out by you if it is so & Tim said you wrote to
Mary that he (Harve) told you. that Tim told him about myself & you being engaged.
now you told me that he told your Pa & that your --- told you. Will you please write me
as near as you can what you wrote to Mary about it. I will see if he has told the truth
because Jennie I will find out where it started if you will assist. Have you asked Harve
where & when Tim told him this. that will settle the truth of it because I know a great
deal more but don’t want to say anything at present until I hear from Jennie and then I will
tell you all. but Jennie I think you was rather hasty about writing to Mary [just] about it.
why didn’t you write to me. I could of found out about it & Mary would know nothing of
the case. I know that I had ought to know enough to keep a secret but Jennie I have
regretted it often. the minute I told Harve I was sorry I did so but forgive me, to ere is
human, to forgive divine. I don’t want you to think I try to justify myself in any thing
wrong. in the future I will know enough to keep my secrets. if you will ans this as soon
as you receive it you will oblige me. don’t tell Harve anything about what I have written
at present. just ask him the questions I told you & Jennie I will repeat my request, you
write me word for word what you wrote to M. write all of it, if folks know we are
engaged I am not ashamed of it, are you. but don’t want everyone to know it. it won’t
injure us though. I know folks think we are going to be married. we have given them a
chance, our acting shows something. I believe at the beginning of the world god elected
his followers. what do you think Jennie. Write as soon as you recd. this. it is curious that
folks trouble themselves about us but don’t let that trouble you, they will talk.
I Remain Honestly
Yours
Theodore Drake
I shall look for an ans in one week from the time you receive this.
I don’t believe you can read half of this it is written so poorly.
Will Christie started for Kansas tonight -----wrote this morning ---
Jennie McQuivey to Theodore Drake
from ? to Oak Grove, Wisconsin
dated: April 10, 1870
Dearest Friend,
Your letter was received the 7th. in compliance with your request-I hasten to answer
it. I must confess I didn’t think that piece of news would make such a stir, I don’t know
how Harve could guess so straight-the only persons that knew of it. No ---- if Tim did not
tell Harve he did tell someone that did, probably Ellen, who told Mrs. H & she told Hank
who told Harve. Harve told me like this as nice as I can remember I know he was coming
down & you ---- they had been figuring one about you. I told him I supposed he saw you.
well he knew it before that, said he heard something else about us, I told him the ones that
told him didn’t know then he said he saw Tim, said he would tell me what he heard if I
would come then I told him I was not afraid & have the rest heard anything that was true,
well he said he dare not tell ----- don’t you suppose I knew what it was when he
mentioned Tim, well he told Pa right out who told --- & she told Ma. I mentioned this in
your letters to tell you what Pa said. I don’t think I deviated from the truth in the least.
only Harve did not say right out that Tim told him but - I had not thought of that before. I
have always thought Tim would not ------------- but you can see how trustworthy he is
Dora. I don’t think that I had better say any thing more about it - it would only convince
him to the contrary, that I wish when I was over to --- I had a talk about it - and I don’t
think he is quite as certain as before. that Tim knew himself I done remember just what I
wrote to Mary D. but it was to the effect that Tim had been lying about me. I should just
----- mary knows as Hank ----ford. I have nothing to forgive, it was your privilege to do
as you pleased. I will send this with Lina’s letter. you must excuse this scribbling as I
haven’t the time to take ---- hope you will get this before the 15th. that will be one week
from receipt of yours. Pa is going to Waukeegan this afternoon. I don’t know why you
should be ashamed of me but under different circumstances I might not have been your
choice. time is up and I must close. I hope you will excuse me for not writing to you
alone. respects to all. yours in love. Jennie