Box 3, Folder 3: Typewritten Letters 1840-1844

475 [458] 1841.

The pamphlet on the Graminae or grasses is very interesting. What did you think of the young lady who made the important discovery that a small insect deposited its eggs in the grain of the wheat and not as was supposed in the straw? Very trifling affair this would seem, but then it may be the means of saving millions of millions of bushels of wheat from destruction! This shows how little things may become the most important. Don't forget that.

I will send you another work by the next mail, on the Geology and Agriculture of Rhode Island by Dr. Jackson, a very valuable document. You will find a great many useful hints in it; one is to throw all weeds into the pigpen to be added to the manure. All that is said about fish for manure may be interesting to you, but I would not advise you to adopt that practice, for it appears like a very wanton waste of animal life! Besides you would have to transport your fish so far that it would be "paying too dear for the whistle."

Tell father to return the Michigan money to me if he was to sacrifice more than 12 1/2 per cent. I can use it here at par for ordinary purposes and can send you better funds, if necessary, before long. ***

All well with us and all of us send love to all of you at home. *** See here, Billy, don't call me Mr. I.A. Lapham, Esq. That looks like a cat with two tails!! One more than she wants.

Your affectionate brother,

Increase.

Wm. Lapham.

476 [459] 1841.

Milwaukee, June 8, 1841.

Dear Father--

My wife and I started today to make you a visit, and shall make another attempt to-morrow. *** We went down to the lake this morning but did not arrive until the steamboat in which we intended to go to Chicago had got under way! Another boat (the Great Western) will be here to-morrow evening when we hope to be able to succeed in making a fair start, so don't be surprised if we should pop in upon you about the time you receive this if not before! If I should arrive before this letter, I hope you will not think me a ghost or apparition and drive me away! In haste,

Increase.

Seneca Lapham.

Cincinnati, June 22nd, 1841.

Respected father and

All the rest--

Yesterday about 3 o'clock we were surprised by the appearance of Increase and wife. *** I shall keep them here a week at least before I can let him go up home. My business is such that I can not leave sooner and to let them go without the rest of us would not answer at all.

Respectfully,

Darius.

To all at home.

Cincinnati O. July 9th, 1841.

Dear Father,--

We arrived home safely last evening about five o'clock by way of Dayton. ***

General Harrison's remains were deposited in a tomb at

477 [460] 1841.

North Bend, day before yesterday. A very large procession was formed in the city and went down in a steamboat to the place of interment where the funeral services of the Church of England was performed. The military from Louisville encampment were invited and joined in the procession in the city. ***

Let me know when you hear from Increase and Ann.

Respectfully,

Darius.

S. Lapham.

Milwaukee July 24th, 1841.

Dear Parents,--

After leaving Darius and the "rest on 'em" at West Liberty we had a wait of three or four hours for the stage which came in nearly full of passengers. We rode all that day and the succeeding night and the next morning till ten when we arrived at Republic, the end of the railroad, pretty considerably used up. *** My back has not yet recovered from the dreadful pounding it received constantly against the back of the Spanker wagon. In all my travels I have never experienced a harder ride in a worse wagon or over a rougher road. At three o'clock we entered the cars which were not long in transporting us to Portland, where we staid [stayed] all the next day waiting for a boat, at eleven o'clock at night we were called up in a great hurry to go on board the Chesapeake bound for Milwaukee and Chicago (Lucky). In this way we got home to our own sweet home on Tuesday morning being six days five days travel, cost $25.00 each besides extras. ***

Milwaukee looks natural again, a three story brick house 50 x 45 ft. is building on the fourth lost south of mine, on

478 [461] 1841.

the corner of Chestnut street. Divers and sundry small framed houses are being built, one directly opposite my house.

The news that $31,000 of the canal loan had been obtained was received here with joy. Thirty one guns were fired in honor of the event! I have set the work a-going again to a small extent and we are pretty sure Mr. Kilbourne get the remaining $69,000 in New York, so that we can do something worth seeing.

We have 'horribly' hot weather here now, too hot for comfort, but it makes the corn and cucumbers grow, so that it will add to our comfort in that way. Had some ripe muskmekons [muskmelons] last evening from Dr. Proudfit's garden, can you get that?

I send you a paper which will show what our new governor is. Who would not find fault with a President for appointing such a man to be his Governor?***

Ann wishes me to give her love to them all at home, but I can not spare it, I want it all myself. ***

Your affectionate children,

Increase A. and Ann M. Lapham.

Milwaukee July 30th, 1841

Dear Brother,--

I have been so busy bringing up matters and things neglected during my absence that I have until now scarcely had time to write you a letter since my return.

After leaving you at West Liberty we had a very severe ride during the afternoon and night, the hardest ride I ever had in all my travels. On the railroad, which is completed thirty miles from Republic to Portland, we had easy times. The road is the cheapest kind, only a simple track over a level country.

479 [462] 1841.

It cost $6,000 a mile only, and is said to pay 7 pr. ct [percent] on its cost. Only one "Locofoco" in motion which passes up and down every day. Had a very pleasant voyage except that while on Lake Michigan the weather was all fog, and in coming up the lake we found ourselves brought up on the coast ten miles north of Milwaukee where we lay several hours before we could get off.

I have set the contractors at work again on the jobs over town, and we are now doing something towards finishing the work. The dam "that unscientific dam" is nearly up. ***

Mr. Reed attempted to cross Indiana from Cincinnati directly to Chicago and had "horrid" times, was two weeks on the road came to where the stage lines "ran out", so that he was compelled to here private conveyance.

The famous bridge is now completed and stands an almost complete bar to the navigation of the river above it.

We are all well and much better contented with Milwaukee than before our journey!

Crops of all kinds look well here, wheat is now being cut, and comes in well. The farmers will this year begin to come out. Flour is $6.00 pr. Barrel, wheat at Cleveland I am told $1.12 1/2 pr. bushel! These are whig prices indeed.

Give love and regards to all from your sister and brother.

Increase and Ann.

D. Lapham.

Hillsborough N. Carolina Aug. 9, 1841

I.A. Lapham,

Dear Sir,--

I have this day opened your package of plants rec'd yesterday. Torrey was rather slow in transmitting them and then they have been laying some time in Washington my late residence.