Jan. 23, 1872 Asa Hutchinson to John Benjamin-1823

Duxbury, Mass

Jan. 23^rd, 1872

Dear Dr. Benjamin,

Your good letter of December 27^th was duly received and in the multiplicity of cares have not so readily answered – but now I have a moment and I hasten to improve it. 

Wife and I think if you can have the boys manage without purchasing another sled this winter it will be well, as we don’t feel like laying out more money now that our provisions raised are so low.  If the old sled can be made available, don’t buy a new one. 

In regard to the barn which we may build next year, and may not till year after, to economise time - hire of hands could be secured at reasonable prices, and keep this thing moving.   We ought to be gathering in all dimensions timbers & lumber needed for a barn 43 or 45 x 60 and get up tops of trees for fuel, would be better than have the teams idle.   If not, stop them at once.    We want to begin with a plain barn, similar to Bro James E. Chesley’s with any improvements that may be made, boarded & bottomed - not sided up.  A barn for horses, horned cattle, hay, and farm implements.  I thought that there were sound oak trees & sound birch trees in our woods that could be cut and gathered home into piles and hewn out next season at odd jobs when other work was not doing.  The course materials might be gathered & then I could let the job if I chose, coving the roof with good pine shingles.   If there is a better opportunity to get timber from the 40 acres near Remick’s, go there.   But we cannot lay out much more money there till we get some returns.  You must do what you think is most prudent till we come. 

We are anxious to have our church debt paid off as soon as possible & help whenever help is needed.  I will send an order on A. M. Schnell who is owing me to pay part of Mr. Stocking’s bill, which I learn for the first time that we owe.  I must also send orders for groceries to in a small way help those that David Adams says are great sufferers. I'll enclose the orders on Mr. Schnell and if he does not give them the full worth of the amts stated, have C. K. Goodnow do it, and Belden & Co do it & I will settle with them on my arrival. 

We are still lingering in Mass but now propose to start the 1st week in February.  But keep everything snug and prudent till we do come.

Dr. I am sorry that we are so limited in our finance that we can give scarce any encouragement to you in regard to your request for a loan of $600.  But this I will say, that you shall have the first of any lease we make in that valley. 

Continue to write me weekly to Lynn, Mass till the first week in Feb.  The longer we stay away the longer we shall remain when we reach home. 

Have the boys get a big pile of good wood cut & split for use and if there is a good chance for a few hundred of rails or posts at reasonable rates, secure them.  Tell Uncle Geo Bonniwell to take care of our timber there by his mill.  Still continue to caution the boys about fire.  Have them look out for ashes – put them in the brick oven till they are cold.  Keep the kerosene lamps away from the stove.  Never let the premises be left without the safe watcher.  Are the boys honest?

I hope Mrs. Arens, Mrs. Schaulter & B. J. Havens will receive the full value of my orders on A. M. Schnell.

Bleak winter is upon us.  I think your suggestions for stock raising is good.

If my personal tax is due, tell Mr. Mims to let you know how much it is and not to make any charge to me extra if it is past due.  I will attend to it early on reaching home.  Please send me particulars. 

Glad Mr. Adams has something __ to your hands for settling small arrears.  I’m coming home to clear off all indebtedness and hope I can sell enough from the surplus to do a good part of it. 

The RR project – how does it stand now?  Is our settlement represented in a director?  Write particulars on receipt of this letter of all things pertaining to our interests.   I hope to hear of peace and prosperity in every house in our coming.  Look out for the personal tax to have no expense for delay. 

Regards to all of your family.  I’m going to the farm of the late Daniel Webster. 

Truly yours,

Asa B Hutchinson

Jan 7, 1872 Asa Hutchinson to John Benjamin-1823

East Abington, Mass

Jan 7th, 1872

Dear Dr. Benjamin,

Your favor of 21^st ult was duly received and gave us all much pleasure to learn that everything was going on so favorably in Hassan Valley, that your children, most of them, are enjoying the school, that the school is well conducted and so good, a number are receiving its benefits. 

You must have had quite an excitement by RR surveyors and directors through town and their desire to hear the voice of the people in H in regard to the right of way, etc.   Of course, I shall do my part towards the project and if there is need of my personal presence in town or at the legislature to aid in the good cause, command me at once.  I wish to know fully whether the project is likely to go through or cave in – who has hold of it and what shape it is being presented to the people.  We would all come and do what we could in musical fraternity and friendship with the members of both houses, spending a week or two at St. Paul, if there is any need of work such as we can render in any way to secure to our part of the country or outlet to the world by rail. 

We are lingering here still in Mass partly & chiefly from the feebleness of Mrs. Hutchinson’s father and partly from several engagements made to sing for several organizations here, whereby we are liquidating several little bills contracted here since our arrival. 

I wish one of the RR directors could be secured from Hutchinson.  There are several there that are competent.  Let the thing be agitated and all pull together to get the man that will do the most & sacrifice the most to bring about the great accomplishment of that live RR through Hassan Valley.  I have all the business I can well manage & must cut off some farm cares if I continue concerting, but I will do all I can outside to help the grand project of RR through our village.  Should there be any place for me to work, I should for the time abandon our plan to visit the Pacific coast till the RR project should be pushed on to a successful end.  I hope to hear fully from you before I start home west, whether there is a disposition to move earnestly in the matter or whether it is not a spasm & a fizzle!!

See David Adams and get fully posted and let me know particulars.  So Mr. Day & Bonnewell are tracking, we’ll give no objections to his coming down to be a nearer neighbor & put up a good horse on his farm.  Glad Frank is logging; tell him to patch up the old sled.  Keep it together best he can and not buy a new one if he possibly get along till we can turn some farm product to market at remunerative prices.   I hope the premises are not left exposed day or night, that some faithful body is constantly there.  I hope to hear that Rash has paid his note & that you have settled several bills and made the new year open with few if any demands against the “Tribe of Asa”.   I think you have done well to let our shanty up by Bonnewell’s mills.  Look out for the timber thieves.

I have been trying to get a loan from the banks of Lynn, where I am acquainted, to accommodate you, but thus far have not succeeded.  They have offered it to me before but now it is a tight time with them and I can’t get the amount you desire.   There may be a change before we start west, if shall be another look out and try again.  You may look for us any day after the 25^th and we’ll come earlier if positively needed. 

The “Tribe of Asa” unites in thanks to the “Tribe of Benjamin” for compliments of the season & wish them all many happy New Years and long and prosperous lives.

Regards to all from all.

Truly yours,

Asa B. Hutchinson

Dec. 6, 1871 Asa Hutchinson to John Benjamin-1823





Boston

Dec. 6^th, 1871

Dr. Benjamin, Hutchinson, Minn

Dear Sir,

Your last letter of Nov 12 is at hand and am glad to hear of continued health & prosperity in Hassan Valley.  Glad you have discharged the smaller boys & engaged a larger man to help. 

You speak of slaughtering the large hogs.  I hope you will have all but the Benson Chester White pair (sow & boar) killed and packed down. 

We can’t get away from New England till the middle of January.  We can before the 1st of February, 1872, so please keep everything very snug and let not a thing be wasted.  Do not allow the enterprise prove unprofitable for me.  If you do, I must close up and move away.   I want to spend my days in H and work for its growth, but one hand must wash the other.  The farm must pay for its running or it can’t run.  Keep a strict account of all _____. 

Bro Capp writes discouraging about the church nearly completed.  Nearly $500 in debt and not much interest to pay up the indebtedness.  We have given more toward that church since we left than we have made for ourselves in our concerts.  I do wish there was more interest felt in the matter to all work for a good meeting house in our settlement and not be indifferent to the deserved but all must do something or the few will get discouraged.

I’m expecting a letter from you soon.  Write me once a week and  make any suggestions for the coming year.  I probably shall be engaged in concerting for some time to come now.  On what plan can I best manage that farm?   Shall I let it to profit or had I not better hold to it and hire on help faithful hands and continue your superintendence of the same? 

Glad to hear of the good results of the last election per your letter. 

I want to be assured that Frank and his colleague are carefully managing .  Please look after them.  Caution them on fires.  I am busy in my cares here and having no agent, have not much leisure to write as I would wish to.  Is there any movement in the population of H?   Are there any prospects of RR or anything else to increase our growth?  Glad to hear of the good school and that your children are enjoying it .

Best regards of “The Tribe of Asa” to all the members of the “Tribe of Benjamin”. 

Truly yours,

Asa B. Hutchinson

Nov. 14, 1871 Asa Hutchinson to John Benjamin-1823

Waterville, ME

Nov. 14, 1871

Dr. J. Benjamin – Hutchinson, Minn

My Dear Sir,

Your favor of 31^st inst was duly received being forwarded from Lynn, and in reply would say 1^st that being anxious to have bills met promptly pertaining to thrashing & Mrs. Griffiths boarding. I enclose two drafts $49.33 & $18.50 which please pay immediately  and take receipts for the same and keep with other valued assets of mine. 

I am disappointed that we get no more grain from such broad sewing .  There must have been a terrible drought to give so poor a return, but it’s better than a failure and I am thankful that the flames have not devouraed our home and its products.  I wish not that you would see that Frank is very prudent with the grain.  I don’t think we will sell a bushel of it but keep all we can for spring use. 

Have all the hogs fattened (except the Berkshire boar and sow I purchased of Jared Bensen) as rapidly as  possible and slaughtered and put away till frozen till I come, and if danger of spoiling have them barreled up and kept for a rise.  I want the feet for the hogs cooked as much as possible.  It is a great scarring over uncooked food.  If there is an unprofitable cow long in years, let her be dried and fatted for our beef.  We want one or two barrels of pork put up also for home use. 

How is the poultry?  Is any fit to kill & sell about Thanksgiving time? 

If you can employ profitably one or both of those young men at moderate wages to have manure on to our land and get out some timber for a barn and the tops for fuel the coming winter, do so.  Two teams could be fitted out and do a good job.  Or perhaps it would pay better to dismiss them till 1^st of February or 15^th of Feb. and then make a quick job of getting timber out & logs enough to mill to make a barn 60 x 40.   What think you?  If it can’t be worked to profit, I had rather the teams be idle, Frank burroughing and taking good care of the stock and giving up a little firewood till we should come.  The premises must have someone constantly there day & night.   

We are anxious to reach home early in the new year but can’t quite fix the date.  We can meet the engagements we have now in contemplation and get home the 15^th of February, 1872.  Would that be early enough to be there at the dedication of the church?  That building ought to be completed before dedication in a most thorough manner. 

How stands the re-canning?  Now we have frozen ground, a little snow, and keen country weather.  If you have plowing weather still in Minn, I hope our farm is turned over again .

Also Benjamin, please these long cold evenings make out a full account of my farm receipts & expenses as you have been knowing to it since I left, and see what encouragment there is for me to farm it.  Then tell me candidly what you think I had better do ?  I am not able to spend money farming.  It came too slow in this itinerant singing life to throw away a dollar.  I shall be off while I have health for a year or two more, and if I can make the farm pay its way by hiring help and leaving them, well and good.   But if it is a losing game, I want to make a sale of all the personal effects this coming winter or spring, clearing all off and leasing the farm to someone and have them report to you.  But if I can keep along & not run behind I would keep Frank for years & have other help when needed and have a home to flee to when weary of travel.  Concerting is very unreliable in its results. There is a good deal of stir & excitement and sometimes a big turnout but the expenses are so great of traveling & living, clothes etc. that the humblest mechanic or farmer with health can accumulate as rapidly, bank more funds, or make improvements to his home, & have the comfort of living in the peace of domestic comfort.  Fred just came in from  packing the organ to go to another town and said for his part he could think of no business or profession so delightful as that of farming in the west.  I’m glad to see him so pleased with his plans for future farming.

I want you doctor to send me a full account thus far of your accounts, your credits and debits including your charge and items to date.  Give me such advice and counsel as you deem best.  I want to push towards prosperity rather than adversity.  Collect money due from ___.   Sorry brother Dennis does not feel disposed to pay his note.  I guess he will think better of it and do it by & by.  The note was given March 24^th, 1871 for $21.83 due in 8 months at 12 per cent. You can wait for maybe will pay it.    If he chooses to wait let it stand till I come.  It is perfectly good.  I wish you would see David Adams or have him stir up those that are doubtful and have them pay him at once and you can what you can from C. M. Christains . He owes $80 from Jan 1^st , 1871 - 2 years at 10% annual payment.  Get in the interest.  Then John McKeurie owes $35 from March 27, 1871 for one year at 10%.  He may want to pay something.

Governor Austin ______________.  Hope David Adams is elected representative.  Tell us all the news as it happens in Hassan Valley.  Lots of Maine-ites think everything of Minnesota.  Wife sewing.  Abby darning stockings .  We go to  Skowhegan today.  Wish Durmett was with your boys in school.  We are ___ giving him a kind of education.  __ reads well and looks after the ___.  Glad our school is progressive ____ and the good teachers retained.  Hope you will persevere in your many cares.  Don’t overdo – if you must spare your boys at school.   Write us how the church appears and still address us to care of  Dr. Sherman, Lynn Mass.  In collection of dues above expenses, deposit with State National Bank, Minneapolis.

Our united regards to your entire family.

Truly yours,

Asa B. Hutchinson

Nov. 12, 1871 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Chicago

Nov. 12, 1871

Dear Brother & Sister,

I received both your letters after some delay, although your last came to hand somewhat sooner than the first.  I hardly know what to write nor where to commence, but I have thought and come to the conclusion to keep you posted in regard to the great fire^[1] and I have a great many papers to send you, which I would have sent you before this only I could not get postage stamps and so you will pardon the delay.  I succeeded last evening in getting twenty two-cent stamps and so you will get the papers right off. 

And now in regard to my delay in writing, I have been thinking every day to write, but every day brings something for me to do more than the other so that since the fire I never had so much to do in my life, and we are working night and day and even then we do not get out half the work that we have to do……….so much for that.

In regard to my loss from this great fire, I don’t know just what my loss is just yet.  I have not lost any property.  I have lost through parties that was burned out that owed me, and have got one dollar left, and so they can’t pay me although I have got their notes and I think they all will pay sometime with the exception of a few.   Yesterday a Mr. Wrisley, a soap manufacturer, was here to see me and said he would pay his in ninety days.  His note is nine hundred dollars and so it is anything further I will have to postpone for some other time for I can assure you that I could not begin to tell you anything about the fire for it would take more time than I have at present, although we know all, and all you read of is nothing to compare to It, and I hope that such a thing will never happen again. 

We have rented our house to family that was burned out and I have rented a neat little cottage near out mill.  It takes me about ten minutes to walk it and I have sold my buggy horse and shan’t keep one this winter.  I have got my buggy and today (Sunday) I had one of our team horses in the buggy and we went to a friend of ours on 31^st Street.  I wanted to learn something of a patent cutter head that I got up and I haven’t had time to attend to it but, however, I learned that it had been granted me and so I suppose I will get my patent papers in a few days .  This head is more intended for a matcher head than for anything else and is a great improvement on the old style heads and which are in use here.  There was a man from a Boston firm to see me about it last week.  Anything in the shape of an improvement in a planing machine is look after sharp.  I told him that I was in no hurry about it but I should correspond with his folks as soon as I got my papers from Washington.  More about this in due time. 

In regard to my coming to see you, which I had made up my mind to come before this, but now it would be impossible for me to do so for we all have to stay at home and help to build up our city again.  Oh how can we build up such a splendid place again?  The best man ever saw in any country, which I have some papers to show you just what some of them was before the fire and what it is after.  It don’t seem possible that our beautiful city was burned up and is no more, and we all can’t help crying when we think of it.  Frances and myself was out with the horse and buggy all the time and she drove the horse through all that crowd and I was with the wagons getting our friends out of the fire, and, John, there is no one that can even imagine anything near what it is.

I must close for this time in love to you all and hoping to hear from you soon.

Yours truly,

Edwin

Excuse haste and all mistakes for I thinking of I much I have to do for the next month to come.  I will send you a good lot of papers.

^[1] The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about 3.3 square miles (9 km²) in Chicago, Illinois.^[1] Though the fire was one of the largest U.S. disasters of the 19th century, Chicago was rebuilt and continued to grow as one of the most populous and economically important American cities.  The fire began the same day as several other fires destroyed towns and forests in Wisconsin and Michigan.

 

Oct 23, 1871 Asa Hutchinson to John Benjamin-1823

Bangor, ME

Oct. 23^rd, 1871

Dear Dr. Benjamin,

Your most welcome letter of the 9^th inst was received last Saturday 21^st and was very gratifying to us all.  We were so afraid our fences or our buildings were burned up and perhaps the entire village and its inhabitants ^[1], and your letter only tells of here and there a disaster and no lives lost.  We were sorry to hear your fence was burnt to such an extent but Brother Benjamin, I was afraid you and your family might be burnt to death.  There was such awful news from everywhere west.  1,800 houses burnt in Chicago, 500 persons killed, half of Michigan & Wisconsin burnt over and nearly one thousand persons destroyed, and we heard by the papers that the fires were raging in Minnesota fearfully, and that it was all around Hutchinson, and I was nerved up to hear the worst from our little settlement when your letter came & brought relief.  Oh let us give thanks unto our God for the deliverance he has given us that our lives are spared and that of our children and acquaintances.  To those that have lost their all our sympathy must go out.   I want you to give James Record $5 worth of our farm products and $5 worth of groceries from A. U. Schnell’s storehouse.   Have Mr. Schnell charge to my account and write by next mail who is suffering most and I will give something to them all in our county.  We are not doing much in our business just now, but never mind, let me know the actual sufferers’  names in our vicinity.  I tell you, dear Dr., you and I have escaped an awful conflagration. 

I do hope you have not got sick by fighting the fires.   Organize a fire relief association in Hutchinson and count me as one of the contributors.  I’m so thankful our buildings are saved.  I want to hear all the particulars how you are getting along. 

Glad to hear from you and Frank that Hassan Farm is being turned bottom side up.  Glad you took the precaution about fires in putting a protection belt around the premises.  Did the fire get into our grove at all to destroy any more trees?  Do impress on Frank the faithful to add one more grace to his virtues and that is to be very careful about fires.  I hope to hear of still more copious rains.   Look after them all and advise them.  Hope to hear of a good fair yield of grain.  The bells are ringing for fire and everybody in the street is crying.  Everybody excited about fires since the terrible news from Chicago & the northwest.    

I sent you a Bangor paper today.   How are you getting along for funds?  Have you collected any more from David Adams & the Ross note yet?  I sent a $50 draft to you not long since, you did not mention the receipt of the same. 

Have you paid Mr. Case yet?  He wrote a real good letter to me from Plainview but did not say whether you had settled with him or not. Please pay him at earliest moment if you have not.

Did not you have a hard time thrashing & fighting fire?  I’m so glad you are safe.  Frank writes a good encouraging letter that the hogs are fattening etc.

Is pork worth much this autumn…and where ___ ___ butter market? Manage as carefully as possible and bring that expensive part of our farming to a successful end If possible.

We can’t come home till December, perhaps the middle, unless great urgency requires us.  But you can gather up the matters close and have pose bushes, grape fines, and apple trees, etc. prepared for the coming winter.  Have Frank keep a set of all his doings.  Discharge one of the boys after plowing, bank up the cellar and house. Guard us against further fires & write us every week to care of Dr. John Sherman, Lynn Mass, till further word. 

Love to all your family saved from the fire.   I will write again soon. Give full particulars.

Truly yours,

Asa B. Hutchinson

^[1]The Peshtigo Fire was a forest fire that took place on October 8, 1871 in and around Peshtigo, Wisconsin. It was a firestorm that caused the most deaths by fire in United States history, with estimated deaths of around 1,500 people,^[1] possibly as many as 2,500.^[2] Occurring on the same day as the more famous Great Chicago Fire, the Peshtigo Fire has been largely forgotten.^[3][4] On the same day as the Peshtigo and Chicago fires, the cities of Holland and Manistee, Michigan, across Lake Michigan, also burned and the same fate befell Port Huron at the southern end of Lake Huron as well.

Oct. 9, 1871 Asa Hutchinson to John Benjamin-1823

Biddeford, ME

Oct. 9^th, 1871

Dear Dr. Benjamin, Hutchinson Minn

Your letters of 17^th & 29^th inst are before me and I have found in the whirl of this whirling life a few moments that I propose to devote to the answer of each and make some suggestions & inquiry.

1^st I’m sorry to disappoint Mr. Case in his pay, but I had not the money then and I am disappointed that Mr. Rass and others did not pay up promptly.  Glad you hired the boys and let Frank manage about the house while they run the two plows.  Twas lucky Kate was retained.  She’ll certainly prove a good investment yet perhaps. 

Pity that we can get no grain ground in Hutchinson.  The river it seems has given out.  A steam grist mill will be a good thing.  The store keepers of Hutchinson have been kind in granting you orders to pay our farm help.  Hope you will soon settle with them.  Mr. Adams has to come to your rescue in a loan of $25. 

Glad to hear the church is nearly completed -  that political matters are brightening & best of all our friend Adius Chance looks good to be the nominee & the representative elect by & by.  Do the Democrats or Republicans lay W.J. Bonnwell on the shelf?

In answer to No. 2 of yours of 17^th inst - would say that we are trying to find a customer that will be glad to accommodate you with $500 or $600 for 5 years at low rate of interest.  We hope to make a favorable report on our return to M.  I have the requisitions successfully made, shouting for it hard.  I know your securities would be ample and your inquiry shall receive full attention. 

I had a real worry a week ago about our farm buildings being burned.  Some Hutchinson had lost buildings in the west, so the papers said, & I did not know but we were burnt out, but your letter of 29^th relieved me, but send again.   We are worried for telegrams from St. Paul last Saturday saying that prairie fires were raging from Litchfield to the Minnesota River burning at Glencoe and running everywhere burning fences, haystacks, barns, houses & cattle.  I can only hope that the good providences have saved us from the general conflagration.  There’s a terrible fire^[1] raging in Chicago as I write.  Millions of property lost.

Your letter of the 29^th flies before me .  I am glad you do not wait for my letters but write regularly yourself – do give me one a week regularly at least.

Our business is extensive and we have no agent.  The work devolves upon me largely & I cannot write as regularly as I would wish for this very over-driven cares we have going hither & thither singing for this charity & that.  I’m glad you have the good boys beside Frank the faithful.  Glad you got Mr. Pew to help a few days right up the boathouse, etc. 

So the oxen all sold for $125?  I’m glad of it and under the circumstances I think you got a good price for beef has fallen some . It will be nice to have the two teams plow up all the grains needed before the freeze comes.  Can’t you have a few acres put down to grass this fall and the balance in the spring? 

Mr. Ross must pay up his note at once.  I felt blue to think we had to buy grain the third year of our farming and that a bill was run up at Mr. Belden’s store.  Cut off the expenses, Doctor, at every side.  Open up clear accounts and keep an exact recording of ___ and expenses.  Enclosed I send you a draft for $50, and as you get in a surplus from sale of hogs and other products deposit it in State National Bank Minneapolis  .   Take receipt of every person you settle with in full.  I don’t want to see a bushel of grain of any kind.   Please give Frank orders to feed light except to the horses when working.   Where will be the profit of my favor this year?   What is done with the milk now?

Sorry to hear that the butter that Mrs. Case made is hurt.  I believe we had better hold on to it till cold weather.  It may improve.  Don’t sell it but have it put into ___ or some other good cellar that is clean & sweet.  It may grow better.  I wish you would impress it upon rank and the other boys to be very careful about fires and caution them about ashes, lighted lamps & getting too much heat over the stove in cooking . 

We shall turn our faces westward in early November and hope you will keep everything straight till we come.  Continue to write weekly to the care of Dr. John H. Shuman , Lynn Mass till further orders. 

I hope Mr. Christian will settle up his dues for that land before he leaves. We can pay you and that will do you giving him a receipt and Mr. David Adams can cancel the mortgage. 

I wish, Doctor you could send me a statement of receipts and expenses thus far and keep an open account.  I want to make some permanent arrangements with you when we come home to take the oversight of all my business in Hutchinson while we are away again.  I want your advice about matters pertaining to the farm.   You are right there and can see what is wanted every week. 

Caution the boys every now and then about fires.  Don’t let them set any fires anywhere on the premises.  My discouragements farming being away may necessitate me to sell all out and leave the country, but if I can barely keep square I want to hold on & keep things going. 

 

We are all delighted with the house in Hassan Valley , but we cannot afford to travel to pay the expenses of a farm that won’t yield any returns.  I would like to take account of stock when we return & have you oversee & try once more if we can agree.  I think we had better not make any arrangements with Mr. & Mrs. Taylor for the present.  Keep Frank along and an extra hand if necessary till we come and then we will make some permanent arrangement with somebody.  Get this present help do the best they can till the ground freezes.  Then Frank the faithful can burrough and take care of the stock at least, and watch the premises.  Don’t let the farm be left an hour, Doctor.  There is great danger from fires & thieves.  Please to have the other boys go to mill & Frank to remain.  Advise them about cleanliness etc. and particularly about ashes and watching fires in & out of the house. 

Have a fatherly care till I come & write particulars every week & I will recompense you fully on our return .

Truly yours,

Asa B. Hutchinson

PS – Kind regards to your family.

^[1]The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about 3.3 square miles (9 km²) in Chicago, Illinois.^[1] Though the fire was one of the largest U.S. disasters of the 19th century, Chicago was rebuilt and continued to grow as one of the most populous and economically important American cities.  The fire began the same day as several other fires destroyed towns and forests in Wisconsin and Michigan.