ESTHER PALMER
1830-1910

Roswell Palmer and children
In back standing -Esther (Clark)
Left to right: Abbie, Harriet, (front) and on the right is Charlie.
This photo would have been taken sometime between 1851 and 1852. Notice the knives in the hands of Roswell and Charlie.

Headstone of Walter Palmer
1585-1661
Buried at Stonington CT. The first Palmer to come to America.

Sampler made by Abby Barber Palmer, Esther's mother.
Date is Sept 14, 1819, Griswold.

In 1849 Esther's father and step-mother decided to move west to Illinois. Esther's brother George had gone to Illinois some time earlier and urged the rest of the family to join him. They sold all their belongings and intended to meet up with him in Illinois, but when they arrived they found he had left for California with the Gold Rush and he was never heard from again.

The Palmers arrived in Stephenson county, IL sometime in 1849 and settled in the town of Ridott. They were living there when the census was taken in 1850. In 1851 Esther's step-mother, Ann, passed away. Soon after Roswell moved the family to Winnebago County and purchased a farm in Seward township. Esther helped her father take care of the younger children until he re-married in August of 1852 to Rhoda Daniels. Esther herself married in December of that same year to John Clark. Roswell Palmer and Rhoda Daniels had 4 more children; Celia, William, Sarah, and Etta. Very little is known about the children from this last marriage.

There's not much more I need to write about Esther's life myself, since Esther spent many years keeping a diary and writing stories about her life. which are told in great detail on the following page. In 1981 I visited my grandmother's 1st. cousin, Kathleen (Crockett) Van Fleet, in Cabool, Missouri. Kathleen was the daughter of Ella (Clark) Crockett, oldest of daughter Esther Palmer and John Clark . I had contacted Kathleen Van Fleet two years earlier for information on the Clark and Palmer families. She informed me she had quite a bit of genealogical material that had been saved over the years by her mother. Kathleen at this time was well in to her 80's, and although she had good intentions of sending me the many pictures, newspaper clippings and genealogical information, she never quite got around to it. So, in April of 1981, I visted her in Cabool, MO and was amazed at just how much genealogical information she did have! The most exciting discovery were the stories and diaries Esther Palmer Clark had written over the years, not to mention the mounds of photographs and newspaper clippings with obituaries of many generations of the family. I came home with more information than I ever imagined and the family history nearly written for me.

The following stories are just two of many Esther wrote over her lifetime. Here she relates memories of her early childhood while living in Connecticut. the death of her mother in 1839, and the tragic death of her little brother Charley two months later. The second story relates the move from Connecticut to Illinois after her father's re-marriage to Ann Parker.

One night when my father had been absent all day and my mother was expecting him home, she told us children we must go to bed early so we would not disturb him, and if we were good perhaps he would bring us something nice.  So we hurried off to our little beds and Mother set and sung to us until we were fast asleep.  In the morning Mother told me I could look around in the sitting room and see if Father had brought me anything. So I looked all around and at last I spied a pair of small white kid gloves behind the glass.  What a prize for a little girl like me.  I could hardly wait for Sunday to come so I could wear them.  At another time when Father had been away he brought me a little silver thimble.  I had never had anything in my life I was more proud of, and I tried to be so good for a long time to pay Father for being so good giving me such a nice present. At another time Mother gave me a beautiful little black silk apron.  It had little pockets trimmed with fringe and buttons, and about the same time she gave me a pair of wide morrocco slippers that I thought were so pretty. Father commenced building a house for himself about this time.  It was about a half a mile from where we were living. I remember how pleased I used to be to go over with Mother and see the men at work and walk all around the garden and Mother leading me by the hand.  There was a little brook between the two places.  I always felt so safe when Mother led me by the hand over the little stepping stones, and some times when it was warm and pleasant we would sit down under the tall shady tree that grew in little clusters by the quiet brook and Mother would tell me stories. Some times my little brothers would go with us, and when we had played in the clear water until we were tired we would run around the little grove and see which could get the prettiest flowers for Mother, and she would take them home and keep them until they were so withered they had to be thrown away.

At last the house was completed and we all went over and took possession of our new home. We thought it was the prettiest place in the world.  There was nothing grand or imposing about it, but a comfortable pretty little white house. It was a one-story building fronting the east, front door in the center opening into a small hall, a square room each end of the hall.  Back of these rooms was a large kitchen, at the northeast corner was a small pantry partitioned off.  On the north side of the kitchen there was but one window, and the outside door opened between this window and the pantry. On the south was two bedrooms. Between the bedrooms was a staircase to go upstairs and down to the cellar. There was a large tree on the south side of the house that shaded the whole of that side of the house and made a grand good place for us children to play.  Under this tree and all around the dooryard was the greenest of grass. South of this old tree was the garden, west the orchard.  The well was nearly opposite the north door. The barn and other buildings were northwest.  In front of the house was a pretty white fence.  The rest was fenced in with a good substantial stone wall. This nice little house was on the main traveled road two miles from Norwichtown and four miles from the city.  Father worked early and late setting out trees and planning new improvements thinking to spend many happy years in this quiet spot surrounded by those he loved best, little dreaming what sadness a year or two would bring.

When we had been in our new house about one year, Mother was sent for to go to Rhode Island and see a brother who was sick with the Typhoid Fever.  So she went and stayed with him until he was better. When she came home she was not very well and it was not long before she too was sick.  Only us children had to keep very still while we were in the house. One day we had all been out to play for a long time when Aunt Dinah came to the door and told us our mother wanted to see us, but we must go very still, for she was very sick.  When we went into the room Father was kneeling down by the bed with one of Mother's hands in his.  He was crying and saying he could not give her up.  Mother called us to her and gave each of us a kiss and said we must be good children, for she was going to leave us.  Then we were all sent out of the room again.  There was two or three physicians in the room with Mother. They all stood at the foot of the bed.  I was so astonished to see them that I did not know what to do. After a little while we were told our mother was dead and that we had a little baby brother and that he was dead too. Oh, Dear how bad we all felt when we heard our dear mother was dead and we could never speak to her again!  Mother was in the south room and we all stood by the door in the kitchen, for we wanted to be as near to Mother as we could (George, James, Charley, and myself).  It seemed as if I could never move again when they told us Mother was dead, but I soon had to, for they told us we must go down to Aunt Dinah's who lived just a few rods below our house. Charley was the youngest and Aunt said that our mother could take care of him no more and now I must do all I could for him.  I took his little hand and led him down to Aunts. George and Jim kept close to me all the way as if they too must look to me for care and protection.  I was only 8 years old, but I was old enough to know that we had lost our dearest and best friend and to wonder what would become of us now, and so we walked along without saying a word to each other.  We stayed down to Aunt's until night, then we were told we could go home again.  But oh, what a dreary home it was.  No dear Mother to welcome us, and Father almost beside himself with grief, could only cry over us and call us his little mother-less children.The next day my Grandmother came from Rhode Island and took care of us for a few days.  The funeral sermon was to be preached down to Grandmother's, for she said Mother must be laid in the family burying ground.  Aunt Hannah made all the arrangements for the funeral while Grandmother was with us.  This was a sad day for us all, but more so for Father, he could not be reconciled at all.  It seemed so hard to give Mother up.  Many times on the journey he exclaimed "Oh, where are we going?".  It was night when we arrived at the old homestead, tired and weary.  But many loving friends and neighbors from far and near were at the funeral.  Our dear mother was hidden away from our sight forever. After the funeral I spent a few weeks with my Grandmother, who wished to keep me all the time, but I could not stay, for I loved my father dearly and little brothers I missed sadly.  So Grandfather said he would take me home for a visit.  One of my cousins was keeping house for Father, and my aunts who lived near would advise her on how to manage, for she was young, only about sixteen.  So we got along nicely for a time. 

After I had been home for two or three months Grandmother sent for me to come back and bring my little brother Charley with me, we were to go Monday morning.  Saturday was to be spent in getting ourselves ready.  School was kept half a day, so George, Jim, and I went, and at noon called at Uncle Maxson's and took dinner with cousin Frances.  We had just gotten through and was thinking about having a nice time when someone came and told us little Charley was burned nearly to death and we must go straight home.  No need to tell us to go, for we were so frightened we started to run.  We had gone but a few steps when we over took Father who was hurrying home, for one of the neighbors had been after him.  He was almost beside himself with grief, for Charley was his favorite because he was the youngest and we all loved him dearly.  When we arrived home we found the house full of the neighbors and little Charley wrapped in a sheet in Aunt Dinah's lap.  His clothes were all burnt off, his stockings burnt down to his shoes which were all crisp and broke away half down to his soles, his hair burnt off his head and his eye whiskers gone. His tender flesh had been roasted, and yet the dear little fellow was alive and knew us.  He complained all the time of being cold.  Two doctors soon came and wrapped him in (swat) oil and cotton and did all they could for him, but it was no use, they could not save him.  He lived two or three hours.  Just before he died he looked up to Father and said he was going to see Mama, which reconciled him more than anything to his death.  Mother had been dead about three months. Charley was asleep in the bedroom and cousin Asenath was doing something she did not understand, so she thought she would run down to Aunts and ask her advice.  It was but a few rods and she thought she would be back by the time he awoke.  The doors were both closed and he had never been known to open them.  So she thought he could do no harm to himself if he should happen to wake up while she was gone. She ran all the way back, when she opened the outside door she saw a sight that frightened her almost to death.  There in the middle of the kitchen floor lay little Charley, that she supposed was fast asleep in the bedroom, with every rag of clothes burnt off him and the house on fire.  As soon as she could recover her senses she caught Charley up and placed him on the bed, put the fire out and ran back for Aunt.  In a few minutes the neighbors came hurrying in and someone went after Father and us children, and another for the doctor.  Charley must have woke soon after Cousin left the house and got up.  There happened to be a broom in the bedroom and with that he lifted the latch, opened the door and went into the sitting room.  There was a fire in the fireplace.  He said he took the broom and swept the hearth and was going to have some popcorn.  He set the broom on fire, tried to stamp it out with his little shoes, set his dress on fire, ran into the kitchen and fell down on the floor where he was found.  The house was on fire in the sitting room and the kitchen both, but it had just begun to blaze, so it was soon put out.  After Charley died Father sat down and wrote the following letter:  (Note: this letter was written to his mother in-law and father-in-law,  Ellery and Esther Barber, of Exeter, Rhode Island). Click here to view original letter.

Norwich, Wednesday 16, 1839

Dear Father and Mother,

The tidings I am about to write you are heartrending to me, but they are the doings of a just God. I think that my redeemer has spoken peace to my soul, and blessed be his name.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. My little Charley has gone to see his mother. He told me when I had him in my arms a short time before his death, "I want to go to Mama". I believe the little darling is with his mother in glory. I have no time to write but a few lines.

Yesterday about 10 o'clock I started to go to the city. I went to the mill and had not gotten out of the wagon when Deacon (Ranows) came to me and told me that Charley was burned and he did not think he could live until I reached him. I went as fast home as possible. When I arrived - but oh the feelings one but a parent can tell - I found the little darling in his aunt Dinah's arms wrapped in a sheet burned to a crisp. "Oh, Papa", he said. My heart was broken. Seneth was washing when I went away. She left him alone and went down to Dinah's a few moments. When she came back he stood in the kitchen with not a rag of clothes.  His stockings were burnt to his shoes. This was about 12 o'clock and he died at 7 o'clock. Oh, George my brother, remember thy creator and harden not thy heart. Hannah and Eason, smile with one in the cause of Jesus.

Tomorrow we are coming to bring him down to let you see the last remains of a roasted child. This from your affectionate son.

Roswell Palmer.

All pray for me.
This to Elery Barber from Roswell Palmer

The next day Charley was laid in his little coffin dressed in a white robe instead of the nice new clothes they had made for him to wear to visit Grandmother.  A good many of our relatives and friends went with us on our sad journey and many more met us at the house and wept with us as we laid him beside our dear mother in the family graveyard. After a few days Father went back to Norwich, and brother George and I stayed with Grandmother a few months.  When Father went back home he shut up the house and he and brother Jim boarded with Aunt Dinah.

Our little cousins attended school, so in a week or two we went with them, and if it had not been for the loss of our dear mother and Charlie we would have had nice times.  The house was quite large.  In front was an old oak tree whose branches spread a long way and formed such a nice shady place for us children, and just beyond the tree was a nice little pond with large slate stones all around the edge that made such good seats where we would fish, but I never caught only one. I never had good success.  We had a large boat that was fastened by a long rope to the shore.  The boat was in the water and shaded by the leafy boughs of the old tree.  Sometimes we would all get in and play we were out at sea and would make the boat move all we could without letting the boat loose - that we never did.

About half a mile from the house was the cranberry bog where we used to go every year and gather the bright red berries for winter use.  One day Uncle said he would take us all out there if we wanted to go.  We were all delighted.  (I have written about the sail we had there, as well as my visit to Newport in another place).

During this time Esther's father re-married to Ann E. Parker (1840).

After we came back from Newport, I went back to Norwichtown and spent the summer with my father. My step-mother was very good to me and I had nice times with the school girls.  We lived in a nice large house, the largest on the street.  We had plenty of room so I could have a place all to myself when the girls came to see me.  The people were nearly all wealthy and so they let their little girls have parties.  All the school girls were invited but one, she was a bad girl so no one would have her at the parties.  We would sometimes march on the sidewalk, when we went past her house she would come to the door and make faces at us.

I will always remember how frightened I was one night while we lived in this house.  Mother sent me upstairs for something. It was almost dark and I was afraid to go, but she said there was no sense in being such a coward and so I was obliged to go.  The large long hall was dark, and as I went up the broad stairway it seemed as if someone would catch me every step I took. As I reached the top I looked through a door that opened out of the hall into a large front chamber and I thought I saw a lady dressed in white sitting by one of the windows.  I did not wait to take a second look, but went down the stairs as fast as I could run and told Mother what I had seen.  She scolded me for being so foolish and said it was my imagination, but said if I was such a baby, sit down and she would do it herself.

One morning while we lived in this house I was told I had a little sister come in the night, I was wonderfully pleased.  We named her after our mothers; Abbie for mine and Ann was for her. (note: The new baby was named Abigail after Esther's mother who had died from Typhoid Fever, the middle name was Ann after Esther's step-mother, Ann Parker).  I was always willing to take care of her while she was little and thought there was no one like her.

     After a while we moved to Franklin, a nice little town 12 miles from Norwich.  Here we had a nice home.  Father, Mother, and brother George sang in the choir and the singers would oftimes meet at our house and have nice times singing beautiful songs.  I spent nearly half my time with Grandmother in Rhode Island and summers in Norwich City.

Following is a story Esther wrote for her daughter, Ella Clark Crockett, telling of the move from Connecticut to Illinois in 1849.

My little daughter, as you always like to have me tell you stories about myself I think I will tell you about our journey out west, it was in 1849.  My oldest brother, your Uncle George, had been out west nearly a year and he had repeatedly urged your grandfather to sell out where we were and move to the far West, as it was called by the people of the Eastern states.  So, after considering the subject and consulting all his friends, your grandfather finally concluded to leave his native place and go to a new country where all was strange and new and where there was not a single person he had ever seen or heard of in that far off land he had resolved to make his future home, except your Uncle George.

We were all very much pleased when Father told us he had resolved to sell of our property what we did not wish to take with and we would start as soon as we could get ready. The first thing your grandfather did was to insert an advertisement in the Willimantic paper notifying the people that he would sell at public auction on a certain day, all of his personal property. The day came and a great many people came to the sale and a good many things were sold, but when night began to warn the people that it was time to think of home, it was found there was many things to dispose of and no time to do it in. So it was resolved to have another auction on the next Saturday. So our furniture was scattered all around the neighborhood, one person having one thing and someone else another. We took our carpets and a set of cane seat chairs and one set of chairs that Father would not part with for any consideration. They were so easy and comfortable to sit in, and Mother thought she could not get along without her bureau, and so we kept things enough to keep house with quite comfortably when we should get to our western home.

After we had made all the arrangements to go to the place where brother George resided, we received a letter from him saying he had concluded to leave Illinois and go to California. So, after all he could not be there to receive us. This was a sad blow to us all, for I do not think your grandfather would have ever made up his mind to go so far away from all his friends if it had not been for his oldest son's being there. He had promised to have a house and everything ready to make us comfortable when we should get to our journey's end. But Father had no thought of giving up after he had made so many arrangements to go, so the first of April we all left Windham and went to Norwichtown to spend a few days before we should start, for Father had a great many things to see to before he should leave his native place, perhaps forever. We hired a large front room at Uncle Luther Case's in the town where all your grandfather's relatives resided, for we wished to visit all our friends before we should go, so we thought it would be best to live in Norwich a while before. It would then be convenient to visit them all and they could visit us.

It was a lovely April day that we left Windham. I remember how much I enjoyed the ride and how I admired the beautiful river that was to be seen for several miles.  It was late in the afternoon when we arrived in the old town we all loved so well. Aunt had long been looking for us and tea had been waiting so long a time they had just concluded to sit down without us. We had not seen each other in a good while, so we enjoyed ourselves very much over a good cup of tea. It took us two or three days to get things arranged so we could be comfortable while we should remain, and then we commenced visiting and receiving company and many a good visit did we have up to Uncle Russell's and with my cousins in the city and with all our friends in the town.  Uncle Luther's house was a three-story building and commanded a delightful view of the country for miles around. Norwich had always been my home. Tis true Father had lived away in other places for several years but we considered Norwich as our native place.

It was a bright morning when Father and brother James and myself started in a nice buggy to pay our last visit to our Rhode Island friends. We had a pleasant ride as we passed along the old familiar road and wondered if this would be our last visit to the dear old home. Grandmother was expecting us so she had a good warm supper for us which we enjoyed very much. The first thing that my grandmother said to Father was, "Now Roswell, you must not take these children away out west. If you do I shall never see them again". We both told her we were sorry to leave her and all the rest, but we were as anxious to go as Father was to have us. We stayed two days and took a last look at everything that time would allow us to. It was hard to leave all these dear old places, but the time had come and after a parting kiss from all our friends we left with many a hearty wish for a safe journey to our western home. My Grandmother had made me promise that I would come back in one year and had given me money to come with so she was more reconciled to my going, but many was the tears she shed at our parting and many was the years before we met again. All our visits being made and all things being ready, we bid our friends good-by and started for a distant country.

It was a pleasant afternoon when we all seated ourselves in a large carriage that was to convey us to the boat that was to start at 4 o'clock that afternoon. We took passage on the "Knickerbocker", a splendid boat. The ladies cabin was richly furnished. A beautiful carpet of brilliant rose buds covered the floor, sofas and chairs of the richest kind, while large mirrors were at either ends of the room. We stayed on deck and watched the city until it faded from our view and we began to feel that we had in earnest commenced our journey and had left home and friends behind. 

Swiftly the boat glided over the water, and it was not long before we were at Allen's Point. We stopped to wait for the passengers that were to come by the cars to this place. Here all that chose left the boat for a short time. This was a dirty little place. It was wild and lonesome and we did not care to stay long in so an uninviting spot. At 9 o'clock the cars came dashing along and the passengers were soon transferred from the cars to the old "Knickerbocker" and we were once more in motion.  Daylight found us all up and admiring the delightful sunrise. Golden clouds were floating through the air which were reflected on the water, which caused it to appear like the hues of the rainbow. I have never seen anything so beautiful and lovely as the view from this noble steamer.

As we were approaching New York beneath us was the sparkling water of the Long Island Sound, while directly in front of us was the great city of New York, which seemed entirely surrounded by shipping of all description, while beyond the tall masts of the ships it appeared to be one solid mass of houses as far as the eye could see. The tall spires of the churches were rising above the housetops and glittering in the sunlight as it came peeping out from the rosy clouds in the east. On the opposite side was Brooklyn and Williamsburg, both beautiful places. I thought it would be delightful to wander over Brooklyn Heights and look away down the bay and see the grand old ocean. As one neared the wharf the hackman crowded around the boat in such numbers that it was unsafe for the passengers to leave the boat unless they knew how to deal with them. There was an old lady with her son and daughter that was nearly frightened out of their wits by them. These hackman knew at a glance that these people were not accustomed to the ways of traveling, so as soon as their trunks and carpet bags were placed on shore, these fellows gathered around them and each one was determined that they should go with them. Two or three took the young man by the arms at the same time, declaring he should go with them, while the old lady and her daughter seated themselves on the trunks to prevent the drivers from taking them away from them by force. The policemen had to interfere, and by their aid they selected a hack and gladly left the boat until the crowd had dispersed. Then we quietly passed through the streets of this great and beautiful city.

We took passage on the "Alida", a splendid boat, and was soon on the clear waters of the proud old Hudson that I had so much longed to see. This boat was splendidly furnished and had large broad promenade decks, and here I passed the greater part of my time. We passed the ill-fated "Empire" that was sunk the night we left Norwich. Only the masts and the smokestack were to be seen. This was the boat that we had intended to have taken passage in, but something prevented us from starting at the appointed time, so by this means were saved from a watery grave. There was one family by the name of Ladd on the boat who had agreed to meet us in Albany. They thought as long as they were all ready they would not stay in Norwich while we finished our arrangements, but would stop in Albany until we arrived. We arrived in Albany all safe and spent. Three or four days there and well did I improve this opportunity of viewing and admiring this great and handsome place. Here Mr. Ladd overtook us again after seeing his friends safely on board a boat that was to convey them to their Connecticut home once more.

From Albany we were going to Buffalo on the Erie Canal, so after looking around among the boats, Father found one he had thought would suit us. After we had been on board a short time they began to tell us their rules and regulations and used language that did not please us at all, and after observing them a while Father became convinced that we could not go so long a journey with such characters. So he told the boatman if they had no objections they would engage another boat to take us to Buffalo, but they objected, and declared we should not leave. Father said no more but at once went and engaged the police and by their aid we found a good respectable boat, and while our things were being transferred from one boat to the other the police stood guard and no one dared molest or interfere with us. The boat that we now went on was a very good one and the men were all well behaved.

Soon after this we passed by the place where one of your grandfather's brothers used to live. He left home when he was first married and they had never seen him since, and this was years before but he was dead now and we had not time to hunt up his children whom we were told were living in the neighborhood. We all stayed on deck for a long time and viewed the country which we all admired and thought it would be a nice country to live in.

We arrived in Buffalo after a pleasant trip through a very pleasant country and went immediately on board a large boat. It was called the "A.D. Patchin". It was a splendid boat. The ladies cabin was richly furnished. The floor was covered with a bright carpet, sofa and chairs of crimson velvet and ottomans of the same material were placed around the sides of the room, while in one portion of the room was the large extension table, and in other parts were center tables, a piano, and melodeon. Large mirrors that reached from ceiling to floor were at either end of the apartment and in each door that opened into richly furnished staterooms was a small looking glass with gilt frames. At one end of the room was a broad staircase that led down to a large room that was called the nursery. Here the mother's went with their babies and little children when they began to be tired and wanted to go to sleep. In this room was a large showcase filled with all manner of pretty things for sale. 

As we were preparing to leave port the boiler burst.  The Captain said if we had been out of port and had on full power of steam we would have all been lost.  It was Sunday and everything was quiet and still and we had a good opportunity to see the citizens as they walked leisurely to their different places of worship.  In the afternoon a party of us went out to walk on the shore and see the different parts of the town.   The water of Erie and St. Clare are of a greenish cast, while those of the Huron and Michigan are almost black.  I never enjoyed myself better in my life than while going around the lakes.  The water was as smooth as glass.  All the time, except the Sabbath, we spent in Milwaukee and then the waves seemed dancing and chasing each other in great glee as they sparkled in the bright sunbeams. Sometimes we were entirely out of sight of land, and then again we would be passing beautiful cities or romantic little villages. We all enjoyed it very much and was sorry when the boat landed at Southport, the place we had concluded to stop at, for the Cholera was raging fearfully in Chicago, so we thought it best not to go there, but stop at the last port this side. 

After taking a last look at the old boat that had brought us safely round the beautiful lakes we all seated ourselves in a hack and was conveyed to the Mansion House where we remained two days. While we remained here we were out a great deal admiring the lake views and going all over the city. The next morning as I came up from breakfast into the sitting room I saw two young girls come out of my room, which opened into the parlor. I did not feel very well pleased with them for going in without permission but they apologized and were so sociable and agreeable that I thought it folly to be offended. They were nice pretty girls but I found by their conversations they had run away from their home because something had gone wrong. They had come on the boat from someplace, I forgot where, and they were going on still farther, I did not learn where, for as soon as I found out they were runaways I thought it best not to be too intimate with them, for your grandfather did not like them at all after he found they had left their homes in this way.

From Southport we went 30 miles into the country to a small town called Richmond. It was situated in a beautiful grove with a noisy little river just at the edge and within sight of the Richmond House where we spent three days. I never saw such pretty wild flowers in my life as I saw as we were going from Southport to Richmond. It was one perfect flower garden for miles. A good part of the way was through a forest of tall and stately trees where hundreds of birds made the woods ring with their sweet melody and the beautiful vines and flowers filled the air with their fragrance. It was a lovely ride and we all enjoyed it very much. 

Your grandfather thought it would be best for us to board in a private family so after looking around a little he found a place we could be accommodated. Here we had a parlor and a bedroom so we were quite comfortable for the short time we remained. We all did very well in the daytime but at night it was not so pleasant, for it fell to my lot to go to one of the neighbor's to sleep. It was but a few steps but I did not like it much, for I did not lilke the lady of the house. She seemed so cross, but she had two pretty daughters and one son I liked them very much.While we were here I went to a camp meeting with a party of young people. It was at Woodstock, a small town about 15 miles from Richmond. We had a grand time. This was in the neighborhood of the place where your Uncle George resided while he was in Illinois, but he was gone now and we had not time to go to the place. I was disappointed, for I was in hopes to go there and see the place where he had lived. After we had been here a while Father and Mr. Bibbon's started Monday morning to hunt up a place to buy. They were gone until Saturday night. Father was wonderfully pleased with the country he had seen in his travels. He bought 160 acres of the handsomest land he had ever seen and the next Monday morning we would start for our new home.

That night little brother Amos was taken sick. We thought it nothing but a cold, but in a day or so it proved to be the measles. We thought he was getting along well, for the doctor had been to see him and left him some medicine and said he thought there was no danger. He was so he could sit with his father and look around and see the other children play, when all at once he was taken worse and he died in an hour after the doctor left. We all mourned sadly for him, for he was the baby and we all made a pet of him and he would repay us by throwing his little arms around our necks and kissing us so lovingly that we could not help but love him dearly. We buried him in Richmond in a beautiful grave. It was a lovely place with tall stately trees where the little birds loved to congregate and sing o'er the graves of the sleeping dead. Here the wild flowers grew in the greatest profusion and filled the air with its sweet scented breath. It was delightful spot to leave the dear one as long as he had to be left, but oh, how hard it seemed to continue our journey and to think one of our little flock had been left behind.

The next morning after the funeral we started for Rockford. About 10 o'clock I was taken sick and could hardly hold my head up. At noon we came to a nice little town where we all stopped to take dinner, but I was so sick I could not go to the table with the rest, but had to lay down on the lounge in the sitting room where I could look through a door into the dining room and see the long table loaded down with good things and seven or eight vases of gay bright flowers which made the table look very attractive. Before Father set down to the table he went to get a physician who gave him some medicine for me and in an hour or two I was better so I could sit up and continue our journey. I do not remember much about the country that we passed through that day.  At night we came to a little town and stopped at a large house, I forget the name, but it was a pretty town. This was a stage house where a good many stages stopped daily. The landlady, after finding out who we were, claimed some relationship with us. She seemed wonderfully pleased with me and said if I would come and spend a few weeks with her after we got settled she would pay my expenses if I would come on the stage, but I never went and I have never heard from her since.

The next night we reached Belvidere. The first thing that attracted our attention was an Indian before a large house for a sign. Here we stayed overnight and in the morning proceeded on our journey. We began to be tired so we were anxious to reach Rockford where we thought we would spend the summer. We were all perfectly charmed with the country and your grandfather said he would not go back to Connecticut for the best farm they could give him. It was about 3 o'clock in the afternoon when we came in sight of the city. We went directly to the Rockford House and here we stayed one week. While we were here two of the children had the measles but they were not very sick. We had a large front chamber comfortably furnished where we had a good view of the east side of the town. The house was crowded all the time we were there and with so much company we had no time to be homesick. Your Uncle James and myself oftimes had pleasant walks up and down the beautiful river that runs through the center of town, but I do not need tell you anything about this pretty town, for you have been there a great many times yourself and know all about it. 

Your grandfather looked all over the town to find a house for us to live in but there was so many strangers coming into the place they were all occupied, so then Father thought he would go back in the country a little way and see if he could not get a place to live. While he was getting ready to go someone told him Deacon Weld from the Twelve Mile Grove was there and perhaps he knew of a place, so someone gave your grandfather an introduction to him and after conversing a short time Father invited him into our room and asked him if he knew of any place where he could hire a house. He said "No", unless he took us home with him. He said he had a large new house and he would let us have part of it as he and an only daughter lived there alone, and if we wanted to come he would hurry home and make preparations. The next day Father engaged teams and sent our goods and one or two of the children and myself. I did not want to go alone among strangers but Father said it was best to have someone to see to our things. I was sorry to leave Rockford, for it was the prettiest western town we had seen and we had hoped to make it our home, but it was not to be, so I started once more and this time for a home in the Twelve Mile Grove. It was night when we arrived at my new home. I felt sad and lonely to be away from Father and Mother but they could not be with me, for one of the children was sick and they had to stay in Rockford until they were able to ride. After supper I went into the front rooms and looked out into a large front yard and in viewing this moonlight scene I became reconciled to my new home. I liked Deacon Weld and his daughter very well and many pleasant hours did we spend together. Father and the rest of the family came in a few days and it was not long before we had everything arranged so we could set at our table once more. And here I will end my story, for we always made the Grove our home and when we reached this place that was the end of our journey.