Letter from Ambrose Lyon, 1825

Letter Written by Ambrose Lyon in 1825

 

A letter has recently come to light that proves to be of considerable interest to Mrs. H.H. Bluler, of this place [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], and is of interest to Mrs. C.D. Thornton.  It was written by Mrs. Bluler's great grandfather in 1825 and Charles was Mrs. Thornton's grandfather.  As some of the items contained in it have reference to events in this town [Bainbridge], it is herewith reproduced.  It reads as follows:

 

"Bainbridge, Feb. the 23, 1825

"Inasmuch as I promised to write to you, I now take the opportunity to write.  I received your letter with much delight.  I returned safe home and found my friends all well, and health yet prevails in this place.  Snowball performed the journey very well and has done considerable work this winter.  I sold him last week for twenty dollars.  As for Charles and myself, we have been chopping and clearing this winter, as we have had but very little snow and we have had a fine chance for clearing.  We have both worked like slaves.

 

"We expect to have a canal from Utica from the other canal to come through this town.  The ground has been looked out.  They have now petitioned the Assembly for a grant.

 

"We are getting out timber for a barn.  My business will be such I don't calculate to come down there next spring, but Samuel thinks he shall try old Dutchess once more.  The young people in this place are wide awake and full of fluke.  They have weddings once a fortnight.  Cousin Eli Seeley was married last Thursday and we had a fine time, and Charles was waiter, which perhaps will make you think of old times.  Charles has been roving about this part of the vineyard and does not find a girl to suit him yet, and he wishes to know how Miss Ellen stands, and if the black jacket girl is yet ready.  And if Deborah is not tired of waiting and Catharine has forgotten the mistake, he thinks he shall come and take a second look.

 

"I shall ever remember the happy seasons we have taken together while about our daily business, and the kindness you and your parents have been to me whilst I was there.  May we so live in this life that in the world to come we may have life everlasting.  As we have no lease of our lives, it stands us in hand to be prepared to meet the Lord when He shall see fit to call us from time to a vast eternity that we may hear the well done welcome approbation, Come ye blest of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

 

"As time will not permit, I must close my letter and endeavor to write more next time.  I should be pleased to hear from you as often as once a month.  I will engage to write to you as often as you will to me.  Please to write to me as soon as you can.  Give my respects to all enquiring friends.  I still remain your sincere friend and well wisher.

 

Ambrose Lyon"                   

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This letter is written on paper that after being folded once is about eight by fifteen inches, and the paper is now of good quality.  There are then three folds made from the top and one from the bottom.  After that both ends are folded in so that one is thrust within the other and then a red seal is affixed.  The address is now written, "Mr. Amos Lyon, Clinton town, Dutchess county,"  At the lower left end corner in an other handwriting is Bainbridge, N.Y., and in the lower right hand corner is 12-1/2.  That was undoubtedly the work of the post master and the amount of postage paid.

 

There is no way of telling how good a horse Snowball was, but he seems to have done a bit of work for a twenty-dollar horse.  Horses had some value then, for there is record of colts bringing a hundred dollars.  About that canal, it may be news to many that a canal was proposed for Bainbridge.  One was surveyed from Utica, down the Unadilla to the Susquehanna, but there it halted, for some wanted it to go on to the Delaware River, probably by way of Bettsburg, not a bad route, while others had different views.  While they were quarreling, Chenango valley folks got busy and secured a charter for the canal from Utica, up the Oriskany and over the divide, then down the Chenango to Chenango Point (Binghamton).  Thus Bainbridge folks lost their canal, never to be regained, and it was more than forty years before they had a railroad.  No wonder that in their desperation they undertook the building of a steamboat.  They built it, but found that certain work must be done in the river before good results could be expected.  When a representative went to Albany for necessary legislation, he found railroad men there to get legislation for the road, and he gave up his plan for a steamboat line.

 

That chopping and clearing and getting timber for a barn was probably on the farm now owned by J.R. Doolittle, for that was the home farm where Ambrose and Charles were brought up.  Ambrose's allusions to Charles and the Dutchess county girls may not include all there was.  You  note the awkward last sentence in the paragraph.  Possibly Ambrose himself may not have been totally oblivious to the charms of Dutchess county maidens.  Ambrose was religious and was one of the founders of the Methodist Church in Bainbridge.