|
- In the morning of our departure from
Madison, we made the acquaintance of two
- young gentlemen who were on their way
to Janesville. They were journeying in a cutter. We joined forces,
traveling together. The gentlemen both bore the name of WRIGHT,
though not bound by any tie but that of friendship. One, as we
later learned, was on a journey of love; the other was only a
looker-on. The sleighing was fine, and with these young spirits
our ride was one of pleasure. We reached Janesville in due time,
and there we found a friend of Mr. Baird's awaiting us. Gen.
William B. SHELDON seemed at that time to be almost the
sole occupant of the town of Janesville, as there were not a
half-dozen houses there besides his. There was no hotel of any
kind: but that made no difference to us, as the General had kindly
invited us to be his guests. The house, I think, was of one story.
It was large on the ground, with a wide porch in front, and was
painted white, with green blinds. We were taken to this delightful
home by its genial host, who acted as usher upon our arrival
there, conducting us to our different rooms, and informing us
that supper would be ready as soon as we wished it. As we were
very hungry, our toilets took but little time. We found our rooms
delightful, large, and warm; I believe they were heated by fire-places.
Certainly they formed a striking contrast to our room of the
night before, at the American House at Madison. The gentlemen,
after a few touches, were ready for supper. As we came out of
our rooms, properly paired, we met the General, who led us to
the parlor. And here, to our great surprise, we met our compagnons
du voyage. They were seated with the two beautiful young
daughters of the host. One was the fiancée of George
WRIGHT. I assure you that the surprise was not received
in silence. It afforded much sport throughout the remainder of
our visit. I believe these lovely girls had no mother, nor can
I remember any brother.
- Miss SHELDON and Mr. WRIGHT
were married the next spring or summer.
- They lived in Racine, where, in a few
years after, Mr. WRIGHT died of softening of the brain.
I have been told that Mrs. WRIGHT, after some years, married
again and lived in Chicago. General SHELDON I never saw
again after this visit, though Mr. Baird met him often at Madison,
where every gentleman went for his country's good.1 During our
stay the General took us through the country round about. I was
going to say the town, but there was no town there, as yet.
- [Note 1: 1 Henry S. BAIRD was
president of the territorial council, in 1836, and
- member of the first constitutional
convention, 1846. William B. SHELDON was a member of the
lower house, in the territorial legislatures of 1836 and 1837-38.
- Ed.]
- We were taken to Beloit, which then
was a very small place. Had we gone in the
- proper season, there was a chance in
the city limits to find the berries for which the city of Beloit
is named - the huckleberry. The French called it au beloit
[See History of Rock County (Chicago: Western Historical
Company, 1879), pp. 614, 615, for another version of the origin
of the term. - Ed.]. On the following day we bade our new but
kind friends good-by, little dreaming it was a final one.
- We drove from Janesville to Elkhorn,
in Walworth County, to visit a brother of Mrs.
- BRUCE,
who was living on a farm...
-
- [The complete transcription (and
digital images) of this piece as well as Vol. 15 in its entirety
can be found at the Library
of Congress* website.]
|
