William Gay Butler letter to Jonathan Butler 2nd, 1833 May 25 and June 28

Letter addressed from Placentia, and sent from the Saranac post office with no postmark, for 25 cents postage. The paper is torn and stained with red wax residue where it was sealed. William Gay Butler writes to his father Jonathan Butler in West Hartford on receiving a letter from him. William writes that he and his wife Mary lost an infant daughter November 21, aged 18 days and named Mary Maria. Although they are still alone in the area, a white man lived with them most of the winter. William writes at length about his feelings in response to Jonathan's letter and his refusal to send money. He is frustrated that Jonathan did not urge William's brother Epaphras Butler to remove to Michigan, and insists he recommended it for the benefit of Epaphras' family and not his own. He criticizes Jonathan for not freely advising his children, writing that he offers his own opinion when asked, by friend or foe. William writes, "I have had my own feelings hurt, and known yours to be five and twenty years ago, and I then and ever since have pitied your situation." He writes that when he asked his sister Maria what she thought about getting married and leaving West Hartford, she replied, "I would marry any one, to git out of this hell uppon Earth. I feel proud of such a Sister." William says that Jonathan refused to give his opinion on the matter, saying it was not a fair question, but "if ever I am called on under such circumstances, I should think it fair solicitation. I should not wish my child to give up her wishes to mine. I should say, I think him honest, a good man, husband, and Neighbour and rispect him, now, but will be plain thare is others I should pick for my Daughter a Husban, but if it is her choice, I donot wish to alter it, and will doubly rispect him on her account." He asks Jonathan to correct him on this matter, if he is wrong. William writes that the land in the area where he settled will be offered at public sale the next September. Having purchased St. Piers'? preemption, William now holds four fractions, plus a forty acre lot nearby, amounting to 153 acres. He writes about the rapidly proceeding settlement of the country and complains about Jonathan's reluctance to invest. He has met settlers in the next prairie down including a John Barns who learned his trade from Deacon Mills in West Hartford, and writes that "no man in Hartford has a farm of 200 Acres of eaqual quality and beauty." He has found people from Danbury, Sherman, Washington, etc, "but not one that wish to return. in a Word I will say I am confident thare is not a happier nor more contended People in the US, that in this Country, it is enough for us to know, and injoy our benefits by removing, and if others donot wish to, we are not sorry, thare will be the greater chances for us." William writes that he would not solicit Jonathan for any money, not wanting to take any of his mother or sister Eliza's earnings, "and do not think you have of your own to spare, as I know you are indebted to them for the most of your fortune." He asks Jonathan to have Mrs Jackson send a letter to Mary with some turnip and beet seeds. He writes that though his brother George told him Jonathan would assist him with money if asked, William has made do just fine with money given him by his nearest white neighbor, 30 miles away. He grows potatoes, corn, peas, beans, etc, and makes shingles to sell, and a little sugar. He produced 220 lbs and purchased 2500 lbs from his Aborigine neighbors, including furs, skins, wax, mats, etc. If Jonathan were there, he would give him some of the excellent fish, venison, and duck they enjoy, a pair of mats, ladles, etc. William heard from a man from Washington, CT, that Samuel Steele died two or more years ago, and notes that he wrote to Mrs. Griswold but never received an answer, and would like to hear from Aunt Steele. William directs Jonathan to send mail to the Bronson post office, Kalamazoo County, as the stage runs daily now between Bronson and Detroit. A steam mill was built at the mouth of the St. Joseph river and a furnace at South Bend. A steamboat is being built to ply between there and Chicago, and the Lake Michigan Steam Boat Company of Detroit has a large boat built already, expected to arrive in June. He notes that Jonathan's sealing wax wafers must be very poor, as his letter was open when it came to hand. Resuming the letter June 28 at the mouth of the St. Joseph river, William writes in the scant remaining space about the increased traffic of steamboats. In a phrenological allusion to some statement of Jonathan's, William writes of his brother George Butler, "I am much pleased to know that George has not such a wandering bump in his forehead as I have. It mus be verry plesant and agreeable to you."