Frederick Darlington Bowditch to his brother Charles Bowditch, 22 November 1884

[From Frederick Darlington Bowditch in Urbana, Illinois, to his brother Charles Bowditch. He describes his trip to Urbana, and his housing situation; mentions a Methodist revival meeting going on; talks about the election of Grover Cleveland; and asks about "sitting up affairs," says someday they'll "be well repaid for all our trouble," and that their parents are doing what they think is right, probably all in reference to an agreement made in 1885 for the distribution of their parents' land.]

Urbana, Champaign Co., Ill.
November 22/84.

My dear brother Charles,

It being my "birthday," I thought I would celebrate it by writing you a few lines, and letting you know something about how I found everything when I reached Urbana &c.

Well, to begin with, I wrote you three Postals on my way out here; one at Mica, one at Marion, and one at Louisville, Ken. I made connection all right until I reached Louisville, where I missed the morning train and had to wait until evening. Missing the train in Louisville caused me to miss it in Indianapolis and accordingly did not reach here until Friday, about two or three o'clock in the morning. I entered College the same day, and recited my first lesson on the following Monday. I am, as I believe I told Ma1 in the letter I wrote her last Sunday, boarding with Mr. Shawhan,2 the "County Suprintendent." I room with Geo. Myers,3 whom you know, and taking every thing together, I am very pleasantly situated. I have not as yet seen Loyd, Will, or any of the boys with whom you are acquainted. Everything seems quite natural here, there being but few changes since I left in the Spring.

The Methodists here are carrying on quite and extensive revival. I think they have had some fifty converts or more. I have been three nights. The man carrying it on is a Mr. Potter from Chicago, who is quite a fine preacher and almost takes the house by storm.

I suppose by this time you have heard all about the way the election has gone; that Grover Cleveland4 is our next president, which, in my estimation, is a great calamity to the country, though I may be mistaken, and I sincerely hope that I am. I expect the Democrats are almost unbearable down there; for they were pretty saucy when they found out they had elected the County Representative and Governor;5 therefore what will they be now, when they find out hey have the president also. It is to be hopped that Cleveland is the man he professes to be, and that he will not be a mere tool of the Democratic party. We have one consolation anyway, that is, the Republicans have a majority in the Senate, and consequently the Democrats can not do much harm if they wish. But enough about politics.

I suppose, Charles, you are still at home seeing to our place. I have not as yet found a chance to have the minerals looked into that I brought with me, but hope I soon will.

Has anything been done about sitting up affairs yet, or is John6 waiting for some Stroke of Providence to square up everything to his notion.

Keep in good heart, Charles, I think that some day we will be well repaid for all our trouble. Treat Ma1 and Pa7 kindly. They are getting old and feeble and are easily worried by any one who wishes to trouble them. There is no doubt atal, Charles, but what they are doing and acting as they think is just and right, and if there is any injustice it is on account of undue influence on the part of some one.

Give my love to Pa and Ma and all the family, and my best respects to all the boy and girls we knew.

Have you had the paper I left with you registered and sent it to Uncle John;8 if not, please have it done as soon as convenient.

Excuse this hastily written letter, and write soon to your loving

Brother

Fred D. Bowditch

  1. Elizabeth Blanchard Abbot (1821-1902)
  2. George Robert Shawhan (1844-1925), School Superintendent in Champaign Co., Illinois, from 1881-1902. See Biography of George Robert Shawhan.
  3. George William Myers (1864-1931), George Robert Shawhan's nephew. He was valedictorian at Urbana High School in 1884, the same year as Frederick Darlington Bowditch graduated. He went on to earn Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. at Ludwig Maximilians Universitat in Munich, Germany, in 1896. He was Professor of Math and Astronomy at the University of Illinois from 1888-1900, and later at the University of Chicago.
  4. Stephen Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), 22nd and 24th President of the United States, 1885-1889, 1893-1897. See Grover Cleveland.
  5. Alfred Moore Scales (1827-1892), Governor of North Carolina, 1885-1889. See Alfred Moore Scales.
  6. John Abbot Bowditch (1856-1933), Frederick and Charles's brother
  7. Joseph Henry Bowditch (1818-1900)
  8. John Edwin Abbot (1831-1911), brother of Frederick and Charles's mother Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch