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The Philander Chase letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.
Description
Philander philosophizes about death after being informed of Mrs. Carpenter's death by Laura. He summarizes his recent travels through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Henry Chase has married and moved into Robin's Nest, while Dudley has moved out. Philander includes a drawing and detailed description of a newly constructed building on the Jubilee campus called the Farm House.
Date
1-18-1841
Keywords
Dudley Chase, Mrs. Carpenter, Randolph, death, religion, Evansville, Edwardsville, Jacksonville, Springfield, Peoria, Cincinnati, Salmon Chase, Philander Chase Jr., Mary Chase, Henry Chase, Susan Ingraham, Susan Chase, Alexander Chase, Farmington, Samuel Chase, Robins Nest, Farm House, Radley family, sheep
Recommended Citation
Chase, Philander, "Letter to Laura Chase" (1841). Philander Chase Letters. 1134.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/1134
Rights Statement
Transcript
My dear Grand Daughter Laura
I am rejoiced to learn from your good letter of the 24 Oct that my dear Brother Dudley your excellent great uncle has recovered his health. Let us give God the praise which is his due for so great a blessing.
Of the death of Mrs Carpenter I had no intelligence till you gave it me: I remember her well as I saw her most interesting countenace [sic] when last in Randolph. Sweet flower of the verdent [sic] hills! Thou didst bloom and shed the fragrance round a few days: and now, thou art cut down and withered in the silent earth. But thou shalt come again: the Sun of Righteousness shall shine upon thee & thou shalt live again; and the freshness of thy bloom and the sweetness of thy fragrance shall no more be taken from thee.
All this and much more may be said of such as live and die in the Lord Jesus Christ. Be of good courage, then, & pray without ceasing that God may prepare thee for a blessed death. The more you think of him the less awful to you will be the King of [Terrors] who sooner or later will triumph over your mental frame. May his Triumph be short, & yours over him be certain & eternal in Jesus Christ.
My journey across the mountains and in descending the rivers and traversing the land road from the town of Evan’sville [sic] to Edwardsville in Madison Co. and thence thro’ Jacksonville and Springfield to Peoria Co. was exceeding long, & tedious. I stopped at Cincinnati and had great pleasure in conversing with my Nephew Salmon P. Chase now the most eminent lawyer in the state of Ohio. His brother Alex’r is with him and doing pretty well.
I found our family all quite well, and they have continued so except Phil’r who at [present] has come from the Hill & is down sick with a very heavy cold. He often mentions you & with much affection. Mary has quite recovered her health & is now both teaching and being taught. For want of room to board the girls but a few at [Freeport] can be put under her charge. The West Wing [haven] will go up in the spring and this will obviate all difficulties. It will cost us about 3,000$.
You have heard of Henry’s marriage with Miss Susan Ingraham. They both are living with us here in the Robin’s Nest, Dudley & his wife having moved to their sweet little dwelling built of brick 20 feet square on the College Hill you know where. They all seem as happy as we could wish. I went on Saturday & preached 3 times yesterday at Farmington 30 miles. The [?] are well and quite rejoiced to know that they are about to enjoy the stated ordinances of our [primitive] Church in Farmington. Dudley and the Rev Mr [?] will go thither next Sunday. The Rev. Mr. S. Chase still continues to preach in Peoria.
There is one object which has quite improved the prospect from the Robins Nest when looking across the meadows on the College Hill. It is what is called the Farm House: but it far exceeds the idea what you would form of such a building. It is as you see three stories high and contains more room than the College Hall. It will be used for boarding [home] both for the scholars and the work hands. The left hand wing is the dining room 30 feet long and the right hand wing is designed for a workshop for the carpenters and for the Stairway to the upper rooms in the middle building. There are nine rooms besides the sleeping apartments & [Storage] rooms under the roof. The site of the very spacious & convenient edifice is most commanding. It overlooks the meadows & pasture lands for a mile each way all belonging to the college.
By the bye; did I tell you of our sheep? About 400 were brought onto the premises last fall and are now doing very well. The Radleys take a great interest in the rearing of the lambs which are now making their appearance. But I am tired & so, no doubt, are you. So goodnight my dear Grand Daughter.
P. Chase