The following letter was written by 28 year-old Enoch Piper Sherman (1810-1843), the husband of Julia-Maria Hoit (1807-1884). The couple were married in 1832 and were the parents of three girls—Eliza (b. 1834), Sarah (b. 1837) and Susan (b. 1838) when this letter was written in October 1838. Enoch was the son of Anthony Sherman (1782-1813) and Sally Piper (1788-1820) of Gilmanton, New Hampshire. Julia-Maria was the daughter of New Hampshire State Legislator Daniel Holt (1778-1859) and Sarah Flanders (1785-1837). She was described as an independent and highly opinionated woman and was particularly critical of the fashion and diet of women in Boston about 1830. [Source: Hoit family papers, 1803-1918, University of Michigan, William L. Clements Library]

Enoch composed this letter in Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, during his visit with his wife’s elder sister, Eliza Flanders (Hoit) Bean (1806-1893), who was married to Ira A. Bean (1797-1869). Eliza inscribes a note at the conclusion of Enoch’s correspondence. The letter offers a significant insight into the nature of early travel in Ohio, where the reliability of reaching one’s destination on time, or at all, was anything but certain.

See also—1834: Daniel Holt to Mrs. Sarah F. Hoit on Spared & Shared 11.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Urbana [Ohio]
Sabbath, October 21st 1838

Dear Wife,

Your papers of the 7th & 9th come to hand yesterday for which am much obliged. I left here for Cincinnati a week yesterday. The weather was cold with a raw wind. Stopped at Springfield till Monday morning and then took a private coach for Dayton rather than ride in the night stage as there is no day time. Reached there at 3 p.m. The day was rather cold.

Dayton is a smart place as you will see by referring to the Ohio Gazette. The next day at 8 a.m. left for Cincinnati [on the Miami & Erie Canal] in Packet Boat Ohio which was crowded with passengers among which were several ministers going to Cincinnati as the [Presbyterian] Synod met there. As much as I respect the clergy, I must say that I was quite vexed with some of them. They seemed to know nothing of the rules of traveling or if they did, they did not regard them at all or they might think they were a privileged class. What I most complained of that they were so confounded noisy during the night as some of them had to sit up they were continually talking which prevented many of the passengers from sleeping at all. I did not sleep half an hour all night—just into a nap while they were off the boat. As soon as they returned, they roused me up. I told them if they were as successful in keeping congregations awake when they were preaching to them as they had been that night in keeping many of the passengers from sleep, they would never be troubled with nappers.

We reached Cincinnati in the a.m. at 4 o’clock. I was somewhat fatigued. As I had no rest that day, I see but little of the city. Walked to the town of Brighton out one and a half or two miles from the city to see the stock that was there at the Miami Stock Society Show. ¹ This society embraces the states of Ohio, Indiana & Kentucky. Their stock—all kinds—were the best I ever see & perhaps as good as in the world, so that day was spent without much knowledge of the city. The next day commenced raining in the morning & rained like a shower all day & I was cooped up in the house all day & that even at 7 o’clock I left for Urbana in the packet. I had taken some cold & the prospect was of continuation of rainy days & I could not flatter myself with the satisfaction of seeing the country about for several days & as far as I am somewhat anxious to get home, I had rather forego that pleasure.

I did not go into Kentucky. It was all out of the question to think of going to Louisville. The river is so low, there is but two boats that run from Cincinnati to Louisville, one of which goes every other day or at least there is only one boat in two days, and then one only very small one to carry passengers such at other seasons would not run at all & they now have their own prices. There is not boats go above Cincinnati. The city is said to be like a Eew England Sunday when compared with former times.

We reached Dayton on Friday at 3 p.m. & left at 4 for Springfield in the stage. The road was wet, bad and muddy. Reached Fairfield ² & took supper & started again at 7 o’clock. It was a very dark, cloudy night. We had gone one mile when the coach & its contents was wrong side up in a ditch of two feet of water & mud without a bottom. There were 11 passengers & the driver, nine inside—I among the rest—but very fortunately none was much hurt but some were severely frightened. Their cries were bitter and [ ] to me. All hands counted & found none missing.

The driver went to the first house & got a light. Some of the passengers went into the house & the rest stopped on the ground and with assistance of rails, we put the coach right side up. The lanterns [on the coach] were both destroyed & the driver went to town for more & returned with one so he borrowed one off the Dutchman when we stopped another & we all mounted our coach and started for Springfield at 10 where we arrived in safety at about 2.30 or 3 in the morning. I never rode in such fear before. The passengers would all get out at the bad places & walk. I walked several miles in the mud and water which is not a strange [thing] in Ohio. We were 10 and a half hours going 24 miles.

The staging of Ohio I cannot stand. I have made up my mind to ride no more in stages till I get into New England. I shall go home or a part of the way or horseback if it does take longer. My best way would be to go to Sandusky & take the Lake for Buffalo nut is now rather late & the weather is rough. I think I shall go to Pittsburgh & then take the canal & railroad for Philadelphia. I shall start for home in a few days, I trust. I have now been in the state 46 days which has been almost large enough to become acclimated.

I reached here [Urbana] yesterday, found brother & sister B[ean] & Miss W. in good health. I took a summer cold coming from Dayton & am somewhat ill today but my lungs are not affected in the least but my flesh is some in consequence of my exertions of Friday night. I wish you would send a paper to Philadelphia & at New York that I may have when I reach there. Father can write me at Boston if he should want any business done there. I will write again and let you know when I shall be there. Mr. Prescott started for home as week ago Friday by the way of the Lake. He sent a paper as soon as he arrived there [at the Lake] & another on Monday. So he had to wait there 48 hours for a boat. He will be at home this week, I suppose. I now wish I had gone with him but I acted as I thought best at the time. When he was here the first week I was constantly or nearly all the week in attendance of him as he was confined and after that I was contually with him & was prevented from traveling more than 10 or 12 miles. But as his object was to see [ ] farm & learn all its [ ] & was not disposed to take a house & [ ] to see the country.

22nd afternoon. I send a paper to Father & one to Mr. Henry today. There is now a prospect of an Indian Summer commenced & I anticipate good weather to go home. Say to Fsather the Whigs have given up this tate to the Loco’s [Democrats]. I stop & wait to finish the rest. Love to all. Kiss the little ones for me. Goodbye. — E. P. Sherman

[in another hand]

Dear Julia,

Your husband has politely offered me a corner of this sheet & I will try and fill it though I am over head and ears in business, having three weeks washing done today. I was very much gratified with your account of Wm. Henry’s friends & your trip to Conway. Should have liked vastly to have been one of the number. Am glad you like Anne. I love her already. Think I should lover her still more if I were acquainted with her. Hope someday to enjoy that pleasure. The presents to the children were splendid. I presume that A. & S. are married ere this. Regret that I cannot be a guest. My love to both with many prayers for their happiness & prosperity. Thank you for writing so particularly about [ ] friends & I hope this cake will keep good till I get a taste of it. They might jave sent me a bit by Mr. Sherman if they have been so disposed. I fear the dresses I have made will not fit as well as you would have made them. Your dress in particular I fear you will not like. I got Mrs. Roof, our best dress maker, to fit it to me but I am not pleased with it. Hope you will be able to wear it without the trouble of altering. I made it in haste or it would have been done better. Love to dear Father. Tell him I expect that visit he promised last year. Love to all friends. In haste. From your affectionate sister, — Eliza Kiss the children

I can hardly let Mr. Sherman go. We shall feel his loss so much. Hope soon to see him back again with you and the children.

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¹ The Miami County Agricultural Society Fair was held in Miami county, Ohio in October 1838.

² Fairfield, Ohio, is now called Fairborn. It was formed by merging the towns of Fairfield and Osborn.