SOME EARLY SPRINGFIELD LETTERS

Perry Slater Letter to Doct. Frank Milles, Dated March 2, 1847

C. Perry Slater was one of seventeen children of Elijah and Olive French Slater. The Slaters settled first on Sugar Creek in 1818 where they lived until 1821 when Springfield was laid out.

C. Perry (Slater), born September, 1823, in Springfield, Illinois, studied medicine with Dr. Jayne, spent three years in California, returned and was married in 1854 to Susan Mather Lamb. He was a practicing physician, and died in 1858 in Springfield, Illinois, leaving a widow and one child, Hannah M., who was married in Chicago, Sept. 27, 1876, to Walter Trumbull, eldest son of Hon. Lyman Trumbull. They reside in Chicago. C. P. Slater’s widow married James H. Roberts, a lawyer, and resides in Chicago, Illinois.[1]

Perry was 23 years-old when he wrote this letter.

Doct. Frank Mills
Jacksonville
Ills.

P.S. Wednesday Morning

Penn got home last night & is very well.

Tuesday evening March 2nd/47

Dear Frank

“Romeo is himself again.” The illustrious Legislature has ajourned and Springfield sleeps in the quiet moonlight as quietly as though its Legislative halls had not so recently been filled with vice and corruption Night is not now made hideous by the infurnal yells of a free peoples representatives and their midnight caucuses. All is still and quiet and our good city seems itself again. Tis a lovely night and I have just enjoyed a stroll alone thinking of “her” of th__ and building any castles of my future fate. How sweet it is thus to such solitude and think of those you love. I received your letter and can assure you it was doubly welcome and that I have patience sufficient to wade through ______ of such. I regret to hear of Doctor Millers unpopularity and hope never to hear “Yells infernal and haried” eminating from the mouths of students to insult a man so worthy as is the Doctor. I can only think of their conduct with contempt. Frank I have ever thought you a man of great sense and decided good taste. A man quick to discriminate a---- and appreciate too goodness beauty and perfection. The high estimate you have formed of Miss C----- character has stamped upon my opinion truth as eternal as truth itself. And Miss Ranick has taken a dislike to you and instigated her Brother to do you harm. Strange Strange She must be a poor judge of the nobleness of heart the magnaminity of such that makes the true man the sincere friend and the pleasant companion. How prospers Kate Abrams? Has she many admirers? I hope she is kindly treated as I admire her much. Did the___ come off on commencement nights. If so who conquered? I am glad to hear that Miss Conn is well enough to go into company again. I was sadly disappointed to find her so unwell when I was last down. I had hoped to have had the pleasure of bringing her up with me. Mr & Mrs Lamb start east via Beardstown on Wednesday. Your mother goes with them. Col. Prickett died yesterday with Plurisey.[2] Last Thursday he was in the house of Representatives acting as clerk. Old Lady Lamb is yet very ill.[3] “Pestitene” and his beautiful daughter Mary have returned. Doctor Turner has been here for two or three weeks. We had a splendid strangers Ball given by the citizens on the 22nd in the State house. I presume your Jacksonville Ball was but a minature in comparison. There was only between three and five hundred persons present and it only cost between three and five hundred dollars. Doctor Turner I was told had some difficulty in getting an invitation. One of the managers remarking that his room would be a d___d sight more pleasant than his company. He is thought here to be a soft one. A very particular friend of yours remarked to me just after dancing with the Dr. “that she did not think that a man who had the faculty for making himself disagreeable that the Doct has should be countenanced in society. Miss Sophy and Miss Torrey are flourishing. I had the exquisite felicity of spending last evening with them at Mr Stickneys room (the member from Gallatin) Miss Pope & Morrison are yet here. Lt Gov Welles as --nd stuck as _____and “____” _____________ after Miss Pope. It is believed that he will not succeed. P—a has not yet returned. He has been expected every day for the last week. Doctor Sister and Miss Trumball wish a place in your memory. Mr. Trumbull started for Bellville today. Remember me to Miss Eunice (?) & Miss Dunlap. Tell Bill I pay no attention to such contemptible notes as his last. Write soon long and often

Your sincere friend Perry

[1] Power, pp. 663-664.
[2] 1881 History, p. 91 and 125. Power, p. 581.
David Prickett, born on September 21, 1800, in Franklin County, Georgia, came to Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, in 18__. He graduated in the law department of Transylvania University, at Lexington, Kentucky, in his twenty-first year, and was admitted to practice at Edwardsville, November 15, 1821. He was Judge of the probate court of Madison County, and in 1826 was elected to the General Assembly of Illinois, at Vandalia. In 1831, he was aid-de-camp to Gen. John D. Whitesides, in the Black Hawk War. David Prickett was married on January 24, 1834, at Tremont, Tazewell County, Illinois, to Charlotte G. Grifith, who was born on May 9, 1806, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She was a sister to Mrs. Hannah G. Opkycke, and daughter of Dr. Thomas Griffith, of Tremont, who was formerly of Pennsylvania. David and Charlotte Prickett moved to Springfield in 1835. David Prickett was the first reporter to the Supreme Court of Illinois, having been appointed to that office as soon as it was created. In 1842 he was appointed a director of the State Bank of Illinois, on behalf of the State. He was assistant clerk of the House of Representatives of Illinois at the time of his death. He was a man whose integrity was above suspicion, very genial, rich in anecdote, addicted to witticisms, frequently pointing them against himself. Every public man of Illinois knew him to speak kindly of him.
[3]