165 Lyman Ranney Letters (1850)

Van Buren Jany 8/50

Dear Brother & Friends

Having written to you from Jonesville Mich. Some time last June and not receiving any answer, thought you must have not rec’d it, and thinking you would like to hear from me once more.  I am residing in Arkansas at present, having been here about one week.  I started from Mich on the 9th day of Nov last for Ills, where I expected to stay through the winter provided I could make any arrangements to get into business of some kind.  I did not know but I might get an opportunity to study Physic with cousin Paul.  But as he had not sufficient books for me to study I thought of returning home.  But Paul said his brother-in-law Mr. Bishop he thought would like help in his store, and therefore advised me to come here and thought I would find Uncle Henry on the way between here and there.  But was disappointed as he and removed to Texas.  He went to Texas about a year since to find out anything in regard to Uncle Paul’s affair and he got married while there, as I learned at the mouth of the Arks. River which is about twenty five miles from where he used to live, and returned to Ark. the last fall to get his little daughter.

Uncle H. has been married twice before and has had two children but has but one living at present.  I did not learn whether he found out anything about Uncle Paul’s affair or not.  I found our relatives in Ills. all well.  Paul, Uncle Nathan’s son, is a very good Physician and is worth about $20,000 and gets a great ride in his profession.  Uncle Nathan has been dead two years come February.  His widow lives in Ills. also.  They had three children.  One lives in Mt. Carmel Ills. (Paul) and two of them live in Arks.  Clarissa (Mrs. Bishop) and Henry.  Henry is attending school about sixty miles from here.  He is sixteen years of age and a hard case at that.

I am staying at Van Buren Arks, a town on the Arks. River six hundred miles from its mouth.  I have given up the idea presently of studying Medicine as it will cost so much and I have nothing to get through with.  I am not getting very great wages at present but I think I can command greater wages in the course of six months or a year.  I have been posting books and drawing off accounts the most of the time since I have been here.  Mr. Bishop has a large store, keeping almost everything from Potatoes to Pins.  He has another store in Fayetteville which is sixty miles from here, having in both a stock of about $20,000.  Keeping a large assortment of clothing making fifty to seventy-five per cent on them.

They have plenty of slaves in Arks.  What little I have seen I think they fare better than half of the poor whites at the north.  They have their holidays.  They had the Christmas week, having dances &c.  They have Meetings every Sunday.  The Methodist preacher for this circuit preaches to them by themselves.  But they are permitted to go to any meeting.  Mr. Bishop has one slave only.  She does the cooking &c.  She has an easier time than most of hired girls at the north.

As it is getting late and I think of nothing more of importance to write, I shall bring my letter to a close hoping that as soon as you receive it you will answer.  I send my love to all our relatives and especially to your wife and children.

Yours with respect

Lyman

Please excuse all mistakes as I am in a great hurry and have not time , if there should be any.

P.S.  Direct your letters to Van Buren Arks.  Write soon as it takes a letter four or five weeks to come.

Lyman writes Henry again from Van Buren Arkansas, in the spring of 1850.  He thanks his brother for writing, and says he is responding immediately because it takes three weeks for the mails between Arkansas and Ashfield. In response to Henry’s questions, Lyman describes Van Buren and the commerce there. He says there are people there from nearly all the old Eastern states, including some merchants from Boston. Although many have caught “California fever,” Lyman lacks the funds to go further west, but he does hope to move back to the north once he has made his fortune.

Lyman reports once again on the slavery in Arkansas and tells the story of a young slave boy who looked white and who as a result was apparently worth less than other enslaved children. Lyman says he would like to bring the boy back to the north, “and let them see what some of the subjects are that are held in bondage.” But, realizing that his opinions are unwelcome in the South, Lyman reminds Henry that when he sends newspapers, it would be best to send no openly abolitionist “Free Soil” papers.

After Lyman concludes his letter to Henry, he writes a short note to his new sister-in-law, Maria. Although Lyman did not attend his brother’s wedding, Maria Jane Goodwin was an Ashfield native about seven years older than Lyman, so they may have known each other. Maria apparently wrote to Lyman along with Henry, admonishing him to be good. Lyman thanks her for the advice and assures her that “fortunately I never was guilty of anything which I thought would degrade me or detract from my character.”

Translation note: Doggery is a word dating from about 1830 for a low-class saloon or dive.  Lyman puts the quotes around it in his letter, suggesting the word — and probably the places — are a bit of a novelty for him.

Van Buren Arks. March 8th 1850

Dear Brother

It was with pleasure I recd your letter of Feb 10th and I make soon in answering it as it takes about three weeks for letters to pass between this place and Ashfield.  I was glad to hear from you and family and to hear that you were all enjoying good health.

As it was your request that I should give you a situation of our place I will try so to do.  Van Buren is on the Arkansas River 600 miles from its mouth.  It has a fine landing for boats, consequently there is considerable business to do here as this is the only landing of any importance for one hundred miles below and 10 above.  Consequently the produce and cotton that comes to market or that which is to be shipped has to be sent to this place if sent to New Orleans or Cincinnati, and there is where most of the shipments are made.

We have about 12 or 15 hundred inhabitants in town I should judge (Whites).  Some two wholesale houses (dry goods & groceries) and ten retail establishments besides several “doggeries.”  It is somewhat mountainous in most parts of Ark. and therefore is not so productive as it otherwise would be.  The climate is very mild, there not having been any snow here since I arrived.  The weather at present is very delightful & warm.  People are making gardens and some made garden two weeks ago.

The people in this place are much mixed.  Some from the Southern States, some from Ohio & Indiana, and others from Va. N.J. And in fact from almost every state.  Even from the old Bay State.  There is two or three merchants here from Boston, been here about two years.

They have a very good society of young people here and as I get acquainted with them I like them very much.

Although the village people are as intelligent as they are in any country, it seems to be far different with the country people, for I think at least there is one in three of them that cannot write their own names.  Consequently are ignorant and are harder to deal with than they would be otherwise, as they are so afraid of getting cheated.

Mr. Bishop has gone East after goods, intends going to Boston for the most of them.  I told him to find Elisha Bassett while there if he could.  I didn’t know his address consequently could not direct him.  I like merchandising very much so far and think that it will suit me well.

There are large numbers going to California this spring from this place and surrounding country.  I have had the California fever but have got over it mostly, as it is not possible for me to get there under present circumstances.  Slavery exists here in almost all forms.  Some have a good master, others hard.  Some slaves are black others are white.  There is one boy around in town who is whiter than half the so called white children.  He has very light colored hair, roman nose, and his features do not resemble a negro in the least.  Yet this boy is a slave.  He was sold since I have been here for 150$, being less than half what a black boy would have brought, or him if he was black.  If I had plenty of money when I go north I would purchase him and take with me and let them see what some of the subjects are that are held in bondage.

I sent you 2 newspapers a few days since and will send one occasionally.  I hope you will do likewise.  It would not be best to send any Free Soil papers.  Thinking of nothing of importance to write you at present I shall close as I am a going to write a few lines to your wife.  Mrs. Bishop sends her love to you and wife.  Hoping you will write soon, I now close.

I send my love to all our friends in Mass.

P.S. As regards Uncle Henry, I do not know his address nor cannot find out as there is no one knows where he is exactly.  He never lived in V.B. but lived formerly about 30 miles from the mouth.  He was in the habit of using liquor to some extent, but I understand he had left off when he returned last fall.

Affectionately yrs

Lyman A Ranney

Dear Sister

Although I never had the privilege of a personal acquaintance with you, still it does not seem that you are a perfect stranger to me as I have heard Mother speak of you so often.  I am glad to hear from you and am thankful for the good advice you and Henry have put forth in your letter, although fortunately I never was guilty of anything which I thought would degrade me or detract from my character.  I am glad to hear that you are all well and hope that I may yet see you all in Mass.  Perhaps the time may be years distant.  As it is getting late and for want of room I will have to close these few lines to you.  I hope to hear from you and Henry often.

From your Brother

Lyman

Source: The Ranney Letters: Family Correspondence During the Yankee Migration, https://mlpp.pressbooks.pub/ranneyletters/