Box 3, Folder 6: Typewritten Letters, 1849-1851

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1849.

The observations recorded under the hand of "Thermometer Detached" were taken from an instrument enclosed in a triangular glass case, to protect it from wind, open at top and bottom. It hangs on the north side of a wooden house one story high. Opposite to it is a house twenty-feet distant. Is this a good place? The daily mean is made by including the observation of the evening before and dividing by five. 15 this correct and usual? I hope to receive some work from you giving more definite information how to make observations of this kind.

Hon. B.H. Tweedy as late delegate in Congress from Wisconsin was entitled to a full set of Congressional and other documents which he has heretofore never claimed. He has now very generously donated to the Young Man's association here, his right; to these books, and will sign any order necessary to secure them. Not having acquaintances in Washington to whom I can apply, I take the liberty of asking you to do the Association the favor to ascertain to what person or persons we must apply for the books, and how much money must be sent to pay for the boxing, &c. &c.

Yours truly,

I.A. Lapham.

Prof. Joseph Henry,

Sec. Smith, Ins.

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March 7. 38 years old today.

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Milwaukee, April 29, 1849.

Dear Brother--

I have not written to you for so long a time that I hardly know how to begin; I certainly do not know where I left off in my last letter.***

Mr. Randall wrote me some time ago that he had placed

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some more books for our Y.M.A Library in your care. Will you send them with mine by father?

I have been a good deal occupied of late in city matters here, having been re-elected alderman and then president of the Council and acting mayor (in the absence of Simon Pure).

I have just received one of the proof sheets of the large map, being the S.W. quarter of it. It looks very neat. It will be out in July.

I have prepared an outline map for Mitchell's series of school maps; and am now engaged on a small map for "Miller's Annual Register of Wisconsin." So you see I am pretty deeply in the map making business.

I had a visit from Stephen Mott, an old friend from Lakeport, N.Y.; he knows father and mother well and remembers you. ***

Our Loco Focos are carrying their ultraism to great length here. They will soon blow out. Walker, however, will not resign. The Legislature could vote him into the United States Senate, but are powerless to get him out. C.H. Williams (who will be in Cincinnati soon) is an applicant for the post office here, with some hope of success.

I am doing nothing now in science except nothing the weather, as one of the observers making a series of observations over the whole country for the Smithsonian Institution.

Love for all.

Your Brother,

Increase.

D. Lapham.

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1849.

Milwaukee, June 27, 1849.

Dear Brother--

Your letter of the 10th did not reach me until after the arrival of father and mother, so that the information it contained that they were nearly ready to start was rather antiquated. They have been here ten days, during which time father has rambled about the city until he has seen nearly all of it. Mother has mostly staid at home, continuing her usual useful occupation of knitting. She is to have a drive about the city and around on the hills soon; and we are to have some visiting back and forth among our neighbors. Father and I propose after the celebration to have a ride into the country; so you see you need not expect him home under a month or two.

We all went down to "Brown's Daguerrian Gallery" and have two fine pictures of Father and Mother; one for us and one for them to carry home with them. They are very fine pictures. Father thinks it flatters him some, he did not know he was so handsome:***

I have been studying the writing of the ancient Medes and Persians and thinking Darius would like to know how his name was originally written. I enclose a copy from an ancient inscription, which refers to Darius (or Darri-ys-wus) the king. Queer kind of writing, wasn't it? It requires much labor and research to be able to read and translate it. It has now been done.

We are all well. There have been no clear cases of cholera here yet; we hope to escape it entirely. Fourth of July, politics, theaters, and circus &c. may bring it; but every effort is made to induce caution on the part of the citizens and cleanliness about the streets and yards &c. We hear today that it is increasing

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at St. Louis and Cincinnati. Horace McConnel is one of the victims: He was on the way to California.

Father and I went out at midnight last night to a fire. It was Mrs. Taylor's schoolhouse, where the Ladies' Benevolent Society used to meet and the adjoining house, both burnt down.***

Don't neglect to write.

Your brother,

I.A. Lapham.

Wm. Lapham.

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Milwaukee, July 9, 1849.

Dear Brother--

We yesterday received your two letters, so we are easy about you and yours up to the day after the celebration. Since I wrote you, father and mother have both been shaking with the ague, which they must have brought with them from Ohio, as nobody else, here, has it: Our skillful Dr. J.K. Bartlett has succeeded in curing them, so they are now as bright and well as ever. Our visit to the country has been postponed on account of father's shakes. We are to go now soon and see some Wisconsin farms, perhaps be out several days.*** There is so much cholera in your state that I think it may be advisable for father and mother to remain here for some time yet. There is nothing like being in a healthy country:***

We have had hot weather and since last night some rain and now hot again; an unusual amount of easterly winds have been upon us for the last month; but we hope it will not bring us the cholera. In some papers it is said the east wind brings cholera. I do not see how it can be so.

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1849.

We expected to have some cases here as the result of the 4th of July frolicking, but in this we are very fortunately disappointed, not however for want of exciting causes, for there was as much Tom-foolery and drinking and eating on that day as usual. A company of fifty or more men and horses from Chicago honored us with their presence:***** Some of them actually remained sober until they got back to the steamboat:***

Very truly yours,

I.A. Lapham.

Wm. Lapham et al.

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Milwaukee July 20th, 1849.

Dear Brother,--

Now since father and mother have actually been in Milwaukee it seems to me that I am not so far off from them as formerly, and being, at least in imagination, nearer home than I have been for years back, I want to hear from you and communicate with you more frequently.***

Father and mother left here on Tuesday morning, on Wednesday afternoon we were informed of their safe arrival in Detroit. Yesterday, (Thursday) at noon they were probably at home, or if they were delayed at Detroit or Sandusky, they will arrive there today.*** We hope they enjoyed their visit, but their attack of ague and the occurrence of a few cases of cholera here during their stay gave them some uneasiness and anxiety. Upon the whole I can not but think that the visit has been a profitable one to all concerned.***

Did Mr. Randall give you some books for our Historical Society before he was carried off by the California fever?**