Digital Exhibits

Salem, January 25

My dear Mrs. Lyman,

Your letter was received & we were just talking of & wishing to hear from you as Reuben brought it in. We were very sorry to hear of little Mary's illness [and] hope she may never have a repetition of the same. 

I have [been] busy sewing & visiting all day & in fact never knew a winter pass so quickly & any more pleasantly than this thus far.

I fear the loss of poor Dolly will seriously interfere with your enjoyment in getting around. I hope you may recover her if not I trust she will be well treated by those that have her for the services she has rendered you.

I suppose you will wish to hear the news that is afloat in this direct -- Well the first thing that took entire possession of the people of Salem in 1863, was a few white ladies attending America Waldo's wedding held at the house of W. Johnson (colored). America lived with us & was the best girl we have ever had in the family. She was very anxious that the ladies in whose families she had lived should see her married, accordingly a hack was sent around on New Years & gathered in her numerous friends for all who knew America could not help loving her [even] if she was half black. 

The sable bride & groom appeared very well. Ellen & I made her wedding apparel. Little dreaming what a commotion we were about to produce. Mrs. Gerry Reed, Pralt, J. Wilson & entire family, Mr. Dickinson’s family  & Ellen & I with several others & a host of children witnessed the ceremony & spent a very pleasant afternoon going home before dark. 

The next day every busy body in town was spreading the news & made out we had been guilty of great impropriety in attending a “nigger wedding” & said that expressly for my benefit on the street as Mrs. Thompson (Mary Stone) & I were out shopping. It amused me very much to see them gathered in companies of eight & ten discussing the momentous affair. J. Wilson & Mr. Dickinson were all the white men present. No black darkies stood at the table with us & they had an excellent [crossed out: supper] dinner. There has been one piece in the Corvallis Union & another coming out this week in a Eugene paper with the names of the guests present. 

Next subject that interested us particularly was the meeting & resolutions drawn up & presented to Mr. Dickinson for his consideration in regard to the course he has & is to take.

There is a great amount of dissatisfaction felt towards him throughout the whole town & it gets worse every abolition sermon he preaches. He has not been preaching anywhere lately & his church feel[s] anxious that the house is being completed [and] that he should not force those sermons upon the people unless they know the day so they can go elsewhere if they chose. 

Then they had a resolution about his being so personal in the pulpit etc. etc. They have had two meetings & from Ellen's account the resolutions were adopted without a dissenting voice at the first meeting. The second Mrs. Wilson brought some objections & the third & they say last is to be on Monday night & then they will decide whether he had better remain or go etc. How if he remains is the best method of raising his salary.

You may think I am prejudiced but I do really believe a minister against whom there is no such strong prejudices, even if his mind was inferior to Mr. D[ickinson], would do more good here. 

I did not know there was such a dislike & I may truly say disgust existing towards him until we were getting up that Thanksgiving supper -- & that was the greatest obstacle we had to surmount. I believe him to be a Christian & think he does what he thinks to be his duty. Some of his best members regard him as a monomaniac upon the negro equality question. I will not mail this until after Monday & write you the decision of this, the last meeting.

[Written sideways on first page:] Roxanna, Polly's daughter presented her mother with a baby this week -- half white. No one is willing to claim it that just now is agitating Salem. 

Capt. Lyon, Ellen's father has just come down from the Dalles with a bride. They are stopping at Jo. Watts, will be here next week. She is from New, England [and is] about forty & Ellen says looks very well that she has sisters in Cal. & came on a visit to Oregon & was not very pleasantly situated, so she married.

Do not make public what is in this letter I am afraid I have written too plainly respecting Mr. D[ickinson]. but you know, I can not have any influence for I am not one of his church.