all of whom are located at or near Jessup, Iowa. I often think of your kindness to me, not only in sickness but in health, and especially the neighborly kindness and sympathy you manifested in our first great trouble, the death of our little Georgie. I hope you realize our gratitude to you and Mrs. Hildreth for all those tokens of affection and regard. When in Bradford we visited the cemetery; and as we passed along those avenues of the dead, my eyes rested on that pure white marble, and read the name, Olive," I thought of the many trials and afflictions you had passed through during the years you had lived in Bradford. But there were rainbows and sunshine also in those days; yes, and I look back, as no doubt you do, on many pleasant experiences that we had then. Mr. Hildreth-no, not Mr. but brother,—I hope you will remember me in some of your leisure hours, and write me a good long letter. I want to see a letter signed by that familiar name, “A. B. F. Hildreth." You have a brother living here, Albert, I think. who was an officer in the late war. I am not much acquainted with him yet. His wife is a very intelligent, smart woman, I think; also her younger sister, whom I know very well. When in Bradford I saw your brother Daniel. His health is not the best, although he is looking pretty well. I hope you will visit Vermont the coming summer, and be sure to give us a call. Please remember me and Mrs. Clark kindly to Mrs. Hildreth, and believe me cordially Your friend and brother,” JAMES D. CLARK. DES MOINES, IOWA, Dec. 30, 1867. Dear Friend: Please accept the thanks of the blind ex-editor and his wife for your kind letter, and also for the enclosed five dollars. Mr. Dixon's health is very poor, and I sometimes fear he will not live till spring. If he can but get through this winter, and is well enough to dictate, and financially able to publish his book this winter. and be ready for us to start out in March or April and sell it, I believe he will get well and we could get money enough to live on. Just now our future is very dark! Again thanking you for your kindness, I am respectfully your friend, DETROIT, MICH., May 13, 1868. Dear Friend: I have been thinking about you for a long time, and wondering why you do not write. The speech of Senator Grimes of your State has brought you again to the surface, and I am resolved to write you a few lines this morning to see if I can "draw your fire." By-the-by, what ails Grimes? I did not suppose you had a man in Iowa who could in any manner endorse Andy Johnson. In Detroit the Republicans feel that they are again betrayed, and that the impeachment of A. J. is lost; but for me, I cannot believe that a great party, having the power, will be guilty of so great folly as to justify the wicked acts of a drunken traitor, and thereby bring down upon them their own destruction. I visited Vermont last summer, staid a month. and had a most enjoyable visit. I did not, however, see your father nor mine; but the hills they once trod, and from which they ascended, remain as green and beautiful as ever. Every one was glad to see me and gave me their best.—spruce gum, caraway seed and maple sugar! I found Nicholas Gilman a bitter "copperhead." Colonel Dickey has got over his disloyalty, and now hopes that Andy Johnson's head will soon be off! My health is good, and business is usual. Charlie is in the coal business; Kate is at home now. but spent the summer with friends in Illinois. Mrs. Bacon is so-so; growing old with the rest of us; but she remembers you and your lady with pleasure. She often speaks of you as the model gentleman, the ladies' friend." I hope you are prosperous and happy. Let us hear from you soon. I hope you will be able to congratulate the country on the impeachment and deposition of the meanest President this country ever had, not excepting John Tyler. Hon. A. B. F. Hildreth. Truly your friend, W. A. BACON. DUBUQUE, IOWA, June 2, 1869. My My Dear Friend Hildreth: On my way from Chicago to Dubuque, en route home, on Saturday last, I bought a Dubuque "Times" and read your article, copied from your paper. It is very tame and unexpressive in me to say "I thank you." That is formal and cold. In this case I can only say, however, I do most heartily thank you for your very complimentary notice. So long as I live, I will appreciate, remember and try to reciprocate. ambition is satisfied when I am recognized by you and the leaders of our party, of your character and standing, as one of the working representative men of the party. If in the use of my name our friends outside of this District are disabused of the idea that we have but one man "up north“ here, I am satisfied. I have this day written to our Senator on the question of the public printing, and will see that your interests are forwarded, and if pos sible your rights to it secured. I shall see you, I hope, at the Convention. Yours very truly, D. N. COOLEY. MR. HILDRETH, DETROIT, March 8, 1871. Dear Friend: I have been wanting to hear from you for a long time. Please write me on receipt of this. I am still engaged in teaching and am enjoying life pretty well. My children are grown and live with me at home. Mrs. Bacon has grown old with me, and like old Mrs. John Anderson, my Jo, John," proposes to sleep with me at the foot of the hill of life. We both feel the infirmities of age. You know how we live. We have income enough to support us, aside from our school; so you see we are well enough off financially. I do wish you and Mrs. Hildreth would come out this summer and make us a visit. Last summer Mrs. Bacon and Kate spent three months in Boston and vicinity, and the year before I was all through New England, visiting friends. I was two weeks in Chelsea, Vt., and saw many who inquired after you. I have a sister there. Hacket Scribner lives in the village; Nicholas Gilman, David Sleeper, Perley Jones, Tom Bacon and others of our old friends are there. Col. Dickey left Bradford and now lives in St. Johnsbury. Mrs. Bacon often speaks of you as one of her friends. She thinks you are a friend and advocate of woman. Enclosed I send you an extract of a speech delivered by the chairman of our Board of Education recently, in which he alludes to his old teacher, as well as your old teacher, in language which you, at least, will understand. Your friend. W. A. BACON. WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 7, 1872. My Dear Sir: I am grateful for your manifestation of friendship for me. The "Register" was indebted to B. F. Allen $25,000.00 on purchase price of the establishment. It was understood at Des Moines that Mr. Allison advanced $5,000.00 which had matured on the debt, at about the date of its first onslaught on me. Perhaps this was a loan to be repaid out of the profits of public printing. The management of the campaign, on their part, was, as I think, most disreputable. The fruit thus gathered ought to turn to ashes! But we must acquiesce and wait, and work, for a redemption, which will certainly come sooner or later. Yours truly, Hon. A. B. F. Hildreth, Charles City, Iowa. JAMES HARLAN CINCINNATI, OHIO, Jan. 7, 1873. MR. AND MRS. A. B. F. HILDRETH: Dear Friends: Your kind letter of the 25th ult. came duly to hand. We were very glad to hear from you and learn of your safe arrival at home. I had felt a little anxious for you, as there have been so many terrible and fatal accidents on railroads and steamboats this fall and winter. You have, indeed, cause of gratitude to our dear Heavenly Father for His kind protection during your various journeyings. May He thus guide and protect us all in our journeys of life, and then may we meet "beyond the river," in the mansions of the blest. But the question that interests us is: Shall we know each other there? I think we shall. That question was well answered by the pastor who was asked the question by his wife, when he replied: Do you suppose we shall be bigger fools there than we are here?" I think that answer sets the question at rest, for assuredly we shall know more there than here. We are all in usual health, and brother George and family are well and wish to be remembered to you. Eddie is at school. He requests me to send many thanks for his New Year's gift. He was de |