Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison/Harrison to Findlay Social and family affairs

by William Henry Harrison

Harrison to Findlay

Vincennes, October 15th, 1801

Pub. His. and Phil. Soc. of Ohio, I, 101

Dear Findlay,

I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 22nd August a few weeks ago. Mrs. Harrison and myself are much rejoiced to hear that Mrs. Findlay enjoys better health than formerly for be assured that we both feel for her a sincere regard. My family have I think enjoyed quite as much health here as they have ever done. My youngest child^[1] has been until lately a good deal afflicted but is now much better; and I have had the ague and fever—that is, I had three fits of it, but am now as well perhaps better than I have been for several years. I am much pleased with this country—nothing can exceed its beauty and fertility. I have purchased a farm of about 300 acres joining the town which is all cleared. I am now engaged in fencing it and shall begin to build next spring if I can find the means. How comes on the Distillery?^[2] I wish you to send me some Whiskey as soon as possible, consign it to the care of Messrs. Prather & Smiley of Louisville who will take charge of it and send me also a couple of calf skins and a little soal leather. Cant you continue to patch up some sort of settlement between us? I will leave entirely to yourself knowing that it will be done as well as the circumstances will permit; for my part I know nothing of the business.

I wish you could muster resolution enough to take the woods and pay us a visit, I am sure you will be so much pleased with this place and the prospects that you would consent to move here. I now nominate to you Mr. William Prince^[3] as a proper person to be appointed your Deputy here. He is a very honest man and a clever fellow We have here a Company of troops commanded by Honest F. Johnston^[4] of the 4th. We generally spend half the day together making war upon the partridges, grouse and fish-—the latter we take in great numbers in a seine. Is there no one with you who will purchase my tract of land on Mill Creek below Simmons Hutchinson (word illegible) Mill? I have there 419 acres which I would sell very low. I dont know but I would take two Dollars per acre in cash.

I have long given up the Judge [John Cleves Symmes, his father-in-law] as a ruined man—which he owes in part to himself but much more to the cursed Malevolence of his enemys. They have however in some measure got this reward in the loss of character. I have heard several disinterested respectable persons speak of the treatment he has met with, with horror and detestation. Give Mrs. Harrison's and my best regards to Mrs. Findlay and to Smith if he is in the land of the living—to Dr. Sillman and family and all who remember us with friendship.

1. Lucy Singleton Harrison, born in Richmond Va. 1800, died 1826, married Judge David K. Este of the Ohio Supreme court.
2. Harrison and James Smith in 1797 operated a distillery on Deer Creek. After losing considerable money he gave up the business.
3. Findlay was receiver at the Cincinnati land office and William Prince was to act as his deputy at Vincennes.
4. Francis Johnston of N. Y. was an ensign in the 4th sub legion with Wayne. Lieut. in 4th Inf. 1797; Capt. 1800. Died Feb. 17. 1809. "Honest" was a nick name.