Letter No. 16
St. Johns Ville, November 16th, 1842
Dear Children:
I take pen in hand once more to aquaint you that we are all as well as usual hoping these lines will find you all well. Our Maria & Edwin Snell have a young daughter, about 3 months old. The season has been healthful among us, and plenty to eat, thank to the Lord for His Goodness to us. Snell thrashed, and brought in our House, I think, 145 bushels corn, and has done his fall ploughing, killed hogs yesterday, and has chopped a few days' winter wood. He might do well if prices were not so low under Whig promises, but hoping better times, since Col. Bouik, a German, got to be Governor of the great state of New York, by a large majority of about 19 thousand. Democratic principals, short sessions of the Legislature, economy of Administration, Restoration of the Public Credit, lessening the Emoluments of the state printer, and against increasing the state debt, a national Bank. If the Whigs had succeeded, Long sessions, Extravagant Expenditures, distruction (sp) of public credit by borrowing and not paying, giving the state printer 50,000 per annum, for an unlimited increase of state debt, by borrowing for a United States Bank, which might take away our rights, and liberty. Judge from what follows. Some years ago, a certain company in New York offered to put 200,000 in our state treasury, if the Legislature would give them a Charter for a Bank. Our Legislature refused, that there were too many banks already, to our hurt. The next year, Gov. Lewis came in Gov. That Bank was chartered for one hundred thousand dollars. There were men enough that knew what that Co. offered the year before. The Bank of North America was chartered. Some of our first men in the Republican ranks, viz.: Jacob Snell, David Tuley, N. Gross & I think Henry Failing, & many others that I do not remember turned Whigs. Now you may think where the other 100,000 dollars went, and while the United States Bank was in operation, I saw printed, and that several times, that from 30 to 40 of our Congressmen yearly received great sums of that bank. That is the way they make Whigs. Jackson said such a Bank would make the rich richer & the poor poorer.
Think of this. A Bank has branch Banks in Every City in the United States, and every person that gets money, and all the connections of those officers, that handle the money, have to be in favour of the Bank; so they get so after a while, that they can carry any point they please, and when it gets to that, our Liberty is gone. Look at this. The Whigs took possesson in March, 1841, with resources of revenue amounting to 24,723,473. They promised the people to carry on the Government with 13 millions a year. They found no debt left by Mr. Van Buren, but 4,500,000 of treasury notes outstanding. Every demand on the treasury had been met, and discharged. At an extra session in July, 1841, Mr. Evans of Maine, Chairman of the Whig committee of Finance, admitted in the senate that the charge of 40 million debt against the late Administration was a mere phantom. A humbug, and in the House, July 30th, Mr. Adams of Massachusetts, declared that he beleived that the mass of appropriations, under the administration (Mr. Van Buren's) was necessary, and that there was no extravagance. Think how they belied Mr. Van Buren. Who would uphold lies? I not. See what these great Whigs say. These were the Books balanced. The democratic secretary put in the Hands of his Whig successors. How stand the new Books which they boasted they would open. Instead of 13 millions, the secretary reports that the Expenditures from 1841 to March 1842 have been $33,266,403 & 47 cents, including 7 millions of treasury notes, and this too, when, as they say, the Florida War ended, and the Revolutionary widows deprived of their pensions. Mr. Clay has claimed 24 million as necessary for the Anual (sp) Expense, for which the Van Buren administration required but $13,525,800 as indespensible, and thus demonstrate that the Whigs cannot cary (sp) on the government short of 30 millions. In addition to this exhibit, there are some 9 millions of treasury notes afloat, and a loan of 12 millions, making debt beyond income of 26 million in means to meet immediate demands of the treasury of $3,251,000, and estimated for all necessary appropriations for that year of $19,250,000. In one year, on the following March, they had added to the 6,203,000 outstanding the additional debt of $14,475,000. At the Extra session they appropriated over 5 million, and the long session over 24 millions, making instead of 19 millions, about 30 millions for the two sessions alone. In this delapidated condition of the finances, with an anticipated revenue from customs, of not over 12 millions, they had resolved to plunder the treasury of the proceeds of the Public Lands, for distribution to the speculators in state stocks, while they were trying to prevent their own President from collecting any revenue at all, and providing no means to meet their enormous expenditures, and they would have added 22 million more had not Tyler vetoed their Bank, and that was a lucky thing for America, for us all. (Note: original long paragraph being broken here.)
Now you, & we, may expect after a while that matters will be carried on right, and as soon as our revenue will allow, and our credit restored. The work on the Erie canal will be carried on, if Bradish had got in Gov. he would have carried on Seward's & others Whig policy of runing (sp) us in debt, and added to the 26 or 27 million dollar debt. Already, one year, or more, of Extravagance, added to the former debt, our credit would be entirely gone. Like Philadelphia, our works would be entirely stopped like theirs & perhaps for ever. Russell, I think the man's name is, recommended to expend 4 million a year for 10 years, that might bring our debt to 40 or 50 million, if but 40 million it would bring our small County of Montgomery's taxes yearly raising of 300 thousand. Who could stand that, & if produce low, it might brake us all down. So we had better be careful in time, before it is too late. It seems people have come to their right mind. I have seen stated that 14 states Already have turned Republican. About 20 thousand of our runaways in Ohio have come back & in our state about the same number. Lies will not stand. How will these men ever answer at the Judgement day. Told & published for all lies about or against Martin Van Buren. Just look what Adams and others said about Van Buren & his cause, and I think you, or any person, may be convinced of the lies told, Etc.
I understood Caty, when I was up, that she would be glad if I could, or would send her up $100 more to enable her to pay for land for Hiram, of which I have ben prevented. Isaac I. Finehart sold his boat a year ago this last summer, to one John Saltzman, and took mortgage on boat, for his pay, & asked Saltman (sp) where he made it his home. He said in St. Johns Ville. So Finehart got his mortgage recorded there, & said Saltzman was owing a Mr. Hugh, a merchant in our village, $200. He put an attachment on said boat. Finehart had to protect himself, had to give bail. He came to me and said it would never hurt me & so said a Mr. Moyer, brother-iin-law to Edwin Snell, who boated & said he had often seen such things, and it would never hurt me a cent, So I become bail, and now, last month brought to trial in Herkimer County, and said Hugh brought a woman that swore that John Saltzman had his washings done & home there in Frankford (sp) 4 miles above Herkimer village, and judgement went against Finehart. Unjust. Finehart's lawyer swore that Saltzman said his home was in Saint Johns Ville, yet went against him. If Finehart only would have had his mortgage recorded in Herkimer county, all would have been safe. So he lost it, and I being his bail had to stand mostly the whole sum of $363 & 60 cents. Very high double costs was made up because the suit was brought against the sheriff of Herkimer. I made out to pay the debt with notes, but the costs $10 have to be paid all in cash. A hard matter to raise in these times. Yet I have paid the greater part & I think soon shall be able to pay the remainder. I expect to have it come right hereafter. So this has prevented me from helping Caty & Daniel. He wanted help very much to make his last payment on his Land, the mortgage due the last month, October, I understood. And how he made it in these times, I do not know. He had raising $100 due among us of which he was disapointed. (sp) I think I understood Daniel two years ago last June that he owed $390. Edwin Snell calculates to pay all he can make this winter to me, and if I get any money, I must try to help Daniel. If the Lord will, and my life and health is spared, I must try to make Daniel & Family a visit next summer, and the year after, if I should live I feel as if I wanted to make my visit over among you, as I do not feel satisfied of making you such a short visit & I think must do it over. I saw Monday morning at Christian Klock's, George I. Klock & Lana his sister. They both seem feeble. George had the fever-ague, this summer. Eva, Christian's wife, has been laid up all of 8 weeks with the Rheumatism, but now some better. James, Corn.'s Klock's son, is still alive, but about gone. It is beleived he will die happy. Corns. is about selling out. Yanny and their Catherine came down from Michigan and trying to persuade them to go along, which I think they will do. I long to hear from you all, and hereby send my respect to you, hoping if we do not meet here any more, we may so live and conduct while in this life, that we may all meet in heaven. We ought to be careful. The Lord said the violent take harm by force, and also said, Except we be converted and become as little children, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. So I hope we may all make it our greatest business while in this world to get well out of it, that it may be well with us. I do not wish to meddle with Politics, but I am fearful you do not get the right information. That makes me do it. If David or John gets this letter first, I hope he will let the others see it. Yours with my best respects to you all.
David & John Klock,
Joseph G. Klock
and their Children.
Note - I shall pay the postage on this letter if I do not forget it.
Letter No. 17
St. Johns Ville, July 5th 1843
Dear Children:
I received few lines from you yesteray morning. Dated June 26th, wherein you stated that you had not received any letter from me since the 7th March last. That is strange. I answered your former letter dated May the 15th wherein I stated a great deal; more I think I shall now, my memory fails me, and I hardly know all what I wrote. I think I stated in that letter that you missed it, that you did not write before the first of June last, the day Edwin could get the money. So we did not know whether you would stand the shave as you call it, so could not get any for you. However got some for Christina. She and Finehart left here the 13th day of May for the west. They wrote that they had made a stop in Detroit City, and did not know where they would go from thence, till they got some money of me to buy land. I have of the money that Snell got for them, about $100, which I kept back for fear some thing might come against me, of Finehart, that I might now know, which I think I shall send after I receive another letter from them, as all seems to be peace and quietness among us. I also stated in my former letter that you say you have not received, I had lost the money I meant for you, from Martin I. Dillenback $185. Had to pay my lawyer $15 and to the sheriff & printer some, so I may say I hve lost more than $200, this spring. Said Dillenback's Farm was sold for $1350, worth Edwin said worth $5000, on a mortgage his Brother Daniel had on the Farm. A lawyer, Sain, promised me faithfully to be at the place of sale, to drive it up for me, so that I might get my pay, who disapointed me. If it had been drove up above the claim of Daniel Dillenback, I might have got my pay, as I had the oldest judgment. Edwin turned out these notes against Dillenback the 1st June, 1842, and I did not see him until some time in Sept. last. Now the Lawyers say I can't make Edwin pay, because I waited so long before I sued. I think I stated that I had sold the boat of Finehart, first payment comes due the first of this month $50, of which I have received $6.25. The man is now absent to Albany with boat. Whether I shall get the remainder I know not. I have due on notes and judgements about $70, and another note of $70 against Edwin, which I can't expect to get until next winter, and what is due me on the other notes and Judgements, I expect to get some not all. That is very soon, I have told people that owe me, that I must have it. Some have brought a little and say they will make it as soon as possible, so keep me back, and what to say as helping you, I know not, what I may get. I think I shall put in the Fort Plain bank and send you a certificate on the Chautauqua Bank, payable to the order of you and David, or David's wife. There seems some danger in sending a Certificate, as the banks give us checks. (original long paragraph being broken here.)
It seems Daniel had $54 due him of Capt. Realey, which I put in the Fort Bank the 9th of March last. They gave me a Certificate on the Jefferson county Bank, payable to the order of Daniel Klock, and put it in post office next day in St. Johns Ville. I started to go and see Daniel and Family the 8th day of June & got to them the 11th, and he said he had not received it. We were alarm. (sp) He sent to the post office. Nothing there. He went to the Bank in Watertown. They said they had not seen any thing of it. I then wrote to Gen'l. Averille, and to the Cashier of Fort Plain Bank, who wrote back he was sorry. There had not anything of the kind happened in 4 years of the Bank, and stated that if I and Daniel would give them a Bond to secure them of paying any one else, they would pay us the money. I had taken my passage up with Henry I. R. Failing & Wife who went on a visit to Henry's brother John, in Permelia in a boat a mile from Daniel, thinking to take the steam boat at the Harbur (sp), and come by water. Since Daniel had to come down to get his money, I told him he had better go now. So he started with me, his wife, Nancy, and her sister, Polly, and came home last Friday. Saturday we went to the Bank, and he got his money. They say no one can draw the money without forging Daniel's name, and that might make state prison affair. I found Daniel and Family all well, excepting not rugged. They had what they called the throat ail, among them which had carried off many, and had liked to have taken off Daniel's William. They say puking him might have saved him. (original long paragraph being broken here.)
Since I have come home, I heard it was at Fort Plain & Else where. As to your Black River land I expect is sold, or part of it. I saw Cornelius some time ago, who said he had been to the comtroller's (sp) office a while before and had found one of his lots sold, which lot he had sold to some man some time last winter, or spring, and said they sell every third year. I think it is six, or about seven years, since I paid the last taxes on your land. I suppose those that bought would be glad to get the money back with 10 per cent interest or double interest. What to advise you about it I hardly know. The timber, and wood on that land may be valuable. The mischief, they add road tax, with land tax, which makes the tax high. Edwin had to pay on his 100 acres a year ago this last winter $10 & some cents. It seems his was not sold then, but he sent his money with one of our Assemblymen, who paid it for him, & perhaps part of land was sold, and they took the whole tax. That Land I think will soon be torn all to pieces for the taxes, which seems to be a pitty (sp). I shall try, if I live, to send down to Albany by some one and know all about it, and hereafter let you know. They have two droughts in Jefferson, while therein about three weeks there was not rain enough to lay the dust. Daniel had a fine crop of wheat on the ground, and some others, but all laid sowing poor, spring crops of every kind backward. When I got home, I found we had rain enough on the Mohawk, quite a growing season for a while. Crops of every kind look promising. People among us generally done hilling corn, which still is late, but I still think if we have a favorable Fall, there may be good corn. There is a great deal planted among us & it seems what is impossible with men is possible with God. After all the cold weather we had in May, it seems there will be plenty of fruit. I have looked at our cherry trees since I have come home. I think I never saw them but once fuller, and I beleive there will be apples, & plums enough. (original long paragraph being broken here.)
I saw George, John's brother at Christian's last Saturday. He and Christian & wife seemed to be well. All your relation here about are well for what we know, excepting John Michael who has not been able, I have understood, to see to his cattle this last winter. Christian Failing, Henry's son, got killed instantly last winter. His sleigh was loaded with two saw logs, and upset and fell on him. Sister Wolrath, Andrew Wolrath's wife, died the 16th of May, and I expect has gone to Glory. She seemed always happy in class meeting. We are all well as usual. Maria is not quite so harty (sp) as I could wish. Her daughter, Christina, about ten months old, active, smart and begins to stand by a chair. Hoping these lines will find you and David, and families all in good health, and prospering in the ways of the Lord. I hope that we may all remember that faith without works is dead; if we beleive in the Lord Jesus Christ, we will do His works, for He left on record if ye love me you will keep my commandments. I should have been very glad to hear from Brother Loucks, who was sickly, east of you. Edwin talks of beginning to make hay next week. I have to stop, I am tired, and my hand trembles. It is strange that you did not get my last letter. I think I may have directed it to David. It is my desire that we may all so live, while on this world, that we may all one day meet in Heaven.
Your well wisher in the Lord. Joseph G. Klock
John, David, Margaret and
Catherine Klock
Give my love to all the children. I have one swarm Bees left tho. the winter, of which I have received four young swarms.
Continue on to Part 7, the final installment of the letters of Joseph G. Klock.
The final installment of the Klock letters will be posted in March. There are 18 full letters, two partial letters, and a letter written by Margaret (Peggy) Klock, Joseph G. Klock's daughter. All spellings and punctuation are those of the writer of the letters, Joseph G. Klock.
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