LETTER OF
The GOSPEL TRUTH CHARLES G. FINNEY
1863
To Julia Finney
18 February 1863
[Ms in Finney Papers, Supplement # 124]
Oberlin 18th Feb. 1863.
Dear Julia.
How long you have been
absent. It seems a great while.
My remaining days are so few that it
seems much to have you gone so long.
I can see you but a little more at
any rate, & to have you away so large
a portion of my remaining life is painful.
I know you are obliging our Dear Helen
& Dolson & arey willing to oblige them,
but is it not almost time for you to
come home. With what you was absent
last summer, what you are now about
will make up nearly half of the year.
Still I dont feel like cutting short
Helen's visit with Dolson. Poor child
she may never see him again in
this world. Do you know whether
the report in the papers that Dolson's
core, is going to join Rosecrans, is true.
If he goes there he will have hard fighting
[page 2]
Rosecrans is pressed so much that
he will put his troops into hot
work in all probability. He can
not remain unaggressive without
losing the prestige he has gained.
This he understands. Hence his core
must fight like tigers. Well, I
suppose this will please Dolson;
but it may cost him his life.
The chances are that it will.
But when is Helen coming home.
If Dolson goes west I suppose he
will not come home soon.
By the bye, do you need some more
money? If so I will send you some.
We have not heard from Charley for
several days. I am really afraid
he will overdo & get sick. In his
last he spoke of being out in
the rain all day & day after
day. His duties are exceedingly
onerous. Dear Mrs. Wyatt is
buried to day. Last week we
[page 3]
buried Mr Hudson of the brick
house east of the church. He
died of fever. On the same day
old Mr. Bartholomew died. The
next morning young Mrs Bardwell
died. Those three lay dead in our
Village at one time. Now Mrs. Wyatt
has gone. They all died of different
diseases. Miss Ranson's black Richard
is very low. The morning prayer meetings
are well attended & increasing in interest.
Our new servant girl (colored)
thinks she was converted yesterday.
The general religious interest is in
creasing. Georgia's Henry Harshaw
from the army has made us a
visit. He is an interesting young
man. Give much love to all
the dear Children. Is Willie
coming to College this spring?
If so he must be here soon.
Give my love to Lottie
Your aff. Father C. G. Finney
[page 4]
P.S. Your mother is better &
will speak for herself.
Ange & Georgia are as
usual. All send love
to you all.
God bless you
My Dear child.
Footnotes:
Julia wrote above this word: corps.
Again Julia has inserted the word corps over this word.
Against this section Julia had written in the margin:
in Quarter-Master's Dept.
Julia has inserted an e above the a of "Wyatt". Mrs M. A. Wyett, wife of George P. Wyett, died on February 16th, aged 66 years. See the obituary in Lorain County News, Vol. 3 (18 February 1863), p. 2.
According to the obituary of Mrs Wyett:
Nearly two years since, as Mrs. W. was sitting by the sick bed of a beloved daughter, Mrs. Prof, Penfield, and saw her die, the pressure of the great affliction brought on a paralytic attack, from which she never wholly recovered, and which finally resulted in death.
This was Richard Hardy who died "of Typhoid fever" the next day (19th February). He was born a slave in Kentucky and was purchased by his father at the age of two. He came to Oberlin in 1856 and although "of very ordinary intellectual abilities" developed a remarkable Christian character. See his obituary in Lorain County News, Vol. 3 (25 February 1863), p. 2.
In the margin Julia had written: 2nd Cousin Georgia.
Julia had written after this: (Cox.
This was probably Charlotte Cox (1826-1905) Jacob Dolson Cox's sister.