Letter from Canada
Letter from Canada
Windsor, Canada, April 5, 1853.Mr. Horace Lindsley,
Windsor, Canada, April 5, 1853.Mr. Horace Lindsley,
Sir: I take this opportunity afforded me to let you know the success of our journey to this land of liberty for the slave. Our journey from Ashtabula to Cleveland was everything that could be desired, but from there on to Detroit the going was worse than bad, but not withstanding all this hardship arrayed against us we reached Detroit wharf safe and then our next move was to go up to the ferry and cross over to Canada. And we were not very long about it I assure you.
We carried our trunks up to the ferry, and when we got there the ferry was gone to the Canada side and we stood on the dock until the boat returned, and at that epoch, whom should we behold but H. Bidds, a friend standing and looking, at our side, ready if necessary to render us any aid that the occasion might require, but fortunately we were well fortified, for the good old Canadian ferry boat was in her place at the proper time without fail, and before this we looked so much like men of business that we were not suspected of being runaway slaves, and another thing which was favorable to us was that we arrived on Sunday and the most expert men-hunters were at church and could not serve God and Mammon at the same time.
George and I have got into business the same day that we arrived here. We are to work for a man who owns a steam mill for ($10) per month now and ($12) after a while.
The mill is a quarter of a mile from Lake St. Claire, situated on a low spot of ground at the edge of a river. He has about twenty men to work for him at present, and expects to have more soon.
I am cooking and I can't get time to write or I should have written before. Now I have many thoughts which I wish to express on paper, but time will not permit me to do so at present. We have not seen Alan Saunders since we left Ashtabula. If he has come over to Canada he has not got where we are at work yet.
I want to know how you are getting along in Ohio, and what has happened since I left that place and all about everybody.
I find land very good here and I think dairying would be good business. Raising colts would also be profitable. A man could make big money at that business for it would not cost him anything but to salt them occasionally during the summer.
Sir: I take this opportunity afforded me to let you know the success of our journey to this land of liberty for the slave. Our journey from Ashtabula to Cleveland was everything that could be desired, but from there on to Detroit the going was worse than bad, but not withstanding all this hardship arrayed against us we reached Detroit wharf safe and then our next move was to go up to the ferry and cross over to Canada. And we were not very long about it I assure you.
We carried our trunks up to the ferry, and when we got there the ferry was gone to the Canada side and we stood on the dock until the boat returned, and at that epoch, whom should we behold but H. Bidds, a friend standing and looking, at our side, ready if necessary to render us any aid that the occasion might require, but fortunately we were well fortified, for the good old Canadian ferry boat was in her place at the proper time without fail, and before this we looked so much like men of business that we were not suspected of being runaway slaves, and another thing which was favorable to us was that we arrived on Sunday and the most expert men-hunters were at church and could not serve God and Mammon at the same time.
George and I have got into business the same day that we arrived here. We are to work for a man who owns a steam mill for ($10) per month now and ($12) after a while.
The mill is a quarter of a mile from Lake St. Claire, situated on a low spot of ground at the edge of a river. He has about twenty men to work for him at present, and expects to have more soon.
I am cooking and I can't get time to write or I should have written before. Now I have many thoughts which I wish to express on paper, but time will not permit me to do so at present. We have not seen Alan Saunders since we left Ashtabula. If he has come over to Canada he has not got where we are at work yet.
I want to know how you are getting along in Ohio, and what has happened since I left that place and all about everybody.
I find land very good here and I think dairying would be good business. Raising colts would also be profitable. A man could make big money at that business for it would not cost him anything but to salt them occasionally during the summer.
If you wish to Join ACHS please download the following PDF.
If you wish to Join ACHS please download the following PDF.
Please make checks payable to the Ashtabula County Historical Society and send to P.O. Box 36, Jefferson, Ohio 44047
Please make checks payable to the Ashtabula County Historical Society and send to P.O. Box 36, Jefferson, Ohio 44047
Page 7 Your are (HERE)
Page 7 Your are (HERE)
