Letter to Ireland from Michael Dempsey 1874
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Jena, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana My Dear Cousin James, I will offer no apology for my neglect in writing to you, or some of my kindred, but confess at once that I acted bad. Thinking you would like to know what has become of us all in America, I will endeavor to give you or some other friend or neighbor a short history of our travels and changes since we left Ireland. When I came to the United States with Lawrence Wh--?-- he conveyed me to my Brother James, then living in the Western part of New York 300 miles west of the city. I found him farming on a small scale; he had three horses, four cows, and some hogs ... the farm he paid rent for. His Son, Michael, and myself worked on it, and we worked at some salt works. He paid me six dollars per month. I caught the fever and ague there. He advised me to go and see my Brother Conner some 500 miles from there, and living in the State of Rhode Island. I went there scarce of both money and clothing, but I had something and that was the chills and fever. Conner and his wife treated me very kindly, but I did not recover till spring set in. They were keeping Boardinghouse, and Conner was running a machine in a factory, so they were making money very fast. My Brother Peter came to see us on a furlough from the army. After that I lost the run of him. I tried to work in the factory but could barely clear expenses, so I enlisted in the United States Army for the term of five years. Conner wanted to take me out but I would not agree; if I made a hard bed I would sleep on it. In 1840 I went to fight Savage Indians in Florida for seven dollars a month; rather dangerous business, in a very unhealthy and extremely hot country. Well, nobody ever gets well paid for fighting even though he wins. I was blessed with good health. The fighting ceased, my pay increased, and Conner wrote to me very often. He told me when Christy and Mary came to Canada and then to the United States. Himself and Family moved West to Wisconsin, a new territory, but now one of the most flourishing States of the Union. While there I sent him some money as he was hard run, but part of it was lost or stolen on its way. My term of five years being out, I started to see him; but funds failing me, I stopped at St. Louis Mo. I worked at various kinds of work for a year. Then, in 1846, there was war between the United States and Mexico. I started there at 25 Dollars per month, but not as a soldier. The first year I got along very well, so my pay was raised, and no outlay atall. But in 1847, some 4,000 Mexican Cavalry ran on about 350 of us; we had no arms as we were in the Quarter Masters employ, so they massacred all but 27 of us. I left them in disgust with my money and clothes to boot, and retreated to the American Army with a sound skin; but I became careless of saving any more money. And the next year I got a letter from my Father stating the deplorable condition of Ireland on account of the potato disease. I could not send any money then, being nearly 200 miles in the Enemies Country, nor could I write at that time as our mails were interrupted by the enemy whenever they could. The war being over, I started home, yet I was receiving 75 Dollars per month and found. I thought of settling in the Southern part of Louisiana, but the Cholera was very bad in New Orleans; so I remained 300 miles North of it. One morning 4th of March 1849 I took my gun to kill some wild turkies. I had to cross a large River in a boat, placing the gun in the boat, the muzzle facing me. One of the locks sprung and shot me in the right side, and that load of shot remains in my lungs to this day. I wrote to Conner of my sad accident, telling him of my inability ever to go and see him. He sympathized with me for the accident. He also told me Mary was married and living in Boston, Massachusetts; her husband's name was Dennis Kelly, originally from Cork. He turned out a mean dog. After they had four children they settled in St. Louis, Mo. He then ran away to Chicago, Illinois, and she died soon after of Cholera. The children were taken in to a convent. Two boys and one girl remain there yet; the oldest boy is now grown and living in Boston, but I have learned he possesses his father's vices. Christy moved to the state of Wisconsin and settled within twelve miles of Conner. He has two sons and four daughters living; he is doing very well and worth about 8,000 Dollars. In the year 1851 Conner went to California and remained nearly two years; he made several thousand dollars, returned home, raised a large family of boys and two girls, but his oldest daughter died about two years ago. His oldest son came and lived over a year with me, but he is married and lives in Minnesota. He has three children and doing well. The next oldest son called James, a fine young man, got killed in our terrible war; another called Thomas is finishing his studies in Cincinnati, Ohio to become a Catholic Priest. Conner's wife and children are still living on their old farm; they have every comfort they desire but the loss of their Father; he died about two months before his oldest daughter or in March, 1868. His disease was cancer on the stomach. James and his son Michael, also my brother Peter, I know nothing of them, whether they are dead or alive, only Peter married in Virginia about 23 years ago. When I met my great accident I had several hundred dollars and three good horses, but before I got well I was in debt to a large amount with a broken constitution and living among strangers; the situation would seem to have very few charms worth living for, but I remained in the same place, went to work as well as I could, paid up my debts. Married in 1852, lost by death my three oldest children and two since, but we have 6 girls and 2 boys still living healthy and hearty. 4 of them are going to school. I owe nothing to anyone. I have but 160 acres of land, 30 acres in cultivation. I have about 30 head of horned cattle and 6 work oxen, plenty of hogs. and three horses. Now, without boasting I am thankful to God for both my health and happiness; and I wish that you and as many like you as could come here could do so; there are homes here for thousands of families, and as something must be paid for them (for no honest man wants something for nothing) he will be able to do so and live very well in one year. All people coming here should come in Winter or Early spring. Land at New Orleans, then take a steamer to Harrisonburg on the Ouachita River. I live 20 miles from there but everyone knows me and will direct anyone how to find me. Christy requests me to send his best wishes to you and all their family. If your Mother is still living give her and Nancy my love. Remember me to all that is left of Martin Dempsey's family, John White's family, Edward Banans, and all my friends. Now to prove you are better natured than I have been write to me soon and tell me all the changes since I left Ireland, Direct to Michael Dempsey, Jena, Catahoula Parish, La. Believe me always your Most affectionate Cousin, Michael Dempsey |
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