Petrie, John. Letters, 1838

This collection contains two pieces of correspondence from John Petrie in Griggsville, Illinois, to Eli English in Hartland, Vermont. The letters were written shortly after Petrie moved from Hartland to Griggsville in 1838.

John Petrie (1800-1881) was born in Hartland, Vermont. He was married to Almira Stocking in April 1829. The Petrie family moved to Griggsville, Pike County, western Illinois in the late 1830s.

This collection contains correspondence from John Petrie to Eli English on January 29 and August 25, 1838. Petrie and English were neighbors in Hartland, Vermont, before Petrie moved with his wife and children to Griggsville, Illinois. In the first letter, Petrie told his former neighbor about the mild weather and how low the cost of living was in Illinois. He wrote to English that “this is the country for you” and gave him advice on moving. Petrie began the second letter August 25 and signed it in September. In this letter, Petrie described commercial and agriculture conditions in Griggsville and told his friend that his shoemaking business could make a good profit there.

The Illinois Historical Survey, predecessor to the Illinois History and Lincoln Collection, acquired this collection prior to 1967.