Clay Family Collections

Indianapolis, Indy, February 4, 1885

My Dear Friend:

I often think of you, and always with pride and pleasure; and , yet I must confess, with regret. The real leaders of nations and races are never allowed to enter their promised lands; and, therefore, you are always coupled in my mind with regret. Moses could look at Canaan from the top of Pisgah, but might not enter with the people of God. He is the type of all true and truly great leaders. I once hoped tht the Republican pary would be great enough to honor itself, by placing at its head, in the day of its power, the real leader of its opinions; and the real exempler of its manhood. You combined more of both than any other man. Your opinions are never so ideal and so distant from factual life as not to be capable of union with it; and by bravely accepting the duty of writing them and it in all perilous times and places, your life brcame the extension

John W. February 4, 1885

of what the American People's life has to become before slavery could be ended, and the unity of the nation fully established. It was therefore fit, according to the dramatic writing, that you, the embodiment of the contest, should have delivered the final blow to the infinite wrong of slavery, and placed the glorious crown of perfect liberty upon the head the nation. But we must be content. Standing in the rising dawn of the new day, your shadow will fall ahead of the march the people for thousands of years, pointing out to them the true West, whether "The Star of Empire wends its way." I shall soon hunt my quiet grave, and go to sleep there in confidence that you will still live and march on, the leader and the exemplar of all true men and nations.

1. I have just ascertained that Vice President Hendricks' paternal Grand Father was Abram Hendricks. His maternal Grand father was a Mr. Thompson, or Thomson.

John W. Gordon. Ind [?]

Feb. 4. 1885-

[top left] 3641

GORDON & BAILEY, Attorneys at Law, OFFICE, 2, 5, 6 & 8 THORPE BLOCK.

[right margin] JONATHAN W. GORDON. LEAON O. BAILEY.

[main text] 3.

Indianapolis, Ind, .... 188

2. I will see Senator Moon as soon as he returns to his post, and learn the name of the reformed preacher whose name you ask; and when I learn it, I will let you know it.

3. The Shanks family - father, mother and sons - are still living in Portland, Jay County, Indiana. I will stir up "[their?] pure [minds?]", today, touching the matters you refer to; and not the lines between you and them will soon be open again. The young C.M.C. Shanks if alive and able, ought to write you. I understand Shanks' sons are well educated. It may be that they are away from home.

I am glad your work is drawning to a close; and doubt not that it might adopt for motto: "Finis opus coronat." It was once my wish to have gone down the tide of time with you; and my heart often said in silence to you;

O while along the stream of time, thy name Expeanded [flies?], and gathers all its fame, Say, shall my little [barque?] attendant said,

[top left] 364[5?]

GORDON & BAILEY, Attorneys at Law, OFFICE, 2, 5, 6 & 8 THORPE BLOCK.

[right margin] JONATHAN W. GORDON. LEAON O. BAILEY.

[main text] 4

Indianapolis, Ind, .... 188

Pursue the triumph, and partake the galey."

and so to the [and?]; but my thoughts are humbler now; and. I accept dust and silence, feeling, indeed, that it is hard, but accepting hardness as is [me?t?] for + + + + + +

-"hearts to break and give no sign Save whitening lips and fading tresses, Till Death pours out his cordial wine Slow - dropped from Misery's crushing presses; and that + + + + + + + +

"If singing breath or echoing chord To every hidden pang were given, What endless melodies were poured, As sad as earth as sweet as heaven".

It may be that there is light on the other side, for me, and I humbly hope; and there, in that light, with you, I may cease to regret the failures of life here.

I am whether in hope of despair, alike and always your friend.

J.W.Gordon.

[bottom left] Sen. C. M. Clay, White - Hall, Ind.

My Dear Son Monday Dec 17.1827 I expect you have been anxious to hear from us. I had doubted when we left you but we should have gone home before this time, but your fathers cancer began to look worse in a few days after we came here, the Doc began last saturday was a week to put on his powder{?} more plentifully than he ever did, & continues putting it on every other day. it looks very bad, but the Doc says that is a matter of course from the application of the medicine, & that he has know doubt but he will perfect a cure. there is a good many of our friends in townnow, the administration convention is to meet this evening in the Presbiterian meeting house your uncle Garard is here his son Wm that has just commen ced the Practice of the law a promising youth, died about three weeks since. we often see the uncertainty of earthly prospects, oh that you would take the adminition in the Bible to remem ber your creator in the days of your youth the fear of the lord is the begining of wisdom. david irvine and five or six others is here from Madison. he brought us four letters from our children, they are all well. Son Harrison intends to go home next saturday if we should not write then you muts ask permission of President to visit him and enquire about your Father, I dont tell when we will go home. write to us by the {?}

tell Mr Roberts your Father walking cane from there we thought it was Mr Smiths, he says it is not his but he thinks it is Sidneys. we intend sending home when we learn whose it is farewell S. Clay

Sally Clay Decr 17th 1827

1827-1836

[page turned] Mr Cassius Clay

Politeness } Bardstown of Mr Morhead }

My Dear Son Frankfort Dec. 17. 1831

I recieved your letter last night and hasten to answer it with every feeling of my gl{?}ing in thankfullness, to that devine Providence which has, {?} hope will protect you. we are but worms of the dust whether we feel it or not, oh that God would give us clean hearts and renew a right spirit within us. I do not wish to cast a gloom over the chearfull spirits of my son, but why should I not speak of that which I view of more importance than all the world beside, religion never was designed to lessen our enjoyments in this world, but to teach us how to use gods blessings an not abuse them. your uncle garrard will here this morning he is a member of the legislature & M. Dudley read to him your letter, they are both much pleased with it. Edward is gone to a wedding his cousin James is to be married or rather is married I suppose to Miss Russel, daughter of the late widow their neighbour, son of James Dudleys. his daughter was Married a few weeks since to a son of the same widow. the Family and friends are pleased with the Marriages. we recieved the catalog you mentiond, if you mean Miss Warfield or Miss Boss they

have both been in town this winter. Miss Ross is here more & has been to see me. Eliza Payne & Ann Eliza Allen & son Ann Maria gerard she spent about two weeks I suppose our town will be much crowede then, Mr. I {?} Marshall occupyes the Mansion house. I havent seen Brutus & Amelia for two months, but expect they are much pleased at the prospect of an heir some time next spring. Betsy has a nother son I was there in october when he was born but have not seen her since, they spoke of calling him Brutus but I have not learned their conclusion Paulinaa has lost her dear little Wm{?} Ca{?}ium he died with the hooping cough, and Mr Rodes had his Factory burned about six weeks since, the child died the week afterward i havent seen either of them since but understand his Fac tory was partly insured so that his loss will not be very great, poor man he is very industrious & makes great exertions, but providence seems to {?} his designs, by permission, Paulina wrote me a very affecting letter lately she has chosen that good part like Mary in the gospell, what shall never be taken from her and has felt the goodness of the love in her affections. Betsy wrote to me she had recieved a long letter from you since I was there, they are going on slowly with their building but expect they will get in next summer. I made a mistake you see & write on the wrong side of my paper