My Dear Grandchildren:
I see in casting a glance back, that I have passed over a good
deal in the life of your grandfather, which will, perhaps, be of
interest to you; without which, at any rate, this sketch would not be
complete. And I intended, when I closed my last letter, to commence
this with his career as a business man, and to continue the narrative
to the close of his life; and then to give you a distinct account of
his influence and deeds in the Church, and in the world, as a
Christian. But I do not know, upon further reflection, that it is best
to divide up his life in that way; and, indeed, it seems to me rather a
difficult and unnatural task to do so, for he strictly followed the
injunction of the Apostle: Be diligent in business, fervent in spirit,
serving the Lord. The dividing line, therefore, would be hard to
find, if there was one at all.
And these letters, which are a pleasant recreation to me while I
write them-and of profit, too, I hope, as I carefully review the life
of him who, though dead, still speaketh-would, I fear, become a
task, should I change the simple and pleasing plan I have adopted of
recalling the past, with the incidents as they occurred, and from them
selecting such as I think will best unfold to your view the real,
every-day life of him, which, if fairly seen, cannot fail to plant in
your young hearts a just pride for such an ancestor, and a holy desire
to walk in his steps. With this view, I will retrace, and bring up,
briefly and in order, the omissions to which I have alluded.
You remember, I mentioned to you the fact, that your grandfather
commenced life, as a business man, by becoming the partner of his
father in the drug business. His father had, a few years previously,
given up his interest in the Missouri Republican to his son Edward,
and commenced a business which was new to him, and that upon a small
capital. He found it so profitable, however, that he prevailed on
Joseph to abandon his profession, (the practice of which he had but
just commenced), and to join him, believing that it would ultimately be
more to his advantage to do so. From the profits arising from this
business-which regularly increased, with the increase of the city,
and that of the country, from the rapid emigration to the Western
States-combined with his success in an occasional speculation in
land, I doubt not, if grandpa had been at all given to the love of
money, or had been ambitious of attaining to great wealth, and had bent
his powers of mind and body in that direction, he would have reached
the desired goal, perhaps to becoming a millionaire.
But very different from this were the tendencies of his nature.
He appreciated money as the means of adding to the sum of human
happiness; and, while he was by no means reckless in the use of it, it
was a source of great pleasure to him to have it in his power to
indulge his family in having what they desired and in living as they
pleased, and still to have something over to distribute to the
necessities of the indigent. To the Church of Christ he cheerfully
contributed to the extent of his ability, esteeming it one of his
highest privileges. Pursuing this course, his business meanwhile
widening, and constantly becoming more profitable, in the year 1837 or
38, he decided to take a partner, and offered the situation to my
brother Henry, which was gladly accepted. After this, (I do not know
exactly how long), he purchased a valuable piece of ground in the city,
upon a part of which the firm determined to build an oil and lead
factory. This proved to be a very expensive and arduous undertaking;
and, although it promised, after being fairly established, to be a most
profitable investment, yet the capital of the firm was not sufficient
to complete and to carry it on successfully until it should reach a
self-sustaining point, without doing serious injury to the store, by
depriving it of the necessary capital for its success.
During this state of things, which grew worse every day, my
husband discerned a portentous cloud in the sky of his commercial
prosperity, which resulted after days and nights of anxiety and
overtaxed strength of body and mind, in a low state of health and
spirits that almost unfitted him for his accumulated business, which,
nevertheless, he continued to prosecute with avidity. This was about
the year 1841. I do not recollect how long his ill health lasted, but
I well remember how his flesh went away-how pale he was-how he
perspired at night, from nervous prostration, and how his skin seemed
to cleave to his bones. He was still amiable and uncomplaining; but
his elasticity, his free-hearted joyousness was gone.
After pressing him for some time to tell me his troubles and
difficulties, and sympathizing with him because of them, until a far
deeper concern took possession of me on account of his health, and,
finding that moderate expostulations did not better things, I
determined to make an effort by trying a wifes skill in arousing him
from this state of despondency, which threatened such serious
consequences; for I might well feel that fortune would be nothing to me
without my husband-my husband as he ever had been. And if the worst
came to the worst, if he only had sufficient means to pay his debts,
(which he said, without doubt, he had), I cared for nothing better than
to begin life afresh, with such a husband as I had, with health, youth,
business capacity, and a good reputation.
This conversation was not without effect; and he determined, by
way of recruiting, to knock off from business, and to make an
excursion into the country. This little trip-which was not simply
without aim, other than for his health, as he had some business to
attend to on the way-acted like a charm, by restoring his wasted
energies and his cheerfulness. He returned, in ten or fifteen days,
more like himself than he had been for months. After this, he soon
recovered entirely; and never again did he lose his equanimity for
more, perhaps, than a day or two at a time, although the dreaded blow
did come, but not before he had taken a step in the divine life, which
served to buoy him up above the ills of this checkered existence.
During the year 1839, about five years after we became members of
the Church, your grandfather was ordained Ruling Elder in the Second
Presbyterian church. We united with the First Presbyterian church
(which I believe, I told you in a previous letter), which was then the
only one in the city, but were induced, from a sense of duty, to go
out, with a few others, to assist in strengthening a small colony that
had been struggling for existence almost from the time it had left the
mother church, some two or three years previous. In the building up of
this church he was one of its most efficient agents. Besides having
the duties of an Elder to perform, he was appointed a Trustee, and,
with others, was very active in planning, and carrying forward to its
completion, a large and expensive building, bearing a heavy part of the
debt of it for years, until the means were provided for his relief,
which was not until long after he had met with heavy pecuniary losses.
He was regularly in his place at all the meetings of the church, both
for spiritual and secular purposes.
Now, my dear children, if you have conceived an idea, from the
insight I have given you, of the numerous occupations of your
grandfather, that he must have been bustling about, having so much to
do--hurrying things at home, and having no time for pleasure or
recreation-you are greatly mistaken. A day rarely passed that he did
not take a ride with his family, or some member of it, to the farm,
(except during the period of his ill health, when he oftener sought
repose in the afternoon), enjoying, with the fresh air, exercise, and
charms of the country, the society of those so dear to him. He never
came home with a surly look-like some people who want to make an
impression that they have the world on their shoulders-to talk about
hard work, and hard times, or disagreeable matters, or to recount all
the wonderful things he had done, or had to do. But, with a step and a
countenance that seemed to say, What a blessed and happy man I am!
his presence always brought with it happiness and peace. He was not a
great talker, but he generally had something pleasant to say, or an
interesting anecdote to relate; for, with a keen perception of the
ludicrous, he possessed a talent for telling anecdotes admirably well,
and a humor that was irresistibly pervasive. No one could help feeling
its influence, and being all the happier for it.
I wish I could remember some of his anecdotes, and do them
justice in the relation; but I know the attempt would be futile: for
there was so much in the look and manner that gave a zest to his
conversation, and rendered it attractive, that it would be impossible
to convey a correct idea of it in words. None can feel, or fully
appreciate it, without having had the privilege of being in his
presence. A friend, to whom he was much attached, and at whose house
he frequently visited, mentioned to me, since his death, that he and
his wife had, from their early acquaintance with him, been in the habit
of referring often to what Mr. Charless would say, recalling his
conversation, and talking so much about him, that one day he asked,
Wife, how is it we cannot help talking of Mr. Charless?-what is
there about him that impresses us so? It is not really what he says,
but the way he says it. It is his humor, his benevolence of manner,
his inimitable pleasantry, etc.
With these qualities, I need not say that he was an acquisition
to society. He enjoyed it at home or abroad; at the evening party, or
with a few friends around the social board. With a genial nature, he
had a facility for adaptation, so that it was easy for him to feel
perfectly at home, and unrestrained, with all classes and conditions of
men, young or old, gay or grave. He was particularly fond of young
people, and generally had a little sweetheart among the girls, with
whom he would occasionally carry on a spirited flirtation.
In the fall of 1841, immediately after his period of dejection,
and consequent ill health, your grandfather and myself mutually agreed
that it would be best for us, by way of lessening our expenses, to sell
our furniture, and break up housekeeping for a few years. My health,
which had never been good since that severe illness, of which I have
spoken, was the palpable cause; for my husband had often expressed a
desire to try the effect of rest from the cares and fatigue of
housekeeping, and now, that one sister and two of my brothers were
married and settled, there was not difficulty in the way of our doing
so. This proved to be a very fortunate step, for at the time things,
almost anything, sold well. The city was prosperous, and everybody
felt rich. Our furniture, of which we reserved sufficient to furnish
two bed-rooms, besides our valuables of plate, etc., sold for as much,
some of it for more, than we paid for it when new. And in one year
from that time, suddenly, there was a monetary pressure, which brought
every kind of property down to less than half of its value or original
cost. It was one of those pecuniary tornadoes which occasionally sweep
through the whole length and breadth of the land, levelling and
blighting everything as it passes, putting a stop to the wheels of
commerce, and bringing terror into almost every family. It came with
an astounding effect upon St. Louis. Many who felt themselves rich
were in a few days reduced to a state of poverty, not having the means
wherewith to pay their honest debts.
The firm of Charless & Blow were compelled to suspend
payment. This reverse came upon them like a shock, for,
notwithstanding my husbands fears, a year or two previous, with regard
to his mercantile affairs, he had informed me, but a short time before,
that he had no doubt now but that they would be enabled to get through
with the difficulties that had been pressing him down; for, as he
expressed it, we begin now to see our way clear. They had had no
apprehensions with regard to their endorser (for whom they also
endorsed), for his house was one of the oldest and (it was thought)
one of the most opulent in the city. But when the fact was known that
Mr. T had failed, and when his creditors called upon the firm of
Charless & Blow to respond to his notes, which were then due, it was
too much for them. At first my husband (pale from emotion) thought all
was over!-all for which he had been toiling for years; reduced to
poverty, his reputation as a merchant, perhaps, greatly weakened; and,
what was worse still, (not knowing the extent of his losses by Mr. T.),
he might not be able, after sacrificing everything he had in the world,
to pay his debts!
In a crisis like this, developments are exceedingly rapid, and
revulsion of feeling just as much so. The excitement is too intense to
endure delay. The best and the worst must be known, if possible, and
that at once. It was soon ascertained, therefore, in the case of
Charless & Blow, that their loss, by the failure of our good and
honorable old friend, was not much; and the chief difficulty with them,
as with all other sufferers, lay in the loss of confidence between men,
and the consequent scarcity of money in circulation.
Your grandparents passed one troubled night in consequence of
this event, in which sleep-tired natures sweet restorer-forsook
them. But the next afternoon found them taking a drive in grandpas
buggy, calmly talking about their new circumstances, and resolving,
with a courageous heart, to meet them, whatever they might be. Of
course, I did all I could to encourage him, (else I would not have been
worthy the name of wife); became very self-sacrificing for a lady-willing
to part with my tea service, and all my silver-ware-any and
everything I had of value, except my bridal gifts; and then began to
speculate upon how very nice it would be to live in a neat little
cottage, etc., etc. For I was not too old to be romantic; and I do
really believe now, as I recall my enthusiasm on the subject, that I
would have been disappointed had anything occurred to prevent me from
exhibiting to my husband how cheerfully I could submit to misfortune.
No such test came; for the very next day a widow, who had deposited a
few hundred dollars with the firm for safe keeping, hearing of their
reverses, called to get her money. They had none; and my husband,
remembering my offer, sent a messenger, with a note, requesting me to
send the tea-service, with which to secure her. Cheerfully-for I was
glad it was in my power to secure the widow against loss, and to
relieve the mind of my husband to some little extent-but with a
beating heart, (for this was a birth-day gift from him), I parted with
my beautiful tea-service, and have never seen it since. It was sold to
pay that debt.
Our dear old mother was greatly afflicted because of our reverses
in fortune, and wept like a child; but her amazement was to see me so
unmoved. I thought then it was Christian submission that enabled me to
bear up so well; but I see now there was a great deal of human love,
and sympathy, and human pride, too, mixed with it.
Although we were not keeping house, at that time, we were very
delightfully and happily situated, for we were boarding (as an especial
favor) at our eldest brothers. He had a sweet wife, and they lived in
their beautiful new house, which, years after, grandpa purchased. It
was there your dear mamma passed her young lady days-where she was
married-where her little sons, Charless, Louis and Edward, were born;
and where their loving grandpa breathed away his precious life. But
the same reasons which made it necessary for us to submit to loss and
inconvenience, made it incumbent on my brother to sell his residence.
Consequently, we accepted the kind invitation of our mother to occupy a
part of her house; and, by strict economy in every practicable thing
-paying her a very low price for our board, which the old lady would
receive, but not a cent more-we passed three of the happy years of
our life, at the end of which time, we had regained a considerable
amount of our losses; and, what was better still, your dear grandfather
had become firmly and prosperously re-established in business, without
having lost an atom of his reputation as a judicious and energetic
merchant.
The suspension of Charless & Blow did not result in a complete
failure, by any means. They solicited an examination into their
affairs, exhibited their books, making a complete and full exposition
of the condition of their business, and it was unanimously agreed upon,
by the committee chosen for the purpose, that it would be greatly to
the advantage of their creditors for the firm not to close up, but to
continue the business, each binding himself to extract, for the two
succeeding years, only a small (stated) sum for private use, from the
proceeds of the store.
As soon as the adverse condition of C. & B. was relieved, and
they had regained their former position-which, I think, was in about
two years from the time of the crisis-they made up their minds to
dissolve partnership: one to take the store; the other, the oil and
lead factory. Accordingly, terms of dissolution were drawn up. Mr.
Charless, being the elder, had the privilege of choosing, and, after
reflection, decided upon retaining the store. My two younger brothers
afterwards became his partner in the business, and remained as
Charless, Blow & Co. until dissolved by the death of their beloved
senior.
This is a long letter, my dear children, and I will close it,
with the promise of letting you know something more about our three
years sojourn at your great-grandmammas: in which I hope to show you
how happy we can be under adverse circumstances, and how much less the
evil of coming down in the world is, than generally is supposed.
Affectionately yours, GRANDMA.