1846: A. D. Clark to John Hilton Clark

This letter was written by A. D. Clark to his brother John Hilton Clark (1817-1873) of Albany, New York. John was married to Margaret Ann Hazard (1829-1902) and worked as a tin and coppersmith in a shop on Beaver Street in Albany all his life. He died of consumption in 1873.

TRANSCRIPTION

Addressed to Mr. John H. Clark, Care of G. W. Gladding, ¹ No. 93 State Street, Albany

Mobile [Alabama]
Friday, March 5th, 1846

Dear John:

1846 Letter

You stated in your letter to John that you wished to hear from me. I do not know what to say unless it is that John, Maria, and the baby are well. Hazard’s health is improving. He looks much better than he did when he arrived here and has gained 5 pounds. I have been quite unwell and unable to work for a couple of weeks. I caught a bad cold, and the medicine I took to cure me took away my strength, the colour from my face, and the fat off me. I weighed myself this morning and find I have lost in two weeks 10 pounds. I am improving now, and will be able to go to work on Monday next.

Hazard has been to New Orleans. He stayed there almost a week and has now returned, and says that he is “down on the place.” He seen Grant that kept the Rialto ² in Albany; Tom Gun that sat in the Sun; Nat Hale, and several other of his acquaintances. I hope your prospects are improving. I scratch that out about Hazard because he just came in and I told him I had said he had been to New Orleans and he was quite angry. He says that when he writes home, he merely says how I am, &c. He has his own way and says that I have mastered it over him long enough. Lord knows I have done my best to please him. It is 10 minutes of 12 and the mail closes at 12 so I must close this letter.

Write immediately. Your affectionate brother, — A. D. Clark

FOOTNOTES

¹ May have been George W. Gladding (1813-1862), a master painter in Albany, who died of apoplexy in 1862.

² The 17 April 1840 issue of the Albany Argus reported:

“The Rialto” is a new refectory and coffee room, arranged and conducted in the best manner, in the first story and basement of the Exchange, corner of Exchange and Dean streets — R. Grant, late the proprietor at the Eagle, proprietor.