Letter by Isaac P. McDowell to M. T. Burwell (1895)

No. 1987
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
I.P. McDowell, President
J.F. Taylor, Vice President
T.S.O. McDowell, Cashier
J.V. McDowell, Cash'r.

Fairbury, Ill. April 26th 1895

 

Hon. M. T. Burwell

Wichita, Ks

Dear Sir:

Supposing you to be the chief civic official of your recently adopted city.   I desire to extend congratulations for your good luck, and wish you a most successful and happy "reign."

I consider it, indeed, no small honor to be invested with the amount of authority implied in the term of mayor, especially when conferred by a voluntary voice of the people I bespeak for you a wise and first government and trust that, while forbearance is an inherent virtue in your nature, you may be exacting & prompt in the administration & meting out of justice to the good people of your city.

I left Denver a few days ago after enjoying a winter's sojourn there of most excellent health; for which I desire to be grateful to the beneficent Given of all good things.

 

I left your friends there, Mrs. A. Burwell & daughter, in good health.   They gave up the Webster terrace, a short time before I left, & rented & moved into a larger & better flat on Pearl St. at a rental of $55.00 pr month.   I was a mite fearful they may have missed it, however, in the change, Webster offered them a reduced rent-$30- pr month rather than have them leave- Amos was still with the old aunt in Iowa.

I wanted, very much, to have come home your way and made you a brief visit, but had to come by my boy at Fairbury Neb & stop a while with him.   I will endeavor to take you in some of these times as I go back and forth to the mountain city of good health as Denver has so often & kindly proven to be to me.   I may go back there again-can't tell-ere the falling leaf time of year rolls round.   Denver's dull & the good old times of yore returns sluggishly.   I sold the remnant of my town out there for $12,000.00 one third down with mortg on it for the balance.   If convenient I would like to hear from you

Respectfully, your friend

Isaac P. McDowell

Source: the Burwell/Tate Family Papers, 1850-1930 (K0233), Folder 1. Burwell family scrapbook and photo album, 1879-1908, photocopied.*

*BURWELL-TATE FAMILY PAPERS, 1850-1930 (K0233), The State Historical Society of Missouri, 800 East 51st Street, 306 Miller Nichols Library UMKC, Kansas City, MO 64110.