King of the Wild Frontier

While passing through Cincinnati, R. W. Clarke of Bethel, Ohio happened to catch a glimpse of Davy Crockett, who had been in town making a political speech.  At that point in his career, the "king of the wild frontier" had moved on from bear hunting and was now a United States Congressman representing Tennessee.

His notoriety as a frontiersman still loomed large in American culture, however, thanks in no small part to the play Clarke mentioned in his letter.  Actually called The Lion of the West, it first opened in New York in 1831 starring James Hackett as Nimrod Wildfire, a fictionalized and highly exaggerated version of Crockett.

The summer of 1834 wasn't the first time Crockett had attended this play.  The following notice, from the Springfield Illinois Weekly State Journal of January 25, 1834, indicates that he saw it at least once in Washington, as well: 

R. W. Clarke to Henry Eddy, July 15, 1834
Henry Eddy Papers, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

 "I saw Davy Crocket at Cincinnati, on Saturday, he made a speech, which I did not hear, but understand that it was a very good and sensible address. At the theater on Saturday night they played, “Nimrod Wildfire,” in which Davy is the chief character. I’m told that Davy was greatly amused at the play and frequently laughed heartily at some of his odd sayings, as they were spoken in the play.”  

"I Should Have You in My Arms Now"

Norman and Adeline Judd

Norman B. Judd was clearly devoted to his wife Adeline, whom he married in 1844, and wrote her sweet letters to prove it.  Also, he was apparently the poster child for the cult of domesticity - his line about "Home and its associations are the man of business' resting place" could have been found in any domestic advice manual or Godey's Lady's Book of the day.   

Norman B. Judd to Adeline Judd, February 3, 1847
Normal Judd Letters, SC 839, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

“If a railroad was built between here and Chicago I should be with you today, as it is I must content myself with sending the welcome and wishes of the husband and father. And what could be warmer, truer, purer. Home and its associations are the man of business resting place—around which cluster all those feelings that warm his humanity and brush off the hard points that the strife and contact with man have fixed upon his mind and feelings.”

Norman B. Judd to Adeline Judd, October 9, 1859
Normal Judd Letters, SC 839, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

"I should have you in my arms now instead of being in this stupid town looking after bridges instead of giving you kisses. I cannot yet determine what my stay here will be and have stolen a moment from the examination of papers to scrawl a how do you do and a lot of love to my own dear wife."

 

"A wife to a man is...a necessary evil"

In 1824, twenty-five-year-old lawyer Henry Closson offered the following heartwarming sentiment on marriage.  Six years later, he married twenty-three-year-old Emily Whitney of Marlboro, Vermont.  One wonders if the lady was aware of her prince charming's sentiment towards the bonds of matrimony - or perhaps in time Closson's views had changed?

Henry Closson to Henry Eddy, September 1, 1824
Henry Eddy Papers, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
I am neither married, nor, what is still worse (better), have that state in expectancy.  Mr. Mosley tells me you are in a like condition.  Are bachelors in Illinois taxed?  If they are, husbands are more grievously taxed.  A wife to a man, is, what lawyers are to a community, a necessary evil.  Recollect the words of Moore, “The choosing of a wife is like putting a hand into a sack where are a hundred vipers and one eel, it is a hundred to one if, in the choice, we do not get a viper.”

"Damm you I'll kick your Asse"

The moral of this story is, don't mess with Alexander P. Field. Also, that Illinois politics has always been a dirty business.
On February 10, 1827, James Hall was elected Illinois State Treasurer, defeating Field.  After the House of Representatives adjourned, Field  went into the assembly hall and asked Illinois State Representative John Reynolds if he had once said that Thomas Reynolds (possibly his brother?) had stolen a ten-dollar bill.  When Reynolds hesitated to respond, Field went after him with a small dagger.  After kicking John Reynolds in the behind, Field turned on Thomas Reynolds with the same question.  Receiving no answer from Brown, either, Field advanced on him with a knife.  Thomas Reynolds wet his pants and ran away.

Henry Eddy Papers, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Thomas C. Brown to Henry Eddy, February 11, 1827

“Hall was elected Treasurer over Field on yesterday on the 8 ballot he got 27. Carlan was absent & of course that was a majority the House then adjourned. Field went in & asked John Reynolds before any one left the house if he didn’t tell him that Tom had stole a Ten Dollar Bill & John hesitated. Field pulled out his dirk & John run & Field followed & says damm you I’ll kick your Asse & did accordingly severely & then went to see Tom & he run & with a few remarks by Field of his having stolen ten $ &c. &c. in the midst of the affair David Blackwell jumped up & ran clear off he walked over all the chairs & tables in the State house & run very brisk & Field never saw him at all. This was calculated to create mirth from all parties to see David fleeing & with a big clubb that he had kept for the last 5 or 6 weeks. I am told that his friends says his Bravery deceived him.”

Singleton H. Kimmel to Henry Eddy, February 11, 1827

“On yesterday the election for Treasurer came on, which resulted in the choice of James Hall your pickiune Judge

…

“One thing I had like to have forgotten which is best of all; on the evining of the election for Treasurer, A. Field entered the Hall of the H. and asked John Reynolds in presences of the whole house and in presence of Tom R. if he John had not told him Field at Sangamon that Tom had stolen a ten dollar bill at Kaskaskia to which the said John made no reply, the question pressed with some warmth, by field which not being answered promptly, Field old him he had so said and should not deny it, on which he F. drew a dirk and John R. retreated receiving a kick in the posteriors he very soon disappeared, when F. turned to Tom and observed that John R. had told him so and that he had heard many others say so, besides which he believed it was true on which he asked him if he could deny it. Tom making no reply F made a pass at Tom with his foot and advanced quickly when Tom drew up a chair and Field his dirk when as might readily be supposed Tom dropt his chair and made a strait shirt tail. A second reconnoiter ensued at a later hour of the same evening, when John R. drew a pistol, and Field advanced as far as he could (being intercepted by his friends) but not nigh enough to justify John in shooting. John R. is no coward but Tom is a most infamous one. I bileve he Tom pissed his breeches, at least it is so thought. His honor Picaune dodged off and has kept himself pretty closely every since. He has not however much cause to fear Mr. F. for he is no way displeased with him and beside he can well conceive himself protected by his insipidity and nothingness.”

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas C. Browne, who witnessed Field's attack on Reynolds.