Letter from John H. Vincent to Elizabeth D. Vincent, October 1871
Vincent was a witness to many of the significant events of his day. In this letter to Elizabeth (“Lib”) Vincent, his wife, he discusses the aftermath of the great Chicago fire:
The fire! How fearful! Chicago ruined! All its wealth and glory swept away in forty-eight hours. I go there tonight. Meeting at the Central Rail this PM (in Cleveland). Much loving and much material aid tendered. 100,000 people are homeless! A train leaves here tonight with bread crackers, cheese etc. for relief of the suffering. Men that yesterday were worth thousands or millions are tonight worth nothing. Oh, how well it is to have our treasure laid up in heaven.
