 . . . Summer 1999
Sarah Doty was the daughter of Alanson and Thirza Doty. According to the 1840 census, Alanson lived in Ann Arbor and was between 40 and 50; his wife was between 30 and 40, and they had seven children. In a dual ceremony in October 1844, Sarah married John Thompson and her sister Jane married Orrin Arnold, who jointly published the Ann Arbor Argus with Earl Gardiner and had boarded with Pray at the Gardiners. Sarah died May 13, 1846, at 20. Pray was a pallbearer at her funeral. From his diary June 10, 1844:
I walked and after a while I called at Mr. D[oty]'s to fulfill an engagement with Sarah. I requested and obtained a private interview. The "Old Folks" went to the Exhibition, Jane was with Mr. A[rnold] and Roxa with Mr. H. each in different rooms leaving us alone. Wasn't the house well occupied tho? The object alleged for the interview was to have a talk about old times and matter and things in general. But mark the result. We talked of affairs awhile-my arm around her waist and she at full length on the settee, her head on my bosom-But my hand would not stay outside of her dress. It was gradually and with many protestations against it such as 'You mustn't. I will not allow it,' etc. placed in her bossom [sic] on her naked but not exceedingly luxuriant bubies. I at length gained peaceable and permanent possession of this prominent point-unexpected & for the first time with her. A long talk ensued about the propriety of our conduct, her engagement to J[ohn] T[hompson] which gradually led to talk on a more important subject upon which she talked freely and with some sense. The other visitors departed The other girls retired the old folks returned and to bed and we were left alone in possession of the building. After having been surprised by the unexpected entrance of someone of the family and once by Mr. D. when we were in rather an awkward position. My hand from her bosom naturally moved downward over her belly to the center of gravitation where I used it freely on the outside of her dress after much resistance by her. Through her thin dress I felt the point of attraction …. I could go no farther without risking too much although I had the same chance of going on that I had of putting my hand in her bosom-and I did put my hand on her naked leg.
It was now about 1 o'clock and time for me to go. I had the privilege of seeing her again if I would promise to behave myself-but I told her that unless I could go one step farther I did not wish to see her again. I would not injure her if I could but I could not see her again without that one step. She of course said that I could not see her again. We took a farewell kiss and I left her. She said she was not offended and that she was my friend.
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Caroline Matilda Bagley (called "Matilda," "Sweet Matilda," etc. by Pray) was the daughter of J. C. Bagley, who, according to the 1840 federal census, lived in Superior Township. He and his wife were between 40 and 50 and had 11 children. One daughter, Henrietta, was a tragic figure: On Dec. 22, 1846, Pray wrote:
Great excitement prevails in the neighborhood on account of the pregnancy of Henrietta Bagley, sister of Caroline Matilda. She has till now borne a respectable character. She accuses Dr. Blackwood the Homeopathist of being the father of the forthcoming child. It is a bad affair for all parties concerned and ruin to her.
On Jan. 24, 1847, Pray again took up Henrietta's story:
There is great excitement prevailing on account of the death of Henrietta Bagley, her who was delivered of a stillborn child and died a few days ago. She was a good girl in every sense of the word, loved and respected by all. How base must be he who is capable of taking advantage of such a one, of ruining her, of making what was all loveliness corruption–of turning the dwelling of pure thoughts and youthful hopes into a hell of despair and wo [sic]. Such a one is Dr. Thomas Blackwood, a married man, a professed Christian. Henrietta's father has ever been his friend and supporter even while others despised and detested him. Henrietta was once unwell and induced to go into his family to be doctored. He took advantage of this opportunity and by base deceitful misrepresentation made her believe her disease was such that she could not be cured unless she gratified his wishes–and she fell, and as is ever the fate of the wretched fallen she has ever since been under the influence of her base deceiver until at length death as if in mercy has rescued her. … By her death all legal proceedings are rendered null and the base deceiver ... is suffered to go unpunished save by the indignation of an incensed populace which by his wealth and standing will soon be appeased.
In Feb. 1847, Pray wrote, "Talked to Thomas Blackmore, seducer and reputed murderer. He gave me advice and I gave him consolation."
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In May 1846, Pray went to Ann Arbor's Lower Town to see the first printing press ever built in the state.
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Pray was not only a Temperance supporter, but also opposed to the smoking or chewing of tobacco. On March 14, 1844, he wrote that there were many discussions at the University about temperance and tobacco, "And well they may be for they, the students, are generally hard cases." He quoted Goethe (possibly his own translation), "A student–an idea of / Stiff ale, biting tobacco, and a girl / In her smart dress are the best things I know." Pray added, "It is the case with many of them, though I am glad to say not all."
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As a 2d sergeant in the local militia, called the Washtenaw Guards, Pray was charged in the summer of 1844 to round up other members for an annual drill. In the Chauncey Goodrich papers at U-M's Bentley Historical Library, an order to Goodrich in the 1830s required his presence "for training, disciplining and improving military exercise, arms and equipment." Although Pray found militia duties tedious, some other students were so anti-military that when they met to discuss opposition to the militia, they barred him from the meeting. These were students who argued against the establishment of West Point in their literary society debates.
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Pray attended the inauguration of Gov. Alpheus Felch and the meeting of the Legislature in Detroit (January, 1846) and found it "all very interesting to me." He also visited Lansing after it was chosen as the location of the state capital, May 8, 1847.
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The poem, published July 24, 1844, in its entirety:
'Tis time, I think, to leave you now,
Since, to preserve his country free,
Every patriot will allow,
The Freeman's wish should ever be.
Free–not from tyrants' hands alone,
But from infamy and disgrace–
From measures, that reason has shown,
Would her prosperity debase;
From chiefs, regardless of her laws,
And basely stained with guilty blood,
Not enemies to her cause,
But of the truly great and good;
From rulers, who, to corruptions old
Would rejoice her cause betray'd,
And would with joyful smile, behold,
the ruins, themselves had made.
My endeavor shall ever be,
With a patriot's worthy zeal
Thus to preserve my country free,
And always labor for her weal.
But your princip'es all are such
As would her interest depress,–
As clearly are designed, too much
The rich to favor, the poor oppress.
Your Clay is deeply sunk in vice,
And basely stain'd with guilty blood;
He is not such as could devise
Measures for our great country's good.
I leave you–to support his name
Would, to my country, be a wrong;
And now I blush with guilty shame
That I've been error's slave so long.
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