By: Tim Blackwell
With the turning of the leaves and snow beginning to fall, the holiday season is upon us. It is during the holiday season that we often find warmth through gatherings between family and friends. A chance to recap, enjoy good food, and make memories that will last a lifetime.
Our Featured Find this month was uncovered as we continue reorganizing the archives situated in the lower level of the Heritage Museum. We located a collection of letters from 1845-1848, written by David Rorer to his wife, Delia Viele, that expressed his desire to return home while away seeing cases as a lawyer.
David Rorer arrived in Burlington in 1836 where he would continue his practice as a lawyer. In need of a home large enough for himself, his first wife, Martha Martin, and their four children Rorer had a brick house constructed on what is today Fourth and Columbia streets. The first brick home to be built in the state of Iowa. Unfortunately, in 1838, Rorer would lose his wife to an unspecified illness. A year later, David Rorer married Delia Viele of Scott County, Iowa and the two would go on to have three daughters of their own, Virginia, Delia, and Mary.
As a lawyer, Rorer remained extremely busy appearing in front of the Territorial/Iowa Supreme Court a combined 163 cases. His work often left him away from home for weeks at a time, with the only mode of communication available being mail. In our pictured letter, Rorer writes, “How anxious I am to be with you.” We often take for granted the access we have at our fingertips to reach the ones we love, yet David Rorer is fortunate to find time to write to his “Dear Sweet One.”
The desire of Rorer to reconnect with his beloved wife echoes the spirit of the holiday season as many make journeys back to their own families. DMCHS would like to wish each of its members and their families a Happy Holidays!
We again would appreciate your help in transcribing these letters and sending us your results. Below are links to each of the Rorer letters, leave your transcription in the comments.
Letters written by David Rorer in our collection