Samuel L. Osborn to Thomas Jefferson, 28 July 1817
From Samuel L. Osborn
Kennebunk, July 28th 1817.
Much Respected Sir,
Pardon a few lines from a person so far below you in abilities and renown. They were sent with the hope of receiving an answer, barely acknowledging the receipt of mine, that I might have something to remember our Jefferson by. I ask for nothing more.—Forgive me, Sir, when I inform you that you have been my political Idol ever since I was twelve years of age.—I have been engaged about seven years past as an Instructor to our dear youth; and, now keep an English & W.I. Goods Store, which requires my attention so much, that I never expect to gratify my eyes with your presence on this side the grave; but I hope ’ere long to behold You with Washington, Franklin & many other worthies in the mansions of Everlasting Peace.—
Saml L. Osborn
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Hon. Thomas Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received <18> 19 Aug. 1817 and so recorded in SJL.
Samuel L. Osborn (1788–1857), teacher and merchant, operated a store in Kennebunk, District of Maine, by 1816. In 1819 he and his brother James Osborn formed the partnership of Samuel L. Osborn & Company. It dissolved in 1821, with Samuel retaining the store. Osborn was still in trade in 1850, when he possessed property valued at $4,000 (Daniel Remich, History of Kennebunk from its Earliest Settlement to 1890 [1911], 247, 253, 412, 526–7; DNA: RG 29, CS, Maine, Kennebunk, 1850).
w.i.: “West India.”