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Julia FROST "Walker" was the recipient of most of these letters |
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Lansing Iowa June 19th 1864
D. H. Walker Esq
Covington Pa
Dear Cousin
I presume you will be somewhat surprised to see a letter date
Lansing Iowa. When we came west some more than a year since I had no intention
of waiting till this late day before writing to you. My only excuse is
that my correspondence has been limited almost confined to our own family
and besides having quite variety of business to take my attention. Clerking
on Steamboat for a while then a month or two in Post Office again a month
in the Bank &c &c but I’ve finally found a situation which just
suits me and pays much better than changing from this to that thing. About
the 1st of May the Business new of Lansing organized a National Bank with
a Capital of $50,000 it went into operation on the 1st of May the Majority
of the stock is owned by Uncle W & Thomas (his Partner) The Board of
Directors elected Gray Prest. Thomas Cash and your “humble Servt” Teller
(or Book Keeper) My salary is $750 which in good times when money was worth
a Dollar would do pretty well but tis no by they now. I shall strike for
more pay another year if I keep the situation. Our business hours are from
9 to 12 & from 1 to 4. During a busy time we have office work an hour
or two earlier or later as the case may be. But most of the time we can
close up in time. To give you something of the amount of produce moving
through our town I would say that week before last we paid out nearly 50,000$
for wheat and other produce. Lansing never saw so busy a time. Price now
are very high for this county wheat 1.25 corn 75 Oats 68 @ 70 and other
things in proportion. Our health has been generally very good since we
left Canton last. We heard that Father mother were going east on a trip
to see the friends. We’ve not heard from home since they left and don’t
know whether they went or not. We are glad that Father’s health is good
again but fear he will go to deep into business and work himself down again
as John Griffin says he has no brake goes to fast. In his last letter he
intended that he should buy wool again. I hope not on his own account any
way. If he continue to do business for Wilcox and keep out himself. He
may get along. What is the feeling about Grants success in your County?
He is a great favorite with us. Every one has entire confidence in his
ability to perform all he undertakes. What is your situation in relation
to the Draft? Out sate is several thousand ahead at present. Can fill another
Quota of 300,000 men with out a draft and perhaps more. Our neighbor Minnesota
has been taking a dose if Draft which brings the thing pretty near home.
Write me all about these and other matters. Tell us what you all are doing.
Who is married who aint &c &c. if I dose I would ask you to write
soon.
But it wouldn’t come with very good grace. If you should happen to I will
see that you have an answer back in good time. Lydia & I have talked
about you lots of times and have repeatedly promised to write but some
thing would interfere. My business is regular now and I can tend to such
things better. Our love to Aunt Eliza Uncle James & Mary not forgetting
Julia & yourself.
This from your aff cos as ever Hati
[] Transcribe January 18, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Sept 6th 1864
Pontiac Tusday 5 oclock P.M.
Brother Delos:
I am seated to let you and the rest of the folks know that we
arrived here today at 10 o’clock safe and well as could be expected Sarah
stood the ride better than I had any hopes of we arrived at Buffalo at
10:50 evening (started from Corning at 3 P.M.) calculated to stay over
night in B__ had bought through tickets Suspension Bridge. But found we
could go right through on the Grand Trunk Road (which cross by ferry at
B) by changing tickets we got a birth in the sleeping car and rested very
well we like the look of the place very much it is an incorporated city
in an old settled rich farming country there is a great deal of business
done here I am going to work tomorrow I shant invest my money just at present
although I think this is fine chances such as buying apples at $2 per Bll.
And shipping them to Millwauke & Sagandee cities & selling at $6
per Bll. Eaton has bought over 20 Blls. Since I came today after about
a week I think of taking horse & going out into the country to contract
the way they have been doing we can clear over $1000 in a few weeks if
we can only buy enough of them and they seem to be plenty I like Mr Eatons
appearance very much what I have seen so far.
I hope this will find Julia much improved & also the alling
ones. The fare is as follows from Covington to Corning $1.15 from there
to Detroit $8.75 from there here $1.00 total $10.90 per head two persons
can come here for $25 all expenses included if they have a little provision
along tell father if he comes west this fall to be sure & come here
as it is on the through line from Detroit to Millwauke.
Give my respects to all folks & write often. We are anxious
to her from Julia. I think Sarah will be rested by tomorrow so she will
be as good as new you will hear from us often & expect the same from
you
Yours &@
A. M. Whitteker
Direct to Pontiac Mich.
[] Transcribe January 31, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Pontiac Sunday Evening Feb 5th 1865
Brother Delos
We received your letter some time ago was glad to hear from you
again and will try and make a few marks this evening to let you know how
we are getting along and to commence with will say that we are able to
eat our rations regularly and so far have managed to get them without serious
trouble.
I have delayed writing in order to think of something encouraging
to write you to influence you to come west & stop near us and I would
not advise you to make a move of that kind without taking into consideration
the advantages & disadvantages & report according to the best of
my judgment for your welfare and although it would be a great pleasure
to have you living near I hope I am not selfish enough to advise you against
your own welfare. Business is very unsettled at present and I hardly know
what to do myself but think in a short time one can judge pretty correctly
about the times for a year to come and if the war goes on and we should
both escape being drafted I think I could make it to your advantage to
come here but if you were to come here or in any part of the west a stranger
you could not get wages enough to more than support your family and if
you were to have some sickness get homesick and go back to Penn it is quite
an undertaking for one that has always been used to living amongst friends
& acquaintances to go where all are strangers and if they happen to
have sickness before they fairly settled and aquainted no matter
how good the country may be it would of course looks bad when one gets
homesick you may think by reading this that I am homesick or have been
but I have not had time to get homesick nor any inclination that way but
I have been well & hearty & very busy have however missed kind
true friend on Sarahs account she has been quite homesick at one time and
no one could blame her under the circumstances but she has got over that
now I guess and is getting aquainted with her neighbours. Some but if Julia
were here or living close by it would give her great pleasure.
I like my business well except that it keeps me from home most
of the evening I cant tell just how well I have done but think I have made
more than a living beside learning a great deal about business that may
be very usefull to me I think if I were to farm it this summer my acquaintance
with business men & places to market produce would be worth $100 to
me.
I know of a farm near here of 80 acres cleared land & plenty
of wood that can be rented for about $200 with lumber waggon harness &
farming utensils in the bargain. It is on a Sandy plain & will produce
the bigest kind of corn & potatoes & is easy to tend has a good
house on & is pleasant around it. If prices would keep up and I could
make $1000 off from that next year without working very hard could put
in 20 acres of corn and ten of potatoes beside the other crops and tend
them with ease as they don’t hoe any on that kind of land.
I think I am doing well where I am but I don’t really like the
shape things are in and it is rather uncertain business in these times
as one is liable to lose all they have made in a short time. We have done
a business of about $14000 since I came here & if times were only settled
there would be nothing to hinder a good business man from making money
every year if his capital was not very large. But to do a good business
it wants two and one can not always hire help that can be trusted in all
places and if two are in Partnership they should have confidence in each
other and be strictly honest to make it profitable and agriable to both
and if I would sell out where I am I know of no one I would rather trust
my interest with than you & would give you a good chance to invest
whatever capital you might have to put in if you see fit to come here I
will do the best I can to get you in shape to do well at least I could
make it more profitable to you than to go amongst strangers. I don’t think
you want to go to the far west as it is to expensive to visit ones friends
and from here it is but a short trip and not very expensive to visit Penna
and there has been but very little agree here late years it is nearly 10
o’clock and Sade & Nellie have been in bed this long time I must close
& being this is so short I will write again soon and let you know about
prospects here this Jun is a very poor one & the ink don’t show till
it has been written some time Sade will write some to Julia tomorrow write
often
Yours &@
A. M. Whitteker
Monday morning 9 o’clock 1865
Dear Julia
I will try and write a little to you this morning providing Nellie
will sleep long enough. She is real good & playful but wants me to
play with her most of the time we think she is the sweetest little girl
in the world & she is so much like dear Anellir, tell Jane I am not
homesick now but would like very much to see my friends (if I should happen
to have any) Jule I wish you & Delos would come out here this spring
I
think we could take a great deal of comfort living near each other: Poor
Mary Goodspeed I am sorry for her if things are as you hinted, they will
have to move back to mother Goodspeed so she can see that Mary takes good
care of the little ones (wont she) I wrote to Mary a long time ago but
have not received any answer yet perhaps Mr Goodspeed forbids a correspondence
where is this kide I have not recd an answer from her either; Jule I will
send you a lock of Nellie’s hair: I am going to have a breast pin made
with a flower of hair in the centre; some of the hairs will be Mollies
& some Mandy’s & Nellie’s. I can get it made in Detroit, baby has
awoke & claims my attention so good bye write very soon & often,
Don’t let any one see this scribble
Sarah W.
[] Transcribed February 1, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans
Sunday Evening
Dec 17th 1865
Dear Sister and Brother:
It seems a long while since I heard from you and although I have
no news to write I will scribble a little and see if I can’t hear from
you again Jule Merrick says if I should go to Pennsylvania now none of
you would know me I am so fleshy but be that as it may I feel well and
that is something consoling any how that and Merrick is well in your last
you said you had been over in sight of the old house and wished I was there
now I think I would enjoy a visit from you as well as you would but don’t
never again wish me to Morris Run to live though I would like well enough
to be there for a little while but would much rather see you here and all
of the rest of my friends too age if those I love could be here I should
have no desire to ever see old home again and if they could all feel as
much better here as I do it would pay them pretty well to come(I mean in
health) perhaps not in money but who would [___] good health for gold not
i. But perhaps you will think you have had enough of that so now about
that letter you enclosed to Merrick it seems to have come from some cousin
but we hardly knew who although Merrick says he has been told that John
Larnard near Troy was some relation but is not acquainted with him but
it matters but little if she is a corset maker her chance is good for all
of us. And now you can tell Uncle Lrike that we are within a hundred miles
of anywhere and if he’ll come out here I will go and take out there a visiting
and find a conveyance myself for we have a yoke of 2 year old steers that
are just right for sleighriding and there never was a better time for that
business as there is plenty of snow and the roads needs breaking. Now I
want to know what is the trouble with Delos that he never puts in a single
word or line has he forgotten how to use a pen or does he want a little
scolding if the latter just give him a talking too for me you said he talked
of coming west if he comes just you pack up and come with him and when
you get started please keep going west till you get to Minnesota. Ma tells
me Dad has been out visiting I am glad she could and would be glad to see
her too you spoke of Aunt Olive making such a long visit does she seem
to be enjoying herself pretty well. I hope so [___] I very glad you had
such good luck with your school and glad to know that you were doing so
well Brother Nat and family were all well one week ago and I trust they
are still will I cant think of anything to write so I will wish you a Merry
Christmas and close please give my respect to all inquiring friends and
tell them if they want to see some of my scribbling just write to me and
I will return the compliment to the best of my ability poor though that
may be and you please write often your loving sister Kize
Good evening Delos why don’t you write you said you would but
I never have seen any of your writing since I came to Minnesota and now
if you don’t write I will never write again to witch I don’t think will
plague much. But enough of this I am well but I suppose ma has wrote all
the news and my hand aches and so I am some what sleepy I will stop
Write wont you
Nat
[] Transcribed February 1, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
July 15th 1866
Dear Sister
After this long time I will make an attempt to answer your more
than welcome letter and in the first place I did not write because I did
not get it as it was sent to Kasota and it was only a happen so our getting
it at all as our Mail matter usually comes to Mankato and we never think
of sending anywhere else for it and then I thought that I would wait for
something to transpire to write about and it has transpired so here goes
you have a little nephew in Minnesota which weighed 8 ½ pounds it
was born the 10th of this present month at half past 3 oclock in the morning
I call its mother pretty smart as she went out in the other room and sat
up as much as 4 hours this morning and it is a very pretty featured child
and seems well and sleeps most of time Flora thinks it is pretty nice to
have a little Brother if Ma will only love her just as well as she did
before and she wants his name Jack but I do not know what they will call
it. Flora has the whooping cough but she has not coughed quite so much
now for 2 or 3 days and we hope it is getting better. She has had it pretty
hard but we hope the little one will not have it but do not know of course.
We are all well and hope this will find you enjoying the same blessing
our crops look splendid now you better believe we have 20 acres of wheat
on the ground and there never was wheat that looked more like a good yield
and that article now sells for 1,60 dls per bushel I don’t know what it
must be worth in Penn do you our Oats too bid fair for a good crop and
must soon be harvested we have a good garden have had green peas now most
4 weeks yes and beans too we have some corn nicely silted our onions, cabbage,
cucumbers and tomatoes are looking finely we have over one hundred tomato
plants and beets and other garden vegetables in proportion our melon vines
well I wont say anything about them but will wish you could be here to
help us show them. Away when they ripen wont you yes and squashes and [turnings]
and pumpions, well now I wish I could send you an acre of Minnesota soil
to make a garden of at Morris Run I think then it would pay you to garden
there how does your garden look by this time I hope it looks as well as
mine and as much of it. O! Jule I thought your dresses looked well and
when I get a new one I will send you a piece but I prize the pictures more
and think when Merrick gets a little through with his work we will have
ours taken and if we do you may be sure of something nice to put in your
album. Well this is most full so I must stop and scratch down some items
for Delos but you may read it all if you can K H Seely
Write real quick direct to Mankato
Direct Nats letters to Kasota Lesueur county
We had a letter from father Seelye folks the other day they are all well and contented write soon
[] Transcribed February 1, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Oct 8th 1866
Dear Sister
I received your long looked for letter a few days since and was
first as glad to get it as though Delos had written but you must not let
him get to lazy about writing if you do you will soon be like me that is
have all of the writing to do. I have neglected to write sooner because
I have had so much to do that I could not get time any day but Sunday and
then I wanted to rest. We have been having our threshing done and now there
is a man boarding with us so Kize has something to do and she does not
have Waltz to help her as much as common this summer as he has to do mans
work now. O Jule I wish you could see him he is almost as tall as his Pa
and is so fleshy and looks as healthy as any boy you ever see. I think
he larger than Pete was when I saw him last. And Kize I have nothing to
say about her if you can remember how she used to look when she was a Frost
you might know her and you never saw her healthier well to make a long
story short we are all well as any one need to be and hope this will find
you enjoying the same great blessing perhaps you would like to know what
we had to thresh well I will tell you we had 507 five hundred and seven
bushels of wheat and should have had considerable more but at the time
it ought to have been cut it rained every day and was so wet that we preferred
to let it stand rather than cut it such weather and consequence is that
it shelled badly in the harvesting but what we got is good. While those
that cut theirs had it spoil or nearly so. and we had 168 bushels of Oats
but you ought to see our cabbage and squashes turnips and such truck I
do not think the like ever grew in Tioga County, and I have picked almost
a barrel of cucumber pickles for myself and a half barrel full for Margette
Nat Margette and Flora are well but their little Jack Boy as they call
him takes the lead of all the babies I ever knew any thing about for strength
and flesh combined and he seems as well as a little pig he looks like Uncle
James more than any one else that I know but he has the brightest eyes.
O I got a letter from Al a short time ago he was given up coming out here
this fall for he thinks his family will not be in a condition to travel
and goes on to say he hopes he can beat Nat bragging on I have not had
a line from her Sade this summer poor girl how I would like to see her.
Grandma Root has just returned from Vermont she sold her place there and
can’t see how folks can live there these times. Jule will Mary go into
the house with Mother Goodspeed to live again if she does and gets her
ears boxed I shall say don’t she deserve it who did Arthur sell the other
part of the farm to well I guess I shall have to stop as I must write to
our friend the Conductor he don’t you think so. please write soon and often
from sister Kize.
Delos when you write I will send you a specimen of my penmanship
[] Transcribed February 2, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Oct 21st 1866
Dear Sister:
It is with much pleasure I take my pen to answer you kind &
welcome letter which was recd some time ago. We are usually well considering
we have another little girl one month old. She seems to be well & grows
nicely. But cries a great deal but I am in hopes she will be better ntured
after awhile. I suppose we shall move from here in about one week. &
you are well aware that is not a very desirable job with two little ones
to take care of Mrs. Eaton has not been over to see the baby yet but I
had a line from her last evening saying she would be here the first last
of this week. Oh Jule I wish you and Delos could make us a visit it would
seem good to see some of my dear sister & have a good old talk. It
seems as if I could find so much to talk about. It seems there has been
plenty of weddings in your vicinity. Tell Jane I was glad it was not her.
Is Mary Walker at home and how does she enjoy life and is Mary Jane married
also where does Lewis & Caroline live.
Have you been to see sister Mary since she moved and are they
enjoying themselves well with their nice little girls where do Mr Goodspeed
people live. How much did you have to pay for your farm and do you intend
to live on it soon. If we were going to move onto a farm I should not dread
it so much. But I will try and be as contented as possible and make my
family as happy as I can: I would like to come to Pennsylvania & make
a good long visit. But I cant this year. But I think some of our friends
might come and see us! Well Jule the baby is crying & I will have to
take her please excuse poor writing and write soon and tell me all I want
to know about everybody there. Love to all
Your sister
Sarah M, Whitteker
Send the baby a pretty name.
Good evening Julia & D. W. I don’t suppose you care about
hearing from me but I will fill out the sheet just to spite you. We have
got another very nice girl but she squalls most of the time. Nellie calls
her Jennie. We expect to move next week I dread it but shall be glad when
I get to doing Business again. Paul Cudworth is going into trade with me
at Saranac 44 miles west of here on this R. R. we intend to deal in Book
& News Yankey Notions, Jewelry & @ every thing has worked wrong
with me this summer but I am not discouraged & think where Paul &
I get started we will do well I have given up all idea of ever farming
again & I think when Delos tries it now it wont seem as it used to
I would ask him to write but don’t suppose it would do any good.
Good night All
[] Transcribed February 2, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Note from Joyce - This child mentioned in the ltetter was named Jennie, and apparently the older child, seemingly named Nellie, did not survive. She is not mentioned in other family records. Jennie is the oldest mentioned and she was born 1866.
Mirabile
April the 4th Ad 67
Dear children I see a line from you last night was glad to hear that
you ware all well wee are all well at present Budworth has got in a house
by himself wee have got our oats and spaing wheat sowed budworth has got
his ground plowed wee are having fine weather now it is cated a very backward
spring henc our winter heat looks bad but will try to make it up in other
crops you spoke about money cend me what you can get at ten per cent interest
but keep enough in your ownd hands to pay for your trouble and make yourself
good.
I must tell you a little about heaves as I was so bad when I
left you had it bad untill I crosed the missipe river and have not had
it since I think this is the right place for mee I wont little Dick here
I think he wouldnot have the heaves here tell Mr Hulslander I would like
to have him come out and make mee a visit and see the county I think he
is the right man for this county he can [___] a [___] [___] wild if he
chooses or [___] miles without a stone or noat if an make will finish the
scribling please write often Lyman Frost
I forgot about the [___] cend by the Merchants Union Express to Hamilton
Mo Direct your letter to Mirabile two or three days before you start the
money it will take that time to get from the rail road to where I am as
the mail on comes twice a week.
Dear children I thought I would tri to write to you and let you
no that that we have not for gotten you so that I should like to here from
you often as you can find more time to write that I can and you most try
to improve it we had a letter from Kide they are all well Jane is better
the baby is quite smart grows well Ruels people are well Juliis Frost came
here and staid a week I took them to Stilmans then since I guess they cannot
find anything to suit them in Mo how ever it suits me well enough the birds
are coming and sing so nice I wish you could be here to eat nuts with us
they would tast better I think we have plenty of nice Apples and to spane
we expect a rail rode to go through Mirabile soon last week Pa went prospecting
& found some coal it will burn like a candle found from two to 17 inches
think thare is enough if he new how to find it if some one would come and
ofen a mire they would do well so good night
Mother
[] Transcribe January 18, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
| Sarnac Sunday June 16th 1867
Dear Brother & Sister |
 |
We recd your letter and hasten to reply I acknowledge that we
have been rather careless about writing to you but it has not been because
we did not think of you often but Sade has got so much out of practice
writing that she hardly ever makes the attempt lately she commenced writing
to you yesterday was interrupted and thought she would finish today but
she has been to meeting across the river in the grove and being very tired
she says she will not finish it that I can write and it will do as well
so you see that our correspondence all falls on me and when you take into
consideration the number I have to write to and that I am pretty closely
confined with business you will excuse me I hope for being a little neglectfull
occasionally will however in the [___] try and write as often as you do.
You have probably heard long before this that Paul had moved
away from here & that I had another [___] and a better location &
@ so I will not tell you any of the particulars. Trade is dull generally
but ones is more than double what it was last winter the deal in paper
goods of all kinds also in picture frames & you key notions and musical
instruments beside we have quite a good grocery trade. We had a soda fountain
put in yesterday got it to running about 3 oclock P.M. have sold 400 glass
already it is the only one in town and I think it will pay well the whole
thing cost about $75.00 then it cost about 1¢ a glass to make it and
it sells for 5¢. We have the telegraph office in our store my partner
is the operator now. I paid half the expanse of his learning intend to
learn of him when I get time. I understand it pretty well now but have
not practiced much we have half it earns & it has earned us enough
so far to pay our rent which is $14000 per year & I think it will do
better this fall. I think amongst the whole I will get a living and as
long as I do that I had not ought to complain although I shall do as much
better as I can. My partner is a young man from Vermont was clerking in
a store here. I like him very well but he has not had much experience in
business and he has to attend to the telegraph pretty close so I have to
be on hand most of the time. I though when I was in Detroit this spring
it would be very pleasant to slip over into Pa and see what they were all
at but I don’t know when I shall have that leisure I don’t want to go back
there to live but I would like awful well to see our friends there often.
I don’t think as much about it I suppose as Sade does for she has been
confined pretty close at home with the babies and being away evenings I
suppose she gets pretty lonesome sometimes but not really homesick I told
her she could go to Pa this fall on a visit but she says she wont go without
I go too and I don’t think I can spare the time or the money if any of
our friends think enough of me [___] come and see us she can go back &
stay a while if she wants to Sade has had [three] and dripers & a bonnet
This spring will put in a juice of own it cost 45¢ at whole
sale. This paper got soiled after I got most finished and I don’t want
to throw my labour away so you must excuse the look I have not said any
thing about the babies yet but I am going to. We think we have got the
nicest pair of girls there is in this country don’t know what other folks
think but if we are well satisfied other folks ought to be Nellie is a
solid chunk of a girl and a regular chatter box. She remembers all she
hears. Learned her letters fast cointe in a few days she says she would
like to see Aunt Jule. Jennie is quite small of her age but sweet enough
to make it up is real good natured since her teeth come through which was
quite lately it would do you good to see her. Sade is pretty well this
summer has done her own work with what I help except while she was cleaning
house we had a girl a few days spring was very cold and backward here but
it has been warm enough the past few days. Cant you come & make us
a visit this fall at least write often & don’t be to particular about
which wrote last if this sheet wasn’t full don’t know when I should stop
writing presume you are glad it is full
Affectionately yours
A. M. Whitteker
[] Transcribe January 31, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Sarnac March 22 1868
Dear Sister Julia
After waiting thus long I will make the attempt to answer your
long neglected letters we are usually well except Jennie has a very hard
cold. We have been out to church this morning it is very pleasant to day
but rather muddy water has been very high here but is getting lower. I
should think you would hate to have our folks move away from there and
you remain for it would seem so lonely & strange to be where you could
occasionally see the old home & to see strangers there instead of our
parents. But I hope it will be all for the best. Yes we are talking about
moving up on the lake. Albert has sold out his goods here & calculates
to move as soon as we can get ready. But I hope we will hear from Pa before
we move for I should like to go near them so very much if it is for the
best. Jule I wish you could come and see little Jennie she is such a nice
little lady she is 1 ½ years old now and she can talk just as much
and as plain as any one. every time she see little Nellies picture she
says she wants to kids little sister Oh: how much company the were for
each other and if they could both have been spared how thankful I would
been. But I will try and think all is for the best. You said when you wrote
last Mary was at your house but did not tell how her little girl was now
but I hope she is better. Jule you will see by the looks of my writing
I am not in a very good mood for writing to day so I hope you will excuse
me until some other time please give my love to all who wants it and write
soon
So good day Sarah
Dear Bud & Sis
As Sade has not filled out the sheet I will try and make a few
marks for your perusal I was very much pleased to received a good long
letter from you and should have answered sooner but was about selling out
and thought I would wait until I could tell you something definite about
my calculations.
We have been thinking all winter about going up on the lake shore.
In fact we sent some money a month ago to buy a lot and should have moved
our goods if we had not solid them. So I consider we were very fortunate
to get a chance to sell out at cost as it is quite a chore to move a stock
of goods and then a great many good will accumulate that are not very saleable.
We finished invoicing last Wednesday have a few little Accts to collect
and then we shall be ready to tramp. We got half cash down and the balance
by the time we shall want to buy our first stock. I shall have to take
another sheet as I have [___] got to going yet
[] Transcribed January 31, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
May 17th 1868
Dear Sister Julia
After neglecting to write to you thus long I now take my pen
to write a little to you hoping you will readily excuse my negligence as
I sure you will when I tell you how busy I have been getting ready to move
and moving & we are now in Ludington situated on the shore of Lake
Mich. Albert has bought a lot here and is building a store with the intention
of living over the store the building is 24 by 40 feet so we will have
room enough to make us comfortable we are living in a shanty for the present
which we made as we thought it would be cheaper than to board at the hotel
and pay 7 dollars per week a piece. I think I shall feel more at home in
our own building than I did to rent. The place is just started here I think
it will be quite pleasant when we get up stairs to live to look out on
the Lake and see the boats come in mornings & afternoon I wish you
& Delos could come and live near us I should enjoy it ever so much.
But tell Mrs Walker I will not urg you to come if she wants you to stay
there, I know you would like to see my little Jennie she is such a nice
girl she talks everything and is real good. I have 4 men to do the work
for and I hope they will hurry and get our new house ready to live in.
I have been to Methodist meeting this afternoon and heard an excellent
sermon the Minister lives near to us and I thin they are very nice people
I like them much for a short acquaintance. We have been here about 5 weeks.
When we received the letter you wrote concerning our going where Father
was Albert had fully made up his mind to come to this place and thought
he would try his luck here. I should like to be by our folks very much
but am willing to do that which is for the best and I hope we will do well
here still we cant tell what will take place as this is a world of change
and we must try to be prepared to meet the various changes in this life
with patience and think all will be well in the end if we strive to do
the right in this world. Julia I must take care of my Jennie now so please
excuse for the present and write soon and often and will try and write
more when we once get settled I presume A will write to D before long please
give my regards to all the friends.
I am your sister
Sarah M Whitteker
Direct to Ludington
Mason Co
Mich
[] Transcribe January 18, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Hills Borough June 14th /68
Dear sis and [___] I set my self this Sunday afternoon to scratch a
few lines to you to let know this is the warmes day I ever saw we have
come 227 miles this week I reckon Art making our way west ward as fast
as possible Sunday excepted have been to a Methodist Church to day about
two hours. Find it rather tedious being on the road so long but like it
as well as I can the folks here are well so far as I know hope this will
find you the same. We are stopping with one Mr Beves we came into this
state at Union City last Wednesday from there to Winchester there through
Muncie Anderson Noblesville Lebanon, Shall go from here to Covington then
to Danville, Ill from there go south west to Juincy have seen a rite smart
of hogs and mules this week from 25 to 100 in a flock wheat looks well
through here we have seen folks planting corn almost every day for the
past two weeks it has been so wet they have not got through yet have seen
more corn since we started then ever saw before but the most of farmers
think they are about out cannot hardly spare enough to feed our horses
you need not look for any thing more from me until I get to Mo for it is
rather discouraging to do so much writing and get no reply write soon I
expect to get home one week from next Saturday if the Lord is willing excuse
all imperfection from your loving brother
L. L. Frost
Albert Melville Whitteker to Julia Frost & Delos Walker
Ludington Sunday Sept 6th 1868
Dear Brother & Sister
We recd your letter yesterday was glad to hear from you again
and will try and write a few lines to you this evening and let you know
how we are getting a long. We have had pretty tough times and are not entirely
through with them yet. We have all been sick for the past six weeks. I
was taken first with billious fever and then it took a typhoid form and
then congestive chill and Piles and most every thing else you can think
of. But I was not confined to my bed but a few days although there was
a great many days that I had to take care of Sadi & Jennie that I had
ought to have been I bed Sadi and Jennie have both had the chill fever
and are not entirely over it yet.
We have another little girl was five weeks old last Thursday.
Only weighed four lbs. and 11 ounces but she is bright as a mud button
and has been real good natured until a few days past notwithstanding Sade
had the fever for three weeks. We call her Dora Ella. Jennie was taken
with fever about the same time Sade was and has had it every other day
most of the time since she did get quite smart a few days ago but has had
fever again Friday and today it is very hard to doctor her as most every
thing we get down her we have to hold her and turn it down. Almost every
body has been sick in the place and all along the shore it has generally
been very healthy here as we get a breeze from the lake most of the time
but we had about a month very warm weather and hardly any breeze. We had
not got very much aquatinted here and there being so many sick that we
had to rely on our selves and no one came in to see us. It seemed pretty
tough to be all sick at once. We had a widow women from Sarnac to work
for us that we sent for because she was recommended to be good in sickness.
Agreed to pay her fare here and give her three dollars per week expecting
she would stay a fall. She got along very well Sade was able to do about
half the work and when we were all sick she struck for four dollars a week
and finally got homesick and left while Sade could hardly walk across the
floor I paid her $28.00 for a little over six weeks work. I hired a horse
and looked one day and could not find a girl I could hire under two weeks.
Have tried every way to get one but did not succeed so I had to turn cook
myself Sade has been well enough to do the baking and was getting quite
smart a few days ago but was taken with Cholera morbus one night which
left her in bed a day or two she is pretty weak yet. I thought I had my
hands pretty near full when both babies were crying at once and Sade vomiting
and purging at the same time and it was not morning before I could get
any thing to stay on her stomach I have not been in the store but very
little for the past six weeks but I have had the business to oversee and
all the writing to do as I have always done that and Alexander is yours
and not much experienced in business. We got into our new house just before
we were taken sick, but did not get things regulated much have got a good
place to live when we get things arranged we have a parlor dinning room
kitchen, pantry and four bedrooms all plastered and painted and partly
[___]. If we had not been sick we intended to have kept about six boarders
at five dollars per week which would have made quite a difference in our
finances from what they are now but we have to take it as it comes. There
is no use in getting homesick over it as it does no good but we have had
pretty trying times and if it had. Had time I don’t know but I should have
been discouraged. We have got a good store, a nicer one than I can refer
you to about there for size and our trade has been very a great many days
running over one hundred dollars and on the 4th of July we took in $150.00
mostly for thing we made 100 per cent on.
I think we will yet make some money here and get a acquainted
with people that we will like to associate with and we will enjoy good
health I hear it is very sick at Sarana this summer we expect to receive
a visit from father Frost the last of this month my few lines have got
to be a great many but you know when I get to writing I cant stop until
the sheet is full let us hear from you often.
Affectionately yours
A. M. Whitteker
[] Transcribe January 31, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Mirrible Sept 13th 1868
Dear brother and sister
I now attempt to answer your ever welcom though long neglected
letter that I received a short time after arriving here you wish to know
how much it cost me to take the horses through more than it would to come
on the cars some $40 & think you though I was not sorry when I got
home so far as it is concerned I reckon I was not notwithstanding we had
a very pleasant journey I saw a considerable very nice country but thinks
this suits me as well as eny I have ever seen you wished to know how the
horses loked they stood it well look just as they did when in Pa. we have
had a warm dry summer here the corn crop is some what shortened other crops
are middleing good we have harvested a part of our corn and sowed the ground
to wheat it is up and looks well we intend to some about 60 acres this
fall wheat one month ago was worth $200 per bu but now is only worth $150
peaches are not very plenty here this year they are worth ten cents, per
bu I wish you had ½ of the peachs that has wasted in our orchard
this year it would be suficient to do a family in Morrissan you wrote to
Frank that you thought that I was home sick the reason that I did not write
that is not the case I have no desire to go back to Pa to live and about
getting homesick I have had no time for it don’t think I shall as long
as peaches last and water runs now for some thing more interesting the
folks are usually well except Cudworth he has got a sick tooth and is takeingon
like a bured foot I had a letter from Nat the other day he was going out
to Jackson to live on his farm this winter and his father and mothe was
going out in the spring but he intends to start for your place the 21st
but intends to stop with Sadi two day so you will not look for him quite
so soon as otherwise if you have not named your boy yet jus name it Grant
that is what they call all of the young boys here the blackones not excepted
Excuse all blunders and write soon from your affectionate brother
L L Frost
[] Transcribe January 30, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Mirabile Feb the 18th 1870
Dear Brother and Sister
H wanted me to write to you and let you know that he received
your letter day before yesterday also the one that contained the money
all safe and right and he said that he had forgotten to say anything to
you about a note shall he send you one by mail. He thinks that if it suites
you just as well that he would keep the money two years as if he has good
luck it will take one year to get so we can begin to live again it is like
commencing new again. H is chopping a follond of five acres he thinks that
he can finish in one week longer if he can hold out that long but is he
getting pretty well used up he thinks it is harder work to clear land here
than it was there for they save everything that will make a stick of stove
wood do not intend to burn any of it and they cut it all close to the ground
and it makes him so lame that he can scarcely go he intends to plant it
to corn early so as to get it off time enough for winter wheat. The children
are well but we have took them out of school on account of the measles
they are getting quite thick and I do not want to get them at present we
are having very warm dry weather we have had no storm in as much as three
or four weeks it is cloudy today and looks like storm if it does not keep
warm their ground will fit to sow next week. H got his plowed last fall,
Lyman has cut his knee pretty bad but it is so he works on it all of the
time father and mother are quite well as would be if they did not work
so hard but father chops just as long as he can go and then he has to stop
while Frank is here to fathers again and Ervin is at work for Rue he gives
him one hundred dollars for a years work but I should want the pay to come
the other way if I was going to have him around Cudworth has not moved
yet has gone to look at a farm about 10 miles from here today I hope for
Janes sake that he will do something pretty soon for it is not very pleasant
to be moving among strangers at all times she is quite comfortable or seems
to be. Alls folks are all well Rue looks as old as father and I do not
wonder he works hard but it does not amount to any more than it used to
when he was there Sophia is quit comfortable though not as well as she
used to be she is growing old write soon yours in last and much love
N. A. Allen
[] Transcribe January 30, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Thayer April 26th 1872
Brother Delos
As Sadi has been writing to Julia I will write a few lines to
you. I was in hopes to have had that money to send you by this time but
have failed to get it yet. I traded a horse for a yoke of cattle last fall
thinking they would sell more readily for money in the spring as there
had been good demand for cattle but I tried all winter and spring to sell
them for a low price but failed to do so and I could not plow with them
without hiring a man to drive and my mares were not able to do all my plowing
and raise colts so I traded to cattle for a horse again got a large 7 year
old horse worth $25.00 more than the one I traded for the cattle my mares
have a fine pair of colts again. I am trying to put out crop enough to
raise something to sell next fall I have planted 12 acres of corn and intend
to put in as much more have the ground partly plowed I sowed 5 acres of
oats and have 6 acres of fall wheat but it looks poor as the winter was
very hard on wheat. I will send you money as soon as I can sell anything
to raise it. It is expected a rail road will be built through here during
the summer if it is I can earn at least a portion of it working on that.
I think things will change after a while and if I can get a good
crop this year it will relieve me very much and I suppose I ought not complain
as there are hundreds in the country a great deal worse off than I am and
some are hard up for money that came here with 6 or 7 thousand dollars
it is hard getting started in a new country but if one has patience it
will all come right after a while I have been quite discouraged some times
but I am getting over that and if it was not for the money I owe you I
should feel quite comfortable but pretty old and lame as I have worked
very hard this spring I make garden and such things while my team is eating
and my planting nearly broke my back as I had to do it with a hoe think
I shall get a planter for the balance
Let us hear from you
Yours &@
A. M. Whitteker
[] Transcribe January 30, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
June 19th /70
Dear Brother & Sister
I will now try & pen you a few lines it seems a long time
since we say you. We have been looking for you down for a long time we
are usually well except Art he has got a cold & does not feel right
well we received a letter from mother dated June 5th & she wrote they
were all usually well & she had been to see Jane. She has a little
boy three weeks old. She said she was quite smart. I want to see you so
bad can not you come down & stay till after the 4th come down Friday
or Saturday & stay till after the 4th if you can. if you can come write
& let us know & we will meet you at Covington. I hope little Katie
has got well before now. Blanche & Wilber are playing & making
so much noise I can not half write. Cythina has got a girl 5 weeks old
she is here to day the wooping cough is up the creek, a most all of the
children up there. have got it & one of Mr Catlins children died with
it. We keep our little ones close at home for fear Blanche will get it.
She is getting along real well now & we hope she will not get any full
back. I heard that Uncle Lewis Walker has finally departed this life I
suppose he has suffered a great deal. I hope he is at rest. I think it
will be very lonely for Aunt Isabelle now. Arthur has been pealing bark
& he is drawing it out of the woods now we have 2 men to work here
now. Art has taken a job building a bridge a cross Elk Run, down on our
land. He will commence it before long. Now write to us soon & let us
know if you are all well & tell us if you will come down, let us know
soon. I can talk & tell you more than I can write
Good bye for this time
Yours truly M. S. Goodspeed
[] Transcribe January 18, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Mirabile Mo Aug the 24th 81
Dear Sister
I will say a few words in reply to your letter that was gladly
received and to thank you for your pictures I shall prize them. Father
is quite poorly and so discontented Arthur was there the other day and
grandpa told him if he got so he could walk about a little he was going
back to Pa, it makes me shudder to think of it and yet I know he is very
lonely, I have tried to have him come here and make a visit but he thinks
he cant so he stays alone days and one of the boys stay at night
Has not able to go Peets for 3 weeks they carry his food to him and
probably do the best they can for him but it seems hard when one is old
and feeble to be alone so much I wish it was different. Leila came home
2 weeks ago and stayed a week she is in poor health has a babe 6 months
old that weighs 14 lbs. We took her home and it was so hot for so long
a ride that I have not been well since but have been having it very cool
for 3 days the [___] down to 40º 2 mornings but the wind is in the
south again and looking like rain, I never saw so much rain as we have
had since Feb corn is very backward and if we have frost to kill in four
weeks it will not be [___] crop wheat very light and oats hardly worth
cutting, grass heavy but put up in bad condition on acct of rain I was
at Cudworth about 6 weeks ago Jane looks bad Lydia was better in some ways
but still helpless and O what a life to live I wonder if I am thankful
enough for what we have to enjoy, Have you seen Aunt M yet she did so much
for father I shall not forget her I hear that [___] March is sick in Wellsboro
do you know anything about her there is considerable sickness here.
I must go and see father just as soon as I can. 25th Harmon took me to
see father this morning he fell on the floor last night and had to lay
there until Ike went up and he helped him up. He has no appetite I carried
him some grapes and he seemed to relish them carried peaches when I was
there before he ate some I asked him this morning if he was not more comfortable
when Aunt was there and he said he was and would like to have her here
if she wanted to come. Why cant you come out with her if she is willing
to come back it would take a burden off my mind if she was with father
he is not fit to be alone Peets baby has been quite sick and looks bad
yet. Let us hear right away
Nancy
[] Transcribe January 30, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Rockford, May 27th 1883
Dear Sister & family
I will once more take my pen to try & answer your welcome
letter of April 2nd I rec’d your letter the same day I did a card
from Lyman saying Father was so sick we went up there but he had got better
& we have all been sick except Burt nearly ever sin are some better
now but not very well yet, we have had the dryest spring until the middle
of this month that I ever saw & now it rains every day or two we planted
19 acres of corn about the middle of April but it was so dry it did not
come very good what did come has frose off twice so if it ever gets dry
enough I guess we will have to replant. The children are all going to school
when the Creeks aint to high except May she has to stay at home to mind
the baby he has been sick nearly all the time so it makes my hands pretty
full as it is getting late. I will let Lydia finish Brother Reuels address
is White Rock
Elko County New
Love to all the friends & a share to your self from your sister
Jennie
[] Transcribe January 11, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
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