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Julia FROST "Walker" was the recipient of most of these letters |
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Hatti to Cousin Delos Walker
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 []
Albert Melville Whitteker to Delos Walker
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 []
Albert Melville Whitteker & Sarah M. Frost to Delos Walker
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
Hannah Kezia Frost (wife of Merrick Seely) and Nathaniel Frost to Julia Frost & Delos Walker
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 []
Hannah Kezia Frost "Seelye" to Julia Frost "Walker"
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 []
Hannah Kezia Frost "Seelye" to Julia Frost "Walker"
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 []
Sarah FROST "Whitteker & husband to Julia FROST "Walker
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.
Hannah UFFORD "Frost
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 []
A. M. Whitteker to sister in law Julia Frost and brother in law Delos Walker
| 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 []
Sarah FROST & A.M. Whitteker to Julia and Delos
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 []
Sarah FROST & A.M. Whitteker to Julia and Delos
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 []
Lyman Luke Frost to sister Julia
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 []
Lyman Luke Frost to sister Julia Frost and her husband Delos Walker
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 []
Nancy Ameda FROST "Allen" to sister Julia Frost and Broeht in law Delos Walker
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 []
Albert Melville Whitteker to Delos Walker
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 []
Mary FROST "Goodspeed" to Julia and Delos
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 []
Nancy FROST "Allen" to sister Julia FROST "Walker"
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 []
Ella Jane FROST "Cudworth" to sister Julia
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 []