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Tri-Counties Genealogy &
History by Joyce M. Tice
Diaries & Letters of Tri-Counties
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Bradford County PA
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Chemung County NY
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Tioga County PA
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| Letters of the Frost, Walker
and Allied Families |
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Julia FROST "Walker" was the recipient of most of these letters |
| Letters: Frost, Walker Family |
| Township: |
| Year: 1856 to 1949 |
Transcribed & Submitted by Wendell Evans
Formatted & Published by Joyce M. Tice |
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Return To Table of Contents
of This Collection of Letters
A year and a day of Happy Days
Portland Pa. Aug. 11 – 1894
Friend Walker: -
Replying to yours of July 23rd. I am very much pleased to hear
of your securing so desirable a position in Williamsport and hope you will
be promoted to the high school. I saw Mr. Myers, and he says you and him
have finally got the mileage book transaction settled, his wife miss directed
the first letter containing the check. Mr. Deitrich has been sick for some
time with neuralgia, in consequence of which school matters are at a stand
still, no announcements printed as yet. Brodt is at Richmond, do not hear
any thing from him, as usual. There is much dissatisfaction all round as
to Deitrich and Brodt, so we expect the trouble will begin soon as school
opens. Yes, there was quite a cut in Principals salary, when your salary
was increased to $80. J. D. [Fuiller] made the motion to increase. Now
he advocated $65. Of course he does this in the interest of the normal
school. He thinks a cheap Principal (no matter how little ability) is good
enough for the people here, and consequently those who may become dissatisfied,
can send to the Normal school, provided they can afford it. I frequently
hear people say now, well why didn’t they keep Walker? John Lenneition
and wife are very loud in their denunciation of the School Board for not
keeping Walker. Allen has not rented the house yet, do not know if he has
had any chance to rent, as the house with but one family in is more suited
to the purpose of himself and another party. Allen has nothing much to
say, except that he was always in favor of Brodt, while at heart he is
tickled because Deitrich got to be Principal, Allen is very much elated
over his election as treasure, says he only offered to accept the office
at $10 per year to bet LaBarre, I had no candidate, but am perfectly willing
for him to have it, as I have succeeded in having his salary cut for $70
to $35 and $35 to $10 per year.
Rader made a big misstake about supplies. He said we had on hand
but 72 tablets of each the “US Mail” and [“Jel___”]. So last Tuesday night
we ordered 1500 peneil tablets. Last evening I went with Rader to the school
house and found in those boxes in a vacant room about 1200 tablets on hand,
so we do not need any and Rader is now trying to countermand the order,
can you give me a idea of about how much suppliers you used last year of
each kind per scholars or in total. What do you think of the supple mental
reading that Prof. Elliott is introducing? We are having the sod dug away
from the trees in the school lot and putting ashes around them. Weiss Bros,
are putting up two new houses across the street from us, next to John Linsmans.
Dr. Anderson has moved in where Cass moved out. But as you take the Enterprise
you know all this. On Thursday Mrs. L., Mabel and myself went to Hackettstown
[___] and innestigated the Cutenary Collegiate Institute. After looking
over catalogues and writing a number of letters, and getting some advice
from Dr. Taylor Prof. of Vassar, we have decided to send Mabel to Hackettstown.
Dr. Whitney says she cane enter the Senior preparatory class and graduate
in one year, but he does not think she can get enough Latin and French
in that time to enter Vassar. So much have two Languages, and later on
we want her to study German. But think she can learn the French easier
with Latin so she will take the French first. She will not take any extras
but music, one lesson a week and one practice period per day. Whitney says
for her to graduate in preparatory in one year she must double up on Latin,
two recitations per day lesson and Vergil. He advise her to take the junior
and senior years (as giving her credit for one year of Latin). She would
still have to crowed a three years course of Latin, French and German,
Astronomy, Solid Geometry [___] [___] into two years. Now I think if she
takes two years at Hackettstown she ought to be able to enter the junior
class at Vassar or the sophomore at least, and graduate there I 2 or 3
years at the longest. We do not want her to injure her health, and we want
her through in what she studies, still we want her to get to Vassar soon
as possible, Please give me your opinion. Graduates from Hackettstown are
admitted at Vassar on Certificate, with out examination. Pres. Taylor of
Vassar recommends this school and says they have sent him some very good
pupils.
I send you to day a catalogue which you will please examine and
retain, you will see by it that she must present a certificate of good
moral character, Will you please send me such a certificate for Mabel Catherine?
Now the expense including Music and incidentals will be about $40000 per
year, Books and stationery are furnished at current prices, as she will
want quite some books, which will be very expensive at current prices,
can you put me in a way to get them at publishers prices? I do not now
know what she will want. Well on Saturday A. O. Allen went to Blairstown
to make arrangements for Miss Emma to go to school there. Every body takes
it for granted that Mabel is going off to school, but what worries them
is that they can not find out where she will go to. I think I will explode
a “Bomb” amongst them in a few days by telling them that she is going to
Hackettstown to prepare for Vassar. Dr. Whitney put Mabel on the witness
stand, as if were to testify as to what you had been teaching her. He seemed
very much surprised, and pleased, spoke [___rylieglly] of her averages,
especially geometry and ended by saying, why you have had a year in Latin
also, you have started Mabel and we feel that we must to a great extent
depend upon your advice until she finishes her education. Saturday morning
between 1 and 2 oclock the saw mill and slate factory of the Francis Co.
burned down, cause unknown, loss $8000 insurance $5000. I certainly feel
very sorry for him as he has lost so much within 2 years. He is a kind
hearted and well meaning neighbor. I think between the people who wanted
Brodly and those who wanted Walker, that Deitrich will have a pretty hard
time. My health has been fairly good this summer. The [___] Dept. still
promise me that I will be taken care of and given a clerkship either at
New York, Philada, or Harrisburg, We certainly are very much pleased to
receive such glowing accounts of the prosperity and health of yourself
and family. Mabel feels rather down hearted about going away. Although
it is only 26 miles from home. She spent one week in Easton and this week
she is visiting Cora Brodt at Richmond. Mrs. L. says she is looking for
babys picture, and will send you one of [___] soon as they are received,
she looks at the new houses across the way, and wishes you was here and
going to occupy one of them. She says she feels that her hearth is down
in her shoes because Mabel is going away. But she has one consolation,
as Mabel can come home any Friday evening or Saturday and stay till Monday
morning. Dr. Clines lives at Hackettstown, and Mrs. Clines sister will
be a day scholar at the Institute, which will be some company for Mabel,
as they are allowed one hour each day to go down town, only she does not
want to room with any one, and we can not afford to pay the extra charge.
She will be pleased if Mrs. Walker can give her any information as to Mabels
school outfit & Mrs. L. joins me in kind regards to Mrs. Walkers, Francis
and yourself. Hoping to hear from you soon I am very truly yours.
Mr. LaBarre
[] Transcribe January 10, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Portland Pa. Jan 8, 1895
Prof. H. F. Walker
Dear Bro
Yours of 18th [___], was rec’d in due time. & very glad [___]
we to hear from you. To know of your reception into the church, & that
Francis has concluded to attend church with his parents as a good boy should
do. And we hope the dear little fellow will like it so well that he will
not consent to staying at home & thus depriving his parents of the
benefits of the service. Give him a kiss or a hand shake & pull his
ear & tweak his nose for one or tell him to be [___] & have that
fine shaped head of his well filled with maters all that will be worth
something where he is grown up thank you for your information about the
churches. If [Sha___sk_] is not yet supplied. Will you tell your Pastor
that I should like an opportunity there. I want to give up Portland this
spring. And would prefer a good church to a couple or three small ones.
He could tell you in Watsontown is still unsupplied or Lewisburg, or if
any other should be coming vacant in the spring I hope you are liking your
new position & work. And that Mrs. W. is pleased with her situation
& surroundings. We held our Christmas entertainment on Xmas Night.
The M. E. Ch. Held theirs same night. We were clearly ahead this time &
our folks did not wipe out their advertisement as they did one & perhaps
two years ago. The M. E’s first advertised a free entertainment, to spoil
our crowd. But better consoles prevailed & they put price 5¢ below
ours we had a house full, & at 15¢ cleared $7 or $8, above all
expenses, While the M. E.s at 10¢ had a full house, requiring 3 policemen
to hold in check the turbulent, & receipts fell below expenses to the
amt of $7 or $8. Our people are feeling more independent. our New Years
night at a Chicken & Waffles Supper in the hall they cleared about
$3200 this will keep a Sexton paid up for a whole year. We are now talking
now about a new furnace hope it will not end in talk. Mr Billis is here
now but goes back to Tioga in about a week. Our session got their coverage
up in the fall & suspended Nettie Johnson of Water Gap for the usual
disgrace. She has mained after childbirth to Bartender Albeit of Portland
drinking Saloon. But that is enough of such news. Our weather last week
was cold & good sleighing. Sabbath it began to snow & sleet &
rain & today it is going on growing more stormy with rain & snow.
Mrs A joins me in love regards to yourself & family. Hoping to hear
from you again I am your Fraternally
R. L. Adams
[] Transcribed on January 4, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Rolland Pa, March 2, 95
Prof. H. F. Walker
Dear Bro.
Excuse my appearance again, & bear with my request. I purpose
offering my resignation here in spring. Now I am anxious to fin a field
before I cease to have work here. I note the death of the Pastor at Milton
in Pby of Northumberland and it occurred to me to ask you to mention me
again to your Pastor with any suggestions you can make in my favor. Ask
him to correspond with Rev. E. Ferrier DD of Lafayette College Easton Pa.
or Prof. S J Coffin of same college or Rev S G Hutchinson of Stroudsburg
or Dr W W McKinney Ed of Presbyterian 1510 Chestnut St Phil. Pa and in
case I am not available for Milton at the proper time there may be some
other point of which he may know where he could do me the favor to put
me in the way of hearing & a chance of acquaintance who can tell whether
I would suit them or they me, with out a trail. We are pretty well at present
though Mrs A has had a tug with the grippe. Mr Dietrick is very [___] &
finds his work very burdensome in his recovery from grippe. Hope yourself
& Mrs. W. & Francis are all well. By the way when you write please
tell me what is the full name of Francis. Kind regards
From Mrs. A. to you both
Fraternally yours
R. L. Adams
[] Transcribed on January 3, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
505 Anthony St
Williamsport, Pa.
Mar, 9, 1895
Dear Parents,
We received your letter. Sorry we have not written sooner but
some way we both seem to be busy nearly all the time.
We were at Philipburg two weeks ago to-day and yesterday. Had
a very pleasant time. We find them all well. Francis was a little home
sick the last day.
Louise had a hard cold last week and was nearly sick for a day or two.
Francis is having quite a time cutting his first double teeth. The four
are now just cut through. He now has twelve teeth. He has had quite a cough
and has quite a fever every few days. His cough is much better. He eats
noting but cornstarch that has been his diet for a week. Am afraid he will
get this if he does not eat simple thing else much. He creeps all over
on hands, one knee, and one foot and climbs up by everything. He is especially
anxious to put everything into the water pail or cash dish. He was standing
by the washer the other day When Louis was wringing clothes and caught
his thumb in the [___] of the winger. It was very badly mashed but is almost
well now except a sport on the nail.
We get three or four eggs every day, so think our five hens are
doing well.
The town was full of G. A. R men last week & attended a lecture
a week ago last Thursday evening by Ex-Confederate General Jordan of Ga.
On the “Last Days of the Confederacy” He is I think the most eloquent speaker
I ever heard.
We hope you are all well again before this time.
Our monthly institute meets at nine o’clock this morning and
I expect to get some things in market before that time.
Let us hear how you are and we will try to write sooner next
time.
Yours as ever
Houston
[] Transcribed on January 4, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Mansfield, Dec. 15, 95
My Dear niece Julia
I saw by the paper that Bertha & Mr. Kelley were married
I was in hope we should see you it had been so long I wanted to at least
hear from you [_eased] some of you were sick so thought I would try again
I know I cant write very interesting it seems very lonely since Julia went
to the city sometimes I have a mind to go too then I would like to be thankful
for kind children & friends Julia seems very contented all the help
she has is a woman to come in and right up things as their house is all
new it only takes a part of the time to do the cooking she always liked
to get her meals & pay a girl beside John has the charge of a church
in the [___] it seems about all he can do & will give up the farming
part Emma has her family together nearly every week, Freas wife don’t seem
to improve very much one of Henrys sisters is very sick gone to Westfeld
to be treated for ulcer in the stomach please let me hear from you from
your aunt with love to all.
Olive Champney
Julia’s address is
55 To[___] Place
Brooklyn N. Y.
[] Transcribed on January 4, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
White Rock Jan. 18 – 1897
Dear Bro –
Yours contaning note recd all right & much obliged hoping
this may find you all as it leaves us all comforbaly so so. as I have no
news in particular to write about times are so dull that news is of little
consequence. But feel inhopes of a change for the better & then may
have something to write about & if that time comes will try and improve
it if you Harmon & Nancy please say to them I would like to have a
lettor from them & [___] this where abots & how they are getting
a long since all this family are married & away as none of the boys
are mared Tom & Jack are at home & John is at the Indian Agency
he is runing a store there I think he is doing very well. so will close
for this time by as king you excuse and give my best wishes to all inquiring
friends & espetially to Isaac & his better haff hope they may have
a prosperus journey through life with with plenty of sunshine and prosperus
all along the route to make this enjoyable
Yours truly
R. Frost
[] Transcribe January 20, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
1897
Thayer Kansas Mar 22nd
My Dear Sister Julia
I recd your very welcome letter a few days ago. I had began to
think I was not going to hear from you any more.
This leaves us comfortably well. but I have had a bad time with
the Gripp, as so many others have also. I suppose you have not heard that
our daughter Dora & family have gone to Los Angeles California to live.
They started the 15th of feb. I had letter from her a few days ago. They
seem to be pleased with the country but she says it seems such a long ways
from home and loved ones. Her husband had a position offered him before
they went from here. By a man that he was well acquainted with that used
to live near here. They have a Wholesale & Retail yards of fuel &
feed. And are doing well. we hated to see them go away so far and take
the little ones. But may be it will be all for the best. They have 3 children
a girl and 2 boys. The girl is 8 years old they call her Sarah (pretty
name isn’t it) she wrote a letter to me. She said she liked to live in
Cal but wished grandma was there too.
Well sister you asked me if I was willing to give Frank $50.00
from my share of father’s estate. I believe I would be glad to see him
doing well, as any one would. But the way we are situated I do not feel
it my duty to give him any thing, we owe more than is coming to me and
I will have to earn enough to make it up by the first of next January and
will do well if I can do it and keep up current expenses, I want to pay
out on the land that I have paid interest on so long, thinking perhaps
that will make us a living and I have felt for some time that I was not
able to continue in the business that I am now engaged in. I have kept
at it for the reason that it was quite necessary for someone to earn a
living. And A. M. could not find any thing that he was able to do. Of course
he does quite a good deal but does not bring in much money. He does all
the chores we have 2 little Jersey heifers that we have raised, and keep
a few pigs & chickens. Also have a large garden, and sell some vegetables,
but most of the people here have gardens so do not sell much.
I don’t believe you would ask me to give any thing if you knew
all the situation: I would have been glad if father had remembered him
in his will, but as he did not, and brother Peet had his share in the division
of the money. I think he might give that share to Frank as he feels as
if he had been badly treated. I have heard our father say many times that
his property, what was left when he was done with it should be divided
equally among his children but never heard him say he intended to give
Frank anything. I have settled with brother L and do not have any hard
feelings and would never have said any more about it, if this matter concerning
Frank had not come up. And I honestly believe father intended to make an
equal division after paying brother L the hundred dollars a year that he
said he would for looking after his business after he felt as if he was
not competent to see to it himself.
But after he paid that our brother would have $1000, to any one
of the other heirs $100, therefor I think he is the one to divide with
Frank
It is possible I do not look at this matter in the right light.
But I decide according to the best of my ability:
The debt we owe you I want to pay I want to pay if I ever can
and not deprive my family of necessaries I have felt bad about it many
times, and will pay it if I can
Love to you all and may God bless you is my prayer
Your sister
Sarah
Write oftener
[] Transcribe January 29, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Wiser Washington, Dec 17th 1897
Dear Sister & Brother
We received your more than welcome letter in due time I need
not say that we were glad to get it I believe it is the first in 2 years
we were glad to hear that your little family were well and hope they continue
so, now Julia I can’t conceive of you being grandma does it make you feel
old:
I try to believe that I am not old but when I look at my dear grand-children
that stand over six feet high as two of them do I feel, at least as though
I was more than sixteen if not very ancient. But enough of this my dear
ones here all as well as usual I can see that my Boy is growing old he
is as bald headed as our dear father was and the loss of his eye makes
him look older than he otherwise would. Grandpa Seelye as everybody here
calls him is badly troubled with rheumatism and his rupture is troublesome
otherwise is pretty well. as for me I am well I guess but so fat that my
limbs do not carry me very well and my fingers are to stiff and lame to
write very well and then there is nothing that I know to write about we
will send you some papers and you will see by them that this county has
splendid gold-mines and there may be good prospect perhaps some gold probably
there is, but as far as I can learn nobody has mined very much and a good
many people have gone to Alaska but they have not all got all the gold
they could carried the papers fail to report how many do not make a fortune
and it will be just so here if one makes a strike we shall hear all about
it but nothing of the hundreds that spend their time and strength and get
nothing such is the way of the world I guess. You wanted to know about
the cold here well the thermometer very seldom reaches down to zero 9 deg
above is the lowest I have ever seen it and it only staid there a few hours.
It may freeze a little harder sometimes I don’t know as to that but I do
know that from November till may it is useless to look for much fair weather
it is what our dear old grandma used to call muggy-chilly in fact it is
drizzle drizzle all day drizzle all night never more than 2 or 3 fair days
at a time. I have had pansies in bloom right out of doors with no protection,
the whole year through so it does not freeze as hard as it does in some
places on the other hand it never gets as warm in summer as in Minnesota
when the thermometer registers 90 we almost roast but we are in sight of
perpetual snow Mount Baker 20 miles to East of us always covered with snow
looks cool and it is about 10 miles to the South of us is salt water and
when the tide comes in it always bring a cool breeze and farther from us
to the north is 2 snow capped peaks I do not know their names but they
are among the Camllops or Selkerk range. Vegetation grows slowly but Cabbage
Carrots Beets and Potatoes are often of immense size when they get here
and the pine sawlogs and hemlock ones we used to see there would cook rather
small beside the fir and Cedar they have here. It is snowing here to day
I don’t how long it will last it is the first this season it is 2 inches
deep now I should think we some times have 5 or 6 inches of snow but have
never have had anything that would pass for sleighing in Penn. Since we
have been here we generaly get 2 or 3 snowstorms in a year but the only
advantage they are is to make the mud track in more which of course I don’t
appreciate. Now do you know anything about our Brothers or Sisters I don’t
the latest Sade wrote me Ace was dead. If you ever see Aunt Olive or Emma
give them my love
Good bye
I will send you a lock of my hair and I want some of yours we don’t
take the Agitator
[] Transcribe January 21, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Nettleton Mo
April 4th 97
Mrs Walker Dear sister
I reced your letter was glad to hear from you. You wished to
know something about my family we have five children two girls and three
boys our oldest is a girl & our youngest is a girl their ages are eighteen
sixteen thirteen ten is past six. You wished to know about my situation
I am not in very good circumstances I have to rent and rent is pretty high
I have but stalk my wife has been in poor health for several years now
concerning what I wrote you before Julia Ace and Nat both told me that
father got fifty dollars from the town for taking care of me and Nat told
me that father let Ace and Rue both off at twenty I staid with father till
I was twenty one and worked for father three months that I never got any
thing for after I was twenty one I would not think as I do if father had
put me out as soon as I was large enough to support my self but he kept
me and I worked for him the same as his own. We lived on father Kings old
farm the estate has not been settled up yet Father King has been dead fifteen
years mother King has been dead it will be three years the first of june.
We remember the letter that you sent the little boys a dollar a piece in
but we wrote you one after our little boys died. It might be that you did
not get that one.
I will close wishing you all good health we are only tolerable
well hope you will write and not think hard of any thing I have writen
to you your friend and brother F. A. Newell
[] Transcribe January 20, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Kingston March the 29th 98
Sister Julia
I will try to say a few words in reply to yours that was gladly
received. We thank you so much for mothers picture I had forgotten that
you had it and I tried to call it you but thought if it was you had been
very and I was about to write when he was at Teels and they told him who
it was I would like so well to see Aunt Olive once more, you said you were
growing old I guess that is true of us all but we are as well as we expect
to be so try to make the best of it Arthur lives in sight of us he has
a good wife and a nice little boy and girl his health is just medium. Joes
folks are well and have three children Charley is in south western Kansas
on a farm where they irrigate came there last fall they have 7 children
one two weeks old .the last we heard from Ruels he was back to the asylum
it seems so hard for him to have to live that way. The measles have been
every where. I never heard the like Jenny and her children have had them
but are well again there has been several deaths from pneumonia setting
in Sister Jane is as large as Aunt Betsey ever was but her health is not
good. Frank has bought a farm south east of Kingston about 7 miles from
here I am going to see them as soon as I can have not seen her for several
years we have 90 acres of land our house is not fine but comfortable so
I guess that is all we need I am tired so will bid you goodby hoping to
hear often love to all
N. S. Allen
[] Transcribe January 20, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Jetsam Wyo.
March 26 1894
Dear Aunt Julia
This Monday “business day” and I am trying to straighten up a
lot of correspondence. I am glad to know that you are well and enjoying
yourself. We had a hard siege in the way of sickness this winter but are
getting pretty well again. I don’t want any more grippe. The recollection
of it will be enough for me for a few years any way. Poor Ben hasn’t been
able to work since before Christmas he had an abscess of the stomach some
weeks ago. And was very sick but he is gaining health again now and I hope
he will feel like himself again soon. He has gone out with the rifle today
to see if he can get an antelope. We don’t buy much meat here. There is
too much game on the prairie to leave any. Necessity for so doing and say
do you like to fish? If you do I’d like to have you here. We would give
you a feast.
As to the questions you ask. The boy Jeshi is a strong lad he
is 44 ¼ inches tall, if I measure right and weighs 25 pounds. His
grandpa sent him a suit of clothes for a Christmas present and they bear
the mark 7. They fit him nicely, and he isn’t five years old till next
June. He is learning to count, to read and spell, and does pretty well
for a little fellow. His mind runs [___] to practical matters. He had a
flower bed last summer and weeded and watered it himself and had some nice
blossoms. He helped me hoe and irrigate the garden last summer and took
me pride in the [___] ownership of the nice vegetables. But he did cut
one baby ears took the hoe and chopped up a lot of pumpkins melons cucumbers
[___]. He knows how to min wates though and will if nothing happens be
a skilful irrigator. I hope you will have a good success with your bees.
They are nice little creatures (when they are good natural) and good paying
stock too when nothing goes wrong with them. And honey is good for health.
Those Christmas cards were pretty and thank you for them buy
own Christmas tokens were made up worthy of good will and good wishes I
was to busy to take time for much work at them.
That little grandson of yours ought to be a pretty nice boy will
be if he lives up to his name. I have received but one letter from Bertha,
and that did not mention him. Perhaps it was written before his arrival.
Aunt Cythena is a good business woman and I think competent to
deal with all financial problems. Though her sorrows are heavy she knows
where to seek for help to bear the burden. I had not heard if Gil Welch’s
failure. I am sorry he is so unfortunate. But the past year has been a
hard one on business of all kinds. We do not feel the hard times here as
in the East but when the Cheyenne Banks failed last summer a great many
people around here lost money. We are 220 dollars worse off because we
had it banked instead of stowed away in an old stocking. I am sorry for
Charlie Frost family, but it may be they can find friends to help them
over this most difficulties.
You ask if we have taken up land. We did take a claim or rather
three of them on our arrival from Pennsylvania But a few months after and
we received notice that two of them were already covered by another filing
which by some oversight in the land office had not been checked on the
township plot. The money we had paid for entry was returned. But I was
so disappointed. The claims occupied a beautiful little valley watered
by a nice little creek, and the land was smooth as a meadow I had before
my mind the picture of a beautiful home in the valley our third claim was
not so well situated, and was not watered so we sold it a while after we
had proved up, and came to Wheatland determined not to locate again till
we had studied the state pretty thoroughly. So Ben has been farming on
shares for two years. Did pretty well at it too. But we have our spot picked
out now and shall [___] for it early in May. Just as soon as the grass
is big enough to keep our teams in good condition if nothing happens to
discourage our plans. Our address after the middle of May will be Lander,
Wyo. Now I must tell you about Lander. It is a lively town about as big
as Mansfield was when we were there and growing bigger all the time. Does
pretty good business for it is the supply centre for half a dozen mining
towns, as well as the natural centre of the oil and mineral belts of the
state. Two flowing mills, wagon shop, brick yard and various other flourishing
industries are located there. The state Agricultural College was voted
there at the last election there are already good schools churches and
society. The town is also the county seat. U track of land his vacant,
near the town, and we intend to locate there. There is for twenty five
or thirty families and we are trying to get enough together to form a neighborhood
of our own. You may wonder how it to be vacant in so good a location. For
this reason irrigation is necessary for successful farming in this country,
and the ditch to cover that land is too expensive for one or even two or
three people to undertake irrigation suits us. I wouldn’t go back and live
in Pennsylvania mud for the best farm I know of. Here the roads are hardly
ever at all muddy. We don’t long drizzling rains that used to be so depressing
to me. Sunny weather from spring to fall and most all winter besides. So
we do not have to build big barns to shelter hay and straw, for it keeps
perfectly in stack if there’s a crack in the roof we don’t get a drenching
every day or two for it doesn’t rain half a dozen times in all summer as
a rule. My flowers blossom out perfectly for there is no damp muggy weather
to blight the buds. I never ate melons so sweet as [ripe] here under daily
sunshine of august and September. How I would have liked to have half a
dozen Pennsylvania friends here for a month last fall. To hunt and fish
and eat melons and other good things from the gardens the thing that bothers
me about our moving this spring is that I can’t have a garden the coming
summer. But never mind when we get settled I’ll have a garden again and
flowers and bees. Then come and see affectionate niece
Eva Lambesson
[] Transcribed February 7, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Jackson Minn April 27th 94
Dear sister
I got your letter last night am glad to hear from you and learn
of the changes that have taken place since I left there. There has been
a great many sad changes here in the last year. A great deal of sickness
and many Deaths a great many new settlers coming our little village has
about 2000 inhabitants our folks have 250 acres of land all but 60 acres
in the incorporation of the city we have about 180 acres fenced in pasture
we keep cows for the city folks have from 30 to 50 head ever summer get
$1.00 per month a head a month generaly pasture about 5 months so you see
we get quite a little income I get $14.00 per month pension and Flora is
serving out her second term as county Supt. of schools her time will expire
on next January 1st if not reelected she gets $84.00 per month our little
boy that was so hurt at getting kised is now about as tall uncle Delos,
a great worker he does most of the farm work Jack the oldest boy is a veterinary
surgeon is out now doctoring horses and dehorning cattle he was out west
last year up in the mountains of Idaho and got sick whil boating it down
the Missouri stoping at towns hunting jobs he done very well untill he
was taken sick with typhoid fever got to a government hospital he was told
by the surgeon in charge the way he could hope to save his life was to
have a nurse to give her entire time to his case she charge him $5.00 per
day but put him on his feet again then went back his boat and after laying
a night or two on the river took a relapse then and after having 3 or 4
nights on the boat his money all gone but 35cts his partner [___] but could
not get in because they did not have money to pay their fair Jack wrote
the condition he was in [___] in and said he was going to ride the boat
to Jefferson City if he lived to get there. The night we got the
letter Flora and Moses come home from the Chicago fair Flora took the train
the next morning for Jefferson City and got there before Jack did and took
him on a visit granpas and a good time with uncle Peter the got home the
middle of Oct Jack was not much but a Skeleton had two [___] backs after
he got home that lasted the greater part of the winter he has fated up
and appears quite strong I met with quite an exident on the 5 of Jan got
jerked off of a load of straw and struck on my shoulder on the frozen ground
broke my shoulder blade knocked the shoulder out of joint and gave me crippled
arm for life. Molly says tell us about Art Goodspeed folks write soon
Yours truly Nathaniel Frost
[] Transcribe January 29, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
Jackson Minn March 14th – 95
Dear sister we got yours of Feb 10th all right our folks are prety
good health except myself I am suffering a great deal with rheumatism this
winter. My nervous trouble caused by getting my shoulder broke in Jan 94
it is not well yet I don’t know but it will always be lame as long as I
live. We had our city election last Tuesday and voted bonds to build $20,000
or $25,000 school house this coming summer. I have had my picture taken
I’ll send you one it rather a poor job but it may be the only one you will
ever get can you tell me any thing about Uncle Elias’s folks pleas write
and let us know if they are all living our children all at him most of
the this winter Flora spends most of the time travailing over County visiting
schools Jack has a Vetrinary office in a livery stable down town gets a
prety good run of practice he bords and sleeps at home We have not heard
from Mo for a longtime I’ll write to them to day our winter has been rather
a dry one and about 1 month of pretty cold weather last half of Jan and
first part of Feb we did not get much snow and very little rain Moze is
putting in the most of his time hauling manure out of town putting on the
land we will plant about 40 acres with corn we have in the stock line about
40 head of hogs and shotes 9 head of horses 10 sheep 11 head of cattle
and chickens ducks and turkys plenty
Yours truly
Nathaniel Frost
[] Transcribe January 11, 2004, by Wendell R. Evans []
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Bradford County PA
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Chemung County NY
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Tioga County PA
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