Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters - Transcribed letters from 1920

Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters - Transcribed letters from 1920

Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate

Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the
Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run
the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both agricultural and social history.

Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore

Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.

Peninsula Community Library

1920

Mary T Morgan

This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display, or transmit this document.

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LHC 010

Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michiga

Raymond S.D.
April 20th 1920
My Dear Miss Taft:-
I was very glad to hear from you. I have had several letters from Joseph since I wrote to you. He did not tell me how much he got out of the hogs
& I did not care to ask over twice. Your cherry orchard was all O.k. last week. But it is so cold most of the time. That I am not enjoying my visit as much as I might. For we can not take the baby & go car riding. She has not been very well since I brought her out here. I do not like it out here for there is thick black mud every where. And the water is awful it is not fit to drink. I will be glad to get back & get a good drink of
water once more. Last night I happened to step off from the cement walk & slipped down in the mud & rolled over such a sight I was. That finished
me. Mamma makes fun of Mich. sand but I like it far better than mud.
I would like to go to the Black Hills before I come back but I guess I will have to give it up. Miss Taft when you mention clothes it makes me
think of my old clothes. I could not afford to buy new ones. Mamma & papa furnished me with funds to bring me out here. They thought I would
like it here & stay. So I don't like to have them buy any clothes for us. Although they have [gotten] bought some things for the children to wear.
They have a beautiful home here & every thing to get along with. I would
like to paper one of the rooms at home this spring but I can't afford it & won't ask you to. Even though it is a tenant house I like to be clean &
comfortable. For it is my home as long as I live in it. Now Try and rite to me again before I leave for home. That will be the 3rd day of May. I will be so glad to see you back again. And I certainly hope we have a good summer & lots of cherries. Mamma & Mary send you their love. And you have a lot of mine too.
Your Friend
Essie E Kitchen
P.S. Keep well



Old Mission, Mich Sept. 20th 1920 My Dear Miss Taft:- I received your card & am very happy you got home safe & sound. Even though you were tired & dirty a good bath & rest will mend your trouble. We had a lovely shower the 15th & have had no frost yet although the weather is cool. Billy was laid to rest the 17th Mr. Lannin [S]shot him & he suffered no pain. I am glad it is over with. Joseph had not the heart to do it. Your laundry is here & I will try to care for it. Hazel has tried several times to unwrap it. She says Miss Taft went to towna. What did you order the extra lumber for. Well it is past my bed time so must retire. Yours, Essie K.




Old Mission Mich
Sept 28th 1920
Dear Miss Taft:-
I am so glad to know you had a pleasant trip & are safe at home. We have had such dreadful hot weather up until the last few days that I could hardly endure standing over a hot stove & can. But Ill. is worse yet. And you certainly have my sympathy. For heat bothers me dreadfully. Last night it began to rain & today it is awful cold. Joseph began cutting corn
Monday but it rains so much he can't accomplish much. The house is about all painted but the window lights are not puttied yet or frames painted. But the crops must be attended to first of all. There are several teams
for sale around her but none that Joseph feels like putting your money into. Miss Taft those apples were so cracked & under size that there were only 15 bu. of good ones. I helped Joseph to sort them all so as he could get at his other work There were 1800 lbs of cider apples & we got [$].40 per 100 for them in all $7.20. I have put it to your credit on the book. We took them to Bower's Harbor & sold them to F.A. Doig. You know all of those apples Ledger had went to the cider mill. They were not fit for any thing else. Those little pigs are husking your corn & Griffin's too but can not close them up for they will get out. You have no idea how they have grown since you last saw them. I know how anxious you are to get at your sewing for I am the same as you always trying to make old clothes over I am puzzled what to make Hazel winter shirts out of. For new ones cost so dreadful much & I do think another year prices will be lower. So of anyone looses their woolen shirt around here you can blame it to me.
The Rye looks good at present. I must get dinner for it is eleven thirty now
With love to you
I remain Essie
K



Old Mission Mich
Oct. 17th 1920

My Dear Miss Taft:-

Today is Sunday and we are going to Traverse City for dinner. But I feel it my duty to sit down & write to you first so we can mail the letter in town.

I was up to see Mr. P. yesterday about your apples & all he will pay is $1.00 a hundren in bulk for no.1 & no.2. Joseph will have to bring them to town in the wagon. Now what do you wish to have done with them. We could store them in the cellar & sell them this winter & perhaps get more out of them. Now please let us know by return mail.

Your hogs are getting very plump & will soon be fat enough for market. They eat 3 bu. of corn every day.

Mr. B. entered a complaint about the 9 smaller ones so we had to take the extra lumber & fence them in so it take food for them too. He said if we did not close them up he would have to send you a bill for damages Mrs Haywood says he is laughing abou it now. They were too nice to suit his taste I am glad you are not so hateful as he is.

Yes we had that wave of cold weather strike us too & Joseph did not have the corn all cut & hired Mr.Lannin 1 1/2 day to help him & the following night it froze hard everything was white but have had lovely weather since. Your corn will soon be safe in the crib. There is a large field of it so it will take some time to care for it all. And it takes a lot of his time to do the chores.

We have not found any team yet that you would care to own.

I will go over & try to find your cloth & will be only too glad to mail it to you. You may be sure dear that I would be so glad to get those papers ot read & thank you many times for your thought & kindness. I will try to find time during the week to write another letter to you. We had to get 5 lbs of nails & 2 batteries & ball of binding twine for corn.

5 lbs nails .45 23.46
2 batteries .90 7.45
_____
1 ball twine 1.60 16.01
1 1/2 days labor 4.50 to your credit
____
7.45
[$].26 left for old account
16.00 From C.G Taft
7.20 cider apples
______
23.46

Your snaps were received are just what he wanted.

With love Essie



Old Mission Mich
Oct. 24th 1920

My Dear Miss Taft:-

Today is Sunday & I have just finished helping Joseph sort apples. There were 50 bu. in all and 19 1/2 bu. of no 1 & no 2 apples so you see they were not very good. So many were cracked and under size. Mr. P. does not handle apples in baskets or barrels the only way he will take them is to haul them to town in bulk for I was in to see him twice. And he said apples were so cheap he could not afford to handle in baskets. So we have did the best we could under circumstances. He will take them up tomorrow morning & get 1/4 ton hog feed

He wants to dispose of those hogs this week for they are as fat as they will get he will try & make arrangements tomorrow while in town. I should judge they will weigh 100 apiece maybe more I don't know until they are weighed. The last litter are growing very nice.

No those little pigs have not been attended to yet. every one seems to be so busy that they haven't time to help Joseph do it. We would like to get Ledger for Joseph can return in work then. We will have it did at earliest date possible.

Did Mrs. S. mention how many butternuts she wanted I would like to know. And next thing is to find something to put them in. I have her beans ready now but would like to send them all at [()] one time.

I found the material you wanted & it was right where you said it was. Will send with the apples.

No news of a new team yet.

Joseph has 200 bu of corn in the crib & will have to haul the rest over to S. when husked. There wil be 100 yet or more. WE would rather have it here for no one over there some one might break into the crib. Well I am tired and will draw my letter to an end. Will you please excuse my pencil but Roger ruined my pen so will have to get another. You understand something about children I think.

Miss Taft I need a winter hat too but am not gifted as you are to be so handy I try but usually fail. Guess I will wear my same old one.

With love
Essie K.

P.S. Hope I have mentioned every thing of importance if not please mention again


Old Mission Mich
Oct 26th 1920

My Dear Miss Taft:-

Joseph took those apples up yesterday & Mr. P would not take them he said that apples were so cheap that he did not care for them unless they were perfect. Joseph asked him why he told [use] us to bring them & then not care for them. It is discouraging to bring anything so far & then not get anything out of it. He told Joseph to go to G. Lardie & he said he did not want them so he took them to the cider mill instead of bringing them home. For people don't know what to do with their fruit. We would have been very glad to have had a couple bu. of good apples for winter what we have are the culls but will have to do. I am so sorry for the way things are turning out but we surely can not help it. Just think of people that have mortgages on their homes & have to depend on their fruit.

And as for the hogs he could not sell them & they were as fat as they will get the butchers don't like to take such light weight hogs and no one is buying in T.C. so that is another problem. What shall we do with them? Any other time they would have sold but at present every thing has gone Democratic. I most sincerely hope there will be some change. We have been left here to care for your interests but can't seem to dispose of your hogs & apples as we would like to. You know how you would feel if you were in [my] our place. The horses were shod & had 4 new shoes. Jim's shoes were not any good.

Would you please let us know what you would like to have did about those hogs? It is hard for you I know when you are so far away from here. But you are your best judge.

I have not bought that paper for the room yet for it is so very dear that I thought it might come down later on. Joseph got 1/4 ton hog feed 500 lbs.

16.01 your credit.
3 30 3.00 horseshoeing
_____
12.71 .30 dinner for J.

Your's
Essie E. K.

[Receipt attached from the Traverse City Milling Co. 10/23/1920 CJ.Taft for 1/2 ton [?chuma?h?] [500# gone] all gone J Kitchen]


Old Mission Mich
Nov 1st 1920

My Dear Miss Taft:-

Would you be willing to sell your fattened hogs for market price around here. There are several that have wanted some & of course I must consult you first. We would like to buy one too if you are willing to sell. You know we have to buy all of our meat & it costs a lot buying in small lots. So if you would care to sell us one we would be glad to get it.

It take so much corn for all of those hogs that I can not see where there would be enough difference in them to pay for keeping them longer than you have to. Several have mentioned about wanting to buy some of the little ones are you willing to sell & what would you want for them

Please excuse my poor stationary as Roger has made use of it all so I am obliged to use what I can find. About the time this letter is well on the way I expect I will hear from you.

How often I wish I could talk with you for half an hour. This letter writing is such a nuisance. My babies bother me so much some times it is hard for me to remember all I wanted to say.

I have had one of my old headaches for about 2 days so feel rather used up tonight.

With love,
Essie Kitchen


Old Mission Mich
Nov. 8th 1920

Dear Miss Taft:-

I recieved your letter about those hogs & we hardly know what to do I think I told you as plain as I could that they would not offer Joseph any price at the meat markets & that there were no buyers in town this fall so far as we could find out Mr. Sweet is not here & Mr. Zimmerman is not buying at all & won't until Xmas. I don't know what else to say. We cannot keep those pigs closed up much longer in that small place or they will all die. We are thoroughly disgusted trying to do anything with them. If you do keep them until Xmas there will not be any corn left. And as for us buying we can do the same as we have been doing get along with out. There is no place around here that we could weigh them & get a weigh bill so we will not try to sell around here. Mr. Eiman mentioned about buying 2 and Hughie Lannin wanted 1 & of course if we would have taken 1 that would have been four less to feed & I guess we could have sold the rest. If people were willing to pay $.12 for them all right & if not they will have to stay where they are. We have did the best we could you can't sell something that no one wants. Just called Mr. Eimen up & he does not want them at that price

He bought a new tractor & don't need his new orchard drag & wanted me to ask you if you cared for it he paid $100 for it last Spring & will sell for $75.00 will you please mention in your next letter if you are interested. Joseph says it is as good as the day he got it.

Mrs. Dudley Griffin died Sun evening at 6 O clock leaving a husband & 3 little ones. She has been sick for a week or more. I do not know exactly what caused her death.

My head feels about like yours did the last day of cherry picking I am so tired & nervous I hardly know what to do with myself. It is a constant planning & worrying of how will I make all ends meet & still have a dollar left. A man does not do the thinking a woman has to They can work a few hours in solitude but with me it is noise all the while. Well I must put baby to bed. I hope I have answered all questions. As ever your's
Essie K.

P.S. There are cider apples here & will take to the Harbor as soon as they have room to take them in. We will mail you the check for them as soon as we sell the apples.


Old Mission Mich
Nov. 17, 1920

My Dear Miss Taft:-

Received your letter & card. Was very glad to hear that you got the apples in good condition also the cloth you asked for me to send. Was it the right piece?

I have called Joe Zimmerman twice in regards to hogs & he keeps putting it off as long as he can. But he told me that he would begin buying around Thanksgiving time. And that pork was worth [$].10 on foot now. We would like to get one of we see our way clear to do so. But the cows are going dry so it makes us short of money. But if we decide to keep one we will let you know about it. Of course pork may be lower buy the time that Mr. Z. is ready for it. I hope not for your sake. If we do buy a hog of you it will not be necessary to weigh it in Traverse City we can weigh it some where around here.

Mother pig was bred the 15th of this month. The little gentlemen pigs have all been attended to and are doing fine. No one seems to care. for to buy small pigs just now.

Joseph will try & get some one to attend to Bates as soon as possiable. He is so cross since he has his mate with him that even the cows do not dare wink at him I never saw such a large pig before in my life. I saw a great many hogs at the fair & not one of them looked any nicer than Mr. Bates does. I know he would have taken first prize.

Your bees are packed ready for their winter rest.

Did I mention about the paper over to Stulsman's. There was not any old over there but was some of the other left & we will use that.

The hogs eat so much corn that we have not had to put any in S.crib & I guess we will have room here for it all. There are 295 bu corn in all but those hogs have been fattened out of it. So do not know how much there is now. And about 50 more to husk out.

We have had regular winter weather for about a week every thing is froze up now ground & all.

Miss Taft I will be glad if ever I get a pen again for I know it looks careless to use a pencil but can't seem to get any thing else out here. So will have to wait until I can go to town & get one.

My head ache is better but for just a short time. I have it so much of the time some days I feel very stupid especially after I have a hard attack.

My dear I received those Posts & thanks many times for them I am only too willing to pay postage on them. I will give you credit for it on the book.

How is Mr. Stulsman? I do hope he is better. They have been very kind to us & I surely do wish we could do something for them in return. Will you please mention in your next letter so I will know. I hope I have not left any thing out.

Parcel post on apples [$].70
" " on magazines .33
_____
37
[???????] apples 37
Paid H. M. Lardie 2.88
______
13.71 3.25
3.25 left to your credit
______
10.46

Your's sincerely
Essie K.


Old Mission Mich
Nov. 28th 1920

My Dear Miss Taft:-

I have not much news to write.

Bates has not been attended to. It is hard to find some one here to operate. But will try to get Mr. Cooper. I hope the hog won't die afterward. We have had to lock him up in the basement of tho barn. We could not keep in any place any more. since cold weather came on he is very ambitious. He called on the Breeden's at 9 o'clock one night & again the other day. Mr. B. says he would shoot him if he came again. For he might harm some ones little children. So we feel safe where he is now & there will be no farther trouble about him.

I called Mr. Z. about those hogs Wed. the 24th as he told me to. And he says pork is so cheap he don't care to buy for a while. I told him that he has put us off several times but could not do any thing about it all they could pay was [$].08 a lb. and would not buy at that price. They say hogs will be still cheaper. We sold 2 at [$].08 a lb. one to Mr. Ayers 172 lbs and 1 to Jim Lannin 142 lbs
They were weighed on Mr. Ayers scales. Will we sell the rest of them. We want one a little later on when it is cold enough to keep the meat. It is so warm now that it would spoil & I do not want it all salted. We will weigh it on Mr. A. scales when we do get it. Of course meat is cheap now & I think it will keep on getting cheaper and if you do keep them all winter that they would not be enough more to pay for keeping. I don't know if any one that wants any more hogs at present. But please let me know as soon as you can if you care to sell any more Ledger butchered a nice large hog [this] a few days ago & got very little for it. When I called Mr. Z. I also mentioned Bates. You know he said the other pigs were pretty light & I told him we had one that would weigh about 600 lbs. he asked me if he was a stag I did not know how to answer him for a minute but happened to think what he meant. Is that the proper name for that kind of a hog? I thought i[?] sounded rather rude over the phone. He says they don't pay much for such animals. I have tried to tell you everything as plain as I could so you would understand me.

How is Mr. Stutsman? I have not heard for some time. I surely hope he is improving.

I will mail your money to you tomorrow in Traverse City so you will get it O.K. It will cost a few cents but I think you would rather have me send it than put it in the bank for you.

170 lbs at .08 is $13.60
142 lbs at .08 is $11.36
I will tell you what the crate weighs for you might like to know. It weighs 70 lbs

Hazel is so sleepy she can hardly eat her supper. We don't know what to do for her eyes that they are crossed so badly. I know that her hard arrival is what caused it for her eyes were left weak.

With love
Your's Essie Kitchen


Old Mission Mich
[Nov] Dec 9th 1920

Dear Miss Taft:-
I sent a money order to you the 28th of Nov. and have had no answer from you so far. I would like to know if you received it, if not please let me know as soon as possiable.

Bates has been operated on & is doing fine. Wasn't even lame after ward. Mr. Berton charged $2.00 I think that is reasonable enough don't you?

Have you heard from the Stutsmans of late? I have not. & have been wondering how Mr. Stulsman is.

Your corn [fodder]stalks were cured just lovely this fall The nicest they have ever been.

Joseph did not get time to putty the windows before it turned cold & he wanted to put another coat of green paint on but did not get it done. All the other paint was put on. Also the stairs sided up. It certainly makes the house more comfortable.

Today he cemented and stoned the new well.

The new seeding was just up when it turned so cold.

$2.00 Mr. Berton 10.46 credit
1.25 stock salt 4.92
1.10 1 sack cement _____
.25 currey comb for Horses 5.54 your credit
.20 Barn rent
.12 money order
_____
4.92

Your Friend Essie K.

[Attached were two Cash Sale Slips from Prokop & Kysela, TC - 12/7 Taft Sal[l] 1[.]25; 10/7/20 Taft cement 1.10]


Old Mission Mich
Dec 14th 1920

My Dear Miss Taft:-

Our letters crossed again as usual. I received your letter in the Friday's mail & Saturday we sold 3 hogs & today another one so that makes four in all.

Tomorrow I am going to T.C. providing the weather fit so I can & I will deposit your money in the state Bank & send you the receipt. That will save post office fees for you. You did not state which you wished for us to do.

I am so glad to know that you are going to your sister. For I know she needs you so much also a little rest. No one but a wife & mother knows how much she has to endure. Our burdens are very often more that we can stand. It seems as though there is a constant worry all the while I know th[????????] we were all sick I thought I would loose my mind. First one thing & then another. I write & talk to you as I would an older sister if I had one. For you have always been very dear & kind to me. aso Mrs. Stutsman.

When Mrs. Lardie & I first mentioned to one another about sending Mrs. S. a Thanksgiving box we intended to do it alone. But the others were so willing to help us that we all enjoyed the work very much. There was so little I had to offer but the best I could. I have lived in a city and fully realize how hard it is to get good fresh food. It is usually kept on market so long that it not fit to eat.

The weather is very wet & damp. Most every one has colds & sore throats.

We could not get over [$].08 for the hogs.
Harry Christopher 160 lbs $12.80
Oscar Nelson 145 " 11.60
George Harvey 138 " 10.64
_____ Swanson 172 " 13.76
______
$48.80
Mr Swenson wanted his hog [$].10
weighed on Doigs scale so it ______
cost [$].10 extra he got the $48.70
largest one.

With Love Essie Kitchen over
____
P.S. Do you read the companion if so you will find that the new story in it is very good it is [] titled The Unclaimed Letter. It will be continued in the Jan. issue



Dear Miss Taft:-

I wrote part of this letter a week ago to-night. I fully intended to go to town the next day & it stormed so hard I could not go so will try my luck tomorrow. We have had cold weather the past week & plenty snow I will try to go to town with some of the neighbors it is a long cold ride. We have Mrs. S. nuts & beans all ready to send. I hope they will prove satisfactory for we both did our best. We sorted all of the nicest nuts out for them. For it does not pay to pay express on empty shells.

I will add $5.00 of the hog money to your account.

We butchered one of the pigs for our selves & found it in a very good condition. our's weighed 55 lbs. Will you please take it our of our Jan. check. It will come to $12.40 at .08 a lb. All you can get for dressed pork in town is [$].10 a lb. There are 2 pigs left. Mr. Haywood would like one but could not pay for it until about the 15th of Jan. So please let me know what to do about it. I know your pay is good there. Your pigs have been getting about 20 qts of milk from up there every since Breedens left for they havent any thing to feed it to. So Joseph carried it down here every day.

Don't you think it would pay us to get another pig & butcher it & have our meat for the following year. We have had to pay [$].40 all the while for our meat & then it was the very poorest. Joseph cannot work hard on bread & potatoes with out meat at all. If you would take care to take the pay for it out of his Feb check we will take it. And butcher it as soon as we hear from you. We have not found any sale for the two pigs I have just spoken of yet.

Thanks very many times for the Xmas gift I know I will enjoy every page of it. You havent any idea how lonesome it is here. Mrs. Stutsman knows something about it. For she lived here several winters. To have some good reading on hand makes a person forget. I am so sorry I can not send you some little gift in return But every thing is so high that I can't even buy our little ones any play toys. I have made Roger 2 new night shirts & put a deposit in the people's saving bank. so to give him a little start by adding a few pennies at a time it will count up by the time he is a man. Little tots always expect Old Santa to bring some-thing. Wishing you all a very Merry Xmas.
48.[8]70 I am Your's
5.00 Essie K.
________
43.[8]70 I will deposit.

P.S I have smeared that account up that I will copy it over so you can read it.
48.70
5.00 for to add to acct
______
43.70 I will deposit this in the State bank for you.

48.70
12.40
______
61 10


Old Mission Mich
Dec. 28th 1920

My Dear Miss Taft:-

I received your dear letter tonight & you don't know how glad I was to hear from you.

How thankful I am to know that Mrs. Stutsman has the education to help her self with. And to be at school will give her mind something else to think of instead of her troubles. I hope the nuts and beans were all right we put several quarts of nice navy beans in the box also. I thought it would save buying at high priced stores.

We have been very well so far & hope we keep on. For it is awful to be sick so far from a doctor. But we must not think of getting sick.

Has Mrs. Stutsman any large crocks that you think she would be willing to loan me. I would be very careful of them so as not to crack or break them. It certainly is a chore to take care of pork but will pay in the end.

I don't go to town very often but some times find it necessary but when I do go I have scores of things to do.

I had all of my dental work did before cold weather but do not feel as though it was did as it oughto have been for one tooth is very sensitive yet & feels as though it would like to ache. It is one of the Mollars. It has a gold crown on but I guess it will not help much. Will tell you about the hay in my next letter.

There are about 100 bu. of corn left in the crib.

We are having very cold weather & oh! so much snow we did not get any mail for 2 days so you have some idea of our little Spring here.

Well my dear I have another letter to write yet & it is past my bed time now So will try to write more next time.

With love to you
And wishing you a Happy-New Year, I am
Your's Essie K.

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