Dublin Core
Title
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters - Transcribed letters from 1925
Subject
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Description
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.
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.
Creator
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Publisher
Peninsula Community Library
Date
1925
Contributor
Mary T Morgan
Rights
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Relation
None
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Document
Identifier
LHC 010
Coverage
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
PDF Text
Text
Old Mission, Mich
Jan.15th 1925
My Dear Miss Taft:-
I think it about time to ans. your letter Have been busy as usual &
have neglected you. Every day brings a lot of work around for me. We
have had quite cool weather of late but no severe snow storms will
knock on wood right away. As we have a great plenty of white blankets
on the ground now.
Joseph went in [Town] a week or more ago & brought the storm windows
down also the feed.
Uncle Otis Haywood & his wife moved into Freeman's house for to spend
the winter about 10 weeks ago. He was ailing for two or three days
but no one considered him very ill. Last Wed. he began having sinking
spells & only lasted a few hours. Doctor said he had dropsy & heart
failure. They were very fine neighbors & I will miss them a lot. His
wife is grandma Kitchen's sister. She will live up there with the
rest of them from now on. They were poor & did not have any thing at
all. They had given what they had to their children & then they did
not want to care for them I think it such a pity. He was 75 yrs. old
& she is 73 so they could not do much for them-selves any more.
I thought I had mentioned about Mr. Ayes in one of my letters. Joseph
went to see him & he said he could not promise any-thing as he is all
alone now since Clifford left there. And he is getting old to do such
work. Joseph tried to coax him. But you know how he is. He must be well
into his seventies now. I am sorry I did not mention it before. I do
forget so easily some times.
Jos. had shoes put on Queen's front feet when he had her in town. She is
quick on her feet but if she should fall it migh be a hard one.
I hope I have not omitted something you would like to know about.
Joseph thinks it best not to put new window panes into that basement
window until you get ready to use it. As the cows may walk up & poke
their horns thro' it. He has paper over them for now. With love, Essie.
$ 1.20 Queens shoeing
.25 currey comb.
.25 barn rent
.30 Jos. dinner
$9.55 on hand
$2.00 expenses
$7.55 To Your credit.
P.S. If I have failed to ans. Your questions please remind me again & I
will try not to fail you next time.
Miss. Taft I forgot to mention in my letter about Joseph cutting down a
few of those old beach that is hollow & the tops are getting rotten. We
will need more wood before the summer is over. And it is a great saving
to have it dry instead of burning water & sap. [over].
He did not think it necessary to ask you about it. But I know I would not
want some one to cut any of my timber if I had it without asking first.
Please mention in your next letter as he oughto get those things done now.
Before trimming & so forth comes on.
Old Mission , Mich.
Jan. 29th 1925
Dear Miss. Taft:-
Thanks for sending Joseph's
check so early we are always glad to receive it. That is one thing [?] nice
you are always very prompt. I always try to ans. your letters on time but
it seems hard for me to get at it some times.
The children were very well pleased to get those newspapers to look at.
They both enjoy them so much. I don't care for the litter as I have had
to get over that a long time ago. A person always has a mussed up
house with little folks around.
We have been having a dreadful time with Hazel the past 2 weeks. She
got infection in her right hand at school & we have had to take her to the
Dr. twice & it is far from being well yet. I have did nothing much but take
care of her & do some of my housework.
I have been having nose bleed & headaches until I hardly know what to
do with myself some days
Would be delighted to get some of your storm pictures but don't give
yourself short. And thanks for thinking of me Am sure you are very kind
& thoughtful of others.
If your expenses creep up unexpected like ours doe's I feel sorry for
you. it keep us scratching & skimping 3/ all the time. We have so many
Dr. bills all the while. If it is not one thing it is another.
Joseph's health is improving but he drinks no tea, coffee or chews any
tobacco. His heart still bothers him some & he thot. if he did not use
any of those drugs it might help some. Altho' the doctor did not say
anything against them. A drink of coffee was as much harm to him as
a glass of whiskey would be to any one. He wants to be well to start
Spring work.
Jos. went up to see Mr. Ayers yesterday & tried to get him to do your
carpenter work or raise the barn but he said he was getting too old to
undertake such hard work. He can't put in a full days work any more
So doe's not care to do any work out side of his own. Jos. went & saw
him two different times. Today he went to Mr. Hunters & spent half of
the day talking to him. He said he would do the work if you cared to
have him. Raise the barn & attend to every thing. He is the only one
out here besides Mr. Ayers that has jacks & tools for raising a building
with. But he charges .75 [c] per hour for his labor .60 [c] per hr. for
helpers. Jos. has been asking different people about carpenters &
has not found out any-thing more. Mr. Hunter said that barn could
not be raised in one day. If you care to have him do the work or any
part of it he said he could come & look it over as soon as he can drive
his car again. And estimate the cost. If I were you I would write a letter
to him yourself & see what he has to say. Do you suppose Mr. Stytes
could find any one else? We have did the best we could do about it.
If you order your fertilizer from the Ford garrage Joseph can get it
down here on the sleighs. But the milling Co. gets their's in so late
that the snow is usually gone before we can get it home.
Joseph has tried 2 or 3 different parties about digging the barn
basement but no one will give him an answer as it is the time every
one has so much work of their own to do. Fay Dohm said he might
be able to help some but has out side work besides his own farm to
care for & Harry [Tank] is in the same boat. If it was not for the hay
there is a slack time right after the cherries are off that you could
find plenty of help & more reason-able than in early Spring. But we
are willing to do our best.
I surely would enjoy to see some of your work. Those old stockings
you gave me came in handy the best ones I have used & now [any]?
trying to crochet the remainder of them into a rug they work up very pretty. But have had to finish out with rags & that has all most spoiled it. But hope it will help to keep our feet warm any way.
I was very sorry to hear of your fathers death. But we all have the same to go through with some time. If we can all live to do our duty as he did we can be very thankful. I hope your mother stays well so you can see her again. I know it must be hard for you as you can't get away from school. You are right about saying a person must lay a little aside for a rainy day. We try to but find it very difficult to save & raise a family too.
I have this letter all mixed up as I have written it as I have had a few minutes at a time. But think I have mentioned every thing of importance. It was 14 below zero here last Tues. A.M. and some places it went to 20 below.
I nearly forgot to tell you Jos. got a new pruning saw as the old one was almost beyond useing any more. He should have asked you first but got it while he had the chance. He said if you were here you would have got it yourself. It cost $2.00
Hope you are well. $7.55
- 2.00
-----------
$5.55 on hand
With love Essie
will call that hone no. up when I go to town
Old Mission, Mich.
Feb. 17th 1925
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
The snow has mostly gone now & the cars have been going to T.C. for over a week. But the weather is quite cold & sharp a lot of the time. The bay has frozen over several times but always breaks up in a day or two. The alfalfa looks very poor as the snow in the fields has been gone for over a week now. It turned nice & warm & then rained. [But] has been cold for a number of days since,
I intended to write before but was out of stamp['s] and the roads are very poor for horses to travel over. Jos. got me some today so will make use of one right away.
I think most every thing you attempt to do is a success. So what people say is very true. I am always glad to have you mention your school work to me. It reminds me of what I might have done. Maybe if I try my children can do the things I dreamed of instead of me. Every thing seems to be laid out for each one of us and we can't seem to change it any.
The little Heifer is growing nicely. There is plenty of hay & more fodder than your animals will consume. Would you consider Jos. selling what is not needed. As it will only lay ar[r]ound until anothe[r] winter & have to be stored. If You are willing. I think Jos. could find sale for it now. But if we wait too long it would not sell as easy as now. Please mention in your next letter[.] people that has a lot of hogs can't get corn to fatten them[.] You oughto see some of the horrid lean pork in the meat markets. It is like trying to cut rubber.
Mr. Hunter was here Sat. & looked the barn over from top to bottom. He has every thing to do with & will get help to do things right up & no fooling around. The barn roof is spreading apart the two drive way posts on the east end of the barn are split & letting the roof down. Mr. Hunter said he would have to sho[re] the roof up & brace it before raising the barn. He also said that it would not be safe to raise it first as it would break the roof. He thot' the barn had been nicely done in its day. But needed repairing now after yrs. of use. In a way I hope he gets the job because he knows his business & will not botch it all up. And his men carry their own meals so unless it is the gravel & stone haulers I won't have any extra to feed. That means considerable. Of course I am willing to feed any help you have here if it is necessary.
Jos. wants to know what to do with Mrs. Stutsma's trees. If they are to be kept here or set out over there.
Well I am very tired & sleepy as I have cleaned ironed & mended all day long. hope I have answered all questions. With love Essie K.
Old Mission Mich.
Feb. 24th 1925
My Dear Miss Taft.-
I had intended to write a few days ago & tell you we have had more snow & rain. Also the bay is all frozen over. But is very apt to break up any time, as the ice nover stays long when it freezens so late in the winter.
I hope we have no more real warm weather for a while as that week of sunshine brought the sweet cherry buds out farther than we care to have them. It would not take many more warm days until they would burst out green. All the cherries are well loaded with buds this Spring.
I have heard that Mr. Geo. Lardie & Mr. Burkhardt are both going to build
[their own] canning factorys. As they could not agree as one was afraid they could not trust the other. I don't know how much there is in it. As we don't take any T.C. paper. All we hear is neighbor hood gossip.
Mr. [Lang] has no tractor at all. But has 2 nice teams or at least he did have.
Jos. went in to T. C. yesterday & got your fertilizer & Bran. Instead of driving [Jerry] over the slippery roads barefooted he had Horace Christopher set his shoes & it only cost you .60 cents he doe's not make a real busiess of it for every one. But has every thing to do with & does good work. So Jos. hit him up to help us out for once. He does all of his own work too.
[Jos.] just came in & told me that the milling co. did not have the fertilizer but that P. K. had what you had ordered of him so he got that & the bran you ordered of the milling co. He also got those straps for the harness & paid $3.00 for them & tonight we got some through the mail that you must have ordered. I hope he can return the ones he bought in town as he didn't know you had ordered any.
The children received the papers tonight & are enjoying them so much that I can't get them started for bed. They wish to have me thank you for them. I wrote you a leter this morning & after Jos. came in & the mail came I had to change it some what. But will send what I had all ready written.
I had dinner with the [Eiman's] and Mr. Will Gray came along & stayed there most all afternoon & the conversation was mostly about cherries.
He said that it was possible that there [were] was going to be a better price paid for charries as 3 different parties wanted to build 3 new cannng factories He also said that even if they [would] build one he would be satisfied.
The weather has moderated & I think it will rai before morning if it continues to warm up.
Well I can't think or anything more tow rite about at present. so must get my girl to bed
As ever Essie
3/ I don't know what Haywoods are going to do with that oldest boy he is a dreadful child. Sun Mr. Hamilton the teacher was here & talked to us also saw Mr. Haywood. The teacher is afraid Oral is going to have a bad influence over Roger. As he draws him away from his work. i feel like flying away & taking my dear little children away from here. We dare not let Hazel come from school alone any more for fear he might murder her. He acts funny [and] queer of late & is very apt to do anything. His parents [all] are all most sick the more they whip & talk to him the worse he gets. And he dirties his clothes like a tiny baby does both most of the time. It sure is a pity to have such childen in the community. As they are ibkt a menace to the others.
4/ I should not write such things to you. But feel as tho' I must unburden myself to some one. If that child lays a hand on Roger or Hazel again I will do something violent. And I know I could not help myself. Mr. Hamilton says we should not have him or the rest around our little ones in their physical condition as well as they are mentally unfit. Oral is 16 yrs old not & should be a nice boy & help his parents.
Jos. did not take hay to town so had to pay an extra .25. He also got some straps for the harness.
5.55 on hand 3.00
.60 Jerry's shoe setting 60
3.00 for straps 50
.50 for barn rent & hay 30
.30 for Jos. dinner _____
_________________ 4.40
$ 1.15 on hand Feb. 24 th 1925.
With Love Essie 5.50
4.40
_____
$ 1.15
Old Mission, Mich.
Mar. 1st 1925
My Dear Miss. Taft: -
I wish to thank you for sending the check 2 days early. As it helped us very much. We went in to Traverse City Sat. and did our stocking up for a few weeks more. Also returned the straps Jos. got so there is $3.00 more added to your account here. It turned cold this morning & another blizzard is on the way the mercury went down to zero about 6 o'clock this evening so you may know it is cold. The roads are full of snow. No mail can get [thru] the shore road at all. The bay is still frozen over. So the snow blows off from it and fills the road full.
I intend to mail you a box with an apple or two in it when the weather warms up a little.
When we got in T.C. Sat A.M. the man at the livery barn told us about Mr. Anderson's accident. So when I went to the post office I stopped buy that bridge on South union & saw his sedan lying bottom side up in the river. No one will ever know what happened to make him go through the railing of the bridge & on down into the river. As he only lived 1/2 hour after they got him out.
Jos. saw Mr. Hunter when he was in the bank & he told Jos. that he had written to you. So we will wait now until I hear from you again
3/ As he wrote everything to you that you wanted to know about.
You said Mrs. Lardie's name was in the paper again. What about this time. You
know she nearly lost her $1500 during the fall. Because [?] she wrote was not the truth as she had never cleaned Mr. Fords coat with lux at all. I [head] heard the telegram she got over the phone from New York telling her that she would have to convince Mr. Ford that her statement was true I don't know how she slipped by. But she did any way.
We was very sorry to hear about Miss. Upham. I hope she is better by this time.
$1.15 on hand
8.00
-----------------
$4.15 to your audit
My family has gone to bed & left me so must go too. As I don't feel well tonight.
With love, Essie.
Old Mission, Mich.
Mar. 5th 1925
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
Was so glad to get your letter but very sorry to hear of Miss [Zycham's?] death.
Altho Mr. Hunter sounds high priced I am sure his work will be satisfactory. And
that means a whole lot in the end.
I received your card & Mrs. Chase is going to take 100 bundles of corn stalks
at .05 a bundle so it will be better than leaving them over. There is a nice lot
of manure this Spring to use where you wish to have it put.
No Joseph did not do any fall plowing as there was none to do then.
Mr. Haywood is very sick at present. They had the Doctor yesterday & he is in a
bad condition. The Doctor looked {Oral?] over & gave him a good talking to he told him that if [ever?] he did any more nasty pranks they would have the asylum Doctor come & get him. So I guess he will act different. I would not do anything now if I was you but wait until I write again I have talked to Rosie & she said things that leads me to think they are going to Muskegon to live. I am very much afraid Ikey may not live long as his health is so poor. That may be one reason for leaving too. I will have Hazel come home with Roger nights & things may blow
over all right before another term commences again. If they leave here some one
else will take care of those poor little folks I would not be blamed then. As
Rosie is Joseph's sister & he would feel dreadful if he knew I wrote you any
thing but I felt so bad I could not help it. They are pitiful to look at. The
father down & a small little mother trying to keep things going. You know Freeman
& Gertrude are not coming back this Summer. He intends to stay there & work.
I mailed you a letter yesterday that I wrote several days ago & found that I
had failed to mail it. There are so many things comes up now Ikey down makes more
for me to think of.
Please don't write now to any one about [Oral?] until I find out what I told you
about. You are so kind & considerate about every-thing & I should not burden you
with my troubles.
Roger & Hazel can hardly wait until Miss Taft comes home as they call it.
I plan on a good garden this summer & I surely will give you some good big bites
if my plans turn out good.
Well I can't think of more to say only it thawed today & took heaps of snow off.
Hope you are well & happy
with love your's
Essie
P.S. we did not feel the quake here but saw a lot about it in the G.P.
Carolyn Gay Taft letters 1925
Old Mission Mich. Mar.15th 1925
My dear Miss taft:-
Well our snow all went away but more came in its place. There is no
sleighing as the cars cut the road all up.
Mr.Haywood is better again but they still talk of leaving & in a way
I hope they do. For I know their children will have the chance to
have Doctor's & nurses take care of them.
Joseph's dear mother passed away a week ago tonight & I never saw such
dreadful suffering. Marian & I worked over her until she left us. She
had had one of her stomach spells & it was the worst one I ever remember
her having. Her liver refused to work & nothing could leave her stomach
& her bowel would not move. Of course that put her in dreadful pain.
Dr. Ky[e or a]lka & Dr. Thirelby both worked over her but to no avail.
I should have answed your letter sooner but felt to nervous to do much of
anything.
The corn stalks came to $5.00 so I will add it to your account. We would
sell a few more if we thot' there would be plenty left. A person don't
know how late the Spring will be in coming. There is thick ice all over
the bay yet. So you see we don't have very warm weather which is a very
good fault to find.
Ernest's folks are coming back in the Spring. Or before long now. I kind
of dread it. But must make the best of every thing that happens.
There was no pumpkin seeds saved as the cows will not eat them. Most all the
pumpkins spoiled & we had to throw them down in the swamp. They were crazy
over the big Tom kind. But refuse to eat the variety we raised last year.
Joseph said there was no use in planting any more of these to waste.
We have not seen Mr. Hunter so don't know just when he will start to work.
But it is too cold now to have the animals out of doors very long at a time.
Thanks many times for the pictures I will send them on to Mrs. Stutsman.
Every thing sure was a sad sight there. I think it was 3 years ago we had an
ice storm here. Around frankfort the fruit trees were smashed flat. gut we
we fortunate to escape it here. There was thick ice all over everything but
the weather happened to be still & the sun melted the ice in a few days.
Am sending you another clipping from the press. You may get the same from
R. E. but will send it anyway.
Wish you could drop in to-morrow & we could have a nice friendly chat.
I can't think of anything more to write so will say good night. Hope you
stay well.
With love Essie K.
$1.15 on hand
$3.00 from Harness returned
$5.00 for corn stalks sold to Mr. Chase
$9.15 on hand Mar. 15th 1925
Old Mission, Mich
June 29th 19-25
My Dear Miss Taft:-
Received your address so will send you a few lines.
The weather has been very cool & a little rain not much last night had a frost hurt quite a little corn on the new land where the weeds has grown up. Where Joseph had them cleaned out it did not freeze isn't it queer?
Cherries are coming just fine light sweets will soon be ready to pick will have Mr. Lardie take them up.
The alfalfa was put in the day you left in a fine condition Jos. will haul more hay in tomorrow from Stutsman's he will have quite a little from over there.
He got the carrots hoed out & they are coming on fairly well. The frost didn't hurt my garden any so far. There will be loads of peas after you return.
Am very sorry about the corn but hope it will come on again but some of it looks pretty sick.
Received cabbage & lettuce the same day you left & thanks many times.
Mrs. Stutsman wrote to Mrs. Mills & told her she might have a table there & said if you were gone for me to go into the house & get it for her. I didn't want to do it but with Mrs. Stutsmans asking me to I knew you would not care. You had left the padlock open so I locked it up safe & sound. I hate to go into any ones house & hope I don't have to again while you are absent. Thot I had better tell you.
I got a quart of oil at H.M.L. store & oiled the kitchen floor it is a lot darker but will be easier to keep clean. You told me over a yr. ago I might do it but neglected to do so then.
I think the Mont. Cherries will be ready to pick around the 15th or 20th of July if the weather warms up a little.
Sat. it was so cold I had to make a little fire in our large stove to take the chill off from the living room.
Well I must hurry so as to mail this. Hope you receive it & not have it happen like my last letter to you.
Hope to see you next week.
With Love, Essie.
Old Mission, Mich.
Sept. 13th 19-25
My Dear Miss Taft:-
Was very glad to hear from you & to know you reached your destination safe & sound. Am so sorry to hear your hand is troubleing you. The day you hurt it I feared it would be very painful as a jam usually is. But hope to hear it is much improved by now.
Roger was all right in a few days but complained of his legs feeling too tired to support his body. I felt anxious until he was perfectly normal again. A person never can tell what a temp. of that high point might indicate. Am very thankful he is well again. The teacher says Hazel is doing fine. And she is in the Happy Hour Club so that means fair for her. Roger is doing fine too.
Had a letter from I. Haywood's family. He has employment & a nice house toilet, bath and electric lights. And live next door to the church they belong too. I hope their little children improve now as they have a change of surroundings. All strangers too may make a change. At least I hope so as their parents have been doubly tried in the past yr.
The little cow from Hauris is dry now but hope she proves to be some good this winter. Charlie is going to butcher Spot tomorrow so will have her off our hands to feed. They offered to pay me today but didn't have the change on hand to give them so will deposit it with apple money when I go to town. He came over yesterday & put shoes on Queen & Jerry in front so Jos. can haul that hay this week. All he charged was for the nails. The shoes will hold for a short time. Nails was .15 & He got them at Doig's.
I will deposit all your apple money and you can send me a check to defray expenses here. That is if you wish to.
Labor day Joseph & Roger worked most all day picking up cider apples and Tues. Henry took them to O. Mission & hauled most of them back & dumped them in Stutsmans woods. They said they was too spongy. So we went ahead & picked Wealthy & Pippin Apples. Are holding the ciders until tomorrow or next day as the price will come up a few cents on the hundred by then.
The rain has freshened every thing considerable the meadows & pasture are much improved have began to look green already.
The young cherry trees look as tho' they could stand the cold winter better too.
Well I can't thing of more so must go to bed as it is high time.
Hope you are well & rested by this time. I dreaded so much to see you leave in such poor health.
Will give you weight and price of apples.
{860# of cider apples saved from the load rest of 60 bu. dumped $2.15}
I didn't pay for hauling
2 Bu. crab apples $2.00
2 " pears @ .80 1.60
720 # Apples @ .80 Hundred 5.76
3280 # Apples @ .80 $26.24
$ 2.15 saved from cider load
2.00 crab apples Barnes
1.60 pears to Barnes
5.76 Apples to Barnes
$ 26.24 " " "
$ 37.24 here to deposit
With love
Essie K.
Old Mission, Mich.
Sept. 20th 19-25
My Dear Miss Taft:-
Am sorry you are not well it is so hot most of the time that even here it is very uncomfortable.
Joseph, Hazel & I have had that stomach & bowel trouble & were very sick with it. I came down sick a week ago & still feel weak & don't want to eat. if I do those dreadful cramps start up. This has been one of the most nerve racking summers I ever put it because the heat has been so dreadful.
We have had 2 nice rains during the past week & very strong winds. The telephone lines are out of order most all the time & the apples will all be on the ground if this keeps up much longer.
It was over 80 last night at 11 o'clock so that was the cause of our dreadful wind storm.
Went to T. City Fri. morning with Tom Lannin & banked your money. Chas. Lannin paid for Spot & I have some of her corned for fall use. She was nice beef.
I told you I would go to town with who ever came along so I did. Don't like to have your money laying around the house. He came over to tell Joseph that he had 51 bu. of oats for you. They are very nice full ones & very clean. They hired an out side Threshing Machine from out side that came down here to do the work. Mr. LaBatts out fit leaves the grain quite dirty besides a lot of oats goes out in the straw.
Well there is no more to write about. pastures & meadows looks much more alive. They will come all right.
Oats 51 bu. at .50 per bu please make check To Jim Lannin
I find I have sent weight for all but last 2 loads
Sept 14th 3850# at .35 = $13.47
16" 1370# @ .35 = 4.80
These were hauled to Bowers Harbor
$ 2.15 Barrett
3.60 B. B for pear & crabs
5.76 B. B Traverse City
26.24 B. B Traverse City
13.47 Morgan Bowers Harbor
4.80 " " "
25.00 For Spot from C.L.
$ 81.02 which I have banked
Hope you are better with, Love Essie
Old Mission, Mich.
Sept. 27th 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft-
Am so glad to hear you are feeling better. It is very trying to work when sick. Have had the same experience many times.
We could not eat much fresh fruit so put the bartlett pears in cans for winter. Am sure we will enjoy them. There wasn't enough for a bushel so kept them as you said. I still have a lot of empty cans. Have charry - all put into bottles & cans & it is doing fine.
Had another nice shower last night to help along was much in need of it too.
The pasture is coming some but can't do much with 3 cows on it all the time. Hope it can get a start soon now so as to save on winter feed which is going to be shy. The corn fodder is light & not much to it. Was just one load from up near cherry orchard. Joseph was surprised how little there was. But will be very careful of it and make it go as far as possible.
He hauled the hay & got 2 very large loads as much as he could get on. He got more than his moneys worth. If they will sell some buck wheat straw reasonable will we get some? Please mention as most every one has to buy feed and it won't last long. You will need to buy before Spring. It will be perfectly safe to feed buck wheat straw at least once a day during the winter.
Mr. Hauer had 25 bu. of oats to spare & Joseph spoke for them as they are extra nice & you will be sure to have enough then. they are .50 a bu. He wants to get them tomorrow if there is a little spare time. The oat bins are just fine to store grain in are plenty large so that nothing has to set outside for cat & mouse fooe.
The $4.80 cider apples is all there was from Stutsman's. Will be more of winter apples will keep account seprate from there. All the rest belonged to you.
The little calf has been visiting think she will be all O.K. Will be safe to pay most any time now
Hope you are well & happy by now
With love Essie K.
Old Mission, Mich.
Oct. 4th 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
We couldn't get any straw from Lannin's so don't know of any other place.
Joseph is hauling all the fodder in a load at a time & husking it in the barn. The squirrels can't carry part of it off that way. He has over half of it husked & only 40 bu. of corn so far is saving all the seed there is amongst it. He has some very beautiful ears saved up. There isn't near the fodder there was last year it seems very light.
Mr. Breeden said if you only wanted 3 loads of gravel he would give it to you but if more was needed you would have to pay him .25 per load as he didn't want to dig holes in his land for nothing. Joseph thinks it would take 25 or 30 yds. of gravel to finish up around the barn the way it should be. I thought I had better mention it in this letter & no wait for so many times I forget.
Ledger got very little out of the apples that were shiped out. They are paying .80 at B. Harbor for peelers & .35 for ciders. Haven't sent Mrs Stutsman's yet as we thot they would grow more the weather is cooler & very nasty and damp out. Hazel & Roger both have colds in their heads.
The crows are very troublesome they are feasting on farmers corn. They cleaned the sweet corn up clean. I am provoked about it as it costs so to buy seed every spring.
I was mistaken about the heifer we had to take her again if this doesn't prove satisfactory will take her to Jone's next time. We we almost sure she would be all right But just roared [roamed] around all day yesterday
Hope the weather is cooler there & you are better. Roger is coaxing for a new kind of a flannel blouse the boys are all wearing they are only $5.00 guess I will have to buy one for winter. Bobbie Drew & other boys like them so he has to be in style. With love Essie
Some time ago I went over to your mail box & nothing there. I intended to mention in my other letters & forgot to.
We had 5 bu. of potatoes in all wasn't that dreadful last year we had about 20 bu. we will have to buy some where.
The carrots are small & under size this yr but may grow some yet
Am thankful the meadows are not brown any longer.
Joseph has changed the cow barn the right way so animals don't stand humped up. Did that the day after you left.
There was a few grapes over to S. place some one picked some of them I don't know who goes there so regular. Can't think of more to write so will stop.
Old Mission, Mich.
Oct. 18th 19-25
My Dear Miss Taft:-
I wanted to wait until now to write so as it would be worth while.
Joseph had to lay off husking corn to pick apples we have had some very nasty weather a week ago the ground was white with snow when we awoke in the morning was very much surprised as it is so early to have such cold weather. It is slow work picking apples alone but he has finished now & hauled all the ciders himself to save extra charges from Ledger They paid .50 per hundred for the ciders at O. M. the past week & you got that for all of your's. They are only paying .35 at Bowers harbor it was a longer trip but we should worry .15 difference was worth looking after. The apples at Stutsman's was very poor wormy & under size. Last year there was a good crop but this yr. it certainly was a failure. Most every one is having trouble with undersize fruit & worms to spare. Mr Griffin is one on the list. Joseph sent Mrs. Stutsman's 2 bu. to Dearborn last Wed. hope they get there safely. There was only 1 bu. of sweet apples to send to Mr. B in Traverse others were poor & it would spoil your market for more fruit if we wasn't very careful as I know you are. There was only 8 bu. of apples from S. place that could be sold to Mr. Barnes at $1.00 per 100 lbs. you had 28 bu. sold at $1.00 per 100 lbs. all the others had to go for cider. Will tally every thing up at the end of my letter.
Joseph will try & get some saw dust as soon as he can get the time to do so. There is so much to do before snow falls. He wants to get the storm windows on quite soon but [they] has gone so we don't know where to find the tools to plane them down it is a particular job & a person has to do it right. Joseph should have asked Mr. Hunter to fit them when he was here this Spring. The barn certainly is more comfortable than the way it was. And every thing under cover. When he picked apples they were stored inside during the damp weather instead of all chewed full of holes by nasty rats. My how I hate the dirty creepy things.
It is raining again we have a lot of water now & my how dreary it makes every thing look out side and hard to see to sew or work. I sold my pretty bed spread for $25 I hated to part with it but it isn't what I need. I can't keep doing pretty work & take proper care of it so can use the money to a much better advantage. The children need shoes & warm clothes for winter & that will help out a lot. Have you worked on your's since you left here? I still have Roger"s spread left & will keep that for him as he likes it so well. And boys seldom care for such things.
Jos. will try & haul the gravel as soon as he can get to it he wanted to plow the new land while it is cool this fall & not leave every - thing until Spring as there is such a rush then. But he may not get it done as bad weather holds things back a lot. He had 56 bu. of corn in the crib & has a load to husk out yet. We are going to be short on feed the animals have had to be feed so long the pasture looks green but hasn't grown because it it so cold. It has been a hard year & I dread to think of your buying any feed. Jos. will get a few leaves from the woods to bed animals what time he can spare to do it. Can't think of any thing more now so will give an account of apples will deposit as soon as I go to T. City. There is a .70 toll bill & I will pay central for you it is from calls you made before you left. There was 1460 lbs. ciders for you the rest are from Stutsman place
for collerman
4840 lbs in all } 1 bu T. sweet A. Stutsman
-1460 for you } 2 " sent to Dearborn
3380 for Mrs S } 8 " sent to Barnes" along with yours
28 bu in your lot for Barnes
8 for Stutsman
36 in all for Barnes Wgt. 1630 # @ 1.00 per hundred = $16.30
$24.20 for cider apples for you both
$40.50 total in all
Cider apples was .50 per hundred hope you understand this my head is almost splitting it hurts so badly
Hope you continue to improve
lovingly Essie
P.S. hope you have a pretty new old dress by now.
Old Mission, Mich.
Oct. 20th 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft: -
Central was here today & worked about 2 hrs. on this phone & can't do much with it. He dug up the ground wire & is going to get a long iron rod & put that into the ground & see if it won't make a difference. He wanted to know if that doesn't work if he can exchange with Mrs. S. until Spring & then put this one back as in the winter if we should need a doctor or something & this is out of order we would be in a tight boat. I am always afraid of fire & what would a person do without a phone. Hope we never have any experiece with such things because I always try to be careful.
It has snowed most of the time since Sun. night. Have had one of the worst wind storms since I wrote the other day that I can remember of. It turned out a lot of fruit trees for the neighbors besides shook most of their apples onto the ground. It was a dreadful loss for men with large apple orchards. Am glad yours was all off. Never saw such a cold stormy October almost like was winter.
Well I must go to bed as it is late.
With love Essie
P.S. I addressed a card to Mrs. Stutsman & had to send a letter instead so will send it to you & maybe you can use it. There is no use in my keeping it around
Old Mission, Mich.
Nov. 3rd 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
I thot it about time to write to you again but there wasn't any thing of any importance to hurry me any. Received your last letter. Am always glad to hear from you & know how you are coming along.
I haven't heard whether Mrs. Stutsman received her apples or not & what kind of shape they were in.
We have had dreadful cold weather & snow. The farmers have lost a lot af apples & what few hadn't dug their potatoes are no good now. They are paying $2.00 a bu. in T. C. now. What will poor people do? We had to buy most of ours we only had 5 bu. in all. Other people had the same luck as we did.
Joseph just started plowing today the ground has been frozen hard so he couldn't do it until now. Wouldn't be surprised if it stormed again tomorrow the weather is against every one a fellow can't get the fall work done. There hasn't been any gravel hauled yet but will get at it as soon as he can.
The mice are nearly driving us out of the house. They chewed 2 holes thru the wall board back of the range & are trying to gnaw thru the door way in the dining room. They can't find any thing to eat so are trying to chase us out.
Cows have been in the barn for 3 weeks Nothing but snow oputside until the last few days it is going to make a long hard winter & means more feed to be bought. If Joseph gets a chance to buy hay reasonable will he get some? Harry Lang was selling some for $28 per ton a short time ago but it may be more now. It will be much higher by Spring. Joseph is as saving as he can be but animals have been feed for several months now & it all counts up. I know you will have to buy before Spring for all animals.
There was 86 bu. of corn and 5 1/2 bu. of carrots never had so little of such things before. Nothing growed much after you left.
The rye got a fairly good start before the snow came.
Well I sold the remainder of my work that took me several years to make it came to $42. I'm not going to make any more right away as I am getting too nervous. Right now I have 2 dresses & 2 shirts to make of course I get pretty good pay for it But I find it very hard with my other work to do any thing extra for other people. Is it worth all the extra effort. I love to read & can't find time to do it unless at night & my eyes won't stand that. The work I sold in the past year came to $107.25. It isn't much but helps keep some things up.
Please hope we have good weather as we need it for 3 or 4 weeks & then it can snow.
Got some salt petre for horses water as they were bothered. With love Essie K.
.15 axel greese
.15 horse shoe nails
.70 Toll bill from phone
.65 fixtures for storm windows
.15 salt petre
1.80
$5.15
1.80
$3.35 left to your credit
Enclosed please find receipt from bank.
Old Mission, Mich.
Nov. 16th 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
We have a new calf & do you wish to keep it. It is a very small one & nothing here to feed it. I should have asked you before what we should do with it. It came yesterday P.M.
Children are waiting for this as it is after 8 now & I must hurry.
Joseph can't get any saw dust as Mr. Foulek needs his. And A[rnous] has very little left & that is very poor & full of sticks & junk besides doesn't want to sell any. The animals haven't any bedding. Joseph got some leaves but they stay wet so much of the time can't get them. Ground is white again and still snowing and blowing like Dec. instead of Nov.
Joseph has 11 loads of gravel & needs much more it is slow work picking it loose. he plowed the field where we used to have sweet clover & you wish to have sweet corn planted in the Spring.
Will write later in week Thanks many times for check
love Essie
Old Mission, Mich.
Nov. 23rd 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
I intended to write before but have been having a jolly good time with my eyes. I put off writing because my head pained so much & last week after sending your little note I went to T.C. & had the Dr. look my eyes over he changed my glasses & said I would have to give up my sewing & fancy work for a while. My eyes looks nearly as bad as your's did during cherry time. Joseph tries to take care of them for me. I surely dreaded to part with the money this time of the year when I needed it so much. Hazel needs new glasses in about 6 weeks. So I guess my extra earnings is all spoken for long ago.
It is always a satisfaction to me after I have made an old garment over to see something useful made of it. Do you remember that gray woolen material you gave me. Well I dyed it dark blue and made Hazel a little school dress of it. There was just enough by being careful of the cloth. With her black dress made of your skirt she will get thru nicely. Would like to see how you are coming with your new dress. I can't stand to work on dark material only a little at a time. I did considerable sewing for Mrs. Doig & had to quit. It helped so much.
I never hear from Mrs. Stutsman. I hope she doesn't think that I didn't want to write to her. When I sent her freight bill I didn't have time to write a letter as Roger was in a hurry so just put it in an envelope & mailed it. Maybe it is my turn to write to her. I can't remember. Mrs. Lardie & Mrs. Mills tells her all the news so I wouldn't know what to tell her.
Joseph hauled 27 loads of gravel and could have used several more loads but had to give it up. it certainly has improved the looks of things around the barn. It has packed down a lot & by Spring will be firm & nice to drive over.
Joseph will see Ledger about hauling the straw. The horses would need new shoes & besides the roads are dreadful for horses to go over at all. It has been so wet that they are cut up worse than ever.
Jos. has hauled some of the saw dust from the garrage at Stutsman's for bedding.
The new cows is doing nicely if we have bran & a little grain to do with we hope to keep the cows in better shape. Last winter they got into bad shape from a corn fodder diet & not much change. This fall Joseph makes bran mash with warm water & plenty salt to keep their bowels free.
I collected from Mr. Coleman for the bu. of Apples & he paid me $1.00 is that what he was supposed to pay you?
Thanks for the papers they are enjoyed so much this time of year. Both children wishes me to thank you for them and they hope some day to repay you in some little way.
Well I must not do any more of this tonight or tomorrow I will be sorry.
Hope you are well and happy and have a nice Thanksgiving dinner.
With love Essie Kitchen
Dec. 5th 19-25
My Dear Miss Taft:-
Ledger just brought your straw and said hay is $29 per ton & he can get alfalfa hay all ready bailed and will deliver it for the same price as Milling Co. is charging that will be $29 per ton. He has to haul it from Kewayden Most of the larger farmers who have trucks are getting their hay from there. If Ledger will decide to buy from there will he get yours too? That price includes hauling & all. If he hauls hay from T.C. he can't haul it for less than $2.50 per ton.
Am in such a hurry I can't write as I want to send this to T.C. please answer right away. We may be snowed in any time
With love
Essie K.
It has rained or poured now for 12 hours steady.
Old Mission, Mich.
Dec. 9th 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
I held my breath while I was opening your letter for fear you would not approve of Ledger bringing your hay out. It began to snow Mon. morning & Jos. told Ledger to go ahead & bring your hay not waiting to hear from you. He was sure you would say yes but I felt in doubt. So am very glad he had the right thing done. It won't be much longer that people can use trucks as the roads are dreadful rough & it just tears them to pieces. There was 62 55# of Alfalfa and is very nice. Jos. is well pleased with it. The last few times you bought hay from the Milling Co. it was very very poor. That is where the mean weeds came from. I said there was a little over a ton of the straw so he will charge $3.00 for the hauling.
It certainly did seem nice to have a place to store the hay. He drove right into the barn with his truck & unloaded. Storm windows are on & we feel much warmer now. It won't take so much fuel to keep the house warm. We hired Mr. Berton to buzz our wood & he charged $1.00 per hr. It almost robs a fellow. Jos. build a little wood shed onto the back part of the stairway & it looks rather good too for being made out of odds & ends it will be a shelter for our fuel so it won't be all snow & ice.
Beauty is all O. K. and is a fine looking little lady. I love all the animals altho last Summer when my butter turned to greese I never wanted to see any more butter or cream. It was a trial all Summer to keep going it was so hot & dry. Kauer cow is doing well but hasn't come into heat yet.
My but it is cold out side ice frozen on the Kitchen windows I nearly froze hanging out clothes
Well my eyes are hurting so will get ready for bed.
With love, Essie K.
Old Mission, Mich
Dec. 28th 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
Am very glad to hear you are with the Stutsmans for to spend your vacation. It is much nicer to be with your own folks.
We have had some very bad weather cold & stormy but some better today. Hope it isn't too cold for a few days as we have to take Hazel in the 31st to have her eyes tested so she can have new glasses. please pity my poor pocket book. It is usually flat but will be worse if expenses keeps coming along.
There was a farmers Institute held at Old Mission about 2 weeks ago and Joseph & I both attended. It surely was fine so many things was brought up that a farmer should know about. If ever there is another held here I want to go again. I thought of you many times that day. They talked quite a little about Alfalfa and how to prepare the ground before planting seed. One thing was to lime the ground & work well then plant the seed and pack ground firmly with a cultipack. This may not be properly spelled but you will know what I mean. A rolled could also be used. He said where the soil was left loose & the seed sprouted and began to come thru. A great many times the earth checked and the hot sun burned the small plants. And that was why so many people failed. I noticed here with the new seeding that the ground was cracked and exposed the plant roots. Of course you have read all this and much more. Also heard a lot about fruit.
We wish to thank you for the papers the children has enjoyed them so much. Roger intends to write to you before long. And also Hazel. I bought some Xmas cards and intended to send one to you but don't know what I done with them so will have them left for another year. I felt sorry as I don't like to have people think I forget them. Joseph is going to send a package to you before long it won't be much but let you know we think of you.
The Lannin's has gone away again. And they had a nice pig & sold it to us for a very little also the feed for it We will only keep it a very short time and kill it. I would have asked you about our takeing it here but they would have let it go before we could hear from you. It will make us nice meat and a person has to pay dear for what you buy from the meat markets. I didn't think you would care as long as we have our own feed. It isn't near any of your animals and is healthy any way. It will be pork in a few days. I wanted to tell you about it so as you wouldn't think us dishonest. I want to treat you fair the same as you do us.
Every thing on farm is fine so far. And the barn is nice and warm. The manure hasn't even frozen in barn so you see it is quite comfortable there.
Kauer cow has not been taken yet no signs so far but promises to be a fairly good cow. Gives nice rich milk.
I wish also to thank you for sending check early it is a great help as we can get Hazel to town earlier now and she won't miss so much school.
I must go to bed now We wish you a very Happy New Year
With love Essie K.
.15 Axel greese
.15 horse shoe nails
.70 toll bill
.65 storm window fixtures
.15 salt petre
.25 poke root for cows
$2.05
5.15
1.00 for apples
$6.15
$6.15
2.05
$4.10 to your credit
Jan.15th 1925
My Dear Miss Taft:-
I think it about time to ans. your letter Have been busy as usual &
have neglected you. Every day brings a lot of work around for me. We
have had quite cool weather of late but no severe snow storms will
knock on wood right away. As we have a great plenty of white blankets
on the ground now.
Joseph went in [Town] a week or more ago & brought the storm windows
down also the feed.
Uncle Otis Haywood & his wife moved into Freeman's house for to spend
the winter about 10 weeks ago. He was ailing for two or three days
but no one considered him very ill. Last Wed. he began having sinking
spells & only lasted a few hours. Doctor said he had dropsy & heart
failure. They were very fine neighbors & I will miss them a lot. His
wife is grandma Kitchen's sister. She will live up there with the
rest of them from now on. They were poor & did not have any thing at
all. They had given what they had to their children & then they did
not want to care for them I think it such a pity. He was 75 yrs. old
& she is 73 so they could not do much for them-selves any more.
I thought I had mentioned about Mr. Ayes in one of my letters. Joseph
went to see him & he said he could not promise any-thing as he is all
alone now since Clifford left there. And he is getting old to do such
work. Joseph tried to coax him. But you know how he is. He must be well
into his seventies now. I am sorry I did not mention it before. I do
forget so easily some times.
Jos. had shoes put on Queen's front feet when he had her in town. She is
quick on her feet but if she should fall it migh be a hard one.
I hope I have not omitted something you would like to know about.
Joseph thinks it best not to put new window panes into that basement
window until you get ready to use it. As the cows may walk up & poke
their horns thro' it. He has paper over them for now. With love, Essie.
$ 1.20 Queens shoeing
.25 currey comb.
.25 barn rent
.30 Jos. dinner
$9.55 on hand
$2.00 expenses
$7.55 To Your credit.
P.S. If I have failed to ans. Your questions please remind me again & I
will try not to fail you next time.
Miss. Taft I forgot to mention in my letter about Joseph cutting down a
few of those old beach that is hollow & the tops are getting rotten. We
will need more wood before the summer is over. And it is a great saving
to have it dry instead of burning water & sap. [over].
He did not think it necessary to ask you about it. But I know I would not
want some one to cut any of my timber if I had it without asking first.
Please mention in your next letter as he oughto get those things done now.
Before trimming & so forth comes on.
Old Mission , Mich.
Jan. 29th 1925
Dear Miss. Taft:-
Thanks for sending Joseph's
check so early we are always glad to receive it. That is one thing [?] nice
you are always very prompt. I always try to ans. your letters on time but
it seems hard for me to get at it some times.
The children were very well pleased to get those newspapers to look at.
They both enjoy them so much. I don't care for the litter as I have had
to get over that a long time ago. A person always has a mussed up
house with little folks around.
We have been having a dreadful time with Hazel the past 2 weeks. She
got infection in her right hand at school & we have had to take her to the
Dr. twice & it is far from being well yet. I have did nothing much but take
care of her & do some of my housework.
I have been having nose bleed & headaches until I hardly know what to
do with myself some days
Would be delighted to get some of your storm pictures but don't give
yourself short. And thanks for thinking of me Am sure you are very kind
& thoughtful of others.
If your expenses creep up unexpected like ours doe's I feel sorry for
you. it keep us scratching & skimping 3/ all the time. We have so many
Dr. bills all the while. If it is not one thing it is another.
Joseph's health is improving but he drinks no tea, coffee or chews any
tobacco. His heart still bothers him some & he thot. if he did not use
any of those drugs it might help some. Altho' the doctor did not say
anything against them. A drink of coffee was as much harm to him as
a glass of whiskey would be to any one. He wants to be well to start
Spring work.
Jos. went up to see Mr. Ayers yesterday & tried to get him to do your
carpenter work or raise the barn but he said he was getting too old to
undertake such hard work. He can't put in a full days work any more
So doe's not care to do any work out side of his own. Jos. went & saw
him two different times. Today he went to Mr. Hunters & spent half of
the day talking to him. He said he would do the work if you cared to
have him. Raise the barn & attend to every thing. He is the only one
out here besides Mr. Ayers that has jacks & tools for raising a building
with. But he charges .75 [c] per hour for his labor .60 [c] per hr. for
helpers. Jos. has been asking different people about carpenters &
has not found out any-thing more. Mr. Hunter said that barn could
not be raised in one day. If you care to have him do the work or any
part of it he said he could come & look it over as soon as he can drive
his car again. And estimate the cost. If I were you I would write a letter
to him yourself & see what he has to say. Do you suppose Mr. Stytes
could find any one else? We have did the best we could do about it.
If you order your fertilizer from the Ford garrage Joseph can get it
down here on the sleighs. But the milling Co. gets their's in so late
that the snow is usually gone before we can get it home.
Joseph has tried 2 or 3 different parties about digging the barn
basement but no one will give him an answer as it is the time every
one has so much work of their own to do. Fay Dohm said he might
be able to help some but has out side work besides his own farm to
care for & Harry [Tank] is in the same boat. If it was not for the hay
there is a slack time right after the cherries are off that you could
find plenty of help & more reason-able than in early Spring. But we
are willing to do our best.
I surely would enjoy to see some of your work. Those old stockings
you gave me came in handy the best ones I have used & now [any]?
trying to crochet the remainder of them into a rug they work up very pretty. But have had to finish out with rags & that has all most spoiled it. But hope it will help to keep our feet warm any way.
I was very sorry to hear of your fathers death. But we all have the same to go through with some time. If we can all live to do our duty as he did we can be very thankful. I hope your mother stays well so you can see her again. I know it must be hard for you as you can't get away from school. You are right about saying a person must lay a little aside for a rainy day. We try to but find it very difficult to save & raise a family too.
I have this letter all mixed up as I have written it as I have had a few minutes at a time. But think I have mentioned every thing of importance. It was 14 below zero here last Tues. A.M. and some places it went to 20 below.
I nearly forgot to tell you Jos. got a new pruning saw as the old one was almost beyond useing any more. He should have asked you first but got it while he had the chance. He said if you were here you would have got it yourself. It cost $2.00
Hope you are well. $7.55
- 2.00
-----------
$5.55 on hand
With love Essie
will call that hone no. up when I go to town
Old Mission, Mich.
Feb. 17th 1925
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
The snow has mostly gone now & the cars have been going to T.C. for over a week. But the weather is quite cold & sharp a lot of the time. The bay has frozen over several times but always breaks up in a day or two. The alfalfa looks very poor as the snow in the fields has been gone for over a week now. It turned nice & warm & then rained. [But] has been cold for a number of days since,
I intended to write before but was out of stamp['s] and the roads are very poor for horses to travel over. Jos. got me some today so will make use of one right away.
I think most every thing you attempt to do is a success. So what people say is very true. I am always glad to have you mention your school work to me. It reminds me of what I might have done. Maybe if I try my children can do the things I dreamed of instead of me. Every thing seems to be laid out for each one of us and we can't seem to change it any.
The little Heifer is growing nicely. There is plenty of hay & more fodder than your animals will consume. Would you consider Jos. selling what is not needed. As it will only lay ar[r]ound until anothe[r] winter & have to be stored. If You are willing. I think Jos. could find sale for it now. But if we wait too long it would not sell as easy as now. Please mention in your next letter[.] people that has a lot of hogs can't get corn to fatten them[.] You oughto see some of the horrid lean pork in the meat markets. It is like trying to cut rubber.
Mr. Hunter was here Sat. & looked the barn over from top to bottom. He has every thing to do with & will get help to do things right up & no fooling around. The barn roof is spreading apart the two drive way posts on the east end of the barn are split & letting the roof down. Mr. Hunter said he would have to sho[re] the roof up & brace it before raising the barn. He also said that it would not be safe to raise it first as it would break the roof. He thot' the barn had been nicely done in its day. But needed repairing now after yrs. of use. In a way I hope he gets the job because he knows his business & will not botch it all up. And his men carry their own meals so unless it is the gravel & stone haulers I won't have any extra to feed. That means considerable. Of course I am willing to feed any help you have here if it is necessary.
Jos. wants to know what to do with Mrs. Stutsma's trees. If they are to be kept here or set out over there.
Well I am very tired & sleepy as I have cleaned ironed & mended all day long. hope I have answered all questions. With love Essie K.
Old Mission Mich.
Feb. 24th 1925
My Dear Miss Taft.-
I had intended to write a few days ago & tell you we have had more snow & rain. Also the bay is all frozen over. But is very apt to break up any time, as the ice nover stays long when it freezens so late in the winter.
I hope we have no more real warm weather for a while as that week of sunshine brought the sweet cherry buds out farther than we care to have them. It would not take many more warm days until they would burst out green. All the cherries are well loaded with buds this Spring.
I have heard that Mr. Geo. Lardie & Mr. Burkhardt are both going to build
[their own] canning factorys. As they could not agree as one was afraid they could not trust the other. I don't know how much there is in it. As we don't take any T.C. paper. All we hear is neighbor hood gossip.
Mr. [Lang] has no tractor at all. But has 2 nice teams or at least he did have.
Jos. went in to T. C. yesterday & got your fertilizer & Bran. Instead of driving [Jerry] over the slippery roads barefooted he had Horace Christopher set his shoes & it only cost you .60 cents he doe's not make a real busiess of it for every one. But has every thing to do with & does good work. So Jos. hit him up to help us out for once. He does all of his own work too.
[Jos.] just came in & told me that the milling co. did not have the fertilizer but that P. K. had what you had ordered of him so he got that & the bran you ordered of the milling co. He also got those straps for the harness & paid $3.00 for them & tonight we got some through the mail that you must have ordered. I hope he can return the ones he bought in town as he didn't know you had ordered any.
The children received the papers tonight & are enjoying them so much that I can't get them started for bed. They wish to have me thank you for them. I wrote you a leter this morning & after Jos. came in & the mail came I had to change it some what. But will send what I had all ready written.
I had dinner with the [Eiman's] and Mr. Will Gray came along & stayed there most all afternoon & the conversation was mostly about cherries.
He said that it was possible that there [were] was going to be a better price paid for charries as 3 different parties wanted to build 3 new cannng factories He also said that even if they [would] build one he would be satisfied.
The weather has moderated & I think it will rai before morning if it continues to warm up.
Well I can't think or anything more tow rite about at present. so must get my girl to bed
As ever Essie
3/ I don't know what Haywoods are going to do with that oldest boy he is a dreadful child. Sun Mr. Hamilton the teacher was here & talked to us also saw Mr. Haywood. The teacher is afraid Oral is going to have a bad influence over Roger. As he draws him away from his work. i feel like flying away & taking my dear little children away from here. We dare not let Hazel come from school alone any more for fear he might murder her. He acts funny [and] queer of late & is very apt to do anything. His parents [all] are all most sick the more they whip & talk to him the worse he gets. And he dirties his clothes like a tiny baby does both most of the time. It sure is a pity to have such childen in the community. As they are ibkt a menace to the others.
4/ I should not write such things to you. But feel as tho' I must unburden myself to some one. If that child lays a hand on Roger or Hazel again I will do something violent. And I know I could not help myself. Mr. Hamilton says we should not have him or the rest around our little ones in their physical condition as well as they are mentally unfit. Oral is 16 yrs old not & should be a nice boy & help his parents.
Jos. did not take hay to town so had to pay an extra .25. He also got some straps for the harness.
5.55 on hand 3.00
.60 Jerry's shoe setting 60
3.00 for straps 50
.50 for barn rent & hay 30
.30 for Jos. dinner _____
_________________ 4.40
$ 1.15 on hand Feb. 24 th 1925.
With Love Essie 5.50
4.40
_____
$ 1.15
Old Mission, Mich.
Mar. 1st 1925
My Dear Miss. Taft: -
I wish to thank you for sending the check 2 days early. As it helped us very much. We went in to Traverse City Sat. and did our stocking up for a few weeks more. Also returned the straps Jos. got so there is $3.00 more added to your account here. It turned cold this morning & another blizzard is on the way the mercury went down to zero about 6 o'clock this evening so you may know it is cold. The roads are full of snow. No mail can get [thru] the shore road at all. The bay is still frozen over. So the snow blows off from it and fills the road full.
I intend to mail you a box with an apple or two in it when the weather warms up a little.
When we got in T.C. Sat A.M. the man at the livery barn told us about Mr. Anderson's accident. So when I went to the post office I stopped buy that bridge on South union & saw his sedan lying bottom side up in the river. No one will ever know what happened to make him go through the railing of the bridge & on down into the river. As he only lived 1/2 hour after they got him out.
Jos. saw Mr. Hunter when he was in the bank & he told Jos. that he had written to you. So we will wait now until I hear from you again
3/ As he wrote everything to you that you wanted to know about.
You said Mrs. Lardie's name was in the paper again. What about this time. You
know she nearly lost her $1500 during the fall. Because [?] she wrote was not the truth as she had never cleaned Mr. Fords coat with lux at all. I [head] heard the telegram she got over the phone from New York telling her that she would have to convince Mr. Ford that her statement was true I don't know how she slipped by. But she did any way.
We was very sorry to hear about Miss. Upham. I hope she is better by this time.
$1.15 on hand
8.00
-----------------
$4.15 to your audit
My family has gone to bed & left me so must go too. As I don't feel well tonight.
With love, Essie.
Old Mission, Mich.
Mar. 5th 1925
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
Was so glad to get your letter but very sorry to hear of Miss [Zycham's?] death.
Altho Mr. Hunter sounds high priced I am sure his work will be satisfactory. And
that means a whole lot in the end.
I received your card & Mrs. Chase is going to take 100 bundles of corn stalks
at .05 a bundle so it will be better than leaving them over. There is a nice lot
of manure this Spring to use where you wish to have it put.
No Joseph did not do any fall plowing as there was none to do then.
Mr. Haywood is very sick at present. They had the Doctor yesterday & he is in a
bad condition. The Doctor looked {Oral?] over & gave him a good talking to he told him that if [ever?] he did any more nasty pranks they would have the asylum Doctor come & get him. So I guess he will act different. I would not do anything now if I was you but wait until I write again I have talked to Rosie & she said things that leads me to think they are going to Muskegon to live. I am very much afraid Ikey may not live long as his health is so poor. That may be one reason for leaving too. I will have Hazel come home with Roger nights & things may blow
over all right before another term commences again. If they leave here some one
else will take care of those poor little folks I would not be blamed then. As
Rosie is Joseph's sister & he would feel dreadful if he knew I wrote you any
thing but I felt so bad I could not help it. They are pitiful to look at. The
father down & a small little mother trying to keep things going. You know Freeman
& Gertrude are not coming back this Summer. He intends to stay there & work.
I mailed you a letter yesterday that I wrote several days ago & found that I
had failed to mail it. There are so many things comes up now Ikey down makes more
for me to think of.
Please don't write now to any one about [Oral?] until I find out what I told you
about. You are so kind & considerate about every-thing & I should not burden you
with my troubles.
Roger & Hazel can hardly wait until Miss Taft comes home as they call it.
I plan on a good garden this summer & I surely will give you some good big bites
if my plans turn out good.
Well I can't think of more to say only it thawed today & took heaps of snow off.
Hope you are well & happy
with love your's
Essie
P.S. we did not feel the quake here but saw a lot about it in the G.P.
Carolyn Gay Taft letters 1925
Old Mission Mich. Mar.15th 1925
My dear Miss taft:-
Well our snow all went away but more came in its place. There is no
sleighing as the cars cut the road all up.
Mr.Haywood is better again but they still talk of leaving & in a way
I hope they do. For I know their children will have the chance to
have Doctor's & nurses take care of them.
Joseph's dear mother passed away a week ago tonight & I never saw such
dreadful suffering. Marian & I worked over her until she left us. She
had had one of her stomach spells & it was the worst one I ever remember
her having. Her liver refused to work & nothing could leave her stomach
& her bowel would not move. Of course that put her in dreadful pain.
Dr. Ky[e or a]lka & Dr. Thirelby both worked over her but to no avail.
I should have answed your letter sooner but felt to nervous to do much of
anything.
The corn stalks came to $5.00 so I will add it to your account. We would
sell a few more if we thot' there would be plenty left. A person don't
know how late the Spring will be in coming. There is thick ice all over
the bay yet. So you see we don't have very warm weather which is a very
good fault to find.
Ernest's folks are coming back in the Spring. Or before long now. I kind
of dread it. But must make the best of every thing that happens.
There was no pumpkin seeds saved as the cows will not eat them. Most all the
pumpkins spoiled & we had to throw them down in the swamp. They were crazy
over the big Tom kind. But refuse to eat the variety we raised last year.
Joseph said there was no use in planting any more of these to waste.
We have not seen Mr. Hunter so don't know just when he will start to work.
But it is too cold now to have the animals out of doors very long at a time.
Thanks many times for the pictures I will send them on to Mrs. Stutsman.
Every thing sure was a sad sight there. I think it was 3 years ago we had an
ice storm here. Around frankfort the fruit trees were smashed flat. gut we
we fortunate to escape it here. There was thick ice all over everything but
the weather happened to be still & the sun melted the ice in a few days.
Am sending you another clipping from the press. You may get the same from
R. E. but will send it anyway.
Wish you could drop in to-morrow & we could have a nice friendly chat.
I can't think of anything more to write so will say good night. Hope you
stay well.
With love Essie K.
$1.15 on hand
$3.00 from Harness returned
$5.00 for corn stalks sold to Mr. Chase
$9.15 on hand Mar. 15th 1925
Old Mission, Mich
June 29th 19-25
My Dear Miss Taft:-
Received your address so will send you a few lines.
The weather has been very cool & a little rain not much last night had a frost hurt quite a little corn on the new land where the weeds has grown up. Where Joseph had them cleaned out it did not freeze isn't it queer?
Cherries are coming just fine light sweets will soon be ready to pick will have Mr. Lardie take them up.
The alfalfa was put in the day you left in a fine condition Jos. will haul more hay in tomorrow from Stutsman's he will have quite a little from over there.
He got the carrots hoed out & they are coming on fairly well. The frost didn't hurt my garden any so far. There will be loads of peas after you return.
Am very sorry about the corn but hope it will come on again but some of it looks pretty sick.
Received cabbage & lettuce the same day you left & thanks many times.
Mrs. Stutsman wrote to Mrs. Mills & told her she might have a table there & said if you were gone for me to go into the house & get it for her. I didn't want to do it but with Mrs. Stutsmans asking me to I knew you would not care. You had left the padlock open so I locked it up safe & sound. I hate to go into any ones house & hope I don't have to again while you are absent. Thot I had better tell you.
I got a quart of oil at H.M.L. store & oiled the kitchen floor it is a lot darker but will be easier to keep clean. You told me over a yr. ago I might do it but neglected to do so then.
I think the Mont. Cherries will be ready to pick around the 15th or 20th of July if the weather warms up a little.
Sat. it was so cold I had to make a little fire in our large stove to take the chill off from the living room.
Well I must hurry so as to mail this. Hope you receive it & not have it happen like my last letter to you.
Hope to see you next week.
With Love, Essie.
Old Mission, Mich.
Sept. 13th 19-25
My Dear Miss Taft:-
Was very glad to hear from you & to know you reached your destination safe & sound. Am so sorry to hear your hand is troubleing you. The day you hurt it I feared it would be very painful as a jam usually is. But hope to hear it is much improved by now.
Roger was all right in a few days but complained of his legs feeling too tired to support his body. I felt anxious until he was perfectly normal again. A person never can tell what a temp. of that high point might indicate. Am very thankful he is well again. The teacher says Hazel is doing fine. And she is in the Happy Hour Club so that means fair for her. Roger is doing fine too.
Had a letter from I. Haywood's family. He has employment & a nice house toilet, bath and electric lights. And live next door to the church they belong too. I hope their little children improve now as they have a change of surroundings. All strangers too may make a change. At least I hope so as their parents have been doubly tried in the past yr.
The little cow from Hauris is dry now but hope she proves to be some good this winter. Charlie is going to butcher Spot tomorrow so will have her off our hands to feed. They offered to pay me today but didn't have the change on hand to give them so will deposit it with apple money when I go to town. He came over yesterday & put shoes on Queen & Jerry in front so Jos. can haul that hay this week. All he charged was for the nails. The shoes will hold for a short time. Nails was .15 & He got them at Doig's.
I will deposit all your apple money and you can send me a check to defray expenses here. That is if you wish to.
Labor day Joseph & Roger worked most all day picking up cider apples and Tues. Henry took them to O. Mission & hauled most of them back & dumped them in Stutsmans woods. They said they was too spongy. So we went ahead & picked Wealthy & Pippin Apples. Are holding the ciders until tomorrow or next day as the price will come up a few cents on the hundred by then.
The rain has freshened every thing considerable the meadows & pasture are much improved have began to look green already.
The young cherry trees look as tho' they could stand the cold winter better too.
Well I can't thing of more so must go to bed as it is high time.
Hope you are well & rested by this time. I dreaded so much to see you leave in such poor health.
Will give you weight and price of apples.
{860# of cider apples saved from the load rest of 60 bu. dumped $2.15}
I didn't pay for hauling
2 Bu. crab apples $2.00
2 " pears @ .80 1.60
720 # Apples @ .80 Hundred 5.76
3280 # Apples @ .80 $26.24
$ 2.15 saved from cider load
2.00 crab apples Barnes
1.60 pears to Barnes
5.76 Apples to Barnes
$ 26.24 " " "
$ 37.24 here to deposit
With love
Essie K.
Old Mission, Mich.
Sept. 20th 19-25
My Dear Miss Taft:-
Am sorry you are not well it is so hot most of the time that even here it is very uncomfortable.
Joseph, Hazel & I have had that stomach & bowel trouble & were very sick with it. I came down sick a week ago & still feel weak & don't want to eat. if I do those dreadful cramps start up. This has been one of the most nerve racking summers I ever put it because the heat has been so dreadful.
We have had 2 nice rains during the past week & very strong winds. The telephone lines are out of order most all the time & the apples will all be on the ground if this keeps up much longer.
It was over 80 last night at 11 o'clock so that was the cause of our dreadful wind storm.
Went to T. City Fri. morning with Tom Lannin & banked your money. Chas. Lannin paid for Spot & I have some of her corned for fall use. She was nice beef.
I told you I would go to town with who ever came along so I did. Don't like to have your money laying around the house. He came over to tell Joseph that he had 51 bu. of oats for you. They are very nice full ones & very clean. They hired an out side Threshing Machine from out side that came down here to do the work. Mr. LaBatts out fit leaves the grain quite dirty besides a lot of oats goes out in the straw.
Well there is no more to write about. pastures & meadows looks much more alive. They will come all right.
Oats 51 bu. at .50 per bu please make check To Jim Lannin
I find I have sent weight for all but last 2 loads
Sept 14th 3850# at .35 = $13.47
16" 1370# @ .35 = 4.80
These were hauled to Bowers Harbor
$ 2.15 Barrett
3.60 B. B for pear & crabs
5.76 B. B Traverse City
26.24 B. B Traverse City
13.47 Morgan Bowers Harbor
4.80 " " "
25.00 For Spot from C.L.
$ 81.02 which I have banked
Hope you are better with, Love Essie
Old Mission, Mich.
Sept. 27th 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft-
Am so glad to hear you are feeling better. It is very trying to work when sick. Have had the same experience many times.
We could not eat much fresh fruit so put the bartlett pears in cans for winter. Am sure we will enjoy them. There wasn't enough for a bushel so kept them as you said. I still have a lot of empty cans. Have charry - all put into bottles & cans & it is doing fine.
Had another nice shower last night to help along was much in need of it too.
The pasture is coming some but can't do much with 3 cows on it all the time. Hope it can get a start soon now so as to save on winter feed which is going to be shy. The corn fodder is light & not much to it. Was just one load from up near cherry orchard. Joseph was surprised how little there was. But will be very careful of it and make it go as far as possible.
He hauled the hay & got 2 very large loads as much as he could get on. He got more than his moneys worth. If they will sell some buck wheat straw reasonable will we get some? Please mention as most every one has to buy feed and it won't last long. You will need to buy before Spring. It will be perfectly safe to feed buck wheat straw at least once a day during the winter.
Mr. Hauer had 25 bu. of oats to spare & Joseph spoke for them as they are extra nice & you will be sure to have enough then. they are .50 a bu. He wants to get them tomorrow if there is a little spare time. The oat bins are just fine to store grain in are plenty large so that nothing has to set outside for cat & mouse fooe.
The $4.80 cider apples is all there was from Stutsman's. Will be more of winter apples will keep account seprate from there. All the rest belonged to you.
The little calf has been visiting think she will be all O.K. Will be safe to pay most any time now
Hope you are well & happy by now
With love Essie K.
Old Mission, Mich.
Oct. 4th 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
We couldn't get any straw from Lannin's so don't know of any other place.
Joseph is hauling all the fodder in a load at a time & husking it in the barn. The squirrels can't carry part of it off that way. He has over half of it husked & only 40 bu. of corn so far is saving all the seed there is amongst it. He has some very beautiful ears saved up. There isn't near the fodder there was last year it seems very light.
Mr. Breeden said if you only wanted 3 loads of gravel he would give it to you but if more was needed you would have to pay him .25 per load as he didn't want to dig holes in his land for nothing. Joseph thinks it would take 25 or 30 yds. of gravel to finish up around the barn the way it should be. I thought I had better mention it in this letter & no wait for so many times I forget.
Ledger got very little out of the apples that were shiped out. They are paying .80 at B. Harbor for peelers & .35 for ciders. Haven't sent Mrs Stutsman's yet as we thot they would grow more the weather is cooler & very nasty and damp out. Hazel & Roger both have colds in their heads.
The crows are very troublesome they are feasting on farmers corn. They cleaned the sweet corn up clean. I am provoked about it as it costs so to buy seed every spring.
I was mistaken about the heifer we had to take her again if this doesn't prove satisfactory will take her to Jone's next time. We we almost sure she would be all right But just roared [roamed] around all day yesterday
Hope the weather is cooler there & you are better. Roger is coaxing for a new kind of a flannel blouse the boys are all wearing they are only $5.00 guess I will have to buy one for winter. Bobbie Drew & other boys like them so he has to be in style. With love Essie
Some time ago I went over to your mail box & nothing there. I intended to mention in my other letters & forgot to.
We had 5 bu. of potatoes in all wasn't that dreadful last year we had about 20 bu. we will have to buy some where.
The carrots are small & under size this yr but may grow some yet
Am thankful the meadows are not brown any longer.
Joseph has changed the cow barn the right way so animals don't stand humped up. Did that the day after you left.
There was a few grapes over to S. place some one picked some of them I don't know who goes there so regular. Can't think of more to write so will stop.
Old Mission, Mich.
Oct. 18th 19-25
My Dear Miss Taft:-
I wanted to wait until now to write so as it would be worth while.
Joseph had to lay off husking corn to pick apples we have had some very nasty weather a week ago the ground was white with snow when we awoke in the morning was very much surprised as it is so early to have such cold weather. It is slow work picking apples alone but he has finished now & hauled all the ciders himself to save extra charges from Ledger They paid .50 per hundred for the ciders at O. M. the past week & you got that for all of your's. They are only paying .35 at Bowers harbor it was a longer trip but we should worry .15 difference was worth looking after. The apples at Stutsman's was very poor wormy & under size. Last year there was a good crop but this yr. it certainly was a failure. Most every one is having trouble with undersize fruit & worms to spare. Mr Griffin is one on the list. Joseph sent Mrs. Stutsman's 2 bu. to Dearborn last Wed. hope they get there safely. There was only 1 bu. of sweet apples to send to Mr. B in Traverse others were poor & it would spoil your market for more fruit if we wasn't very careful as I know you are. There was only 8 bu. of apples from S. place that could be sold to Mr. Barnes at $1.00 per 100 lbs. you had 28 bu. sold at $1.00 per 100 lbs. all the others had to go for cider. Will tally every thing up at the end of my letter.
Joseph will try & get some saw dust as soon as he can get the time to do so. There is so much to do before snow falls. He wants to get the storm windows on quite soon but [they] has gone so we don't know where to find the tools to plane them down it is a particular job & a person has to do it right. Joseph should have asked Mr. Hunter to fit them when he was here this Spring. The barn certainly is more comfortable than the way it was. And every thing under cover. When he picked apples they were stored inside during the damp weather instead of all chewed full of holes by nasty rats. My how I hate the dirty creepy things.
It is raining again we have a lot of water now & my how dreary it makes every thing look out side and hard to see to sew or work. I sold my pretty bed spread for $25 I hated to part with it but it isn't what I need. I can't keep doing pretty work & take proper care of it so can use the money to a much better advantage. The children need shoes & warm clothes for winter & that will help out a lot. Have you worked on your's since you left here? I still have Roger"s spread left & will keep that for him as he likes it so well. And boys seldom care for such things.
Jos. will try & haul the gravel as soon as he can get to it he wanted to plow the new land while it is cool this fall & not leave every - thing until Spring as there is such a rush then. But he may not get it done as bad weather holds things back a lot. He had 56 bu. of corn in the crib & has a load to husk out yet. We are going to be short on feed the animals have had to be feed so long the pasture looks green but hasn't grown because it it so cold. It has been a hard year & I dread to think of your buying any feed. Jos. will get a few leaves from the woods to bed animals what time he can spare to do it. Can't think of any thing more now so will give an account of apples will deposit as soon as I go to T. City. There is a .70 toll bill & I will pay central for you it is from calls you made before you left. There was 1460 lbs. ciders for you the rest are from Stutsman place
for collerman
4840 lbs in all } 1 bu T. sweet A. Stutsman
-1460 for you } 2 " sent to Dearborn
3380 for Mrs S } 8 " sent to Barnes" along with yours
28 bu in your lot for Barnes
8 for Stutsman
36 in all for Barnes Wgt. 1630 # @ 1.00 per hundred = $16.30
$24.20 for cider apples for you both
$40.50 total in all
Cider apples was .50 per hundred hope you understand this my head is almost splitting it hurts so badly
Hope you continue to improve
lovingly Essie
P.S. hope you have a pretty new old dress by now.
Old Mission, Mich.
Oct. 20th 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft: -
Central was here today & worked about 2 hrs. on this phone & can't do much with it. He dug up the ground wire & is going to get a long iron rod & put that into the ground & see if it won't make a difference. He wanted to know if that doesn't work if he can exchange with Mrs. S. until Spring & then put this one back as in the winter if we should need a doctor or something & this is out of order we would be in a tight boat. I am always afraid of fire & what would a person do without a phone. Hope we never have any experiece with such things because I always try to be careful.
It has snowed most of the time since Sun. night. Have had one of the worst wind storms since I wrote the other day that I can remember of. It turned out a lot of fruit trees for the neighbors besides shook most of their apples onto the ground. It was a dreadful loss for men with large apple orchards. Am glad yours was all off. Never saw such a cold stormy October almost like was winter.
Well I must go to bed as it is late.
With love Essie
P.S. I addressed a card to Mrs. Stutsman & had to send a letter instead so will send it to you & maybe you can use it. There is no use in my keeping it around
Old Mission, Mich.
Nov. 3rd 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
I thot it about time to write to you again but there wasn't any thing of any importance to hurry me any. Received your last letter. Am always glad to hear from you & know how you are coming along.
I haven't heard whether Mrs. Stutsman received her apples or not & what kind of shape they were in.
We have had dreadful cold weather & snow. The farmers have lost a lot af apples & what few hadn't dug their potatoes are no good now. They are paying $2.00 a bu. in T. C. now. What will poor people do? We had to buy most of ours we only had 5 bu. in all. Other people had the same luck as we did.
Joseph just started plowing today the ground has been frozen hard so he couldn't do it until now. Wouldn't be surprised if it stormed again tomorrow the weather is against every one a fellow can't get the fall work done. There hasn't been any gravel hauled yet but will get at it as soon as he can.
The mice are nearly driving us out of the house. They chewed 2 holes thru the wall board back of the range & are trying to gnaw thru the door way in the dining room. They can't find any thing to eat so are trying to chase us out.
Cows have been in the barn for 3 weeks Nothing but snow oputside until the last few days it is going to make a long hard winter & means more feed to be bought. If Joseph gets a chance to buy hay reasonable will he get some? Harry Lang was selling some for $28 per ton a short time ago but it may be more now. It will be much higher by Spring. Joseph is as saving as he can be but animals have been feed for several months now & it all counts up. I know you will have to buy before Spring for all animals.
There was 86 bu. of corn and 5 1/2 bu. of carrots never had so little of such things before. Nothing growed much after you left.
The rye got a fairly good start before the snow came.
Well I sold the remainder of my work that took me several years to make it came to $42. I'm not going to make any more right away as I am getting too nervous. Right now I have 2 dresses & 2 shirts to make of course I get pretty good pay for it But I find it very hard with my other work to do any thing extra for other people. Is it worth all the extra effort. I love to read & can't find time to do it unless at night & my eyes won't stand that. The work I sold in the past year came to $107.25. It isn't much but helps keep some things up.
Please hope we have good weather as we need it for 3 or 4 weeks & then it can snow.
Got some salt petre for horses water as they were bothered. With love Essie K.
.15 axel greese
.15 horse shoe nails
.70 Toll bill from phone
.65 fixtures for storm windows
.15 salt petre
1.80
$5.15
1.80
$3.35 left to your credit
Enclosed please find receipt from bank.
Old Mission, Mich.
Nov. 16th 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
We have a new calf & do you wish to keep it. It is a very small one & nothing here to feed it. I should have asked you before what we should do with it. It came yesterday P.M.
Children are waiting for this as it is after 8 now & I must hurry.
Joseph can't get any saw dust as Mr. Foulek needs his. And A[rnous] has very little left & that is very poor & full of sticks & junk besides doesn't want to sell any. The animals haven't any bedding. Joseph got some leaves but they stay wet so much of the time can't get them. Ground is white again and still snowing and blowing like Dec. instead of Nov.
Joseph has 11 loads of gravel & needs much more it is slow work picking it loose. he plowed the field where we used to have sweet clover & you wish to have sweet corn planted in the Spring.
Will write later in week Thanks many times for check
love Essie
Old Mission, Mich.
Nov. 23rd 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
I intended to write before but have been having a jolly good time with my eyes. I put off writing because my head pained so much & last week after sending your little note I went to T.C. & had the Dr. look my eyes over he changed my glasses & said I would have to give up my sewing & fancy work for a while. My eyes looks nearly as bad as your's did during cherry time. Joseph tries to take care of them for me. I surely dreaded to part with the money this time of the year when I needed it so much. Hazel needs new glasses in about 6 weeks. So I guess my extra earnings is all spoken for long ago.
It is always a satisfaction to me after I have made an old garment over to see something useful made of it. Do you remember that gray woolen material you gave me. Well I dyed it dark blue and made Hazel a little school dress of it. There was just enough by being careful of the cloth. With her black dress made of your skirt she will get thru nicely. Would like to see how you are coming with your new dress. I can't stand to work on dark material only a little at a time. I did considerable sewing for Mrs. Doig & had to quit. It helped so much.
I never hear from Mrs. Stutsman. I hope she doesn't think that I didn't want to write to her. When I sent her freight bill I didn't have time to write a letter as Roger was in a hurry so just put it in an envelope & mailed it. Maybe it is my turn to write to her. I can't remember. Mrs. Lardie & Mrs. Mills tells her all the news so I wouldn't know what to tell her.
Joseph hauled 27 loads of gravel and could have used several more loads but had to give it up. it certainly has improved the looks of things around the barn. It has packed down a lot & by Spring will be firm & nice to drive over.
Joseph will see Ledger about hauling the straw. The horses would need new shoes & besides the roads are dreadful for horses to go over at all. It has been so wet that they are cut up worse than ever.
Jos. has hauled some of the saw dust from the garrage at Stutsman's for bedding.
The new cows is doing nicely if we have bran & a little grain to do with we hope to keep the cows in better shape. Last winter they got into bad shape from a corn fodder diet & not much change. This fall Joseph makes bran mash with warm water & plenty salt to keep their bowels free.
I collected from Mr. Coleman for the bu. of Apples & he paid me $1.00 is that what he was supposed to pay you?
Thanks for the papers they are enjoyed so much this time of year. Both children wishes me to thank you for them and they hope some day to repay you in some little way.
Well I must not do any more of this tonight or tomorrow I will be sorry.
Hope you are well and happy and have a nice Thanksgiving dinner.
With love Essie Kitchen
Dec. 5th 19-25
My Dear Miss Taft:-
Ledger just brought your straw and said hay is $29 per ton & he can get alfalfa hay all ready bailed and will deliver it for the same price as Milling Co. is charging that will be $29 per ton. He has to haul it from Kewayden Most of the larger farmers who have trucks are getting their hay from there. If Ledger will decide to buy from there will he get yours too? That price includes hauling & all. If he hauls hay from T.C. he can't haul it for less than $2.50 per ton.
Am in such a hurry I can't write as I want to send this to T.C. please answer right away. We may be snowed in any time
With love
Essie K.
It has rained or poured now for 12 hours steady.
Old Mission, Mich.
Dec. 9th 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
I held my breath while I was opening your letter for fear you would not approve of Ledger bringing your hay out. It began to snow Mon. morning & Jos. told Ledger to go ahead & bring your hay not waiting to hear from you. He was sure you would say yes but I felt in doubt. So am very glad he had the right thing done. It won't be much longer that people can use trucks as the roads are dreadful rough & it just tears them to pieces. There was 62 55# of Alfalfa and is very nice. Jos. is well pleased with it. The last few times you bought hay from the Milling Co. it was very very poor. That is where the mean weeds came from. I said there was a little over a ton of the straw so he will charge $3.00 for the hauling.
It certainly did seem nice to have a place to store the hay. He drove right into the barn with his truck & unloaded. Storm windows are on & we feel much warmer now. It won't take so much fuel to keep the house warm. We hired Mr. Berton to buzz our wood & he charged $1.00 per hr. It almost robs a fellow. Jos. build a little wood shed onto the back part of the stairway & it looks rather good too for being made out of odds & ends it will be a shelter for our fuel so it won't be all snow & ice.
Beauty is all O. K. and is a fine looking little lady. I love all the animals altho last Summer when my butter turned to greese I never wanted to see any more butter or cream. It was a trial all Summer to keep going it was so hot & dry. Kauer cow is doing well but hasn't come into heat yet.
My but it is cold out side ice frozen on the Kitchen windows I nearly froze hanging out clothes
Well my eyes are hurting so will get ready for bed.
With love, Essie K.
Old Mission, Mich
Dec. 28th 19-25
My Dear Miss. Taft:-
Am very glad to hear you are with the Stutsmans for to spend your vacation. It is much nicer to be with your own folks.
We have had some very bad weather cold & stormy but some better today. Hope it isn't too cold for a few days as we have to take Hazel in the 31st to have her eyes tested so she can have new glasses. please pity my poor pocket book. It is usually flat but will be worse if expenses keeps coming along.
There was a farmers Institute held at Old Mission about 2 weeks ago and Joseph & I both attended. It surely was fine so many things was brought up that a farmer should know about. If ever there is another held here I want to go again. I thought of you many times that day. They talked quite a little about Alfalfa and how to prepare the ground before planting seed. One thing was to lime the ground & work well then plant the seed and pack ground firmly with a cultipack. This may not be properly spelled but you will know what I mean. A rolled could also be used. He said where the soil was left loose & the seed sprouted and began to come thru. A great many times the earth checked and the hot sun burned the small plants. And that was why so many people failed. I noticed here with the new seeding that the ground was cracked and exposed the plant roots. Of course you have read all this and much more. Also heard a lot about fruit.
We wish to thank you for the papers the children has enjoyed them so much. Roger intends to write to you before long. And also Hazel. I bought some Xmas cards and intended to send one to you but don't know what I done with them so will have them left for another year. I felt sorry as I don't like to have people think I forget them. Joseph is going to send a package to you before long it won't be much but let you know we think of you.
The Lannin's has gone away again. And they had a nice pig & sold it to us for a very little also the feed for it We will only keep it a very short time and kill it. I would have asked you about our takeing it here but they would have let it go before we could hear from you. It will make us nice meat and a person has to pay dear for what you buy from the meat markets. I didn't think you would care as long as we have our own feed. It isn't near any of your animals and is healthy any way. It will be pork in a few days. I wanted to tell you about it so as you wouldn't think us dishonest. I want to treat you fair the same as you do us.
Every thing on farm is fine so far. And the barn is nice and warm. The manure hasn't even frozen in barn so you see it is quite comfortable there.
Kauer cow has not been taken yet no signs so far but promises to be a fairly good cow. Gives nice rich milk.
I wish also to thank you for sending check early it is a great help as we can get Hazel to town earlier now and she won't miss so much school.
I must go to bed now We wish you a very Happy New Year
With love Essie K.
.15 Axel greese
.15 horse shoe nails
.70 toll bill
.65 storm window fixtures
.15 salt petre
.25 poke root for cows
$2.05
5.15
1.00 for apples
$6.15
$6.15
2.05
$4.10 to your credit
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