Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters - Transcribed letters from 1927

Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters - Transcribed letters from 1927

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

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

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

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

Peninsula Community Library

1927

Mary T Morgan

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

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LHC 010

Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan

Old Mission, Mich

Jan 14th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft:

I have intended to write to you for several days as I have been dreaming of you so often. Last night I dreamed I was talking with you & you seemed so real to me.

Well the weather is colder again & more snow has fallen the snow plows were out this afternoon.

Were your taxes high this year? Ours were more than they were last and will be still higher next year if expenses on highways continue. We need good roads but so much money is wasted. You go along & men leaning on the shovel handle & moving like a lot of snails & getting $.30 an hour for it.

Mr. John Marshall passed away last Fri afternoon Jan 7th. He had been feeling as well as usual but Fri A.M. when he was dresing went into convulsions & only lived a few hours. We will all miss him as he was such a good neighbor & kind to every one around him. I know I will miss him for good many pleasant visits we have had during the summer time. His funeral was Sunday & I helped at their home to get every thing ready. So Joseph was there too & happened to hold quite a lengthy conversation with Marshall Pratt. One of the many things they talked about was your farm of course. He said he hoped Joseph would stay here in order to keep it in a good condition as he hoped to find sale for it in the Spring. Also said that the 53 acres across the road has been sold & 5 or 6 cottages are going up down on the shore in the Spring. In the way he has of letting a person know how imprtant he ishe old Joseph that Miss Taft would have to come down a notch or two on her farms because they wouldn't sell it unless they could make a good slice themselves. So Miss Taft if you are dealing with those fellows just beware of them. And your farm is a good one and if all goes well property here is going to be much higher than it is now. Don't give it away. This is quite close to the shore property & some one may want it pretty badly & pay you well for it. This may not be the thing I should write but Joseph can't go the Pratts & when Marshall did a lot of talking I am going to put you wise. I feel sorry for Mrs. Stutsman as she might have gotten much more for her farm had any of us know about things sooner. But it was a surprise to us all. This doesn't happen to be. Every one is looking foward to a booming Summer. Ah! dear I wish that paper hadn't stopped coming because now I can't find a thing to send you now of any interest to you. There has been more property changing hands her than I know of. Mrs. Boursaw said that she had a lot of trouble this year with taxes for so many new people makes it rather confusing and also mentioned that valuation was much higher on all resort property. I am keeping my ears & eyes open to see & hear all I can. I like to visit with Mrs. Lardie but one has to be so careful what you say as she doesn't always tell things straight & likes to make a little excitement where ever she can. But we all have our faults so I must over look hers & find all of my own which I fear are many & easy to see. But every one says beware so I better not go there much. My she feels pretty cross about the car with Ill. liseance selling cherries never mind I have a whole front yard our own this year so can do as we please & no one can say you may get off ass we don't sell cherries here.
I fell & struck my head on the ice on this little hill by the wood shed & I feel pretty sore & lame. The ice was covered with snow & didn't see it. I couldn't get up for a few minutes am lucky I wasn't hurt worse than I was. Can't think of any more just now so will say good night. Maybe before this is mailed seomething more come up.

Well this is Sunday P.M. Have heard Pratt & Cross are having shore frontage surveyed off into lots so they will be ready for sale in the Spring.

Ernest & Ledger struck it lucky this winter. They are doing carpenter work for the new people & are earning $4.00 a day & yet Lillie wants to get back to Lake City the worst kind of a way.

Yes we all think the bays have raised a great deal on account of so much rain & the wells are not giving so much trouble either. Your's has been all right so far this wnter.

It is storming dreadfully hard today & I am nearly out of groceries. We may have to live on potatoes.

Mrs. Ralph Helfrich died yesterday afternoon & leaves six little children without a mother. It sure is tough luck for them. She has been in poor health for several years & has been the hospital a long time with leakage ofthe heart & pnuemonia.

I had to bake bread & churn butter today so I feel real wicked. I never have my work done any more guess I am too fat & slow or maybe very lazy.

Hazel couldn't believe she was so careless as to mail the wrong letters. She has just found the letter that belongs to you. I have to laugh when I read it & see how funng she has mispelled some of the words. My mistakes are many too so guess we are both alike. I don't know what she will do if you sell the farm & don't come back here in the Summer. Just take us along with you.

Lovingly E.K.
P.S. If you run in today I will give you a slice of warm bread & a drink of buttermilk with home made butter too.


Old Mission, Mich
Feb 7th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - I hardly know how to start this letter out. Well here goes. We have had all the way from 22 below zero up to rain in the past two weeks. A great many people has been sick with sore throat & high temperatures. Roger & Hazel have been sick & Roger still has a temp. every P.M. I can't understand what it is. The teacher has it now so Hazel is staying home too.

The stock is all O.K. & every thing is going as usual. Joseph took the engine up to Harold Lardie for repairs this morning so as to have it ready when needed.

Do you take the T.C. paper? and if so do you hear any more about the real estate changing hands? Am anxious to see what the Summer has in store for us. Hope it is a lot of good luck.

Spring will be here before we know it & you will be preparing for your journey to Mich. It is nice for Alberta to have the change & rest. Tom Lannin has built a small house on his little farm nearly across from the little log cabin. So if you should live there next Summer you will have close neighbors. Have you any idea of trying to get in over there for another summer? If so some one ought to lock the house as it is open now. The apple pickers that stayed there last fall never closed things up when they left. I think it is a cute little place. We used to have a big house on our farm when I was a little girl and we were very comforable there for a number of years.

I wouldn't be afraid to undertake this farm & make money on it too. There is going to be good money in vegetables & small fruit here before long also chickens & other things too numerous to mention. It would take time to get started but the money would come in quite fast after that. Mr. Hamilton made quite a little on his farm but they didn't try to live with in their means.

Gertrude Leighton told her mother one day last week that she was secretly married in Nov to a fellow that she was engaged to for some time. She was going to school in T.C. but couldn't keep her secret any longer from her mother so is going to her husband before long. Jennie Hamilton was married Christmas day. And Mike Burton 18 years old got in wrong with a T.C. girl & had to be married last Thursday. What are things coming to around here. I am so glad that Roger isn't girl struck so far. I hope to try & keep him from the evil side as long as I can.[smile]

We spent the evening with Will Marshall's a short time ago & Roger & Mrs. Marshall played together we had a lovely time. She was surprised how well Roger played for a new beginner. He hopes to be able to play at the church before long.

I have been busy sewing curtains & quilted another quilt sewed carpet rags for a small rug & did heaps of mending this winter. Have my own sewing to do yet besides some things for Hazel. In the Spring when you return I will show you what I have been doing. I want to have everything done by Spring so I can be out of doors most of my time.

I hardly know where to plant all of my garden. If I thot I could take care of it I would plant some things on our place like potatoes & squashes.

Well I can't think of any thing more to write about as there isn't any news at present. If I hear any thing of interest to you I will write sooner.

Please excuse this poor letter will try & do better next time.

As ever with love
Essie K.


Old Mission, Mich
Feb. 20th 1927

My Dear Miss. Taft: - We are having a cold spell again for a few days after 2 or 3 days of rain & fog. It has been dreadfully damp here this winter & last Fall. Joseph found yesterday that some of the corn in the center of the crib is spoiling. It is the same as every thing elso no nice warm weather to properly ripen it. My squashes have spoiled & even to the potatoes are not nice like other years.

The bays are frozen over now & the ice has roared all day. Have you ever heard ice roar? I never did until I came here & I wondered what it was at first. The wind came up last Thursday after the rain & blowed the ice all in heaps but these last few nights it has been still & cold so it has had the chance to freeze again.

Joseph thinks we are going to have a nice Summer on account of the way the winter has been acting. We haven't any little calf here yet but expect it any day. People have driven their cars all winter & the roads are a glare of ice in a lot of places.

Feb 22nd
Well we were having zero weather when I started this letter & now it is raining again. I suppose the ice will break up again. Was so in hopes it would stay for a while at least. Rosie & her family will come from Howell next Monday. I hope they are cured & can be like other people.

We have had one other chance to rent our house but wouldn't do it. I hardly know what to tell you as I had planned on living there long enough to harvest the cherries. So Joseph thought it best not to rent the house. It is an ideal location for to sell fruit or any thing there for most of the tourists stop there to take pictures & view the bay. Right out in front of the house is where Henry Ford viewed the island before he decided to buy it. Some day if we keep the place we intend to start something there that will bring in money to us.

Mrs. Lardie is very anxious to know what you & we folk are going to do next summer she slung it at me in that smooth little way of hers. I suppose Miss Taft & Alberta both will be stationed along the road to sell cherries. And is so afraid we will sell cherries at our place. I have heard so many little speeches of late that she has made. If she happens to write to you it will be to find out all she can. Of course she wants all the money there is in things for herself & is afraid between you & I we will beat her to it a little. If she can make us leave here she will do it the same as some other people she made have trouble. Just so as you can't get the best of her. When she calls up & asks a lot of questions I try to be on my guard & not tell more than is wise. Well it is way past my bed time & I am dreadfully tired.

Hope every thing goes nicely at school now since you had the change.
Lovingly Essie


Old Mission, Mich
Mar 7th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - We are having a lovely rainy day so I can't do my washing. Thot' I would improve my time by writing you a letter. I helped Joseph sort corn for a while but thot' I better not stay out too long on account of the dampness. I have coughed all winter. Something I never did before in my life.

I hope your cough & cold is much better by now if your cough is still troubling you. Got a bottle of [Creo-] Terpin that is what I am using & I am getting better. Some times pneumonia comes on in just a few hours time & but a very little warning. Thats what it did to my sister Angeline. Roger was very miserable for two week carried a temp every day & lost nearly 3 weeks of school. The weather is either dreadfully cold or else raining it is very uncomforable here most of the time. The snow is nearly gone & the ice is melting in the bays.

I hope it doesn't do like last Spring be warm now & freeze us all Summer. The fruit buds are lovely so far will mail some to you later on.

The corn is a bad mess Joseph keeps sorting it over but the cobs are moulding & spoils the corn. If the Fall hadn't been so wet it would have been all right but no weather to dry any thing & now the damp winter only tends to make bad matters worse. I didn't want to tell you about the corn unless I had to. Joseph hopes to save quite a lot of it. That he spread on the barn floor did the same as in the crib. Every one has the same trouble. Harry Lang poisoned one of his horses with mouldy corn & Frank Stevens lost a cow. A number of the neighbors hogs have died off from feeding this junk.

The cow had her calf & every thing is fine there. The calf was small and as long as you didn't wish to save it I am going to try to keep it six weeeks & feed it corn meal & calf meal & then cover it over in brine for Spring meat. Will remember you when you come. Hope it is better than the peas I saved for you a year ago. I never try to do something nice bewhat it turns out to be a fake after all. It may cost more to keep the calf six weeks than it is worth but will try it any way. Joseph says I will have to take care of it myself.

Joseph hired Charlie a month ago when there was very little to do here & spent a few days putting a floor up stairs & sheet rock on the walls of the house. Now if you sell our house is ready. Joseph knew you wouldn't care as long as your work was done here. We have never neglected a thing here & done our own first. We hope when we are through here you won't feel dissatisfied with our work. If so tell us any time. It is hard to always please any one but we try so hard & that is about all any one can do.

Every one is looking for a booming Summer & by what I hear from some of our California friends the Summers on Michigan are more beautiful & more natural than else where. While talking with different people in T.C. I hear that in the course of a few years the larger farms will be divided into smaller resort farms & Summer homes. So lets all hope for the best & try & look forward to what is in store. Please don't worry about the farm as every thing will be all right. People are asking us a lot of questions & wonder what we are going to do. Joseph intends to stay here as long as we can manage to work our cherry orchard. It is hard to get any one to do a days work up that way with a team. The orchard up by the house is small & would require very lttle time spent on it. We must get our spray materials early. Do you still buy off M. Lardie? Some people are going to use dust spray but not for mine good old lime & sulphur is what we will use.

I must stop writing or you will tire out reading this. Hope you are better by now. And thanks for funnies. The children enjoy them so much.

With love, Essie
Lang's best horse is dead some loss to a farmer this time of year. Nothing they did could save it. Pratts had a drunken party over to the Stutsman's dear old home today. Joseph & I was coming home from delivering Mrs. Thompkin's butter & the men were out in Murray's cherry orchard with their car so drunk that when they got out to push they wobbled around like a new born calf. It is some wild joint by what I hear. I feel like reporting the bunch to the federal officers it disgusts me so. I have had nothing but pleasant memories of that dear place until of late. Some example to set before our business men of Traverse City. But maybe that is what the majority of them consist of. I must give Hazel her bath now as it is her bed time.

Lovingly E.K.


Old Mission Mich
March 1, 1927

Dear Miss Taft

How are you [ ] mother and i are feeling fine i have a bad cold and i have a cough. Thanks for the funnies Roger and i went to school to day
I am lonesome for you. and i wish to see you soon
i must close now with love Hazel


Old Mission, Mich
Mar. 15th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - I thought I had better write early so as you could order spray material when ever you wished to. There are 5 pkgs. of arsenate left from last year and a half barrel of lime & sulphur.

Joseph has the corn all sorted over now & put 83 bu. back in the crib & he has quite a little spread out on the barn floor & hopes no more of it spoils. Will try & remember to mention in my next letter.

It started to rain Fri. evening and poured all day Sat & most of Sun. The mercury was 58 Sun and higher since. The snow is nearly all goine & like 1st of May weather. I hope it turns colder & this doesn't last. If it does I fear for the worst to happen. Today I noticed the ice in the bay is all to pieces. Joseph says that years ago we had this kind of weather.
Don't you intend to put manure on the cherry orchard this year? There is lots of it around and could be put on with the phosphate & you would get better results. We bought ours from the Ford company & it was $65 a ton.

Joseph got Charlies horse & went in after the oats last week he had them crushed right there as they charge no more than they do out here & saves so much handling. Also had to have new shoes put on Queen the roads were so bad that she could hardly walk when she got to town & the other shoes were not fit to use over. We will gladly do our bit if we use the horses. I think we can have their shoes reset at the Mission.

My plans were to get a punch of pickers & pick our cherries if any in just a few days time and stay in the house while doing so. You know how it is with me I hever could stand so much walking back & forth. Then when thru have help here. As you know our orchard is small & wouldn't take long to go over it. I would like to sell as many cherries along the roadside as I could bring so close to the church. I don't know how Sunday selling would be. If some one would object to it we might have to stop it. Of course they may not all be like Frank Stevens. All me and tiny you. I have did all the inside painting & varnishing myself & it was very expensive & every thing is all ready to hang the wall paper so wouldn't let any one but you move into the house on account of banging around. I have a sanitary couch over there & mattress that I bought from Mrs. Hamilton a table & 3 chairs. All is lacking is an oil stove which I will soon order. I have bed clothes that you could use so as there wouldn't be any need to move your furniture over there. As there might be company carried along & that would mean a lot of hard work after two or three years. A stand would be nice & I will do all I can to help you make a success of it. It is a long way from your own farm but you would enjoy being there I know.

We would have to buy new roofing for the garage & put doors on it if you cared to use it. That is one reason we ought to make our plans early so as to attend to all those things. Mr. Hamilton used it the way it was but I know you wouldn't care to. Joseph says as long as you are so willing to help us we will try & do the same by you. I expect it will cost us about $15 or $20 to repair garage. If we don't put doors on it the wind would soon loosen the paper on roofing & tear it to pieces the same as before.

Are you going to send Spring plans this year? Joseph was wondering where you intended to plant the oats.

There are 25 bales of hay left. That won't be enough to last until haying. Joseph didn't dare feed the horses much fodder on account of harming them. He has put all fodder thru the cutting box this winter as the cows like it so much better. The stock is all well & look fine this Spring am so thankful for that as I always worry about things when you are away.

Would like to see your new hat I bet it looks pretty.

I nearly forgot to mention that the well doesn't give any trouble as the bay level is much higher. I must go to bed now.
With love Essie


Old Mission, Mich.
March 23rd 1927

My Dear Miss. Taft: - Will try & answer your last letter while my irons are heating. Our Summer weather cought cold & we have had a snow storm also two days of real cold weather. Bay was frozen over yesterday A.M. but the wind broke it up in a short time. The frogs were singing a week ago but guess they found they came out too soon.


Do you want those stark trees grafted they are so large? Joseph didn't remember what you said about it. And he wanted me to mention that he needs some one to help him line up & set the cherries one person can't do it alone & Roger doesn't understand the work.

Do you still plan on having that fence go into the road? It is going to make trouble if you do as it closes cars off from the road & they would need to build a new one. Joseph thinks as long as you are going to sell not to make any trouble if you can help it. He was told the posts would be cut off if he did it that way.

The engine isn't home yet but will be soon. At the time Joseph drove in with the team to get the oats the roads were so poor he couldn't have brought any thing more home. The new gravel that was put on the roads during the winter is dreadful. A person can hardly get over them now that the roads are so soft. I will try & talk to Mr. Lang again tonight & will let you know what he says.

I haven't ordered my oil stove yet have been waiting to see how things are coming out. It costs so much for every move a person makes that I hardly know what to do. If I buy one I intended to get a good one as a poor stove isn't very satisfactory. The one I had smoked so bad that I sold it for almost nothing to get rid of it. If you try one to use it will help out like every thing. Every thing else is there now excepting the bedding & that can go later on. As to rent I hardly know what to say. As the garrage must be repaired & that is an unlooked for expense. I know that you & Alberta would be careful of the things & that is the reason I will consider your living there it has cost too much hard earned money to let a bunch of people live there & mar every thing up. What would you think reasonable rent? I wouldn't charge you any thing at all if it wasn't for repairing the garrage & it must be done as your car would be as well off out side as the way it is now.

If I was there myself I would keep our chickens there & also keep a pig for if you sell there won't be much of a start for winter. Joseph is going to plant our potatoes there as there isn't any place here for them. Mr. Leighton did some Spring plowing for Mr. Hamilton last year so Joseph will plant them on that little spot. Did I understand you to say that the place out near the barn was for carrots too. Joseph has the fence changed there & ready for the garden. I don't think it would pay to try & raise them on that spot. Maybe I didn't understand you right some times I can't get things straight.

Yes we too are anxious for the time to come & hope we will all be happy & enjoy ourselves. It is difficult at the best the work rushes in so fast when once it starts. I have an idea that property is going to sell good this Summer if the weather is warm so the torists will come in. It was bad last year on account of cold wet weather.

My head has ached all day until I can hardly see straight I hope it stops pretty soon or I will go bugs before night.

Your expenses are like ours never stops and every time we get squared around some thing else pops up & takes some more. Am enclosing a sample of my new living room curtains. Have all the curtains made excepting for the kitchen & that is a short job. I don't intend to paper until time to leave here as it would only fade out & come off when the house is vacant so much of the time.

Thursday A.M. We walked over to Harry Langs last night & he can get good hay nearly all alfalfa for $21.00 a ton so Jos. ordered a ton. The bailed hay has so much water on it & pressed together so firmly that you don't get as much good from it as loose hay. Joseph has been very saving but we had so little hay from the farm last Summer that you have had to buy nearly all. There was 117 bushels of corn saved. Harry Lang lost 400 bu. and a horse in the bargain. Well I must close now & eat my breakfast. Will be glad when you can come back to us.

With love Essie Kitchen.



Yes,


Old Mission Mich
April 4th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - We have had another nice day but quite a cold wind. Joseph got the engine home but had to go after it. The spray engine works fine but it needs some small repair for the gun. It will be some time before the buds began to burst. He intends to put the dormant spray on tomorrow. The nights have been very cool & frosts too.

Mr. Lang brought the hay & there was 2,200# of it and nice hay too. Much better quality than we used to buy in T.C. How soon will Joseph receive the wire so as to put the new fence up? The pasture will soon be ready for the stock unless we have more know storms.

I saw George Helfnick yesterday & he said he woud do your gratfing as soon as it is warm enough. Joseph got axle grease & a curry comb when he was in town and ordered a small repair part for the Oliver plow.

I have tried to mention every thing of interest. No property changing. Roger is going to play for Easter exercises at chuch so is working hard at his music. Mr. [] is going to play with him.
With love Essie K.

$.95 axle greast
.35 curry comb
.70 $4.65 total expenses since you left
$10.00 total money you sent
4.65
$ 5.35 left to your credit

P.S. The ferilizer was delivered last week also seed oats & other things you ordered. My living room curtains.


Old Mission Mich
April 14th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - Received your good letter tonight & was very glad to hear from you. The weather is nice but the cold winds holds the fruit back. I am going to send you some fruit buds a little later on. The spraying was done over a week ago so that is off our minds for a while. I know our cherries are all OK so far. It freezes out nearly every night so Jos hasn't put in clover seed. He intends to lime the ground next week. We have the cherry trees all set & they look nice. Jos hired Charlie for 1 1/2 days at $2.50 per day and I won't charge you for his meals. I want to treat you the same as you do me and there is so little I can do for any one. I won't forget the many nice car rides you gave to me.

We have thot' things over and as you are so kind as to let Joseph do his own work in the orchard we will let you live over there free of charge & make every thing as comforable for you as we can. Most every tree in our orchard is all barked up from hired help. We would like to save what is left. It is hard to find any one you can trust out of your sight now days. The spraying is one of the main things to attend to. We bought our spray materials from H.M.L. too. He is honest to deal with and very reasonable. Joseph got the repairs for the plow that he broke last fall while plowing alfalfa sod. It was $2.25 the bill is paid. We saw the oil man & will get gas next week.

Mr. Allen is trying to put a well down on the Breeden farm. Are having a hard time of it. Mr. Holmes & Pratt sold a little wood to several people in log lengths for $1.35 a cord right in the woods. We hear they are pretty hard up this Spring. If we have fair weather from now on the cherries will be very fine & lots of them. Joseph says the wire that is up there will be badly broken if taken off. Was your plans to tear old fence down or use new wire. I don't blame you for not adding extra expense if you are going to sell out because you wouldn't get any thing extra for that.

Well must get ready for bed will write soon again.
$5.35 to your credit
2.25 plow repair
$3.10 on hand now

With love Essie over
The Kauer Cow was bred the 12th of this month Joseph thot' you would wish to have it done if you were here. It was taken to Holmer Williams. I must buy a roll of cheap batting for small cherry trees as the cut worms are coming already. I am going to plant a few rows of garden over home for you to use to save buying so much.
Bye Bye


Old Mission, Mich
Apr. 25th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - After I wrote to you a little over a week ago the weather turned so hot that the mercury was up to 80 and 82 for several days had thunder showers & warm rains if it hadn't of turned cold when it did we would have had cherrys in blossom in a very short time. The buds began to burst. Had a snow storm last Thursday & turned much colder & have had frosts every night since. But don't think our fruit is frozen. The orhards on the lowlands are in bad shape. I guess we can never feel certain until the cherry money is in our hands. So many things can happen in a short time.

Dud Griffin has 1,600 trees on that new land now. I think he is so foolish because it is very frosty down there. Am sending a few little cherry buds so you can see for yourself how things are.

Joseph went to T. City & saw a man that was buying cows & he came & looked at our cow & Joseph told him he wouldn't take a cent less than $60 for her so he decided to buy her & we are going to have a truck take her to town in the morning. I suppose the charges will be enough but thot' that the best way to do. Sat. morning she had her calf a lovely heiffer. I hope nothing happens before we get her up there. I hope you will feel pleased with the deal. Joseph said he was going to put on a bold front & get all he could for you. I will deposit the money in the State bank for you. After truck charges are paid.

Joseph hardly thinks there will be hay enough to hold out until haying time. He is as saving as can be. But all the stock was put in the barn so early in the fall that it has taken a lot extra feed. And 3 cows & a team eat a lot no matter how saving a fellow is. The cows are in the pasture now.

The well men have been working at the Wunsch well for over a month & can't find a place to set the screen. Their well will cost them several hundred dollars before they are thru with it. Your well is fine so far. Hope the other fellow gets water so as we won't be bothered all Summer with some one always going past the door. I got so tired of it last Summer never a day without some one here with big eyes.

It is raining again tonight & the wind is blowing a gale is quite cold out too. I hope tomorrow is a nice day. The Spring work is coming along fine so don't wory. And we will have to trust that the cherry crop is safe.

Mrs. Seth Tompkins passed away a week ago she was nearly 90 years old.

The oats & seeding will be did this week if the weather permits.

Joseph will put collars on little trees too so as to keep the cut worms off.

Am tired & sleepy with love Essie K.

There was $55 left after truck was paid. Had to pay $5 to hire truck. Am glad that is over. Am at bank & have a bum pen.


Old Mission, Mich
May 1st 1927

My Dear Miss. Taft: - I read your letter over & will now try & answer all questions. It has been too cold so far to graft trees so am glad your letter arrived in time. There has been 10,000 apple trees chopped down on the penn since last fall so think it will help make prices better and the cherries on both farms look good so far. Joseph & Guy Killmerry went all thru your orchard during the week & only found 3 poor buds. The lime & ferilizer have both been sown & ground worked. The oats are going in this week it was freezing every night so Jos. didn't think it would do any good to sow the seed & have it lay in the ground. It will grow much faster from now on to make up for it.

The new cherry trees are quite nice but not of the quality Mr. Richie used to handle. We intend to buy from the company he used to sell for when we order our 200 trees in the fall.

If the wire was here just to fence off the little patch of land the cows would have lovely pasture now as it is Jos. has to feed them a little hay every night on account of its being so cold nights he can't leave them out side. Don't want any sick cows to have Doctor bills. The expenses are bad enough now.

Jos. got repairs for sprayer from H.L. & all is ready for use any old time.

Jos. hasn't the time to plow a piece of ground for me a nice garden over there so will have to plant things where ever I can find a place to sow a few seeds. I have enough for both of us. He is going to plant the potatoes tomorrow and maybe some sweet corn over there. I wish I knew where I could put in a few rows of pop corn as we haven't raised any for 5 or 6 years.

Well we bought the roofing & material for doors on the garrage & now I am dead broke again I will have to sell Charlie one of my quilts to pay for his labor on it as Joseph hasn't the time to do the work himself. It will keep him busy from now on. He wants to move the pig house but is afraid it won't hold together. Will he try it? or leave it alone.

The water in the bays seem to be higher now than it has been for weveral years. I know that in time this place will mostly consist of resort homes. Tourists are crazy about it and love it because they need not be afraid of snakes & bugs that are poison. And the lovely cool nights & fresh air that is so restful to the poor city worn man.

The Ridge Wood farm has been sold again to 10 millionaires so that is a little boost. Mrs. Doig said she would save the clipping from the paper for me if only I can think to get it will mail it on to you.

You need not buy any thing you can borrow from me as I am only too glad to loan things to you if it will help out & save buying. Some times I have to borrow & am only too thankful if I can. What is the use when one article seldom used serves both familys as well. I know my pocket book is flat most all the time looks as tho' an elephant steped on it. Oh well I will try & be contented & make the best of things. But I must admit that a farmers wife has to work awful hard & I try so hard to make the best of things & not complain. It is rather hard for a person who was used to the city to settle down to farmers wife.

Am tired & must go to bed. Hope you received the buds all O.K.
Lovingly Essie K.

P.S. Mon. A.M. I forgot to mention about price of cherries. They say the buyers are willing to pay $.07 per # now. Mr. [Hayrocks] boat has been down to B. Harbor for about a month also his car & he stays right here. He has some plans that none of us know about. We are all curious to know what it is all about.


Old Mission, Mich
May 17th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - I have tried several times to write you a letter but we have had more bad luck. Ledger took sick with a sore throat about 3 weeks ago and has been very miserable every since. Early Sat. morning phneumonia developed & he passed away Sun. morning about 10 o'clock. They rushed him to the hosital & he had the very best of care but nothing could save him. The funeral was today. I don't know how we can manage without him as he was a good neighbor and a dear brother.

The sour cherries don't look as well as they did but think we will have a fair crop. The sweets looked fine but with all this rainy damp weather during blossoming time it is hard to tell. We will have to wait & find out is all I can say about things.

The oats are up and meadows look green as tho' we would have a lot of nice hay. Oh yes I must send Lang's bill in to you the hay was $20 per ton and there was 3165# of it.

Mr. Helfrick hasn't been here yet am afraid Joseph won't have the time to help him from now on he has a lot to do. Corn to plant spraying & all other necessary things at this time of year on a farm.

Am glad Mrs. Stutsman can come for a few days rest. But if there is any more than two there isn't room or enough bedding or beds and I don't want the furniture or bedding used last Summer taken up there as I don't want to run the risk. But am more than glad to furnish the sanitary couch quilt and other things. There is a table one nice rocker a sort of table & book shelves combined lots of cubbard room and 2 nice kitchen chairs. There is a nice little Summer kitchen to use your oil stove in & do your cooking. The up stairs floors are not quite finished I have to put another coat of varnish on them and can't afford it just now. It cost so much to repair garrage that I can't so the up stairs can't be used. But it wouldn't be necessary for just you & Alberta. I hope to see you made comfortable if I can. And please don't think wrong of me for saying this. But I never want any more of those nasty creatures to clean out. That is one reason we wouldn't let other people rent the house. It isn't a swell house but will be very cozy when all finished and know you will enjoy it there. We can't hang the paper now & there aren't shades for the windows but I don't think you will need them as the bed can be placed someway so no one can see you.

We are going to have another cloud burst it poured down nearly all the while the funeral services were held & while we were going to the church.

Could you let me know when you are coming & I will try & have your future home clean at least the floors.

Mrs. Lardie has been having quite a time with high blood pressure again was in the hospital a week but is much improved. She wanted to know if you was going to live in our house & I told her yes. There isn't any secret about it. I know they don't like it but don't care. We can sell cherries too. There are a few early trees there. I guess 2 or 3 not any more than that.

Well Miss Taft I can't write a good letter tonight my head swims from so much excitement. I must say good night now & go to bed.
With love Essie


Old Mission, Mich
May 27th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - Well I will try & write a few more lines to you altho' it was only a week ago I wrote to you. But promised to let you know how the fruit & farm work is coming along. We had a very heavy frost the 17th and another lighter one last night. The cherries are hurt quite bad unless the second blossoms mature into something. Ours are in the same condition & they have always been fairly good up there before. The weather is very hateful either raining or freezing. The ground is so full of water that it can't take much more.

George Helfrick came along this week unexpected to graft the trees. Joseph & Roger was ready to plant corn. The orchard ready to work & spraying coming on. So he couldn't spare the time to help him. The weather has been so nasty that a fellow has to make hay while the sun shines. Mr. H had to hire a man to help him but one with experience so it is done right. He only worked 1 day & 8 hrs and Mr. Helfrick wanted me to send you his time. He paid the other fellow a Mr. Giles and wants his bill all made in one.

The corn is planted now & is waiting for warm sunshine to make it come up.

The fence wire is here came today so Joseph will get busy at the fence Monday. Am so sorry Joseph couldn't help Mr. Helfrick but am sure you will understnad how it is.

Joseph took the pig house to pieces the posts were so decayed & all the floor braceing that it wouldn't hold together so he was as careful as could be to save every thing.

The children wish me to thank you for the funnies they enjoy them so much in the evenings.

The pressure wouldn't come up in the spray pump so Jos. had Harold Lardie come over & look it over he charged a $1.00 but we didn't pay him & we must settle for the seed drill too. Homer wasn't home when Joseph returned it. The repair part for sprayer was bought at Harry Lardies and cost $2.00 Jos. had it charged. The men asked for their dinner & supper while they worked here they said they got it other places so of course expected their meals here. I would rather not feed people like that but a fellow has to some times. Right now I am so busy with trying to plant garden & all that I don't like to take time to cook for any one. Tomorrow I am going up home & clean the floors down stairs for you. I have to do things by jumps & jerks in order to get it done.

Will I take the money for meals out of your money here? Or would you rather add it to Jos. check there were 8 meals in all. Well I must go to bed now. With love Essie.

18 hours @ $.35 per hr + 6.30 Mr. Giles
28 hrs @ .35 " " = $9.80 Helfrick
10# grafing was @ .35 per # = 3.50
19.60

Mr. Helfrick said to make the whole amount out to him. Am glad you have a new car. What kind is it?

Dear Miss Taft: - I forgot to mail this letter to you Sat. so will add a few more lines in it. I spent part of the day up home yesterday and planted a row of wax string beans for you & also a row of peas there is some lettuce coming up in the black cap bed where it was raised last year. Also planted several tomato plants so you will have a bite to eat if it grows. I would like to plant some pumpkins over in the small on our own place cherry orchard for our selves & the cows next winter. Will if I can get time to put them in. Joseph won't have time to do much over there only take care of the cherries.

Roger passed 9th grade exams & is ready for 10th Hazel made her's too.

Earnest & Henry are working for Mr. Wunsch. Marian gave up the care of the place guess the cherries are badly hurt there too.

Did I tell you that Lou Toulek lost out on the resort job. Harold Lardie has Lous place now.

The 53 acres of B. farm across from us has been sold Mr. Will Gray told us about it. He couldn't remember the buyers name.

We will sell our farm if a buyer comes along & if we should happen to I want this one. Joseph bought that place in order to resell if he had the opportunity to make a good profit. I love this farm & with a large payment down a person could make good.

It is raining hard & we have had only heavy cold winds so much of the time. Well my dear I must stop or you will get sick of this letter. E.K.

Joseph sold Mr. Lang 2# seed cord on ears for $1.00 a bu. so I have a balance of $4.13 on hand now so can take the mens meals out of that.
$2.15 left over 8 meals $.30 per meal
2.00 for corn $2.40 meals
$4.15 on hand .20 salt petre
2.60 expenses $2.60 for house expenses
$1.55 left to your credit


Old Mission, Mich
June 1st 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - Received your very welcome letter yesterday & was more than glad to hear from you and to know the time is drawing near for your vacation. Oh dear some times I would like just a week to call my very own. I am sure I wouldn't care to spend it in Ill. tho' it must be dreadful there when the weather is real hot. When I was in Chicago it seemed as tho' there wasn't any fresh air to breathe I felt like a fish does out of water.

Marion has learned to drive the Buick now so can go when she pleases. We wanted a new car this year but the cherries look kind of discouraging we had another white frost last night it is nice & warm today & the sun is shining so pretty. Your cherries are like the rest some are fairly good they blossomed out good so maybe they will turn out pretty good after all. It is very hard to tell yet as they are not out far enough. I will let you know from time to time how things progress. This trying to tell a person how their fruit looks is like feeling in the dark.

Joseph had to take the Kauic cow again this A.M. by what we hear she has always been hard to breed but is a nice little cow & gives good clean milk. I saw our dear old Bossie cow & little calf 2 weeks ago Sunday while we were out on a picnic. I felt like jumping out of the car & going over to her. It made me feel lonesome to see her. I don't suppose I should feel that way towards the animals but I do like them all. Jos. asked Mr. Willobee this A.M. what his charges were on the drill & when he said $.50 per acre he nearly fell over it will be about a $2.00 bill. It is hard now days to rent tools so suppose we should feel satisfied. But that looks steep to me. We will ask him for receipt to give to you.

Miss Taft I was looking in Montgomery catalog at oil stoves & a new one with short burners is around $6.00 and small oven $1.56. I will pay you for the oven and buy the stove from you if no one else should want in in case you should sell soon. They heat very well for Summer weather & you can't imagine how nice they are to have & would pay for its self in fuel in a very short time. Joseph says the little cook stove is so rusted & worn out that it isn't safe to use. I haven't used it for so long that I don't know much about it. But the insurance men drop in & inspect chimneys & stove now & then they were here two years ago & said we were safe but told us to be careful with poor stove or pipes. Now if you want to do this let me know will you please and then when I buy an oven I will try & buy the large size it is nice to have both sizes as it saves a lot on fuel. If a person wants to bake some small dish of food there isn't any use in burning 2 burners when one will do just as well. The way you spoke we supposed your plans were to use an oil stove. I don't think it will be very cool much longer. If you want Joseph to he can bring our heating stove over there & set it up. He could get some one to help load it but I couldn't as it is too heavy. Wouldn't want you to be cold & half freeze. But am sure you wouldn't if you used a small stove like the picture of this am sending.

Why can't Helen wait she will be married a long time when once the knot is tied. I think girls are so foolish to be in a hurry.

I can't think of any more to write just now so will close & hope to hear from you soon.

With love Essie K. over

Carpenters house & nearly all of contents burned flat to the ground Sat. Maybe I am an old grandma but I am dreadfully afraid of fires insurance never covers near all the loss.


Old Mission, Mich
June 5th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - Will write you a few lines tonight so as it will reach there before you leave.

Today Joseph has been in several cherry orchards & there isn't any that look good the many heavy frosts & cold North East winds that has come along of late has did lots of damage. Your cherries are hurt quite bad but hope there are more that these it looks to be at present. The high cherries seem to be hit the worst of all. I never like to write discouraging news until I see reasons for it. I feel blue some times about our own cherries but must try & forget it. The corn isn't up yet but Joseph has cultivated it to help keep the quack down a little.

Mrs. Lardies health is quite poor. I can't like that woman as I should because both she & Mrs. Mills are doing every thing they can to get us to leave by hook or by crook so as you won't live up there. I am sorry she is sick but if she was more careful towards other people perhaps her head wouldn't bother her so much. I don't want to be mean to others because I think a fellow always has to answer for every thing some day right here on earth.

You let me know what day you are coming & I will be up home waiting for you as we have Yale locks on the doors so no one can get into the house I will have Jos. take your dishes over there some day soon.

The oats are coming along pretty well. The wire fence is all up & the cows have fine pasture to eat. The Dutchess apples looks good & I think we will get a good price. Wealthies apples don't look very good or other later apples either.

Roger can drive a Ford car now so suppose he will want one. I am so glad we have our two dear little children even tho' I have to work hard & do with out many nice things.

Will be glad to see you suppose this will be the last letter for a while.
With love E.K.


Old Mission, Mich
June 7th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - I mailed you a letter to Jacksonville Ill. yesterday A.M. Roger met the postman so as to be sure it would reach you before leaving there.

I try & tell as near as I can about the cherries some cherries are nearly as large as a small pea & others just began to form while others are in blossom the crop at present look light. Caused from our cold North East wind while blossoming & also heavy frosts of the past few weeks. I haven't see our own cherries for a week now so don't know how they are looking.

The corn is coming up I noticed it today & the weather is much warmer more like Summer than it was.

I must have Joseph take the beding & some small things over home tomorrow for fear you come before things are settled. I planned on doing that work last week & took sick so I couldn't do it. There is some picking up I have to do too.

Your letter made me feel bad as I thot' you was angry at me. But I have tried so hard to please you & make every thing as comforable as I can & yet be safe. Am sure you are welcome to any thing I have that you need. Nearly all the farmers wives here use Kerosene stoves for heat & cooking in Spring & Summer. With all kinds of fresh air I have never seen any bad results. Of course you can do as you think best. Joseph & I borrowed a stove & burned coal last winter when working up there. Mr. Hamilton left us 500# in the basement or celler so of course we made good use of it. It is a nice warm house not like the log house wind blowing in all over.

Joseph & Roger are cleaning grass & clover away from cherry trees now. Joseph left it as long as he could so as the ground would get the benefit from it.

Everything on the farm is coming fine with this nice sunshine.

The Dutchess apples look good but Wealthies & winter ones have light crop. I think apples are going to be a good price this fall.

I was talking with a gentleman that travels a great deal & he says that people like the new neighbors we have & the wealthy people that bought the Ridge Wood farm are going to boost the penn. And he told Joseph & I that all of these fruit farms are a drawing card to the rich man that wants a change from city life. I hope one of them will buy your farm altho' you will miss it when it is gone.

Will you please let us have some idea of when you will arrive here.
As ever E.K.

P.S. I don't like to put too much in the house as these days with strangers around they might take some of your things. I will return your check as Mr. Lardie brought things from town.


Old Mission, Mich
June 12th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - Your welcome letter was received today noon so will get this ready for the morning mail in hopes you will receivei before you leave there.

The day is beautiful but I guess our nice weather came too late to do us much good. The second cherry blossoms are falling not staying like they did last year. The cherries are very thin scarcely any it makes every one feel pretty blue for we all seem to face alike this season. I never saw the trees blossom out any fuller than they did this Spring. I think so much rain has did as much damage as the frost. The sweet cherries are fairly gone. The Napoleon trees are loaded and so are the small kind of our own. It is a mystery to me. It must be that the sour cherries are more tender than any other kind. The Dutchess apples look pretty fair so far a lot of people find their apples are falling. The pears were loaded & they seem to have rust spots from rain. Joseph sprayed every thing well in hopes to keep the trees healthy.

Mr. Phelps stoped & talked to Joseph Sat A.M. and said that some disease struck his cherry orchard on the lower flat & the trees look as tho' the leaves had been singed & are all drying up. He didn't put the early spray on & Jos. told him that he better get busy & spray right away maybe it could be helped a little.

I am so glad that we have a comfortable convenient place to market our cherries at least some of them. What little a person does have will be worth gold this year. This letter will make you feel bad I would gladly have it different if I could but we have the same out look as you have. So lets all try & look on the brighter side so many people are worse off than we are.

Have you tried selling any of your sweet cherries in Detroit? I hope you can dispose of any left over ones. We have about 17 sweet trees but not many cherries on them. If you can sell more than you have we would be glad to be remembered.
Lets try & plan on earning extra money some way think hard & I will do my bit towards helping bake or any thing I can do.

Roger is finishing replantng corn today. It didn't come very good.

I bought 5 gal gas and paid for it as our share to spray with and Jerry has new shoes again also will fill your can with oil. Joseph was going to buy a new lever dray this pay day to work your & our orchards with but since we looked at the cherries we will wait for a couple of weeks & see if they look any better. Mr. Christopher has been kind about leaving us use his tools but don't like to impose on him. I will be there Sat. evening to meet you when you arrive.

Am glad you are away from school & can have a rest.
With love Essie K.

P.S. I will have butter ready for you also a potato or two to eat. They are high & not many at that. Will save your buying any thing to eat for a day or two. I forgot to mention that there has been another mile of [tarvia] put on at Edgewood and then at the Mission they put in another mile starting on the Stone corner & going as far as the old cooper shop.

Thanks many times for the squash seed I was so surprised when they came also pumpkins. The cows are very fond of them. They make very good food for the early winter. Guess I haven't forgotten any thing this time.
E.K.


Old Mission, Mich
June 29th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - I thot' perhaps you would like to hear from here when you returned from Columbus. Hope you have had a good time altho' it has been dreadfully warm here for a number of days & so dry every thing will soon suffer. My berries are nearly all spoiled for want of rain and the pastures are drying fast.

The day you left it showered a little but not enough to soak the ground & just a sprinkle since. It is fine haying weather & you would be surprised how much more there is there than you thought for. I helped Joseph haul in 2 loads & it proved to be too much for a little fat lady. And Roger has been on the sick list yesterday had a temp. at noon of 103 but is better today altho' he hasn't did a thing. I think Mon. he got over heated while working.

Blite started in the cherries & Jos. & Roger gave them a good spraying & checked it right on the spot. Marian's orchard got struck bad & I sure feel sorry for her as the fruit won't be nearly so nice if it ripens at all. Am so glad you have a spray outfit right on the spot & not depend on others. I would feel a lot happier if we all had more fruit on our trees. The light swells on your tree & ours are turning but won't be ready before you are.

Today I unpacked your stove & set it up filled the tank & lighted the burners it makes a real hot flame. I happened to be up there so thot' I had better get it ready for you to use. It is quite simple to operate after I got it together.

The corn is growing nicely now & the oats are coming fine. Guy Killmerry will help Jos. haul the rest of the hay in I won't charge for his dinner & I doubt if it will take a full day since these 2 loads are in. Hope the weather is good in the morning. The wind has blown a gale for 2 days and 90 in the shade so you see we need a drink bad.

Jos. cleaned the carrots but they don't look very good I guess it is too sandy there they need heavier soil to do well. The big Tom's are up also squash but I was too tired to look after them today. Apples don't look very good & this dry weather hasn't helped the leaves to keep up very well.

Jos. got a file & oil for mowing machine also cylinder oil for spray rig I paid cash for it. Mon. Roger walked down to the store & got $.15 worth of packing & 2 cylinder leathers those were charged. When you come back we will straighten accounts up there was only $.15 left over from the old one with the $5.00 check it made $5.15 on hand.

Our neighbor arrived last Saturday so we see large cars go past every day now it seems good to see some outside people once in a while. Mrs. Marshall has a full house of boarders at $25 a week that means money for her. Of course they feed good & people like to go there. A great many of them room over at the Walker home.

Well I must go to bed as I am so tired I could sleep on the soft side of a board. Hope to see you soon and please bring rain you usually do. No dew for 3 nights to help out.
With love Essie K. over

I had a letter from home this week & Mother & some of my other relatives are coming out before very long. It may be in August or sooner. So as long as you have enough of your own bed clothes from there I may as well have my own back after you return.

Today is Thursday & oh so hot I am nearly cooked this minute. Jos. & Guy are hauling in hay now. Must hurry so as to mail this.
E.K.


Old Mission, Mich
Sept. 11th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - Today is beautiful but it has been dreadfully hot & sultry here fine corn weather but hard on every thing that has lungs to breathe with. Have had two light rains but not enough to do much good.

The buck wheat is growing fast & looks fine. After the first rain it fairly poped out of the ground. Corn is sure coming fine.

There isn't much at present to write about. The Wunsch family left for Detroit this A.M. Mr. Lillard the rich resorter that I sell butter to was here this morning & I asked him if he knew of any one that was interested in buying a farm. Asked a lot of questions & said he would let us know if he happened to run accross any one.

Henry Kitchen was down the other night & got your address he said he had heard you had a cow for sale I think it just an excuse to try & get in here. He would like to get this job if he could but I would feel sorry for things as he is too lazy to even help Ernest milk. I suppose now that he has a wife he will have to have some way to support her.

I was so glad to hear you reached Detroit safe & sound but too bad you had to sew so much. So often I feel sorry for you because your poor eyes look so tired and you are never idle.

Am coming along fine with my rug & thanks to you for starting me out on it. I love to see it grow day by day. I think it is so nice for to know how to do all of those things.

This A.M. there was a lady here to see me & try & hire me to crochet 30 doz. doilies of 3 sizes from 4 to 10 inches in size for a swell hotel in San. Cal. It would mean a nice little bit for me but oh such eye strain. They saw some of my work at Doigs this Summer & want me to do theirs. But am afraid I couldn't undertake such a large order. It would take months to do it. Of course it would have to be done perfect or not at all. I am willing to do all I can to help any one.

I didn't think a thing bad about you not paying for the beets am always glad to help out where I can. Would $1.00 be too much for beets & laundry. Don't want to over charge you.

Thanks for your other suit dress. Miss Hazel will have two fine dresses next winter. She won't need them this. All of those things help a person so much and does just as well as new for children as they nearly always out grow new clothes.

Gertrude Leighton has a new baby girl born a week ago. Mrs. Stutsman would like to know that I am sure.

If any one should be interested in your farm that I hear of will let you know right away.

I must hurry & get dinner for my hungry family. Will be glad to hear from you again. Am so afraid some careless driver will smash into you. It is always a relief to hear you arrived safe & sound.
Lovingly Essie K.


Old Mission, Mich
Sept. 25th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - There isn't any news only write & let you know every thing on farm is fine. Have had no frost so far but some very cold & rainy weather. The 1st planting of corn is ripe but the other isn't yet. The buck wheat is white with blossoms.

It sure is dead here this fall no business going on of any kind. Don't hear of any one buying or selling property. Hope the Spring brings better luck for farmers. I hear that the people whom bought the old Howe farm are doing a lot of work there. Mrs. Marshall is boarding the surveyers at her place.

Mr. Courtade is sueing Mr. Wunsch for damages the trial will come off next month. Will let you know how it comes out.

Jos. got a new land sicle for plow but waited to see if you would sell this fall. He wanted it ready for to do the fall plowing here. I guess we won't be able to sell either no one seems to be buying property. Jos. has kind of held off from buying tools and has used Perry's plow & drag most of the time so as not to have money invested in them. But guess he had better begin to buy as every thing looks junk. First comes a new lever drag & he will use that here as well as for ourselves.

We had some of the warmest weather after you left. We nearly cooked. It seemed a big comfort to be able to breathe again. I thot' of you so many times altho' you were warm & very uncomfortabe here some times it must have been much worse there. A week ago some Ohio people came to Mich. and told us it was so hot there they had to get out. It has turned so cold now that they will shiver here.

I can't think of one thing more to say so will say good bye until next time.
Yours with love Essie K.

P.S. Little Goose I was I carried this to Traverse City to mail to you & carried it back home again. Dear but I would like to give your hand a good squeeze.


Old Mission, Mich
Oct. 9th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - Today is Sunday & raining. It is queer how our weather goes to exremes one way or the other. But how thankful we can be for our crops such as we have.

I had a lovely letter from Mother yesterday & she said what crops didn't dry up froze early. They are paying $1.20 a bu. for their potatoes now. The farmers who depend on potato & grain crops here are out of luck as the rain keeps every thing so wet that can't get things in.

Your corn is all cut now we need some nice dry weather to get it ready for husking. Had our first frost Fri evening but didn't touch your farm as we can see. This sure is a nice location.

The new seeding is coming fine as thick as hair on a dogs back & the rye is beautiful & green. Nothing would please me more than to have you spend Sunday with us. Come & have dinner with us it is cool & nice now. And the woods are beautiful in their gay new colors.

Your cherry trees are very green & nice yet. Look fine for to go into the winter with. In fact every thing is better than most. For so many orchards haven't any leaves. Am so glad Jos. could stop the blight. Now if the Winter & Spring are kind to us there is no reason why we can't have cherries another year. I guess we all need them too.

Have you heard any thing of any propects of selling? There hasn't been any one here so far. Lets all hope for a good Summer to come. If when you write to Alberta I would be very glad if you would ask her if Mr. Stutsman would finish a few of those snap shots for us. I would like to send some home to Mother. Maybe I can do something nice for you some time.

We brought your little stove home & have covered it up nice for winter. We have every thing stored here now. Joseph wants to put the sprayer away for winter & get every thing in tip top shape.

He wanted me to mention that the mice are still chewing into the grain bins & he wants to store the old corn away very soon now & make room for the new crop in corn crib. Do you want him to tin the whole bin or what the mice would soon destroy enough to pay for a lot of tin. I know how to feel sorry for you because every cent we get goes like wild fire since we bought our place. But am glad we have it even tho' it isn't much of a place.

Guy Tompkins had another operation and has cancer of the liver it is partly eaten up now he has only a few days to live at the best.

I have taken some of that work to do that I spoke of and have nearly $21.00 worth ready to send out. Sometimes I think I am foolish to try & do it. But there are so many extra things we need that I decided to make a try at it. It is a good way to earn a little money besides doing my house work.

If you don't happen to sell your hooked rug I think I know of a lady that might take it. That resort lady would like to have had me do a lot of children's sewing for her also quilt some quilts. But I can't do the extra work now. Joseph has a spell every day or so about my working. But all men are like that. I would far rather work harder & see my family get along than sit helpless & not try. Sometimes I wonder and think of what you said this Summer if it pays. I notice that lots of women don't try & they have things too.

Well I must write to my dear Mother too. So must close now.
With love Essie


Old Mission, Mich
Oct. 23rd 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - I enjoyed your last letter so much & was very glad to hear from you. Hazel says thank you for the lace for dollie.

Jos. got 3 cats from Eimans & has them closed up in the barn to see if they can clear out some of the nasty mice.

The weather is beautiful now & Jos. is busy every minute taking care of corn. Have hard frosts nearly every night now.

Mr. Courtade says Edward Wunsch struck him. It was the other way around. The trial will come off in the next term of court.

The little cow came in heat again the 18th & Jos. took her back. I can't under stand why it is. If it isn't all right this time Jos. will take her to Gove's. You see she skipped from the 17th day of Aug. until this late day. She is well & feels fine. All the stock is fat & nice from nice pasture. They are all put in the barn every night as it is far too cold for them outside.

Will close with love
Essie.


Old Mission, Mich
Nov. 6th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - Some change in the weather since you last heard from me. It has snowed & blowed for about 36 hours now. It seems rather queer after 2 weeks of warm weather.

Hope the pain in your head is better. Your whole body will feel better after the weather cools off. I was in Chicago about 2 hours & that was enough Illinois for me. When I left here it was cold with ice & snow and then go there where I nearly suffocated for a breath of good Mich. air. I think as a whole Mich. & Wis. have the nicest well water I have tasted yet & I have lived in 4 different states & been in several others for a short time.

I have been sick for three days with a bad cold in my throat. I feel better but my back & shoulders still pain considerable.

Received the pictures from Alberta and thanks to you all for the trouble.

Now for corn the second planting is all the poor corn you have & that isn't so dreadful much so far. Joseph is sorting it very carefully & not leaving a poor poor ear with the good. Milton Gove was passing by when Joseph was working out in the field & said your corn was the nicest of any he had seen any where. There is 91 bu. of No. 1 corn in the crib. And about 20 bu. of poor grade. He wants to try & sell that for a little if he can of course it will only rot if put in crib & we will never take a chance again & ruin the good. Jos. thinks he has a 1/3 or about that husked. He let it cure in the stalk a long time as that helps to make it firmer.

The stock wil have to be on dry feed from now on and the horses need either bran or oil meal. Jerry goes down hill as soon as he has to have dry feed. Poor old fellow is like I am never got entirely over the flu. His nose runs & he coughs quite a lot. Joseph wants to take good care of him so nothing goes wrong. Every thing is fine so far.

Straw will cost $17 a ton delivered do you want some at that price? Joseph has inquired different places & that is the best he can do.

Will let you know how corn turns out you will hear from me sooner this time.
With love, Essie Kitchen

P.L. Had a mouth full of buck wheat for cows.


Old Mission, Mich
Nov. 12th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - Will try & keep my word about writing to you.

Joseph has quite a little corn husked now there is 146 bu. of No.1 corn and 55 bu.of poor corn. Joseph has sale for the poor corn at $.25 a bu. it is so soft it would rot in a short time. There is still more to husk out will know by the time I write again. The crib is nearly full now so will have to sell the good corn that is over but will call the milling company & get the market price first. Do you want to sell last years corn Joseph thinks it best. Will Gill Thompkins wants some of it if you sell it.

I wish there was another corn crib to store corn in. There was 3 bu. of carrots for cows.

Last night we had a thunder & lightning storm & today snow & very cold wind.

I have $31 worth of crochet work done now it will help a little bit.

Thanks for funnies. Roger & Hazel both enjoy them. Its lots of fun to read them.

Every thing coming fine on the farm.
Lovingly Essie

P.S. There is about 10 bu. seed corn measured out. I am not quite sure if there is more Jos. isn't here tonight.


Old Mission, Mich.
Dec. 3rd 1927

My Dear Miss Taft: - Will we are having winter again now it seems queer after the warm weather we was having.

The Wunsch & Cortade trial hasn't come off so far. I feel like giving Cortade a slap every time I think of him he is so rude. Will let you know when I hear.

Guy Tompkin's is dead & buried. He suffered dreadful.

Was so sorry to hear you are not well. Both children are having antibiotics Hazel's arm is pretty sore. Roger starts school again tomorrow. He plans on T.C. another year. Dr. Sawyer is very much interested in him & says he is one of the finest boys he ever met. Roger tries to be good & never forgets a wrong done him. It is pretty hard for us to help him much but will do my very best.

There was 221 bu. real good corn & 93 bu. of poor. Joseph priced corn at milling company & they are only paying $.35 per bu. but unless you sell this winter you better hold it as corn is scarce. Joseph has sale for 69 bu. of poor at $.25 per bu. and sale for the 19 bu. he couldn't get in crib at $.50 per bu. wouldn't let it go for less. As soon as we get the money for it we will put it in the bank. Joseph is looking for hay now & will let you know how he comes out.

If you get any wind about selling let us know & we will sell the corn right away. I think you have a chance to remind Wunsch in the Spring he will either buy or find you a buyer after what Edward told us about things during the Fall.

In regards to Jerry you are taking a chance. But then it is true with any thing. Mr. Wilbur lost his very best horse & a big doctor bill besides. Joseph has a chance to get a nice bay mare for $50 & Jerry to boot he has tried working her & she is real good for the money & is about 100# lighter then Queen. They look nice together. Joseph wanted me to mention this.

I wish you would sell us your heiffer. I hate to see the other fellow get her set a price like old Seth used to & maybe we will bite. Some people half starved their stock & I can't think of that. I don't expect we will even have a chance at her or the other cow either.

Jos. doesn't find any saw dust so far.
Yours with love Essie K. on other side

If you would sell a cow we could own her & things be the same as it is now you would have ferilizer & so forth the same.

I can't do any thing for Christmas thes year. It is a tough year on all the farmers.


Old Mission, Mich.
Dec. 18th 1927

My Dear Miss. Taft: - If you have cold weather there we have it colder here. First it rained and then froze & now snowing & blowing a gale. Sometimes we can't see the barn.

Joseph bought hay from Mr. Eiman & had him start hauling it. He could get it more reasonable than in town & have it hauled. Jos. went with Mr. Eiman one day & looked it over he wanted 4 tons to last until quite late but doesn't want to have much on hand in late Spring in case you sell there isn't much profit in the other fellow having it. He knew you would rather not have too much on hand for that reason. This is fine hay & I will let you know details on the end of this letter as he will know weight & all then. Am in doubt if he can get down here with any more for some time as the roads are filling up fast.

We paid our taxes and oh my but they are high I sometimes wonder if a farm is worth all the hard work & struggle to keep it going. And oh yes faith of all kinds too. I can't understand why taxes are so dreadful.

Miss. Taft you are like I in many ways always trying to keep all ends even. It is difficult some times & mighty trying the other fellow slips there so easy while others have to dig for all they are worth. I want to buy my wall paper this winter & do several other things as I am earning my own money but so far it has gone on to help with the other expenses. Our cherry trees cost $106.50 and they are paid for & in the ground.

Am so glad we can buy the cow. It is perfectly all right for us to pay $5 out of each check until the $65 is paid. As we can pay you in cash. It is very kind of you to do this way and many thanks for same.

I got a $4.00 raise on my work it isn't much but helps some I have 99 doilies made & I have 81 more to make yet unless he wants more. It counts up quite fast after you learn the pattern.

Was so sorry to hear about Miss Carter's illness. Hope she is much better by now.

Farm life is all fine & ready for their three meals a day.

I will now give an account of corn sold. Joseph had 19 sacks of grain ground and wants to get the bran soon as he can.
$3.00 left on hand Sat. 25th 1927
1.90 grinding of grain
$1.10 left to your credit Dec. 15th

2 bu. @ .50 to Burton = 1.00
25 " " .25 to Hill = 6.25
10 " " " to E. Kitchen = 2.50
10 " " " to Helfrick = 2.50
44 " " " to Eiman = 11.00
19 " " 50 " " = 9.50
10 " " " " Dohm = 5.00
Total of corn sold 37.75
The 10 bu to Dohm is last years corn. We all wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
6260# of hay total price $52.56. Make the check out to Mr. D. B. Eiman. Will deposit money for corn as soon as I can get to town.
With love, Essie K.

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