Ella McKinnon to Annie Carlisle August 19, 1880

Eau Claire, Wis

August 19^th 1880

My dear Cousin,

I had ought to have answered your letter sooner but have neglected it not feeling very well but will try to answer it now if I can.

Well I will try and tell you all about it (the wedding) if I can. In the first place I was married at home with no one present but our own folks and the minister. Deette was not there nor Emmit his little girl had the mumps so he could not be there.

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My dress was seal brown Empress cloth trimmed with silk same shade teal colored ribbons. hat the same & brown kid gloves. the dress I made with a train but now I wish it was just a walking suit.

Yes Uncle Wirt lives here in Eau Claire right in town now and we are staying with them this summer but I guess we will go out to Minn in about three weeks now. I dread it but there is no help for it. I must go he says he will not go without me.

We have been having nice weather for our haying and harvesting they are nearly through every where I guess and some have their threshing

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done. It has been rather warm a part of the time and for a couple of days this week we have almost needed a fire all over the house but it is as warm as ever again yesterday and to-day.

I had a letter from Elizabeth to day and she says they have been home. splendid weather down home. their Harvesting too.

My husband lies on the bed asleep while I am writing this and when the flies will let him alone he has been out on Uncle Wirt’s farm at work nearly all summer. got home last Tuesday and now he has nothing to do and he is fretting because has not but I

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often think when we get home we can find enough to do with out his working now all the time but he does not feel right without something to do but work here will be rather scarce until cutting and husking corn begins.

Well I will close this for this time I guess.

I will send you a piece of my dress [?] the silk.

Ever your Cousin

Ella McKinnon

write soon before I leave Eau Claire

Details of the wedding! I wish there had been a picture of the dress or perhaps the sample of the cloth that said she'd send. I did find this description of Empress Cloth.

From Google Books:

Textiles for commercial, industrial, and domestic arts schools also adapted to those engaged in wholesale and retail dry goods, wool, cotton, and dressmaker's trades By William Henry Dooley

Marshall Wirt Wisner must have been doing well for himself to have both a home in town and a farm.

Elizabeth Hall Belden (also referred to as Libbie in some letters) was Ella's sister and in July she lost a child. Did Ella know of the loss at the time she wrote this letter?

For more see:
Carlisle - Wisner Letters
Family of William Wisner
Descendants of Maryetta Wisner
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner


McKinnon, Ella Hall (Eau Claire, Wisconsin) to “My dear Cousin” [Sarah Ann Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 19 August 1880. Digital Images 1-4. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1880, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan]