Ella Jeffery to Anna Camfield, 12 Sept. 1875

13 Sheridan Ave.
Boston, Mass
Sept 12th 1875

Dear Friend Anna,

Rec’d your letter over three weeks ago, thought I should answer sooner. – went down to Boston and had some tin types taken on purpose to send you the same week I rec’d yours.

I have been back to my work two weeks. have been very busy so have not written before. I was home three weeks had a very pleasant time during my vacation. had sewing to keeps me busy most of the time. finding a great many

page 2

little things to do I spent much of my time at home. have not had any pleasure trips this summer. – business has been very dull., has been some better the last two weeks, plenty of peaches in market this season + very cheepe You say you had great many currants, they are something very dear here, very few, we have not peserved or canned this summer. – grapes have just come in market, they will sonn be cheepe + plenty.

I was surprised to hear that John Haslett + Libbie Blake were married. they were the last two I ever though would be married to each other. – Is Emma

page 3

Hamilton the youngest Hamilton girl. – is it the one that used to be in Katies Sunday school class. there must be a great changes in Buchanan during the three years we have lived here. – it was 3 yrs July since we came to Boston.

I was 21yrs the 17th of Aug. you was 20 you say the 5th of Aug. I havent any thing nice to send you for a birthday present. here is a picture of mine. all say it looks like me when sober. I think it is good.-

The weather has been quite cool the last few days have had several frosts. – have not taken in our house plants yet.

page 4
I am tired to night so please excuse this letter written with a pencil. I don’t believe you can read half of it – if you can you do better than I can. I hope you are all well. We are all usually well. now please send me a photo in your next letter. I do not think I have changed much for 3 yrs do you, only a little older.

Give my love to all friends + your-self
write soon
your friend
Ella Jeffery

[in a different hand]
Burr Oak. Mich




Ella Jeffery was a friend of Anna Camfield. This is the second of only three letters by her that were kept by Anna. I found Ella on the 1870 census In Buchanan, Berrien, MI with her parents, Allen and Ester Jeffery, and siblings William, Catherine, Frederick and Edwin. Ella was still single and living with her parents on Sheridan St, Boston, MA at the time of the 1880 census. I haven't done any more research into the family.

John Haslett was 16 and living with his family in Bertrand, Berrien, MI in 1870. Parents, William & Mary; siblings, Robert, William and Charles.

Mary Elizabeth (Libbie) Blake was also 16 and living with her family in Buchanan, Berrien, MI in 1870. Parents, Charles & Elizabeth; siblings, Theophelies, Charles and Anna.

John & Libbie were married 19 June 1875 In Berrien Co, MI. Their daughter, Minnie Belle Haslett was born 8 July 1876 in Bertrand. Minnie was married late in life (sometime in the 1920's) to my cousin, Jay M. Glover; he was born 18 Jan 1880 in Buchanan, the son of Jay O. Glover and Eliza Ann Alexander. My mother remembers Jay & Belle, they lived on Moccassin Ave which ran along the back of the Carlisle home. Jay used to clear the sidewalks in the winter with a horse drawn plow.

I'd love to know what the gossip about Emma Hamilton was. An Emma Hamilton married Lenard Eastman on 3 July 1875, so that is my best guess. There was an Emma Hamilton living in Buchanan on the 1870 census. She was 11 years old, daughter of Nathaniel & Julia with older siblings Martha and John. In 1880 I find Leonard & Emma in Kewanee, Henry Co, IL with daughters, Gertrude age 3 and Maud age 1.



Jeffery, Ella A. (Boston, MA) to “Dear Friend Anna”
[Anna Camfield]. Letter. 12 September 1875. Digital Images 1-4.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2008.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1875 - 1876,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]