Sarah Ann Camfield, 15 Aug 1883

Noble Center Aug 15 1883

Dear Children

wel I have not much to write we are here yet and about as wel as usual Father came near being killed last saturday he was fiscing fence he was holding the stake and the man was driving it down with the maul and it came off of the handle and struck him on the head and made quite ahole in his forehead the Doctor said if it had gone one inch higher it would have killed him sure he commenced plowing for wheat yesterday we expected to thrash this week but do not know whether the machine will come I have got my 4th girl this summer she is a grass widow 35 years old she has been here 3 days wright soon
S A Camfield



She follows up we are well with Father almost died! He must have recovered quickly if he was out plowing.

For more see:
Camfield Family Letters
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Michael Camfield



Camfield, Sarah Ann Wisner. (Noble Center, MI) to “Dear Children” [Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 15 August 1883. Digital Image. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1882 - 1883, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, 23 June 1883

Nobel Center June 23 1883


well I will write a few lines enough to let you know we are alive and about as usual I cannot stand it to work as wel as I could last year we have not sold our wool yet it is very low about 30 cts is all we expect to get last year we got 36 it makes quite sum on 500 pounds
we sold 4 3 years old steers for 225 dollars and 1 2year old heifer 30 dollars wil take them away to day I expect
corn is very backward it has been so wet and cold it has been so much like the first year on the Boil farm
Father has been through ours twice

reverse

ours is as good as our neighbors that is some consolation you thought I could write often if I had a girl but that is mistake I have more leisure when I am alone and more time to think Freddie is here has been here 2 weeks last monday he and the girl manage to make me just about crazy she is 17 years old but is about as much of achild as Fred are you all wel and how are you getting along
Father says tell Ashley to findus a nice little farm that we can buy cheap we heard of one near Colon the other day we want to go and look see it but dont see any time
write soon S A Camfield

additional scrap of paper

this sumer
please send me that receipt for coloring pink that you spoke of for carpet rags
are you not comeing out here



I think Boil refers to George Boyle.

For more see:
Camfield Family Letters
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Michael Camfield




Camfield, Sarah Ann Wisner. (Noble Center, MI) no salutation “well I will write a few lines” [Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 23 June 1883. Digital Images 1-3. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1882 - 1883, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, 2 April 1883

Noble Center Apr 2 1883

Dear Children

we are wel as usual I think Father has been uncommonly well this winter and spring he is fleshyer than common you would be astonished to see him eat he says he wishes you both and Frank could come here before going to work it did not snow here last week only wednesday and thn only alittle wet snow
we have a young man bording here and husking corn on the next farm he husked all the week he husked 108 shocks he 7 and one half cents per shock we charge him a shilling per meal (written along the margin – he did not begin to husk until tuesday 10 oclock) I was only joking about you fetching the loom you know but I did think it would be

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nice if I could fetch my things and have you help me weave it we could fix it to suit me better than any one else I want to make 35 yds I can
the day you wrote your letter we went to Bronson the dust flew so on the Chicago road you could not see a buggy but a little way off we sold our wheat week before last 1 dollar per bushel we had 197 dollars 50 cents that finished paying rent and paid our part of the Clover seed for sowing this spring and had 60 dollars left that 60 goes on next years rent at 7 percent interest Apr 4th
I have got a girl but would rather do without I could but I cannot if we had a man by the month I would
we had a letter from Rosey 2 weeks a go they are well or was then

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now Anna I did not mean you should send that money back much less interest Father said send the one dollar back anyway he had quite a mind to be offended because you sent interest but we will make it right some time if we can I hope you did not rob your selves
Father would like to know what farm this is on the paper so please tell him when you write again
from S A Camfield



I believe a shilling was 10 cents but since the US didn't have shillings I'm confused as to why Sarah Ann uses the word shilling rather than dime.

I would love to know what kind of loom Anna had. Was it a hand loom or a big floor loom? What did she make on it and was it used to make extra money for the family?

For more see:
Camfield Family Letters
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Michael Camfield



Camfield, Sarah Ann Wisner. (Noble Center, MI) to “Dear Children” [Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 2 April 1883. Digital Images 1-3. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1882 - 1883, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, 27 Feb 1883

Noble Center Feb 27th 1883

we receive your letter saturday was glad to hear all well we are as wel as is common it has been hard work for Father to tae care of the stock it has been so icy and is yet the horses are not shod and he cannot get them to the shop he we did not cut only 2 loads of hay last summer we had corn stalks and corn to feed so we left one field to feed without husking it cost so much to get to get it husked and in fact we could get no one to husk hands was so scarce we paid 8 cts a shock for one field and the other stands in the field to draw as it was wanted and it is almost imposible to get it quite some of the time

reverse

about the earth quake we have not seen or heard any thing only what you wrote
I have only seen one woman once since the 18th of January so you must think it has been pleasant for me it has been such unpleasant weather we have 1 little calf and expect another in aweek or 2 I am making carpet rags I want make acarpet this summer if I can why not take your loom and come and weave it for me Frank can you sew carpet rgs good yet I am sorry you have a blind eye but I think it is now how is Asleys aunt write soon
S A Camfield

written across top, upside down

the house where Rozy and you went to the post office burned down last wednesday


It sounds like little Frank had suffered an eye injury of some sort.

Ashley had lots of aunts however many died prior to 1883. Perhaps a clue will be found in the Carlisle letters.

Sarah must have had a letter from Anna fairly recently based on the reference to the earthquake.

From the USGS: Michigan Earthquake History

Between 1872 and 1883 a number of moderate earthquakes were centered within Michigan. On February 6, 1872, three shocks lasting 30 seconds were reported at Wenona. No additional information is known about these tremors. Reports from Redford and Greenfield Village, not far from Detroit, indicated a minor earthquake occurred on August 17, 1877. It was noted that horses were frightened during this shock. Some persons reported hearing a noise like a train. On February 4, 1883, an earthquake cracked windows and shook buildings at Kalamazoo (intensity VI). This shock was felt in southern Michigan and northern Indiana. Cities as distant as Bloomington, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri also reported feeling this earthquake.

For more see:
Camfield Family Letters
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Michael Camfield



Camfield, Sarah Ann Wisner. (Noble Center, MI) no salutation “we receive your letter” [Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 10 February 1883. Digital Images 1-2. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1882 - 1883, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, 10 Feb 1883

Noble Center Feb 10th 1883

Dear Children

we are well as usual and hope you are the same we have had a hard tome to take care of the stock this Cold weather we had such an ice storm as we had several years a go it last friday and saturday and every thing is covered with ice yet it is so slipery the cattle and sheep can scarcely move they stand around it sees as if they would freeze it has been a little plesaent for two days there has not been a Woman in the house since Mrs B was here the week before Christmas I have not seen one since 3 weeks ago yesterday I went to the write soon in haste w S A Camfield

reverse

Doctors have not been away from the house further than the barn since
we have not heard from south bend since the first of november Rosy said then she would writ about Christmas we have no letter yet how is Mr vorhees getting along how is Frank this cold weather Frank did you not get any Christmas present your ma did not tell of any so I thought you did not get any
Pet Plant is dead and I supose Bell Will was verry sick the last I heard we have been wanting to go to Burr Oak all winter but we cannot get away we will have 3 new milks cows 2 or 3 weeks and then there wil be more to do so we shall not go any where



I'm not certain who Pet Plant was. I believe Belle and Will Plant were the children of Harrison and Adeline. Then again by this time Will had a wife named Maria and they had a daughter named Belle.


For more see:
Camfield Family Letters
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Michael Camfield
Henry Bogardus, Shirt-tail Cousin


Camfield, Sarah Ann Wisner. (Noble Center, MI) to “Dear Children” [Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 10 February 1883. Digital Images 1-2. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1882 - 1883, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Rose Graham Camfield, 19 January c. 1880-1885

South Buchanan Bend Jan 19th
Dear Sister & family
I have thought of writing to you every day since we was there at your house but the fact is we are all just geting thawed out we arrived home Safe however and found everything all right we think now we will not come to see you again before warm weather I did not enjoy my visit atall for I was dreading the cold ride home all the time the Sleighing is fine now how is Frank does he say anything about the picture I owe him

reverse

he did not bother his head about the cold weather he was so glad to see the children Joe and I often speak of it how is Ashley I hope he is better well ann I have got a new dress and before long Joe will have his pants and then you need not be Surprised to hear that he had Sold out and retired from business at least I believe that was the calculation last Sunday at your house how I have laughed over it untill my sides ached of course Joe dont intend to Sell but he does talk so funny I will enclose a piece of my dress now I will close you must come over when you can write and let us know how Ashley is and all of you
Rosa


There was no year on this letter and I had a hard time dating it. The reference to Frank leads me to believe he was still quite young but this could have been written at a much later date.

For more see:
Camfield Family Letters
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Michael Camfield


Camfield, Rose Graham. (South Bend, Indiana) to “Dear Sister & family” [Sarah Ann Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 19 January c.1880-1885Digital Images 1-2. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Undated c. 1850-1899, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]