Etola Robinson, Dec 31, 1899

Dec. 31st 1899

Dear Friend: I read your letter Tuesday and was very glad to hear from you. think Ashley mite have writen to make it a completed family letter. was just going to wash my dishes when the letter came but I let my dish water cool while I read it.r'ced the papers at the same time for which I am much obliged I see you have had a mad dog scare. has any thing farther resulted from it. I wonder if you are having any cold wether? it is as cold here as I want it hope it will let up soon I intended to go over to Rose's to day but it was so cold I backed out. have not been there since than-

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-ks giving Bell was not very well last wednesday have not seen her since to know how she is. she seemed to be having some kind of blader trouble. said she was going to see a Dr. that after noon I was over to Mishawalka Thursday to see Mrs. Alfont she lives just three blocks from the end of the north side street cat line so you see I do not have far to walk very far when I go there

Monday morning the first day of the new year and it is snowing to beet the band but the wind does not blow much so that is one good thing.

Did you know that Jessie Rose Laenord is dead? I had a letter from Millie not long ago saying she had been dead about four months and that she left a little girl baby which had been taken to the infints home at St. Joe. poor little thing it had better be withh its mother. I am glad the children liked

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there presants I did not have time to see if the books were any good or not for I bought the things as I started to come to Buchanan and had not much time. I knew the perfume would please Tamerson for a few minutes whether it was any good or not.

I think you fared pretty well christmas and I imagine some of the things will cause you to have something to do besides quilt. well blessed is nothing and I recieved nothing and so will have nothing to make.

I suppose Lizzie has gone to Mays Bell does not seeme to envy May in the least. I have not seen Amelia since she came back it

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has been so cold and stormy that I have not gone over and she has not been here for the same reason I could take the car here at the corner and get a transfer but hate to pay car fair.

Monday evening: Well Anna this is what Frank would call writing a letter on instalment but never mind so I get it written I realy intended to finish it this morning but was interrupted. Well I recd. A Christmas present this evening Amelia was over and brought me some crocheted slippers they are read tied with read ribbon so you see I shall be very gay so fareas my feet are concerned Bell and Bird were over also this evening Bell says she is all

Upside down, at top of page (304)

wright again Bird has not ____ any work yet I guess there is not place for her and Me. I recd. A letter from Mrs. Mccomb this morning They are in Bay St. Louis Miss. She says the town is said to be one hundred years old and she is shure it is that much behind the times it is half a mile wide and 13 miles long. Well I guess I have written all I can think of this time

Upside down, top of page 3 (305)

So will close it is not nearly so cold this evening so I hope one will be able to get out and be comfortable tomorrow.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year and hoping to hear from you soon I am yours truly Etoley Robinson



I believe it should be Jessie Rose Leonard but I know nothing else about her. I also think Mrs. Alfont was Mrs Alvord. Amelia Gosline was a roomer in the same house as Toley as Toley at the time of the 1900 census. I'm still working on figuring out who Millie, Bird, Lizzie and May refered to. Why might Bell have been envious of May?


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


Robinson, Etola (South Bend, IN) to “Dear Friend”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle and Tamerson Carlisle]. Letter. 31 December 1899. Digital Images 1-4.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Apr - Dec 1899,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, Dec 29, 1899

Dec 29 1899

Dear Children and grand Children

I will try to write once more to let you know that I have not forgotten you we are all well as usual and trying to be happy as we can I have every thing I kneed to be comfortable I have my bed here in the front room and agood coal fire in the other room night and day Joseph sleeps on the couch by the stove so I am not alone we have plenty to eat and why not be happy and content and I am

Now I will tell you about my Christmas presents in the first place Joseph and Roza gave me anice Bible nice large print so I can read it good then Mrs Brady gave me anice handkerchief then Mrs Arnold gave me one then you sent me one or they all said it was for me so I took possesion of it then Mrs Bell Marsh sent me anice black apron with abiad hem on the bottom and avine worked with white silk at the top of the hem

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and Ben sent me a one pound box of candy and Ruby gave me a little red box all trimmed with little sea shells I think it verry of her it only cost one penny you would not think it possible to see it it is large enough to hold two handkerchiefs now I just got a letter from Libby since I commenced this they are well

now I must tell you about our Christmas tree we got alimb of a flower bush called fire in the bush about two weeks ag and put it in acan of warm water and and changed it the same as you would to keep flours fresh and now it 22 beautif flowers and 11 buds not opened yet the lind is twenty inches long no __ nothing but the limb

O forgot in my otherletter to tell you there that I got anice little monument put up at Fathers Grave before I came away so now when you see it is dark marble with white letters x think of it you can think it is marked with his name in large white letters and the date of his birth and death on it S A Camfield

Top on page 1

I wish you a happy new year

write when you can it seems like seeing you to get aletter


I find it cute that Sarah Ann refers to her granddaughter as Mrs. Bell Marsh. Bell = Mabel and her husband, Ben, worked as a candy maker.

I've done a search and can't find the "fire in a bush" that was the family's Christmas tree. Does anyone have any ideas what it was?

Michael's stone must have been replaced. Below is a picture of the stone that I took last year. It isn't marble and the carving is not colored. Sarah has a matching stone so perhaps Michael's stone was replaced at that time.

Michael Camfield 1819 - 1899
Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Branch County, MI

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



Camfield, Sarah Ann (South Bend, IN) to “Dear Children and grand Children”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 29 December 1899. Digital Images 1-2.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Apr - Dec 1899,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Rose Graham Camfield, Dec 1, 1899

(1899)

South Bend Dec 1st

dear ann and all of you
I have thought for some time of writing you a letter so will comence now as I have to write several others I have been real buisy since I saw you canned and preserved fruit of different kinds made some lovely quince preserves also tomato preserves besides Jells and other things then we sent some things to Freds folks Bell made the Baby a Cloak and Hood of white Eider down also some dresses and skirts

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then one of my neighbors gave me a lot of things for the baby her own child had out grown them among them was a baby carriage as good as new a little chair and other things and we sent them all to Freds folks also a black wool hood for Grandma the Hood was a present to me and I did not wasnt it it is a real pretty Hood knit in a fancy stitch it will be warmer and better for her than the one Bell made last winter I also sent Robes and quilts for the baby so you see I have been real buisy my own work is a good deal and then if I think of some else it makes me awful buisy

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Bell was here the other day she had just got a letter from freds wife they are all well I am going to write to Mother to night we want you to come and see us christmas and bring the children you would all enjoy it so would we our children havent missed a day yet Pearl starts to the new Building tomorrow morning it is called the colfax school building it is on our street three Blocks from our house Ruby and Leroy havent been transferred to the new school yet but may be any time the madison is very crowded

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we all enjoyed Franks visit more than I can tell I spose all the more for him coming unexpectedly and then he is a soldier and that pleased the children especialy Leroy the thought it a great honor to sit on the fence and have a soldier walk past on our street but to have one in the house to eat with him and be here all the time was too much joy for him alone he told all the other boys and they came and looked to their hearts content, yes we all enjoyed the visit ever so much I spose he has Joined his regiment now

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this is to Danel and Tamerson

well he will only be gone a little over a year and a year is awful short the time soon passes the children are talking of christmas Leroy wants a ship, the poor child hasnt heard any thing else but spanish and american ships for the past year no wonder he wants to own one, and Pearl wants Books and now I am ashamed to say that Ruby longs for a new doll I am tring to shame her out of it a girl almost eleven years old and playing dolls ann this page is for Danel and Tamerson it is to silly for you

scrap of paper, top cut off with scissors

the children all started to school last monday 4 dollars paid for their books and so that is over Mrs Slusser was in to spend the evening and mother and I are going in there before she goes Mrs Arnold is still alive and sends regards

well Pearl is going to mail this so good by
Rose



This is another letter where the year was added at a later date. I believe that 1899 is correct because no gift for Michael Camfield is mentioned. It should be noted that the letter is filed in the incorrect folder.

Frank was Anna and Ashley's oldest child and had been serving in the US Army.

When Rose says "this page is for Danel.." she has spelled Grandpa's name the way it was always pronounced. His name was spelled Daniel and he was named for a long string of Daniel Carlisle's, however he was always called Dan'l.

The scrap of paper at the end appears to belong to this letter is somewhat confusing. Rose's mother died in 1880 so when she refers to "mother" she is talking about her mother-in-law, Sarah Ann Wisner Camfield. On page 2 she seems to indicate that Sarah was still living with Fred and Libbie. Sarah did spend winters with Joe and Rose after Michael died but I don't know when that began.

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


Camfield, Rose Graham (South Bend, IN) to “Dear ann and all of you”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 1 December 1899. Digital Images 1-6.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Jan - Mar 1899,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Elizabeth Warner Camfield, Oct 11, 1899

In Libbie's next letter she talks of household things, the weather and her health. She was talking medicine and feeling well. She thanked Anna for some handkerchiefs and Tamerson for a book that she had made for Libbie's son, Earl.

She also had some sad news to report:

Aunt Ann do you remember my sister Minnie (Mrs. Preston) the one that was here with her husband and little boy, she had a ___ on her finger you know - well her husband died Sept. 20 she found him dead in bed the next morning he was as well as usual the night before - heart disease - she has 3 children the oldest 12, youngest 4, it is the first death in our family of course he was an "in-law" but they had been married about 14 years I guess.

I have not done much research on the Warner family. To find out who Minnie Warner had been married to I checked at Seeking Michigan and found the death certificate for Nelson E. Preston. He was born 1855, Monroe County, NY and died 21 September 1899, the son of Joseph Preston and Sarah Eldred.



From the 1900 census, Noble township, Branch County, MI I learned the names of Nelson and Minnie's children:
Vernon E Preston, born Jan 1888
Lyla A Preston, born Dec 1889
Henry N Preston, born Oct 1895

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


Camfield, Elizabeth Warner (Batavia, MI) to “Dear Aunt and All”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 11 October 1899. Digital Images 1-2.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Apr - Dec 1899,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, Oct 10, 1899

Batavia October 10th 1899

Dear Children and grand Children

we are as well as usual and enjoying our selves as well as we can we had Mr and Mrs Spero and the two Chlidren here last week they came friday after noon and stayed until sunday morning 10 o'clock also Mrs Plant called last week one day alittle while she was going to Coldwater on buisness she she could not go by without Calling she is going to york state to her Brothers I dont know whether she intended to stay or not she said she would try to come and make us avisit before she went october 11th There is some prospect of rain this morning it is neaded badley every thing is very dry Freds man lift Saturday and he has considerable corn to husk yet hans are

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verry scarse they say it is impossible to get aman to work at any price I went to Coldwater the 2d and sold my place in Noble and had the writing drawn for it so now I have no place any more I get 1,100 dollars for it I have a mortgage on it Libbbies health is poor she is taking medacine all the time it is so dark I cannot see the lines I did not get the Rig pattern of Mrs Vorus will you please send it to me in your next letter now I have rags ready cut and sewed for 15 or 20 yards of carpet what had I better do with them please tell me in your next letter what you think I thought to have it wove and bring it with me to the bend and I thought to fetch the rags and have it wove there but dont know what is best if I could sell them I think that would be ebst but dont know as I can write soon and tell me what you think

S A Camfield


Added scrap of paper

I forgot to tell you I went to Mrs Tiltons last week had agood visit write soon and tell what you think about the rags I have walked up to Mrs Burks twice since I came back


It seems sad that Sarah Ann has sold her home. She hadn't lived there in some time as the house was rented out and they in turn rented another, larger place.

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


Camfield, Sarah Ann (Batavia, MI) to “Dear Children and grand Children”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 10 October 1899. Digital Images 1-3.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Apr - Dec 1899,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Rose Graham Camfield, Sept 26, 1899

South Bend Sept 26th (1899)

Dear ann mother went home to day and Bell went with her, she don't know if she will come back with Bell or wait a while, while she was here she pieced blocks enough for me a quilt, and I dont see as I miss any of the pieces the girls are piecing some, I ma sorting out a roll for Tamerson

I had aunt May come and spend the day last week she could tell mother about the camp meeting at Buchanan she was there 4 days they always go she would have taken mother to the mininite meetings here with her horse and carraige but they have their meetings upstairs and mother could not

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climb three flights of stairs. we had a real good visit last sunday we went on the street car to Mishawaka and visited the orphans home, also stopped at spring brook it was a treat to her and me both she seems so well and chearful for one of her age

to day I washed and made some sweet apple preserves and so you may know I am tired I will not write a very long letter to night as I wrote you a long one the other day. Bell will probably stay at Freds nearly a week she will visit friend in Elkhart also Leroy is writing Danel a letter so I will have to send it with mine well good by wrote soon

Rose


Who was Aunt May!? My best guess is that it must have been Mary E. Graham Edgin, Rose's father's sister. She lived in Niles, MI. If Aunt May was an aunt on Rose's maternal perhaps it was Margaret Doughty Horner, about whom I know very little.

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


Camfield, Rose Graham (South Bend, IN) to “Dear ann”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 26 Sept 1899. Digital Images 1-2.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Apr - Dec 1899,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Etola Robinson, Sept 10, 1899

Sunday September 10th 1899
4 P.M.
Mrs. I. A. Carlisle
Dear Friend:

I expect you are wondering how I am geting along at my new work: Well I am having a hard time. I commenced on Friday as I expected to that day and until 10 O'Clock saturday but stitch strips of cloth onto other pieces in order to get used to the Machine. Then they gave me an order of one doz. shirts to put the cuff bands on well I worked at them the rest of that day and monday

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we did not work and I finished them tuesday just before noon and the fore Leader put quite a number of them on. there was not one that I put on but what had to be riped and some of them two and three times before I could get the stitching straight then they gave me an order for four doz. and I finished them at 3 10 friday and very few of them without riping more or less (generally more.) yesterday I got along better but am still suppoised to get one right the first time. you will think it strange

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that I can not stitch straight but the Machine is a Wheeler and Wilson the work runs from left to right and if you do not think it would be hard to guide just go over and try Mrs. Vorhees' and then imagin it starting on the jump and runing at lightening speed and you will know what it is but I like the work and if I can make a living at it shall stick to it but am doubtfull. if I had not the patience of Jobe and the stuberness of a mule should have

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quit the third day but I remembered your favorite proverb and stuck to it. tell Ashley I am glad he came over and sharpened my knife for it has been the most important tool I have.

Well how do you like the change in the wether I think I shall have to light the trash that is in my stove pretty soon as it is almost to cool for comfort. I wish you would ask Abb if he got those deeds all right. I sent them the day before you came and have not heard from him yet. ask him to drop me a card.

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I have not seen your mother mother since you were here but Bell was over there yesterday and she was all right.

welll I guess that is all this time must write a letter to Tamerson write soon.

I am as ever your Friend
Toley

page 6

Dear Tamerson: I must tell you about a show Bell and I went to last night it was at spring brook park has been four weeks to night is to be the last night it is moving pictures, like a magic lantern only the people move around and look as though it was real a regular play you know they showed a number of war seens the was ships of war would come sailing along on the water and fire the guns we could see to smoke but there was no report to be heard. we saw the first landing of the American sol-

diers on Cubian soil and they we so anxious to get there that they jumped out of the boat into the water knee deep and lined up and commenced fire and advancing on a duble quick we could see the water splashing as they ran through it one of the seens was a troop passing acrost a ravine in face of the enemy we could see them shoot and also see them get shot several of them then the read cross sisters came to care for the wounded. there was lots more and it all seemed so real but then you would

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have thought the most fun was a pillow fight it was three little girls in there night clothes and one of them was in a little iron bead and the other two one on each side of the beed was throwing the pillows at one another they throwed them at a grate rate and pretty soon the feathers began to fly and the one in the beed to jump up and do__ so delited you could almost hear her screem. it was all very nice except the last five seens. every other night they have given what they call the Pasion play it is the

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reprezentation of the life and crusifiction of Christ and last night they gave in conection with the other the last five seens of that his and I did not like that.

Tell Daniel there is a girl working in the factory that looks like his best girl only she is older and biger. she wares glasses too. Well I suppose you have had a week of school and how do you like it

Well I guess I have writen enough for this time so will close write soon and tell me every thing you can think of.

Yours Toley

I enjoyed her description of the motion picture.

Abb was Abner Robinson, Toley's brother. He was a neighbor of Anna's. Bell was Mabel Camfield Marsh.

Wheeler and Wilson sewing machines


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


Robinson, Etola (South Bend, IN) to “Dear Friend and Dear Tamerson”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle and Tamerson Carlisle]. Letter. 10 Sept 1899. Digital Images 1-8.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Apr - Dec 1899,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Rose Graham Camfield, Sept 4, 1899

South Bend Sept 4th 1899

Dear ann and all the rest

Wel thiss has been labor day we all went to the parade it was Beautiful Joe took a chair along for mother so she was comfortable and saw every thing it lasted about 2 hours then we came home and had supper and Joe and the children and Mr and Mrs Brady have gone to see the Biscicle parade they will be all trimed in flowers and

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and lit up and I suppose will be very Beautiful but mother and I are not going she is lying down and I am writing you a letter so you will sure get it tomorrow as I promised and we are both tired mother is real well and enjoying her self better than I ever supposed she could in fact she dont seem like the same woman she used to be she goes out for a

page 3

walk every day with one of the children and yesterday she went with Joe to see Mrs Brady some of the neighbors have been in every day since she came she got a letter from home to day I wish you all could have been here today I will send you a paper with full particulars as I ma to awful tires to write them

page 4

mother has cut some quilt pieces I almost forgot to tell you I moved the couch in the front room and brought the lounge down stairs so she dont have to go up stairs at all she can lye down when she pleases with a lounge in both rooms well I must close I am too tired so good by write soon please send mas rubbers under lounge

Rose


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


Camfield, Rose Graham (South Bend, IN) to “Dear ann and all the rest”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 4 Sept 1899. Digital Images 1-2.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Apr - Dec 1899,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Mabel Camfield Marsh, Aug 28, 1899

South Bend
Aug 28th 1899

Dear Aunt Anna and Grandma

I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know that I am still among the living I suppose you have been looking for me to come and make you a visit as I intended to but I was delayed in Niles two weeks when I only intended to stay one Lenora had so much sewing to do that I couldn't get through in time to go to Buchanan then Benj came and he only had from Monday until

page 2

Friday night so we could only stay one day at a place and he wanted to see all of his Auntes and cousins so we dident have the time to stop but next summer we will make you twice glad as Benj intends to have a longer vacation no matter what happens 5 days out of 365 isent very long how are you all getting along I see Tollie every day she sayes she dont believe she will go to Buchanan this summer Well I must close

With love to all I am
Your Loving Neice
Mabel
Give my love to Grandma


Mabel's friend was Lenora Eastwood Wood. Tollie was Anna's friend, Etola Robinson.

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


Marsh, Mabel Camfield (South Bend, IN) to “Dear Aunt Anna and Grandma”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 28 Aug 1899. Digital Images 1-2.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Apr - Dec 1899,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]