Ella McKinnon to Annie Carlisle Aug 18, 1918

Mapleton, Minn
Aug 18th 1918

My dear Cousin,
Please excuse a lead pencil as I can write faster & Better with it.

Yes Anna I am certainly busy these days. besides my housework I have knit about 3 pairs of sox for for the Red Cross in a little over a year and this summer I have done all of my housework all alone a good deal of the time since about the middle of May at least Hermie the youngest girl is helping Myrtle this summer as she has a little baby boy not quite 3 months old yet and that makes her _ so could not get along alone very well but it keeps me busy. Ella

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is at work at a store here in town so she is only home at meal time and they have to be on time so it makes me jump on wash day at least. My husband is not able to help me any or least I do not let him unless he peels potatoes or something like that.

Yes Anna two of my boys are soldiers Neil and Walter the two youngest boys. Neil the oldest of the two was at Paris Island S. C . since last March. he joined the Marines so he was on both land & water until last March. he was home then for 10 days then was sent to the Non Commissioned Officers school at Paris Island then was made Corporal and lately was made Company Commander but last week had orders to get ready for oversea so he may be on the water going to France now I do not know just where he is. Walter has been at Camp Grant. Ill. But he has had his orders to send his things home and has his overseas equipment given him so as to be ready. They only had about 24 hours notice either one of them they have both liked their work but Neil especially felt as if he was not doing much it is about 15 months since he enlisted but Walter was in

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Class 1 of the draft so has not been gone from home 2 months yet. I have written and received letters from them both nearly every week since they went away but now I cannot get them so often I suppose.

Thanks Anna for you kind wishes and if I feel as I do just now I will likely see quite a few more as I am well and feeling good most of the time for my age at least.

We have had so much rain I wish you could have had a part of it We have had to much but everything has done well but not many apples this year garden good Ever yours Cousin Ella

Myrtle's son was Gordon Birchard Cumming, her third child.

Tragically, Hermie died 22 September 1918 at the age of 22. I have not yet discovered her cause of death.

For more see:
Carlisle - Wisner Letters
Family of William Wisner
Descendants of Maryetta Wisner
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Margie's Ancestors - McKinnon Pictures



McKinnon, Ella Hall (Mapleton, Minnesota) to “My dear Cousin” [Sarah Ann Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 18 August 1918. Digital Images 1-2. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1918 – 1919, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Ella McKinnon to Annie Carlisle Jan 19, 1913

Mapleton Minn
Jan 19th 1913

Dear Cousin
Well I have begun at last to answer your letter but as I am in no very big writing mood tonight I may not write such a very long letter but felt as if I just had to write some letters as I am behind with all my correspondents.

You asked what Myrtle’s husband did and his name so I will tell you. His name is Birchard Cumming and he has a farm about 7 ½ miles from Mapleton and is a very successful farmer and a very nice man all around. I or rather we think she has done well if she did wait a good while

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before finding the right man they seem to be well mated of about the same age he being about 6 mo. older than she is so if they both live they will grow old together

We had beautiful weather for Christmas too but rather cold although not so cold as some years and just enough snow so that a sleigh would run. There were two of our children that were not here and we missed them. Belle could not have long enough vacation to come and John was too far away but Myrtle & her husband were here so we had 9 here to dinner. then one of Deette’s girls are out here visiting and she was here in the afternoon (her ^Deettes oldest ^ boy lives here town)

Well Annie I do not see as my work is much less only not so heavy I don’t seem to get much time for fancy

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work or much sewing of any kind especially in winter I have a lot of calico blocks cut out that I would like to get pieced up but do not get much done we do not get up very early and then as the two youngest are in school yet I have to get three meals a day and it takes a good deal of time. but I must try and get at it now as the days are longer and get some thing done. I have a dress to make now too would like to get it done this week I I could but dont believe I can as Ella is not at home & and I do not know when she will be she went out in the country on a visit but did not intend to be gone only a week but the weather

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maybe so she cannot get here.

We had such nice weather until New Years since then it has been cold but not so very bad but it was so warm before it seems cold now but last year it was far worse. we have had very little sleighing yet and now I do not believe we will have. but the roads a fine for wheels.
Where is Joseph now? he said he was coming to see me again but I ave not seen him yet. Give him my respects when you see him again.

I will say Goodnight as I have told you all I can think of that will interest you.
Ever your Cousin
Ella


Deette Hall Bullen's oldest son was Earl R. Bullen 1880-1920. He married Edith Myrtle Taylor in Mapleton, MN on 1 January 1903. By the 1920 census they had moved well north to Pliny, Aikin Co, MN. You have to wonder if he chose to settle in Mapleton because his Aunt Ella and Uncle Jake were there.

Deette's oldest daughter was Lois E. Bullen 1885-1941. She was still single in 1913.

For more see:
Carlisle - Wisner Letters
Family of William Wisner
Descendants of Maryetta Wisner
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Margie's Ancestors - McKinnon Pictures


McKinnon, Ella Hall (Mapleton, Minnesota) to “Dear Cousin” [Sarah Ann Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 19 January 1913. Digital Images 1-4. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1913-1914, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Ella McKinnon to Annie Carlisle Dec 20, 1912

Mapleton Minn
Dec 20th 1912

Dear Cousin
I am only sending you a few lines just now I had intended to write to you a good while ago but have been so busy this fall more so than common as my oldest girl Myrtle was married the 6th of Nov and since then it has been get ready for Christmas and I have not taken time to hardly write the Harmon of Elizabeth but I will soon write again

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With wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Ever your loving Cousin
Ella



On the 6th of Noemeber 1912, Myrtle Anna McKinnon 1882-1950 married William Birchard Cumming 1882-1957.

For more see:
Carlisle - Wisner Letters
Family of William Wisner
Descendants of Maryetta Wisner
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Margie's Ancestors - McKinnon Pictures


McKinnon, Ella Hall (Mapleton, Minnesota) to “Dear Cousin” [Sarah Ann Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 20 December 1912. Digital Images 1-2. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1912, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Gordon Birchard Cumming 1918 - 2008

Gordon Birchard Cumming was the son of Myrtle McKinnon and grandson of Ella Hall McKinnon. He passed away July 17, 2008 at the age of 90.

Born on the family farm in Mapleton Township on June 7, 1918, Gordon was the son of William Birchard Cumming and Myrtle (McKinnon) Cumming. He graduated from Mapleton High School, was inducted into the U.S. Army in October 1941.

Preceded in death by brothers Stuart and Stanley Cumming; sister Jean Floden and husband Harry; granddaughter Josie; and great-grandchildren Peter, Gracie and Jonathan; brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert Orson Britton and wife Lola, Katherine Barthelmus, Helen Denn, Gordon and Beulah (Britton) Johnson.

His obituary was published July 20, 2008 in The Mankato Free Press, Mankato, MN