Sarah Ann Camfield, 14 December 1897

Batavia December 14th 1897

Dear Children

we got home last thursday all right and found every thing allright all well and soforth we had a pretty good visit to Goodriches we stayed there untill friday and came home the next thursday we was gone just amonth we went to Catholic Church at South Bend X^goodrges they have nice cows they are fat enough for beef they saw us safe on the train we did not get cold going up there we went allmost flying I do not belive the horses walked half amile all the way the road was good anf the buggy easy to ride in we enjoyed the ride ever so much we got ther alittle before four oclock

well we had a good visit and agood time all through and we enjoyed it ever so much and are glad we went at least I am and I guess Father is he dont say any to contrary excus the blunders

write soon

S A Camfield


I wonder what Sarah thought of the Catholic service?

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


Camfield, Sarah Ann (Batavia, MI) to “Dear Children”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 14 December 1897 Digital Image.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1897,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Rose Graham Camfield, 10 December 1897

South Bend Dec 10th 1897

Dear ann I will write a few lines to let you know Mother and father went home yesterday they had their visit out and was anxious to get home they said they had a good visit ay your house and goodriches they arrived here from goodriches last friday mother was so pleased with the cape you made for her we did not think you could get one out of that old cloak, how are you all any way, we were glad to hear Frank is working he might come over here during the Holidays if he hasnt for gotten us entirely

page 2

how we would like to see you all but dont know when that will be unless you come if they ever get that Rail Road done we will come to see you and may be before Bell is Embroidering a dressing sack for herself, it is almost done it is embroidered in cream colored Roses I enclose a sample of the goods it was thirty nine cts a yard she is going to Elkhart to morrow to spend sunday

Lilly carlisle + Husband and little boy are very sick with Typhoid fever

page 3

he husband is not expected to live that is bad luck for them as Lilly was sick all sumer, Mamie has gone south to Bell
I havent heard any thing more definately about that property in Oklahoma only I received letters from __ two girls we havent found the boys yet
I suppose Orville C is at the soldiers home Pearl wants to write him a letter he Gave her some lessons in Drawing while here and she improved wonderfully, she has

page 4

made a couple of crayon pictures since he left and remarkably well in fact her work is almost as good as orvals and so she is very anxious to write to him to tell him how she gets along
well I must close this letter so good by oh I almost forgot to tell you we sent Freds wif some things 1 dozen tea spoons 1 bolt of toweling 2 1/2 yards and a lot of other things the box was fule and bundles besides she is very young but I hope all will be well
love to the children Rose

additional scrap of paper, front

I almost forgot to mention the pictures they are fine as natural as life and the shoes they are just the fit for Ruby and we are ever so much obliged for them I supose Danel and Tamerson are talking of christmas I hope santa C

additional scrap of paper, back

will remember them as well as he did last year Leroy and Ruby have written letters to him telling him what they want they have got a little black hen she lays them an egg every other day they make a great pet of her and would not part with her

Aunt Rose


Rose is very chatty in this letter with updates on Ashley's family as well. Lilly Carlisle was by this time Lillian Carlisle Ghrist, the wife of Thomas O Ghrist. She was the daughter of Orville and Lydia Bartlett Carlisle. The son mentioned was Glenn H Ghrist, 1894-1975. So Orville was still living in the soldiers home and it seems his daughter Mary Frances "Mamie" was visiting her sister Clara Belle Carlisle Sewell, most likely in Tennessee or Georgia. Obviously I have more work to do on that line.

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. 10 December 1897 Digital Images 1-6.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1897,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Isaac Ashley Carlisle, 26 April 1889

April the 26th 1889

Dear Wife and Children
I suppose it shines in Buchanan to day so it dos heere. I went to work this morning did not work so I though it wold bea a good time to say a few words. I have worked fore dayes and half thish week it comes to 15.75 ao I will send you $20 by Orvill on Monday if he coms and I think he will

page 2

how bad Bill and marey goodrige must feel I let Rosey reed the leter she was some what surprised and so was I to. ana bell went to see mamey to day the baby grore like fum it cries some now Rosey dos her one washen now they was fore funrar_ won day thos week will bee wone to morah I hant Joined the union yet do not know when I shall Joe drew a watch in a lotrey this week worth $25

page 3

it cost him 22 dolars fore the ticket so he is a head a little now I may go out in the country work some next week I have jest got home from the funral the man was hurt on the ralroad hed wone leg cut off and the other broke it hapend six week ago he was wone of Jose custmer I have erned since I come heere $29.40 so you see I hant lade still all of the time

page 4

mamey came home with Bell and stade all day heere I lodge with Jose and get my meals with Orson Wood I bought some new stockens last night and got _____ I send it to Tamerson By Orvill. I let Rosey reed the leter. I dont know when I will come home so I will send twenty dollars to yo so do what you think best as evr youre afecant husban I A Carlisle

Orville was Ashley's brother and Mamie was Orville's daughter. Annabelle was Joe and Rose's daughter, Mabel. The baby was Ruby.

Bill and Mary Goodrich were the parents of Anna's friend, Myra Phillips. Myra died in the spring of 1890 so I'm not sure what Ashley is referring to.

Joe Camfield had a barber shop and met lots of people. Spending $22 for a chance on a $25 watch seems a bit reckless to me.

I'm surprised that Rose isn't feeding Ashley. Maybe it was too much with the children or maybe it simply wasn't the way things were done back then but he was her brother-in-law.

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

Carlisle, Isaac Ashley. (South Bend, IN) “Dear Wife and Children”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 26 April 1889. Digital Images 1-4.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1887 - 1889,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Almira Goodrich Phillips, 1 Feb 1887

[Postmarked ‘87]

feduary the 1 87 08

dear friend,
as it was lonesome ithought
iwood let you know that
ihad knot for got you yet
and we are all well as cand
be and hope that you are the
Same it smows and rains all the
time we have moved right
east from the school house any
what do you find to so ihant
got nothing ihave tide one
quilt and quilted one thas fall
and mother has nothing to do
pa has nothing to do onley
to fee the chickings and he think
that is hard enrf this mudy wethr
they have two men milks cows
you come and we will have mash
and / milk

2

what is Ashley doing

otis is halling folts
do you hear from youre mother

ana cant you come and
See me if you come let
me know now and iwill
come be hind you and
if you cant come wright

Send me that name of
that medison that you
take be fore that franky
come to town and when
to take it and when yoy
come iwill Settle up with you
isant think of any
/ more
This time
So goo by to all

3

how is the little Boy

This is to any
and Ashley

wright Soon

this is from

Almira Phillips

good buy
wright



Almira Lawina Guttrich was a friend of Anna's. She Married George Otis Phillips in Berrien Co, MI on 2 Feb 1877. "Goodrich's" are mentioned in other letters. In a letter to her mother-in-law, Hannah Glover Carlisle, dated 18 May 1890 Anna said:

My friend from Galien (I guess you remember her) Mrs Myra Phillips died this spring she left 3 little girls the youngest only a few months old.

Per 1870 census Elmira, age 12 b MI was the daughter of William and Mary J Goodrick (Goodrich) in Galien, Berrien, MI. Her siblings were Laura, age 4 and Asa, age 2. In other letters she was mentioned as Myra or Almyra.

At Family Search Labs I found the birth record for Emma C. Phillips, 22 Dec 1889, daughter of Otis and Almira Phillips.

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



Phillips, Almira. (Galien, MI) to “dear friend”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 1 February 1887. Digital Images 1-3.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1887 - 1889,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Carlisle, Anna Camfield. (Buchanan, MI) to “Dear Mother”
[Hannah L Carlisle]. Letter. 18 May 1890. Digital Images 1-4.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1890,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]