Tamerson Carlisle Binns 9 Aug 1910

The next letter was written by Tamerson to her mother, Anna. Two days earlier, on 7 August 1910, Tamerson Louisa Carlisle had married Harry Phineas Binns in Buchanan, Michigan just as her brother Frank had predicted. The very first letters that I shared in the Camfield series were written by Harry's aunt, Sarah Binns Stawseight and she mentioned Harry as a child in the second.

Tamerson and Harry had traveled on their Honeymoon to Chicago and surprised her cousin, Fred Camfield, who invited them to stay the night. Fred treated them to a movie. (No mention is made of Fred's wife Libbie.) On the way back from the theatre Tamerson ran into a bit of trouble:

On the way to the car afterward something flew into my eye and I am still going one eyed. It was too late to have it out then so I left it until this morning and it is so Jewish here that it was after 10 before we could find a Dr. here we had to go several blocks + I was nearly wild with the pain. He cocaned my eyes and removed a small black speck from under the upper lid. I've been lying down most of the time since + my head aches fearfully. It keeps H. busy putting ice compress on my eye. Think it will be much better to-morrow. Hope is.

She also talks of shopping and she "rode on the moving stairway."

Mentioned is meeting another Buchanan resident, Mr. Richards.



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



Binns, Tamerson Carlisle (Chicago, IL) to “Dear Mother”
[Sarah Ann Camfield Carlisle] Letter. 9 August 1910. Digital Images 1-5.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2010.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1910-1911,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, 18 April 1896

Noble April 18th 1896

Dear Children I am allmost ashamed to write it is so long since I ought to have written I have talked about it so much but it quite a job for me to write but if when I think of it would go at it would not be as bad we are well as usual now I have abad cough
Father and I had the grip awhile ago when he got over hat then his legs got sore like they was 4 or five years ago not so bad as they was then but he is better now so he is plowing they are sowing Oats this afternoon Fred is sowing and Father is draging I dont know what we should do with out Fred I seemed to get over it now it has come back worse than before but amfeeling better this after noon I have not written to Josephs folks since I wrote to you so you know it is along time

2

we have two or three days nice spring weather we are glad to see it we are going to put out eighteen acres of corn on Mr Williams place this spring about eight on our own if the Lord is willing we have about 19 acres of wheat on Bogarduses farm we dont put any corn on his place this year you asked setting (x hen) I have one that has set it will be three weeks friday and 2 more have set about aweek we have 2 Cows anither one growing she is most one year old we have 2 big hogs and we had nineteen little pigs but they all died but seven

14th I am feeling better I washed and baked pies this forenoon and went sown to Mr Richardson

tel Mrs Strawsite when you see her I would so much like to see her but never expect to not in this world

[the remaining two pages are blank]



Sarah didn't finish the letter. I suspect that Mike or Fred was going by the post office so she just sent it rather than finish it.


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


Camfield, Sarah Ann (Noble, MI) to “Dear Children”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 18 April 1896 Digital Images 1-2.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1896,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, 8 June 1894

Noble 8th june 1894

Will Anna I think I have owed you aletter for some time will try to pay it I have lost most all of my hens with the colera I had 60 and have 11 left I have 29 Chickens out of 70 eggs and 10 turkeys out of 24 eggs so you see I wont get very ritch from poultry this year

Father planted his corn the 28 and 29 of may it rained all the spring and is so cold there cant be any thing grow we are as well as usual but older ofcourse we get 10 cts apound for butter and 8 cts per dozen for eggs

I was astonished to see Mrs Strawsites Marriage in the paper she was the last one I should thought of is she going away from Buchanan I wonder how Lizzy likes it

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where is the waterworks

how does the skunk buisness prosper and how are you getting along these hard times is there any thing stoped I suppose Mrs Mathews and Greg is gone from there

who owns the Day property now

I suppose you have your house cleaning all done I have not commenced I dont know wher to get any one to help I cannot do it it is all I can do to do to do what I have to every day but will find some one

Mrs Rickerson offered to helpelp me but I dont want her but if you cant do as you would you must do as you can so I suppose I shall have her

June 2th Father is going to Bronson so can write no more now write soon

S A Camfield

The skunk business!?


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


Camfield, Sarah Ann (Noble, MI) to “Will Anna”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 8 June 1894 Digital Images 1-2.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1894,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, 12 May 1887

Noble May 12th 1887

Wel I am all most ashamed to write I have waited so long but if you excuse me I will try to do better I have not been very wel and we have been so buisy it seemed as if I could not I would think tomorrow I will write but tomorrow always brings its work and cares and I cannot get along with them as I used to not by a goodeal
it bothers me to write I cannot think or remember as I used to my head troubles me very much some days I can hardly do anything
Father is sick now we have been to the Doctors for medacine to day he was taken last night he seems better this after noon I am in hopes it not last long he is lying on the lounge and taking medicine every half hour

2

we expected to plant corn tomorrow and potatoes saturday but they wil have to wait we have planted 16 acres of corn on Bogarduses place we have 5 acres of oats here on our place we did not sow any wheat here last fall we have about 16 acres of wheat on B’s place that we have one half of
Bogardus has not rented his farm yet the house stands empty only when he is there she comes about twice a year and stays a day or two he comes every few weeks and fetches his grub and stays 4 or 5 days tinkering around fixing fences he will not let it for less than five hundred dollars a year
13 well now it is another day Father is feeling better he is going to carry this to the office I have no chickens yet but expect a lot next week
wel Frank how do you like that little sister and what is her name I suppos you

3

wil call her Millie after that Case girl does Daniel talk yet wel I suppose that little girl is anice thing at your house I wish I could see her and all of you are you all comeing to see us this summer
we have no Calves yet this spring I your Mother Carlisle at your house and how is her health and Mrs Strawsght is she better Mrs Woods is she well

well Ashley Mike says he thinks you will have to begin to put additins to your house Anna I suppose you do not hear from the Illinois folks or you would let me know how are you getting along are well and the Children Ashley how is your health this spring how is the prospec for work these hard times verything seems dull this way Frank why dont you write Grandpa and Grandma a letter

4

I got a whitewashbrush the other day and am going to try to do my own whitewashing if I can

S A Camfield

write as soon as you can and as often




I haven't figured out who Millie Case was. Frank (Francis) Carlisle was born in 1878 and I assume she was close to his age. There were several Case families in Buchanan.

Daniel Carlisle would have been a little over two years old.

Tamerson Louisa Carlisle was born 12 April 1887 in Buchanan, Berrien, MI.

My best guess is that Mrs Woods was Nancy L Wood or Woods, born about 1810-1811 Vermont. She was the wife of William Wood(s). I really have not investigated very far on this but their son was born in New York so perhaps there is some realtionship that I have yet to discover.

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) “Well I am all most ashamed”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 12 May 1887. 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.]

Lizzie Strauseight, 9 January 1876

January 9th 1876

Dear Anna,

Mama says I can write to you and thank for my nice present of nuts that you sent me and the two little apples that was my first Christmas present. Now I will tell you the rest mama got me A new dress and four pictures fraimed And two of the I got with a little magazine I took and A some candy and Aunt Bella gave me a glass cup and uncle Benj gave me a pen and pen holder and A bottle of hair oil and uncle phin gave me A candy cow and A picture and Harry gave me A little dolly what they call little Red riding hood now I would like to know what you got we had examination this week and I was so Afaraid I should miss but I did not and the teacher told me to keep up good courage and I would get through I was sick for three weeks the doctor said I came very

2

near having the typhoid fever in the worst form but i am better now and my mouth all broke out with cold sores so I could not laugh or cry and ma said that they had quite A peaceable time wouldent you like to have been here or would you rather hear me laugh and cut up once more I should like to see your place where you live and I should like to go down to the water and count the little turtles that you spoke of

now I must bid you good by please write soon.
from your friend
Lizzie Strauseight

ps give my love to uncle and Auntie and yourself



Strauseight, Lizzie. (Buchanan, MI) to “Dear Anna” [Anna Camfield]. Letter.
9 January 1876. Digital Images 1-2. 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.]

Sarah Strauseight, 9 January 1876

Jan 9th 1876

My dear Friends

I commenced a letter to you right after Christmas but could not find time to finish it. You well know that one who is servant to the public. They dont care who is served first just so they are. and it was just before the holidays when Mr. Carlisle called we were ever so glad to hear from you but but would much rather have seen some of you and had a Talk instead of this miserable writing and then cant tell half what one wants to. well I asked all the questions I dared to. about you but forgot to wish him much joy or even if you were married but concluded you were not or else he would have been so over joyed he would have told me. Well a thousand thanks for your kind remembrance in the presents of nuts they were

page 2

quite a treat to us. What a singl__ winter we are having to day has been a miserable stormy rainey day and it has Thundered Several times and to night it seems as if we should have snow and have winter for cirtain if it does come good slaighing do you think you will come to see us we should be ever so glad to see you cant you get the other man to do your chores for you while you steal away awhile, Now I want to ask you one question if you will not think me too inqusidtive if you do you need not tell me. it is this. has Mr McKnight give you any security for your services I hope he has for I fear he will never get there himself and I feel interested for you if I had knon that Mr Carlisle I sould have sent you the money for a few pounds of your butter. I got a small jar of Mrs Plats but I tell you it is not like yours Lizzie says O I wish we had some of Aunties butter. Well we have been having gareat times here in regurd to meetings the desiples and the advents have had meetings for more than three weeks every day and night they have baptized 190 or near 200 persons and still the work goes on. I sincerely hope the result may be for the best still among so many there is always those who are carried away by excitement but I think there are some who will stand. well we have entered on another year 1876. I tell you I for one feel frail my left Lung has pained me a good deal fro a few days but I hope I shall feel better after this Thunder storm you know it always affects me. at any rate I want to live this year as if it were my last. but when I come to fathom my own corrupt heart which is evil and evil continually I fear and not reason that a being So Sinful can never enter a place of such purity and Bless. at times I feel as if my lifes mission was worthless and that I did not fill any place yet Ill try to do my duty patiently and leave the result with him who does all things right. Father is real poorly the w_rm is at the core and is Steach____

page 3
surely doing his work. Lizzie has written you a letter her self so you will see how she is. Bro phinehas sold out his grocery to a man by the name of Smith Mr Day was determined to sell out his shair and he did not want a stranger for a partner so they sold the whole to him phinehas had not capital enough to carry it on alone I dont know what he will go into now Harry says he dont know what you wanted to move away for just as he was getting aquainted with you Lizzie and him has loud times Now I dont think of any thing more to tell you only I have not done any thing more to my carpet since you helped me nor quilted any of my quilts yet well good night dont fail to write soon for we are always glad to hear from you

yours IC
SES



Mr. Carlisle was Isaac Ashley Carlisle. He and Anna Camfield married 2 October 1876.

Phinehas was her brother, Joseph Phinehas Binns and Harry his son.

"Lizzie and him has loud times." A phrase I will now use when the grandkids come to visit!



Strauseight, Sarah E Binns. (Buchanan, MI) to “My dear Friends” [Sarah A. Wisner Camfield and Anna Camfield]. Letter. 9 January 1876. Digital Images 1-5. 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.]

Sarah Strauseight, 24 Oct 1875

Oct 24th \ 75

Dear Mrs Camfield & Anna

You have no doubt made up your mind that I am not going to write you again, but I think when I tell you that I have been Sick and that the Doctor has attended me three times a day to once for over Six week it will explain why you have not heard from me, and now I have not been out yet but am just up romed the house So I shall not write you much at this time. I had congestion of the Stomaic & bowels, caused by over doing they have forbid me to touch the Machine for two months, I have looked at your old place many a time out of my bed room window and wished it would Sink for I knew you were not there

reverse

I had our pictures taken in July but they did not suit me but I will send you one for fear I never have another now I want to hear from you right off tell me all about youselvs and if Mr MacKnights have come yet This is the first I have tried to write and you see it is miserable I need not tell you how well I should like to see you all for that you already know Lizzie has been kept busy doing what she could. She often wishes she could See you all. I have not got my slice of Butter through the P.O. yet do you hear from Joseph or has he been to see you yet. now I must say good bye for I am so tired. write soon be sure from

S.E. F. L Strauseight

S.E. Binns Buchanan



Lizzie was her daughter.

She says, "I have looked at your old place many a time out of my bed room window and wished it would Sink for I knew you were not there." In 1870 the Binns family lived in Buchanan Village and the Camfield family lived in Buchanan Township, so one of the families must have moved near to the other in the intervening five years. The Camfield's did tend to move fairly often.

I'm still unclear as to who the McKnight / MacKnight's are or why they were referenced.



Strauseight, Sarah E Binns. (Buchanan, MI) to “Dear Mrs. Camfield & Anna” [Sarah A. Wisner Camfield and Anna Camfield]. Letter. 24 October 1875. Digital Images 1-2. 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.]

Sarah E. Somethingorother

The next three letters that I have transcribed were written by another friend of the Camfield's. I had great difficulty in researching S.E.S. and admit that if Sarah E Binns had not been added to the bottom of one of the letters it might have taken me a bit longer to figure out who she was. There are several hints in the letters and I'd like to think that I'd have figured out her "shirtail" relationship to the family - eventually. Anna Camfield Carlisle's daughter, Tamerson, would later marry Sarah's nephew, Harry Binns.

Sarah E. Binns was born March 1835 In England. I first find her in Division 10, Berrien, MI on the 1850 census with her parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Binns. (They are indexed as Benns) Also listed is her brother Joseph Phineas Binns, age 18, future father to Harry.

In 1860 she is still with her parents (now indexed as Birnes) in Buchanan, Berrien, MI.

On 10 December 1863 she married John P. Schauscheidf in Berrien County. A Google search for his surname brings up nothing, however Schauscheid in a place in Germany and I did find some references to it as a surname.

A widow by 1870, she is still listed in Buchanan Village, surname Stanson. She was living with her widowed father. The index at the University of Michigan lists her as:

Sarah E Stranson BERRIEN Buchanan Vill.663-664Page 154
Sarah E Strausheidt/Strauson BERRIEN Buchanan Vill.663-664Page 154

This was a great reminder to me not to rely on just one index! I have become complacent in my middle age ;-(

She is listed in the 1871 Berrien County Directory as Sarah Strausheidt. Still with her father, living on Lake near Front

Her letters were written in 1875. (One was actually written by her daughter Lizzie) The signatures appear to each be Strauseight. In a letter dated 29 May 1877 Sarah Camfield references her and it appears to me as Strawseight, however what I see as a w could be a u. That letter stated that Sarah Strawseight might be thinking about going to England or California.

In 1880 she is listed in the index as S. E. Chaureth! In actually looking at the census I can easily see how the transcriber came up with that. Knowing what it could/might be I would transcribe it as Stausriht. What do you think?


On 27 April 1894 Sarah E. Stransright married William N. Keeler. They are listed together in Buchanan on the 1900 census. For the 1910 census they were indexed as Kebler, although someone had already submitted a correction as Keeler, so that I did find them easily.

I imagine there is a lot more that I could find out about Sarah E. Binns but for now I think this will suffice.