Etola Robinson, 23 April c.1900

South Bend, Ind. April 23

Dear Friends, as it has been a long time since I saw you and a longer time since I wrote you I will endever to drop you a few lines this evening.

I have been looking for Ashley to come and see me again until to day I went over to Joe's and they tell me hi is not here. what was the reason he did not stay? There is as much building as ever going on here. Mr. and Mrs. Mccombs got home two weeks ago yesterday he was much better but last week was in bed. has an absess in his ear about like Lib had you know. he was better yesterday. I am working every day and last of the nights am standing it first rate am riding my wheel and feel as though I was the whole thing.

Amelia went to Elkhart to day to visit Ralph his family is there now I should

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have gone but have not gotten me any hat yet and so had nothing to wear on my head well how are every body in Buchanan? I have not heard from there since Ashley was here have been looking for a letter from Tamerson she usualy answers so promptly and it is now three weeks since I wrote her. Ruby is making grate calculations on her coming over here this summer I expect you have your house cleaning all done well I do not think I shall so much I am so clean all the time that it does not need it __.

I suppose Lizzie is gone to May's by this time.

Well Annie I thought I could write quite a long letter but I can not think of any more so will have to close. I hope you will write soon. I think maby I shall get over to Buchanan for one day next month

good night from your Friend
Etoley Robinson




This letter had no year written on it. In Toley's letter of 18 March 1900 she said, "have been out to Mrs. McCombs' sisters doing some work for her. Hazle McComb is staying with her while her Father and mother is away." So it seems likely that since this letter mentions their return home it seem likely that this letter was written in 1900.

Ashley was Anna's husband and Tamerson their daughter.

Joe Camfield was Anna's brother and Ruby his daughter.

McComb's were friends.

Amelia Gosline was Toley's niece and roommate.

Lib was Elizabeth Voorhees and she lived behind Anna in Mocasin Ave in Buchanan, MI.

I feel like I should know who Lizzie and May were but I'm drawing a blank right now. I'll add an edit if I figure it out.


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


Robinson, Etola (South Bend, IN) to “Dear Friends”
[Sarah Ann Camfield Carlisle] Letter. 23 April. Digital Images 1-2.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2010.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Undated c. 1900-1940,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Tamerson L Carlisle, Oct 9, 1909

The next letter is from Tamerson, written to let Anna know that she would not be returning home as soon as planned. She was visiting with someone named Minnie who had a baby daughter and a husband named John. Tamerson gave a few other clues as to the family's identity.

Minnie has a dandy place. a flat with upstairs a poarch, hall 3 bed rooms with closets and a nice bathroom and downstairs a parlor large dining room with open stairway a good sised kitchen and pantry and big cellar with furnace. Gas and water furnished and the rent $18.00 with a car line a few doors away. John goes to work about six or seven and comes back about 9 for breakfast. He works whatever hours he wants. The people next door own a livery stable and take her out riding and those across the street have an auto and take her out too so she has it fine. The Gages that used to live in B. live second door and like all the neighbors run out + in so I know all of them.

And: "If you write send my mail 820 Jefferson St"

Initially I searched the 1910 census for Minnie with a husband named John in South Bend. I found one possible match but it just didn't seem right. I next searched for the surname Gage and that led me to the family of Eben Gage at 816 W. Jefferson St. Two families later, at 916 W. Jefferson, were John and Minie Naght or maybe Wight [?] with daughter Dorothy M, age 1m. I can't explain why Dorothy is listed as only 1 month old. There was no livery stable near by, however that could have been a sideline. I wish I could make out the family's name better. Since they are listed two places after Gage's I assume that the numbering on the census is incorrect.



Tamerson also mentions several other people in her letter.

Belle Norris has a 5 months baby. Haven't seen it yet but they say it is thin and not very well. Haven't seen Cora Smith yet and don't suppose I will. Saw Mrs. Jos. Voorhees with Almon + Em Case and she didn't know me. Almon knew me at once + and didn't speak to Em. Saw Carrie Martin and she didn't know me but seemed very glad to see me when she did and wanted me to call. She is on Marietta St. but I don't know where that is. Reba + some girls are over and having a gay time. most too gay perhaps.

In family news she tells Anna that her cousin, Ruby Camfield, is still going with "her Doctor" and Tamerson expects to be invited to the wedding. Family oral history says that Ruby was jilted; she never married. Tamerson also says that her brother, Frank, his wife, Mamie, and their daughter, Dorothy, were expected in South Bend for a visit. Mamie's sister, Lillie Carlisle Ghrist, who lived in or near South Bend was also mentioned

We went to moving pictures Thursday night and the theatre Indiana Friday night Friday P.M. went to the park and saw the balloon go us and also saw Lillie. She had a b__ when she found how long I had been here and not called to see her. Promised to go Monday morning as she said she wanted to see me specially so I suppose I am in for hearing all her troubles. Will not tell her Mamie is coming. She had lost sight of Glen and was hunting for him.

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


Carlisle, Tamerson Louisa (Noble, MI) to “Dear Mother”
[Sarah Ann Camfield Carlisle] Letter. 10 Oct 1909. Digital Images 1-8.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2010.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1909,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Etola Robinson, Aug 2, 1903

South Bend, Ind (387)
Aug. 2nd 1903
Mrs. Anna Carlisle
Buchanan Mich

Dear Friend:

Your letter writen by Tamerson, reached me some time ago and ment to have answered it amediately, but was called to a case and so have not had time. The patient is now better and so I can write. It is my first surgical case and I have been here two weeks and a half.

I imagine you have had some nursing to do also, am so sorry Mrs. Carlisle met with such an accident give her my love and sympethy.

Is Frank at home yet? I think he might have run over and let me look at him.

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I am waiting patiently for the electric car to run from here to Niles and then am coming over. We have benn having an other carnival here but I did not go.

I have finished my corse of studdy but have not yet recd. the certificate they have five of my examination papers there yet. They are very slow, but of course they have so many. Well in the meane time I am geting the experience. (and some money).

Have not been to Joe's for some time. am working at the corner of Tarary avenue and sample st.s which is over by Studebakers shop so am to far from them to run over when I take my outing.

so Dr. Henderson has colapsed. I intended to send him one of my cards when I got the certificate thinking he might

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need my services sometime.

I wonder what is the matter of Lib I wrote to her a long time ago and have recd. no reply. is she so bisuy that she can not write?

I suppose you have no neighbors in the old house now. I have not heard from Abb for a long time. May was to see me the week that I came here. she came over from Elkhart where she was visiting only staid about two hours. she will soon have six children if she is luckey.

Is Tamerson coming over this summer> I wish she would she could stay with me if I am at home and I should be so glad to have her. expect shall be at home next week but of corse do not know. was called to this case without any warning. well I guess this is all this time. give my love to all but keep most for yourself. write soon Toley

Toley has switched from sewing to nursing.

Mrs. Carlisle was Anna's mother-in-law, Hannah Glover Carlisle. I wonder what type of accident she had?

Anna's son Frank was living in Hartford, Michigan in 1903 and 1904. Why was he expected home? Had he been traveling or was he just expected in Buchanan for a visit?

Joe Camfield was Anna's brother.

Lib was Anna's neighbor, Elizabeth Vorhees.

Abner Robinson was Toley's brother.

I have no idea who May was but feel like I should know!


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


Robinson, Etola (South Bend, IN) to “Dear Friend”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 2 August 1903. Digital Images 1-4.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1903-1904,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Etola Robinson, July 15, 1901

July 15 1901 5 11 A. M.

Dear Friend: I intended to write to you last evening nut it was so very warm that I could not bear to light a lamp Oh! isn't it hot?

I do not have to go away from home to work today was at home all last week and expect shall be this week do not think that menes I had nothing to do. I made me a new black scirt (it was goods that I purchased in Dowagiac when I was there and this is the first time I have had to make it up) riped up my white waist and made it over made me a new corset cover and fixed over a scirt for Mrs. Marshes' niece and cleaned house all day saturday now this week must make a waist for Sarah and do some work for Amelia. Amelia was sick all night saturday night and yesterday and did not fell well yesterday

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do not know how she is this morning as she is not up yet she is not a bit well any of the time had to lay off one day last week.

Sarah and Peater were hear a week ago yesterday on the excursion. I heard they are going to have one every two weeks why can not you people come over that way I do not know when I shall get over to B. but I think maby I can come on my wheel this autumn when it gets cool.

I attended the commencement exercises of the class of 1901 of the nurses training school last Tuesday evening there were only three in the class. There were five when I was at the hospittle but two of them droped out fore some reason. the graduates were dressed in white and had there caps on and there arms full of flours one of them read an essa on typhfoid feavor from a nurses stand point another gave a demonstration of the first bath and the other the _________ then there was nurse a speach ___

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the President of the bord of Diectors a paper by Miss Brenon and the presentation of Diplomas and of Badges it was all very nice this makes 14 graduates from this school. They are not in the new hospittle yet the carpenters' strike put it back some.

so you are having your usuall amount of company this summer and it seemes to me that Bell's consumption is not hurting her very much yet. I have not been over to Joes' for quite a while but when I was there they were making "Pop corn crisp" at a great rait it is very good and I guess they are doing well at it Rose has quit washing and devotes her time to it and Pearl helps with the Packing and they had a girl hired to help them. I have not had a letter from Bell since she went away although she promised to write but I expect she is very buisy.

I had a letter from Annie Meakes a short time a go she says Elsworth has been sick

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again they seem to have quite a time. I am so glad the children passed I expect they feel pretty good over it tell Tamerson I shall write her a letter soon but can not spare the time this morning wish you would let her come over and stay a while now that I am at home I think she would enjoy it so much and Ruby waits her to come so much. we will try to make it pleasant for her. well I must quit and get to busoling. give my love to Leib and tell her I am looking for an answer to my letter.

good by and write soon to your
Friend
Toley


It had been almost a year since Toley's hospital stay and yet she was still interested in the nurses. She's having trouble finding work. I'll say no more for now.

Mrs Marsh was the mother-in-law of Mabel "Bell" Camfield Marsh, daughter of Joe and Rosa. She and her husband, Ben, spent the summer working in Sandusky, OH as will be seen in a future letter.

Pearl was my grandmother. My mother thinks "popcorn crisp" was popcorn balls but she is not certain. If anyone has heard of it I'd love to know exactly what they were making. Prior to this letter I thought that the extra laundry that Rose did was for Joe's barber shop. Apparently she also took in laundry. Ruby was their other daughter.

Amelia Gosline was Toley's roommate. I'm guessing that Sarah and Peter Gosline were the visitors from Buchanan, MI. A little further searching and I find that Peter Gosline married Sarah Robinson, Toley's older sister. So Amelia was her niece, rather than just her roommate.

Elizabeth Vorhees was a neighbor of Anna's.


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



Robinson, Etola (South Bend, IN) to “Dear Friend”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 15 July 1901. Digital Images 1-4.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1901,
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

page 2

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.]

Etola Robinson, March 18, 1899 (2)

(99)

South Bend Ind. March 18

Dear Annie: I recd. your letter and was very glad to hear from you and that your mother is better I was afraid you were going to suffer a double bereavment and one at a time is bad enough.

I hated to come away while you were gone but I thought Lib would see after the children all right and I knew you would not want me to mis the chance.

This is mothers birth day have you thought of it? Wednesday will be Fathers.

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get possible. Do you know I have forgotten Lillies's name? expect we will go over to Mishawaka some day and maby I could find her if I could think of her name.

I went to see Magesea Paly Mary Sturet since I wrote you and it was fine well I huess that is all this time maby I will have more to write about next time.

write soon and tell me all the news

yours Toley


Lib was Anna's neighbor, Elizabeth Vorhees.

I think Lillie refers to Ashley's niece, Lillian M. Carlisle Ghrist but I'm not certain.

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

Robinson, Toley (South Bend, IN) to “Dear Annie”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 18 March 1899. Digital Images 1-2.
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.]

Tamerson L Carlisle, Feb 24, 1899

Another letter from Tamerson that I will summarize.

She talks about Toley going to South Bend to work and how she was happy that her father had arrived home so that she would not have to go stay with Mrs. Vorhees.

She also talks of going to see Abner Robinson, Toley's brother and mentions that he was "sitting up."

There has been no word from her brother Frank since Anna left but:

He wrote to Jennie and sent her a piece of the Maine.

The rest of the letter is about school and other little things she wants Anna to know.




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


Carlisle, Tamerson Louisa (Buchanan, MI) to “Dear Mother”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 24 February 1899 Digital Images 1-2.
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.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, 17 Feb 1898

Betavia Feb 17th 1898

Dear Children we are all wel and hope this will find you the same I have been wating for something to happen so as to have something new to write about but have conclude to write any way and write again the sooner Fred and Libby has just gone to her sisters in the buggy I suppose you have sleighing yet you had so much snow we have had sleighing afew days at a time twice this winter there was not more than 4 or 5 of snow either time I have been yo Bronson once that is all the sleighride I have had no we went up here to Church once we neve have so much snow this way as you do out there
I feel to sympathis with Mrs Robinson and tola in their bereavment
I have been expecting every time I heard from you to hear that Henry Brochuses wife was dead
I got the home all rite but sis not do any thing with it it was so old I was afraid it was not good and that if I had good bread I migh have to make it all the time and I did not want to be tied to it

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my hyacinths are doing nicely tw of them have blossomed and two more will in about 2 weeks I think the Cryanthems are growing I put them in the celler and they begante grow so I brought them up and have them in the window my plants froze while we were there I thought the of are all dead Fred is 5 feet nine inches + three and three fourth inches and weigs about 100 and 60 pounds I knew he was near as big as Frank

from your Father and Mother

Mr and Camfield


Sarah must have been forcing bulbs.

I think I have figured out who Tola is. In other letters she is referred to as Toley or Tollie.It appears that she was the daughter of Parker and Clarinda Robinson.

On the 1860 census the family was living in Concord, Elkhart, IN. I believe she is eneumerated as Clarinda A Robinson, age 2, born IN

On the 1870 census the family is living in Buchanan, Berrien, MI and listed just before the Vorhees family. Here her name is recorded as Etola Robinson, age 12 born IN.

In 1880, still in Buchanan, age 22, with her parents and still next to Joseph and Elizabeth Vorhees but now called Louinda E. Robinson. From other letters it appears that both the Robinson's and Vorhees' were neighbors of the Carlisle's.

By 1900 her brother, Abner is living with his family next to Joseph and Elizabeth Vorhees but no sign of Toley or her parents.

Parker and Clarinda Robinson are buried in Oakridge Cemetery, Buchanan, MI - lot 20, plot 9. Based on this letter I guess Parker died in 1898 but his death record was not available at Seeking Michigan on 18 March 2009 when I looked for it.
EDIT 15 May 2010. Parker died 29 Jan 1898 and Clarinda "Classenda" died 16 Nov 1898. Both death certificates are available at SeekingMichigan.org.

In 1880 there were a couple of families in Buchanan named Broceus but none named Henry. I assume they were other neighbors.


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. 17 February 1898 Digital Images 1-2.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1898,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]