Crabby Apple

I recently connected with some very distant cousins research my Hall line and I've spent the last week working on it. I hadn't looked at my file for some of the branches of this line for years so it was a very good thing they contacted me. When I first started out I made some very wrong assumptions and added them to my file. I spent a good part of last weekend going over that part of the tree and trying to fix it. Hoping I have it all untangled now and have everyone in the correct family. I continue to move laterally along the brickwalls in this line in hopes of finding that loose brick or two that will bring the whole thing down!

A big frustration was trying to fix both on file on my computer and my tree at ancestry.com. In reading Randy's article about FTM 2010 I think it will be much easier in the future, as I can work on just one tree and simply download it to the other. The thing is I have been very frustrated with FTM 2008 because it is sooooooooo slow. I hate to spend good money and still be unhappy. Several people have recommended that I switch to Roots Magic. I have to make a decsion soon.

I spent way too much time at FaceBook this week. I find myself reading blog articles there. Then I get them again in my reader. I also see lots of comments left at FB on blog articles rather then on the actual blogs. Before joining FB I had wondered if that was where the commenting had disappeared to. It's sad because comments left there aren't available to others reading reading the blog online.

I also have added We're Related to my page there. What is the point? I have yet to figure out how to look at anyone else's tree. It keeps asking me to add my "friends." I've added my sister and my nieces. I guess I could add Randy and Bill too now that I stop and think about it but what will it do if I do that? Will it then suggest that I become "friends" with all of their "friends." I haven't found a page that really explains what We're Related really does or how best to use it. I thought it might search other FB user's trees and see if we connect. FB continually suggests people that I should add as friends based on my friend's, friends. There was one suggestion seemingly out of the blue for another very distant cousin, who does not seem to be a friend of any of my other friends, so does that mean the program is working? There was no reference to We're Related. (I've sent her a friend request.) I have found other distant cousins on FB that it has not suggested and that I have not contacted yet. I guess I feel funny about saying, "Hey I'm your 3rd cousin, six times removed. Do you want to be friends?"

The whole friend thing still is weird to me. Maybe if they called it something else I'd be better with it. I'm also finding myself on information overload on FB. How on earth do those of you with several hundred friends manage!?

I feel guilty about the time I did not spend working outside this week. Even though it has been a cool, wet summer our summers here are too short to not spend as much time outside as we can. I'll try to get back to posting letters as I can. I really need to find some way to manage my time better for the next few weeks!

Etola Robinson, March 19, 1900

Monday Morning 3 - 19 - 1900 (306)

Miss Tamerson Carlisle:

Dear Friend.

I recd your letter some time ago and I suppose you think I might have writen before this time and it does look that way but realy I do not know what I am going to write now.

I guess I must tell you anout the school entertainment I went to while I was in the country. it was given in the evening and they had a stage fixed up clear acrost one end of the school house with dressing rooms and all cutained of. the mane thing was a play about a baby girl that was cast on shore from a wrecked ship and was brought up

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by the fisherman who picked her up there was a donkey in it by the name of pepper she said he was "the spice of the family" it was very well played and then they had sesitations and singing it was fun to see one little teanty boy speak he opened his mouth so wide and it seemed as though he would never get it shut again and another did not know his piece very well and he twisted his head around in great shape trying to get the woards out. and one little girl spoke beautifully all togather I enjoyed it very well. I went to church last night with Mrs. Northrope (the lady who lives below) there were not more than 20 people there and and many of them were children there are so many catholic people on this side of the river that the protestants do not stand much show.

How does your Father like the way the election went this spring? it pleases me all right. How is Daniels dog coming has he traned him to drive yet?

you do not know how I should like to see you all but I do not know when I can

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well maby you can come over hear this summer and then we will have a good time.

I can not think of any more to write this time so will close write soon send a big letter with love to all I am yours

Etoley Robinson


In 1900 Toley wass enumerated as Luola Robison age 42. She was a roomer in the home of George and Bertha Northam, in South Bend, The other roomer in the household was Amelia Gosline, age 27. So I do not know what the correct name of of Toley's landlord.

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


Robinson, Etola (South Bend, IN) to “Dear Friend”
[Tamerson Louisa Carlisle]. Letter. 19 March 1900. Digital Images 1-2.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1900,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Etola Robison, Mar 18, 1900

March 18th 1900

Mrs. Anna Carlisle Buchanan

Dear Friend: I have to apoligese for not answering your letter sooner and am ashamed of it but have been away from home nearly three weeks. thought I would write there but there was so much going on that I could not do it. 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 I came home thursday and Hazle was then staying home from school because of having a cold but I heard from there to day and it has developed into the Measles.

I wonder if you remembered that this

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is Mother's birth day? Thursday will be Fathers and just 33 years since we moved from this state to Buchanan I can see myself a child of 9 years siting by the side of Celia on the seat with the driver in front of a load of goods and she and I laughing at his queer manner of driving. then we stoped by some stream to eat our lunch and Mother had boilled a while ham and you can imagine how good it was.

has this not been the coldest March you ever seen? this morning was beautiful but about noon it began to rain it is still raining Bell was over to see me yesterday morning said she was going over home in the afternoon. they expected Libbie last week but I do not know if she came or not.

yes I have been over to see Lillie. her husband was laided up with a feavor sore on his leg she was feeling cind of blue. I rced the papers you sent and am much obliged I suppose Clint got well all right.

Well Anna I shall have to close for I can

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not think of any more to write I wonder if you will not be over before long Rose and I have been looking for you all winter we thought you would come I want so much to see you. give my love to Mrs. C. sen'ior and to all of my folks write soon and a long letter don't forget that O every littl eitem is news to me from your friend

Etoley Robinson


I struck out with the 1900 census trying to find Hazel McComb.

Clint Voorhees lived next to the Carlisle's and was a friend of Daniel's. EDIT 19 May 2010 - Clint Voorhees was Toley's nephew. Her sister was Elizabeth Robinson Voorhees and her son, Charles Voorhees was Clint's father.

Lillie must have been Lillian M Carlisle (b. 1869), daughter of Orville and Julia and niece to Ashley and Anna. She was married to Thomas O Ghrist (b. 1863), 21 July 1889. At the time of the 1900 census they were living in Penn Twp, St Joseph County, Indiana, which includes the eastern part of South Bend and part of the city of Mishawaka. Toley seemed to be friends with all of the Carlisle's relatives.

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. 18 March 1900. Digital Images 1-2.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1900,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]