Francis Ashley Carlisle, Aug 31, 1903

Hartford, Mich.
Aug. 31 '03

Dear Dan -

I have not as yet recieved your apprenticeship papers from Mr. Brown. I am anxious that they should be settled at once. If they are not willing ot make out papers I know where I can get you work in a much larger shop at the same terms.

Please ask him to let me know at once. so that you will be settled before cold wather.

As ever Your Brother.
F.A. Carlisle
Hartford
Mich.

I believe this is the letter that Frank mentioned in his last letter and told Daniel to hand to Tom and that is why the letters seem to be posted out of order.

The 1900 census for Buchanan has: Thomas Brown, b May 1873 Connecticut, Machinist.

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


Carlisle, Francis Ashley (Hartford, MI) to “Dear Dan”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 31 August 1903. Digital Image.
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.]

Francis Ashley Carlisle, Sept 1, 1903

Hartford, Mich.
Sept. 1 '03

My Dear Dan .

I was very pleased to receive your letter + would have written before but for lack of time. You are starting out well in the shop. You think three years a long time but in most shops it would be four at least. there too you forget what you will gain in three years + a trade that will always in the hardest times furnish you a good living which can hardly be said of any other occupation.

Also remember you are not in this shop so much to learn how to make things as how to handle + make tools. Most any body can make axles for

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instance, but there are very few that know how to make the tools or make the machinery. Remember always that the machinist is not paid for what he does but for what he knows.

I dont like the attitude of Tom about three papers + I hardly know what to say about it. - letters are so unsatisfactory If I could only see him face to face about ten minutes I would find out mighty quick just what he means.

Of course you don't care to hound him till he gets disgusted with you + yet you ought to have some understanding.

Suppose you tell him that I have been asking after these papers + wanting to know why they are not sent to me to look over. I will enclose a letter to you to show to him + that may _____ him to time. If that don't work then we will try some thing else for I feel you should have some thing to hold the shop down + not let them drop you just when ever the notion strikes. Then I think that is a very good shop to learn in because they have milling machines. pay great attention to tool making of all kinds and don't be afraid to ask questions about your work. always be anxious to find out why + how of every thing. watch carefully when you have opportunity the work of the black smiths, tin punching, forging + ____________

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Also don't be afraid to work. Shop men are generally anxious to to cheat in matters of time + material, don't do it. Also if it is possible, show little forms to Tom though don't toady to do it. Bosses don't like a sucker. Another thing that you can do when you know more of machinery though you can begin now is to notice carefully your machine how + why it runs and it operations in your work. Study all the time to find some improvement on it or some quicker way to do your work. You will make your self valuable to your employers that way + it helps a man greatly both in knowledge + finance to do these things. Remember that no machine is so perfect but what some improvement can be made upon it + work to that end.

This is not preaching. I had to find these things out for myself + wi consequence lost many opportunities.

Now as to the school business. It don't seem possible;e that there are the right precis. Suppose you write directly to them your self + ask them to send you their literature on mechanic engineering. + see just what they say. Also find out about the other school. we may be able to do better let me know what you hear from them both

If you get the time send me a drawing of the machine you are at work on _ er will have a course of

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mechanical drawing of our own. You will have to be able to read drawings at ___ht so need much practice on them.

Well you will be tired of all this talk, so I will quit + give you a rest. Give all the folks my best + tell mother that a letter would be very acceptable.

Don't hesitate to write to me of any difficulty for it will be strickly between you + me. I am anxious you should profit by my experience as far as possible.

As ever Yours -
Frank

P.S. Just hand Tom this short letter and ask him what shall I say? Let me know at once what he says.

So many of the letters have been written by women about domestic issues that it was very nice to have a male perspective. He held to his topic and never mentioned how any of his family was doing.


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


Carlisle, Francis Ashley (Hartford, MI) to “My Dear Dan”
[Daniel Michael Carlisle]. Letter. 1 September 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.]

Tamerson L Carlisle, Aug 20, 1903

The next letter is from Tamerson to her mother, Anna. Tamerson, at the age of 14, was traveling by herself. Apparently she had been visiting someone named Mrs. Rennie and had taken the street car from there to South Bend to visit with her Camfield relatives. No one was there to meet her and her cousin, Leroy Camfield, was not at work yet at the store near the street car line so she walk over to the depot and sat for an hour. She then rechecked the store and found Leroy.

A little after 1 o'clock I went over to Wyman's again and found Leroy. He does not get thru work until about 6 P. M. I told him that I would wait for him and I really enjoyed sitting there watching the people go out and in. It was raining some so I could not walk around town.

Eventually she connected with her cousin, Ruby Camfield and they walked home together. Her plan was to stay until the following week and then she would return to Buchanan and Ruby would come with her.


I was surprised that they allowed Tamerson to travel alone at such a young age until I thought about my own youth. At thirteen I flew with my brother and sister to Raleigh and my sister was only 7. We had to change planes in D.C. and had no problems. At fourteen I was able to take the bus back and forth to North Carolina by myself.

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


Carlisle, Tamerson L (South Bend, IN) to “Dear Mama”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 20 August 1903. Digital Images 1-2.
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.]