Sarah Ann Camfield, 19 Dec 1882

Noble Center Dec 19th 1882

Dear Children
we are well as usual and hope this wil find you the same
I have no news to write but thought I would write once more this year
now can you and your family come and spend the Holidays with us we would like ever so much to come there but cannot possibly leave home with so much to see to and take care of we have 100 and 20 sheep 12 head of horned cattle and 4 calves and 4 hogs but no pork only what we buy have not had since July we have got to but our pork for the next year if we dont buy hogs and fat I dont know where to get any

reverse

we are going to kill a small beef in a week or two if nothing happens to prevent I hope it will not turn out as that did the other year 5 horses to I forgot and nothing for them to do to earn their living we had a splendid crop of corn but no hay only alittle marsh hay it was so wet we did not get much of that so the corn and stalks wil have to winter the stock we are fatting 22 sheep
I want to send you some butter but the cold weather dried the cows so sudden I have not done it maybe I wil after a while we churn only once a week now

upside down, top of page

I wish you all merry Christmas and happy new year

S A and M Camfield

added page

Dec 20 1882

Anna you will remember
I promised to get you a bottle of Banums Balsom such as Ashley got when you was here I did not think of it until sometime after I got home and then Barnum had killed himself he was found dead in the cornfield back of the house with 5 large gashes in his face and neck with a raisor it lay under his head when they found him he had lain there 3 or 4 days when found I dont think I can get any now Mr and Mrs B were here yesterday and one of his Brothers Daughters from Illinois do you hear from Illinois I wrote in may and had no answer



Mr Barnum's end took me by surprise.

There were no letters in the file between 1881 and 1887 from the Illinois relatives.

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


Camfield, Sarah Ann Wisner. (Noble Center, MI) to “Dear Children” [Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 19 December1882. Digital Images 1-3. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1882 - 1883, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, 26 Oct 1882

Noble Center Oct 26 1882

Dear Children
I ought to have written long ago but have been so buisy I have not done so we are well as usually how are you
our Wheat was not very good but the corn is good it is nice weather for husking it is hard work to get any one to husk we pay 8 cts per shock
our hogs have died all but 4 2 of them is pigs 2 or 3 months old that we paid 5 dollars for each 6 weeks ago to get the breed
Mr and Mrs Bogardus have been here visiting went home this morning Father and I went to Coldwater to the Fair and stayed all Night this fall

S A Camfield




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) to “Dear Children” [Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 26 October 1882. Digital Image. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1882 - 1883, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, 24 Aug 1882

Noble Center August 24 th
1882
Dear Children
we received your letter this after noon was very sorry to here such bad news
we are well at present I am drying Apples and canning black berried and doing the rest of the work and have made myself a dress last week and have hired one made so you see I have two we expected to thrash this week but it rained so we shall not
I will send the money by the first mail after getting your letter I expect Mr and Mrs Bogardus every minute I have had a girl 5 weeks this summer the rest I have been alone

reverse

if I figure right since the first of april I have sold 513 pounds of butter I dont weigh what we use that would be some for out hired man dont eat apiece of cake or pie with out butter and every thing acording
tel Mrs Woods when you see her how much butter I have made see if she dont think I have worked
write as soon as you can and lett me know if this comes all rite
S A Camfield

I am so tired cant any more and it is supper time

written sideways, near bottom of page

I have packed 30 pound tub today butter I mean

now it is the 9th 1882

I hope you got the money all right I wrotte this letter and went to Bronson to mail it and when I got there I had the letter you sent me instead of the one I had written


Because I am working from images rather than the actual letters, it is often hard to tell when something has been added at a later time. In this case 1882 may have been added by someone else.

I'm not certain what bad luck has befallen Anna and Ashley however another letter in the Carlisle batch indicates that Ashley may have been ill.

It is assumed that Mrs Wood was one of Sarah Ann's former neighbors from when she lived in Buchanan.

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) to “Dear Children” [Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 24 August 1882. Digital Images 1-3. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1882 - 1883, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, 26 July 1882

Noble Center July 26 1882

Dear Children

we are well as usual I have been sick since I have written to you we expect to finish drawing in our wheat this after noon it wil be pretty good not extra we had in 35 acres if we get 500 bushels it will be all we expect Corn is looking good but it is late there no Cherries to speak of all kids of fruit is scarce apples verry scarce and small nurly things potatoes are pretty good we have Corn almost large enough to boil in the garden will have green Corn and Cucumbers the first of next week I think
Ashley that man that talked of building a house back of us talked of havin you lay the wall

page 2

has sold his place and took all the money and all the Children which consisted of 4 boys the oldest 14 the youngest 8 and run away and left his Wife with nothing but what little there was in the house and that was not much O how is the Bay Windows get along most of them here have busted
Franky has the narrow Gayrey run away yet
what is the price of butter there I get 18cts I have been selling 30 pounds per week 6 or 7 weeks since the first of may I have sold 340 pounds of butter and raised 4 Calves we have a nice Colt so we have 5 horses the is 2 and a half months old we have been offer 50 dollars for it when old enough to wean

page 3

I guess Mrs Strawsite and Lizzy is not comeing to see us.
how did Mr Brochus and Fanny make out about their breach of promise Case did they have atrail or settle and how have you seen or heard from Joseph or his family lately.

S A Camfield



This was a tough one.

"we are well as usual I have been sick" I guess she was sick but is feeling better?

What small knurly things?
Knurl: a small protuberance, excrescence, or knob

Juicy neighborhood gossip and no name!

"O how is the Bay Windows get along most of them here have busted" Does this mean Sarah Ann's windows need new glass? If so were they their responsibility or the landlord's?

"Franky has the narrow Gayrey run away yet" Hunh? Sarah Ann's grandson, Frank Carlisle, would have been 4 years old. I had trouble making this out. Gagney doesn't make any sense either.

Those pounds of butter add up to $61.20.

Ashley had a sister named Fanny, so I looked at the letter she wrote in June 1882 and there was no hint there about a lawsuit. Perhaps I'll find it in an earlier letter or perhaps, as Fanny was a fairly common name, the reference os to a friend or neighbor.

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



Camfield, Sarah Ann Wisner. (Noble Center, MI) to “Dear Children” [Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 26 July 1882. Digital Images 1-3. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1882 - 1883, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Rose Graham Camfield, 5 July 1882

 

South Bend July 5th (1882)
well mother I must write you a few lines we have been living in this house one month it is a new house with window blinds it is as much to grand as the other was to poor we pay ten dollars a month it is two story high with cistern and well in the kitchen and a good cellar and dining room and sitting room and parlor and every thing shines it is so new we are all well Freddie goes over in town every night to sell papers how do you all get a long you must write when you can I dont have much time to write

reverse

the man we rent of is a Dunkard preacher he lives next door to us he is an old man older than father and last summer he married a young girl she is 18 years old but he is so rich I supose that is what bought her she comes here every day she says she is very particular who lives in his houses he owns several stores here and a number of residences when you write tell us how the crops are and if the rains have drowned every thing out we had one quart of strawberries paid E0 cents for them we have bought a new cook stove and a new ingrain carpet for the parlor write soon
Rosa Camfield




1882 was added in pencil by someone at a later date. Fred would have been 7 at the time. Was that old enough to be out selling papers? Perhaps.

Rose is writing to her mother-in-law, Sarah Ann. Rose's mother, Elizabeth Doughty Graham died in 1880 and had been abandoned by her husband before Rose was born. I assume that Sarah Ann forwarded it on to Anna and that is how it ended up in the collection.

It sounds like Joseph and Anna have rented a very nice house and that things are going well for them. A cistern and indoor pump certainly were luxuries.

I had to look up ingrain carpet. The carpet was woven of wool in yard wide strips and then sewn together. Family Heirloom Weavers reproduces these carpets and you can some examples on their page.

Ingrain carpet is defined as a flat, woven, reversible wool carpet. In many middle class homes of the 1800's at least one room had ingrain carpet.

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



Camfield, Rose Graham. (South Bend, IN) to “well mother” [Sarah Ann Camfield]. Letter. 5 July 1882. Digital Images 1-2. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1882 - 1883, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, 29 March 1882

Noble Center March 29 1882

Dear Children

I arrived safe home monday and met Father on the Car steps to meet me I found every thing all write not a Calf nor lamb nor Colt nor any thing new but we have 2 Calves now no Colt yet nor lambs Mr B had not been there nor has he yet nor have we heard from them I have been out all the fore noon helpinh learn the Colt to plow When I got in the car in Buchanan I found a jack knife with two blades so I have a knife of my own we have rather unpleasant weather though monday was pleasant they had a hail storm at south bend the morning we went to the depo when it rained so there the hail cobered the ground

reverse

the hail stones were as large as hickory nuts sunday where there had been no tracks in the sand it looked as if some one had made the holes with a large cane poked it down about half an inch No Colt nor lambs yet
I am so lonesome without Fred it was such bad weather Father had not plowed a furrow when I got home and only a little yet

I dont think of nay thing more

Joseph was gone to Chicago afther furniture for his shop when I came away




I guess Fred had been visiting again and Sarah Ann took him home to South Bend, IN. It's not clear if she got to see Anna during her trip.

Joseph had a barber shop at some point. I wonder if that was what he was buying furniture for or if he tried his hand at something else first?

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



Camfield, Sarah Ann Wisner. (Noble Center, MI) to “Dear Children” [Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 29 March 1882. Digital Images 1-2. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1882 - 1883, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Frances Baldwin, 10 Jan 1882

Ganges Mich.
Jan. 10th 1882
Dear Friend Anna:
I was very glad to hear that Frank Leonard was no friend of your. I showed the letter I got from him to Pa and he said the no young man but some silly scamp would do such a thing. He sent 2 cards. I shall not correspond with no such a person. I am in school today. I study. Fifth Reader, Spelling Arithmetic Physical Geo. Grammar and Mathematical Geo. Our school lasts 3 moths after this. The snow is all gone

page 2

It has been raining very hard and melted it all away. I am in Proportion in my Arithmatic almost through the book. They have been having the itch at Plummerville, There have been a few cases in Diptheria in cas co. Well I cannot think of anything more to write it os noon now and I’ll have something more to write for the next time. Tell Ash.. not to find any more soft Beaux for me.
Your friend,
Frances
Baldwin



It sounds like Ashley may have been playing matchmaker! Frank L. Leonard, born abt 1855 was living with his parents, Stephen and June in Buchanan at the time of the 1880 census.

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



Baldwin, Frances. (Ganges, MI) to “Dear Friend Anna” [Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 10 January 1882. Digital Images 1-2. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1882 - 1883, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, 2 Jan 1882

Noble Jan 2d 1882

Dear ones all we are well and hope you are the same we have had so much rain this fall and winter so far now it is froze up and a very little snow not any to speak of it dont cover the ground only whitens it alittle but I hope the cold will keep pur pigs from dying you know we had 28 when you was here last fall we have sold 2 and now we have 16 or 17 left and 2 or 3 of them was sick this morning
we have not Butchered yet think we will this week we have only one to butcher

Father says thank her for my present and tel her I have wristlets enough to last me my lifetime them you gave me

reverse

8 or 9 years a go are as good as ever
I ment to have written last week but could not I was trying to get a new dress made but did not succeed I wil send

you a piece it was 8 cts per yard there has been just 2 women in our house since you was here they came to buy some pigs only stayed a few minutes yes Mrs B was here stayed two nights I had forgotten Emma Graves is crazy ana I suppose in Calamazoo insane assylum she was to be taken there the 2d of december I have not heard since Icannot write any more if you can read this you will do wel I have sold 100 pounds of butter since you left us
is J D Ross alive

S A Camfield



I laughed when I read the part about the writlets because it made me think about all the ties I gave my father and the dozen bottles of Old Spice in Grandpa's linen closet. A wristlet was not quite a mitten. I found this pattern in case anyone wants to whip some up for Christmas.

The Complete Housekeeper By Emily Holt

I wonder what Anna sent Sarah?

Poor Emma! Luther Graves had a daughter named Emma.

For more see:
Camfield Family Letters
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Michael Camfield
Henry Bogardus, Shirt-tail Cousin


Camfield, Sarah Ann Wisner. (Noble, MI) to “Dear ones all” [Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 2 January 1882. Digital Images 1-2. Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Snowville, New York. 2008. [Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1882 - 1883, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]