Francis Ashley Carlisle, Dec 25, 1903

Hartford Mich
Dec 25 '03

Dear Mother + All.

Recieved both your present + letter today + was glad to hear from you once more. I had written long ago to both Daniel + you but I guess you never recieved them. Many thanks for your kind remembrance of us. I had hoped to send you some little gift of remembrance too but we were financially short this christmas + so unable to do so. but remember that we love you all ___ same old way even if we have

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no money just now. My work goes nicely + we hope for great things from the Lord.

Lillie came yesterday for a visit. was glad to see her.

We are all well + recieved many presents especially silver + glass ware. have not counted them yet.

This is the sixth letter I have written this evening + am so tired + sleepy that I can hardly keep awake. so you must take the will for the deed if I can see to write no longer tonight.

Love to all.
Frank

I believe that Lillie refered to Mamie's sister, Lillian Carlisle Ghrist. She lived in or near Mishawaka, IN at this time as far as I can tell.


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


Carlisle, Frank Ashley (Hartford, MI) to “Dear Mother and All”
[Sarah Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 25 December 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.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, Nov 9, 1903

South Bend Nov 9th 1903

Well Anna

I suppose you think it is time to hear from me well I have been buisy doing nothing it seems to me I have not been feeling as usual I have quite a cough and am lamer than I have been but I will be all right after alittle I think Rosa is tiing some Comforters she has tied two and is finishing another today that is all she is going to do thay have been mooving stoves that is done now we are going to have three stoves running this winter we ought to be warm

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the hard coal stove is in the front room and the little wood stove is in the dining room right by my bedroom dore so you see I can be warm if we can get coal there is potatoes and apples in the seller to last some time I dont know how many and they made 13 gallons of crout so you see were provided for awhile any way and 1 hundred quarts of canned fruit the Mothers meeting was at our house the day before I came home and last week it was near enough so I went and this week wensday it will be here again the first sunday I was home I went to the Evangelical Church

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I think I left two pocket handkerchief in the pocket of your cape it seems as if there was something else but donot know if you will send them I will be Obliged Joseph has been out of work ever since I have been home to day he is at work on the sewer I believe I have not called on any of the neighbors yet nor seen Mrs Gallop she is taking care of the same woman she was when Joseph was here for 5 five dollars per week I think she better stick to it if it is money she is after and of coure it is and nothing else from your Loving Mother S A Camfield

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every thing is straitened up now there is one paper we have have not got but it is ready when we call for it the money is out on interest at six percent the same ast was before so that is off my mind for two years

I wrote to Elizabeth belden yesterday today and tomorrow I think to write to Ella did you send the one I left for misses Plant of coare you did


Interesting that Sarah Ann had an investment and struggling to have enough money most of her life.

I wonder if Grandpa Joe was rethinking giving up barbering when he had to take work on the sewer? I was never clear on why he gave up his barber shop.

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


Camfield, Sarah Wisner (South Bend, IN) to “Well Anna”
[Sarah Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 9 November 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.]

Sarah Ann Camfield, Oct 12, 1903

Buchanan October 12th 1903

Dear Children this is Monday morning and I thought I would begin my task of writing letters by writing to you for I thought you would be most interested in it I received 15 letters Fraiday and one saturday I got one from Jud Sweeting did you write to him he said he received a letter frome me the day before I thought it must have been from you and he thought it was fro me I never wrote to him I supposed they were out west I did not know they were in Bronson

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now for the writers of the letters it was a perfect surprise to me Anna had six that she had got but said nothin about till Friday morning they came and put them in my lap bed had them looked over Ashley had been to the Office threw another lot in my lap then the wonder was more than ever wen they had had fun enough of seeig mybewilderment Anna explained it to me I had never heard of such a thing I think there could not have been a more complete surprise

Page 3

Mr and Mrs Warner of Noble ane from Mrs Orrie Smith one from Mrs Ola Harris and Harrises niece that is taking of one from Mrs Plant of Bur Oak one from Mrs Bloat Bell plant motherin inlaw of sherwood I never saw her nor hardly heard of her but she wrote a splendid letter also one from Mrs Spero and one from Mrs James Burk Batavia and one from Mrs Minlin Batavia and Mrs Bogardus of Noble Mrs Elizabeth Belden of Wisconsin Mrs Ella Mc Kinnon of Minnesota and Mrs Libby Camfield of Kansas palace and one from Mr Earl Camfield of the same

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your letter came Friday morning and the picture saturday I think you and Earl look very natural but I cannot much of Freds looks in him Anna says he is in the dark more I know I cannot see near as well as I could last year not ever last spring wel I do not of any thin more only to thank your part in the party I thought you would like to know how it came I think it was verry nice indeed

[no signature]

What a nice birthday surprise for Sarah Ann! Most of the letters I have of hers were written to her daughter Anna. I don't know how this letter written to her son in South Bend, IN came to be saved.

Warner, Smith and Harris were related to Libbie Warner Camfield (Fred's wife).

Sweeting, Plant, Bloat, Spero, Burk and Minlin were neighbors of Sarah Ann when she lived in Branch County, MI.

Mary Bogardus was the wife of Henry, see link below.

Elizabeth Belden and Ella McKinnon were Sarah Ann's nieces and letters they wrote to Anna can be found with the Hall Family letters link below.

Libbie and Earl writing from Kansas was a big surprise for me. I knew that Fred and Libby left Chicago for a time and that at some point they lived in the Ozarks but I didn't know that they tried Kansas first.

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

Camfield, Sarah Wisner (Buchanan, MI) to “Dear Children”
[Joseph Harrison Camfield]. Letter. 12 October 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.]

Francis Ashley Carlisle, Sept 29, 1903

Hartford Sept 29 '03

Dear Dan,

I am ashamed that I have not answered your letter before but Mamie has been quite sick + I myself have been under the weather + so neither of us has done much.

Now as to the papers: How do you get along with Tom? Is he easy to work for or is there much picting between you? I am some what of the opinion that as far as he is concerned he would be willing to give you the papers but that the company wont back him in it for they are not anxious to bind them selves __ anyway.

If you think you can get along with Tom O. K. and that he means to

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help you all he can + will give you the raises you spoke of why perhaps you might as well [strike] speak to him about it [end strike] keep right on to work + some time when you have experience enough you might strike agood job for yourself some where else. In that O may be able to give you a little lift when the proper time comes. But here is one thing that you dont want ever to forget. Never take a job of piece work if you want to become a first class machinist. Many a good man has spoiled his chances by taking piece work just because it paid better at the time. If you take such a job you will never advance any further and should you loose that job you would be of little account for any other. An all round man can always get a job when he wants it but a piece worker has a hard time. Look out for this.

I am glad to hear you are sticking to the drill press drawing. You wont amount to much ever if you dont stick to it no matter how hard it will be. Yes the drawing can all be

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be made in one part when you know how. A piece that is behind another piece can be represented by dotted lines for instance a ballance wheel partly hidden by a post on which rests the box in which one of the journals of the shaft rests. Special n intricate parts of the machine are some times reproduced on alarger scale on the same sheet if possible This is pretty poor drawing paper but you will catch my idea.

[Drawing]

As I said dont be afraid to ask questions even if you are laughed at for this isone of the best ways to learn there is. I am glad you like the work + I think the more you have of it the better you will like it.

I am pleased with your trip to the Bend + your descriptive of what you saw. You do right to allways go to these places + see + learn. Take advantage of any opportunity like that If there is any questions you think

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of dont hesitate to ask me + I will tell you if I know or can find out.

Mother wrote that you had gained 14 lbs. It is lucky that they have double doors to the shop or old Ballenger would hardly be able to get in before long if they kept up.

There will be lots of things of course that you will have to learn that no one can tell you of _ you will hardly know how you found out your self. But make Tom tell you all he knows + dont be afraid of making a mistake that is the way we learn best + ________. You have a far better opportunity of learning than I had + I want you to improve it. Some time when you have a little time off run up and see us. I have many things I would like to talk with you about.

Good Bye for this time.
As Ever
Frank

I'm happy to have the mechanical drawing by Frank. Many of the Camfield descendants are/were talented artists. Sadly, I did not inherit their talent. This type of drawing is very different than the drawings I've seen by others.

More advice for Dan. Did he take it? I haven't figured out yet who Tom or Ballenger were. Dan worked most of his life for Clark Equipment Company in Buchanan so it seems he stuck with the machine shop trade.

Clark Equipment Co was incorporated in 1903 as George R. Rich Manufacturing Company in Chicago, IL. The company moved to Buchanan, MI in 1904 so it seems that Dan received his early training elsewhere.


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

Carlisle, Francis Ashley (Hartford, MI) to “Dear Dan”
[Daniel Michael Carlisle]. Letter. 29 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.]

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.]

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.]