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Source 138 – Personal Letter by Martin Hoorn

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Author: Martin Hoorn
Title: Letter to Jim Hoorn on 47th anniversary
Date: 02 October 1985
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

Dear Jim,
Just got home from our 47th anniversary dinner. So I just thought about the past. Married on October 2, 1938. Wages $6.00 per week. 30 days after we got married I got a job for $28.00 every two week, big money. Rented an apartment for $11.00 every 10 days… too high so we moved. Found another apartment for $12.00 a month. That fit our income. 1941 – Janice was born. 1945 – James was born. Moved out in the country to take care of wife’s dad. Two bedrooms. Four of us slept in one bedroom. Started to build our 1st brick house then moved in to it in 1946. Going to raise raspberrys. Bought 5000 plants. All died. Going to raise chickens. 18 died 1st night. Gave the rest to a broodie hen. She did a good job. Imagine 32 chicks on one hen. Going to raise turkeys. All died but one. She was a pet. Nobody would eat her. Going to raise mink. Didn’t have any young first year. Raised mink for 12 years. Started to build houses.

As I look back, I helped raise 5 good kids. With their help, built 8 houses, 4 duplexes, helped on 7 houses.
1 Yr. Father Vice Pr. PTA
2 Yrs. President Band Boosters
7 Yrs. School Board Member
1 Yr. on consolidation of 5 dist.
36.6 Yrs. in factory (Kelvinator)

Now forty-seven years later, we’re living on a fixed income.

Well, son, it’s getting late. Almost 8:30. Ma’s got her teeth out so I better hook the oxygen and go to bed too.

P.S. Hope you get over being tired. Happy 40. Love ya. Dad

Source 003 – Personal Letter Regarding Branch/Lawton Genealogy by Dorothy Lawton

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Author: Dorothy Lawton
Title: Letter to Helen J. (Thomas) Hoorn regarding Branch/Lawton Genealogy
Date: 09 June 1982
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note: Sent from Mayer, AZ, to Grand Rapids, MI

09 June 1982
Grand Rapids, MI

Dear Helen:
This is the darnedest letter. First I’m not seeing so good. Second its a darnedest mix up trying to write about the family. and then I’m such a poor writer. But Frank says if you really study the papers in the last box, you’ll probably be able to figure it out for yourself. And then you can write and ask anything you don’t understand. So here goes:

Valeria L Nelson’s sister Helen E. Nelson – who married Elam Branch, Frank’s grandfather. There was three children: EE Branch (Uncle Elam), Jesse Branch (died in early life, was married and had two children. He died up in the thumb area of typhoid pneumonia and we lost track of his children. And Amanda Branch – Frank’s mother. After Elam died Helen E Branch later married Lyman Cooper (your [Helen’s] grandfather). But Helen was both yours and Franks grandmother.

After Helen and Lyman Cooper were married they had one daughter, Iva May Cooper – your mother.

Valeria L Nelson, sister of Helen E Nelson maried Elam Branch. They had 3 children: EE Branch, Jesse Branch, and Amanda Branch. After Elam Branch died Helen E Branch later maried Lyman Cooper. Had one dawter: Iva May Cooper. You asked if Aunt Valeria had been maried. She maried William Nelson. I do not know if he was a cousin or not. Grandmother Branch-Cooper buried in Hillside Cemetery, Lawrence, MI

Helen Branch-Cooper, Valeria Nelson, and Frank H Lawton and Amanda B. Lawton are all buried on the same large lot. If you were to go to the Lawrence Cemetery and look up the large lot and maybe look up the manager and he’ll tell you about who buried there.

Does Martin belong to the Mason’s? You remember Uncle Elam was a 32 (?) mason and we have a couple of rituals
My goodness I was going to copy this out a little better, but didn’t get it done.

My sister Vera and her husband (Clark William Hill) are having their 50th anniversary at their sons in Owosso next month. Hope you have a nice time sorting this out.
Love,
Lawtons (Frank and Dorothy), Mayer AZ

Source 086 – Personal Letter by Dorothy Lawton

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Author: Dorothy Lawton of Mayer, AZ
Title: Letter to Helen Hoorn
Date: 6 May 1982
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note: this letter was included in the box of ancestor photo albums

Dear Folks: Sorry I haven’t written sooner, but seems that time gets away. I’m going to start answering some of your questions right off. Great Aunt Valeria was a sister to your grandmother Cooper. As for the pictures, the small album has most of the pictures named.

About the Indians. Aunt Valeria wrote about them in of all places the cookbook which we are sending to you. We’re getting to the age that we’d better get things done. However, we’re both quite well. We both have to be very careful of our eats. We have birthdays this month. Frank’s 77, my 76. But we’re hoping for many more. Frank is having a terrible time boxing your albums. Couldn’t get the right boxes so far he hasn’t said any bad words. I have a church cook book that I should send to Dorothy. It’s from people all about the territory. That is if she still is working out of Boyne City. I’m wondering if they still have the ferry across the lake to Irontan or if its been bridged. We still have some very good friends around the territory. Frank has your package about ready, so will close for now. Why don’t you come out this way sometime. But we do have hot weather so because of Mr. it should be early spring or late fall. We do have hot weather (110) but we have refrigeration both in house and car. Love, Dot.

Source 082 – Personal Letter by Helen J. Hoorn

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Author: Helen J. (Thomas) Hoorn
Title: Letter to Frank and Dorothy [Lawton]
Date: 15 May 1959
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

May 15, 1959
Dear Frank & Dorothy
Finally, I’m getting around to send these pictures. Such a busy time. I find you are busier when they start to grow up than when they are little. There is always one going some where.
Janice will graduate June 11. She has had a wonderful senior year. She is very popular so that means she goes to everything. She went to two proms. We have some nice slides of her so when you come to Grand Rapids we will show them to you.
I would love to talk my husband into coming out to see you but he isn’t a traveler. Maybe some day. He has a slide camera and loves to take pictures.
Jim graduates from 8th grade. He will soon be bigger than his Dad. Right now he has a broken finger from playing baseball.
How is work out there? It seems to be booming here right now. Mart, of course, always works. He is going to take some extra time off this summer for a rest. He has his sixth house almost done. Write
Love, Helen

Source 154 – News Article: Regarding Document Signed by Former President Discovered by Hoorn Twins

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Circa 1955 – NEWSPAPER

Document Signed by Former President Discovered by Hoorn Twins in Garage
A land grant signed by former President of United States Millard Fillmore, and a quick claim deed dated 1871, were among several interesting papers found recently by Bruce and Brian Hoorn, twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Hoorn, 61st St. SE. The youngsters were playing in a garage building at the home of their grandfather, Charles Thomas 60th St, when they “came up” with the papers.

When Mrs. Hoorn, who was spending several hours with her 91-year old father examined the things her twins were carrying around, she realized they were legal papers of her late grandfather, George Thomas, an attorney for many years. Several of the legal documents had been signed by him, probably for recording, Mrs. Hoorn said.

Condition Of Paper Good
The land grant was made out to a James Morrill of Sandusky, Ohio, and dated Nov. 1, 1852. Although the seal was a bit faded, the paper and printing on it was good, considering the date it was issued.

Mrs. Hoorn does not understand how this particular document became a part of her grandfather’s papers, or how the papers ever reached the garage. “It’s understandable”, she says that paper or two might still be around of her grandfathers, but the land grant is a mystery. She figures her father might be able to explain it all, if he were younger.

Itemized Hospital Bill of $10.93
Among the handful of papers was an itemized bill from a Sanitarium at Battle Creek, showing George Thomas had been a patient there in 1898 for six weeks. The bill for $10.93 was marked paid, and included everything from his board in medicine. Tin-type pictures, a warranty deed, dated January 25, 1871, and correspondence with postmarks of 1898.

May Save Document For Grandchildren
Mr. and Mrs. Hoorn have not decided what they will do with the document that has the late president’s signature on it, but one thing sure, it will be put in a safe place. Both decided it would be nice to keep for their grandchildren.