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Source 069 – Personal Letter by Irving D. Jenks

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Author: “Brother” Irving D. Jenks of Marathon, NY
Title: Letter to “Brother” George S. Thomas of Byron Center, MI
Date: 31 December 1906
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

December 31, 1906
Marathon, NY

Mr. George S. Thomas Esqu.
Dear Brother:
We are all well and hope this will find you the same. Laurie wanted I should write you in regard to our buying these places. I went down to Bruin where Edwin was this was May 1, 1905, that I left Dryden got there the next day. I stayed 3 weeks with brother Edwin and while there I made a bargain with him for the little place where Ashur and Mary Jane lived the price was $600. I also made a bargain for the one half of the 120 acre place which was Mary Janes and when I got home my brother Edmund B. Jenks made out the deeds the undivided one half of the 120 acres to him. The undivided one half of the little place to him and the undivided one half to me. The caragon lot of 3/4 of an acre was made the same sent then to Bruin and Edwin signed them and acknowledged then before one Sam Gibson. He was a Justice of the Peace there in Bruin. And they were witnessed by Joseph Jordan. Then they were sent to John Miller at Marathon we paid the money to him (John Miller) and got our Deeds then they were recorded in the county clerks office at Cortland. Now Brother George that explains the transaction as near as I can explain it on paper but if there is any thing that I have omitted if you will write me I will do my best to make it plain.

Katie May and myself are here living on the little place. I have ben getting out lumber. I got out and it is sawed and stuck up 155 M feet of lumber. Had a mill here. I had 1055 RR ties them I have drawed we also had 150 cords of slab wood that I am drawing at this time. Then I have the lumber to draw as it is sold. The RR ties we got 44 ? delivered at Marathon. The wood we get 250 pr cord loaded on the cars at Marathon. The lumber we get $20 pr M for on the cars at Marathon. If the going will keep good I think I can get every thing hauled by the first of May. My brother has been up here 3 times since I commenced cutting the timber last December. He piled lumber (one day) you see I have been one busy man. I have two teams one team is the nicest there is in this country. They way some over 2500 they are true and kind but I have to drive them with chain bitts as they have been known to run away. Jenks drives them himself. George it would do you good to look at them they never go to sleep while in the harness. I have 9 cows, 3 calves and 2 pigs, 25 hens. Katie has 38 hens and 3 cats. I guess I had better close for this time. Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year I remain as ever your brother, Irving D. Jenks
Katie sends her love to all and a happy New Year.

Now George I have in my possession receipts which Ashur payed Edwin after Manley’s death. One of $120, one of $2.5, one of $26.98, and one I payed after Mary Janes death of $47 making in all $196.55. He has received since MW Goodale’s [Manley Goodale] death to my certain knowledge. Whether there had been any more payed or not, I do not know. I wright this to you thinking perhaps they might be good for reflection. Never the less, I intended to present them at the proper time and place.

Edwin twited? me once of gobbling up papers which I had no business with probably there are the ones. I haven’t keep there receipts a secret with the intention of injury to you or Laurie but thought maybe they might turn up at the proper time with a surprise to both sides of the case.
Yours,
ID Jenks

Source 068 – Personal Letter by Laura Jenks

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Author: Laura A. (Thomas) Jenks of Dryden, NY
Title: Letter to “Brother” George S. Thomas of North Dorr, MI
Date: 28 December 1906
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

1906, December 28
Dryden, NY

Mr. George Smith Thomas
North Dorr, Mich

Dear Brother:
Your welcome letter is at hand and I will answer you at once. I am so sorry you have trouble with your eyes. Can’t you find something to help them. Some years ago I had very sore eyes. I lived in Cortland. We sent for Dr. Muncy of Virgil. He gave me a powder it was white to put in water and wash my eyes. It cured them very quick. You mite write to him he is a great doctor for eyes and ears.

I think Jenks and his brother bought the estate of Mary’s of Edwin. He sent for Jenks to come and buy the half of the farm. Jenks you know had for caring for Ashur one half. They have cut a large amount of timber and have had it sawed and are drawing it to Marathon. Now as to getting a lawyer. A man who is acquainted with a good many lawyers was here from Cortland and he said Jenks’s brother is as good a person to help make this settlement as I can possibly get. He is all of his time employed by some one so you see he is the cheapest one we can get. Now George those Jamesons are money grabbers and it will be business to deal with them. Hattie and her brother mean to take all there is. Hattie tried to sell our Mothers cupboard when she was out here. Edwin told me to never let the Thomas cupboard go out of the family. She wants a good lot of money. Her brother wrote to Mr. Miller for money to pay Edwins Dr. bill and other bills. I was sorry for them to think they are so hard up. After 30 years hard labor to be in such a hurrah for some help to pay poor Edwin’s expenses. Now George they have got a good big estate of Edwins. He told me after you went away that he and Frank Jameson was in partnership. They had so many big charges against Mary that they was ashamed and cut down some of them. At the time Jenks was down to Edwin’s he figured up nine hundred dollars against Mary. But Edmund Jenks will be the one to face their outlandish cheating charges. Edd Jenks says they must send an administrator here to settle and they must give bail for the amount paid them. If the law should favor you and me Old Hat would go crazy.

She has never had to use any of her money and Edwin paid out a good little fortune carrying her round the country. Yet when she was out to see to his grave she took on about the cost of coming out here and said she didn’t think she could afford to come again. When Edd paid his money it was all right but different when she had to pay her own car fare.

I will write at once to Jenks and let you know about the farm deal. Give my love to all and much love to yourself.
From Laura

Now Brother George, I think we ought to see how Edwin made his will before we pay much to Edd’s wife. If he was living here when he made his will he would had to mentioned you and I both or we could break such a will. I wouldn’t be surprised if he couldn’t will away real estate here with out our names being in the will. If only a small amount.

Source 008 – Personal Letter by Amanda Lawton

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Author: Amanda B. (Branch) Lawton of Lawrence, MI
Title: Letter to “Sister” [Iva M. Cooper of Beulah, MI]
Date: 28 October 1906
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note: care of CH Craine [husband of Junia E. Cooper, Iva’s half-sister through father]

Dear Sister [Iva]
I direct to you because mother said to and it has been so long since I got her letter that she may be back in Paw Paw by this time. I am sorry I could not answer sooner but I was out of envelopes, stamps, and money at the time so was obliged to wait till I could stock up again.

I saw Welsh the day I got the letter. I thought I explained things so it was all understood that I couldn’t meet anything more until Carl pays me. I hoped he would pay me this month but I have to wait until Nov. And my creditors have to wait along with me and the int. is steadily growing but I can’t help myself.

But this is enough along this line. I hope Junia is much better by this time. It seemed so hard that she must loose her first little girl and probably all the one she will ever have. Mrs. Barnes was buried the 7th of this month. Her foot was amputated a few days before she died hoping to save her but it was too late. The last time the Dr tried to dress her leg I was told that the flesh sloughed off to the bone from where the sore was on her leg to her toes. The dear little woman has been such a sufferer for so many years. Death must have been a sweet release to her, though it must be very lonely for Mr Barnes, but he probably will not have long to endure it. Last night we were told of Aida Barnes Fuller’s death. I haven’t heard any particulars yet. I think Junia went to school to her. I suppose you had a snow storm up there the same time we had ours. Apples were frozen solid on the trees and grapes on the vines burst – the string beans were many of them spared. Apples that were on the ground were not hurt. We hadn’t had frost enough to color the leaves yet and they just crisped and fell green. We have had the most peculiar looking landscape this fall that I ever saw having entirely missed the gorgeous red and yellow colouring of the leaves that we usually have in Oct.

It was so cold and stormy that the baby [Frank Jr] and I didn’t go to church today but Jesse went with Silvia. And the baby is taking a nice long nap so I am having quite a peaceable time writing. But it is time to start dinner now and I must write to Aunt Valeria [Nelson]. I had a letter from her dated the 5th and as I haven’t written to her since the baby was born I think it is about time I wrote. We are well so far and hope you are the same. But good by with love and best wishes to mother if she is still there and also to yourself and Junia and good luck to Charlie.
I remain as ever your loving sister,
Amanda B. Lawton [Iva’s half-sister through mother]
Lawrence, MI

Source 067 – Personal Letter by Unknown

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Author: unknown
Title: Letter to “Brother” George [George S. Thomas of North Dorr, MI];
Date: 17 February 1906
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

Dryden
February 17, 1906
Dear Brother George:
I take this time to tell you that so far no one has sent me any account of Edd’s. All I know is this. I have waited to hear from Mr. Jameson Edds wife’s administrator of Edd estate. I wrote to him and sent him a stamp for a reply. This was in July and he answered me in November. He wanted his money at once. and now how can I settle this if I don’t know how Edd left his affairs. I wrote to you to look up the law in PA concerning “wills”. Edd first made Mary’s will and left me out and then he got counsel and found he had to will me something to make her will legal. Now I think I must know how he willed his Harvy hill property. If the law is like York State law and he has left you and I out his claim here would be illegal. Wont you find out about this. Now brother George all I know about Edd’s charges is this Jenks saw nine hundred dollars charged against Mary. But in June I saw Mr Miller and he told me Edd had crossed of some. You see I will have to refuse to pay false trumped up accounts. And I will get a lawyer to face Mr. Jameson. I have tried to do this business by writing but I wil have to go and consult a good lawyer.

Source 095 – Journal of Iva M. Cooper, 1906

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Author: Iva M. Cooper
Title: Diary excerpts 1906
Date: 1906
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

February 12 – Pa was taken sick in a.m.; he died at 10:50 p.m.
February 16 – Funeral for pa. Stayed at Uncle Atwell’s for dinner
February 21 – Grace Babcock is very low. Had a council today; she died at 8:10 p.m.
March 9 – Junia and I head north
April 7 – Ma saw Doc in p.m. They made arrangements about pasture and talked Texas considerably
April 10 – Emma & George were married in eve at Doc’s. Today is Ma’s birthday – she is 60
May 26 – Mr. Smith wants to buy the place
May 31 – Began work in northern office today. Fed job press all day.
June 6 – Worked on the little press today. Printed some election ballots.
June 30 – Got my uniforms in evening ($7.80)
August 5 – Another birthday for me, I’m 23.
September 18 – Got word from Charles that Junia was sick and for me to come
November 4 – Ma and I took a trip to the eagle’s nest and such a time as we had climbing over logs and through brush, up hills and down. O! My!
November 17 – My back is worse. Dr came in evening. Says it is rheumatism and uterine trouble and that I have a small tumor.
November 29 – We did not have any Thanksgiving dinner…we had popcorn in evening
December 2 – We had the old rooster for dinner
December 20 – Elam and I went for a walk in he evening. Went to his church and saw it. Viewed the prison buildings and the city in general from the bluff.

[NOTE: Junia died 23 July 1933]

Source 066 – Personal Letter by Laura Jenks

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Author: Laura A. (Thomas) Jenks
Title: Letter to “Brother” George S. Thomas of North Dorr, MI
Date: 11 September 1905
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

1905
9/11
Dryden, NY

Mr. George S. Thomas
North Dorr, Mich.

Dear Brother:

Your very welcome letter is at hand. and I am very well at this writing and hope you the same. Now dear brother you mentioned Mr. Miller as Administrator. I will say I know Mr. Miller very well. And there could not be a worse move than to have him mixed up with the affair in any way. He has had enough already. Edwin gave him 25 dollars for advice to our sister in her life time. and when she asked him about her affairs he did not even answer her. He has made Edwin all the expense he could about the new road and then made fun of Edwin and said all he cared was for the jobs going up on the hill. Now the very best person to help settle up things is Jenks’s brother Edd. he is the very best of a lawyer and as he and Jenks as going to raise the money for the property he ought to have the pay instead of Miller and he has forgot more than Miller. Besides being a very honest person he is a good hand to settle up estates. besides my husband knows more about matters than any other person living. now about all settlement concerning Edd. Now our brother has got very heavy charges against Mary Janes estate. and Mr Jenks was present at many those settlements with Ashur and Mary and it wont do to let Hatties people have more than they deserve or are rightfully entitled to for instance Edd has got a great deal charged to Mary for car fare and other things. when it can be proven that she only sent for him twice so you see it is best to have some one settle for us that knows how matters are. If it wasn’t for Mr. Jenks being around with Edwin and present at those settlements we would have to allow payments twice over. When Edd came up and was here at the death of Mary Jane Edd sent for his wife. but Mary did not want her. now we all know this fact Katie myself and Jenks. It would not be right to rob the heirs in giving the Jamesons a big roll of money for services that they don’t deserve. Hattie would not say whether Edd willed you or me anything. Edwin was well of and Hattie has got things that are mine that she won’t give up so you see we must not let her have what belongs to you and me and James’s children. I wish to say to you that Edd settled with Ashur for his caring for Mary he had $40 dollars and Manley’s violin the business was done here only for Jenks being present that would have to be allowed over again now George what we know about the matter we do know. and we will do the best we can to save all necessary for the rightful heirs. What I say is strictly true. Write on receipt of this from Laura.