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Source 062 – Personal Letter by Eugene & Jane Ketchum

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Author: “Brother” Eugene [Ketchum] and Jane [(Thomas) Ketchum]
Title: Letter to “Brother” [George S. Thomas and Julia]
Date: 04 June 1886
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

Colfax
Monday, June 4, 1886
Dear Brother [George S. Thomas]
I wrote you a letter some time ago and have received no answer yet I know the reason now. I heard by the way of Aunt Eliza you was sick again. We are all well this summer. George you don’t know how bad we want to see you. If I could get money enough a head I would come and make you a short visit. But I have been laid up so much I have all I can do to keep sole and body together. It seems as though we had our share of troubles. I have been laid up with rheumatis for nearly two years. This spring I had one of my horses killed and then I had my cow poisoned and she won’t be of much use to me this summer. I have plowed and dragged seven acres and planted it and logged most two with my little mare only weigh about 8 hundred the two older girls had been away to work all this spring. They have helped me quite a good deal. Bertha came home last night. Eliza is at the county surveyor at Cadillac. We miss her very much. George, don’t you think a change of climate might help you? If you want to come up here we will do the best we can assist you. Bob and David was up to see us this spring. We had a good time. But no better than we did when your folks was up. Now George if you are not able to answer this soon do it when you can. But keep your mind quiet and don’t worry. I ever remain your brother,
Eugene & Jane

It froze hard here last night.

[written on back of letter] Dear Aunt Julia,
Ma says she has got all out of practice of writing so she got me to write for her. She says she would like to see you and all of the children. we are real sorry Uncle George is sick. We would like to see him real well. We would come down there to see him if we had not had so much bad luck. I came home last night. I have been at Manton at work. I am going to Cadillac if I get a place I guess I can. Sibbie says she would like to see Janie. Well I guess I will have to close so bye bye from your affectionate niece Bertha Ketchum. Write when you can. Auntie I weigh 120 pounds. I have not been weighed since last fall.

Source 190 – Pension Letter from Representative Julius Houseman to George S. Thomas

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Author: Julius Houseman, U.S. House of Representatives, of Washington D.C.
Title: Letter to George S. Thomas of Dorr, MI
Date: 19 Dec 1884
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

George S. Thomas Esquire, Dorr, MI

My Dear Sir!
Has anything occurred to you by which I can get your Pension claim reinstated if there is anything I can do before the expiration of my term, I will cheerfully do it. Very Respectfully,
Julius Houseman

I an introduce a bill for your relief but there is but little prospect owning to the short time allowed to get any of the present sessions bills to any issue.

Source 042 – Personal Letter by RF Gustin

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Author: RF Gustin
Title: Letter to Mrs. HE Cooper [Helen E. (Nelson) Branch Cooper]
Date: 02 November 1882
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

Maitland, Orange Co
02 November 1882

Mrs. HE Cooper
Dear Friend –
Very glad to get a letter from you. Nothing would be more congenial to me than to be living with your folks [Moses & Nancy Nelson]. But fear lest I should add to their labour and duties. I would ask who does their work in the house or on the place. Since you are away I am very glad you are fixed up for the balance of your life. You ought to be thankful and happy I have proved (?) up my settlement of my homestead and am ready to sell. But while you are talking Florida is looming up and looking hopeful. Think of the guava ripening its fruit every day, for ones lunch every day. How does that compare with the peach whose crop ripens all at one time. They are an astonishment to every one then. When your fine apples turn yellow, hang them up in the house and while they are getting mellow your house will be melodious with perfume, more than ten bushels of northern apples would make them …do not shrug our shoulders at the cold blasts of winter, but are in cozy circumstances all the time. Without care or responsibility. What ever, I have been here now near 7 years and am more acclimated to the climate. We have a Capitalist , a Connecticut man by the name of Clark. He comes here every winter and buys out people. He bought out a number of the Boston folks last winter. I think I will try him on this coming winter. Then if I [?] I will come and see you all next summer. Likely I work at the brick yard, here on the …and the boss pays me ten dollars at a time, before I do the work.

RF Gustin

Source 218 – 1880 US Census of Nathan C. Draper of Washington, D.C.

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Extract: 1880 United States Census
Census Place: Washington, Washington, D.C., District of Columbia
Source: FHL Film 1254123; National Archives Film T9-0123; Page 461A

Household: Rel Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Nathan C. DRAPER Self Male M W 52 NY Occ: Carpenter Fa: NY Mo: NY
Ann E. DRAPER Wife Female M W 42 DC Occ: Keeping House Fa: PA Mo: DC
Emeline RYDER SDau Female S W 24 DC Occ: At Home Fa: NY Mo: DC
Thoresa HUTCHENSON Other Female W W 44 MD Occ: At Home Fa: MD Mo: MD
John ALEXANDER Other Male S W 18 DC Occ: Works In Planing Mill Fa: DC Mo: MD
George PARKER Other Male S MU 17 VA Occ: Servant Fa: VA Mo: VA