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.