Deeply Rooted
by Admin
The time has come that we must part
So now dear sister take this heart
And if we never meet again
In this world of earthly pain
I hope we shall meet on that hapy shore
Whare sorrow and parting will come no more.
Esther A. Draper
When this you see
Remember me
Remember me though far away
Remember me in the coming day
Remember me when love is sweet
Remember me untill we meet.
Hannah P. Draper – [Helen J. (Thomas) Hoorn’s great aunt]
by Admin
Author: Valeria Louise (Nelson) Nelson
Title: Family Record of the Drapers
Date: undated
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note: eight pages; found in family papers of Helen J. (Thomas) Hoorn of Byron Center, MI
Deaths:
23 May 1877 Draper, Amos P age 87
03 August 1889 Draper, Orvilla age 89
21 August 1868 Brooks, Charles
13 December 1788 Draper, Harry
13 August 1803 Draper, Polly
10 May 1848 Draper, Eleazer
03 July 1848 Draper, Hannah Palmer
30 December 1860 Draper, John
31 August 1868 Brooks, Eliza D.
04 February 1876 Draper, Lawton
page 1
“Gideon Draper [Gideon Draper Sr] the first to found our part of the family. He married at Roxbury, MA, on April 22, 1713. Abigail Aldis. He had 10 children, one of whom was the Gideon [Gideon Draper Jr] that we think founded our branch of the family. Our Gideon was born in Dedham, MA, August 25, 1722 , and died at Dover, NY, 1778.
The first Gideon’s father was James Draper who was born at Roxbury, MA, 1654, and died there April 30, 1698. He married February 18, 1681. Abigail Whiting. This James was a son of James Draper who came from England, about the year 1647. His wife was Miriam Stansfield. He and she were both born in the village of Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England.
page 2
He was born in 1618, and she was born November 27, 1625, and both died in Roxbury and their graves and gravestones are well preserved. James Draper Sr, born 1618, wife Miriam Stansfield born November 27, 1625, in Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England. James Draper Jr born 1654 at Roxbury, MA, and died there April 30, 1698. He was married to Abigail Whiting, February 18, 1681.
Gideon Draper Sr birth unknown, was married at Roxbury, MA, April 22, 1713, to Abigail Aldis. Gideon Draper Jr born in Dedham, MA, August 25, 1722, and died at Dover, NY, 1778.
page 3
Great-great-grandfather Ebenezer Draper born January 21, 1747.
Hannah Spicer born October 29, 1751.
Ebenezer Draper and Hannah Spicer were married March 10, 1767
Mary Draper born May 11, 1768
John Draper born July 1, 1770
Lemual Draper born January 17, 1773; d December 15, 1776
Hannah Draper born January 15, 1775
Ruth Draper born May 16, 1778; d September 14, 1779
Benj Draper born August 10, 1779
Millie Draper born September 21, 1781
Elizabeth Draper born December 16, 1788
Oliver B. Draper born February 26, 1786
Sarah Draper born May 20, 1788
Caty Draper born June 24, 1790
Nancy Draper born February 15, 1792
Barrett Draper born July 22, 1794
page 4
John Draper (great grandfather) born July 1, 1770
Hannah Palmer Draper (great grandmother) born November 15, 1767
Harry Draper born December 28, 1787 (Dutchess Co, NY)
Ebenezer Draper born Sept 17, 1789
Amos P. Draper born June 22, 1791 (Dutchess Co, NY)
Polly Draper born June 22, 1794
Eleazer Draper born January 23, 1797 (Connecticut) – Twins
Eliza Draper born January 23, 1797 (Connecticut) – Twins
Orvilla Draper born May 2, 1800 (Connecticut)
Lawton Draper born January 19, 1803 (Connecticut)
Deaths:
30 December 1860 Draper, John Westmoreland 90 yrs
02 July 1848 Draper, Hannah P [Valeria listed 3 July 1848 earlier]
3 December 1788 Draper, Harry
13 August 1803 Draper, Polly
10 May 1848 Draper, Eleazer
31 August 1868 Draper, Eliza (Brooks)
04 February 1876 Draper, Lawton
23 May 1877 Draper, Amos P
03 August 1889 Draper, Orvilla 89 years
21 August 1868 Brooks, Charles (husband of Eliza Draper)
page 5
Draper, Ebenezer b 17 September 1789; d 05 August 1867; m 06 January 1814
Draper, Sarah Beckwith b 27 May 1787; d 13 July 1852
Draper, Nancy J b 28 September 1814
Draper, Joseph b 26 July 1817; d 27 July 1817
Draper, Mary b 26 July 1817; d 29 July 1817
Draper, John F. b 08 April 1819; m 06 August 1893 (Harriett N. Howe) [Harriet died in 1868, though]
Draper, Hannah P. b 07 October 1821
Draper, Nelson B. b 13 December 1823; m 21 November 1855 (Sarah Spencer)
Draper, Nathan C b 24 February 1828 (twins); m 08 January 1854 (Julia Longfit)
Draper, Esther Ann b 24 February 1828 (twins)
Draper, Nancy J m 28 January 1834 (Moses Nelson)
page 6
Draper, Barrett d 27 October 1815
Draper, John d 30 December 1860 90 years
Draper, Hannah Spicer d 27 October 1817
Draper, Ebenezer d 29 March 1825
5 boys Joseph, Ebenezer, Harry, Lenica, and Jesse Brownell. (Polly-nickname) Mary Brownell. Joseph Brownell and Hannah. Hannah Baker. 3 children…(confusing…)
Gideon Draper great-great-great-great grandfather, father of Ebenezer and Gideon, died October 1799. Wife of Gideon great-great-great-great-grandmother (name unknown) died March 1814.
Millie drowned in a well.
page 7
Nelson, Nancy J. d 03 March 1903 (Paw Paw, MI) 88 years
Draper, Esther Ann d 17 May 1843 (Westmoreland) 15 years
Draper, Nelson B d 25 October 1880 (Appleton, WI) 57 years
Draper, John F d 01 February 1897 (Taberg, NY) 78 years
Draper, Nathan C d 15 December 1903 (Merrifield, VA) 75 years
page 8
When our trials are all ended
Our mistakes are in the past
And the glories comprehended
When we reach our home at last.
We shall have the satisfaction
Jesus knows our hearts the best
Knows our thoughts and every action
Takes our sins and gives us rest.
We shall know as Jesus knows us
Numbered in that blood-washed throng,
We shall shout glad hallelujahs
To our king in praise and song.
by Admin
Author: Iva M. Cooper age 16 of Paw Paw, MI
Title: Letter to “Aunt” Miss HP Draper [Hannah P. Draper age 78 of Westmoreland, Oneida Co, NY]
Date: 12 February 1899
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:
Paw Paw, MI
February 12, 1899
Miss HP Draper [age 78]
Westmoreland, Oneida Co NY
Dear Aunt:
As Auntie [Valeria Louise Nelson Nelson, age 62] has warned you not to be scared, I suppose you have nerved yourself for my awful letter.
I have never seen you, and perhaps never shall, but I hope that I may sometime, I would be glad to come if I could, and stay with you, and comfort you in your loneliness.
I hope you are getting along all right this cold weather, here this morning the thermometer registered 34 degrees below zero, and it is predicted, that it is going to be cooler during the next three days, some, here in town, have lost their fruit by having their cans burst, and we should have lost ours, if mamma (Helen E. Nelson Branch Cooper) had not nearly all night, keeping fires. Grandma [Nancy J. Nelson, age 85] said, this morning, when she first awoke, that she hoped those poor children would not freeze, meaning Amanda and Frank (Lawton), she thinks you are all right, because you wrote you had your supply of coal, for the winter, but I think the children will take care of themselves for Frank has a good supply of wood in the wood shed, we have also managed to keep in wood.
We are all as well as usual, papa [Lyman Cooper, age 70] and mamma [Helen E. Cooper, age 53] are convalescing from the LaGrippe, grandma [Nancy J Nelson] has a slight cough, having taken a little more cold, but is getting better, Auntie [Valeria], well, she is not exactly a somnambulist, for she does not quite walk in her sleep, but she does nearly every thing else, eats, talks, pares potatoes, and washes dishes in her sleep, and it is quite funny to see her sometimes when se goes to eat an apple, she will begin to pare it, get a mouthful, take a nap, and so alternate till the apple is finished, when she (rousts up) as grandma says, to see if she has eaten it, or where it has gone to, she nods and bows on all occasions, and this morning got up, went to the stove opened it, made a low bow, and was met by the flames, (I suppose I ought to say was kissed by them), at all events she singed her hair, smelled it burning, (and woke up). She says she was not asleep, but I think she must have been taking her morning nap, and got up in her sleep, we never know what she will do next, she says it is not so funny, and though we have to laugh at her, we are all sorry for her, because she has been broken of her sleep so much taking care of grandma, that she can not help it.
I thought I would send you a valentine, and thank you, for that , capable cat; I have three cats, but I have not used diamond dyes on them, one of them is black nearly all over, the other two are malta and white, I think. I will not follow the example of the capable cat and dye them. Do you keep a cat? Grandma says, you used to keep a cat, when she was there, and that you had a chair for it.
I think this is all for this time, as grandma says, you can not read it, your not being used to my writing.
When you write to Auntie V [Valeria]
Write a letter, please, to me.
I will always ever be
Your grand-niece Miss Iva C.
Miss Iva May Cooper [16 years old]
Paw Paw, Box 178
Van Buren Co, MI
by Admin
Author: Valeria L. Nelson of Lawrence, MI
Title: Letter to “Aunt” [Hannah P Draper, age 55]
Date: 05 June 1876
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:
Lawrence, Michigan
June 5, 1876
Miss HP Draper [age 55]
Dear Aunt,
I promised mother I would write to you it is such a task for her. You have doubtless received the card mother sent you just before she received your letter. Uncle Lawton was taken violently sick with Typhoid fever the Dr said in the night of the 26th of February. He had sat at table every meal through the day though he complained of having one of his old spells of headache. When the Dr called in the morning he said there was no help for him. and they had better send for the children; which was done. They gave him stimulants and opiates and he lived till Friday April 3rd died about three in the morning.
Henry got work up in the north part of the state last winter and Mary thought she wasn’t needed at home, so she went with him. Henry all at once thought they were wanted at home; so they packed their trunks and started. They left the cars at Bangor, and Henry’s Br brought them up to his fathers where they first learned that uncle was sick as they left before the telegram was sent to them; Mr. Wells told Henry how sick he was, and had them go as soon as they had eaten something. Mary thought strange they didn’t let them stay all night, and was surprised when Helen met her at the gate and told her that her father was still alive. Why is he dangerously sick she asked. I did not know he was very sick, she was fairly overcome for a while but when she spoke to her father he knew her and called for her often till the last. He was conscious only at intervals, but all the while he seemed sure he was nearing home. The last time he spoke in meeting he said perhaps it was the last. He seemed on the very verge of Heaven. He said he did not know as Elijah’s experience would be his that the firey chariot would come for him, but he was sure the host would be there and I guess none who knew him doubts of his welcome by the host and the Lord of hosts to eternal rest. June 11th our little Edgar’s birthday. I began this Monday eve when Will was gone off to fish. But didn’t get it finished I went early Tuesday to help Mother on a quilt and two of my neighbors with me. And I went again Thursday morning and helped her through the day. She got the quilt on week before last. Friday morning a week ago Ida had a fit. Father brought her up home at night and I went home and helped Saturday. Sunday they got Minnie Draper to help them for a week. Today Ida Squires is going back. Mother isn’t able to get a long alone a single day. Ida has been there since February 24th. She worked there when Helen was gone north a year ago. Our folks thought they wouldn’t have her again. But she agreed to do better; said she had rather work there than any where she had ever worked and would work for ten shillings a week if they would take her back and try her. She has worked better, but she is so cross she adds to mothers cares, while she lightens the labor. No one is angry with you for not coming though it would have been pleasanter, could you have come, but it is all right. Mother finds that with every burden, strength is given to bear it. Helen is very lonely and home sick too [husband Elam Branch died in 1874]. I guess she reached her place. April 8th found Mrs. Livingston expecting. They join places with her. V she is dependent on him for help to clear and build and she was to stay there till her own house was up. We think Mrs. L is sick as Helen hasn’t written since May 24th. Her address is Gaylord, Otsego Co, Mich. All are usually well.
Your loving niece, VL Nelson
PS I meant to tell you that Mr Wells died with an apoplectic fit just one month after Uncle was buried so Henry and Mary went to live with his mother.
by Admin
Author: Helen E. Nelson of Springport, Jackson Co., MI
Title: Letter to “Aunt” [Hannah P. Draper]
Date: 21 May 1863
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:
Miss Hannah P. Draper
21 May 1863
Dear Aunt [Hannah P Draper]
I received your letter in due time and hasten to answer it. It is very warm this afternoon almost uncomfortably and I have the head ache as hard as I want to have it. So you see I am not in any tune for writing and if I make mistakes you will excuse me. It is customary I believe to begin a letter by telling the state of health of each member of the family and I may as well begin now as at any time. Father (Moses Nelson Jr) is or has been middling well for some time and I think if he takes thorroughworst enough he may keep well. I have no encouraging news to tell about Mother (Nancy Jane Draper Nelson). Her ankle is at times very painful and again it is quite easy some times her health is better and again worse. I think probably if she could be some where, where she would not have to work that she would be better and might get well, but as long as we work a farm she will work and that is what keeps her down. Valeria is just now well. She is teaching school here in the chamber. Mrs. Carpenter sends her daughter Esther. They pay a shilling a week and that is all she gets for teaching this summer. I am studying some this summer though I have not made a business of going to school. Mariah and Carrie Dixon, the girls that live here, and also Emma French, attend school, but as they live here they go free. Mrs. French has been giving Emma a whipping for about 1/2 hour and her music has kept time to my writing in no very agreeable manner. We have felt like saying in the midst of squalls and screams from Emily and the scolding of the old woman and girls, “O! for a lodge in some vast wilderness, some boundless contiguity of shade, where rumors of oppression and deceit might never reach me more.” You can see what pleasant times we have living here. The place itself is pretty, but the folks are disagreeable both to themselves and everybody around them unless they chance to be in an uncommon pleasant mood which state occurs but very seldom. I should be very glad if we were able to come and see you when he new arrangements are completed and you were alone. I think the wall paper is very pretty especially the blue and I should like very much to see it on the wall. Well Aunt I have a new dress. The skirt and waist are different. I wanted to get a whole dress like the skirt but there was not enough in the piece only 7 yards so I got another kind for waist and sleeves the colors are more brilliant, but the quality of the cloth is not as good as the skirt. I had to pay $.25 a yard for it. I will send a piece of my waist, but I have used the other all up in my skirt and an apron for Valeria (sister). So I shall not be able to send you any now. I am going to send you a four leaf clover and also the language which is industry, it applies to you I think very well. Charles Dixon of whom I spoke in a previous letter as being in a hospital at Washington happily surprised his folks by making his arrival about three weeks ago having been discharged. Theron E. Carpenter has joined the regiment we shall not probably see him again unless he survives the war and returns. It is sad to think of, so many have taken the parting kiss for the last time to meet no more on Earth but those that have a hope that their loved ones are prepared for eternity will not mourn as those that have no hope, although the loss will be the same. I can sympathize with those that have friends in the army for I have had sad experience myself of having a brother there who suffered and fought and fell for his country. I miss him more and more, the longer the lapse of time, the more I long for a brother’s love and frequently I go away to think and weep and pray for him, if living that he may be protected from the snares of the world and kept free from all temptation and if not that I might be reconciled to the will of God and trust in His love knowing that he chastens in love and merciful kindness and that he dose all things well. You asked if we received a letter dated in February. I cannot tell but I think we did. How do you like your collar. Does it fit you. Mother and Valeria are not able to write to you today so you will excuse them this time. We are all glad to hear from you. Our horses are getting along quite well. The colt is as smart as a whip, but we have to feed him part cows milk. His name is Billy. We have a new milks cow, one he bought for the purpose of raising the colt. I thought I would try and cover this sheet too, but I don’t know as I shall be able. There are five women getting vituals and they jar the house so that I can hardly write. I believe supper is about ready and I shall have to conclude this letter. Our folks are going up to Springport after supper and will start this on the road. I have not been very well for some and on account of poor health I have not been able to make this letter any more interesting. Write soon. With much love I remain as ever your affectionate niece,
Helen E. Nelson (age 17)
Springport, Jackson Co., MI
I will send you a flowering Almond. The language is Hope.
by Admin
Author: John F. Draper of Taberg
Title: Letter to “Father” [Ebenezer Draper of Westmoreland, Oneida Co, NY]
Date: 27 April 1863
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:
Taberg
April 27, 1863
Dear Father [Ebenezer Draper – Westmoreland, Oneida Co NY]
I learned from Hannah [JF’s sister, Hannah P Draper] that you and Beckwiths folks have had a kind of a flair up. I have been thinking the mater over and I have came to the conclusion that they had better leave as soon as they can arrange matters to do so. William is as good a man as there is in Hampton and he has been like a son and brother to you and Hannah for which I mean to reward him if I ever get able to do so, and now what I want is to have him live near you so that he can help you if you should nead help when either of you are sick. I have thought of a plan that I think you will like when you understand it, now supposing you sell Beckwith the shop and barn with that part of the lot and have him fix up the barn for a house and move into it as soon as he can, and have it in the bargain that he shall make a tight board fence between your lot and his so high that the king can’t see over it and then things will all go right. If Beckwith will give you $300 for it you had better let it slide (as Uncle Lawton used to say) for that old shop fraim is a miserable old thing for you know that some of the timbers were rotten when it was built and I am sure that the 20 years that it has stood there has not made it much better besides the cost of making that barn into a house is going to be more, as high as every thing is than any of us was aware of. Now if you will do this it will pay the mortgage into $100 and that I will pay so that Hannah will be free once more. I could not pay it all at once but I would pay it within a year if I had my health. You had better let them stay where they are two or three months and in that time he can fix the barn so that he can live in it and then you and Hannah just occupy the whole of your own house. And I should take down that hall partition and have the outside door open into the front room and then Hannah could have a bed in one corner of the front room. She can have a bedstead made big enough for her to sleep on that can be turned up in the day time so that it will look like a cupboard. Then make a kitchen of your room, and just take out the paritions in that wing and it will make you the neatest kind of a shop. That will save all the fuss of building on to the south side of the house for there is enough built on to it all ready. Hannah told me that ? [unclear] was most out of flour and just as soon as I ghet some money to spair I will send you some. If you have not planted all your garden yet you had better raise a lot of onions for they will be high this fall.
Yours truly,
JF Draper