My Tree

Deeply Rooted

Miller, John

Source 075 – Personal Letter by Unknown

by

Author: unknown
Title: Letter to George [presumed to be George S. Thomas]
Date: undated
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note: [presumed to be Laura Jenks]

[first four pages missing; starts with page 5 of a letter]
Now George, there are some things you ought to know. and perhaps it will be well for me to mention them to you. When our brother Hamilton died in Duke Center I received a dispatch from James’s wife. She had already sent for Edwin to come and see to the burial of our brother and he came at once. Now of course I notified Ashur and Mary. as soon as Manley heard the news he at once ? out for Duke Center and while he was on the way out there Edwin was on the way here, now all that could be said could not stop Manley from going, so Edwin blamed all of us for it was in July and the burial had to be postponed for Manley to return from his trip so the outcome was they demanded pay for Manley’s expenses which was duly paid. As it was in Mary’s and Edd hands they done as they liked about it but if I had went out there Mary and Edd would refused to paid. I tell you this so you will see why we received so little of heirs [?] estate he had on his person nineteen hundred dollars when Edwin settled with me he said there was a dividend of 40 dollars for each of us. You know weather you received it or not. I got none of the 40 dollars. Now you see we can’t allow Hatties expenses and all of Edds journeys if we do there will be nothing left. Edwin has a charge that I shall not allow if I can help it. The summer before Mary died some one notified Edwin that Mary was dead or dying so he came up and while in Marathon he notified the Goodales so they met for a funeral and found our sister very much alive, and Edd would not tell who his informant was. And to this day Jenks nor myself don’t know who sent for Edd. He and Mary had a time over it. Now if Hattie wants pay for the journey up here that time let her get it from the one who sent for Edd. All Harvy Hill knows Mary did not send for him at that time. She told every one she did not know anything of it.

Now George Edwin owed me and he kept the debt alive by paying me a small sum occasionally. He paid me my expenses out to see you when James and the rest came. The amount was fifty-five dollars. It run for a long time. He never got ready to settle it up and I think it ought to come out of the money from the house and premises Mary willed him. She also herself and Ashur hired Katie two months while she was ill. Katie & Jenks done all til Edwin came up. Katie never had her pay. Now I have told you some of the matters and it is all just as I have written. Read this over careful and write soon. And if you see any flaws in anything let me hear what you think.

In regards to Edwin Jenks he will help settle this matter with a very little cost only what he has to write he will do for us for a very small amount. But Mr. Miller will want all there is. Edwin had over six hundred dollars charged to Mary but he finally cut of some charges. When he saw he could not live. I was glad he did on account of James’s heirs for it would be bad to cheat any of us and add to the Jamesons already vast amount of wealth.

Now George read careful every thing I have penned is strictly true. Good by from your loving sister. Give my regards to all.

Source 071 – Personal Letter by Laura Jenks

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Author: Laura A. Jenks of Dryden, NY
Title: Letter to “Brother” George S. Thomas of North Dorr, MI
Date: 20 January 1908
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

1908, 1st m, 20 day (January 20, 1908)
Dryden, NY

George S. Thomas
North Dorr, Mich.

My Dear Brother:
It is some time since I have heard from you and as this settlement is now started I will inform you something about it. The bill against Mary Jane’s estate has been made over by Frank Jameson and Albr. Harvy that they claim is a lawyer. But I guess he was Edwin’s neighbor. Now Mr. Jameson came here and told me he did not know anything about this settlement. He also wrote to Jenks that he supposed by Edwins tell that it was settled long ago (yet Mr. Miller says) he brought this new bill which he swore to in the presence of the judge. His ? bill calls for six hundred dollars besides what Mary willed Edwin. The bill calls for Manley Goodales funeral expenses and Mary Janes and drunken sprees at hotel in Virgil and Marathon. The bill was so large and so many claims that it could not be settled. the 6th of January. it called for a large amount of monument work and mason work that Mr. Jenks done. There is a very willful lie between Jameson and Miller. Now how can this ever be settled without Edwin’s accounts and Mary Jane’s diary. Edmond Jenks wants to see them but they don’t show them. All Mary owed Edwin for was coming to see her in her last illness and for probating her will. He was here 28 days and Jameson wants one hundred & 4 dollars. A dollar a day. There is livery bills and meals to hotels and all kinds of false claims and very little credit.

Mr. Jameson told Miller to settle with out lawing. The claims calls for more than the farm brought. Edmond Jenks told Miller that he must see Mary’s diary and Edds account book before he would allow such a fraudulent account. That made Mr. Miller turn red in his face and he said he would settle. He has got money belonging to the estate that he has never given up.

Now tell me at once which is best to do. Law them or give up all of the money. Let me hear from you. The judge said if it could not be settled there would have to be a referee appointed. And he could have some of these false accounts looked into. Write on receipt of this. Give my love to each one and a good share to your self. From your loving sister,
Laurie A. Jenks

To my dear Brother:
Now George, do you want Jr. Jameson to have pay for Manley’s doctor bill and casket which Mary Jane and Ashur paid 10 years ago. They had two hundred dollars in gold and paid it willingly. some of the gold was Manley’s. This portion of the bill Mr. Jameson swore to is a false statement and now he wants it paid to him over again.

Mr. Jameson’s bill is so large that the items must take a number of thousand words. Understand we have Edwins bill and his name in his own writing and that called for more than he ought to asked. This last move is all a fraud from first to last. It is a disgraceful affair. What I have written is a true state of affairs.

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 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.