My Tree

Deeply Rooted

Irwin, Julia A.

Source 065 – Personal Letter by Annie L. Jenks

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Author: Annie L. Jenks of Dryden, NY
Title: Letter to “Brother” George [George S. Thomas] and Sister Julia
Date: 03 December 1903
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

1903
Dryden, NY

[George & Julia Thomas]

My Dear Brother:

Your card is at hand, and I will write you at once so you will know how I am. For a number of days I did not gain much. My heart was so weak. But I got some medicine that helped me. I am not able to be round much but am on the gain. “O brother George how sorry I am for poor Dear Jim. I am afraid he will never will be any better. If he had only staid here with me. He was getting smart but he was set on starting for somewhere. We never will know how much hardships he has gone through with, if he could been contented here for a short time. We had a fine visit at you house. You and sister Julia had such nice things to eat. and your fine convenient house. but poor Jim I am so grieved about him. I do hope the Lord will spare his life to see us once more.

Jenks is here in Dryden at work for Mr Rockwell. He had to come here and earn a living for Ashur. He done all he could on the old farm this year but he had not one ear of corn nor one thing to sell. Katie has had to stay here and care for me. She says only for the pasture it is a failure for making a living. Edwin thought the heirs of Mary would be dissatisfied if he sold some wood to buy groceries and tobacco to keep Ashur on so he has to hire a man to do his chores and he works here. He raised a very fat hog so he thoughtt to help. His grain was a failure and Katie says he worked very faithful and cultivated and hoed but the farm is run out. The old Thomas farm is run entirely out nothing but strawberries grow. We are having very mild weather some snow but not sleighing. I am not able to go out any. But was fortunate in not having bones broke. Now George we must write to Jim and it will cheer him some while amongst strangers. I will send him a good long letter so he won’t think I am forgetful of him. I send my best regards to all of the dear friends Jane and Dan and Charley [Annie’s niece and nephews? George’s daughter and sons?]. I will write soon to Nellie and Eva [Annie’s nieces? George S. Thomas’ daughters?]. It was my intention to send the girls some Christmas presents but I will have to get able to go to Ithica City first.

Now hoping the Lord will bless all of you. I am very truly yours,
Annie L. Jenks
to my Brother George & Sister Julia
12m & 3d day, 1903

Katie sends her love to all of you and Mr. Jenks the same. Take good care of my nice kitten and give him a sly pie[?] and a kiss.

Source 081 – Personal Letter by E.B. Ketchum

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Author: EB Ketchum
Title: Letter to “Brother” George [George S. Thomas]
Date: 16 May 1902
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note: I initially thought this to be Jane Thomas’s husband, Eugene B. Ketchum; however, some records indicate that he died in 1884. Could it be this letter is written by his namesake/son?

Manton, MI
May 16, 1902

Dear Brother,
Yours of the 14th received in regard to the estate my wife wishes you to pay the money and as soon as the first sale is made to take the same out and oblige yours respectfully. EB Ketchum

George we have been looking for you this long time to trout fish. Now don’t play no game on us we are all quite well, but ma she is not feeling very good. Love to all.
Ma say to bring sister Julia along, also Jane [Julia’s sister or daughter? undetermined]

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 061 – Personal Letter by Mary Jane Thomas

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[update Tags for this source]
Author: “Sister” Mary Jane [Jane Thomas]
Title: Letter to George S. Thomas and Sister Julia
Date: 02 May 1878
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:

May the 2, 1878
Dear brother George S. Thomas and Sister Julia:
i sit my self down to write you a few lines to let you know we have not quite forgotten yo we are as well as common and hope this letter will find yo the same. Brother George we did have such a good visit when yo was out here that we will never for get. we think of yo and talk of yo often time went off so fast and after yo was gone i could think of lots of things i wanted to say i wish i could see yo often yo are gone and all the rest of the boys and no one for me to see of my folks i have not even Laura since yo went away but i no i have been good to them and i do not care. They say Laura has traded for that house and 5 acres of land on the hill where Irwin was plastering when yo was out and the people says she has been cheated ? gave or is to give $9 hundred dollars to boot. Irwin has gone to work by the month for Leroy Smith the last i heard Laura was sick with hart complain. If she has not written to yo about there trade yo say nothing that I have written for it is nothing to me I do not want any thing to say about her business, but she has got a very large house and i want yo to no all that is a going on in and about town. Well George i will say we are not a keeping a dairy. Ashur has sold and traded all the cows but three to old ones and one 4 year old that i claim. Asher has got 10 yearlings and they are very nice yo saw some of them. he has got in all 14 head and 4 young calves and one ? cow that i did not count. We have had a very nice winter. Not but very little snow and spring has come of very fine the farmers are a doing spring work and are one month ahead of other springs we have a great deal rain so far it is a warm growing time things looks as forward now as in some seasons in time i do not no what to think Old Thomas Parker is married he is 74 years old what do yo think of that Brother George. I have not heard any news worth mention. Very lately only Mary Bell has had a shock of palsy we are going down to see what the mater is and what was the cause as we have not heard the particulars i hope Julia is better. Nellie wrote she was complaining this spring we have not heard from the boys down to the Gildom [?] in some time.

Well Julia yo must come and see me some time. It will do yo good in August i am going down to see Ham and James Edwin if nothing happens i do want to see Ham so bad and all the rest. Tell Nellie i received her very kind letter and will answer the same some day. She must not wait for me. George send me your receipt for that liniment and don’t fail it may be good for my head i can hardly write there is such a noise in my head and i am quite deaf. George your specks I can see very well but yo must excuse this letter but i must write to yo as i can give my best respects to Mrs. Bender and her family and all my uncles and aunts and cousin. Well i must close good by George and Julia. My love to all the children give my respects to Scott if at home. Charles and all the little ones did my baby like the quilt i sent it. Kiss the babe Nellie for Jane and Frankee. Asher B sends his respects to Julia and yourself George. says he had such a good visit with yo. from sister Mary Jane. Write soon. Good by..

Source 182 – Personal Letter by Wm H. Thomas

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Author: Wm. H. Thomas
Virgil, Nov 7, 1870
Brother George, I take a few moments to pen you a few lines. We are all well at this date and hope this will find yourself and family the same. Ma reed the box in due time and all write and were very much pleased with the contents Mary and Manly was over here one week ago . they are all well. I was at John Franks last Saturday. They are well, health generally good in this vicinity. It has been very dry in several counties in this state. Cortland has not suffered as much as the northern and western counties. Pick is a running his old machine and as you see God as I had a nail I could fix it. I keep the same team I had last fall and am a plowing it goes complete Ed has gone to Pa with James and has gone to work driving team at $25 per month. We are a having rather a warm political stir in this senatorial district at the regular radical convention. Cortland was promised the member provided they would not run RH Duel when they met at Syracuse Duet got the nomination. The Onandaga Deligates bolted and offer Dennis McCarthy of Syracuse in an independent ticket and the democrats has dropped their man and go in for McCarthy the home stir is for Sherif Haynes Rep John D Benton Dem it is a close thing I think Benton will get the office.

Ashur has bought out Den Hearvy I was over to see them they feel good over their bargain 70 acres of land for ?? dollars. Lots of good tiber, chestnut, oak, ash and all kinds of fruit was a great yield with us this season. Cider is worth $150 per bushel apples are from six cents to 37 cents per bushel produce is low and slow of sale. Stock is a drug it is mostly thin owing to the drought. Sheep are low and finally everything is cheap compared with last fall. I sold those ewes I had when you was down here for 450 in Jersey this fall state sheep bring 2.75 and $500 in the same market and are slow of sale on 3 months time. Butter and cheese is short by one third of last years product. Grain is rather short. We have large shipments from the west. I have no more news to write you this time. My excuse for not answering your letter before is had a lame hand and it has got tired out and I shall have to close by saying Ma was as proud of her peaches as a little girl with a new dress and the shugar was a great treat to her. Has health is very good for her. she sends her love to George, Julia, and the babes and her respects to David and all of her folks.

Write soon as you receive. From Wm. H. Thomas
To G.S. Thomas
Give my love to Julia and kiss the boys and gals for me