Fayette Friday – Rev. Eugene B. Scofield, 22 February 1884

[Editor’s Note: While researching the details of this letter, I realized that Eugene put the wrong year on his letter. Records show that Milton Highlands died in 1884, and Jim Harvey and Lulu Ice married that same year. It makes you wonder what Eugene was thinking when he dated his letter 1882!]

Letter transcription:

Muncie Ind. Feb. 22/82 [sic 1884]

Dear Sister Lena;

Your kind letter was received some time ago, but you must pardon my delay as I have been rushed for the last few weeks. We are well. We took dinner at Lin’s yesterday. Bal has been here two week-is spending a few days at Lin’s.-She had a bad head-ache yesterday. She will stay several days longer.

There is not much going on for me to impart in way of news.

Last Sunday I officiated at a funeral under the most trying circumstances. The proprietor of the Gas Works here-S.M. Highlands went into partnership with his brother Milton, of Mechanicstown, Ohio, to purchase the Marion (Ind)

[page 2] Gas Works. Milton left his home in Dec. for Marion, and was there when, on Jan. 3 his house (in Ohio) burned down burning two of his children to ashes, and burning another a young girl of about 18 so bad that she is still in care of the Doctor. In the latter part of Jan., he came here to his brothers with his wife and two children (the other 8 years old who has been having the measles ever since they came). He was compelled to look after the works at Marion, and would come home frequently to see his sick; In so doing he contracted a cold it settled into lung fever from which he died last Thursday night 8 p.m. He and his wife were both members of the Church – they had been to church Sunday 2 weeks before last – she sent for me the evening he died just after I returned from prayer meeting

[page 3 ] I went around but it was difficult to render any comfort. A large number attended the funeral.

I am sorry to learn that you still have to take medicine trust you will not have to do so long.

I would like much to see Frank and the baby as well as all the rest –

Yes I knew the – – one you inquired about, he seems to be rather on the bachelor list, first rate fellow I guess.

I saw Ed. Luther in Indianapolis a month ago. He looks well, wears spectacles, don’t look much older than he did 8 years ago. He lives at Anderson.

A few weeks ago I borrowed a two horse rig of Bro. Quick, and Ellie, Grace Wilson & I went to Summit on on the snow, Staid over night, came home next day.

[page 4] Ettie gave me a pair of slippers for Chris[t]mas present that and a pair of cuff buttons from the Sunday School was all I got. I gave her a nice album, a little scrap-book and her mother gave her a nice toilet set. She gave her Pa, a cup & saucer, and her Ma a tile to set a coffee pot on.

The above is our Christmas.

We took dinner at Adamsons; May and Lee were here and they went too. Lou Ice and Jim Harvey will be married Mar. 5 Joe Clawson and Lavara Harvey were married a couple of weeks ago. They had a dance on that occasion.

I would like to come down but don’t know when I will.

Write oftener. Tell Ella she owes me a letter.

Love to All – hastily

Your Brother E. B. Scofield