Tag Archives: correspondence

Fayette Friday – Eugene B. Scofield, 7 July 1905

Letter transcription:

Indianapolis 7.7.05

Dear Sister Lena:

I am just in receipt of a note from Ralph Eugene Scofield, Kansas City, stating that he has traced our “line” back to Daniel Scofield who came to Stamford, Conn. 1641, and farther back to Sir Cuthburt Scofield, Scofield Manor, Rochdale, England. He will soon have his work in

[page 2] shape for all who may want the genealogy.
I spent all last week in Illinois. Am spending this at home. Was with George and May at Mt. Summit, (together with Etta, who is still there) over the Fourth of July. Never enjoyed myself better.

 

[torn paper]

With love, and with best to Brother John
Your brother
Eugene

Presume you knew of the death of Bro. J.M. Land. I held him in highest esteem and Christian love.
E.B.S.

 

 

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/03/30/fayette-friday-eugene-b-scofield-7-july-1905/

Fayette Friday – Balzora Scofield

Letter transcription:

McComb Miss, Sunday—P.M.

My Dear, Dear Brother:—

Your interesting letter with enclosures would have been answered some days ago—but in the midst of house-cleaning, a union revival & a sick cook—a near neighbor was taken violently ill and had to be taken to New Orleans for treatment. It fell upon Mabel to take her. As Will is away upon a several days business trip—it kept me busy to push things in the house—see that George went to school—and did not stay out after revival services. Also had to look after lady who is wearing

[page 2]
magnetic goods, etc. In the midst of it all came a three hours call from Bro. Fares (Fa-rees) Christian minister here. He is young and very earnest. Said he had heard of you since his early boyhood and finally had the pleasure of hearing you speak at a St. Louis Con. La is his state but he has spent several years preaching in Tenn. & Ky. Was State Evangelist of Miss. several years. Is the most popular minister in McComb. I have not been out to hear him as all the pleasant weather has been devoted to this revival. Conducted by Rev. Jones of

[page 3]
Colorado Spring, Colo. He is a Columbian Pres. and a Englishman. Very eloquent but not of sound doctrine. Such meetings are too sensational for me so I have his news second hand.—The past week has certainly put me in sympathy with Etta’s house cleaning experience. 6 rooms—besides hall bathroom, storeroom lumber room & servants room—you can fancy the confusion & work. Mabel re-gilded all her large picture frames, enameled two frames—an iron bed & inside of bath tub, and inside of refrigerator. She sent to Chicago for new iron bed for my room—with best

[page 4]
steel-framed bed-springs. This with an Ost[?] mattress makes the best bed I ever [?truck] & I’ve slept in some fine ones. An electric storm last night kept us awake from 1 a.m. til almost 5 a.m. so I’m very nervous & unable to use pen today. Do you hear from Celia or her family? I am glad you have such satisfactory ministerial work for I know you do great good in that field as well as elsewhere with many thanks for you constant kindness to me. I must say goodbye for this time. Look for Mabel home tonight. Love to Etta Will & Guy—Most lovingly Zora

The letter was enclosed in this envelope, however it may not have been the original. Perhaps Eugene sent the letter on to Lena.

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/03/23/fayette-friday-balzora-scofield/

Gladys – 28 April 1971

Letter transcription:

118 Juniper Court 47906
April 28, 1971

Dear David and Bonnie and Debbie,

Yours received today and since the rest of the week seems to be well taken, thought I had better get a line or two off tonight. I still do not have my own typewriter. The one the shop loaned me works, except the ribbon won’t turn and I have to give it a turn once in a while—hence the unevenness in the way the words show.

Tomorrow Edna is going with me to get the missionary who has been itinerating in Logansport and Lafayette Districts. He is speaking at a church near Logansport tomorrow evening. He will spend the night here and speak at our church Friday morning. I hope someone comes to hear him, since this meeting was a rather quickly arranged affair. Seems the Board of Missions sometimes doesn’t know what all is going on. We had his itineration set up so he would be at Trinity Sunday morning and at another Lafayette church in the evening, but he has to be in Buffalo, N.Y., by 8 PM April 30th. Did I mention in my last letter that Delmar Byler attended a meeting for North Indiana Conference Missionary Secretaries, members of Div. of Christian Outreach and District Superintendents? That meeting occurred the day before I went to Wichata. He told me he was going to come to Rockport to see you some time. It seems his wife has something in Boston from time to time.

Dad has the duty today, which lasts until 7 o’clock in the morning, so he isn’t carrying on a project tonight, except to watch tv and answer the phone.

One of the nurses who used to work at Purdue is married and lives in Germany. Her husband is a German, but an American citizen and serving in the Army. They have invited us to visit them this summer. We will have a week to drive around in Germany and Switzerland after we leave Africa. The Schillers live close to the French border, but in an American housing development for army personnel. We didn’t see much of Germany when we were there two years ago. We should see more this trip. There was an exchange student living with a family who attends Trinity last year. She helped the girl of the family she was living with make a banner for WSCS and I sent her a jewel box from Japan last summer. She sent me a very nice thank-you note. She lives in Marburg and we plan to see her while we are there.

Last week while I was in Wichata, I was able to enjoy real spring weather. Now that I am back home, it is like winter again. The flowers and trees—everything growing—was so much further along. The flower beds were full of blooming geraniums, and other flowers in full bloom. The part of Wichata that I saw was very clean. It was a delight to see the area around the Exhibit Hall—Century II. Everything so clean and orderly. The taxi driver who took me to the airport to come home said something about the stupid liquor law they have in Kansas. He seemed to think it kept Wichata from getting conventions, because most conventions have people attending who want to drink. That didn’t bother CWU. The convention center is a 13½ million dollar building—quite a place. Meets the needs of any convention.

There is a luncheon I plan to attend in Wabash Village—close to Glenwood Heights. It is a meeting of League of Women Voters which I have found is a very interesting organization. They really do get the facts on any subject they deal with. I haven’t been able to attend very many meetings, but have enjoyed the ones I have attended. If we could just get our church people to be as interested in getting the facts and to know what is really going on as the League, we might be able to accomplish more. I heard I.F. Stone on the Today Show this morning along with James Michener. It seems the Reader’s Digest condensed something Michener wrote about Kent State and left out something very important that seemed to give Michener’s article (book, really) a different meaning. Stone asked him why he permitted R.D. to do that to his book? They had quite a heated discussion about Kent State.

Love Mother

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/15/gladys-28-april-1971/

Fayette Friday – Eugene B. Scofield, 6 October 1885

Letter transcription:

New Castle, Ind. Oct. 6. 1885

Dear Sister Lena;

I am indebted to you, to Ella, to Zora, and to Sherman and perhaps to Minnie, for kind missives received somewhere in the remote past, so long ago that without reference to my “Column of Correspondents” I could by no manner of means locate their timely arrivals.

First and foremost—we are well: O what a boon is good health while so many of our acquaintance are stricken with the harsh hand of disease, and many fall victems of death; God spares our lives and blesses us with health. I trust you are well, and that Ella and all

[page 2]
hers are in good health.

There is quite a number of cases of Typhoid fever in this country this fall. A young man by the name of Peacock, who worked the summer for Ettie’s Pa is down with it and, if not now dead is not expected to live.

Bertha Hartche, of Muncie, you remember her, was not expected to live the middle of last week, we don’t know whether she is still alive or not.

I was preaching in Clarke Co. when I was to have been at the S.S. celebration, as you perhaps recollect, and when there a good old Brother of ample means offered to pay all expenses if I would bring my wife down and visit them and attend the Southern Exposition at Louisville, I was to preach a couple of nights as an equivalent to expenses.

[page 3]
When I came home Ettie at once approved of the arrangement—who would not. On my return from my ten days absence Ettie was at her father’s, and as made known to her the proposed trip she invited May to go with us which arrangement was finally consummated making the trip so much pleasanter for Ettie.

We left here on Monday morning and went direct to Bro. Gibsons who lives at Gibson Station eight miles from Jeffersonville on the Ohio & Miss R.R. We went by way of Indianapolis, and as we had a few hours there we visited the State House—there is quite a number of marble and granite columns in the corider—‘twil be grand when finished. We also visited Mortens Monument in the Circle Park.

We had a grand, good time the girls said they never visited a place that paid better than this visit.

But I cannot further describe our trip this time as I must lose [leave?]

[page 4]
Before closing however.—I spent a couple of weeks at Blountsville holding a meeting—staid all night during first week with a Mr. Barr whose wife is a niece of Charley Booe’s Mother—fine folks—big noses like the Booe’s & Moffetts—

On Monday 28 ult Mr. & Mrs. Booe and Mrs. Roysden were at church. As a [I] went to shake hands with Mr. B. supposing him to be a resident (as were the several others I met as I steped into the church) I was in for letting go his hand but he held on until finally I looked up to see why he didn’t let go—well you may imagine my astonishment.

I must close. I have been interrupted and did not get this done as above date. Sally Smith is here canvassing for something called yestar. I am going to Cleaveland Ohio to Conventions—see Standard. Ettie is just finishing Lou’s ricrac—

Love to all—Your Brother Eugene S.

[top of page 1]
P.S. Am out of ink.

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/12/fayette-friday-eugene-b-scofield-6-october-1885/

Gladys – 22 April 1971

 

Letter transcription:

April 22, 1971

Dear David & Bonnie,

Had to get up at 5 this morning to get a ride to airport with a friend. We got the TWA 8:10 to Kansas City and changed planes and were in Wichata by 9:30. It was about 10:30 by the time I was ready for a nap. I am rooming alone, so had no competition from a room mate. It is about 12:30 now so I had a chance to catch up a little.

Yesterday morning a young girl from Indianapolis who had been a J-3 from the old Northwest Conference spoke to 5 of the circles of our W.S.C.S. We met in the church parlour. After the meeting was over I went to the Geneva Center to a meeting that had been called by the Ex. Director of North Ind. Conference. The Division of Christian outreach, all Missionary District Secy’s from the 10 districts and the D.S.’s were also present. Imagine my surprise when I arrived and saw Delmar Byler. He flew back to N.Y. from Indianapolis so saw him again this a.m. He says he is going to come see you sometime.

The convention center called Century 2 is just across the street from this hotel. I am on the 8th floor and have a grand view of the city and Arkansas River. We never did get to Wichata while living in Liberty, but I know in the past 25 or 26 years it has changed much. When I was in Kansas City in 1967 it didn’t

[page 2] look much like what I remembered when we lived close.

I read your letter after I got home yesterday and glad you have made contact with Lea and that she plans to stay with you after the baby comes. I will come when I can get away.

Spring has arrived a little early in W. Laf. and the ravine was beginning to show green when I left. I had noticed around town the red buds beginning to show some color. We are far enough south here, the trees are in full leaf and the red buds are far enough out that the blossoms are about gone from some.

This isn’t the most expensive hotel room I have ever stayed in. There were two sheets of paper and no envelopes. Guess I will have to see what I can find on a desk in the lobby.

Plan to be back home Monday the 26th.

Love Mother

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/11/gladys-22-april-1971/

Fayette Friday – Euguene B. Scofield, September 4, 1883

Letter transcription:

Muncie Ind. Sept. 4, 83’ 7 p.m.

Dear Sister

Ettie & Lin were out together this afternoon and Lin told Ettie that she had written you not to come to Muncie at present as she had had much company of late.

Come and visit us anyway—Ettie wants you to come and so do I. You can visit us and have a good time here, if Lin is tired. Sherman has gone to work in C— and is boarding at Josh Greer’s. Ettie send love and say come. Love to all Eugene. Answer on receipt.

 

[Editor’s note: Lin may be Lena and Eugene’s older half sister Malinda (Scofield) Claypool, who lived in Muncie. I have also seen Malinda possibly referred to as Minnie. This envelope was addressed to Lena in Kokomo where she was apparently staying with another brother Frank.] 

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/11/24/fayette-friday-euguene-b-scofield-september-4-1883/

Fayette Friday – Fannie L. (Gilchrist) Merrell #2

A second letter from Fannie Gilchrist to Lena Scofield. It is not clear whether this is the first letter or the second, since last week’s letter did not include the year. While this letter describes part of Fannie’s journey to Iowa, it could have been written months afterwards. Fannie becomes a great contemporary witness to the fire that destroyed Chicago in October 1871, as she mentions traveling through a burnt section of the city.

Letter transcription:

Marion, Iowa Dec 14th, 72

Dear Lena

I received your letter and was very glad to hear from you. I thought you was going to wait until I wrote. O! how I wish I could see you and tell you all the news you want me to tell you all about my journey it would have been very pleasant – if I had been well it makes me have the head ach to write on the cars It was in the after noon when we crossed the Mississippi and the sun was shining and it did look so pretty I wish you could of seen it there is an island in it with two houses on it – there was a lady on the cars that told me they was not nice people that lived there. Lake Michigan was so pretty the sun was shining on it – which made it look beautiful. Did you ever see a wind mill? I saw so many of all shapes they did look so funy. On getting off the cars

[page 2] at the great Union Depot at Chicago we had to get in the to go to the well street Depot and going from one Depot to the other we passed through the burnt part of the city. I saw a great many people there was a carrage passed us and I think the women that were in the carriage was Nun’s they did look so funy. I reached the end of my journey between 8 and 9 o’clock I was very tired. I spend my Thanksgiveing at home I was invited out but did not go, Miss Small was here for dinner. Are you making any Christmas presents? Lena pleas tell Em and Min I would like to write to them but have not time I send my love to them. Is Mary there yet? You say you wish I could see Zella I would like to very much. I send my love to Pauline and ask her if she does not want to take a sleigh ride this winter. You want me to tell you all about my school I am acquainted with all of the girls of my size and most all of the large ones I have not had an introduction to any of the boys and I do not want any the boys here are

[page 3] are no better than they are there. I like some of the girls real well. I sit with Alice Cook I think she is a very nice little girl. Alice and I got weighted and I weigh 104 Miss Small think I am flesher than when I first came. I go with Effa Whipple the most of the time she is my cousin she is as large as I but not as old. I have not been to see her but twice since I been here and she does not live far from our house I was over to her house yesterday evening and we had a real nice time she played on the Piano and I sang. Aunt Abbie said I might go to the Literrary so Effa Anna and their Ma called for me and I went with them. We had a real nice time it was at the public school there are three Literrary socities here. Are they going to have a tree Christamas at our church? We were going to have a supper Christamas eve I gues they are going to put it off until the horses get better so the country people can come and then we are going to have a sleigh ride before supper won’t that be nice? I should think

[page 4] Anna Quinn would have been ashamed of her self that piece that was in the Gazette, was she not? What made them put it in? Does Ella Quinn go over to our house? You ask me if I do not think of staying here two years I would like to go to school two years for I think I know very little for a girl of my age. How can they get Mr. Bippetoe when He is superintendant of the College? You ask me if it is so that Emma was going to be married I don’t know what you mean I never said any thin about her going to marry. Lizzie has not answered my letter yet. Have you heard from Ella lately? The wind is blowing real hard to day you ought to hear it – some time I know it would scare you. My new dress is done it is trimed with satten of a darker shade it is made with a polinase buttoned up behind it has three folds on the upper skirt and a ruffle and Miliners fold above that and between the two there is a fold of satten on the lower skirt there is a broad piece of bias satten I think it is very

[top margin] pretty. I am going to wear it tomorrow. You did not tell me what you did on Election day did you ride on the wagon? It was as still as could be here it seemed so funny for it was all ways so noisy there. Next week is examination. I have to learn sum poetry this afternoon for next Friday. I wish you would tell me all about the Rivel Sisters and Bone of Contention Aunt does not take that paper she take the Presbeter. I am readying that story I think it is real interesting. There is some snow on the ground – When you write please tell me what they done with Dickey. Are my flowers growing nice? O! how I wish I could see you. I was invited to a party not long ago Aunt thought I had better not go she said she did not like for me to be out at night and the boys and girls were not as old as I. I found out afterwards that they danced and cut up high. They always have refreshments at parties here. How do you wear your hair

[top margin 2] I cannot [?] mine fit to be seen my [?] teeth are broke and my come is to big. Emma all ways fixes it on Sabbath for me. I send my live to our family tell Ma I will write next week When you write ask me all the questions you want to about my school or anything else I belive I have told you every thing I can think of pleas write soon and pleas excus all mispelled words. I shall look for a letter evry week now from your Friend Fannie L. Gilchrist

P.S. I send my love to all a good part of it for you good by write soon

 

© 2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/08/11/fayette-friday-fannie-l-gilchrist-merrell-2/

Fayette Friday – Fannie L. (Gilchrist) Merrell #1

During the early 1870s, most likely 1872 or 1873, Fannie Gilchrist moved from Connersville, Indiana, to Marion County, Iowa, with her family. Fannie’s sister Zella has conflicting birth locations in 1872, either in Iowa or Fayette County. While Fannie’s brother Clifford, born in 1873, always claimed Indiana as his birthplace. Regardless, Fannie’s family seems to have moved back and forth between Fayette County and Iowa. Fannie married in Fayette County, in 1877, and remained there until the deaths of her husband and son in the early 1910s. Fannie’s parents moved to Iowa before 1900 and were buried across the border in Kansas.

Lena and Fannie most likely attended school together in Connersville as young girls and teenagers. Born in November 1856, Fannie was about 16 when this letter was written.

 

 

Letter transcription:

Marion Iowa May 30th

Dearest Lena

I thought I would send you a little note with Ma’s letter to let you know that I have not forgotten the nice times we use to have. I hope you will excuse me for not answering your letter, I intend to as soon as possible. O! I want to see you so very much. I am so sleepy I will have to close this long note. P.S. Please excuse paper. From Fannie to dear Lena.

 

 

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/08/04/fayette-friday-fannie-l-gilchrist-merrell-1/

Fayette Friday – Eudora Scofield

Fayette Friday is a new series of posts on Fridays. My maternal grandfather, Eugene McGraw, a native of Fayette County, Indiana, counted among his ancestors many early settlers and leading citizens of the county. In the early 2000s, after visiting my grandfather in Indiana, I brought back to California a small family archive which included dozens of letters saved by my great grandmother, Ina (Kerschner) McGraw. My grandfather rescued them when he cleaned out his parents’ house in the 1970s. The collection contains a variety letters written to Ina, her siblings, aunts, uncles, and extended family. The letters connect many of the early nineteenth century Fayette county families, primarily the Scofields, Kerschners, and the Hacklemans.

Letter from Eudora Scofield to Hyatt L. Frost, undated.

  • Written before 1885 when Eudora married Osmond J. Condon in McLean County, Illinois
  • Also likely before 1880 when Eudora resided in Bloomington, Illinois
  • Hyatt L. Frost married Dora Burkheiser in 1882, Fayette County, Indiana
  • Eudora – born 24 August 1861, Connersville, Indiana, daughter of Thaddeus and Ellen (McCann) Scofield
  • Hyatt L. Frost – born 28 June 1860, Harrison Township, Fayette Co., Indiana, son of Eli and Melsena (Kerschner) Frost

Letter transcription:

Miss Eudora Scofield

presents her compliments to Mr. Hyatt Frost and solicits the pleasure of his company Friday evening 27th inst.

Connersville Indiana

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/07/28/fayette-friday-eudora-scofield/