Thank You to J Peters
I'm almost scared to death every morning now. There are a timber wolf and a lynx crossing my road to school every night. Guess I'll get me an automatic 6-gun today. For it is really dangerous. The wild animals are mighty hungry, and so many have the rabies. I run nearly all the way to school.
Will write a better letter when I have more time.
Your loving daughter
Goldie
Letter #10 from Chloe Gold Blighton, Goldie's grandmother, written on same page as above:
2-3-16
Amy Goldie wrote me a nice letter and put this in for you. There is 1 here for you from Blanche so we thot we would just put them in another envelope and send them also if B wrote some to me just save it till we come. Dear girls if nother happen to prevent we will be there wednesday morning the 9th.
We are all well here but Beulah is sick in bed. I expect if conveinent some one had better take a hand sled to take my trunk on if not convienent I can get some boy to get it after we get there.
Love to all Mother
Blanches could not go in our envelope. May called just as I finished this one.
(Envelope addressed to Mrs. A. J. Stanley, Vally Jct. Iowa, Box 61)
In 1990, after numerous times of unfolding, reading and re-folding old letters from Chloe Gold Blighton to her daughter, Amy, and to her granddaughter, Blanche, I decided to transcribe the letters as best I could, as the originals were becoming quite fragile with age. These transcriptions follow with spelling and punctuations as written:
Letter #1: From Chloe Gold Blighton to her daughter, Amy:
Havelock Nebr
May 4th 1890
Well Amy I dated the first part of my letter wrong it was written on your birthday and I did not hink of it at the time but the day before I thought of it and thought then that I would write you a birthday letter so you see I am getting quite forgetful. Hope you had a very happy time on your birthday I sure did I read am wrote to you and read more pm and we all went to church in the evening and heard a splendid sermon. Byron's live near the Worthing church and attend there but their membership is at the Friend church in Earlham the other is Methodist and the preacher is an old fashioned methodist. We are at Lee's now but think I will go to Lydia's the latter part of the week perhaps thursday or friday but Cynthia is going to stay here a while, I guess. I cant think of any more at present. Be sure to write while at Lydias and I hope soon. Direct to Western Nebr in care of Mrs. O. A. or L. F. Franklin or just to them. With love and a God bless you all your Mother and Grandma
C. G. Blighton
Letter #2: From Chloe Gold Blighton:
Valley Jct. Ia
June 4th 1910
Dear ones all
Will now try to answer your letter which was gladly and thankfully received in due time. I suppose you got my card telling you I was well. Pa hasnt been feeling quite as well for a few days but I guess it is on account of the weather it has been cool and mugy. I took a little cold but am feeling pretty well. Pa is so he keeps around hoes in the garden some every day goes to Cynthia's, Susie's and up town some days. We thank you very much for the money it isnt quite gone yet but we did not have enough to pay the rent for this month. I thought sure we would get some from Fred and Will before this but we havnt. I wrote to them both over a month ago havnt heard from Will but Fred said he would send some as soon as he could. Frank sent us $15. april 30th. They want us to go and live in a room of their house and I guess we will after we get the things all out of the garden it will save house rent and be esier on all the children. I wanted to go right away but would not say so when the rest thought it best to stay and get the good of the garden of course we had it all in and most of it up and it seemed a pity to go and leave it. Of course it will be a help but I dont think it will be worth what the rent costs and we could have put in some after we got there. I guess Pa thinks so too now and if Cynthia thought so she would not say so if Pa thought different and I think she did not like to see us go either. She and Tom and I guess all the rest think it is the best thing to do. I wanted to write to Grace as soon as we found we could not go home with Lydia but Pa thought he could never stand the noise of the boys but he thinks now that if we have a room to ourselves he can. He was very weak then. I think the climate will be better there for him.
Mr. Harrison was here a week ago today and again tuesday am. He had been to Topeka, Kans. to attend his brother's funeral and came this way to see his daughter and attend Memorial services. He went to the fort. He did not seem to know much about the folks. Said that he thought Oliver had moved to the north part of town and Dora was living with them. I havnt had a letter from them since they went home just 2 cards from Bertha one when they first got home and one about a month ago in it she said look for a letter soon but I havnt seen it yet. She said she was working for Myrtle did not say anything about Dora said O and B had a little girl and they called it Mildred. Dont know if Charlie went home or not havent heard from him at all.
I havnt had any letters from Martha or Maria for a long time. Got one from Tina Beck about two weeks ago and one from my adopted sister Mrs. Way written May 22nd on her 69th birthday. I knew it was in May but did not remember the day but sent her a card the forepart of May and she waited till then and wrote a real nice letter. Wanted to know mine and age and send a remberance on those days as long as we both live. Isnt that nice? I got T.B. quilt finished and sent it to her. Oh but you were not there I had 18 blocks pieced and took them and her peices and other blocks home but she just made take the peice and finish the blocks ocean wave. I have Lydia's 1/2 done dont know when I will get to start yours. Have peiced a top for myself evenings to cover one can get quilting to do as soon as I can get around to it have had things tore up all the week waiting for a paper hanger to paper the bedroom. He brought the paper and paste and said he would come the next day. Cynthia says she will do it herself next week if he dont come. Josie is going to make my new waist Wednesday. I bought a patern of a pedler for 75 cts it looks like mohair but is cotton with silk embroderd front. It is cream now it may fade but will be pretty anyway.
We have got the front room cleaned did not paper it we lived in it till 2 weeks ago we put the stove in the dining room and the gasoline and cupboards in the kitchen. I dont think we will get them papered. The man that owns the place is sick and if we dont stay I dont care for that time. I guess we can get the stuff all out by the forepart of Sept., it is growing rather slow it has been so cold the potatoes have been frozen twice. Our earliest beans cucumbers and tomatoes were killed entirely but we had some in that had not come up and replanted and transplanted were they were killed. We have lettuce radish and onions to eat and peas in bloom. The potatoes and corn looks nice but we havnt as much or as good as we had in Emmetsburg but I dont expect they are as good there this year. Some think the comet has much to do with the weather.
I guess I cant think of anything more this time so will close with love and best wishes to all write soon
Your Parents
P.S. Is Willard still at Great Falls. What is he doing?
5th Will write to Lydia this pm
I was just reaidng over George's letter and that reminded me of something else I want to tell you. Marian her twins and Dennie are in Mont one of the boys has a claim there her address is Vailer do you know where that is I just got a card from Clara she said she had a letter from you she also said she would send some more money before long. I got all ready to go to church this morning and C came and told me there was none but a S.S. convention at the cong. I did not like to go to the Christian church alone and C did not feel like going so we did not go. She staid quite awhile said she would write some too. I am in one of her Larkin clubs. She has two ie she and I are in together I am going to get a tablecloth and sateen peticoat for my premium. Will get it next month for trading five dollars worth.
C.G.B.
7th As this has not been sent will say we are still feeling better. Pa has a job checking a garden works a little every morning. What was your fare from here to Grace's.
C.G.B.
Letter #3 (first page missing - undated. Starts with Page 2)
No Fred and Nellie were not on their way to Wis when they were here. They went back to Hay Springs and he worked on the section awhile then they drove through, they were on the road 6 weeks had some very bad roads.
They got to rent some land after they got there and had cleared up and broke up 1 acre on their own and sowed it to Millet when I last heard from them.
We got a few words from Mansel asking about the home coming and saying he wanted to come to it and to make us all a visit so I sat right down and wrote him a letter telling him I did not think they had that any more and told him about my letter to him came back unclaimed last winter and about Dora's death and the telegram not finding him and it was returned last week. He did not write any address but it was mailed at Cedar Rapids so I just put it plain Cedar Rapids Iowa so I dont know how to get any word to him for in his last letter he said he did not htink he would stay in the restaurant and the letter I sent then was addressed the same as others had been.
So Blanche has left you and I guess you miss her. Milos have another girl and the other cant walk yet. There was 6 greatchildren born last year (but Josie's died) and there has been 5 this year so far that I know of.
Clara is writing too so I expect she will tell all about hers and perhaps some things that I have so I think I will close. Hoping to hear from you soon and I will try and not wait so long next time.
With love to all from Mother and Grandma
Letter #4: From Clara to Amy (?)
this is some of mothers work when she was a girl it is a peice of her mothers weding dress and she mad it over into an apron She gave it to me when she was 80 years old
Clara Hendricks
(Enclosed with the note a small piece of gethered black sheer silk fabric)
Letter #5: From Chloe Gold Blighton:
Valley Jct Ia
Sept 30th 1911
Dear daughter Amy and family
Please excuse me for delaying so long before answering your kind and comforting letter.
All here are in about usual health. I guess Cynthia will write some too. I feel my loneliness more than I did at first but as you say I know where to go for support and comfort and do have his sustaining grace to uphold me.
As to my future plans I havnt fully decided but think I will send what I need to Clara's and make my home with her this winter at least. I have yet to get my things out of the way here for you know they have hardly room for themselves. Some of our things are in the coal house and will soon have to be got out.
I just got a letter from Clara saying she had been looking for me for 2 weeks.
I got a letter from Mansel written a month ago today saying he was coming in about two weeks but has not come yet.
Well as you say I will be cared for but I wish I had some way of caring and doing for myself and paying the debts.
The funeral expenses were $63.50 besides the carriages, the grandsons paid for them. The Dr bill $30. besides 1 visit each of 2 other Drs and I owe 21.48 grocery bill. There has been $40. paid in the rest is standing and I have just 20 cents and postage to be paid out of it. I have 6 letters to write besides this. I forgot the lots that is 4 dollars more.
Yes I got the package all right and thank you for it. Pa just had the shirt on once. It is such pretty goods I think I will make a white waist of it. I like the apron too and thank the girls for it.
Did you get the quilt top I expressed it Aug. 24th.
I have never heard from Cora since she was at your house. She said she wanted 1 of my quilts but has never wrote any more about it. I wrote to you some that I had started for you to tell her if she was still there I have the red and the 9 patch blocks peiced.
I am peicing a mothers dream for Lydia of pink and light with a blue figure and when I get it done I have a lot of peices to peice for Dora that she got at Matts I think enough for 3 quilts besides some blocks to fill out.
It is rainy today so I could not go to church today.
I am not keeping house since Pa died am just living with the rest. I was up to Maggie's and staid 1 1/2 weeks and last week I was to Roys (?) and staid 3 days and when I get to Clara's she has 3 married children to visit with besides old acquantices. I certainly shall try to find Mrs. Hyder if I go to Winterset. I may go and visit Grace and Lydia if I can get the mony to go with.
Josie says tell you we are wondering what has become of our boy out there.
Please write soon and accept this with love and thanks to all from your
Mother and Grandmother.
Please send Chloes address.
P.S. I am going Carl have the blue 9 patch blocks and he gave me money to get the goods to finish it and I am going to quilt it for them. I suppose Cynthia has told you about things. I like her.
C.G.B.
Please write so I can get it while I am here.
Letter #6 from Chloe Gold Blighton:
Winterset Ia
Sept 11/15
Dear children and grandchildren
I have been thinking ever since my birthday I would write and thank you for your part in making it the happiest one of my whole life I think though I have had many very happy ones but this was different and as you Amy said in Clara's letter she will be so happy when she sees the money. Yes dearie I was too happy and surprised for words. I just had to cry first. I am getting ahead of my story for I think it is quite a story taken altogether. I wrote to Cynthia and asked her if she could not come the week before so as to be with me on that day so I could have 2 of my girls with one as I could not have more. She wrote back that she had been thinking she would like to and had made up her mind she would and would come saturday p m so I looked for her and when she came Edith was with her. Then in the morning she was out in the shanty with me I had my work done up and was combing my hair so we kept on visiting after awhile she said I guess you want to put on a clean dress so I wont bother you any longer (people were coming but kept out of my sight) so I went upstairs to make up my bed and change my dress. She came up and said I just have to keep following you and we kept talking. After a while Clara came up and said why dont you folks come down stairs so I can visit with you too (well planned dont you think) then she took one arm and Cynthia the other and we went down stairs and there the crowd stood out under the trees. I guess I looked stupefied at first then the first thing I said was I guess I will get the 80. In the morning when Clara and Cynthia kissed me I said I am going to count every kiss I get today and see if I get 80. I got 136 birthday kisses and 8 goodby kisses that day. All of Clara's children and grandchildren, Cynthia and Edith Magie and family Ethel and family and E Tate. Ed had been here some time.
Now about the dinner. Clara's children all broght something and they fixed something. I baked 2 pies (but didnt know that I was fixing for a picnic.) They took 2 tables out and put boards on them made a long table and had a picnic dinner and it was fine. I could not even taste of 1/4 of it. Clara got a piece of beef and boiled it took part of the broth and made noodles and boiled cabage in part of it they had chicken dried beef cheese potato salad apple salad pineapple salad baked apples canned pork and beans corn, salmon several kind of pickles and jellies and I dont know how many kinds of pie and cake. Therre was where I found the sack of money when I lifted my plate, and there was a joke on Maggie she made an angel food cake expressly for me and forgot to bring it. Bud Casper and Millard Allen had taken Eith and Alta riding and were here for dinner there was 41 eat dinner and lots left.
The sunday before we were at quite a gathering Clara and I thought we would go to Milo's a m and to church p m when we got there they were fixing to go to Nellie's we wanted to come back but they would not let us, pretty soon Charlie Clark and wife and little girl came (she is Josie's sister) they had started to go to Loyd's and couldnt ford the river (they live on the old Alf Brittain place) so they turned and came to Milo's about 11 Loyds all came Mamie said she thought Maggie was to Everets they heard a car that they thought was Byrons, just as they started, just as she quyit talking some one looked out and there was the car with Byrons and Ethels. B said he started to find one and was bound to keep going till he found me. They brought me a pupy that they gave me when I was there, it did not have its eyes oepn but the girls said it was my birthday present after dinner Byron went and got the girls and Ed then Ralph came horseback then Harly and Beulah came and Ollie after church. Everett and family came also Seth and May Brittain and Seths grandson after that 3 of John Brittain's girl there was 34 all together but not all at one time Clarks went home before dinner.
There was some more about my party that I gorgot to tell, after dinner B took 2 loads riding 1 of younger and 1 old and children the last was Clara Cynthia Blanche and me. Blanche had 1 of her boys and dutch the other Clara had Mamiesst of it up and it seemed a pity to go and leave it. Of course it will be a help but I dont think it will be worth what the rent costs and we could have put in some after we got there. I guess Pa thinks so too now and if Cynthia thought so she would not say so if Pa thought different and I think she did not like to see us go either. She and Tom and I guess all the rest think it is the best thing to do. I wanted to write to Grace as soon as we found we could not go home with Lydia but Pa thought he could never stand the noise of the boys but he thinks now that if we have a room to ourselves he can. He was very weak then. I think the climate will be better there for him.
Mr. Harrison was here a week ago today and again tuesday am. He had been to Topeka, Kans. to attend his brother's funeral and came this way to see his daughter and attend Memorial services. He went to the fort. He did not seem to know much about the folks. Said that he thought Oliver had moved to the north part of town and Dora was living with them. I havnt had a letter from them since they went home just 2 cards from Bertha one when they first got home and one about a month ago in it she said look for a letter soon but I havnt seen it yet. She said she was working for Myrtle did not say anything about Dora said O and B had a little girl and they called it Mildred. Dont know if Charlie went home or not havent heard from him at all.
I havnt had any letters from Martha or Maria for a long time. Got one from Tina Beck about two weeks ago and one from my adopted sister Mrs. Way written May 22nd on her 69th birthday. I knew it was in May but did not remember the day but sent her a card the forepart of May and she waited till then and wrote a real nice letter. Wanted to know mine and age and send a remberance on those days as long as we both live. Isnt that nice? I got T.B. quilt finished and sent it to her. Oh but you were not there I had 18 blocks pieced and took them and her peices and other blocks home but she just made take the peice and finish the blocks ocean wave. I have Lydia's 1/2 done dont know when I will get to start yours. Have peiced a top for myself evenings to cover one can get quilting to do as soon as I can get around to it have had things tore up all the week waiting for a paper hanger to paper the bedroom. He brought the paper and paste and said he would come the next day. Cynthia says she will do it herself next week if he dont come. Josie is going to make my new waist Wednesday. I bought a patern of a pedler for 75 cts it looks like mohair but is cotton with silk embroderd front. It is cream now it may fade but will be pretty anyway.
We have got the front room cleaned did not paper it we lived in it till 2 weeks ago we put the stove in the dining room and the gasoline and cupboards in the kitchen. I dont think we will get them papered. The man that owns the place is sick and if we dont stay I dont care for that time. I guess we can get the stuff all out by the forepart of Sept., it is growing rather slow it has been so cold the potatoes have been frozen twice. Our earliest beans cucumbers and tomatoes were killed entirely but we had some in that had not come up and replanted and transplanted were they were killed. We have lettuce radish and onions to eat and peas in bloom. The potatoes and corn looks nice but we havnt as much or as good as we had in Emmetsburg but I dont expect they are as good there this year. Some think the comet has much to do with the weather.
I guess I cant think of anything more this time so will close with love and best wishes to all write soon
Your Parents
P.S. Is Willard still at Great Falls. What is he doing?
5th Will write to Lydia this pm
I was just reaidng over George's letter and that reminded me of something else I want to tell you. Marian her twins and Dennie are in Mont one of the boys has a claim there her address is Vailer do you know where that is I just got a card from Clara she said she had a letter from you she also said she would send some more money before long. I got all ready to go to church this morning and C came and told me there was none but a S.S. convention at the cong. I did not like to go to the Christian church alone and C did not feel like going so we did not go. She staid quite awhile said she would write some too. I am in one of her Larkin clubs. She has two ie she and I are in together I am going to get a tablecloth and sateen peticoat for my premium. Will get it next month for trading five dollars worth.
C.G.B.
7th As this has not been sent will say we are still feeling better. Pa has a job checking a garden works a little every morning. What was your fare from here to Grace's.
C.G.B.
Letter #3 (first page missing - undated. Starts with Page 2)
No Fred and Nellie were not on their way to Wis when they were here. They went back to Hay Springs and he worked on the section awhile then they drove through, they were on the road 6 weeks had some very bad roads.
They got to rent some land after they got there and had cleared up and broke up 1 acre on their own and sowed it to Millet when I last heard from them.
We got a few words from Mansel asking about the home coming and saying he wanted to come to it and to make us all a visit so I sat right down and wrote him a letter telling him I did not think they had that any more and told him about my letter to him came back unclaimed last winter and about Dora's death and the telegram not finding him and it was returned last week. He did not write any address but it was mailed at Cedar Rapids so I just put it plain Cedar Rapids Iowa so I dont know how to get any word to him for in his last letter he said he did not htink he would stay in the restaurant and the letter I sent then was addressed the same as others had been.
So Blanche has left you and I guess you miss her. Milos have another girl and the other cant walk yet. There was 6 greatchildren born last year (but Josie's died) and there has been 5 this year so far that I know of.
Clara is writing too so I expect she will tell all about hers and perhaps some things that I have so I think I will close. Hoping to hear from you soon and I will try and not wait so long next time.
With love to all from Mother and Grandma
Letter #4: From Clara to Amy (?)
this is some of mothers work when she was a girl it is a peice of her mothers weding dress and she mad it over into an apron She gave it to me when she was 80 years old
Clara Hendricks
(Enclosed with the note a small piece of gethered black sheer silk fabric)
Letter #5: From Chloe Gold Blighton:
Valley Jct Ia
Sept 30th 1911
Dear daughter Amy and family
Please excuse me for delaying so long before answering your kind and comforting letter.
All here are in about usual health. I guess Cynthia will write some too. I feel my loneliness more than I did at first but as you say I know where to go for support and comfort and do have his sustaining grace to uphold me.
As to my future plans I havnt fully decided but think I will send what I need to Clara's and make my home with her this winter at least. I have yet to get my things out of the way here for you know they have hardly room for themselves. Some of our things are in the coal house and will soon have to be got out.
I just got a letter from Clara saying she had been looking for me for 2 weeks.
I got a letter from Mansel written a month ago today saying he was coming in about two weeks but has not come yet.
Well as you say I will be cared for but I wish I had some way of caring and doing for myself and paying the debts.
The funeral expenses were $63.50 besides the carriages, the grandsons paid for them. The Dr bill $30. besides 1 visit each of 2 other Drs and I owe 21.48 grocery bill. There has been $40. paid in the rest is standing and I have just 20 cents and postage to be paid out of it. I have 6 letters to write besides this. I forgot the lots that is 4 dollars more.
Yes I got the package all right and thank you for it. Pa just had the shirt on once. It is such pretty goods I think I will make a white waist of it. I like the apron too and thank the girls for it.
Did you get the quilt top I expressed it Aug. 24th.
I have never heard from Cora since she was at your house. She said she wanted 1 of my quilts but has never wrote any more about it. I wrote to you some that I had started for you to tell her if she was still there I have the red and the 9 patch blocks peiced.
I am peicing a mothers dream for Lydia of pink and light with a blue figure and when I get it done I have a lot of peices to peice for Dora that she got at Matts I think enough for 3 quilts besides some blocks to fill out.
It is rainy today so I could not go to church today.
I am not keeping house since Pa died am just living with the rest. I was up to Maggie's and staid 1 1/2 weeks and last week I was to Roys (?) and staid 3 days and when I get to Clara's she has 3 married children to visit with besides old acquantices. I certainly shall try to find Mrs. Hyder if I go to Winterset. I may go and visit Grace and Lydia if I can get the mony to go with.
Josie says tell you we are wondering what has become of our boy out there.
Please write soon and accept this with love and thanks to all from your
Mother and Grandmother.
Please send Chloes address.
P.S. I am going Carl have the blue 9 patch blocks and he gave me money to get the goods to finish it and I am going to quilt it for them. I suppose Cynthia has told you about things. I like her.
C.G.B.
Please write so I can get it while I am here.
Letter #6 from Chloe Gold Blighton:
Winterset Ia
Sept 11/15
Dear children and grandchildren
I have been thinking ever since my birthday I would write and thank you for your part in making it the happiest one of my whole life I think though I have had many very happy ones but this was different and as you Amy said in Clara's letter she will be so happy when she sees the money. Yes dearie I was too happy and surprised for words. I just had to cry first. I am getting ahead of my story for I think it is quite a story taken altogether. I wrote to Cynthia and asked her if she could not come the week before so as to be with me on that day so I could have 2 of my girls with one as I could not have more. She wrote back that she had been thinking she would like to and had made up her mind she would and would come saturday p m so I looked for her and when she came Edith was with her. Then in the morning she was out in the shanty with me I had my work done up and was combing my hair so we kept on visiting after awhile she said I guess you want to put on a clean dress so I wont bother you any longer (people were coming but kept out of my sight) so I went upstairs to make up my bed and change my dress. She came up and said I just have to keep following you and we kept talking. After a while Clara came up and said why dont you folks come down stairs so I can visit with you too (well planned dont you think) then she took one arm and Cynthia the other and we went down stairs and there the crowd stood out under the trees. I guess I looked stupefied at first then the first thing I said was I guess I will get the 80. In the morning when Clara and Cynthia kissed me I said I am going to count every kiss I get today and see if I get 80. I got 136 birthday kisses and 8 goodby kisses that day. All of Clara's children and grandchildren, Cynthia and Edith Magie and family Ethel and family and E Tate. Ed had been here some time.
Now about the dinner. Clara's children all broght something and they fixed something. I baked 2 pies (but didnt know that I was fixing for a picnic.) They took 2 tables out and put boards on them made a long table and had a picnic dinner and it was fine. I could not even taste of 1/4 of it. Clara got a piece of beef and boiled it took part of the broth and made noodles and boiled cabage in part of it they had chicken dried beef cheese potato salad apple salad pineapple salad baked apples canned pork and beans corn, salmon several kind of pickles and jellies and I dont know how many kinds of pie and cake. Therre was where I found the sack of money when I lifted my plate, and there was a joke on Maggie she made an angel food cake expressly for me and forgot to bring it. Bud Casper and Millard Allen had taken Eith and Alta riding and were here for dinner there was 41 eat dinner and lots left.
The sunday before we were at quite a gathering Clara and I thought we would go to Milo's a m and to church p m when we got there they were fixing to go to Nellie's we wanted to come back but they would not let us, pretty soon Charlie Clark and wife and little girl came (she is Josie's sister) they had started to go to Loyd's and couldnt ford the river (they live on the old Alf Brittain place) so they turned and came to Milo's about 11 Loyds all came Mamie said she thought Maggie was to Everets they heard a car that they thought was Byrons, just as they started, just as she quyit talking some one looked out and there was the car with Byrons and Ethels. B said he started to find one and was bound to keep going till he found me. They brought me a pupy that they gave me when I was there, it did not have its eyes oepn but the girls said it was my birthday present after dinner Byron went and got the girls and Ed then Ralph came horseback then Harly and Beulah came and Ollie after church. Everett and family came also Seth and May Brittain and Seths grandson after that 3 of John Brittain's girl there was 34 all together but not all at one time Clarks went home before dinner.
There was some more about my party that I gorgot to tell, after dinner B took 2 loads riding 1 of younger and 1 old and children the last was Clara Cynthia Blanche and me. Blanche had 1 of her boys and dutch the other Clara had Mamies little Paula. I also got 5 birthday cards.
I have quilted and bound a quilt for Josie since Cynthia helped me put it in the day she went home wed. I am going to quilt 1 for Minnie I gave her a set of blocks and she "wants me to do every stich of it" also Clara gave her 1 and she wants her to do it all. She has 3 more besides them to quilt and has quilted 2. I pieced Josies since I was at the fet (?) made it entirely only Clara quilted a little over a reach but I quilted as much on Minnies. I have finished 5 sets of blocks that I had partly done and started another ocean wave and a worsted cr=azy patch I am working it. I also quilted 2 quilts for Hat Woods this summer. I dont do hard work but I like to keep busy. I feel so well too but when I do any thing a little hard I see my strength is failing.
I am sending a list of my shower will write some on the back of it.
I dont know if I ever wrote to you that Mrs. faurote died. I think it is about 3 years ago. After than sometime Verdi got married went to texas and took her father with her. Toward the last of July he fell off the porch and broke his hip. He has been blind nearly 2 years. Verdi brought him back here to Fannie's she lives in town. I saw in the paper this week that he is very low and conconsius. Mrs. Hyder told me about this. I called on her one day, she and Edith enquired about you. E is big taller than Mrs. H and as fleshy as she was then, but Mrs. H is fleshier than she used to be but enjoy good health but cant stand much hard work. I must stop. love to all C.G.B.
15th I thot Clara would write some but she says she hasnt time. Hope you all are well.
C.G.B.
(Notation on letter in another's handwriting indicates that the Josie mentioned in the final paragraph on page one is Milos wife)
Birthday money shower of C. G. Blighton on her 80th birthday
Mansel 2.00
Clara and family .85
Cynthia " " 2.00
Amy " " 5.00
Lydia " " 3.00
Grace " " 3.00
Bertha " " .60
Dora .25
Nellie " " .44
Ollie " " 1.05
Everet " " .55
Mamie " " .43
Milo " " .21
Harley and wife 1.00
Maggie and family .55
Carl and wife 1.00
Ethel and husband .40
Maye (?) " " .50
Vinnie family .60
Lee Franklin .50
Ed Tate .25
Fred 2.00
Letter # 7 from Amy Stanley to her daughter Blanche:
Winterset Iowa
Jan 21-1916
My Dear Blanche
Will try and answer your letter. Really I did not mean to wait this long, but it seems we just have to visit lots and I have so many letters to write.
I have a cold but not very bad yesterday I felt pretty bum but today I was better. I havent been to visit any of the children only Nellie and Ollie and Harley but think we will go tomorrow and next day, if the weather is fit to take ma out. They have all been here only Milo's wife she has a friend visiting her and she took the grip so Josie could not get away.
I had almost given up waiting for the Brothers and thot I would go to Valley Jct. about next Mond. but today we got a letter from Rodney saying he could not come till next week so of scourse I will stay. We havent heard from fred yet, and I got a letter from Will S. saying that he and Ollie and his wife and George Vern and Alvin all live in Dexter and that is only six miles from Earlham so of course I will go and see them. Mag and Bryan are cp,omg after me when I leave here, then Ill go to Dexter be4 I go to V.J. that will amke it a little cheaper than to go to V.J. first. No, I did not see Carl and Ray but will when I go back. I dont think I can get around and back home be4 the middle of feb and am not sure that soon, for it just seems I must see them all. Uncle W said Maria lives at Ansley and Carrie (Cassie?) at B.B. I am going to write to Maria. I did you know, but sent it to Broken Bow.
Minnie's husband is Ed Tate. Oh Blanche I just know you would like Alda she is just full of fun and yet she is sensible and nice. She says she is going out to Mont. to teach school some day.
I dont like Minnie near as well she dont like to work very well.
It has been awfully cold but it is warmer now it was 24 below two or three days. It rained this morning and is windy.
Alta, Minnie and Ed went to church tonight and they just got back now and talk about mud they are a fright. And My I bet Goldie would laugh they havent any saddles or riding skirts. Well Blanche it is getting late and I must stop and go to bed so bye bye
With lots of love your loving mama
O yes Alta has your picture (mine you know) setting on the piano she says she like to look at you. They both play the piano.
Well ta ta write soon.
Letter # 8 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her granddaughter, Blanche:
Winterset Ia
Jan 21st 1916
Dear Grandaughter Blanche
As your Mamma has written I thought I would write too and send your present that you are "waiting patiently for." It isnt very nice but it is something you can look at and think is my work when I was past 80 years old and there is kisses and lots of love stitched into it.
Thanks for the squeezes and kisses. I am well again now but havnt got my full strength yet. I am still taking olive oil and eating lots of onions. A lady friend told me to try onions said they would dissolve gallstones, and I really think the onions done me more good than the medicine.
Many thanks for your Christmas present, I think it is real nice I was well remembered through the holidays, some of them like mine came late but are just as gladly received by me and hope mine will be. I got 2 boxes of stationery, 2 pictures, three photoes of babies, my greatgrandchildren, two handkercheifs, a book , a postage stamp book a needle threader, a towel with pink tating on one end and $6.44 cash. Harley's wife said she was going to fix something for me but had not got it done. Five dollars was from Uncle Dove Wilcox the rest from grandchildren.
I made 6 handkercheifs, 22 like I sent your Ma. Not all jsut alike but all had the print of my hand. I cant embroider so I just chainstiched. I have also set a quilt together for Belle T. since I got able to work. (*)
I expect to put a quilt in for Minnie next week, and Milos wife wants me to quilt one for her that her grandmother peiced for her just before she died. I think she was 83.
Your Ma said she forgot to tell you that Nellie has another girl born the 18th of this month.
Cara and your Ma have gone to Milos and are going from there to Everetts this pm and stay all night then to to Mamies tomorrow. Some of them are coming for me to go to Mamies tomorrow. I havnt been there for a long time. They spoke about my going with them it is so nice, but I thought I had better say and write some letters. I am going to write to Goldie and seend her present too, it is like yours.
I guess this is all for this time so will close hoping to hear from you soon.
Lovingly, Grandma.
(*) I have one of the handkercheifs mentioned with chain-stitched outline of her hand.
Letter #9 from Goldie to her mother, Amy Stanley:
Plains, Montana
Jan 29, 1916
Dear Mamma,
I only have about 4 minutes to write to you as Mr. Sears is just almost ready to go.
I am well only I have a pain in my shoulder. I almost had a scrap at school the other day, but one of the kids suddenly discovered who was 'boss.'
Letter #10 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her daugher, Amy:
Winterset Ia
June 3rd-16
Sabbath and a beautiful morning
Dear daughter Amy and family.
I wrote a little to the girls a week ago today and thought I would write to you the next day but we wne to Ollie's. C.T. and I also Mamie and family. Monday Clara and I went to Nellie's tuesday we all went to Decoration so I had to work the rest of the week so did not get to write before. I am feeling quite well no it was not anything like I hwas last winter I was dizzy and had spells that I tried to vomit but could not, but was all right the next day and have been since.
I am out in the shanty again it will be 2 weeks tuesday since I first sat here but some days I have had to stay in the house most of the time it was so cold and damp but hope we wont have much more such cool days. Clara is up to Maggie's Ethel and Edith went up there monday evening B went after them and tuesday evening he brought them here and Edith staid till last night when he came after her and Clara and they are all going to Vally tomorrow.
How do you like the pictures I think they are good.
I think that peice you sent is real nice we were going to have mothers day exercises at the U B a week ago last sunday and I was going to take it and have somebody read it and just as we were getting ready to go it rained so we could not go. Did you know you sent the other peice. There was a verse on the back of it that I thought was nice so I wrote it on the back of mine. I thank you so very much. The school in town closed last week so Alta is home now.
The Guye (?) school closed yesterday with a picnic dinner they all went but me. I had to prepare for sabbath. I am sending a letter I wrote to Cora if she is there please give it to her if not when they settle send it to her as there is some things in it she asked me to write.
Tomorrow is childrens day and cradle roll exercises at U.B.
(The following may or may not have been part of the above letter.)
Clara has onions radishes and lettuce. I put in a row of carrots but I dont think they are coming up. I also set out some onions that were growing in the cellar and planted some pie punkins and sweet potato squashes and 2 hills of watermelons. There was a place where there was posts and lumber piled so they could not plow so I just dug up the places to plant in. Nellie gave me 3 tomato plants and I set them out. Luey gave us some rose mjoss and some border flower plants and we put them out I dont know whether they will do me much good but it will give me something to get me out of doors and keep me from staying in and peicing too steady. I am ready for your peices so send them on for I will be peicing for some one and it might as well be you as any one else if you have any particular paterns tell me what they are if not I will use my own judgment when I see the peices. I guess Clara and Mamie will go and see Minnie after a while. They would have went soon but Alvin cut his little toe nearly off so Mamie cant leave him till it gets well. It is oing as well as it can, he gets around on crutches but the Dr. says he ought keep his goot from hanging down. It split the gone clear into but it seems to be growing together. It was done 3 weeks ago.
I guess this is all for this time
Love to all Ma
Letter #11 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her daughter, Amy:
Winterset Ia
2-28-17
Dear Daughter Amy and family as I am somewhat in the humor of writing this evening I will scratch a few lines to you. Clara has the ear ache and is some what nervous to night and has gone to bed and I guess the boys are fixing to go to bed. I have had quite a severe cold and have been grunting for about 2 1/2 weeks felt quite bad some days but not sick enough to keep my bed, but am abount over it now.
We are going to have company soon. Fred and Nellie are at the Jct and I suppose it wont be long till they come on here. Maggie called up this morning to know if they had got here yet. Then she called Cynthia to see when they were coming Cynthia said not till tomorrow and she did not know as they would then. I think she is trying to keep them as long as she can. Then Maggie told them that if they wanted to come up there tomorrow they would bring them here in the car. So we dont know just what they will do, but probably by the time you are reading this we will be visiting. Maggie will let us know if they come there.
When they wrote that they were coming they wanted me to write to Mansel and have him but I am afraid they will be disapointed in that. Mansel wrote me in jan that he was coming in feb and stay a week. I answered his letter feb 2nd and about the middle of feb it was returned to me unclaimed so we dont know where he is. Clara thought perhaps he went to see his boys before coming here, but I dont know what to think.
I sent a letter to Charlie monday to see if they knew any thing about him but havnt heard from them yet.
Minnie came home in jan 10th and on feb 12th a 9 1/2 pound girl arrived but Ed did not get here till the 23rd he had a sale the 19th and could not get away before they call the baby Marie Margarite. the last is for his mother it is their 1st grand child. Alta has been moved about a month. They live on the place that Mr. Taylor when we lived in the hollow but I dont know as you know where that is. It is toward the Vaury place back from the road. You said you hoped Alta had a good man. I think he thinks lots of her and will be good to her, but he is not my style too rough (and time will tell that he has not been a true gentleman) I think she loves him and hope they are happy and they seem to be outwardly. I have met his parents and a little sister and his brother and wife and they seem very nice especialy his mother. Yes Amy I think it was a good resultion but I think mine are nearer two months abut when I get caught up I surely do mean to be more punctual but I dont know whether I an come up to 2 weeks or not.
Well you wanted to know how much you owe me. I do not feeeel like charging you or your girls but if you insist on giving something you can give me just what you think best. I used nearly 2 spools of thread and bought 10 cts worth of calico. How do you and the girls like the blocks. The last one is rather mixed up but as I had it started I thought it would make a cover any way and use up the peices. Since I have finished them I have peiced 2 sets for Mrs. Hylton the north star 1 light plain blue and white one plain ink and white and when Orville took it home she paid the price and sent me percale to make me an apron white with a small blue dot in it. I just finished a blue flanelette dress this pm. I sent with Clara to Sears and Roebuck for a package of remnants and got a dress out of one. There was about 16 yeards but most of them was thin peices most of the short peices. There is 1 peice of light calico of 5 yards so I think I got my 99 cts worth. It is past 10 so I will quit and go to bed.
Good night C.G.B.
March 2nd 1917
I will now try to finish my letter. Fred and Nellie came to Earlham yesterday morning and Byron met them and brought them here. Maggie was along and a great surprise awaited us. Lydia was with them. She surprised Byron's too on tuesday. Fred or Nellie had written to her when they would come and for her to come here as they could not go there on their pass so she just came to Earlham. She enquired of a man she saw if he knew Byron he said yes and that he was in town then he spoke to a boy to go and see if he could find him he found him and told him a woman wanted to ride out home so he came and got her and the girls into the car then waited till Maggie was ready to go then told her than an old woman wanted to ride out with them so the surprise was complete. B phoned us they were coming. When they got here they all got out of the car but her and of course we went out to greet them and when they thought we had got clear around Byron asked me if I didnt want to take a ride. I said I guess not I have company. He said you had better take a little ride and opened the car just as if for me to get in and there sat Lydia. She had been taking it all in. She said I thought I would kiss all the rest first just as cool as could be. We had not thought of seeing her, but she was none the less welcome but she cant stay long. I dont know how long Fred and Nellie will stay here but little Paula. I also got 5 birthday cards.
I have quilted and bound a quilt for Josie since Cynthia helped me put it in the day she went home wed. I am going to quilt 1 for Minnie I gave her a set of blocks and she "wants me to do every stich of it" also Clara gave her 1 and she wants her to do it all. She has 3 more besides them to quilt and has quilted 2. I pieced Josies since I was at the fet (?) made it entirely only Clara quilted a little over a reach but I quilted as much on Minnies. I have finished 5 sets of blocks that I had partly done and started another ocean wave and a worsted cr=azy patch I am working it. I also quilted 2 quilts for Hat Woods this summer. I dont do hard work but I like to keep busy. I feel so well too but when I do any thing a little hard I see my strength is failing.
I am sending a list of my shower will write some on the back of it.
I dont know if I ever wrote to you that Mrs. faurote died. I think it is about 3 years ago. After than sometime Verdi got married went to texas and took her father with her. Toward the last of July he fell off the porch and broke his hip. He has been blind nearly 2 years. Verdi brought him back here to Fannie's she lives in town. I saw in the paper this week that he is very low and conconsius. Mrs. Hyder told me about this. I called on her one day, she and Edith enquired about you. E is big taller than Mrs. H and as fleshy as she was then, but Mrs. H is fleshier than she used to be but enjoy good health but cant stand much hard work. I must stop. love to all C.G.B.
15th I thot Clara would write some but she says she hasnt time. Hope you all are well.
C.G.B.
(Notation on letter in another's handwriting indicates that the Josie mentioned in the final paragraph on page one is Milos wife)
Birthday money shower of C. G. Blighton on her 80th birthday
Mansel 2.00
Clara and family .85
Cynthia " " 2.00
Amy " " 5.00
Lydia " " 3.00
Grace " " 3.00
Bertha " " .60
Dora .25
Nellie " " .44
Ollie " " 1.05
Everet " " .55
Mamie " " .43
Milo " " .21
Harley and wife 1.00
Maggie and family .55
Carl and wife 1.00
Ethel and husband .40
Maye (?) " " .50
Vinnie family .60
Lee Franklin .50
Ed Tate .25
Fred 2.00
Letter # 7 from Amy Stanley to her daughter Blanche:
Winterset Iowa
Jan 21-1916
My Dear Blanche
Will try and answer your letter. Really I did not mean to wait this long, but it seems we just have to visit lots and I have so many letters to write.
I have a cold but not very bad yesterday I felt pretty bum but today I was better. I havent been to visit any of the children only Nellie and Ollie and Harley but think we will go tomorrow and next day, if the weather is fit to take ma out. They have all been here only Milo's wife she has a friend visiting her and she took the grip so Josie could not get away.
I had almost given up waiting for the Brothers and thot I would go to Valley Jct. about next Mond. but today we got a letter from Rodney saying he could not come till next week so of scourse I will stay. We havent heard from fred yet, and I got a letter from Will S. saying that he and Ollie and his wife and George Vern and Alvin all live in Dexter and that is only six miles from Earlham so of course I will go and see them. Mag and Bryan are cp,omg after me when I leave here, then Ill go to Dexter be4 I go to V.J. that will amke it a little cheaper than to go to V.J. first. No, I did not see Carl and Ray but will when I go back. I dont think I can get around and back home be4 the middle of feb and am not sure that soon, for it just seems I must see them all. Uncle W said Maria lives at Ansley and Carrie (Cassie?) at B.B. I am going to write to Maria. I did you know, but sent it to Broken Bow.
Minnie's husband is Ed Tate. Oh Blanche I just know you their pass is good till the 24th. Nellie is lots fleshier and is not so sallow looking as when I saw her before. She really looks younger than she did then. There has been several old people died lately among them Mrs. Woods I think you knew her or at least of her, so Willie and Edith both lost their mothers just 2 months apart. I heard that Mat Davis is quite sick not much hopes of his recovery.
I am in the bedroom by myself and it is getting chilly so I think I had better get to the fire. Cklara is better will write later but I thot as I had it started I had better finish.
Love best wishes and prayers for and to all
Will close. C.G. Blighton
Letter #12 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her daughter, Amy:
Winterset Ia
July 27-17
Dear Daughter Amy and family
After so long I will try to answer your letter. Really I had forgotten that I had not written last till I read Clara's letter. We usually write together but that time we did not.
I was down to Vally Jct. from May 20th till July 2nd. I staid longer than I should but I got a quilt to quilt for Mrs. Dr. Deihl while I was at Cynthia's and am going to make entirely 2 more but she has not sent the good yet that will clear the Dr. bill and I think some over. Since I got home I have set together and quilted one for Nellie B. but have not got it quite bound yet it lacks heming down on only one side then I am going to peice her a set of gingham blocks after I get through with Mrs. Deihl. I sat together and quilted 1 for Mamie before I went down to the Jct.
I have been feeling fine only I took cold and it seemed to settle on my lungs and had quite a cough for a while but am about over it now dont have any more real hard coughing spells and dont cough very often, but I feel quite tired so think I will go to bed and finish this in the morning.
28th 8 am
Well I have just got my work done up so will try to finish my letter so as to put it the box before the mail man comes. I am glad you have such a nice place to live, the water especialy is so handy and nice. Well how about war, did any of your boys or sons in law enlist or were any drafted. Loyd Orville and Ed are drafted but we dont know yet whether they will be exempt or have to go. Ray Shedrick and Ralph are drafted too but cant tell who or if any will have to go. It is hard to see them go but if the country calls we must be brave and patriotic, but that does not keep the hurt away, but we must hope for the best and ask Gods blessing to be with them what eve fate may be theirs, have not heard whether Lee F. has been drafted. It has been very hot for several days and we need rain very much, every thing is backward this year but if frost holds late we may have good corn yet.
(no ending page, but Letter #3 above may be the rest of this letter)
Letter #13from Clara Hendricks to her sister, Amy Stanley:
Winterset Iowa
July 27 1917
Dear sister and all
It has been about a month since I got your letter and I havent answered yet but here goes now.
We are all uaualy well. I cant stand hardly any work this summer but I am not sick I guess I am just getting old.
Minnie Alta and babies are just fine. Alta was awfuly poorly for some time. Her side hurt her awfuly bad it hurts some times yet when she works to hard. She has to take medicine all the time. I was afraid she was going to be like your Blanche and she may yet. She has a cute baby girl she calls her Fayne but of corse Minnies baby seems a little nearer to me because I have always been with her all her dear little life. She is awfuly cute and she is a strong child. The day she was 5 months old she stood by a chair and held to the back all by her self. She sat all alone when she was 4 1/2 months old. She roals around on the floor will soon be crawling. She will be 6 months old Aug 12. Well I guess I have braged enough on Marie now I will tell you about some of the rest of the babies. Everetts have one of the cutest little boys he is 10 months old every body thinks he is it. Milos have another little girl born last Monday morning the 23. Their other little girl is 13 months old. They both have lots of black hair and brown eyes they dont look one bit like Mabel you know she has blue eyes and light hair. Minnies baby looks some like her and some like Ed. Mamie and family are well Cleo is as cute and sweet as ever. Yes Loyd is going to make sorghum this fall. Yes Harley went to Wyoming has been gone about 3 months. Beulah went a week ago tuesday. It does seem strange to have him so far away but we have to get used to such things. I may never see him again he may have to go to war and get killed we cant tell.
Ollie hasnt been feeling very well the last few days. He took corn to town yesterday got two dollars a bushel for it. Blanche is at her mothers has been there all week. Her mother is sick. Blanche was sick about a month ago but I guess she is feeling all right now. O yes Amy Blanche and Edna said they had never got any picture from you.
We are sure having some hot weather now and are needing rain bad. Some of the corn is beginning to curl. We had a late spring and every thing is late. People are harvesting their grain and making hay. Crops are pretty good but corn in late and if we dont get rain pretty soon it will be hurt. My garden is good but it also needs rain. We have lots of Beans. My peas are all gone. I have nice tomatoes as big as a hen egg our potatoes are pretty good and I have lots of cabbage almost big enough to use. I caned 2 quarts of beets and Minnie caned 18 quarts of Beans. Say Amy how do you like them Beans that Lydia gave you the seed. I mean the white Beans arent they fine.
We have about 225 young chicks. I had awful good luck with my first 90 but the last 175 we lost quite a good many. I milk 3 cows, lost a calf about a month old the other day.
Well I supose you are glad you are all thru with the measles. We have all had both kinds. My incubator is the Clondike hot watter incubator I always have pretty good luck with it but didnt set it this year, didn't have any place for it only the cellar and it was to cold down there till it got so late so I just set hens. Eggs was so high I sold eggs all the way from 20 to 35. They are 29 now butter is 30 but I dont make very much to sell.
It is nice Blanche has a car so they can come to see you. 30 miles isnt far to go in a car but it is quite a drive with a team. Nellie is getting along fine I guess but she has lots of work to do. Darrus is lots of company for Esther now. They are out playing most of the time. You know Darrus run every place when she was 10 months old. Nellie's address is Morgan Minn.
Ed is going with a thrashing machine he startes today. Ralph is working for Loyd for 30 per month. Lee worked for Ollie 3 months for 25 per month bought him a riding horse as he can drive her eather. She is 3 years old he has a yearling colt that he bought with his own money. Ralph has 2 driiving horses and he sold his old buggy and bough a new buggy so he thinks he is right in it.
I have rented my place to Ed on stock shares for 3 years if he dont have to go to war.
Well Amy I guess I will have to quite for want of something to write. Dutch was up to spend the forth and Edith spent a week with Alta. I joined the red cross are you a member?
Well good bye Dear sister, answer when you can from your sister Clara
love to all bye bye
Letter #14 from C. J. Mobley to her sister, Amy Stanley:
Valley Junction Iowa
August 1st 1917.
My Dear sister and family.
How you vas anyhow.
We are all farely well.
I dont know whether it is my time to write or not but run across your letter of May 6 and it just seemed to me like I hadnt answered it oh I am so carless about writing.
Clara and Mother came down the 24 of May. Mother staid till July 2. Edith got her vacation then so we went up with her or I went as far as Patterson. Lizzie Spragg met me there and I staid with her two nights then she took me to Claras the 4. Mag and Byron came after me on Friday and I came on down home Saturday night. Edith staid at Altas till Monday norning got here in time to go to work. She works from 1230 to 930. Kenneth works nearly every day. Yesterday was his payday and I got my Pension check too and Edith will have payday this week too. She gets from $17 to 20.00 each pay and has two paydays a month so you see we dont have quite such hard times as we used to.
I would like to see your place I think it must be nice. I saw by the paper that they have a crop failure at Helena Mont and I just thought that was pretty close to you. Oh I do hope your crop wasnt a total failure that would be hard luck indeed.
I dont know yet whether Lou will go with me or not when I go to Mont guess Edith will.
August 5. This letter got lost before I got it finished so will try and finish it tonight.
Mag and Byron came down about 3 weeks ago and took Rays little Raymond home with them. They brought him back today he will stay here a week I guess he dont want to go home at all he is a nice child.
Mag Byron and thier girls Carl and Ella Lou and Kenneth all went over to the park this afternoon. They have gone back home now. Lee Roy Shedrick and Ralph all were drafted dont know yet whether they will have to go or not. Shedrick has to go Wensday to be examined.
Edith got her check friday $21.21 I think that is good for two weeks.
We have had some awful hot weather here but it isnt so hot now we have the promise of cool weather a few days.
Received a letter from Clara and ma a few days ago they are well. Clara thinks she will come down for the fair. I am getting me some new glasses with this Pension money. They will cost me $15 but they are garrenteed for 5 year and I hope they will be worth it.
Freds address is Friendship Wis. They havent written to me since they were there.
Guess Will Stanleys are still in Dexter. Lou went to see them when he was working there.
Guess I will close as I dont know what else to write. Hoping to hear from you at a not very distant day I remain
Your loving sister and aunt.
C. J. Mobley
Letter #15 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her grandaughter, Blanche (Tillman):
Winterset, Ia
11-21-19
My Very Dear Dear Grandaughter
I received your welcome letter and lovely Christmas present last night for which I thank you more than words can express, and it made me ashamed to think that I never answered your last letter and present but I put it off till I was ashamed to write so did not, but I assure you it shall never occur again while I have the strength to write.
I am feeling well and strong again now. I have a little cold on my lungs but I do not feel bad only I have to cough some but not as much as I have. We are back on the farm.
Nellie was here on a visit and Clara went home with her. I visited around here with her children awhile then went to Maggies and staid till the day before Thanksgiving then went to Cynthias and staid till Clara came back two weeks ago Friday. We are all in together now but they may divide the rooms and each live by themselves but I dont know. I think Minnie would rather do that and I think it would be better but of course I am merely a neutral and will abide by whatever they think best. However, that may be I have no fears but that I will be well cared for, they are all just as good to me as can be.
I will now tell you about our Thanksgiving. Maye and her man gave a dinner. Cynthia all of her children and their families myself Ediths beau and a friend of Kenneths were there. Kenneth had to go and play football so he and his friend were not therre till evening but they got their supper. There was 23 all together but that dont sound much like Clara's or you ma's does it? All seemed to enjoy themselves and we had a good social time and an upt o date dinner. Lee could not get off and had to go back friday morning. Byron also went home friday but Maggie and the girls staid till saturday and Josie went home with them and staid till Wednesday then came back to Cynthias and expected to go home the next day after Clara and I came.
It snowed the night before Thanksgiving for the first to stay on and have still snow and it is good sleighing but I dont think there is as much as you have, not hear as much as they have in Minn. I dont think it has been as cold here as there. 24 below is the coldest I have heard of herre. You asked about fuel of course there is plenty of wood here and many in town are burning wood that formerly used coal and they were afraid they could not get coal enough to run the light plant and shut down all evening doings and cut the stores to 6 hours a day and the schools to from 8 to 12-40 but the strike is over and there has 1 car load come in on thursday but it will take some time to fill orders already ahead.
I am not very big any more. I weigh 106 with overshoes on. But I feel well for which I am thankful. You will have to change your picture a little it will be in a ford with my cap and bag for they match now. Ella lined it for me with black silk and put black lace around it and it is real pretty. I guess I will have to stop now.
Wishing you and yours a merry Christmas and a happy new year. Beg pardon for past neglect.
With love Grandma
Letter #16 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her daughter, Amy Stanley:
Winterset Ia
12-30-19
Dear daughter Amy and family
It has been some time since we got your letter, it has been mislaid so I dont know just how long but I think it was before Clara went to Minn. I dont know whether Clara has written to you since or not.
Nellie and her girls were here and Clara went home with her, I visited around here with her children till the week before Thanksgiving then went to Byrons and staid till the day before thanksgiving. Maye was getting up a dinner and wanted Mag to help so she the girls and I went to Vally am. I staid to Cynthia's but Maggie went to help Maye. Cynthia, all of her children and their families and myself were at Maye's for thanksgiving. Cynthia said it was the first time they all had all been together since any of them were married. Ediths fellow and a friend of Kenneth were tthere too. Every body seemed to enjoy them selves and they all took pains to say something specily to me for I cant hear common conversation any more, and they seemed to think of it so took pains to show me that they were glad that I was with them, and I enjoyed it so much, and they done more than that, my shoes were poor so I had been sewing the soles and uppers together each married son and son in law and Lou gave 50 cts to get me a new paid of shoes. I think Maggie started it and Maye did the collecting. When she got it all she came to me and said she was taking a collection for the dinner and asked how much I was going to give. I started to get my money, she caught my wrist and put the money in my hand, I asked her what that meant she said it is to get you a pair of shoes and if that isnt enough we will make it up. It was a great surprise. I hardly knew what to think or say but after a little I thanked them.
I staid with Cynthia till Clara came the 4th. She got there that day and we came away the 5th when we got to Winterset it was snowing hard there was 3 or 4 inches of snow on the walk and no track. We got to 3 blocks I staid there but Clara went on to Alta's 3 blocks more, but she left her suitcases there. The next evening I came out with Ed in the ford and Clara came out with Loyd and brought my trunk in a sled and the next they brought he here, Milo's were here too.
We have all been in together till this week they have been seperating. Clara has the kitchen and upstairs, they have not entirely settled but so we do our work seperate. It is 10 pm and I am sleepy so think I had better quit.
31st. Well I will try to finish my letter. Everets intended to go to Ednas sisters today for the rest of the week, so got Clara to go and stay with Otto, so I am keeping house for Ralph. He said to tell you hello for him. Lee is working for Loyd so isnt here much only Sundays. I suppose you want to hear about how I spent Christmas and about my presents. I was here with Minnie, they did not invite any one but got up a pretty good dinner. Clara was making a dress for Josie H that week and Seth's had a dinner so Clara was there. My presents were a nice letter and handkerchief bag from Blanche T. 50 cents from Milo a nice letter and a $1. order from Lee and Josie F a pocket book from Ed and Minnie these were all before Christmas, on Christmas an apron from Clara and Seth and Luy (?) sent some of their dinner some popcorn balls and candy and nuts and a greeting from Maggie and family and a card from Vinnie's children a booklet each for Clara and me from Grace. The 26th 2 packages, the one from you and 1 from Vally in it was a box of envelopes for me a handkercheif for Clara and a white apron from Shedrick and Ethel for me a good letter and handkercheif from Vinnie and Walter. The 27th a letter from Lydia to Clara and me with a $10. order 5 from Lydia 2 1/2 ech from Olie and Dwane a picture of Carl and Doris Hartman and Thomas Franklin taken at Lee's when Maye was out there. They were sitting on the front steps and a card of greetings from Ralph and Maye H. I think Santa was very very good to me and I thank every one but none more than you. I think they are real nice and it was just what I needed more than any thing else just at that time and I put them right on. I cant hardly wear leather shoes any more. I got felts with the money I got at Vally and had 50 cts. left but they are not as comfortable in the house as the slippers I had intended geting some when I went to town till I got them. I guess this is about all only do you read the bible much. If not wont you commence with the New Year and read some in it every day. I started to read it through last New Years day and finished dec 1st. There has not been many days for a good many years that I haveent read some in it and the more I read the better I like it.
Please write soon and tell about everything. Love to all and best wishes for a happy new year which may last the year through.
Your Mother and Grandma.
Letter #17 - Postcard from Chloe Gold Blighton to her daughter, Amy Stanley and family:
Winterset Ia
1-14-20
Dear Grandaughter Elsie
Your invitation received for which accept my thanks. I would have like so much to attend if it had been possible. Dear Children I am looking back 40 years ago today and can see everything perfectly as it was then and hope you are very happy and am wishing you many returns eacch happier than the last. Write and tell about it and also about the Holidays. I think Clara will write you a letter soon.
With love and best wishes
Your Mother and Grandma
2-45 pm
C. G. Blighton
Letter #18 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her grandchildren:
Winterset Ia
Feb 25-20
Dear Grandchildren
As I am alone today I thought I would write and answer your dear good letter. I was about sick when it came but not clear down.
We have all been having something that is going around. I think I had a light touch of the La Grippe, some have had flu and with some it ran into pneumonia. One neighbor died and several in and close to Winterset have died.
I dont know of any one that has escaped having something of the kind. Mansel was with us and had a few days of severe headache like I had but it did not seem to get on his lungs like I did, but I am feeling good again now.
Mansel was here and around here 4 weeks lacking two days. We were glad to have him with us. I suppose you have seen the picture that was taken when your Ma was here and went to see him. He is much poorer than he was then and loowould like Alda she is just full of fun and yet she is sensible and nice. She says she is going out to Mont. to teach school some day.
I dont like Minnie near as well she dont like to work very well.
It has been awfully cold but it is warmer now it was 24 below two or three days. It rained this morning and is windy.
Alta, Minnie and Ed went to church tonight and they just got back now and talk about mud they are a fright. And My I bet Goldie would laugh they havent any saddles or riding skirts. Well Blanche it is getting late and I must stop and go to bed so bye bye
With lots of love your loving mama
O yes Alta has your picture (mine you know) setting on the piano she says she like to look at you. They both play the piano.
Well ta ta write soon.
Letter # 8 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her granddaughter, Blanche:
Winterset Ia
Jan 21st 1916
Dear Grandaughter Blanche
As your Mamma has written I thought I would write too and send your present that you are "waiting patiently for." It isnt very nice but it is something you can look at and think is my work when I was past 80 years old and there is kisses and lots of love stitched into it.
Thanks for the squeezes and kisses. I am well again now but havnt got my full strength yet. I am still taking olive oil and eating lots of onions. A lady friend told me to try onions said they would dissolve gallstones, and I really think the onions done me more good than the medicine.
Many thanks for your Christmas present, I think it is real nice I was well remembered through the holidays, some of them like mine came late but are just as gladly received by me and hope mine will be. I got 2 boxes of stationery, 2 pictures, three photoes of babies, my greatgrandchildren, two handkercheifs, a book , a postage stamp book a needle threader, a towel with pink tating on one end and $6.44 cash. Harley's wife said she was going to fix something for me but had not got it done. Five dollars was from Uncle Dove Wilcox the rest from grandchildren.
I made 6 handkercheifs, 22 like I sent your Ma. Not all jsut alike but all had the print of my hand. I cant embroider so I just chainstiched. I have also set a quilt together for Belle T. since I got able to work. (*)
I expect to put a quilt in for Minnie next week, and Milos wife wants me to quilt one for her that her grandmother peiced for her just before she died. I think she was 83.
Your Ma said she forgot to tell you that Nellie has another girl born the 18th of this month.
Cara and your Ma have gone to Milos and are going from there to Everetts this pm and stay all night then to to Mamies tomorrow. Some of them are coming for me to go to Mamies tomorrow. I havnt been there for a long time. They spoke about my going with them it is so nice, but I thought I had better say and write some letters. I am going to write to Goldie and seend her present too, it is like yours.
I guess this is all for this time so will close hoping to hear from you soon.
Lovingly, Grandma.
(*) I have one of the handkercheifs mentioned with chain-stitched outline of her hand.
Letter #9 from Goldie to her mother, Amy Stanley:
Plains, Montana
Jan 29, 1916
Dear Mamma,
I only have about 4 minutes to write to you as Mr. Sears is just almost ready to go.
I am well only I have a pain in my shoulder. I almost had a scrap at school the other day, but one of the kids suddenly discovered who was 'boss.'
Letter #10 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her daugher, Amy:
Winterset Ia
June 3rd-16
Sabbath and a beautiful morning
Dear daughter Amy and family.
I wrote a little to the girls a week ago today and thought I would write to you the next day but we wne to Ollie's. C.T. and I also Mamie and family. Monday Clara and I went to Nellie's tuesday we all went to Decoration so I had to work the rest of the week so did not get to write before. I am feeling quite well no it was not anything like I hwas last winter I was dizzy and had spells that I tried to vomit but could not, but was all right the next day and have been since.
I am out in the shanty again it will be 2 weeks tuesday since I first sat here but some days I have had to stay in the house most of the time it was so cold and damp but hope we wont have much more such cool days. Clara is up to Maggie's Ethel and Edith went up there monday evening B went after them and tuesday evening he brought them here and Edith staid till last night when he came after her and Clara and they are all going to Vally tomorrow.
How do you like the pictures I think they are good.
I think that peice you sent is real nice we were going to have mothers day exercises at the U B a week ago last sunday and I was going to take it and have somebody read it and just as we were getting ready to go it rained so we could not go. Did you know you sent the other peice. There was a verse on the back of it that I thought was nice so I wrote it on the back of mine. I thank you so very much. The school in town closed last week so Alta is home now.
The Guye (?) school closed yesterday with a picnic dinner they all went but me. I had to prepare for sabbath. I am sending a letter I wrote to Cora if she is there please give it to her if not when they settle send it to her as there is some things in it she asked me to write.
Tomorrow is childrens day and cradle roll exercises at U.B.
(The following may or may not have been part of the above letter.)
Clara has onions radishes and lettuce. I put in a row of carrots but I dont think they are coming up. I also set out some onions that were growing in the cellar and planted some pie punkins and sweet potato squashes and 2 hills of watermelons. There was a place where there was posts and lumber piled so they could not plow so I just dug up the places to plant in. Nellie gave me 3 tomato plants and I set them out. Luey gave us some rose mjoss and some border flower plants and we put them out I dont know whether they will do me much good but it will give me something to get me out of doors and keep me from staying in and peicing too steady. I am ready for your peices so send them on for I will be peicing for some one and it might as well be you as any one else if you have any particular paterns tell me what they are if not I will use my own judgment when I see the peices. I guess Clara and Mamie will go and see Minnie after a while. They would have went soon but Alvin cut his little toe nearly off so Mamie cant leave him till it gets well. It is oing as well as it can, he gets around on crutches but the Dr. says he ought keep his goot from hanging down. It split the gone clear into but it seems to be growing together. It was done 3 weeks ago.
I guess this is all for this time
Love to all Ma
Letter #11 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her daughter, Amy:
Winterset Ia
2-28-17
Dear Daughter Amy and family as I am somewhat in the humor of writing this evening I will scratch a few lines to you. Clara has the ear ache and is some what nervous to night and has gone to bed and I guess the boys are fixing to go to bed. I have had quite a severe cold and have been grunting for about 2 1/2 weeks felt quite bad some days but not sick enough to keep my bed, but am abount over it now.
We are going to have company soon. Fred and Nellie are at the Jct and I suppose it wont be long till they come on here. Maggie called up this morning to know if they had got here yet. Then she called Cynthia to see when they were coming Cynthia said not till tomorrow and she did not know as they would then. I think she is trying to keep them as long as she can. Then Maggie told them that if they wanted to come up there tomorrow they would bring them here in the car. So we dont know just what they will do, but probably by the time you are reading this we will be visiting. Maggie will let us know if they come there.
When they wrote that they were coming they wanted me to write to Mansel and have him but I am afraid they will be disapointed in that. Mansel wrote me in jan that he was coming in feb and stay a week. I answered his letter feb 2nd and about the middle of feb it was returned to me unclaimed so we dont know where he is. Clara thought perhaps he went to see his boys before coming here, but I dont know what to think.
I sent a letter to Charlie monday to see if they knew any thing about him but havnt heard from them yet.
Minnie came home in jan 10th and on feb 12th a 9 1/2 pound girl arrived but Ed did not get here till the 23rd he had a sale the 19th and could not get away before they call the baby Marie Margarite. the last is for his mother it is their 1st grand child. Alta has been moved about a month. They live on the place that Mr. Taylor when we lived in the hollow but I dont know as you know where that is. It is toward the Vaury place back from the road. You said you hoped Alta had a good man. I think he thinks lots of her and will be good to her, but he is not my style too rough (and time will tell that he has not been a true gentleman) I think she loves him and hope they are happy and they seem to be outwardly. I have met his parents and a little sister and his brother and wife and they seem very nice especialy his mother. Yes Amy I think it was a good resultion but I think mine are nearer two months abut when I get caught up I surely do mean to be more punctual but I dont know whether I an come up to 2 weeks or not.
Well you wanted to know how much you owe me. I do not feeeel like charging you or your girls but if you insist on giving something you can give me just what you think best. I used nearly 2 spools of thread and bought 10 cts worth of calico. How do you and the girls like the blocks. The last one is rather mixed up but as I had it started I thought it would make a cover any way and use up the peices. Since I have finished them I have peiced 2 sets for Mrs. Hylton the north star 1 light plain blue and white one plain ink and white and when Orville took it home she paid the price and sent me percale to make me an apron white with a small blue dot in it. I just finished a blue flanelette dress this pm. I sent with Clara to Sears and Roebuck for a package of remnants and got a dress out of one. There was about 16 yeards but most of them was thin peices most of the short peices. There is 1 peice of light calico of 5 yards so I think I got my 99 cts worth. It is past 10 so I will quit and go to bed.
Good night C.G.B.
March 2nd 1917
I will now try to finish my letter. Fred and Nellie came to Earlham yesterday morning and Byron met them and brought them here. Maggie was along and a great surprise awaited us. Lydia was with them. She surprised Byron's too on tuesday. Fred or Nellie had written to her when they would come and for her to come here as they could not go there on their pass so she just came to Earlham. She enquired of a man she saw if he knew Byron he said yes and that he was in town then he spoke to a boy to go and see if he could find him he found him and told him a woman wanted to ride out home so he came and got her and the girls into the car then waited till Maggie was ready to go then told her than an old woman wanted to ride out with them so the surprise was complete. B phoned us they were coming. When they got here they all got out of the car but her and of course we went out to greet them and when they thought we had got clear around Byron asked me if I didnt want to take a ride. I said I guess not I have company. He said you had better take a little ride and opened the car just as if for me to get in and there sat Lydia. She had been taking it all in. She said I thought I would kiss all the rest first just as cool as could be. We had not thought of seeing her, but she was none the less welcome but she cant stay long. I dont know how long Fred and Nellie will stay here but their pass is good till the 24th. Nellie is lots fleshier and is not so sallow looking as when I saw her before. She really looks younger than she did then. There has been several old people died lately among them Mrs. Woods I think you knew her or at least of her, so Willie and Edith both lost their mothers just 2 months apart. I heard that Mat Davis is quite sick not much hopes of his recovery.
I am in the bedroom by myself and it is getting chilly so I think I had better get to the fire. Cklara is better will write later but I thot as I had it started I had better finish.
Love best wishes and prayers for and to all
Will close. C.G. Blighton
Letter #12 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her daughter, Amy:
Winterset Ia
July 27-17
Dear Daughter Amy and family
After so long I will try to answer your letter. Really I had forgotten that I had not written last till I read Clara's letter. We usually write together but that time we did not.
I was down to Vally Jct. from May 20th till July 2nd. I staid longer than I should but I got a quilt to quilt for Mrs. Dr. Deihl while I was at Cynthia's and am going to make entirely 2 more but she has not sent the good yet that will clear the Dr. bill and I think some over. Since I got home I have set together and quilted one for Nellie B. but have not got it quite bound yet it lacks heming down on only one side then I am going to peice her a set of gingham blocks after I get through with Mrs. Deihl. I sat together and quilted 1 for Mamie before I went down to the Jct.
I have been feeling fine only I took cold and it seemed to settle on my lungs and had quite a cough for a while but am about over it now dont have any more real hard coughing spells and dont cough very often, but I feel quite tired so think I will go to bed and finish this in the morning.
28th 8 am
Well I have just got my work done up so will try to finish my letter so as to put it the box before the mail man comes. I am glad you have such a nice place to live, the water especialy is so handy and nice. Well how about war, did any of your boys or sons in law enlist or were any drafted. Loyd Orville and Ed are drafted but we dont know yet whether they will be exempt or have to go. Ray Shedrick and Ralph are drafted too but cant tell who or if any will have to go. It is hard to see them go but if the country calls we must be brave and patriotic, but that does not keep the hurt away, but we must hope for the best and ask Gods blessing to be with them what eve fate may be theirs, have not heard whether Lee F. has been drafted. It has been very hot for several days and we need rain very much, every thing is backward this year but if frost holds late we may have good corn yet.
(no ending page, but Letter #3 above may be the rest of this letter)
Letter #13from Clara Hendricks to her sister, Amy Stanley:
Winterset Iowa
July 27 1917
Dear sister and all
It has been about a month since I got your letter and I havent answered yet but here goes now.
We are all uaualy well. I cant stand hardly any work this summer but I am not sick I guess I am just getting old.
Minnie Alta and babies are just fine. Alta was awfuly poorly for some time. Her side hurt her awfuly bad it hurts some times yet when she works to hard. She has to take medicine all the time. I was afraid she was going to be like your Blanche and she may yet. She has a cute baby girl she calls her Fayne but of corse Minnies baby seems a little nearer to me because I have always been with her all her dear little life. She is awfuly cute and she is a strong child. The day she was 5 months old she stood by a chair and held to the back all by her self. She sat all alone when she was 4 1/2 months old. She roals around on the floor will soon be crawling. She will be 6 months old Aug 12. Well I guess I have braged enough on Marie now I will tell you about some of the rest of the babies. Everetts have one of the cutest little boys he is 10 months old every body thinks he is it. Milos have another little girl born last Monday morning the 23. Their other little girl is 13 months old. They both have lots of black hair and brown eyes they dont look one bit like Mabel you know she has blue eyes and light hair. Minnies baby looks some like her and some like Ed. Mamie and family are well Cleo is as cute and sweet as ever. Yes Loyd is going to make sorghum this fall. Yes Harley went to Wyoming has been gone about 3 months. Beulah went a week ago tuesday. It does seem strange to have him so far away but we have to get used to such things. I may never see him again he may have to go to war and get killed we cant tell.
Ollie hasnt been feeling very well the last few days. He took corn to town yesterday got two dollars a bushel for it. Blanche is at her mothers has been there all week. Her mother is sick. Blanche was sick about a month ago but I guess she is feeling all right now. O yes Amy Blanche and Edna said they had never got any picture from you.
We are sure having some hot weather now and are needing rain bad. Some of the corn is beginning to curl. We had a late spring and every thing is late. People are harvesting their grain and making hay. Crops are pretty good but corn in late and if we dont get rain pretty soon it will be hurt. My garden is good but it also needs rain. We have lots of Beans. My peas are all gone. I have nice tomatoes as big as a hen egg our potatoes are pretty good and I have lots of cabbage almost big enough to use. I caned 2 quarts of beets and Minnie caned 18 quarts of Beans. Say Amy how do you like them Beans that Lydia gave you the seed. I mean the white Beans arent they fine.
We have about 225 young chicks. I had awful good luck with my first 90 but the last 175 we lost quite a good many. I milk 3 cows, lost a calf about a month old the other day.
Well I supose you are glad you are all thru with the measles. We have all had both kinds. My incubator is the Clondike hot watter incubator I always have pretty good luck with it but didnt set it this year, didn't have any place for it only the cellar and it was to cold down there till it got so late so I just set hens. Eggs was so high I sold eggs all the way from 20 to 35. They are 29 now butter is 30 but I dont make very much to sell.
It is nice Blanche has a car so they can come to see you. 30 miles isnt far to go in a car but it is quite a drive with a team. Nellie is getting along fine I guess but she has lots of work to do. Darrus is lots of company for Esther now. They are out playing most of the time. You know Darrus run every place when she was 10 months old. Nellie's address is Morgan Minn.
Ed is going with a thrashing machine he startes today. Ralph is working for Loyd for 30 per month. Lee worked for Ollie 3 months for 25 per month bought him a riding horse as he can drive her eather. She is 3 years old he has a yearling colt that he bought with his own money. Ralph has 2 driiving horses and he sold his old buggy and bough a new buggy so he thinks he is right in it.
I have rented my place to Ed on stock shares for 3 years if he dont have to go to war.
Well Amy I guess I will have to quite for want of something to write. Dutch was up to spend the forth and Edith spent a week with Alta. I joined the red cross are you a member?
Well good bye Dear sister, answer when you can from your sister Clara
love to all bye bye
Letter #14 from C. J. Mobley to her sister, Amy Stanley:
Valley Junction Iowa
August 1st 1917.
My Dear sister and family.
How you vas anyhow.
We are all farely well.
I dont know whether it is my time to write or not but run across your letter of May 6 and it just seemed to me like I hadnt answered it oh I am so carless about writing.
Clara and Mother came down the 24 of May. Mother staid till July 2. Edith got her vacation then so we went up with her or I went as far as Patterson. Lizzie Spragg met me there and I staid with her two nights then she took me to Claras the 4. Mag and Byron came after me on Friday and I came on down home Saturday night. Edith staid at Altas till Monday norning got here in time to go to work. She works from 1230 to 930. Kenneth works nearly every day. Yesterday was his payday and I got my Pension check too and Edith will have payday this week too. She gets from $17 to 20.00 each pay and has two paydays a month so you see we dont have quite such hard times as we used to.
I would like to see your place I think it must be nice. I saw by the paper that they have a crop failure at Helena Mont and I just thought that was pretty close to you. Oh I do hope your crop wasnt a total failure that would be hard luck indeed.
I dont know yet whether Lou will go with me or not when I go to Mont guess Edith will.
August 5. This letter got lost before I got it finished so will try and finish it tonight.
Mag and Byron came down about 3 weeks ago and took Rays little Raymond home with them. They brought him back today he will stay here a week I guess he dont want to go home at all he is a nice child.
Mag Byron and thier girls Carl and Ella Lou and Kenneth all went over to the park this afternoon. They have gone back home now. Lee Roy Shedrick and Ralph all were drafted dont know yet whether they will have to go or not. Shedrick has to go Wensday to be examined.
Edith got her check friday $21.21 I think that is good for two weeks.
We have had some awful hot weather here but it isnt so hot now we have the promise of cool weather a few days.
Received a letter from Clara and ma a few days ago they are well. Clara thinks she will come down for the fair. I am getting me some new glasses with this Pension money. They will cost me $15 but they are garrenteed for 5 year and I hope they will be worth it.
Freds address is Friendship Wis. They havent written to me since they were there.
Guess Will Stanleys are still in Dexter. Lou went to see them when he was working there.
Guess I will close as I dont know what else to write. Hoping to hear from you at a not very distant day I remain
Your loving sister and aunt.
C. J. Mobley
Letter #15 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her grandaughter, Blanche (Tillman):
Winterset, Ia
11-21-19
My Very Dear Dear Grandaughter
I received your welcome letter and lovely Christmas present last night for which I thank you more than words can express, and it made me ashamed to think that I never answered your last letter and present but I put it off till I was ashamed to write so did not, but I assure you it shall never occur again while I have the strength to write.
I am feeling well and strong again now. I have a little cold on my lungs but I do not feel bad only I have to cough some but not as much as I have. We are back on the farm.
Nellie was here on a visit and Clara went home with her. I visited around here with her children awhile then went to Maggies and staid till the day before Thanksgiving then went to Cynthias and staid till Clara came back two weeks ago Friday. We are all in together now but they may divide the rooms and each live by themselves but I dont know. I think Minnie would rather do that and I think it would be better but of course I am merely a neutral and will abide by whatever they think best. However, that may be I have no fears but that I will be well cared for, they are all just as good to me as can be.
I will now tell you about our Thanksgiving. Maye and her man gave a dinner. Cynthia all of her children and their families myself Ediths beau and a friend of Kenneths were there. Kenneth had to go and play football so he and his friend were not therre till evening but they got their supper. There was 23 all together but that dont sound much like Clara's or you ma's does it? All seemed to enjoy themselves and we had a good social time and an upt o date dinner. Lee could not get off and had to go back friday morning. Byron also went home friday but Maggie and the girls staid till saturday and Josie went home with them and staid till Wednesday then came back to Cynthias and expected to go home the next day after Clara and I came.
It snowed the night before Thanksgiving for the first to stay on and have still snow and it is good sleighing but I dont think there is as much as you have, not hear as much as they have in Minn. I dont think it has been as cold here as there. 24 below is the coldest I have heard of herre. You asked about fuel of course there is plenty of wood here and many in town are burning wood that formerly used coal and they were afraid they could not get coal enough to run the light plant and shut down all evening doings and cut the stores to 6 hours a day and the schools to from 8 to 12-40 but the strike is over and there has 1 car load come in on thursday but it will take some time to fill orders already ahead.
I am not very big any more. I weigh 106 with overshoes on. But I feel well for which I am thankful. You will have to change your picture a little it will be in a ford with my cap and bag for they match now. Ella lined it for me with black silk and put black lace around it and it is real pretty. I guess I will have to stop now.
Wishing you and yours a merry Christmas and a happy new year. Beg pardon for past neglect.
With love Grandma
Letter #16 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her daughter, Amy Stanley:
Winterset Ia
12-30-19
Dear daughter Amy and family
It has been some time since we got your letter, it has been mislaid so I dont know just how long but I think it was before Clara went to Minn. I dont know whether Clara has written to you since or not.
Nellie and her girls were here and Clara went home with her, I visited around here with her children till the week before Thanksgiving then went to Byrons and staid till the day before thanksgiving. Maye was getting up a dinner and wanted Mag to help so she the girls and I went to Vally am. I staid to Cynthia's but Maggie went to help Maye. Cynthia, all of her children and their families and myself were at Maye's for thanksgiving. Cynthia said it was the first time they all had all been together since any of them were married. Ediths fellow and a friend of Kenneth were tthere too. Every body seemed to enjoy them selves and they all took pains to say something specily to me for I cant hear common conversation any more, and they seemed to think of it so took pains to show me that they were glad that I was with them, and I enjoyed it so much, and they done more than that, my shoes were poor so I had been sewing the soles and uppers together each married son and son in law and Lou gave 50 cts to get me a new paid of shoes. I think Maggie started it and Maye did the collecting. When she got it all she came to me and said she was taking a collection for the dinner and asked how much I was going to give. I started to get my money, she caught my wrist and put the money in my hand, I asked her what that meant she said it is to get you a pair of shoes and if that isnt enough we will make it up. It was a great surprise. I hardly knew what to think or say but after a little I thanked them.
I staid with Cynthia till Clara came the 4th. She got there that day and we came away the 5th when we got to Winterset it was snowing hard there was 3 or 4 inches of snow on the walk and no track. We got to 3 blocks I staid there but Clara went on to Alta's 3 blocks more, but she left her suitcases there. The next evening I came out with Ed in the ford and Clara came out with Loyd and brought my trunk in a sled and the next they brought he here, Milo's were here too.
We have all been in together till this week they have been seperating. Clara has the kitchen and upstairs, they have not entirely settled but so we do our work seperate. It is 10 pm and I am sleepy so think I had better quit.
31st. Well I will try to finish my letter. Everets intended to go to Ednas sisters today for the rest of the week, so got Clara to go and stay with Otto, so I am keeping house for Ralph. He said to tell you hello for him. Lee is working for Loyd so isnt here much only Sundays. I suppose you want to hear about how I spent Christmas and about my presents. I was here with Minnie, they did not invite any one but got up a pretty good dinner. Clara was making a dress for Josie H that week and Seth's had a dinner so Clara was there. My presents were a nice letter and handkerchief bag from Blanche T. 50 cents from Milo a nice letter and a $1. order from Lee and Josie F a pocket book from Ed and Minnie these were all before Christmas, on Christmas an apron from Clara and Seth and Luy (?) sent some of their dinner some popcorn balls and candy and nuts and a greeting from Maggie and family and a card from Vinnie's children a booklet each for Clara and me from Grace. The 26th 2 packages, the one from you and 1 from Vally in it was a box of envelopes for me a handkercheif for Clara and a white apron from Shedrick and Ethel for me a good letter and handkercheif from Vinnie and Walter. The 27th a letter from Lydia to Clara and me with a $10. order 5 from Lydia 2 1/2 ech from Olie and Dwane a picture of Carl and Doris Hartman and Thomas Franklin taken at Lee's when Maye was out there. They were sitting on the front steps and a card of greetings from Ralph and Maye H. I think Santa was very very good to me and I thank every one but none more than you. I think they are real nice and it was just what I needed more than any thing else just at that time and I put them right on. I cant hardly wear leather shoes any more. I got felts with the money I got at Vally and had 50 cts. left but they are not as comfortable in the house as the slippers I had intended geting some when I went to town till I got them. I guess this is about all only do you read the bible much. If not wont you commence with the New Year and read some in it every day. I started to read it through last New Years day and finished dec 1st. There has not been many days for a good many years that I haveent read some in it and the more I read the better I like it.
Please write soon and tell about everything. Love to all and best wishes for a happy new year which may last the year through.
Your Mother and Grandma.
Letter #17 - Postcard from Chloe Gold Blighton to her daughter, Amy Stanley and family:
Winterset Ia
1-14-20
Dear Grandaughter Elsie
Your invitation received for which accept my thanks. I would have like so much to attend if it had been possible. Dear Children I am looking back 40 years ago today and can see everything perfectly as it was then and hope you are very happy and am wishing you many returns eacch happier than the last. Write and tell about it and also about the Holidays. I think Clara will write you a letter soon.
With love and best wishes
Your Mother and Grandma
2-45 pm
C. G. Blighton
Letter #18 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her grandchildren:
Winterset Ia
Feb 25-20
Dear Grandchildren
As I am alone today I thought I would write and answer your dear good letter. I was about sick when it came but not clear down.
We have all been having something that is going around. I think I had a light touch of the La Grippe, some have had flu and with some it ran into pneumonia. One neighbor died and several in and close to Winterset have died.
I dont know of any one that has escaped having something of the kind. Mansel was with us and had a few days of severe headache like I had but it did not seem to get on his lungs like I did, but I am feeling good again now.
Mansel was here and around here 4 weeks lacking two days. We were glad to have him with us. I suppose you have seen the picture that was taken when your Ma was here and went to see him. He is much poorer than he was then and looks lots older.
You asked where Alta lives. She and her two sweet little girls live here. Orville lost his job and got out of money sold their furniture and sent her home. He gave her $50.00 and bought her ticket and promised to send her more, she said they had not had any trouble, and she like it there and thought they were going to get along fine. He is good in some ways and done well last year but he has no stability about him. He left her once before but he seemed so much better that she decided to live with him but I dont think she will again. I am sorry for her. She did not want to come back but did not have any say so about it. I think he is just tired of a married life. They had moved to Newton Iowa.
Well you wanted me to tell you about my Christmas presents. Your Ma sent me a nice pair of house slippers. I got two aprons, two handkercheifs, a nice pocket book or hand bag. $11.50 in money and several remembrances and 5 letters, 2 quails for my Christmas dinner and some of the dinner where Clara was a popcorn balls nuts and candy. I was here with Minnie. They didnt invite anyone but got up a good dinner for themselves.
The money was 5 dollars from Lydia, 2 1/0 each Ollie F and Dwane 1 from Lee and Josie F. 50 cts from Milo.
I got a letter from Fred and Nellie last friday and first for over a year. We got a letter from your Ma quite a while ago but had just written to her. I guess the letters must have met on the road.
Do you and Cora live near each other. Give them my love when you see them. I would be glad to hear from them. So you have a sister in law. I sure would like to see you all but it is doubtful if I ever do but I hope we may meet in the next world. Read your bibles and pray much. I find it good to live for Christ and I feel much of Gods presence day by day. With love and best wishes and God bless all my dear ones. I will close hoping to hear from you again.
Grandma
The rest have gone to Everetts only Ed.
Letter #19 from C. J. Mobley to her sister, Amy Stanley:
Havelock Nebr
May 4 1920
My Dear Sister and family.
Iv neglected so long to write to you I feel ashamed of myself but I guess its better late than never eh? Well Iv been very busy first one place and then another. I was a Mays a month then went to Ethels and washed up some bed cloths and helped her make some white dresses for the little girls. Then I had a case of nursing was there a little over two weeks then came to Maggies a week ago yesterday and came out here yesterday. I suppose you are wondering about our trip. Think we will start for your place about the 15th of July.
I thought of you on your birthday thought I would write you a letter but was so busy I didnt get time. Went to a funeral and to church.
I cant think of much to write so will close and will write more next time.
Write soon.
Lots of Love from your Sister and Aunt
C. J. Mobley.
Letter #20 from Chloe Gold Blighton to her daughter, Amy Stanley:
Earlham Ia
May 21-20
Dear Daughter Amy and family
Well I read your letter to Clara so the cat was let out of the bag so she told me all about it, of course I would liked to have gone with them if I could and as far as my bodily strength is concerned I think I could stand the trip all right but perhaps the mountain air would not be good for me and the expense so much I have given up ever trying to go that far. They had arrangements made for me to go to Grace's and as Cynthia was going to Josie's I thought it best to go that way and go with her that far, then Lydia wrote for me to go there so we decided to divide the time and I go to both places. Cynthia and I are at Maggie's and expect to go to Lee's tomorrow. They have gone to a funeral all but the girls and me now. I expect to stay in Habelock a few days then go to Lydia's 1st then on to Grace's in June
Clara came with me here Wednesday and went back thursday evening. She has broke up housekeeping for the summer, she intends to put in some garden and do some papering and straghten the things up stairs etc then visit. She staid with Mamie one week, they had a 12 pound boy born Apr. I am feeling well most of the time but some days I get dizzy spells.
Alta or rather Ralph and Lee have rented rooms in Ollie's house the boys pay the rent and make their home with her and she does their washing so it is good for both.
She thought she would work at days work part of the time but Lou is boarding there now so I suppose she wont for the present, but Clara will tell more than I can write but I will just say they are all very good to me and helped one to go on my visits.
You have heard I suppose that I am trying to piece all my grandaughters ocean wave blocks I have got to Coras and have it nearly peiced but cant send them till I get home for some of the blocks are there and some with me. I have Lydia rug done and with me but they thought best to send it by parcel post and check the suitcase I had it straped on the outside May said she would do it and Cynthia gve her the money to pay for postage. I am glad you read your bible an hope you may get to understand much of it study the prophecies especialy the book of Daniel and compare them with revelations and see how they are being and have been fulfiled especialy the present time famine pestilence etc etc let us pray much and serve God faithfully. I have not read my bible yet today so I think I will close and get to reading it Write to me while I am at Lydias.
Love and best wishes to all. Mother
C. G. Blighton