Monday, July 19, 2021

1935 Waltham, Maine: End of Term Sunday School Booklet


1935 End of Term Booklet for the Sunday School at Waltham, Maine. The owner's name, Janet Giles, was written on the back cover.  She was Janet (Giles) Carlisle (1921-2000), who married Robert T. Carlisle and became an active community member of Surry, Maine.

Many names of teachers and children appear in the booklet.  The inside back cover notes that Janet had had perfect attendance for five years.


Sunday School Officers

Isabelle A. Jordan, Superintendent
Sadie M. Haslam, Assistant Superintendent
Phyllis Jordan, Secretary
Irving Braley, Treasurer
Olive Giles, Organist
Irving Braley, Janitor


Royal Crown Class
Isabelle A. Jordan, Teacher
Mabel Jordan
Olive Giles
Geneva Haslam
Mildred Haslam
Josie Martin
Bernice Jordan
Eva Haslam
Agnes Haslam

Lindy Class
Sadie M. Haslam, Teacher
Irving Braley
Roger Jordan
Kenneth Jordan
Janet Giles
Merle Jordan
Franklin Jordan
Phyllis Jordan
Florence Owen
Mona Rankin
Raymond Salisbury


Sunbeams
Vida Haslam, Teacher
Harland Jordan
Pauline Jordan
Dora Hardison
Laverne Hardison
Wilda Hardison
Arthur Jordan, Jr.
Thurston Haslam
Madalene Jordan
Donald Emerson
Phyllis Hall

Bluebirds
Esther Jordan, Teacher
Roland Giles
Hildred Jordan
Betty Emerson
Marion Kemp
Mandel Kemp, Jr.
Naldin Hall
Dwight Haslam
Paul Emerson
Anthony Emerson
Robert Hardison


Cradle Roll
Donald Haslam
Donna Haslam
Merrill Hardison
Leota Hardison
Floyd Hardison
Ernestine Jordan
Thomas Jordan
R. Austin Wilbur - the "R" added in handwriting
Erlaine Lordan
Robert Jordan
Reginald Jordan
Roland Braley
Ethel Hardison
Lucille Hardison
Phillip Jordan - added in handwriting
Duane H. Braley - added in handwriting


"Perfect attendance for five years."

Janet Giles

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

February 1891 Letter from Philindia (Lombard) Bisbee of Canton, Maine, to George R. Henderson in Paulllina, Iowa

February 11, 1891 letter of Philindia F. (Lombard) Bisbee (1826-1904), wife of Daniel Bisbee (1826-1904), of Canton, Maine, to George R. Henderson of Paullina, Iowa.  The reverse of the letter contains the handwriting of recipient George: Wrote to Daniel Bisbee & sent money order $11 Feb 19/91 

Content:
  • work on behalf of candidate Dora Thompson
  • Philindia commented on George's children or grandchildren, apparently included with his last letter
  • Philindia's 3 grandchildren, children of her son Edward Lincoln Bisbee
  • Old Mrs. Childs and Gus "down in the Pine woods"
  • "the same as when you was here" - implying that George had lived in or visited Canton at length at some point and was familiar with people in town
  • Philindia will send the bill for the apples - George is apparently always in the market for Maine apples
  • Philindia asks that George send the apple payment by way of Postal note, to save on the check cashing fee 

A partially edited transcription and information on people mentioned appear at the end of this post.



Partially edited transcription

Canton Feb 11
Friend George
Your letter came today and will say we were surprised and very joyfully surprised at your liberal gift in the Watch Contest. Daniel just put the harness on the horse and put for the Telephone Office. He bought 250 papers for 6 dollars. Fred Parsons has 50 dollars to buy votes for Dora and they have an entertainment this evening to get more money for her but they are awfully afraid she will lose. There is going to be an awful scrabble now, I expect their hearts will go Patty Bump til next Sat night. Well, George, you don't grow old do you or is your Western farms so fruitful that children grow spontaneously. These little tots are cunning. Ed's folks have 3 little boys the youngest a year old. [Not sure what she meant by "Ed's folks" - but her married son Edward Lincoln Bisbee, living on the farm, had 3 boys by the time of this letter and would have 3 girls afterward.]  Daniel and myself takes lots of comfort with them. I love children. I hope yours will all grow up to be good. I would like to happen into your place some day ad give you a surprise, but never expect to. Old Mrs. Childs & Gus lives down in the Pine woods the same as when you was here. I don't know but Gus will die of old age before his mother does. She is real smart, does all her work alone.  I will send the Bill of those apples. I did not have it when I wrote before. Nothing new to write, So will say Good Bye again.
Mrs. D. Bisbee

P.S. Couldn't you get a Postal note or order at your Office. It would not cost as much as it does to get a check cashed. The bank is so far away. I presume the money would come all right in the letter but no certainty, I know. Daniel says when you get your apples he would like to know how much the freight was on them.

[George's note on the back of the letter]  Wrote to Daniel Bisbee & sent money order $11 Feb 19/91

People Mentioned

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Tuesday, July 13, 2021

January 1891 Letter from Philindia (Lombard) Bisbee at Canton, Maine, to George R. Henderson at Paullina, Iowa


January 24, 1891 letter from Philindia F. (Lombard) Bisbee (1826-1904), wife of Daniel Bisbee (1826-1904), to George R. Henderson at Paullina, Iowa.  It was presumably George who wrote on the last page: Answered this Feb 2/91

Content:
  • discussion about the quantity of apples that George hopes to have sent to him from Maine
  • an election, in which Dora Thompson is a candidate
  • description of the Bisbee farm livestock and crops
  • the Bisbee children and other family members/neighbors
    • Melville is earning well enough - Dr. Charles Melville Bisbee
    • the three children in Auburn are earning more than if they were farmers
    • Ed, their son, is a dentist who works at that trade when he can, but lives at home and goes halves on the farm with his father
    • Maria
  • Daniel Bisbee, Philindia's husband - will be 65 on January 25. Philindia is readying his picture to be sent to George
  • Philindia herself will be 65 "next July"

A partially edited transcription and information on people mentioned appear at the end of this post.



Partially Edited Transcription

Canton Jan 24 Sat eve
Our Friend George
I expect you have thought strange we did not write, but we have been expecting every day to find you some dried apples. Your check came all right. Twice we had some apples engaged but were sent off thinking they would have more in a day or two. I wanted to have part of them sliced for your pies. Yesterday Daniel made out to get some, 50 lbs were sliced, 210 lbs in all, 8-1/2 cts per pound, making $17.85 & twenty cents to get the check cashed, so there was one dollar ninety five cents left, which Daniel will keep as a present from you, not as pay for his trouble for you are welcome to that. I did not see the apples but the trader said he could not get a very good quality of apples this year. Sound apples sold high, the next sort sold for canning and every thing as big as the end of your finger was shipped to New York for bider [bidder ?] so there were few dried. 

We are all quite well now and I will look your letter over and answer your questions as well as I can. About those votes, I am very much obliged to you. I would like to have you send what you have so to be sure to have them here in season. I will have them cut out of all your papers after this week before they leave the printing office. I don't know as our candidate will win for she is second now. Dora Thompson. You ask how we are getting along. Well, George, we get enough to eat & wear and keep warm but when the year comes around there is not much to lay by, but as I told you before we own what we have, keep five horse; kind we have milked six cows this last year and have some young ones growing, we have some sheep, not a large flock; we had a decent crop of apples, about half our potatoes rotted, they are 80 cts a bushel, our corn crop was not very good, we had a great deal of rain and you can see by the Telephone what a winter we are having. Our children are doing well, but there is not a Farmer in the family. Melville makes money enough. The three that live in Auburn are earning more than they could on a farm. Ed lives at home, he works on the farm, he and his Father goes halves and he works at his Dentist trade when there is anything wanted. Of course, if we worked more we should have more but Daniel and myself are most done working so we ease up. I think Maria and all the rest of the family are well. You ask about my folks, there are none left nearer than Cousins, and they are dropping away one by one, soon we'll all be gone. It is past bed time and I will fix up Daniel's picture to send, they all say it looks just like him and I think it does. He will be 65 tomorrow Jan 25, I shall be 65 next July. Now you can have the old folks with you in form and looks but we shall be dumb only as we converse with our pen. We hope to hear from you soon.
So good night from your old friends,
Daniel and Philindia.

[in writing of George, presumably] Answered this Feb 2/91

People Mentioned


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March 1890 Letter from Philindia (Lombard) Bisbee in Canton, Maine, to George Henderson in Paullina, Iowa

March 23, 1890 letter from Philindia F. (Lombard) Bisbee (1826-1904), wife of Daniel Bisbee (1826-1904) at Canton, Maine, to George R. Henderson at Paullina, Iowa.  

Content:

  • Religious beliefs
  • Pleasantries
  • Weather and crops
  • Health and family
  • Apple shortage - the Bisbees haven't yet found a good source of the dried apples that George hopes to procure. Apparently there were not yet enough orchards in Iowa to satisfy demand.


A partially edited transcription and information on people mentioned appear at the end of this post.




Partially edited transcription

Canton March 23 - 90

Our Dear Friend George

It is neither sleighing nor wheeling and so we are at home today but our usual custom is when Sunday comes to attend worship in the House of God. I believe in one true God but there are many modes of worship of different names, and different beliefs but if the motive of the heart is right they are the Lords, whether (as you say) they are black or white, bond or free, rich or poor. God is no respecter of persons. He that doeth good and worketh righteousness is accepted of him. I think your opinion of Church people a little wrong, or as far as I know of them. In order to be Christians we must be Christ like, and his mission to earth was to save the unsaved. He said he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance, and it seemed to important a thing that he said there was joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth, and so if we are what we ought to be we shall feel a deep interest for every one ever so low and try and help them to a better life. A professed Christian that sets himself up above others is a Pharisee, you know they thanked God that they were not like the Poor Publicans but did God accept their offering, no, He says woe unto you scribes and Pharisees for you rob the widows and orphans and was the same as some of our rich men now that would jam a poor laboring man to death if they could make a few dollars by it. No, George, such men are not Christians, no matter what they profess or how much money they pay to support their Churches. It is the motive of the heart not the outward act that God rewards. You say your religion is to love all and do as you would be done by. George, this is all right so far, but you remind me of a Bible story a young man in Christ's day came to him and says to him, good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Then He goes on to tell him these good deeds that you do, and he says, all these I have kept from my youth up what lack I yet, and He says thou shall love the Lord with all thy heart, and when we do this the whole duty is done not only to God but all around us. 

Now I will answer some of your questions. We are quite well this winter. Daniel has the rheumatism, his legs pain him a good deal but he keeps to work but does a good deal of grunting about legs aching. I was quite sick last fall 4 or 5 weeks but lived through it, last year was a hard year for farmers here. We did not plant any corn. We raised oats and barley, potatoes, Beans, Turnips but on a very small scale to what you harvest. We raised some apples enough for our own use by being saving but not an apple to sell. They have cut & hauled some wood so we make out to live but they tax us most to death. The Democrats rule generally in this town so the republicans are not to blame for this. I think the time has come when the laboring class, farmers especially, should look after their own interest when the time comes for their votes more than simply to elect a man because he is a Republican or Democrat. There needs to be a change in Politics and there will be sooner or later. Farmers are surely coming to the front and the quicker they realize the importance of their votes, the sooner it will come. About those dried apples we cannot find any yet. Our traders have not bought any. Most of the fruit here is grafted and when the apple buyers come around in the fall they pay so much for No. 1, so much for seconds and they do better to sell them green than to dry them. If there should be any I will let you know but have not found any yet. 

Daniel has not had any picture. There is no Artist here and he hates so bad to have one, you would see an old grey haired, full Bearded old man.

Our family are all well, the same as when I wrote you before and all live in the same place, all busy; some are making money enough. I think it's enough. I don't know as they do but they are all comfortable.  We have not had much snow this winter and spring's work will soon be here.

Yes, George, we are growing old. We shall soon be gone and somebody else will have to do the work, will it be well with us. Write when convenient; don't wait a year. I begun to think you were dead but I hope some of your folks would let us know if that should be the case. Yours with respect, Mrs. D. Bisbee

People Mentioned


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Monday, July 12, 2021

1847 Letter from Hannibal Ingalls at Mercer, Maine, to James Holland at Canton, Maine; re: Potatoes

May 15, 1847 letter sent by Hannibal Ingalls at Mercer, Maine, to James M. Holland, Esq., Postmaster, Canton, Maine, regarding the acreage in potatoes he would like to contract for the Boston starch firm Mixer & Pitman.

See a list of the people mentioned, at the end of this post.




Loose transcription - corrections welcome!

Mercer, May 15, 1847
J. M. Holland, Esq.
Canton

Dr Sir.
You will have learned that I was at Canton in  your absence looking after the Potato Growers. Farmer Childs said he had made no definite bargain with you about planting but wanted to know soon about it on account of Seed. I told him he might find five acres of land & plant and he should be paid a fair price for his labour & the Seeds. The land as he says was engaged at four dollars per acre by Mixer. 
I shall leave it with you having recently seen Mixer & Pitman as I suppose whether to engage Childs to plant any more land in this way or not, he would not engage to Hoe nor dig them & this you will hire men to do - on the five acres I engaged, if convenient.

I wish you to have about two acres of Pasture land on the Hearsy [Hearsey] farm planted with Potatoes. I think it is extra chance, Mr. Hearsey will tell you where it is. One of the Mr. Fosters said he would fence it and plant it if I would get the land of S. Holland and I said to Samuel I should want the land by did not agree upon the price for Foster was away to Dixfield. Now I want you to engage Foster to fence, plow & plant it without fail even if it is at a high price for I think it will raise a large crop. Let Foster or any one else plant it as their own and deduct the rent which I think ought not to be more than two or three dollars if Foster does it; perhaps you better take a lease of it to save trouble.

Perhaps you may feel as though you would rather be excused from all this trouble but you must charge Mixer & Pitman for it. I feel anxious to procure all the Potatoes I can for them & this pasture ground it is thought will produce a large crop.

I engaged 300 Casks of E. Phinney at 60 cents which was the best I could do for good ones.

I suppose you have seen Mixer & Pitman & they may have engaged you to have more more Potatoes planted on some condition, they are very anxious to get 20 thousand bushels but I see no prospect of more than half this amount, and I cannot cause any more to be planted without extra expense.

I was at Canton Mills & the Trader there thought I might procure several thousand bushels, there, if I would then let the farmers know about it & pay the same price there as I did at the Starch Mill. I thought this was at too dear a rate and I would run the risk to buy in the fall what was raised at some price. I shall not make any repairs on the Mill until something can be ___  [judged ?] of the coming in crop of Potatoes. I do not think favourable of Childs or others planting without manure but still we can do no better for M&P intend to have Potatoes at some price. - over -

Please interest yourself as much as you can for M&P in having Potatoes, planted & in looking after their interest at your place.

Write what the prospects are & How Saml get along with his eight acres.

If any letters comes to your office for me please forward.
Yours
Hannibal Ingalls

People Mentioned:

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Saturday, July 10, 2021

February 1869 Canton, Maine, Document: Selectmen Calvin S. Brown, Caleb P. Holland & William Dunn; Payee Amos Child


February 24, 1869 Canton, Maine, document where Selectmen Calvin S. Brown, Caleb P. Holland and William Dunn direct the Town Treasurer to pay Amos Child $1.50 for services as Trustee of School Fund for the years past.

Click here to see a list of more 19th century documents and correspondence relating to Canton, Maine.

Small paper; nothing on reverse.  The men mentioned were, presumably:


If you have corrections and/or information to share on any of these men, please leave a comment or contact me directly.
 

February 1869 Canton, Maine, Document: Selectmen Calvin S. Brown & Caleb P. Holland; Teacher George H. Newman

February 13, 1869 Canton, Maine, document where Selectmen Calvin S. Brown and Caleb P. Holland direct the Town Treasurer to pay George H. Newman $75 for teaching school in District No. 3 the present Winter.

Click here to see a list of more 19th century documents and correspondence relating to Canton, Maine.

Small paper; minimal handwriting on reverse.


These men were, presumably:

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September 1868 Canton, Maine, Document: Selectmen Calvin S. Brown and Caleb P. Holland; Treasurer Roscoe H. Thompson

 

September 15, 1868 Canton, Maine, document where Selectman Calvin S. Brown and Caleb P. Holland direct the Town Treasurer Roscoe H. Thompson to pay $65.27, for cash advanced to the Selectmen.

Click here to see a list of more 19th century documents and correspondence relating to Canton, Maine.

Small paper; nothing on reverse. These men were, presumably:


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1868 Canton, Maine Bond: Selectman Calvin S. Brown, Caleb P. Holland & William Dunn; Treasurer Roscoe H. Thompson

March 6, 1863 Canton, Maine, Bond in the value of $100, which matured on June 1, 1868 and is marked on the reverse as Paid. Signed by Selectmen Calvin S. Brown, Caleb P. Holland and William Dunn and by Treasurer Roscoe H. Thompson.

Click here to see a list of more 19th century documents and correspondence relating to Canton, Maine.

Approximately 10-1/2" by 6-1/2"; minimal handwriting on reverse.


 These men were, presumably:


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March 1868 Canton, Maine, Document: Selectmen Calvin S. Brown & Caleb P. Holland; Payee Origen Barker

 

March 18, 1868 Canton, Maine, document where Selectmen Calvin S. Brown and C. P. Holland direct the Town Treasurer to pay Origen Barker $98 for supporting the Poor in the town of Canton for the past year. 

Click here to see a list of more 19th century documents and correspondence relating to Canton, Maine.

Paper scrap; nothing on reverse. The men mentioned above were, presumably:

If you have corrections and/or information to share on any of these men, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

November 1867 Canton, Maine, Document: Selectmen Hiram A. Ellis & C. S. Brown; Ephraim Childs, Jr., Payee


November 30, 1867 Canton, Maine, document where Selectmen Hiram A. Ellis and C. S. Brown direct the Town Treasurer to pay Ephraim Childs, Jr. $12 for boarding the teacher in District No. 9.

Click here to see a list of more 19th century documents and correspondence relating to Canton, Maine.

Paper scrap; nothing on reverse. The men mentioned above were, presumably:

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August 1867 Canton, Maine, Document: Selectmen Hiram A. Ellis & Albion Thorne; Treasurer John P. Swasey; Teacher Zoradia Lothrop


August 1867 Canton, Maine, document where Selectmen Hiram A. Ellis and Albion Thorne direct the Town Treasurer to pay Zoraida Lothrop the sum of $16 for teaching school in District No. 1 in 1867. The reverse gives the name of the Town Treasurer - John P. Swasey.

Note:"Zoraida" should be "Zoradia".

Click here to see a list of more 19th century documents and correspondence relating to Canton, Maine.

Paper scrap; minimal handwriting on the reverse. 


These people were, presumably:

If you have corrections and/or information on any of these people, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

March 1867 Canton, Maine, Document: Selectmen Hiram A. Ellis & Albion Thorne; Treasurer John T. Severy; Rev. Carlton Parker


March 2, 1867 Canton, Maine, document where Selectmen Hiram A. Ellis and Albion Thorne direct Town Treasurer John P. Sevary, Esq. to pay Rev. Carlton Parker $8 for service as Superintendent of the School Committee for the years 1866 and 1867. 


These men were, presumably:


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January 1866 Canton, Maine, Document: John H. Wait, Payee; Oscar Hayford, Town Treasurer


January 1, 1866 Canton, Maine, document where John H. Wait acknowledges receipt from Town Treasurer Oscar Hayford the sum of $9 for interest on a town order held by Wait, dated December 31, 1864 with annual interest. 

Click here to see a list of more 19th century documents and correspondence relating to Canton, Maine.

Paper scrap; nothing on reverse.  These men were, presumably:

If you have corrections and/or information to share on either of these men, please leave a comment or contact me directly. 

Friday, July 9, 2021

June 1864 Canton, Maine, Document: Hiram A. Ellis; John D. Hodge; Isaac N. Stanley; Cyrus Wait


June 27, 1864 Canton, Maine, document where Selectmen Hiram A. Ellis and John D. Hodge direct Town Treasurer Isaac N. Stanley, Esq., to pay Cyrus Waite $28.75 for work on the highways.

Click here to see a list of more 19th century documents and correspondence relating to Canton, Maine.

Paper scrap; minimal handwriting on the reverse. 


These men were presumably:

If you have corrections and/or information to share on any of these men, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

June 1864 Canton, Maine, Document: Hiram A. Ellis; John D. Hodge; Isaac N. Stanley; C. A. Coolidge; Stephen Cushman


June 24, 1864 Canton, Maine, document where Selectmen Hiram A. Ellis and John D. Hodge direct Town Treasurer Isaac N. Stanley, Esq., to pay C. A. Coolidge $6.25 for medical attendance on family of Stephen Cushman [middle initial struck over].

Click here to see a list of more 19th century documents and correspondence relating to Canton, Maine.

Paper scrap; minimal handwriting on the reverse.


These men were presumably:

If you have corrections and/or information to share on any of these men, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

March 1864 Canton, Maine, Document: Hiram A. Ellis; John D. Hodge; Nathaniel Whittemore; John McCollister

March 7, 1864 Canton, Maine, document where Selectmen Hiram A. Ellis and John D. Hodge direct Town Treasurer Nathaniel Whittemore to pay John McCollister $3.25 for labor on the roads in 1863.
Click here to see a list of more 19th century documents and correspondence relating to Canton, Maine.

Paper scrap; minimal handwriting on the reverse.


These men were presumably:

If you have corrections and/or information to share on any of these men, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Thursday, July 8, 2021

May 1864 Canton, Maine, Document: Hiram A. Ellis; Farnum Austin; Isaac N. Stanley; H. A. Ellis


May 31, 1864 Canton, Maine, document where Selectmen Hiram A. Ellis and Farnum Austin direct Town Treasurer Isaac N. Stanley, Esq. to pay H. A. Ellis $143.29 for cash paid for State Aid for May.

Click here to see a list of more 19th century documents and correspondence relating to Canton, Maine.

Paper scrap; minimal handwriting on the reverse.


The people mentioned above were presumably:

If you have corrections and/or information to share on any of these men, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

August 1860 Canton, Maine, Document: John McCollister; Granville Child; Nathaniel Whittemore; teacher Emily Hersey

August 27, 1861 Canton, Maine, document where Selectmen John McCollister and Granville Child direct Town Treasurer Nathaniel Whittemore to pay Emily Hersey or bearer $49.50 for teaching school in District No. 2 in the present Summer.

Click here to see a list of more 19th century documents and correspondence relating to Canton, Maine.

Paper scrap; minimal handwriting on the reverse.


These people were presumably:


If you have corrections and/or information to share on any of these people, please leave a comment or contact me directly.