1837 Pamphlet "Articles of Faith & Form of Covenant", Churches of Oxford Conference, Oxford County, Maine; Owner's Name: S. Carsley or L. Carsley

1837 pamphlet entitled "Articles of Faith and Form of Covenant Adopted by the Churches of Oxford Conference".

The pamphlet, which measures approximately 7" by 4-1/2" and contains 23 numbered pages, was printed by W. E. Goodnow of Norway, Maine.

The cover bears the handwriting of the owner: either S. Carsley or L. Carsley, of 233 Washington Street, Boston, dated 1850. 

If S. Carsley, the owner might have been the Seth Carsley (1782-1874) who lived in towns in Cumberland County and Oxford County, Maine, and who was involved in the religious community as a Deacon. But did he live in Boston in 1850?

If L. Carsley, the owner may well have been Leonard Carsley (1832-1853), son of Benjamin Kimball Carsley (1810-1849) and Roxana (Ingalls) Carsley (1813-1895).  Sadly, Leonard, who was working as a clerk in Boston at the time of the 1850 Census, died there of typhoid fever in 1853. It's likely that he was helping to support his widowed mother and younger brother Albion Carsley (1840-1929); Leonard's death must have been a further terrible blow, after the death of his father in 1849.

Benjamin Kimball Carsley had left his family, farm and hotel at North Bridgton in late February 1849, to travel overland to California, presumably to mine for gold or to use his farming and hotel keeping skills. Sadly, he died along the way that May in Independence, Missouri. This information appears on pages 108 and 109 in The Genealogy and History of the Ingalls family in America, giving the Descendants of Edmund Ingalls, by Charles Burleigh, M.D., published in 1903.

It's possible that the Charles Frost who served as Clerk of the Oxford Conference was Rev. Charles Frost (1796-1850), pastor of the First Congregational Church of Bethel, Maine.  Other names mentioned include Brother Walker and Brother Soule.

If you have a theory as to the identity of S. Carsley or L. Carsley, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Click on any image below to enlarge it.

Oxford County, Maine [Note: in 1837 Oxford County was larger than what the current boundaries show.  It lost towns to Franklin County in 1838 and to Androscoggin County in 1854 and gained the town of Otisfield in 1978.]

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Calling Card of Mr. Ira O. Wade with a handwritten address in Paris

Note: Please scroll down to the comments section to see a reader's comment that this was indeed the calling card of the Professor Ira O. Wade described below.

Vintage calling card of Mr. Ira O. Wade, who appears to have been living, at least temporarily, at 21 bis, rue d'Alesia, Paris, in what I assume was the 6th arrondisement.

The 1930 Census of Princeton, New Jersey, shows an Ira O. Wade and wife Mabel.  His occupation was listed as teacher at a university.  He was Dr. Ira Owen Wade, a member of the Foreign Languages Department, an authority on Voltaire and the founder of Princeton's Program in European Civilization.  Mabel Wade was the former Mabel Harrington, I believe.

More information about Ira Owen Wade's life and career is available here on the Find-a-Grave site.  

It seems very plausible that the card belonged to this Ira O. Wade, before he attained his doctorate in 1924, and that he was on sabbatical at Paris, where he was researching one of his works or teaching.

If you have more information on Dr. Ira Owen Wade or believe that this card belonged to another Ira O. Wade, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!

Sixth Arrondisement


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1915 Obituaries of William Josiah Dabney Cawthon of Florala, Alabama

Two obituaries found in a Bible that originally belonged to Josiah Hutchison, father-in-law of the subject of the obituaries, William Josiah Dabney Cawthon, who was the widower of Louisa (Hutchison) Cawthon.

Sadly, the Bible either never contained Family Record pages, or they were removed at some point.  The only evidence that this was Josiah Hutchison's Bible is on the inside front cover, with the added corroboration of the clippings.

Notice in the obituaries below that Hutchinson is also spelled as Huchison and Huchinson.

From online research, hopefully correct: [corrections and additions welcome!]

William Josiah Dabney Cawthon was born 20 June 1829, the son of William Thomas Cawthon and his second wife Elizabeth (O'Neal) Cawthon.   One obituary has him born in Henry County, Alabama; the other, near Dothan, in Houston County, Alabama.  Perhaps the county boundaries had changed.

In 1850, according to one of the obituaries, William J. D. Cawthon, "Uncle Bully", married Louisa Hutchison, daughter of Josiah Hutchison and Lorena Ann (Mills) Cawthon, though some online family trees give Louisa's mother as another of Josiah's wives.

Obituary 1

Transcript:

Obituary
Mr. W. J. D. Cawthon, long and familiarly known as Uncle Bullie Cawthon, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. N. Bowers of Florala, Ala., on September 4, 1915.  He was born in Henry County, Ala., June 20, 1829, and at the time of his death he had passed his 86th year.  When he was only six years of age, he moved with his father into the community now known as Florala, where he resided the remainder of his life, a period of about 80 years.

In 1850 Mr. Cawthon was married to Miss Louisa Huchison, with whom he lived happily for many years.  Twelve children were born to them, seven of whom survive; viz: Messrs. William J., L. Huchinson, James Ballou, A. Corbin, Mrs. N. Bowers, Mrs. I. P. Alred, and Miss Missouria Cawthon.

In 1862 Bro. Cawthon was made a Master Mason in Geneva Lodge, Geneva County, Ala.  In 1872 he became affiliated with Chapel Hill Lodge where he held the position of Senior Deacon.  Later on he held the position of Worshipful Master of Lake City Lodge, No. 337.  From the above date, it will be seen that brother Cawthon was one of the oldest Masons in this region of country.  He loved the Order, and he evinced that love by giving generously in its behalf.  In fact few men in South Alabama, or anywhere else as to that matter, have done so much for the fraternity as our departed friend.  In large measure, he lived the principles enunciated by Masonry.  There are many of the poor and needy who can testify to this fact.  For a long period of his life, his resources were ample.  He could have been a wealthy man, but he preferred that which is better, to give to the many in need.

Brother Cawthon was brought up a Universalist, his father being a Universalist before him.  He was devoted to this Faith, and throughout his long life zealously defended it and generously supported it.  During his last illness, when he saw the inevitable approach of that which we call death, he experienced no anxious fears nor doubts.  He passed away as he had lived, in the consciousness that a loving God ruled over all:
"That no one life shall be destroyed
Or cast as rubbish to the void,
When God has made the pile complete."

It is probable that brother Cawthon was one of the first prohibitionists in North Florida.  His father before him stood for temperance and sobriety, and with few exceptions the descendants of this honored sire have lived and labored for the abolition of strong drink.  And their efforts have not been in vain as is evident from the rising tide of total abstinence sentiment in Walton and adjoining counties.

During his rather long period of confinement to his room, our friend exhibited the greatest degree of patience and fortitude.   Not even once did he complain.  He had lived in accordance with the laws of nature, he had grown to a good old age; and, like ripened fruit at the approach of wintry winds, he relaxed his feeble grasp on mortality that he might share the company of those gone on before, and that death might be swallowed up in victory.

To his dear family and friends we would say: "There is no cause for grief nor sorrow; he lived his allotted days.  Emulate his virtues, for they were many.  Cherish his memory."

The funeral service was conducted in the Universalist church at DeFuniak Springs, his pastor, Rev. Thomas Chapman giving the address.  Members of the different church choirs of the town assisted in the service of song.  The burial service was conducted by the Masonic fraternity, brother Williams of Natural Bridge officiating as Worshipful Master.
Thomas Chapman

Obituary 2

Transcript

Col. Cawthon Dead.

It is with a poignant sense of personal loss that the Herald this week records the death of Colonel W. J. D. Cawthon, or "Uncle Bullie", as we who had known him and loved him so long, loved to call him.

Col. Cawthon was born 86 years ago, near Dothan, in what is now Houston county, Alabama.  In his early youth, he moved to McDade's Pond (Florala), since which time Col. Cawthon has been a prominent figure in the development of West Florida.  When the war-whoop of the savage Indian, the howl of the wolf and scarcely less frequent if more dolorous "hoo-hoo" of the owl were the sole evidences of animated life in western Florida, with, perhaps, the hoarse bellow of a "bull gator" in some distant pond as his one and only musical accompaniment, young Cawthon built his home.

Those were fearful days, and we of this day and generation are indebted to the accurate memory of Col. Cawthon and a few other of his day and generation for some facts that should give Florida a history peculiarly its own.

During the last few years of Col. Cawthon's life it was his custom to visit relatives in DeFuniak occasionally.  On these occasions he would always visit The Herald.  His visits were always spicy and entertaining.  Col. Cawthon, in the course of a conversation with The Herald man once remarked that he could not improve on Davie Crockett's famous slogan:

"Be SURE your'e right [sic]
"Then go ahead."
The capital letters are ours.  We use them merely to emphasise [sic] the Colonel's pronunciation.

In the death of Col. Cawthon The Herald loses a valued friend and one of its most charitable critics.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!  I'd be interested in knowing the source of his honorific "Colonel".

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1957 Program of Sesquicentennial Anniversary of Incorporation of Jefferson, Maine

Souvenir Program of the Sesquicentennial of Jefferson, Maine, 1807-1957, held at the Village School Grounds, on July 4, 1957.

The program is approximately 6-1/8" x 3-1/2" inches and contains 12 interior pages.   When I talked to the president of the Jefferson Historical Society about this program, she told me that the Society is in process of restoring the Old Town House as a museum.  Hopefully this program will be displayed there soon.  

The first page of text shows a list of early settlers and the year they had moved to Jefferson.

1765 - Joshua Linscott
1766 - Captain Joseph Clark
1769 - James Murphy
1769 - John Weeks
1770 - Jonathan Ames
1772 - John Boynton
1772 - Charles Glidden
1775 - Jonathan Noyes
1776 - Robert Clary
1778 - Captain Samuel Jackson
1778 - Deacon Joseph Jackson
1778 - Thomas Kennedy
1779 - Enoch Avery
1779 - Henry Bond
1779 - Henry Bond
1779 - Peter Dow
1779 - Samuel Waters
1780 - Abner Ford
1780 - William Hopkins
1780 - Abiathar Richardson
1780 - Samuel Whitehouse
1782 - Phineas Ames
1784 - Moses Noyes
1784 - James Robinson
1785 - John Rice
1787 - John Cunningham
1787 - William Shepherd
1790 - Samuel Avery
1790 - John Taylor
1791 - Timothy Plummer
1792 - Joseph Avery
1792 - Elisha Clark
1794 - James Campbell
1795 - Jonathan Jones
1795 - John Perham
1795 - David S. Trask
1795 - Jonathan Trask
1795 - Thomas Trask
1800 - Nathaniel Meservey

Highlights from the History of Jefferson, three pages starting in 1730 and ending in 1957.

Names included in the three pages:
William Vaughn
James Noble
John Ball
Samuel Waters, clerk of Ballstown plantation, including Whitefield and Jefferson, organized April
1807 - incorporation, the 100th town in the District of Maine.  Named for President Thomas Jefferson
James Reeves
Jesse Rowell, Postmaster
Silas Noyes
Bela Haskell 

Sesquicentennial Hymn, Tune: Jefferson by F. Morse Wemple; written by Laura Meserve Pierce

Names on the page above:
Rev. Herbert S. Craig
Frank H. Flagg, First Selectman
Herbert A. Clark
Hazel M. Tenny
Arad E. Linscott

Names on the page above:
Rev. Leslie A. Farrer
Master of Ceremonies, Donald F. Pierce
Director of Augusta Cadet Band, Raymond F. Vigue
Judges for Floats:
Kenneth W. Barker           Eston D. Glidden
Harold G. Clark               Bryan M. Hodgkins
Raymond F. Flagg            Lauriston H. Vinal

Planning Committee

Laura M. Pierce, General Chairman
Dorothy S. Ames                          Erland O. Johnston
Irvin H. Bond                                Helen H. Knowles
Martha F. Bond                             Helen L. Linscott
Ruth H. Bond                                 Marion A. MacDonald
Maxine V. Gross                            Alice P. Olsen
Philip H. Hansen III                        Edna L. Parlin
Eleanor L. Hixon                            Donald F. Pierce
Meda S. Hodgkins                          Elizabeth Williamson
Beryl H. Hunt                                 Eleanor L. Wilson
Ernest G. Hunt                                Roger M. Wilson

Historical Committee

Delbert E. Andrews                         Lervey W. Castle
Amy F. Besse                                 Herbert A. Clark
H. Prescott Bond                             Florence D. Meserve

Music

Alice H. Holmes                               Earle A. Hodgkins
                         Laura M. Pierce

Judges

Martha F. Bond                                 Helen H. Knowles

Parade

Arthur L. Benner                                Raymond L. Bond
                            Fred E. Jackson

Printing

Ruth H. Bond                                      Meda S. Hodgkins
                   Elizabeth McE. Williamson

Program

Dorothy S. Ames                                 Winifred L. Banks
                              Erland O. Johnston

Property

William C. Carter                                 Chester M. Swift

                          Raymond F. Flagg, Jr.

Publicity

Alice H. Holmes                                    Ada B. Packard

    Refreshments

Maxine V. Gross                                     Eleanor L. Hixon

                                 Alice P. Olsen

Games

Men - Brien L. Gilbault                           Donald F. Pierce

                                 Charles A. Rawlings
Women - Helen S. Madden                      Pauline O. Miller
Children - Judith Hansen                         David Fish
                Gail Campbell                        Robert Wilson
                                        4-H Clubs

Float Committees

First Baptist Church and Choir

Clifton A. Bond                                     Raymond F. Flagg, Jr.

Irvin H. Bond                                         Earle A. Hodgkins

Margaret T. Bond                                   Ralph R. Bond

Bunker Hill Grange

Carroll Dinsmore, Jr.                                    Beryl H. Hunt

                                  Gladys A. Johnston  

Bunker Hill Workers

Forest Hunt

Extension Association

Eleanor M. Albert                                    Laura C. Cunningham

                                Mary M. Goodwin

Fish and Game Association

Fred E. Jackson                                        Donald F. Pierce

                                Blaine H. Swift

Happy Harvesters

Joyce MacDonald                                      Sandra Bailey

Highlanders

Peter Campbell                                          Charles Hunt

Jefferson Eagles

Jon Chamblee                                             Robert Dodge

Bradley Bryant                                            Frank Holmes

Jefferson Grange

                                   Fay B. MacDonald

Jefferson Volunteer Fire Dept.

Andrew W. Williamson                      Ernest G. Hunt

King's Daughters

Nancy S. Bond                                   Elizabeth G. Hoffses

Hazel G. Hall                                     Leila E. Lermond

Esther C. Carleton                              Elizabeth N. Wemple

Ladies Aid

Martha F. Bond                                   Donna R. Bond

                                 Lottie E. Tanner

Star Club

Lester P. Gross                                      Maxine V. Gross

Willow Grange

Alice H. Holmes                                     H. Graham Hall

Woman's Club

Ingrid E. Dodge                                       Maxine V. Gross

Esther C. Carleton                                   Ada B. Packard

Youth Center

Theodore Albert                                      Rachel Hixon

Richard Boyd                                          Adele Hodgkins

Joan Dodge                                             Barry Kleinberg

Catherine Fish                                         Jon Olsen

Robert Fish                                             Marjorie Smith

Judith Hansen                                          Robert Wilson

Printed in Jefferson by Bond Printing Company

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Collection of letters written to Florence Knox of Brooklyn, New York, before and after her marriage to Emil Louis Beh

Collection of letters written to Florence Knox in the 1890s, before her marriage to Emil Louis Beh on 25 October 1900, and a few after that time, mostly in 1916 when she was recuperating in the hosptal and at home.

The photograph above was taken from the Behs' 1921 passport application.

Florence was born about September 1876, daughter of William and Mary Knox.  On 25 October 1900, at Brooklyn, New York, Florence married Emil Louis Beh, son of Albert and Charlotte M. (Hoehne) Beh.  Emil was born 26 July 1878 in New York.

The couple had at least two sons

The letters date from 1893 to 1900, with a few from 1916 when Florence was recuperating in the hospital and at home, and a later grouping of mostly Emil's business dealings, which I haven't yet catalogued, as they are from a newer era than I feel comfortable in researching.

The letters listed below went sent to Florence at her home in Brooklyn, New York, or at summer vacation spots, by family members and friends.

1. Envelope addressed to Florence Knox at 274 South 5th Street, Brooklyn, New York, containing two letters:  1) 19 July 1893 from Louise Graf who was c/o Mr. Milton Crandall, Yulan, New York 2) 30 July, presumably also 1893, Florence's sister Emma at Brooklyn, New York.  The letter on cream paper is from Louise Graf; the letter on blue paper is from Emma Knox, Florence's sister
2. 27 July 1893 letter to Florence Knox at Parksville, New York, c/o Walcott Bradley, from her brother Charles Knox at Brooklyn, New York.  Evelyn, daughter of Charles G. Knox, wrote an included letter in 1916.
3. 27 July 1893 letter to Florence Knox at Maple Lawn Cottage at Parksville, New York, from Louise Graf, c/o Mr. Milton Crandall at Yulan, New York
4. 8 July 1896 letter to Florence Knox at the Fairfield Hotel at Asbury Park, New Jersey, from her mother Mary Knox at home at Brooklyn, New York
5. 1 March 1897 letter to Florence Knox at 274 South 5th Street, Brooklyn, New York, from Grace at 817 Green Ave, Brooklyn, New York
6. 15 August 1897 letter to Miss Florence Knox c/o M. Deyr at Springtown, New York, from Ella at 274 South Fifth Street, Brooklyn, New York
7. 16 August 1897 letter to Florence Knox, c/o Matthew Deyo at Springtown, New York, from Ella M. Lyon at 1649 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York.  Contains a folded Confederate $100 bill, whether fake or not, with a line at bottom advertising De Graw, Men's Furnisher, at 79 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York.
8. 19 August 1897 letter to Florence Knox at 274 South 5th St., Brooklyn, New York, from Emma B. North at Sea Cliff, Long Island, Box 118
9. 20 February 1898 letter to Florence Knox at 215 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York, from Sadie at Ocean Grove, New Jersey
10. 1 March 1898 letter to Florence Knox at Brooklyn, New York, from Sadie at Ocean Grove, New Jersey
11. 11 August 1898 letter to Miss Florence Knox at Wawarsing, New York, c/o Burton Hill Co., from Ella at Brooklyn, New York
12. 15 August 1898 letter to Florence Knox at Burton Hill House, Wawarsing, New York, from Ella, at home in Brooklyn, New York
13. 5 October 1898 letter to Florence Knox at Brooklyn, New York, from Hester at 224 West 134th St., New York, New York
14. 13 February 1899 letter to Florence Knox at 274 South Fifth Street, Brooklyn, New York, from Hester at 224 West 134th Street, New York, New York
15. 23 July 1900 letter to Florence Knox c/o Mrs. Henchan at Riverside, Connecticut, from Grany at 232 South Second Street, Brooklyn, New York
16. Card mailed on 24 March 1916 from ? [perhaps a nickname for Emil's sister Charlotte] at Brooklyn, New York, to Florence (Knox) Beh at Prospect Heights Hospital, Brooklyn, New York
17. 25 March 1916 letter to Florence (Knox) Beh at Prospect Heights Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, from Evelyn, c/o Charles G. Knox, 636 Walker Ave., Woodhaven, New York.  Charles G. Knox was Florence's younger brother.
18. Letter mailed 29 March 1916 to Mrs. E. L. Beh (Florence (Knox) Beh at Prospect Heights Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, by Lil.  The card was mailed in New York City.
19. Letter mailed on 7 April 1916 to Mrs. E. L. Beh (Florence (Knox) Beh) at 1451 President St., Brooklyn, New York, by E. M. F. at Brooklyn, New York
20. 7  April 1916 card mailed to Mrs. E. L. Beh (Florence (Knox) Beh), at 1451 President Street, Brooklyn, New York, by someone with the nickname Chute or Chite, perhaps the same person who called herself Florence's sister Chutience or somesuch.

If you have information on Florence's birthdate and parents, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!

Brooklyn, New York

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1873 letter from Nettie E. Hackett of Wareham, Massachusetts to Mrs. Abbie M. Hayden at Quincy, Massachusetts

Letter dated 3 January 1873, sent by Nettie E. Hackett, at Wareham, Massachusetts, to Mrs. Addie M. Hayward at Quincy, Massachusetts.

This letter may have a relationship to a letter that was the subject of an earlier post, an 1866 letter from Mary Maynard at Janesville (Iowa, I think) to John Townsend at Lakeville, Massachusetts.

From scratching the surface, I've found that Nettie was Eldora Purdenet Hackett, a half sister to Abbie Maria (Hackett) Hayden.

The envelope above contains a smaller one, below, which contains the letter shown farther below.  Whatever letter there might have been in the larger envelope, which was likely from Abbie's parents, is sadly missing.

From online research, hopefully correct: [corrections and additions welcome]

Abbie Maria Hackett was born 28 November 1848 at Middleborough, Massachusetts, the last child of Peleg Sumner Hackett and his first wife Lydia (Waterman) Hackett.  She married Charles Monroe Hayden at Quincy, Massachusetts, on 30 November 1871.  Charles, born about 1848, was the son of James Monroe Hayden and Adeline (Wild) Hayden.  Abbie died in 1940 in Barnstable County, Massachusetts.

As stated above, I believe that Nettie E. Hackett was Eldora Purdenet Hackett, born on 6 August 1861, at Lakeville, Massachusetts, the first child of Peleg Sumner Hackett and his second wife, Betsy Clark (Coombs) Hackett.  "Nettie" married Edward Hathaway about 1888.  By the time of the 1900 Census, she was already widowed and living with her parents.  Like her husband, she also died young, in 1907.

Nettie may have been the older sister of a young woman whose graduation photograph is featured in another post, that of Arleen Hackett, from Middleborough High School, possibly Bessie Arleen Hackett.

Transcript: [with a few tweaks]

Lakeville, Jan 3th, 1873
Dear Sister Abbie
As this letter is here to mail, I will write you a few lines.  School was out to day and I spoke a splendid piece.  The name of the piece was "Pride", and it was splendid and I spoke it good and I had to act it all out and we wrote ? [compersion - composition?] and mine was the best.  You must write to me, won't you.  We gave the teacher a fruit knife and Johnnie gave her a nice box and tonite she gave me a nice card, large enough to frame, but Bertie and Frankie was not so large.  I'm going to have mine framed.  Don't you think I didn't have a diary and I want one awfully.  Have you got one.  I can't have none.  Write to me if you answer.  Please do answer soon.
From
Nettie E. Hackett

A. M. Hayden, Stoughton

Lakeville, Massachusetts


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1866 Letter from Mary Maynard at Janesville [Iowa ?] to John Townsend of Lakeville, Massachusetts

30 December 1866 letter from Mary Maynard at Janesville, possibly Iowa, to her "brother and sister", John Townsend and wife, at Lakeville, Massachusetts.  I don't know whether Mary was the sister of John or his wife, who may have been Anna (Smith) Townsend, or their sister-in-law or if by "brother and sister" she meant a religious or social affiliation.

This letter might have relationship with an 1873 letter featured in another post, a letter from Nettie E. Hackett, (Eldora Purdenet Hackett) from Lakeville, Massachusetts, to her older half sister Abbie Maria (Hackett) Maynard at Quincy, Massachusetts.

There were towns named Janesville in California, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Wisconsin.  There may have been more.

I found a bit of information on John Townsend of Lakeville, Massachusetts.  I believe he is the John who was born about 1811 at Middleborough, Massachusetts, son of Bradford Townsend.  John married Anna Smith at Middleborough, Massachusetts, on 30 October 1831.  Anna was the daughter of John and Hannah (Haskell) Smith.  I couldn't find a daughter of Bradford Townsend or John Smith, who married a Maynard.  

Interestingly, I found a Find-a-Grave listing for a Mary Maynard, who was born in Massachusetts about 1816 and lived at Janesville, Iowa, with her husband John B. Maynard, who was born in Vermont about 1806.   They're both buried at the Oakland Cemetery at Janesville.

Transcript below.

Transcript: [punctuation inserted; spelled corrected.]

Janesville, Dec 30 1866

Dear brother and sister.  It is with pleasure that I sit down to write to you.  We are all well and fat as hogs.  We have had very fine weather for this time of year.  It is snowing very pretty today.  We have not had any sleighing yet.  Business is very dull here just now.  Pork is down and all kinds of meat.  Prices are falling on everything.  I will send you our pictures.  They are not very good. The man that we wanted to take them was not at home, so we had to get another person to take them.  They look quite natural except the eyes.  They are too small.  I would like to have both of yours for I don't expect to ever see you again in this world, but I hope we shall all meet in heaven where parting is known no more forever.  I did once think I should visit you again but the war made such hard times I don't know that I shall be able to.  I will send you some pieces of my dresses.  The delam [delane ?] was thirty cents a yard.  The other was twenty cents a yard.  

I should like to know where Mary Smith is and how she is getting along.  I don't never hear from her, and I should like to know if Adaline lives where she used to because I want to write to her.  I wrote to Susan after she was dead, but I did not know that she was dead at the time.  What has become of her husband?  I should think he might answer the letter.  I should think Jim Bly must be most helpless by this time.  Whatever became of Mercy Bly?  I have never heard what end she ever came to.  Please write soon and tell me all about the folks I ever know.  It is getting dark, and I must quit so good by for the present.
Mary Maynard

Hopefully the names in this letter will trigger recognition in a reader, who will leave a comment to solve the mystery of letter writer Mary Maynard's birth parents and siblings and which Janesville she was writing from.

Lakeville, Massachusetts


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