Letter: Hannah Stilwell to Minnie Stilwell, Nov. 23, 1875

This letter from Hannah Stilwell to her younger sister, Mary Elva ("Minnie") was written in November 1875.  Minnie was 14 and Hannah was 23.  Hannah was visiting Cairo, Illinois and staying with her sister-in-law, Julia (Bristol) Stilwell, wife of Lucien Stilwell.  Apparently Lucien was away from home.

Here is an outline of the Stilwell family.
Here is a list of  links to the Mary Elva (Stilwell) Jones papers I've posted.

Mentioned in this letter:

"Net" = Annette (Stilwell) Osborn, Hannah & Minnie's sister; wife of Charles Osborn
"Edie" = Edith May Stilwell, Hannah and Minnie's sister (age 10)
Father = Lonson Stilwell
Mother = Mary K. (White) Stilwell
Blanche = Celia Blanche (Stilwell) Munn, sister of Hannah & Minnie; wife of Frank Munn
May = May Irene Stilwell, 1-year-old daughter of Julia & Lucien Stilwell
Clarence = Edward Clarence Bent, the man Hannah would marry in 1878

"Aunt Marie" = don't know who this might be.
Dr. and Mary = no last name given for this couple; they may be the same people as Ned and Mary who have a daughter, Jessie.  Or perhaps it is Ned and Clara?  Anyway, I have to do some research to see if I can discover who these people were.

Mattie Williamson = a bride married Nov. 18, 1875 in the M.E. Church in Cairo, Illinois.  A quick search shows that she married Walton Wright on that date and in that place.

"Messrs. Bristol & Cunningham" = the maiden name of Lucien Stilwell's wife, Julia, was Bristol; Lucien's business partner was Mr. Cunningham; I haven't tried to look further for information on these gentlemen yet

Letter addressed to:

Miss Minnie E. Stilwell, Ripon, Wisconsin     Box 263

Postmarked:

Cairo, Ill Nov. 24

                                                Cairo, Ill. Nov. 23d, 1875

My dear sister Minnie: -

                I have been waiting and waiting for a letter from home, but as none seem to come, I am going to wait no longer before writing.  Net said in her letter written a long time ago that you and Edie had written us, but I think it must have been a “hum bug”.  Why don’t you write?  I do not much care what it is, what you say, or how you compose it, only I want something from home.  I have read Father’s letters to Dr., and heard from you too through Messrs. Bristol & Cunningham.  Blanche is home it seems.  May is all ready for bed, and has been  wanting to kiss Auntie and would not be satisfied until I went to her and gave it.  She is very cunning in her ways now, but every  advancement makes her a greater care.  However, she is very little trouble compared with some children, and minds well.  Can walk by pushing a chair or by taking hold of one of her hands and is trying to stand alone.  When I came from church Sunday, I took her on my lap and she laughed and crowed, then kissed my ribbon, dress, hair & mouth, and looked at me very admiringly .  I attended the M.E. church all alone in the morning, S.S. in the afternoon, and took tea (oysters) with Mary, at her invitation, and went with her to her church in the evening, and Ned escorted me home.  Ned is very kind and quite attentive.  He & Clara spent the evening with us Sat. eve.  Oh! I must tell you how I spent Thurs. & Fri. evenings.  We were invited to Mattie Williamson’s (Mother & Father will remember her) wedding the first eve, and attended, of course, Ned kindly acting as escort as far as the door.  I wish I had a paper to send giving account of it.  She was married in the M.E. church by Rev. Mr. Gilham - dressed in “ashes of roses” silk, with long white illusion veil falling all around her, fastened on the crown of her head with orange blossoms & birds – looked sweetly.   Three brides maids dressed in white.  Married a 9 o’clock P.M.  reception between 10 & 12 o’clock and took the train for Memphis at three.   Many elegant presents she had, but I have not time to mention them, excepting the beautiful present from her infant class.  A large handsome family bible with a clasp.  (Ed, the post boy just brought me a letter from Clarence, & Julia one from Lucien – both well).  We had nothing to give the bride but our congratulations.  I think I never saw a supper table set so beautifully before in my life – fairly loaded with everything.  Colored “german” waiters who follow that business – dressed nicely.  About 290 were invited.  We remained to the Reception about ¾ hour. Then came home & made room for more.  I wore my black silk, cassimere sack, hat, curls, artificial rose in my hair, and one at my neck with fresh geranium leaves, which a gentleman admired, as he said, all the time we were eating supper.  Supposing it to be a fresh blossom.  Kept their hats & sacks on all the time, during supper too.   I was obliged to get me a 90 ct pair of rose tinted kid gloves, and I was glad that I did for all but one person I think had on very light gloves.  Then I had them to wear to the Theatre the next night.  Oh! I have already told you hav’n’t I?   Well, Mary & Dr. invited me to go with them, and the popular play of the “Two Orphans” was to be extra (and it was very good) so I thought perhaps Father & Mother would not care if I went this once.  Took tea at Mary’s that night and had a jolly time.  Mary & Dr. are real good & thoughtful  of me, and I go there often and enjoy it every time.  Dr. is real social.  I have promised to stay with them a week when Lucien gets home.  Jessie (Dr & Mary too) thinks Aunt Mary & Uncle Lonson just right.  She was saying the other night something about wanting to see them, and I says “I guess they would like to see you too.”  She says “I don’t think so.  I know so.”   Mary said, Sunday night, to give her love to you all when I wrote.  I told her to write and send it herself, and was astonished to hear her say that she was intending to wrote soon.  Aunt Marie invited me to spend the day there this week, and I may, perhaps, if I get my under garments done in time.  My eyes are better, and yesterday I helped Julia make two cotton flannel night dresses for May.  Don’t tell, but I am using “Chamber –Eye” for my eyes, and I think that, with the rest they have had has helped them.  Clarence wanted me to tell him everything, so I told him my eyes were troubling me & now in to-night’s letter he has sent a prescription to be prepared at the druggists, and is very anxious to know what my present remedy is, for he says so many eyes are ruined by using powerful medicines.  I think he will have to guess a while don’t you?  This remedy was given by Laura Rexford.  Said it helped her eyes.

                I have wanted to know all about the school so much, and last night I dreamed that I was back in the old school room as a scholar as in days of yore, only my teacher was the one you now have.  Does she give merits?  Oh! By the way, is Mr. O’Conner elected Supt. Again?  And has he visited your school yet?  How many scholars in attendance, and is Mrs. King & are her sons [?] satisfied with the teacher.  Tell me all.  It rained all night long last night and part of the forenoon, and has been cloudy & dismal all day.  Tell Edie & Wags [?] that I will write them next time & will answer Net’s letter soon.  Got to be cares of postage, you know.  Rec’d the papers from father, read “Moody & Sankey” & sent it to Clarence.  Had to read little at a time for the small print hurt my eyes.  Love to All , a great deal from Julia & I.  Good-bye.  Sister Han.

Now Min write me a long letter and have the rest write too.  Julia & I all alone in widowhood want all the letters we can get.

Wish I could play a few pieces for Mother on the organ.  Like my S.S. teacher Mr. McKee very much.

Mr. Cunningham charges 12 percent Interest for the dues on Clarence’s letters.  Wants a contract too for bringing them from the office so often.  Have a pleasant chat with him occasionally when Julia sends me down to his office on errands.  Think he’s cute.  He’s real pleasant.