Letter: Sara Hoyt to Minnie Stilwell, August 1883

There is no envelope with this letter.  It is dated Rosendale, August 10, 1883 and signed Sara Hoyt.  From the contents, I believe Sara was a school friend of Minnie's.  I found a Sara A. Hoyt in Rosendale, Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin, who was born 19 July 1862 in Wisconsin and died 13 February 1924 in Sibley, Osceola Co., Iowa.  I believe this is the correct Sara.  She never married and is buried in Rosendale Cemetery, Rosendale, Wisconsin.

Others mentioned in the letter also seem to be school friends.  Jennie in Baraboo can't really be identified without a surname.  I found a couple of Mary Swifts in Wisconsin about 1880, but can't determine which one is correct based on the information in this letter.

Here is a transcription:

                                                                                             "Rosendale, Aug 10, 1883
Dear Minnie,
     I was so disappointed in not being able to see you commencement time.  I long for a good chat with you once more.
     It seems as though I had hardly had a chance to look at you since you left school and yet we have been such a little way apart all these years.  It is a perfect shame.  It must not be so any longer.  I want you to come and make me a visit without fail sometime while I am home.  I expect now to be at home until next spring.  I would like to have you come before it gets to be cold weather.  Come as soon as harvest is over if you can.
     Jennie has not returned from Baraboo yet but is expected soon.  In a week or two.  If we three could only get together once more wouldn't we have a regular visitation and I hope that time is not far distant.
     The last I heard of Mary Swift she was just able to get around a little on crutches.  I cannot find out what is the matter of her.  She has been sick for over a year.  Doesn't it seem sad & I think that I will write to her although she has owed me a letter so long.  From all I can hear I do not believe she did very well when she married.
     I am very sorry if that is the case for I think that Mary is a very nice girl and deserves a worthy husband if any one ever did.  I hope that Jennie will go to see her while she is so near.  Ironton is not a great ways from Baraboo.
     What exceedingly warm weather we had week before last and how cold and rainy it was last week.  I hop that it has cleared off for a while at least.
     I have not been very well a good share of the time since school closed.  I have been having the rheumatism quite badly but I am a good deal better now though rather week (sic).  I find that I cannot do as big a day & work this summer as I did last.
     Everyone else in the house is in bed and I suppose I ought to be there too but I dread to go.  I do not sleep very well and the nights seem long.  Let me hear from you very soon.  With love.  Sara Hoyt"

Letter: Fannie Ireland to Minnie Stilwell, April 21 1883

More info on Fannie Ireland is HERE.  And also HERE.

The following letter is addressed to Miss Minnie Stilwell, Ripon, Wisconsin.  The postmark on the envelope is partially cut out and reads "Cama........ 10 A  APR 23."  I presume from Fannie's other letters, that the postmark was Camanche, Iowa.  Here is my transcription:

                                                                                      "Saturday Evening
                                                                                        April 21, 1883

My Dear Cousin,
                              A long long time has passed since last I wrote you or any of your family, but do not for a moment think that I am forgetting you.  Many many times I think of you all, but other duties than letter writing have taken up much of my time.  Scarcely can I realize that almost a year has passed since I went among you a stranger, spent two such happy weeks and came away feeling that you all were loving true friends.    Sometimes I feel that time goes all too quickly, here it is Spring again and all Nature is becoming beautiful.  I was up to Clinton three days this week with Auntie, I go up quite often and we enjoy each other very much.  While up there I had the pleasure of reading Aunt Mary's last letter, and also one just received from Cousin Hannah.   She hears from Grandma.  Uncle Ned has been quite sick and is now but little better, not yet able to be up and living only on milk punch and beef tea.
   While in Clinton, Auntie and I went to hear Rev. Joseph Cook lecture on the "Seven Modern Wonders of the World" and it was a grand production.  He is a very eloquent speaker, has travelled the wide world over and it was a genuine pleasure to sit two hours and tell of the wonders he had seen.  There have only been a very few good entertainments in Clinton this winter but few there have been I have attended.
     We are beginning to think of and dread housecleaning which will soon be all the style.  
     Nettie is still boarding and I think will continue to do so throughout the summer.  She is not strong enough to do much work so it is full as well for them to board.  Jennie and her boys are doing nicely.
     Baby Louis is too sweet for anything and improves each day.  They are so nice and I shall miss them so much when I come to leave them.
     And so Cousin Charlie has sold out and is going to take his family and "go West."  How you will miss them.  Why didn't he stop in Iowa instead of Nebraska and then possibly we might meet sometimes on the western wilds.     Minnie I think I never have told any of you of my new hopes of happiness although I see by Aunt Mary's letter that you suspect the truth.
     My heart is mine no longer.  I have given it unreservedly to a Mr. Hart for all time.  Since my return from you house last summer he has given me undivided attention, has proved in numberless ways his love, and in January last he declared his love and offered me all in this world that he had to give.  Months before this however I had decided that I never could be happy without him, so of course I said Yes.
     We are to be married in June, probably the 6th and then I go with him to his farm in Crawford Co., Iowa.
     Of course it will be somewhat hard for me to leave the girls, but after all the both married and left me all alone.
    You ask me what he looks like.  I am not good at pen photography but can give a little idea.  He is medium height, weighs 165, is thirty-three years old, light brown hair and blue eyes.  He is not handsome, but he is good and that is better far than beauty.  He is well educated, a great reader, keeps posted in all things of importance and thinks Fannie is just right.
     He is away now, has been gone about five weeks, was home two weeks ago and spent Sunday with me.  But I hardly think he will come again until he comes for me.  We expect now to be married in the day time and take the afternoon train for the West, and if so I shall just wear my travelling suit.
     I am having me an elegant new black ottoman silk suit made, dress and dolman.  My dolman is finished and truly is very handsome.  I am not going to have many dresses, a summer silk and a white and those with what I have will be plenty, my red silk and plush is just as good as new.     I have my under-clothing and bedding all done so that I shall not be so very much rushed from now on.
    And Minnie is your heart your own yet, or have you too done just as all girls sooner or later do?  Eda and her beaux still flourish I presume.  Who has inside track now Zobed or Kellogg or some entirely new one.  Does Warren still devote his time and attention to Miss Lizzie - or has he turned.  He has not answered my last letter very promptly but of course his reasons are good and sufficient.  We have commenced work a little in the garden but it keeps so cold that we cannot do much.  Two weeks ago I had quite an accident.  Abe had been here spending the evening, and on the following morning I went into the parlor to straighten things up, and while pulling up the chandelier let the whole thing down.  All the globes and chimneys were broken to pieces but only one lamp but the oil from that made a large enough grease spot. 
     One of our neighbors happened to be here and helped me in my trouble.  The carpet being brussels did not soak up the oil quite so fast as an ingrain but it took me several days to get it out so it did not show.
     Minnie tis time I was in bed so must say good night to you.  Give my warmest love to all the good folks.  Letters from any of them are always welcome.
                                                                                           As ever your loving
                                                                                                     Fannie A. I."

People mentioned in the letter:

"Auntie" who lives in Clinton, Iowa - Probably Martha (Anthony) Cady, wife of Fannie's uncle, William Cady.  They lived in Clinton, Iowa and are the only Cadys I find there at this time.

Aunt Mary - Mary K. (White) Stilwell, Minnie's mother, and sister of Fannie's grandmother, Ann Eliza (White) Cady

"Grandma" - Ann Eliza (White) Cady

Cousin Hannah - Hannah (Stilwell) Bent, sister of Minnie

Uncle Ned - Edwin R. Cady, son of Ann Eliza (White) Cady & her husband, Stephen;

Rev. Joseph Cook - philosopher and lecturer

Nettie - Fannie's sister, Marie Antoinette (Ireland) Smith

Jennie & her boys - Fannie's sister, Jennie (Ireland) Heilman and her sons, Roy and Louis

Cousin Charley - probably Charles Osborn, husband of Minnie's sister, Annette (Stilwell) Osborn

Mr. Hart - Abram P. Hart, Fannie's future husband; also referred to in this letter as "Abe"

Eda - Edith Stilwell, Minnie's sister

Eda's beaux - Zobed and Kellogg - don't know Zobed, but Edith eventually married Judson Kellogg

Warren - Warren Stilwell, Minnie's brother

Miss Lizzie - unknown girlfriend of Warren Stilwell

Fannie A. Ireland Update - Yes, They Are Cousins

I discovered the connection between Fannie A. Ireland and Mary Elva Stilwell.

Fannie A. Ireland and Mary Elva Stilwell were first cousins once removed.

Fannie's mother was Mary Cady.
Mary's mother was Ann Eliza White who married Stephen P. Cady.
Ann Eliza's parents were Hamilton White and his wife, Betsey Dennis.

Mary Elva's mother was Mary K. White.
Mary K's parents were Hamilton White and his wife, Betsey Dennis.

So Mary Elva's mother was the sister of Fannie's grandmother.

Here is a chart:

Sure would love to find pictures of some of the Fannie Ireland bunch.

So here is what I have found to date about the family of Hamilton White and Betsey Dennis and their descendants:

Hamilton White was born 23 September 1775 in Suffolk Co., New York.  His parents were Henry White and Sarah Hedges.  He married Betsey Dennis on 11 December 1803 in Stonington, Connecticut.   Betsey was born 25 May 1786 in Stonington, Connecticut.  I have not yet found her parents.  Their children were Samuel White (born 1804; married Sarah), Ann Eliza White (1809-1889; married Stephen P. Cady), John Cheseborough White (1815-1882; married Mary Ford), and Mary K. White (1824-1901; married Lonson Stilwell).  Hamilton and Betsey moved to Michigan sometime before 1850.  Hamilton died there 24 September 1862 and is buried  in Reeds Corner Bethel Cemetery, Ripon, Fond du Lac Co., Wisconsin.  After Hamilton's death, Betsey went to live with her daughter, Mary K (White) Stilwell.  Betsey died in Wisconsin 30 April 1875 and is buried next to her husband.

Their other daughter, Ann Eliza, married Stephen P. Cady in 1829.  They had at least 8 children, not all of whom have I sorted out yet.  Stephen died in 1871 and Ann Eliza died in 1889.  They are both buried in Greenwood Cemetery, New Berlin, New York.  The child of main interest in this puzzle is their daughter, Mary E. Cady, who was born 6 July 1831 in New York state.

Mary E. Cady married Alex B. Ireland July 8, 1854 in Clinton Co., Iowa.  I am not sure why she moved to Iowa.  Perhaps her brothers moved there?  I haven't pursued this yet.  She died 9 May 1872 and is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Camanche, Iowa.  Alex Ireland died 29 August 1879 and is also buried in Rose Hill Cemetery. 

Mary E. (Cady) and Alex B. Ireland had the following known children:  Jennie Ireland (1855-1898) who married Lee R. Heilman; Marie Antoinette ("Nettie") Ireland (1860-1923) who married Dr. George Alfred Smith; and Louie Ireland (1865-1880).  And Fannie A. Ireland, who was the writer of the letters to Mary Elva Stilwell. 

So mystery solved.

I have at least one more letter of Fannie's and also a letter from Ann Eliza (White) Cady that I will be transcribing and posting soon.

Letter: Fannie A. Ireland to Minnie Stilwell, Dec. 17, 1882

Please see this post about Fannie A. Ireland for discussion of this letter and other information.

Postmark: Camanche, Ioa, Dec 18

Addressed to:  Miss Minnie Stilwell, Ripon, Wisconsin

Camanche, Iowa

December 17, 1882.

Dear Cousin Minnie

            I have a little time before evening service and know of no way to put in my time more pleasantly than by writing to you, and I trust my letter will receive a welcome.

           I would not for the world have you think that I only think of you when I write, for that would be a very mistaken idea.  You are all often in my mind and I have talked about you so much at home that the folks all think they know you.  And when Aunty and I are together we talk about you all so much that I should think your ears would burn.  Last week I went up and stayed all night with her.  We are having quite cold weather now, but very pleasant, and the roads are just splendid even though we have no sleighing.

            Last night it snowed but not enough to do any good.

            I attended church and S.S. this morning and expect to go out again tonight, notwithstanding I have a sty on my eye.  Of late I have been quite afflicted with stys and boils.   We young folks are having a real jolly time this winter, so far and I hope we may keep it up.  There have been so many parties, some in town and some in the country and at all of them we have had such nice times.  Last Friday evening we had one here in town and we all enjoyed ourselves.

            On Tuesday, we attended a “tin wedding” for one of our most esteemed young couples.  Married and young folks were both invited, we took nice presents and splendid refreshments and it was a total surprise to them but they enjoyed it and so did we all.     A few of us have organized a reading circle, which meets Saturday evening of each week and these are not only pleasant but very profitable.

            We had planned several evenings for skating during this snow (?) but I fear we have snow enough now to interfere with that.

            I have been quite busy lately getting some things ready for Christmas and making me a dress.  And this week I have a scarf to make for Roy and finish my dress.  I have embroidered two white silk handkerchiefs, one for Lee and one for Mr. Ephraim.

            My new dress is garnet silks skirts which I am making and a plush basque, which I am having made.  I had my black silk made over, and have a bronze flannel dress with hat and pelese (I don’t know that is spelled correctly) of the same.

            My hat is garnet plush with a plume the same shade and two cardinal plumes and five garnet pompoms and is quite becoming.

            Well I have been to meeting and got back again and must now endeavor to finish this.  This is not my Sunday night consequently I can go to bed early and put in a long time sleeping for tomorrow night is my night.

I went over to Pussie’s room a while this afternoon.  She is not very well today.  They are boarding at the Hotel, have a very pleasant room and I spend much of my time with her.  I miss her ever so much but being so near together we see each other several times each day, and sometimes oftener.              And are you all well and happy this winter?  Has Cousin Hannah gone home yet or does she spend the Winter with you.  We hoped she would make us a visit, but fear we are doomed to disappointment.  We have no great inducements to offer, only our sweet selves.  Warren half-promised to visit here but he never mentions it anymore so I fear he too has given it up.  But to any and all of you at any time our house and our hearts are open to receive and welcome.

            Is Blanche’s husband still at home?

            Our baby is a fine fellow.  His name is Louis after our brother who died two years ago.  He is almost seventeen weeks old, has dark blue eyes, light hair, beautiful complexion and fat as can be, and altogether a handsome baby.  Lee and Jennie went on Thursday evening to a wedding of one of Lee’s cousins at Malone, fourteen miles from here and I took care of the children.              A young lady friend of mine, and Abe stayed with me, so that after all I had a pleasant task.

            We have a Christmas Concert here next Sunday evening given by the M.E. S.S.  We do nothing I guess because we are too lazy.

            Our plants are so pretty now as many are in blossom, geraniums, heliotrope, oleander and calla.

            I am wondering what Edith as done to Mr. Gobel.  Fearing that she may be delicate about telling me all about it I shall look to you for all necessary information.   Are your Uncle Hiram’s family all well? If they have not long since forgotten all about your Iowa cousin give them all my love.  My remembrance of them is very pleasant and my visit at their home will never be forgotten.  How it rained that night and what a time we had deciding how we all should go home.  That day was the only time we had the pleasure of riding in the “democrat.”          Our girl left us last week with a very sore thumb, we have another however in her place, so we get along quite nicely.                    Minnie I could write longer but my eye pains me therefore think I had better put it to bed.                        Write to me soon and tell me all the news.  Give my love to Uncle Lonson and Aunt Mary and every one else clear down to Little Belle.  I trust you all may have a Merry Christmas, and that Santa Clause out of his exhaustless store will kindly remember you all.

                                                Yours Faithfully,

                                                            Fannie A. Ireland.

Fannie A. Ireland

Update:  Mystery solved.

As I have been transcribing and posting the letters in my possession that belonged to Mary Elva ("Minnie") Stilwell, I have come across several that were written by Fannie A. Ireland.

The first one, written July 15, 1882, is HERE.
Letter written December 17, 1882 is HERE.
Letter written April 21, 1883 is HERE.  

In these letters, Fannie refers to Mary Elva as her cousin.  She refers to Mary Elva's parents, Lonson and Mary K. (White) Stilwell, as her uncle and aunt.  She also refers to "your Uncle Hiram" who is likely to be Lonson's brother, Hiram Stilwell.  Since he is "your" uncle (Mary Elva's), that implies he is not Fannie's uncle.  That makes me think the relationship is on Mary Elva's mother's side, the Whites.

From information Fannie gives in her letters, I am confident that I have found her.  However, I have been unable to figure out just HOW she and Minnie Stilwell are actually related.  I realize that "cousin" does not literally mean they are cousins, however, she consistently refers to all Minnie's family in ways that indicate a relationship.  Found it: Update:  Mystery solved.

Fannie A. Ireland was born about 1857 in Camanche, Iowa.  Her parents were Alex B. Ireland and Mary E. Cady.  Fannie's siblings were Jennie Ireland (1855-1898) who married Lee R. Heilman; Marie Antoinette ("Nettie") Ireland (1860-1923) who married Dr. George Alfred Smith; and Louie Ireland (1865-1880).

Fannie's father, Alex B. Ireland, was born 12 March 1819 and died 29 August 1879.  He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Camanche, Clinton Co., Iowa.  He was a physician who came to Camanche in 1852.  And he was elected to the state senate in 1869.  He was apparently born in Tennessee and studied medicine in Illinois.

Fannie's mother, Mary E. Cady, was born 6 July 1831 in New York and died 9 May 1872.  She is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, as are her children, Marie Antoinette and Louie. 

I found a marriage for A. B. Ireland and Mary E. Cady in Clinton Co., Iowa on July 8, 1854. 

I found the family on the 1860 and 1870 censuses in Camanche, Iowa.  By 1880, both of Fannie's parents have died and I find Fannie, Nettie, and Louie living with their older sister Jennie and her husband, Lee, in Calamus, Clinton Co., Iowa. 

In the letter dated July 15, 1882 written from Camanche, Iowa, Fannie mentions the following people:
     Blanche = Blanche (Stilwell) Munn, sister of Mary Elva ("Minnie");
     Warren = Warren Stilwell, brother of Mary Elva;
     Uncle Lonson = Mary Elva's father;
     "My good grandmother" = unknown;
     "Auntie" and "Uncle" = relatives of Fannie's that live in Clinton, Iowa, & who Minnie must know without giving further information;
     Aunt Mary = Mary Elva's mother;
     J.R. = John R. Jones, Mary Elva's future husband;
     Mr. Kellogg = apparently a former beau of Mary Elva's; possibly Judson Kellogg who married Mary Elva's sister, Edith, or one of his brothers;
     Mr.Hostellar = friend of Fannie's who asked her to marry him & she turned down;
     Roy = Roy Heilman, son of Fannie's sister, Jennie, and her husband Lee Heilman;
     "the girls" = probably Fannie's sisters, Jennie and Marie Antoinette ("Nettie");
     "Uncle Hiram and his family" = Mary Elva's uncle, Hiram Stilwell, brother of Lonson Stilwell;
     Charley & Nettie & Belle = Charles Osborn, his wife, Annette (Stilwell) Osborn (Mary Elva's sister), and Belle Osborn, daughter of Charles & Annette and Mary Elva's niece.

In the letter dated December 17, 1882 written from Camanche, Iowa, Fannie mentions the following people:
     "Aunty" = probably the Aunt mentioned in the July letter and a person familiar to Mary Elva without further explanation;
     Roy = Fannie's nephew, Roy Heilman, son of her sister, Jennie, and Jennie's husband, Lee;
     Lee = Lee Heilman, husband of Fannie's sister, Jennie;
     Mr. Ephraim = unknown
     "Pussie's" = unknown; I am not certain that this is the correct transcription of this name;
     Cousin Hannah = Hannah (Stilwell) Bent, sister of Mary Elva;
     Warren = Warren Stilwell, brother of Mary Elva;
     Blanche's husband = Frank Munn, husband of Mary Elva's sister, Blanche (Stilwell) Munn;
     "our baby" Louis = Louis Heilman, I suspect, and a son of Jennie & Lee;
     "our brother" Louis = Louis Ireland, brother of Fannie, who died in 1880;
     Jennie = Fannie's sister, Jennie (Ireland) Heilman;
     Abe = unknown;
     Edith = Edith Stilwell, sister of Mary Elva;
     Mr. Gobel = unknown; apparently a beau of Edith Stilwell;
     "your Uncle Hiram" = Hiram Stilwell, brother of Lonson and uncle of Mary Elva;
     Uncle Lonson and Aunt Mary = Mary Elva's parents, Lonson & Mary K. (White) Stilwell;
     Little Belle = Belle Osborn, daughter of Charles & Annette (Stilwell) Osborn, and niece of Mary Elva.

    
I found where Fannie Ireland married A. P. Hart in Comanche, Iowa, on 6 June 1883 (another thing mentioned in Fannie's letters).

I found Fannie and her husband, Abram P. Hart, buried in Green Mountain Cemetery, Boulder, Boulder Co., Colorado. Fannie's tombstone indicates she was born in 1858 and died in 1920.  Abram's tombstone indicates he was born in 1849 and died in 1910.

So I am confident that I've identified Fannie.  However, I have found no one named Ireland or Cady in the family trees for Mary Elva Stilwell.  I did find another "Marie Antoinette" - this one is Marie Antoinette White, a daughter of Samuel White and his wife, Sarah E.  This Marie Antoinette would have been a cousin of Minnie's.  Samuel White was the brother of Minnie's mother, Mary K. White.  And also, Minnie had a sister called "Nettie" that was short for Annette.  So there is apparently a family name.

So just HOW are these two ladies related? Update:  Mystery solved.

As I transcribe & add more of Fannie's letters to Minnie, I will add links and additional clues that I find.

Letter: Jennie Pinch to Mary Elva Stilwell, Nov. 5, 1882

Envelope addressed to:  Miss Minnie Stilwell, Ripon, Wisconsin.

Envelope postmarked: Lakeville, Conn., Nov 6

Lakeville Conn., Nov. 5 1882

My dear dear Minnie, -

            How the time does fly here.  Why I see by the date of your letter that ‘twas received over a month ago.  Well how are you agreeing with Jobs comforters now days?  Have you had a falling out with them, or do you entertain them as pleasantly as ever?  Do you know if I were in your place I should be crosser than a bear.  The idea of being afflicted with boils for a year or two, perhaps I ought to have some to teach me patience.  However I think I will learn that fast enough in my school work.  These children are so mischievous.  I feel sometimes as if I could shake them all to pieces, yet I am becoming very much attached to some of them.  I have one very handsome boy in my room and the dear little fellow is getting to be quite fond of me.  I am afraid I shall be rather partial still one does not mind the looks so much after you get used to them.   When I first came I thought, well can I ever stand it to be with these creatures for hours a day, but I really enjoy the work and am very glad that I came.  Went to church this morning and instead of staying to Sunday school came directly home so that I could write you a letter before dinner.  Did I do right?  Thought one Sunday school would do me for to day and I have to instruct the children this afternoon as Miss Mervin has gone home.  We take turns and to day should have been my day off.

            We have had lovely weather this fall and I can tell you that I have thoroughly enjoyed it.  Have been feeling pretty well most of the time yet I find I am not over strong.  One week I took some rather long tramps every afternoon after school and was sick three or four days to pay for it.  But the weather was so delightful and the temptation to climb these great hills and get some fine ferns could not be resisted, although I was fearful of what the consequences might be.  Now don’t you worry over that heart of mine, to be sure the young Dr. is sort of nice, but I do not think there is any danger of his trying to steal it away and of course I shall not give it unasked.  Have made the acquaintance of several young people – three very pleasant fellows among them.  I tell you Minnie these Eastern fellows are fast, smart too, but I believe if a girl were going to choose a husband that she might far better take a good substantial Western man.  But what is there about these wicked fellows that is so fascinating?  Someway I always did take more of a liking to a regular pill than to a good straight fellow.  Well sick is life and, as Allie used to say, every day grows sicker and sicker.  Oh Minnie dear I wish I could see some familiar face this afternoon.  I get sort of lonely at times, especially when Miss Merwin goes home, yet I do not think I have been really homesick since I came.  I guess that was all over with before I left for I can assure you that I did not feel any to easy when I thought of leaving all those loved ones at home.

            Do you ever hear any thing about Edith Blackman?  I wrote her sometime since but have received no reply and have been wondering if she had left school again.  She is very foolish in attempting to finish her course at Ripon College or anywhere else for that matter.  Health comes first, - don’t you think so?  Do you know the whereabouts of J.R. ?  I think it will be just to mean for anything if he does not take unto himself one of the three girls whom he had so great admiration for.

            Well I must not write more now.  This last topic will probably set you in a train of pleasant reflections and there I will leave you, hoping to hear from you soon.

            With much love to you Minnie and kindest regards to your people.

                                                                        Lovingly  Jennie Pinch.

Once again, J.R. (John R. Jones) is mentioned.

Other letters from Jennie to Minnie are Here and Here.

I suspect that the Edith Blackman mentioned above by Jennie is the writer of the letter found Here. 

I found an Edith Blackman, born about 1862, in Whitewater, Wisconsin (where the above linked letter originated).  Her parents were Charles & Mary Blackman.  She married Frank Knight Sanders in Walworth, Wisconsin on June 28, 1888.  She died 21 March 1939.

Letter: Fannie Ireland to Minnie Stilwell, July 15, 1882

Please see this post about Fannie A. Ireland for discussion of this letter and other information.

Letter addressed to: Miss Minnie Stilwell, Ripon, Wisconsin

Postmark: Camanche, Ioa., Jul., 13

“Comanche, Iowa

July 15, 1882

Dear Cousin Minnie,

            My Saturday’s work is done, but yet a little time remains before dinner and I know of no pleasanter way of using it than by commencing a letter to you.  I have not done very much but I am somewhat tired.  I guess I must be getting lazy.     Your letter bears date of  June 20 and it seems as if I had been very negligent but I have written to Blanche since that and I suppose you got the benefit of that.     Warren’s letter and the kind not of Uncle Lonson’s were both received last Saturday and were read with genuine pleasure.  It is certainly very flattering to me that you all seem to remember me so kindly.  I shall always have cause to be glad that I listened to the voice of my good grandmother and accompanied her on her visit to Wisconsin.  My trip and my may kind loving friends whom I there met will never be forgotten, and I live in hopes of having some of visit me (sic) in order that I may feel free to “come again.”

            Comanche is very pretty in the summer time, but is quite dreary in the winter, and I think if some of you were to come now we could make it pleasant for you, at any rate we would do our best.     I was in Clinton Thursday afternoon and saw Auntie for a short time.  She was well but Uncle was not able to leave the house but he was better yesterday and was attending to his business as usual.  Auntie and a friend of ours from Clinton were down last week and spent the day.  She brought me your last letter to read.     I made me another new dress and will send you samples of it.  The plain pink is my skirt and the plaid is the polonaise.  My friends all tell me it is pretty and very becoming, which latter is the most essential part.  We have had so little warm weather that light dresses are scarcely needed at all.  The season has been quite remarkable for cold and rain but we live hoping that a change awaits us.     Our farmers are getting discouraged about their hay, some of it is rotting on the ground and it does not cease raining long enough to cut it and put it away.  Last evening I had a very enjoyable boat ride.  We crossed to the Illinois shore and hunted turtle eggs on the sand banks.  I presume you will say “a rather undignified pastime for young ladies and gentlemen” but if you have never indulged in it do not censure us for it is just lots of fun.     You say your cherries are plenty.  How I should love to be there just to keep the birds out of the trees.  I am very fond of them and this year they are very scarce.  Dinner is over and we today had our first cherry pie, we all considered it quite a luxury.  I wish Aunt Mary could have had some of our currants, we had quantities of them and they were unusually large and nice.  I should have sent her some but was afraid they would spoil.

            On Tuesday evening of this week, the ladies of the M.E. Society gave an ice cream and berry festival for the benefit of their church.  It was in every respect a success and was enjoyed by all who attended it.  The attendance was large and they did better than they had hoped financially.

            And the “Glorious Fourth” is past and we celebrated in a most sublime manner.  There was no general celebration here but each one followed his own inclination and the majority of our people seemed to pass the day happily.  There were numerous private picnics, family gatherings and we indulged in the former.  Few couples of us young folks went to the old Camp ground and there enjoyed ourselves in the orthodox manner.  After supper and just as we were preparing to go home, one of our girls fell from a hammock and broke a collar-bone.  She was taken home immediately, the bone set and now she is doing very well.  The boys had provided quite a lot of sky-rockets and Roman candles and these we had after we came home.  The Fates seemed against us that day because as they fired off the first rocket it frightened a man’s team, it broke loose and ran away.  Some set out at once to find it and after looking all night found it the next morning, after it had gone through the country in grand style.  We were all rejoiced to find that the team was not injured at all, but nevertheless these two accidents put a damper on the day’s happiness.  But even with these we were more fortunate than you for Warren reported two lives lost.

            Minnie it will never do for you to sit quietly down and see some other girl walk off with J.R.  Go to work in good earnest, lose no opportunities and I see no reason why you should fail.  But you must treat him different from what you did Mr. Kellogg or any girl in the neighborhood could beat you.  If you really want him there is no reason in the wide world why you shouldn’t have him. 

            You ask me about Mr. Hosteller.  I have not seen him for some time but hear from him just as usual.  He is one of my very dear friends and as such I prize him very highly.  For two years I have known him well and I know that he thinks a very great deal of me but if you are imagining he will ever be a cousin of yours you are very much mistaken.  He is a man of excellent principles, good morals, no bad habits, generous to a fault, kind and thoughtful and very amiable, and very well off in a worldly sense, but after all he does not exactly suit me.  He has honored me by asking me to share his life with him but I with thanks, declined, and both of us being rather sensible, we remain true friends.  He tells me he hopes to marry an Eastern lady in the fall and if he does I shall be the first to send him hearty congratulations.  There now you know just how we are placed and you need give yourself no further trouble about the matter.   Our Roy is still the pride of our home and hearts.  He keeps well and grows until he is becoming quite a boy.  At last I have had my pictures taken, but such a time I had.  Several days when I tried it rained and then the proofs did not suit me but my final trial was made last Thursday and those are to be printed good or bad.  The artist got mad and I (your cousin with the heavenly disposition got mad too) and then we did have a good time.  I will send them up before very long.  The girls join me in sending love to you all.  They often express a desire to see and know you.  Minnie  I  must close now and go about my sewing.  Write to me often and tell me all about all my friends.  Remember me particularly to Uncle Hiram and his family and Charley and Nettie.  Does Belle forget me?  I hope not.  I will write to Edie and Warren soon but tell them not to wait for me.  My kindest love to Uncle and Aunt and if (sic) fact all of you.  Yours as ever.

Fannie A. Ireland."

So from the letter we know that Fannie is a cousin of Mary Elva Stilwell. She mentions Mary's parents as "Uncle and Aunt."   She also mentions "Uncle Hiram" who is likely Hiram Stilwell, brother of Mary Elva's father, Lonson.  That seems to indicate that Fannie's mother was a Stilwell.

I found a Fannie A. Ireland living in Comanche, Iowa who married Abram P. Hart in 1883 in Clinton, Iowa.  Fannie was born about 1857.  I suspect this is the correct Fannie.  I think she is probably the Fannie Hart who died in 1920 and is buried next to Abram P. Hart in Green Mountain Cemetery, Boulder, Colorado.  Some other researchers give this Fannie's mother's name as Mary E. Cady.  Everything else about Fannie fits what we see from the letter, so I suspect this is the right person.

Once again, "J.R." is mentioned.  This must be John R. Jones, Minnie's future husband.  Since they didn't marry for another ten years - after J.R.'s first wife died - it seems Minnie burned a torch for him for a long time.

I had never seen anything about Minnie and "Mr. Kellogg."  Her younger sister, Edith, married Judson Kellogg in 1884.  I wonder if Minnie was involved with him first?  Or perhaps with another Mr. Kellogg?  Judson had a brother named Lewis.  The family lived in Ripon, Wisconsin which is where Minnie and her parents lived.  A mystery that may or may not ever be solved.

The others mentioned are all siblings of Minnie: Warren, Edith, Nettie and her husband, Charley and daughter, Belle.