Mary Golden ( July 9, 1894 )Nora Golden ( July 9, 1894 ) |
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Mary Golden Nora Golden |
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Mary - Letter 1- Page 1 |
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********************* This is a set of three letters, two of them written by Mary Golden and one written by Nora Golden. All three letters were sent to Elizabeth Golden in the same envelope on July 11, 1894.
Mary’s first letter was written on lined paper 10” wide by 7-3/4” high. Mary’s second letter was written on lined paper 5” wide by 7-3/4” high. This looks like it was the same paper as the first letter but it was cut in half. Nora’s letter also seems to be a 1/2 sheet of paper. It was also lined paper 5” wide by 7-3/4” high.
Envelope: It was addressed to Miss Elizabeth Golden, Holland, Mich. The postmark on the front was Dennison, Mich. July 11, 1894. The postmark on the back was Holland, Mich. July 11, 1894. The envelope was stamped with a 2 cent stamp. The envelope was 6” wide by 3-1/2” high. ******************** Write Soon Dennison, July 9, 1894 Dear Sister Lizzie,
Received you letter Thursday eve. Glad to hear from you that you are well and enjoying yourself as we are all at present. Glad you like your boarding place so well. Ma’s finger is all right. John and Jule went back last night.
Well Lizzie there was Mass yesterday and we had the crowd as usual. You need not be sorry you are gone. Jule Loftis and Will Gavin was down and Anna Eune (Eime) Mary Stevens and Frank of course. So you can imagine the time we had. The Stevens brought a pail of nice black caps. I canned them to day. Had six qrts. They all missed you but you will be at home the next time there will be Mass here.
Kate went away too, so I am alone. She has been here most of the time since you went. Jule brought down a dress for her to make while she was here it was lawn. She is going to make a black silk dress for Lizzie McGrath in 4 weeks. She is going to Dillons Wednesday. Mayby I will go with her if Sadie is better. She had the toothache ever since the 4th. Guess the trip to Grand Haven was too much for her. We all went but Pa and Ma. Kate took Norah on the 1.40 when she went. All the rest went on the 8 o’clock. I could tell you more about the 4th than this sheet could hold but will wait till you come home.
We had a good time (any ways). Pa just come from town. I can hardley write. Nora is going to write in this. Sade would write but she has been crying about an hour. Her tooth aches so bad but she told me to tell you she saw “Willie” Fitz going by the store the 4th morning crying he worked all day. To bad. Poor Boy. I saw him go by but he would not look in guess he could not stand the pressure.
I got me a new gingham dress when I was in the Rapids. Did not make it yet. Kate made ma’s dress last week. I have been picking cherries all day. Will finish tomorrow. Mart is getting ready to go thrashing. John won’t come out to thrash this fall for he would loose his job. Well I guess I will close hoping to hear from you soon.
I can hardley write to night. It has been so long since I wrote a letter. Love from all the family
Mary
Dear Sister
I will slide this in for they have to read everything I write. Lizzie I supose you thought it strange because we did not go to Holland the 4th but it was my fault. Frank has been mad ever since for not going himself. The next day after the 4th Will went up to see him to see how the folks was in Holland. He is very steady since you went. He worked all day the 4th that was a great note not one in the house went any place. Minnie told sade they could not get Will to go anywhere since you went. Last night when Jule and Will was going home I and Frank walked up to Culligans with them. He left his horses there. In the morning we stoped at Malones a few minutes when who did we see coming on the south hill but the man with the white suit. Mary said he was going down to see if he could see your old clothes. But he come in. I had a few minutes talk with him by myself. He wanted to know how you was but I could tell by the grin on his face he heard from you himself. He wanted to know if I was lonesome yet. Have not had a Sunday for myself yet we are going up to see Will. There will only be 3 more Sundays when you will be home I hope.
Frank sends you his best. He is still looking for a letter from you.
Mary
Dennison, Mich July 9, 1894 Dear Sister,
I thought I would write to you and send it with Mary’s letter. I went to Grand Haven the Forth and had a good time. Julia and Myrtie Mc Kay were down there from Grand Rapids. Ma’s finger is a great deal better now. Sadie has been quite sick since Friday with the toothache. I guess she is going to have it pulled out Wednesday. Mrs. Gibbs is very sick Ma and Mrs Shug went down to see her last night. Mary and I picked cherries most all day. The fellow that cleaned our organ before was here to-day and cleaned it again. Do you want us to send your paper and the observer to you? It was in one of the papers about you going to Holland. Mary did not give any prizes the last day. I guess I will have to close for this time. “So Good-By
From Your Sister Nora
“P.S.” Will was very glad to get your letter he will answer it soon is busy now
Comments by Glenn Fitzpatrick (10 November 2002)
"John and Jule went back last night": John Golden and his wife Julia Johnson
"Jule Loftis and Will Gavin was down and Anna Eune, Mary Stevens and Frank of course.": I don't know Jule Loftis, Will Gavin nor Anna Eune but I'll bet Mary Stevens is John Stevens older sister. John Stevens married Ettie Fitzpatrick. Mary Stevens was born in 1872 so she would have been about the right age. "Frank of course" must have been Frank Culligan, Mary Golden's future husband.
"black caps": Isn't that another name for black raspberries.
"Lizzie McGrath": I found Lizzie McGrath in the 1880 and 1890 Census. She was born in 1869. She is the daughter of Michael and Anna McGrath. The McGraths lived on the west side of the Fitzpatricks
"Mart is getting ready to go thrashing": Martin Golden
"John won't come out to thrash this fall for he would loose his job": John Golden
"Frank has been mad ever since": Frank Culligan
"The next day after the 4th Will went up to see him to see how the folks was in Holland": Must be William Fitzpatrick
"Minnie told Sade they could not get Will to go anywhere since you went": Must be Minnie Fitzpatrick, Sade Golden and William Fitzpatrick
"Last night when Jule and Will was going home I and Frank walked up to Culligans with them: Jule Loftis, Will Gavin, Mary Golden and Frank Culligan.
"In the morning when we stopped at Malones a few minutes": Patrick Malone and Catherine Golden household
"Mary said he was going down to see if he could see your old clothes.”: Mary Malone, daughter of Patrick Malone and Catherine Golden. Mary Malone was born in 1872
"There will only be 3 more Sundays when you will be home": In Mary's first letter she says "They all missed you but you will be at home the next time there will be Mass here". It looks like in 1894 St. Michael's did not have Mass every Sunday. Maybe just once a month or perhaps every third Sunday.
"Frank sends his best": Frank Culligan
Click here for a PDF version of the above. |
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Mary - Letter 2- Page 1 |
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Envelope Front |
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Mary - Letter 1 - Page 2 |
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Mary - Letter 2- Page 2 |
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Nora - Page 1 |
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Nora - Page 2 |
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Envelope Back |