1880-1889 | |||
To Cousin Dolph [Rudolpho Lamb] from Mary [Hollington] (Bowling Green) January 4, 1880
Bowling Green Ohio
Jan 4th 1880
Dear Cousin Dolph
I received your kind and wellcome letter last Evening we all were very anxious to know wheather you had had any word of your father or not I think that man acts very strange a bout letting you know a bout your fathers things ma ma says she wishes you would come out here as soon as you can get a way I sapose you have heard of Mrs Thurstins death She was burred Friday our Famly are all as Well as usual except my self my helth is very poor I feel a bout discouraged but that don't do any good well Dolph if you think you can beat Will playing dominoes I wish you would come and do it for I think he has a kind of an said you cant do it as he thinks he can not be beet Mr Getmans folks had a party yesterday Mama and Papa was thare they was not feeling very well George had to give up and go to bed Friday but was feeling better yesterday Well as I have nothing more I will close my letter as Papa wants to write some hopeing to see you soon
From your Cousin
Mary H
To Sister, Mama and Papa [Mary, Elizabeth, and Joseph Hollington] (Bowling Green) from Will and Lill [William and Maria Frederick] (West Unity) April 11, 1880
West Unity Ohio
April 11th 1880
My Dear Sister, Mama and Papa,
How are you getting along I hope you are not sick or lonesome without us but are haveing a good time we got to Toledo all right had a pleasant ride thare was not any one at the depot to meet us. I started to go out to Uncle Ambrose's on the streat car, a lone, I happned to look out and who should I see but Uncle Am running to catch the car he had been playing Elder hear at West Unity and Fayett and was just getting home we had a pleasant visit thare Demy had the mumps Aunt Soph is not very well, she keeps a girl we took a ride to the citty in the afternoon I think it is a very plesent drive we stayed all night at Uncle's and drove back to the city the next after noon and did our trading and took the five o'clock trane to far Delta we got as far as the junction and thare we stoped and I began to think we the train was neve going to start again while watering thare at the junction I saw Dolph he was going to his work he said he had not got his fathers trunk yet he said that Mr St John was going to try to get it for them we stoped at every side track and station and I thought we was neve going to get thare it was almost 8 Oclock when we got to Mr Waters's
Dear Pa Ma and little Sister
As Maria has left me to finish the letter and as she has writen all the news in regard to our visits at Toledo and Delta all I can tell you is that we did not find Uncle Richard very well he had a chill yesterday has had no chill today. He says he has not got very much ambition for he has no strength to cary his ambition out. He is so he can be a round but not able to do any thing much in way of work. I tell you he has a grand looking house. We will commence work Tomorrow morning - Oh Mollie are you lonely I hope you are not you must try and enjoy yourself if one way fails try an other as for my self I would rather that I and my Honey Bunch was at home - Oh give me Home Sweet Home in prefferance to all other places, Mollie I have not got much more to say - only this I send my love to you all, and would like to se you all to night Mollie you must kiss Ma and Pa for lill and Me and they must kiss you for us. Give our respect to little trippie and tell him to be a good little dogie - now love and kisses to all - and ever believe us to be your all truly - Will and Lill
Will seid that we told all about Delta folks but he was mistaken a bout it Aunt Mary Ann has been sick but is better now Uncle Waters's health is very poor Tova's is well Aunt had a little party while we were thare Mrs. Wallace and Mrs Bichip were thare and had a real plesent visit with them they are all glad to hear that Ma was getting better but was sorry to hear that you let your girl go they would like to have you all come and see them well I must close Give my love to all that enquire after me and keep lots of love and kisses for your selves good night
From your daughter and sister
Lill
To Pa and Ma and Mollie [Joseph, Elizabeth, and Mary Hollington] (Bowling Green) from Lillie and Billie [Maria and William Frederick] (West Unity) April 25, 1880
West Unity Ohio
April 25 1880
Dear Pa and Ma and Mollie
We received your kind letter and was glad to hear you was all well at home. Pa you wanted know how we liked West Unity I think they have quite a lively little town. I no I was very much disappointed in the place. They do a great deal more business here than I expected - altho the town looks to be a very old one - and one thing I like about the people here they have not got that selfish pride they have in B.G. Every Body here is very common and friendly and are not stuck up with pride - as for the country a round the town I have not seen much of it but what I have seen I think it is hard to beat it reminds me of old Seneca - we have not been out to se Mr John Hollington yet but they are in town most every day and we se them then. He has keept his promise so far. He dos not drink chew or smok and is quite a different boy in that respect, but he does not pretend to work any. he has the farm rented. Well now for Lill and Bill. We are all OK feeling all right. And we are good feadders - now for the plastering we have all the upperpart first coated and have a bout one days lathing yet on the lower part we could have had it all lathed but the carpenters has be both over us they do not keep out of our way - and our plastering dryes very slow it rains here a bout ever night we have considderable extry work to do and Uncle thinks there is well unto two thousand yards of plastering in his house - it beats all Houses that ever I seen - well I must leave room for my honey bunch to write so I will close by sending our love and kisses to all your true children
Lillie and Billie
PS - Pa - I received those two letters - I am much obliged to you for sending them to me - your Will
Dear MaMa PaPa and Sister
I sopose I must write some but I do not know what to write as Will has written all that you told us to write about Aunt Mary Ann seid I should not write and tell you that I was going home she seys I can stay as well as not. I never did see such a rainy place as this is we have so many thunderstorms stormer Friday night the lightning struck a house here in town and tore the chimney down and last night it struck a barn a few miles from town and burnt it down and all that was in it among the things that were burnet was seven head of cattle and three horses and his grain do you have such storms in BG well I must close accept my love and kisses up by the hole sale write soon and tell us all the news From your loveing Daughter and Sister Maria
To Cousin (Mary Hollington, Bowling Green) R.S. Lamb (Toledo) January 2, [18]79 (sic) [1880]
A.L. Junction Jany 2d 79
Dear Cousin
Please allow me the pleasure of informing you that I did not forget you all New Years day I made a big effort to get away to come out and see you but my efforts were in vain I worked all day like a little man I almost had a notion to play off sick but there were so many playing the same game When the evening came after working hard all day I says to myself now I will get ready and go to the Dance What do you think just as I got dressed and was all ready to start Mr. Wallace says Lamb I would like to have you go to Elkhart on an Engine want you to hurry and get ready I don't usualy sware but I came in an Inch of it Then I just got back this morning almost tired and now I don't want you to think it was my folt for not coming because it was not I am quite well at present and hope this will find all of you in the same way give my love to all of your folks and tell Will I can beat him all to death playing dominoes if he don't think so let him come down and I will show him how to play Tell your Father that I have written four letters out there and I cannot get any word whatever I hardly know what to do about it ask him what he would do about it if he was in my place and tell me in your next letter and tell Auntie for me this she can give me what ever she thinks proper for the things and if she don't give me any thing I wont say a word I will not want them for they will be of no use to me whatever I can never repay your folks for what they have done for me and for my Father I am inhopes I will be able some day to do some thing good for you all if I have my health spared I will close and would be very thankful to hear from you soon from your
Cousin Pat Murphy
RS Lamb
AL Junction
Toledo Ohio
To Mary Hollington (Bowling Green) from Ida [Schultz] (Tiffin) April 11 [1880]
Tiffin Ohio, Apr 11
Sunday Eve
Dear Friend Mary As I am all alone this after noon I thought I would answer your kind letter which I received a few days ago. I was very sorry to see that you were sick, but hope you will get well soon so you can come out; Well Mary I must tell you that I am going to a Silver Wedding to morrow eveing, they are going to have it in our church Mr. Kefauver our pastor its for him I know we will just have a splended time for theire are going to be a large croud theire all of the members are invited and all of the preachers and theire wives and the students and theire are over one hundred and fifty and more. The members of the church are got it for him. I wish you was here so you could go along for I know we would have a nice time. Mary you tell Uncle Bill I will answer his letter when he come back for if he goes away he couldent get it any way so I will waite till he comes back you tell him for me. And when he comes you write and then I will know when to write to him: Well Mary you wanted to know if I had any little birds know I havent but my dark bird is on the nest wright along now for about a week I don't know how many eggs she has, for I woulden take down the cage: because three week ago she laid and I took down the cage and she wouldent have anything to do with the nest, but when I took it down I dident know that she had laid so now I will just leave her go till I see if she brings any birds out. I believe if you write to Lillie and tell her about your birds she will take a paire for when I was out theire she wanted to buy a bird. If I would be you I would write and see what she says: Mary I hardly no what to write any more I been writeing so many letters this week that I am entirely out of news, so you mustent look for a long letter this time, but when I write again I will write you a good Old fashion letter. Did you make any more tidies since I come home; I made five for Christmas presents and now I have three started for my self: Now Mary I guess I will bring my letter to a close by asking you to answer soon. And come out soon: Please excuse poor writing and all mistakes for this was written in a hurry. In-reguard to our health we are all well hopeing to heare you are all the same. We all send our love and best wishes to you all. Good by. Write Soon.
Written by Ida
To
Friend Mary
To Mary Hollington (Bowling Green) from Lillie Green (Findlay) May 16 [1880]
Findlay, Ohio, May 16th
Sunday Afternoon
Friend Mary,
This afternoon finds me seated to answer your kind and welcome letter which I received some time ago but have had no time to answer sooner as we moved last week and have just got straitened around again we live in such a nice place now the third house from Main Street has Uncle Bill and Aunt Maria come home yet if they have tell them to write tell Uncle Bill I have sold my land I sold it to uncle John Green Mary about that bird I will send my cage and you send the bird and then I will send the money send me a good singer I am coming to see you this summer if nothing happens now more than I know of now you come and see me and then I will go home with you tell uncle Bill and Aunt Maria to come out and see us well I guess this is all for this time as pa and ma have gone away and I must tend to Maud now be sure and send me my bird and I will send you the money
Answer Soon
Good By
From Lillie Green
Tell Uncle Bill and Aunt Maria to be sure and write to me
Lillie
. To Sister [Mary Hollington] (West Unity) from Lillie and Billie [Maria and Will Frederick] (Bowling Green) June 19, 1881 [cover address to Joseph Hollington, West Unity, postmarked Delta Ohio June 21, 1881]
Bowling Green Ohio
June 19 1881
Dear Sister
Your note of the 16th was received last Evening and I now hasten to reply to its contents but I fear I can not give justice to all that is before me to write, for I have just left the dinner table and payed our last respects to a spring Chicken, fall Beef Strawberries and alot of other choice eatables to numerous to mention. So you may Know what condition I am in - there goes the Buckle on my pants. Dog on the spring chicken. The thought of getting a box of oranges but after reading your note. We give that up - we don't care for them its most to common fruit - but pare apple we are sick of and Strawberries we have all hours of the day Why Since Lill and I has been having So many Strawberries they halft to Send to Toledo to supply the market
You wanted to know how Will was, he is all right living on the fat of the land, The chickens is growing - the one we had for dinner feels like a big one - Tell Pa the potatos is all right, there is afew Bugs on them but will do no harm - unless you Stay all Summer.
Tell Ma to Pitch in and have a good time and not trouble her Self any about Lill and Will for we are happy - and enjoying our Selves hugely - the only faint spell I have is about Milking Lissie
Take Notice
Be Shure and have a good time and Stay just as long as you think we want you to - Lill Said the Currents and Cherries was getting ripe very fast - I don't Know what She means by telling you
Oh well by this I will close asking you to write soon Lill wants you to give
her Love to all the Relations and give my love to all and kiss them all for
Lill and Bill
For Pa Ma - and Moll
We send love and Strawberrie Kisses
Lillie and Billie
PS
Let no one read this Letter -
To Mary Hollington (Bowling Green) from Mrs. H.C. Oldroyd (Chattanooga, Tennessee) November 16, 1883
Chattanooga Nov 16th 1883
Dear Mary,
I thought perhaps you would like to hear from me so will scribble a few lines to you this afternoon. In the first place I am as well as usual Charlie has been somewhat under the weather today so I did not send him to school. By the way he has been going to school for three or four weeks and I think he is getting along right nicely - You know we used to think he would not like to go - he has never objected in the least to go; and seems to take hold and learn and I guess likes it well enough. I believe I will be more comfortable this winter than I was last. There is an open grate in our room and when we have fire in it, it looks quite cheerfull I like my Gasoline stove very much and am getting so that I can manage it very well at first I used more Gasoline than my neighbors - but am getting a little better on that score. There are three families living in the building besides "we ons" (as the n------ say) - each occupying one room they are very nice people so I am not very lonesome. You would hardly believe how nice they can live in only one room. I have a safe to keep my dishes and eatables in so am that much better off than I was in B.G.
There is a meat market in one of the down stairs rooms and right across the street there is a fruit and vegetable market and fish and Oyster house and two Groceries just a door or two above so you see if we have the where-with we can get something to eat right handy - Mr Oldroyd has only missed two days work since he commenced work in Chattanooga, one day he was sick before I came and the other the day I got here; and he had the offer of three jobs last week besides the one he had - he has prospect of work all winter, so I am not sorry that we are here. I must say that I have enjoyed my self so far very much. Usualy on Sundays Mr O has taken us to some noted place and I have just more than enjoyed it. I was very tired when I got here, it was very cold when I left B.G. but it got warmer and when I reached Cincinnati it was raining quite hard I was sorry for I wanted to see something of the City but you know one is never very much pleased with a strange place if they get there in a rain. I got into an omnibus and went right to the Cincinnati and Southern depot and such a dingy hole as it was cold as a barn and a very faint light. We tried to amuse ourselves by eatting our lunch - but even fruit cake could'nt make up for the unpleasantness of the surroundings and what made it worse an excursion to the Exposition had come on the morning train from the South and they had to return, on the same train I took so the Depot was crowded and you had to hang to a seat if you were lucky enough to get one or you would lose it. I managed to get myself and Charlie on board the train, all right, and was very glad to do so, for Charlie was getting very tired and cold I did not sleep any in fact would not for some one said that an old man had had his pockets picked and I did not want to lose all my money jewelry and so forth. So kept awake we had to come through twenty seven tunnels and it made the smoke come i n the car so thick
It has been very pleasant in Chattanooga so far rather warm some of the time but I did not mind it very much. One Sunday I went to Fort Wood and the Confederate Cemetery. The next I spent on the top of Missionary Ridge - It was a lovely day and I wandered along to my hearts content. The next I went to Cameron Hill could see the earth works our soldiers had thrown up to defend the City from an attack on the River, also visited the pen where the Mitchel Raders were imprisoned Next Sunday the day was lovely but Mr O did not feel well enough to go out so stayed at home. The next we went to the National Cemetery where 14,000 Union soldiers are buried. The Mitchel Raders who were hung are buried there; but we did not find just where, we will have to go again for we could not do justice to it in one visit I wish you could see it. It is a beautiful place just at the foot of Missionary Ridge where many of them were killed. Last Sunday it rained and we stay in doors all day. I wish I could send you a boquet of roses oh but there are lots of them and very pretty ones to. Chattanooga is not a very pretty place for it is very rough and rugged but every direction you look you see new buildings going up but houses are very scarce but not so N------. You meet about six to one white person - and some of them are so very dirty and filthy. I have to hire my washing done and it was done so miserably that I couldn't stand it so hunted up another wash woman this week and was better pleased. I wanted to go to Church Sunday for I have not been to Church since I left B.G. The M.E. Church are building a very fine Church just a little ways from our house it will be. it is said the finest Church in the South when finished I have been invited to sing in the Choir - I do not know as I will though but expect to attend the M.E. Church so you see I aint all Presbyterian yet Mother wrote that the new Preacher in B.G. was an improvement on the last but how do you own the town and Church in particular without - N.B.G. You in Particular must miss him and regret his departure I am sorry for you. I thought of you when I was tramping around on the Ridge I wish you could have been along for you could not have helped but enjoy it - it was just too grand to talk about. I looked over towards Chichamauga battle ground and thought of Will Frederick - and then I gathered persimmons and thought of our Berry tramp and O I would like to hear from you if you do not find this to dull please answer
(address)
Your friend Mrs. H.C. Oldroyd
No. 13 East 8th Street
Chattanooga Tenn.
To Mary Hollington (Bowling Green) from Mrs. H.C. Oldroyd (Chattanooga, Tennessee) January 27, 1884
Chattanooga Jan 27th 1884
Dear Mary,
Don't think because I have been so long answering your letter that I have forgotten
you. I think of you very often but one thing and another has prevented me from
writing one thing was I thought I would go out to the Cemetery and try and find
the grave you spoke of. I remember seeing the name William Green on a stone but
do not know if it were the right one or not, they have a register at the office
and I could find the regiment there and then could tell if it were the same. I
do not like to go alone and have not had a chance when Mr O could go along. We
had some pretty weather I said one day that it would be nice to go out to the
Cemetery - he said that Charlie and I might go but I didnt like to so have waited
but I want to go again real bad and if I do will try and send you some little
thing from it or from near it. Are you most froze by all accounts you have been
haveing some cold weather. We cant complain though they say we have had more cold
days here this winter then they have had in the last eight winters put together.
Christmas we let the fire go out and had windows up and I wore my Cashmere dolman
and went out for a walk. The week after New Years we had about three tolerable
cold days. But we were comfortable indeed I will be very well satisfied if I am
always as comfortably situated. Mr Oldroyd has missed just three days on account
of cold, and I am sure he could not have done so well in Bowling Green. Our room
is very comfortable, and we have had the where with to buy coal when we needed
to, and if we have not lived on the fat of the land we have not gone hungry,
neither have I fallen away any, more's the pity. But I beleave I like Ohio better
then Tenn yet I do not think the people I mean the rich will compare with the
common people of the North and dont you forget it they hate the Yanks as they
call every one that comes from the North, I would like to know what Chattanooga
would be if it were not for the Northern people nothing but a mud hole, for
Northern Capital and Northern enterprise has just made the place. I have not been
going around very much lately. I cannot tell you any more about the city. How
would you like a million or two of little red ants. We have plenty I keep my
safe standing in cans of water that keeps them out of the victuals before I set
the cans every thing was just covered with the little pests. I have been using
condensed milk but I have the promise of some milk tomorrow we are quite hungry
to have fresh milk once more. Charlie is playing dominoes he can play a very good
game, he wonders if Mr Hollington - wis-tles yet - Mr Oldroyd said he saw a n-----
funeral this afternoon, there was a big n----- with a blue sash on riding on
horseback in front of the hearse they are a funny people. They are as thick as
hasty pudding. I had a letter from Mother this morning and answered it this
evening and have this thus far along dont you think I have done well. I have a
new dress - brown so I don't suppose you would like it. You can get dry goods as
cheap as dirt here. Ric Rac that you have to pay fifteen and eighteen cents for
is just five cts and all kinds of goods marked way down if I had money enough I
might lay in a stock that would last three or four years - but. The City clock
is striking nine and I have to get up and have breakfast before half past six.
I will have to wind this epistle to a close. Dont follow my example and be so
long answering this - I will try and do better another time, and try and write
something more interesting
Your Friend
Mrs. H.C. Oldroyd
No 13 East 8th Street
Chattanooga Ten
P.S. Give my regards to all the family and write soon
Postcard to Mollie [Mary] Hollington (Bowling Green) from Will [Frederick] (Tiffin) March 26, 1884
Tiffin Ohio Mar 26 1884
Dear Mollie
We got together Monday night about eight o'clock - Mr Shell was Buried yesterday Funeral at half Past two- I never in all my life seen so many folks at a funeral - but we will tell you all about it when we come here - we are ---------- stayed at aunt ----------- last night - we will be Home this week one day - we send love to all - be a good girl and a good old ------------
Ever your Bro
Will
