Finis

My dear Reader,

Minnie’s story has ended.

IF you are a new reader, please scroll to the very bottom and read from the bottom to the top.

Story by

Mary “Minnie” Whalen

Edited by

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard

Question About “My dear Ed,

1.  How were Minnie’s treatments different in Charleston and Las Vegas?

2. Did Minnie ever have any chance of surviving?

3. Did going to Las Vegas show how desparate Minnie was to seek getting better?

4. Do you think there were any medications being used and unknown in New Mexico that might have helped Minnie?

5. With all the thousand of patients who came to Las Vegas for “the cure” do you think the doctors should have suspected an apprendicitis was due to a medicine they were prescribing to their TB patients?

6. Why do you think Minnie never knew she was 7 months pregnant?

7. Why did her Charleston doctor not know Minnie was pregnant before 7 months?

8.  Do you believe doctors in 1910 were “shy” to examine a woman?

9.  The locals of Las Vegas were nearly tuberculosis free.  Why?

10. Why do you think it took 2 days of discomfort, before the doctor ordered Minnie to the hospital?

11.  Do you think Minnie had a ruptured appendicitis?

12. A 100 years later, how are families different?

13. Do you know a sister like Hanna today?

14. What all did Ed have to lose if he fought for his son?

15. Do you believe Ed “saw” Minnie at the foot of his bed 50 years later?

16.  What questions do you have?

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard

Winnetka, Illinois /snakard@comcast.net

Hanna McCarty, A Hero

My dear Reader,  Yes, I am soon to end this exercise.  You and I have traveled a long road together and got to know Minnie, Ed, and their 6 little girls, a devoted spinster sister, Hanna McCarty,  stunned by the birth of Edward, met Bridget Fitzgerald Kintz in Las Vegas, NM, experienced a joyful family reunion, and the coming together of what was a promising family life in 1910.  Only, the ending is sad. Minnie dying from a side effect of the medication she was taking to make her well.

The little girls grew up reading their Mamma’s letters.  Her instructions for them to have fresh air, learn to play the piano, and seeking a higher education for those who wanted it (Agnes Lucile graduated from St. Mary’s of Notre Dame in 1931) did happen.  These letters became their Mamma and each one used her instructions along the way and often would say, “Mamma said…………”

For me, I dedicate all my research and time, to my favorite hero, Hanna McCarty.

Hanna at age 25,  was so courages to venture into a territory not yet a state, with her dedication of service for her invalid sister, Minnie. Her will to endure the hardships of waiting on Minnie for 6 months, assisting in the birth of Edward, running the baby down the street in the middle of the night for feedings, the mounds of laundry done after boiling water on a coal stove on very New Mexico hot days, then, the boiling of water for both her and Minnie’s baths, finding rentals, looking for furniture, fumigating the new house and furniture, and the list is endless.  And, today, one thing we all take for granted is indoor plumbing.  It wasn’t the case in 1910…….certainly not in Charleston or Las Vegas.  This unpleasant task was left to Hanna to dispose of daily.  It is comical to in vision Hanna, running to town with a tin bucket, for ice cream, on warm summer nights.  Even ordering out of dinners for 25 cents each was out of the ordinary when “take outs” wasn’t done back in 1910.

My Grandfather, Edward P. Whalen, played a huge hero part too.  Impossible to think he didn’t.  He sold his interest in a business to send his wife to Las Vegas, New Mexico, became “Mr. Mamma”, was left to figure out how to ween Agnes Lucile from diapers to panties, wiped tears, keep house, cook, baths, ironing of 6 little girls dresses and the endless list of housewife chores in which no man in Charleston had to deal with before.  Truly, a remarkable man, then, during, and after Minnie passed.

One very special person whom I am most grateful for his time and encouragements after reading “My dear Ed,” before I decided to post, Richard (Dick) Stolley.  Dick is a Pekinite (Pekin, Illinois) like myself.  He and his twin have had remarkable careers in journalism .  As Dick became Editor of Life magazine, his twin was Editor of Post magazine.  Plus, did you know the first editor of People’s magazine was Dick?  He is still with Time, Inc. today.  I needed Dick to move this incredible love story off their pages and into your hearts.  Thank you, Dick.

Like I said in my Introduction in August 2009, I knew all the players, except one.  Yes, I never knew my grandmother.

Unless, like you, it was from reading her letters.

Christmas 1917

Helen, Mary, Edna, Catherine & Margaret, Agnes Lucile, Edward

My dear Reader, I leave you in hopes you understand how important a family can grow together

be together

and

wait

for each other.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard

717 Willow Road / Winnetka, Illinois  60093

Margeret Whalen’s “Scapebook” 1921

My dear Reader, As I begin to collect items around my “office” of Whalen information into one large plastic container with lid, it seems there is no end. My endless notes taken from tombstones in Charleston, Grandview and Paris, Illinois, photos, newspaper clippings, Uncle John Whalen’s Will and those who contested it (all for $245.00), all my correspondences from Las Vegas to the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth……….and the list goes on, I thought I would share some of the more interesting items. I am still looking for one family photo in which I have misplaced it……….but, I will find it. Plus I have many more ‘shoe’ boxes to poke around in too.

This photo was taken around 1910 and shows the front porch of Saint Anthony's Sanatorium. Sent to me by Sister Catherine Laoure Conway, Supervisor of the Archieves.

Here is a scanned close up of the large dog. I find it very surprising to think a dog is in the picture, let alone, allowed.
How old do you think everyone is?

Do you think this dog belongs to the man sitting in the chair?

This picture shows the nuns habit worn at the time Saint Anthony’s Sanatorium opened in Las Vegas , NM.

Sisters: Mary Ann, M. Celestine, Aloysius Marie, M. Eucharia, Wenceslaus, Boniface, M. Sabina, N. Serena, Secraphine,

Baby Edward Whalen, June 11, 1911

Edward,11, standing on the steps of his birth place, Las Vegas, NM.

This photo was in Aunt Margaret’s Scapebook 1921. Hanna had given the Scapebook as a Christmas present to her in 1920. Hanna was a very brave woman to bring Edward back to Las Vegas, NM. Minnie was correct when she said she lived in a very small house. When she was able, the front porch is where she spent many hours writing her letters to Ed as she fought the flies.

Edward Meets Mr. McGovern At His Boarding House in 1921.

McGovern looks like a very nice man. He never married. Della McIntyre died around 1815 with tuberculosis. Della was buried in Rocky Ford, CO.

A close up of Edward and Mr. McGovern, Las Vegas, NM, 1921

Aunt Hanna and Edward, Las Vegas, NM, 1921

Edward with Grandma McCarty, 1915

Fr. Costello, Edward And The Baseball Gang

Finally, my mother, Agnes Lucile, 2, August 1910.

Agnes Lucile, 2, August 1910

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

Appendicitis 1910

My dear Reader,  Understandably, you are in shock over the sudden knowledge Minnie so abruptly died. As you followed her 6 months of letters to Ed and family, you knew how Minnie was so careful about her tuberculosis care.  Only to die from something else.  Appendicitis.

In 1910, doctors knew very little of the body and how 1 medicine prescribed for tuberculosis could have a side effect. An appendectomy.  If Minnie had known this……….. her doctor too (!)…………… she would have gotten to the hospital 2 days earlier.  Instead, Minnie went to the hospital 2 day later.  After the pain began.

For the two Carnegie libraries, Charleston and Las Vegas, if you have formed a book club to have participants read “My dear Ed,” I will be adding some “Book Review” questions soon.

In the mean time,

if anyone wishes to contact me

please do

I will only publish your questions or thoughts with your permission.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard

717 Willow Road

Winnetka, Illinois  60093

snakard@comcast.net

Remember: As you read, “My dear Ed,” no parts of these letters, postal cards , story, photos, documentations or input may be used for your own personal gain or given to anyone with the same financial intent without my written permission.

After January 6, 1911

My dear Reader,  My Aunt Helen told me, ” I threw up all the way to Las Vegas, and cried all the way back to Charleston.”

The 2 grandmothers had made huge baskets of food for Ed and the six little girls to eat on the way out.  Helen got into the baskets very early and eat too much.  Thus the reason for throwing up.

As for the other, sadly, we all now know.

Another thing my Aunt Helen told me:  The day her mother died, Helen was home when her father came in the front door, passed her up (even though she kept asking him “How’s Mamma?”) and took the sitter, Mrs. Murphy (I will post the checks to Mrs. Murphy once I pour through some materials),  into a bedroom to talk to her.  He came out and left immediately.  Helen ran into her mother’s room and saw Mrs. Murphy going through the drawers and removing the white dress Minnie had worn in the picture she had taken holding her infant son in September.

Helen: “Those are Mamma’s clothes.  What are you doing with Mamma’s clothes?”

Mrs. Murphy:  ”Helen, Your mother is dead and she needs clothing to wear in her casket.”

Little Helen, who had just turned 10 years by 2 days, with tears, ran out of the house and down the street.  She blindly bumped into a black man who said:

Man:  ”Whoa little girl. You best git back inside your gate before your mamma finds yous out.”

Helen (sobbing): “My Mamma is dead.  This morning.”

The kind old man patted Helen on the head softly.  Aunt Helen said he was the first person who was kind to her upon learning her Mamma had passed.

Ed had left the house to send the astonishing gloomy telegrams to the McCartys, the Whalens and to his sister Maggie (Arcola, Ill.).  He purchased tickets to Charleston and made arrangements for Minnie’s body too.

Ed, his 6 little girls and Minnie in a casket left Las Vegas, New Mexico on the late afternoon train, back to Charleston, Illinois, January 6, 1911.  The small, but supportive,  group of friends Minnie and Hanna had met, along with her cousin, Bridget Kintz, a few nuns from St. Anthony’s Sanitorium and Dr. McClanahan all showed up at the station to see the family off.

In Kansas City, Ed and the six little girls were met by his sister Maggie Mc Taggart, her husband George and their 3 children, to help them the rest of the sad journey home.  While waiting for the train switching, he said to his sister, “I am going to go check on Minnie.”  He found, and in time,  the Sante Fe personal had misread “Charleston, Ill.” and they were putting Minnie on a train bound for Charleston, S.C.

Somewhere along the line of her illness, Minnie had told Ed she didn’t want to be buried alone and have to wait for him one day.  She asked to be buried next to her 2 younger siblings, Nora and Nellie,  whom both had died from tuberculosis too.  Thus, this is the reason Minnie and Ed are not together at the Mound Cemetery today.

The family home at the cor. of 10th and Adams was rented until July.  So this very brokenhearted family was placed amongst family.  Helen and Mary stayed with the McCartys along with Baby Edward.  Edna went to live with her Uncle Joe and Aunt Mayme, and Ed with the 3 youngest ones, twins Catherine and Margaret and little Agnes (my mother) with his parents.

Once the house became available and the furnishings arrived from Las Vegas, New Mexico, Ed set up house again.  Then he walked down to the McCartys to get his son who was now 1 year.  The McCartys “circled the wagon” and told Ed if he tried to take Edward, they would have the State put all his children in an orphanage (children were considered orphans in 1911 if the mother was dead.). He walked back to his very lonely house knowing Minnie would no longer share it and empty handed with no son.

Hanna raised Edward.

Hanna became Ed’s housekeeper until Helen reached 18 years.  A neighbor, Margaret Grånt, told me that when Ed walked through the front door from work, Hanna and young Edward were going out the back.  This route was for neighbors to have no gossip about Hanna and Ed.

As for Edward.  He had trouble with his eyes his whole life.  He was rejected from Notre Dame because of them.  When war WW11 came around, Hanna and her sister Agnes was able to prevent him from being drafted by a “slight clause” in the drafting system.  They bought him a grain elevator across Ed Whalen’s Grain Elevator.  If one owned a grain elevator, one was excused from the war, with the understanding grain elevators would eventually be suppling food for the solders.

Ed closed his doors the very day the purchase was made saying, ” I will not be in competion with my own son.”

Ed never re-married.  Neither did his daughters Helen, Edna and twins Catherine and Margaret.  Mary married a farmer and had no children. Edward married a highly intelligent woman and they produced 2 doctors.  Little Agnes married and had 9 living children.  I was #7.  Agnes was the last to die from her family at  96 years.

When my gråndfather was last ill, just a few days before dying, his daughter Catherine heard him talking in his room.  When she went to check on him, he told her he had just seen Minnie.  He stated he asked Minnie why she was standing at the foot of his bed and she responded, ” I am waiting for you, Ed.”

Ed never stopped loving Minnie.

As for Bridget Fitzgerald Kintz.  She continued to live in Las Vegas, New Mexico until she died of the Spanish Flever.  Her death is recorded as tuberculosis in 1918 by Dr. McClanahan (Minnie’s doctor).  She is buried in Terre Haute, Indiana.  Her husband is beside her.

Both Minnie and Bridget Death Certificates were signed by  tuberculosis Dr. McClanahan.

I have my mother’s first love letters from a Charles Schmidt of Charleston.  I have never read them.   I may never read them.  To me, Minnie’s letters are all I need to know about a true love story.  A love story torn by distance and health.  Then death.  A love story that re-lives itself everytime I read, “My dear Ed,”.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

January 9, 1911: Charleston Courier Newspaper

January 9, 1911
Charleston Courier Newspaper
Charleston, Illinois

This news clipping was found and sent 26 years later to Edna Whalen by her cousin, Mariam Louise Coady (Sunkel), in 1937. Edna always kept this clipping in the Christmas card in which Mariam Louise sent it in........as it is today.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

Minnie Whalen’s Suit Ensemble 1910

My dear Reader,

Today, I am sharing with you the outfit Minnie Whalen wore on the train to Las Vegas, New Mexico in April 1910. The jacket is a beautiful example of how well made it is by her. The back is my favorite.  The pleats are well proportioned and stitched evenly.  Without padding being in style in 1910, the sleeves are gathered just enough to give an air of faminity. The lining appears to be extra fabric left over after making a man’s shirt.   Note how the waist is brought in to accent the figure.  The buttons were purchased and are of leather.  The waist (blouse) is store bought. My daughter wore this jacket in her early 20′s and it was wonderful to see it being worn nearly 60 years later. Minnie was frugal, and the black skirt is patched in one area in the front. Since dry cleaners never existed in 1910, I like to think the dust of Charleston and Las Vegas has settled in the inside of the hem.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

Minnie Whalen Suit Ensemble, 1910

Minnie’s Purse and Contents, 1910

My dear Reader,

Finding January 6, a difficult day for Ed and the children, therefore……….99 years later, I will share with you, my dear Reader, Minnie’s purse and a few of her contents held within.

Minnie Whalen's purse and Kid Gloves, 1910

This brown leather purse with brown kid gloves amazes me-!

First, the gloves tell me Minnie had very long, slender hands.  My Aunts, Helen and Edna had them too. None of  Minnie’s 5  granddaughters were so fortunate.

Second,  the size of the purse is so minute in comparison to what is being carried today.  99 years ago women didn’t have even a driver’s license, let alone wallets, cell phones, Blackberry’s or Tic-tacs to put in their purse.  Women thought of themselves as ladies and expected the man to carry the money and keep time for them.

Bussiness Card of Dr. John D. Hess, Las Vegas, NM, 1910

I am thunderstruck that this purse still held the business card of some doctor by the name of Dr. John D. Hess. Who was he? Since Minnie had mentioned in a letter to her sister-in-law Maggie, she was getting her teeth worked on, I suspect this may be the dentist? Something the Las Vegas Historical Society can look into for confirmation. But, who was Charles Mily? One thing is for sure, Minnie never lost her beautiful handwriting during her illness.

GRAAF & HAYWARD, Grocers, Butchers & Bakery, Las Vegas, NM, 1910

GRAAF & HAYWARD, Grocers, Butchers, & Bakery, Las Vegas, NM, 1910

These are two business/coupon cards of Graaf & Hayward, Grocers, Butchers, & Bakery. The card to your left is dated December 24 as the other is November 30. I believe Minnie kept them for she was going to be redeeming them later on for the caption in the bottom (very faint 99 years later) reads: “Return $15 in cash rewards and get 50 cents in merchandise FREE.” Competition must have been fierce in 1910.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

Silence

My dear Readcr,  There is no letter or postal card to record today.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

Helen Whalen Turns 10 on Jan. 4, 1911

My dear Reader,  Today is Helen Whalen’s Bithday.  She would be 109 years old if she had lived.  Helen died at age 94.  A wonderful, spiritual, kind and generous woman her entire 94 years.  All 9 of us kids favored her best.  In 1911 she turned 10 years.  Helen received this lamp on her birthday and saved it for the rest of her life.  I had the lamp rewired, added the crystals and a “nubby” silk  shade. Small tassles may be what was on the sides, so I keep looking for the perfect size and look……………. A very sophisticated present for a 10 year old back in 1911.  Helen’s birthday fell on a Wednesday in 1911.  The Sunday before January 1,  she and her mother stayed home from church, because they both were not feeling well.  Helen always remembered how her mother promised her on that day,that the two would go to church the following Sunday together.  Helen with a cold, and Minnie with a fever and feeling sluggish.  In the meantime, the two planned Helen’s much anticipated birthday on the 4th with Helen telling her mother about this “pretty lamp” in one of the stores in Old Town Las Vegas.  Helen said she was so excited upon opening her Mamma’s  present on her birthday and getting exactly what she so desired.  Her greatest wish was to read by it and write letters to her relatives back in Charleston, Illinois.  Presents were usually simple back in 1910, similar to what Hanna discloses she is sending in her postal card postmarked Jan 3, 1911.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

Helen Whalen, 10, Birthday Present from her mother, Jan 4, 1911

A Birthday Present to Helen Whalen From Her Mother, Jan. 4, 1911

JANUARY 1911

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JAN3, 7-30P

Tues. morn.

Dearest Helen,

I am sending you a ribbon for your birthday of the 4th.  Thought it would be nice for your hat next summer.  Just think you are ten years old, will soon be a young lady.  Be a good girl.

Love to all, Aunt Hanna

5,4,3,2,1………Happy New Year-!

Will Be Back on Jan, 4, 2010 for Little Helen's 10th Birthday

Hanna’s Instructs Ed to Write Minnie’s Mother

My dear Reader,  What a pleasure to read postals from cousins to cousins.  Families were so close 100 years ago.  Today, we have the Internet, and what a shame to not expect any saved correspondence for the future.  In fact, will letters will be found later, by a curious grandchild, tucked away in an attic or some forgotten drawer?  Right now, you are fortunate to be reading letters and postal cards written nearly 100 years ago.  Imagine, a 100 years ago, and you have peeked into the past of children who were excited about Christmas as children are today and  adults  sending New Year wishes.

Unfortunately, with Ed now in Las Vegas, we are not privy to letters revealing what is ailing Minnie.  Minnie must have been writing home to her family, the McCartys, about some health issue, because Hanna’s postal to Ed has a stern tone to him.  Even her postal card is a reminder of the Grim Reaper.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

Charleston, DEC27, 7-30P

Tues. Eve.

Dear Sister, Am sending caps by same mail as this.  Hope you all have a Happy New Year.  Love to all, Hanna.

Terre Haute, IND., DEC28, 7-00A

Dear Sister,

Am in Terre Haute for a few days.  Have not see Fitzgeralds yet.  Will write a letter soon.  Hope you are feeling O.K.

Love from Agnes.

Terre Haute, IND., DEC28, 7-00PM

Dear Mary,

Hope Santa was very good to you.  Tell us all about what you got.  Love from Aunt Agnes.

Arcola, Ill., DEC28, 5PM

Dear Helen,

I wish you many happy returns of this day.  From Marguerite.

Arcola, Ill., DEC28, 5PM

Dear Mary,

I hope you had a good time Christmas.  I got a muffler and three books for Christmas.

From,

George McTaggaret.

Arcola, Ill., DEC28, 5PM

Dear Edna,

I hope you will have a happy New Year.

Love to all.

From,  Gertrude McTaggart.

Charleston, DEC29, 1-30P

Dear Helen, You must write us & tell us all about Xmas.  Be a good girl and don’t worry Mamma.

Love from Aunt Hanna.

Paris, Ill., DEC29, 9-30AM

Dear Aunt Minnie,

Santa Claus has been hre and gone and he left us many nice things and we thank you very much for the things you sent us and were very glad to get them.  A happy New Year.

Miriam Coady.

Charleston, DEC29, 11-30A

Dear Minnie,

Hope you are feeling all O.K. again.  It must of been the noise & confusion that upset you.  Will write tonight.  Happy New Year.

Hanna

Charleston, DEC29, 11-30A

Thurs. morn.

Dear Ed,

Wish you would write mother a letter, as nothing else seems to satisfy her.  Happy New Year.

Hanna

Christmas 1910

My dear Reader,  December is upon the Las Vegas Whalens and Christmas is about to happen for six little girls.  The McCartys were busy on their end having Edward’s photo taken as a Christmas present to his parents, Minnie and Ed.  One postal indicates Mary Fitzgerald  returned to Terre Haute, Ind.  after getting Bridget and family settled in Las Vegas.

Doesn’t it seem that as the family came to Minnie, her health is so greatly improved?  Remember how the Christmas before Minnie wasn’t even expected to live to see Christmas ’09.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

December 1910

Edward Whalen, 6 months, December 1910

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, DEC3, 9-30P

My dear Helen,

We enjoyed your letter very much and am very glad you like your school work.  Hope you are better.  Love from all to all, Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, DEC3, 9-30P

My dear Mary,

Your letter was very interesting, you must write to us often.  Tell Catherine Grandma liked her letter so much.  Love from Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, DEC3, 9-30P

My dear little Edna,

Why don’t you enclose a letter to us like Catherine did and tell lus what a good girl you are.  Lots of love from Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, DEC16, 7-30P

My dear Helen,

You are getting along O.K. at school and that Santa Claus will be good to you.  Edward will be a big boy by Spring when he comes to you.  Hope the rest are all well.  Will write a letter later.

Love from Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, DEC19, 7-30P

Mon. Eve.

Dearest Sister,

Am sending a package in the same mail as card.  Hope you receive it all O.K.  Wish you all a Merry Xmas.  Hanna

Terre Haute, IND., DEC21, 11-AM

Dear Cousin,

Forget your address.  I hope this will reach you.  How are you?  Kate is feeling real well, it is real cold tonight.  I hope you all will have a joyous Xmas.  Love and good wishes to all of you.

Mary Fitzgerald.

Charleston, DEC22, 1-30P

Dear Ed,

Hope you will spend a very, very merry Xmas & Happy New Year.  Lots of love from Sister Agnes.

Charleston, DEC22, 1-30P

Dear Sister,

I hope you will have a very merry Xmas & Happy New Year.  Lots of love from Sister Agnes.

Charleston, DEC22, 1-30P

My dear Helen, Mary & Edna,

I hope Santa Claus will bring you lots of pretty things & hope you will spend a very Merry Xmas.

Lots of Love from Aunt Agnes.

Terre Haute, IND., DEC23, 11-00AM

Dear Helen,

Will expect a letter from you when I get home & tell me what Santa brought you.  Lots of love from Aunt Agnes.

Paris, Ill., DEC23, 6-PM

Dear Cousin Helen,

We are having some wet weather here today.  I guess Santa Claus will be out your way soon.  Mamma hasn’t been out to find Santa, but she’ll get out later on.  A merry Christmas.  From Your Loving Cousin, Helen Coady.

Charleston, DEC23, 10-30A

Dear Catherine, You must write us another letter & tell us what Santa Claus brought you.

Love from Aunt Hanna.

Charleston, DEC23, 10-30A

Dear Margaret, Why don’t you ever write to us, like Cahterine did?  Edward will write you a letter after Xmas.

Love from Aunt Hanna.

Charleston, DEC23, 1-30P

Dear little Catherine,

We have Santa Claus in jail up here but the boys and Uncle Time and a lot of other people think he has got loose,

From Aunt Julia.

Paris, Ill., DEC23, 10-30A

My Dear Sister,

A Merry Xmas to you all.  We are well, but I haven’t been able to get up to see Santa.  I have heard nothing but Santa though for the past month or two.

Love to all, Sister Kathryn.

Paris, Ill., DEC23, 10-30A

Dear Cousin Mary,

We see Santa Claus last night and we shook hands with him & I guess he will be out your way soon.  This little girl looks like you.  A Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Miriam Coady.

Paris, Ill., DEC23, 10-30A

Dear Cousin Edna,

Mary Louise thinks this little girl is like you. I hear you help Mamma–I help my Mamma too, so she says Santa won’t forget us.  Hope he will bring you nice things.

Mary Louise.

November 1910

My dear Reader,  Family life is coming together for Minnie, Ed and their six little girls.  The relatives and friends continue the activity of sending postal cards, as I am sure letters were written too.  The postal from Tom Coady is Minnie’s sister Kate’s husband. All the Coady men who go to Notre Dame have a legacy and an entree to play football because an ancestor gave the land for the football field.  Lumber magnates way back when….. The Thanksgiving postal cards reveal a different time of “political correctness” and I am sure they were most welcomed upon receiving.

Today, on  my Comcast home page of  is an article on tuberculosis and how it is beginning to reel it’s ugly head again.   Quoted are Dr. Lee  Reichman, New Jersey Medical School Global Tuberculosis Institute, as a leading expert in this field of tuberculosis and Dr. Magan Murray for Harvard University.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard.

NOVEMBER 1910

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, NOV1, 2-PM

Tues. noon.

Dearest Helen,

Grandma wants you to write her a letter & tell her of you all are all good girls out there, like you were here.  Edward tries to sit up, when we lay him in his buggy.

Love to all from all,

Hanna

Charleston, NOV1, 2-PM

Dearest Mary,

How do you like school out there & have you ever been tardy?  You folks won’t know our big boy when you see him.

Love from Hanna

Charleston, NOV8, 10-30A

Dear Minnie, Received your card and was glad to hear you are getting along so well.  We are all O.K.  Haven’t seen your baby yet but see your mothr most every Sunday she thinks he’s the only baby.  Says he’s awful good.  Am cooking chicken for church dinner today.  Love to all the family, am going to see baby and send you a letter.  Suzy.

Charleston, NOV15, 11-AM

Charleston Public Library, Charleston, Ill.

Dear Mrs. Whalen,

Was so glad to get your card & to hear you are getting strong.  Was down to see Edw. Jr. & he is a lovely baby, looks like Helen.  Everything here about the same.  With kind regards to all.  I am you friend, Nelle McKenna.

Paris, Ill,. NOV17, 9-30A

Paris, Ill

Nov 17 -10

Dear Sister,

A new girl came last night. Both doing fine.

Bro. Tom Coady.

Charleston, NOV18, 2-Pm

Dear Minnie,

I was very much pleased to hear from you and that you are improving and of that you like the place so well.  I have been to see you baby, and he is a fine healthy little booy and the prode of his Hanna-Mother and Boss of the house.  All well.

Love to all, Rose Buny

Charleston, NOV21, 7-30P

Mon. Eve.

Dear Ed,  Hope you all havea very Happy Thanksgiving.  Your boy is fine.  How do you like Mex. by this time?

Love from Hanna

Terre Haute, IND., NOV21, 10-AM

Dear Mary,

How is school?  Do you remember Jennie?  The girl that was here that Sun. you was?  Do you ever hear from the Coady children?

With love from Aunt Agnes

Charleston, NOV21, 7-30P

Dear Sister,

Rec’d your letter this morn will write you tonight.  So glad you are feeling so fine.  Baby is all right.  Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving.  Love from Hanna.

Charleston, NOV22, 7-30P

Dear Ed,

Suppose this is a busy day with all as the children are home from school.  I wish you all a very, very happy day.  Love to the young girls.

Love from Agnes.

Charleston, NOV22, 1-30P

Dear Sister,  Rec’d your letter this morn.  Will answer soon.  How we wish we could all be together today but I hope it won’t be long till we are.  Love from Agnes.

Charleston, NOV22, 1-30P

My dear Niece Helen, How we wish you were all with us for this day, but we will some time.  Edward looks more like you everyday.  Lots of love from Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, NOV22, 1-30P

My dear Edna,

Do you help papa with the work?  Grandma says you were a fine helper when with her.  Edward has pretty light hair like yours.  Lots of love from Aunt Hanna.

Charleston, NOV22,1-30P

My dear Margaret,

Do you run away anymore, following papa?  You & Catherine will be big girls when I see you again.  With kisses from Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, NOV26, 11-AM

Dear friend Minnie,  Was glad you thought of me in your new home.  I am glad you are getting along so nicely and I guess you will be surprised to hear I am living by mother and grandma Whalen now. We have had our sale and Charlie will soon start for the northwest to get us a new home.  Love to all the little ones as ever.  Eunice H.

October 1910

My dear Reader,   Now that Ed is in Las Vegas, very little of Minnie’s writings or postal cards survived.  But October gives us all an understanding that Minnie is getting better and this young family have begun to settle into a routine of life in Las Vegas, New Mexico.   Halloween was a surprise for me to realize it was celebrated and had reached New Mexico by 1910 too.

The McCartys moved to 123 Vine Street in Charleston in 1910 and this is the same house Ed, Minnie, Helen, Mary and Edna lived in until they purchased the house at the corner of 10th and Adam Streets.  The house Minnie rented in Las Vegas for the family was 831 Railroad Street.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

OCTOBER 1910

LETTER

Charleston, OCT1, 10-30A

Charleston, Ill.

Sept. 30, 1910.

Dear Minnie,

I guess you will think I am very neglectful about writng to you, but it seems like I can’t get settled down to writing anymore.  I went to Parker’s opening the other day & met a great many of our old friends.  They were all asking about you, & so glad that you was improving so fast.  Your last letter sounded so good, that you was surely feeling fine when you wrote it.

Well, I will now have to begin telling you about our wonderful baby.  He is certainly an important little man.  Everyone is asking about him.  He is getting fatter & prettier everyday.  The other day John told Ma that we would keep him for three or four years, and then he wouldn’t be so much trouble for you.  I think if I do leave to go back, that I will have to go alone, as the folks are just crazy about him.  Mayme and Joe Whalen stopped last evening, on their way in from the country, to see him & they think he is fine.

John and Tim Whalen got back yesterday.  Brother John was talking to John W. and he said they had fine luck in North Dakota.

We canned some apples today, they haven’t a bait of fruit canned yet.  Apples are $1 a bushel.

We went down town last night to a band concert and there was the brimmest crowd I ever saw.  It is certainly a dead town, but still it is mighty nice to be home, but if the folks would only leave here I never would want to come back here again. Hope Helen and Mary are getting along alright at school.

I wrote Della tonight.  Do they come down much?  Suppose Doc has gone by this time.

Well I am getting sleepy so will close for this time.  Hope you are still feeling fine and that Ed is alright again.  Love to all from all.

Loving Sister Hanna.

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, OCT5, 10-30A

My dear Helen,

Rec’d your pretty card.  Do not forget to write to Gandma as she is expecting to hear from you.  Edward is certainly pretty & a very good boy.  Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, OCT5, 10-30A

Dear Mary,

You don’t care who you play with just so you have a good time, do you?  Guess that is the best way.  You mus write to us.

Love from Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, OCT5, 10-30A

Dear Edna,

Suppose you have told Mamma all the happenings of the past summer, ere this.  With lots of lvoe from Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, OCT8, 9-30P

Sat. eve.

Dearest Helen,

I would have answered your card sooner, but have been busy canning.  The baby is just fine, getting fatter & prettier every day.  Hope Mamma is feeling fine.  Love to all Hanna.

Charleston, OCT8, 9-30P

My dear Helen,

Rec’d your card last week.  Suppose you are well acquainted with the town by this time.  How we miss you.  Love from Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, OCT8, 9-30P

Dear Mary,

Rec’d your card Thurs. eve. So glad you are all getting along so fine.  the folks want to keep the baby.  What do you think about it?  Hanna

Charleston, OCT15, 10-30A

Dear Edna,

Do you still go shopping with Mamma?  Wouldn’t you like to come back & take care of Edward?  Love from Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, OCT15, 10-30A

My dear Helen,

How I wish you were coming home.  Edward is fine and talks to us all the time.

Lots of love,

Aunt Agnes

St. Louis, MO, OCT17, 8-PM

My Dear Cousin,

Received your letter, was delighted to hear you are getting along so well.  I do hope in God you will continue so because I know how you must have suffered, one good thing you have an exception of a good husband.  I will write to you soon as I can with love to you all,

You cousin, Ella.

Charleston, OCT20, 10-30A

Dear Helen,

We received you Mamma’s letter yesterday.  Your Uncle Tim brought in a baby buggy for Edward.  Hope you are all well.  Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, OCT24, 7-30P

Dear Minnie,

Rec’d your letter this A.M.  Started to work this morn & like it fine.  A lawyer brought in a lot of extra work this morning.  Well write a letter tonight.  All are well.  Agnes.

Charleston, OCT26, 2-PM

My dear Mary,

Am so busy can’t have time to write.  Edward is feeling fine and still growing.  Hope you are all well.  Love from Aunt Agnes.

NOTE FOUND WITH POSTAL CARDS:

East Las Vegas, N.M.

October 27th

1910

Dear Mamma,

I would like to tell you what I would like to do on Hallow eve.  I would like to have a party at night and some Jack-o-Lanterns and some pumpkin faces and dress lup like an old woman and go down to Kintzs.

Good bye from your Loving daughter Helen.

Helen Whalen, 9, 1910

Chicago, Ill., OCT27, 6-PM

Dear Minnie, Your letter rec’d, glad you are well. I don’t feel very good and Roscoe has a cold.  I just rec’d a letter from Hanna, baby is fine.  I will write you a letter when I can get to it.  Am gong to Eff. (Effingham, Il.) Mon.  John & I have bought us a home here and we expect to get in it Dec.  The address will be 6812 Langley Ave.

Your friend, Love, May.

Charleston, Ill., OCT27, 5PM

Dear Little Edna,

I get you are having a fine time.  What will you be Halloween?  How does the mountains look?  I never did see any, so lyou are way ahead of me.  Love to you all, Aunt Maggie.

Father Costello Gives Special Blessing to Baby

My dear Reader,  Today’s post will complete September writings.  For all of us, Christmas is upon us, and I wish you a blessed day on Dec. 25th.  I will be posting next on Dec. 27th.

Merry Christmas to all My dear Ed, readers. Denise Conaghan Snakard '09

LETTER

East Las Vegas, SEP26, 7P

Dear Maggie,

Received card from Margarite yesterday and glad you are all well, as we are at present.

Well Ed and the children arrived O.K. and the question ever since they came has been to give them enough to eat, this is a great place to give people an appetite when they first come, the two girls started to school last week, we wanted to send them to the Normal but it was over crowded so they go to the public school, the Sister school is too far from us, it is in Las Vegas, what they call East Las Vegas, a little river divides the towns and street cars connect them.

We have a nice convenient home, five rooms, bath & furnace, electric lights, pantry and closet, it s a new house and I never was in a house so conveniently arranged, you walk into the front room and then a nice airy bedroom is off that then back of front room nice large dining room and another bedroom & the bathroom opens off that at the side, then back of it is a nice large kitchen, with sink and hot & cold water and pantry, we have put the dining room table in kitchen and have folding bed in dining room, the rooms are large and the bath room is a beauty, three pieces in it, so they can wash and dress in there, we also have grand front porch it goes clear across front of house and is so wide, with railing all around, well it sure is nice house, with very large lots which extends from one end of block to the other and at the back a nice shed for cow, with cow lot fenced off, the only objection to place is that the location isn’t good, we have all Mexicans, Negroes, and Irish for neighbors, but I would rather be here than in the stylish part of town where I would be worried to death trying to keep the house & children up in style and we have two such nice Irish neighbors, one old woman brings us buttermilk every time she churns & the last time she put as much as a pound of butter in it, then she looks out that we get our meat & groceries in the cheapest places, I dearly love her, she is like a mother, and we have a Mexican neighbor who is just as good to us, I am so glad we are in this kind of neighborhood, where we were at home the neighbors were good for nothings but to watch and criticise, I don’t feel like I ever want to go back to Charleston only to visit and see you all.

The Mexican neighbor has a little girl thirteen years old and she takes care of the children nearly all the time, she loves to have them over there, they have a sand pile and it is fine for us that she wants them.

Well I guess you know Hanna took Edward home with her.  I hated to see the little darling go but I’m not able to take care of him yet, and Ed is a very poor hand with a little young baby, Hanna was very happy to take him home, she thinks as much of him as if he was her own, she has always done everything for him, he should never forget her kindness to him, I hope he can do something for her sometime.

The children had a lovely visit with you Maggie, Edna thinks more of you than any other relative she has, I asked her which she liked best, Aunt Maggie or Mamma, well she says she believe she likes Mamma as well but not better, they are wanting to move to the country so we can have things like you have.

A man just drove up and brought us a gasoline stove, I wanted to keep house on a cheap scale until we were sure of staying here, but every time Ed goes up town he sends down more things until we will soon have the house full, they don’t have gas here for which we are very sorry.

I am having my teeth fixed now, will have one crowed but won’t do anymore than I can help until I’m stronger.  I am feeling good but am like Mrs. Lewis used to say, “I do nothing but eat me share & boss.”

I am so glad that Charlie is doing so well, this is a good climate for asthma, one man has it here and goes to the mountains and it leaves him instantly, the mountains are about twenty miles, but that is no distance here, we see them plainly and they don’t look more than a mile away.  Hanna and John went to see them when John was here, they climbed to the highest point, Ed and I drove to some high hills Sunday after he came, we went through a little Mexican village, it was very interesting all mud cabins they call them adobe, the Mexicans are a very lazy, shiftless class, they live on nothing rather than work, their main living is the Mexican bean, they raise them with great success here, they don’t raise much else it is too dry, we get lots of fruit from the mountain regions, the Mexican peddle it around in wagons, I got a big dish-pan of peaches today for 45 cents but that was a bargain, apples they sell ten pounds for 25 cents in the store only five lbs for 25 cents everything is pretty high, but I think they will have this land irrigated soon then it will be fine they are working on the reservoir now but I guess it will be a long time till it is completed, think Ed will have no trouble getting into a whole sale house, don’t think it best for him to go into business for himself until we see farther.

Well Maggie I guess there is no more news at present, hope you are all well, give our love to all the relatives.  Love to yourself, Charlie and children from us all.

Maggie I forgot to thank you for the magazines, Ed said you sent them, I appreciate your kindness very much, got Ladies World & Housewife.

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, SEP27, 7-30P

Dear Minnie, We saw the baby today.  He is a very pretty child.  I am glad you are getting so well.  We are glad you all like that place, although I am very lonesome for you all I am glad you are together.  Love to all, your mother, Mary Whalen.

John and Tim have not got back from N.D.

Charleston, SEP27, 3-PM

Dear Helen,  Edward is as contented as the picture on the other side.  Hope you like school.  You must help Mamma do the work so she will get well quickly.  Love from Aunt Agnes.

LETTER

Charleston, SEP28, 10-30A

Sept. 28, 1910.

My dear Sister,

We receive your letter a few days ago and was sure glad to hear you are feeling so well.  Maybe you think we weren’t surprised when Hanna came home that night and more than suprised to see Edward.  When she came in that night, she put him on the sofa and we thought it was some of her clothes.  We were talking and she said, “You treat your grandson great” and yet we didn’t believe here.  Well the people here, said she had more nerve than anyone they knew–To start on such a long journey.  He is getting along fine.  Charleston is the same to him as New Mexico.  His Grandma Whalen, Mrs. Wasson & Julia Whalen were over yesterday.  Father Costello came down Monday night to give a special blessing to the baby and stayed a long time.  He is perfectly lovely but of course the people here so not appreciate him.

Suppose the children are settled in school by this time.  We always call Edna the “little lawyer” for she can certainly lay the law down.  So Mary went back one room.  I think it is better for her.  They get thru too quickly here.

Guess you miss the baby very much.  Mamma’s waist is beautiful.  Minnie, the crockery is so pretty.  I am glad you liked the children’s dresses.  I think she sews very cheap.  She made Mamma some one piece dresses for 40 cents.  What does Ed think of N. Mexico by this time?  How is Bridget Kintz and family?  Miss Neal & Doris were up Monday to see baby & Hanna.  You would hardly know Miss Neal now.  She looks like an old woman and so thin.

Well I will close for this time hoping you are getting along O.K. and do not work too much.

With love to all,

From loving sister Agnes.

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, SEP28, 12-30P

Well Mary, do you wash the dishes for Mamma & help her like you did Grandma?  Love from Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, SEP28, 12-30P

Dear Margaret, It is much cooler here than it was in Las Vegas, but it is a lovely place.  Love from Aunt Hanna.

Charleston, SEP29, 11-AM

My dear Helen,

Edward is getting along fine & growing so rapidly.  Will be a big boy when you see him.  Hope you like school.  Lots of love from Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, SEP29, 3-PM

Sept. 29th, 1910,

Dear Minnie, Was down to see Edward Jr.  He is so pretty and sweet, and is fine.  We are all rejoicing over you being so strong, and you are going to continue to gain now.  Tell Ed I think that is a pretty good job, but it must be pretty hard to stay with.  Tim and John got home last night at midnight.  Let us hear from you often.  Love & best wishes to all.  Julia.

Hanna Knocks On Her Mother’s Door

My dear Reader,  This letter  is another emotional family reunion. Only, on the other end. From Las Vegas to Charleston.  I wanted you to first view the  post of photos of Minnie with Edward and Bridget Kintz with her baby and sister before I posted the following.  I believe Minnie had her photo taken with the baby because Hanna would be leaving to return to Charleston.  Of all the months of Minnie writing, only few of her letters touch my heart and cause for me to keep a box of kleenex nearby:  Minnie’s first letter home to Ed after giving birth to Edward, the first known tender letter from Grandma Whalen, the total knowledge of the reunion, Hanna’s letter upon arriving home (today’s post) and the astonishing ending.  Now, that is me, you may not have felt the same, but, after receiving these letters to type back in 1992, I still well up with tears.

Guess it is the emotional season today, December 22, 2009, that reveals my most inner self about my passion for this family who loved each other, but were separated by health and distance for nearly 6 months.  As Christmas approaches in a few days, I wish you, my dear Reader, a joyous and health Holiday.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

POSTAL CARD

Chi.,Ill.,SEP24, 1-30P

Dear Edna,

Everyone on the train was so nice to baby & I, but we will be very glad to get home.  Am very tired.  Love from Aunt Hanna.

Chi.,Ill.,SEP24. 1-30P

Sat. morn.

Dear Little Helen, Baby & I arrived here at 9:30 this of morn, but was too late to catch the 9:40 train, so will leave here at 5:50 this eve.  Baby’s fine.  Love from Aunt Hanna.

Chi., Ill., SEP24, 1-30P

Dear Katherine,

I had to sleep in an upper berth the first night.  It was very inconvenient, but got along all O.K. Love from Aunt H.

Arcola, Ill., SEP24, 5PM

Dear Helen, How are you?  Hope you like your new home.  What is your address?  Wish I could see you.  Do you go to school now?  Good bye from Marguerite McTaggart.

Mamma sends love to you all.

LETTER

Charleston, SEP26, 7-30P

Charleston, Ill.

Mon. morn

Dear Minnie,

Baby & I arrived home at 12 o’clock Saturday nIght & we got alone fine. But I was completely worn out.

We got to Chicago at 9:30 Saturday morn & May met us, well we could have gotten a train on the I.C. at 9:40, but I couldn’t as I had to see about having my trunks rechecked, so we didn’t leave there until 6 o’clock Sat. eve, then we went to Nora’s & waited for the 11:25 car & when we got on the car Pat McCarthy was on so he paid my car fare & carried my suitcase for me so I was pretty fortunate. When I got home I knocked, so mother said, “Whose there?” & I tried to change my voice & asked if McCarthys lived here, so anyway she & Agnes came to the door & I went over to the couch & laid the baby down and they didn’t notice, but what it was a bundle of clothes, so pretty soon I said, “You treat your grandson awfully strange.”  They looked at me like they thought I was crazy, well you never in your life saw such surprised people & just as tickled as they were surprised.  I have to start out today to see if I can get fresh milk for him.  He is feeling fine.  None of us went to church yesterday so the Whalens don’t know he is here yet, but suppose I will go to see Mrs. Whalen today.  I was even more tired last night than I was the first night.

I had to sleep on an upper berth the first night, it was very unhandy, on account of having to get down to feed the baby.  He is kind of spoiled now, because I held him so much on the train that he expects it all the time, but think I can soon break him of it.  It is raining this morning & is so dark I can’t hardly see to write.

The folks are all well.  I do hope your tooth ache is better.

I had a very nice time at May (Dunlap) Smith she & her brother just insisted on me staying until the next day.  She has the sweetest brother I ever saw.

Well pa is going up town now, so I want him to take this letter, so I will close & write you a longer letter the next time, when I get kind of rested & settled.

Hope & pray that you are still improving.

Love to all from all,

Loving sister,

Hanna

Take good care of yourself.  The folks are all crazy about the baby & so glad that you are improving.

Minnie and Baby Eddie

Minnie and Edward (3 mos.)

My dear Reader,  This is the only known photo of Minnie and Baby Eddie taken in Las Vegas, New Mexico.  Minnie looks like some of my mother and some of my sister Kayleen.  Both have Minnie’s nose and very dark hair.  Imagine trying to keep this dress white for very long in Las Vegas and all the dust in 1910?  The other photo is Bridget, Mary Fitzgerald, and Bridget’s new son, George.  I suspect the two mamma’s went together  for the photo session.  Minnie as a means of remembering her son.  Bridget and Mary F. posed together and I suspect it was for the purpose of their sister Kate Fitzgerald, who was ill with Tuberculosis back in Terre Haute, Ind.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

Bridget Kintz with Baby George (2 mos) and Mary Fitzgerald (sister)

September 15, 1910: Ed, Minnie and Children Family Reunion

My dear Reader,  I have never gotten through September 1910 readings without tears.  What an emotional reunion it must have been.  First, Ed and Minnie.  Ed seeing and holding his 3 month old son, Eddie,  for the first time.   Excited little girls wanting to be held and kissed over and over by their mamma…………and seeing their baby brother too.  Lastly, Hanna witnessing this all as it unfolds before her eyes and reaping the benefits of her efforts:  6 months of caring and assisting in helping her sister from sickness to birthing, and the reward of now seeing this family reunited due to distance and health.  A true love story.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

St. Louis, MO, SEP15, 7-PM

Dear Brother Ed, We thought of you at 3, getting into Las Vegas.  Hope you found Minnie feeling good.  Love from Agnes.

St Louis, MO., SEP15, 7-PM

Well Mary we had a long wait in K.City.  Got out of there at 9 & here at 7 this A.M.  Love from Aunt Agnes.

St. Louis, MO., SEP15, 7-PM

Well Edna, how do you like N. Mexico?  Hope you found Mamma & the boy feelng well.  Will write later.  Love from Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, SEP16, 7-30P

Friday

We arrived home last night.  How do you like N.Mexico?  Hope Mamma & baby are feeling good.  Love from Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, SEP19, 10-30A

Sunday

This must have been a happy Sunday for you all, bit lonesome one for us.  Love from all, Agnes.

Charleston, SEP20, 11-30A

Dear Hanna,

Rec’d your letter yesterday and had just written one to you.  I guess you are very, very busy.  Tell Ed I rec’d his card.  Will write later.  Agnes

Charleston, SEP20, 11-30A

Well Mary, do they give you enough to eat?  If not tell them you will come back to Charleston.  Love to all, Agnes.

Chi., Ill., SEP21, 10-30A

Dear Minnie,

I just this minute rec’d Hanna’s letter and thought I would tell you that I would be there to meet her and help her all I can.  Am glad you have your family with you.  And hope you will all like it there.  Although it is lonesome to be aways from home folks.  Will drop you a card when Hanna gets here Thurs.

May D. Smith

Charleston, SEP21, 2-PM

My dear Helen,

I guess you are a very busy girl these days taking care of Edward.  Have you started to school yet?  Hope Mamma is O.K. Love to all, Aunt Agnes.

Charleston, SEP23, 10-30A

Dear Sister, Hope yourself and boy are feeling O.K.  Suppose Ed was worn out by the time he reached there.  Love to all from Agnes.

“We are ready to start tomorrow.” Helen (9)

My dear Reader,  The following letter and postal cards will give you a full impact on the fury of moving from Charleston to Las Vegas.  The anticipations are high.  The household goods from Charleston is the quest of the moment.  There is one laborious task you will be reading in which Hanna will be doing a chore no one does today.  In fact, I can’t recall it even done in my childhood years either. No doubt about it, Hanna was a worker……and a loving sister.

Minnie continues to write long letters as Ed seems to be so busy he has resorted to postal cards like the children.  John McCarty will be helping Ed with the children and luggage up to when they transfer in Kansas City.  One postal card is a Charleston friend who moved to Chicago after getting married.  It will become all too clear soon as to why Minnie and Hanna are writing May Smith.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

LETTER

East Las Vegas, SEP2, 6-30P

E. Las Vegas Sep 2-10.

My dear Ed,

Received your two letters this morn, also letter from Agnes & card from Margarite, Ed I see you intend starting Tues, but you know we can hardly keep house without those things from home, do you think they will be here?  McGovern said he saw an agent and he said that it would be no use to trace things until a week or ten days he said you had to allow them a reasonable length of time but it looks like it would be proper to see that they were coming on they should, not wait so long and maybe they wouldn’t be half the distance, he said also that he didn’t know the number of the car they left on and couldn’t find out then, to what number they ere transferred at Kansas City if we were to be in this home longer we could rent a large room Mrs. Forbes has, she would be glad to rent to us but we leave here the 9th, Ed I hate to put you off of coming as you plan, but I believe it would be better to wait there, where you have the things prepared, then to come before we get settled, we wanted to have the house all ready for you when you  come, however if it is more convenient for you, you can come ahead, of course it is such a good help to have John part way and I guess if he goes on excursion he will start Tuesday, so Ed if it is more convenient for you then you send me letter right away when you get this and we will rent a room and do the best we can.

Hanna went this afternoon to get the balance of the furniture then she is going to fumigate it, wouldn’t it be a fright if the furniture would happen to get burned before we get moved in, but I don’t suppose that will happen the thought just struck me.

The Mexicans are getting very stiff with us as they know we won’t be here long, so couple days ago they demanded from Hanna 10 cents per day to buy beer, think of that, after all she is getting then to want more,  they are like  trash the better you treat them the more they expect, Hanna is going to quit them tomorrow night, a week will be up & I know the baby can be raised on a bottle like any of our babies were, see we would have to quit anyhow next week, as we are moving so far away.

My pleurisy is lots better, I have more doctors than anyone in town, Mrs. Foster, our land-lady, took me on hands and applied flaxseed meal poultices, and she was full of business for a day or two, I never let on to Mrs. Nolette or her mother, Mrs. Forbes, that I was suffering much till last night I told Mrs. Nolette that I hadn’t been well, so over she came early this morning with a tonic that she claims would give appetite to the dead, and as soon as she went back her mother came with a big hot-water bag full of water, and she made me lay down and applied the bag, she has always wanted me to use hot-water bag but I was afraid of them so this morn she put it there whether or not, those French people are good-hearted but they would talk your legs off first one then the other came this morn and never quit talking once, really I ached all over from listening to them, poor Bridget K. came in and she never got to put in a word while she was here, I told Mrs. Nolette if her medicine did me all the good she claimed it would I would pay her well, she said she wanted no pay but my good will, she said she gave that remedy to many and when they got better they wouldn’t look at her, I’m glad we are moving so far they can’t come to us very often, because they sure do talk they are worse than Anna Ginther, I met down at Mayme’s, but they mean well.

Hanna just came back to tell me what she got , she got table and chairs and gave $4 1/2 for table and 50 cents per chair, the best she could do,then she can get a range with water back for $15 but we won’t pay for it until we see if it is good and I don’t know whether he will let it go that way or not, Hanna told him she wanted you to see it first so he seemed a little reluctant, she has now gone back to see what she can do.

Today is a nice day and I feel much better if it keeps nice and don’t rain anymore I will be fine in a few days I’m sure.

Well Ed if it is more convenient for you to come Tuesday you let us know at once and we will be prepared.

Hanna priced the underwear and we can do as well here, and Helen said she didn’t want to go to Normal so we didn’t register, some people advises Normal as the more money people send their children there, others say the public schools can’t be beat so we will wait and send them some place, school will open in public school Tuesday and Hanna & Mary F. could go visit and size up the pupils, of course it pays to have children among the best people, but we are not worrying about that now.

Hanna left Baby with Mexicans this afternoon, she told the woman to nurse him and then send him over for me to take care of, but she hasn’t send him, she sent him over for me yesterday you bet, she was so mad about the beer, she pretended like she loved him so well, but it was only his money she loved, poor little baby he is so sweet and smiles to everyone that speaks to him, I know you and the girls will love him to death, he is so pretty people say he is the prettiest baby they ever saw, we tell them he has six sisters just as pretty, if Hanna goes home I know she won’t leave him behind her, I really believe she couldn’t give him up, you know I have never taken any care of him and he is the same as her own baby, so I guess you can tell ma to look for a baby this winter, I pretend to Hanna that I don’t love hm as well as the others, it makes her so mad but of course I do and don’t think I could give him up.

Well Hanna came back the man finally let the range out but it was against his grain, he isn’t to be paid till you pass judgement on it.

Well Ed do as you think best about coming let us know when you get this and we will have some way prepared. Love to all from Minnie.

Ed you do well to hold the rent at $15 if you once drop it you will have to stay down and after painting & varnishing it sure is worth that, we had lots of callers this afternoon, Mrs. Nolette, Mr. Welch, Mr. McGovern and Mrs. Marshall, the nurse I had, last night after supper we had Mrs. Nolette, Mr.McGovern, Mr. Baker & Mrs. Foster, then this morning we had Mrs. Ketmir, Mrs. Nolette, Mrs. Forbes & Bridget, what will we do when we have you all to take care of will have to hire lots of help while we entertain, it is 5 o’clock now Hanna is down fumigating the house.

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, SEP2, 7-30P

Sept. 2-1910.

Dear Minnie will send you card today.  We are all well & hope you are.  Will start Tuesday if everything is all O.K.  Will let you know if change of date.  May go via Leaf & the passes may not be here if we do.  When are you going to move?  Have your traced goods yet? Was at your ma’s this AM.  They are all well.  Katherine came home with me.  We are having rain & warm weather.  There will be a lawn social this PM.  Dear Minnie, Love to all from Ed.

Charleston, SEP3, 7-30P

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am well.  Grandma is making a pie for dinner.  We just got done eating watermelon, me and Catherine and Edna is up here.  Edna is going home and Margaret is coming here.  From Helen.

East Las Vegas, SEP2, 1-30P

Dear Ed- Forget to say in letter that Geo. Kintz didn’t have to pay for their children, do you think you will have to pay for Mary?  Hanna priced underwear and it is as cheap here as it is at home.  Hope you are getting along O.K.  Love to all from Minnie.

Charleston, SEP3, 7-30P

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am up at Grandma’s.  I slept with Grandma.  Edna is going home.  Sister is writing for me.  Goodbye with love from Catherine.

Charleston, SEP3, 7-30P

Dear Aunt Hanna,

How are you?  Do you like to take care of Edward?  Grandma is well.  Now we are going to New Mexico next week.  Good bye from Helen.

Charleston, SEP3, 7-30P

My dear Minnie,

Want to let you know I am up and around.  I got dinner today.  I am glad that you and baby is getting along so well.  We had a letter from Hanna this morning.  It is so nice for you to have Kintzs and they are near to you.  Good bye with love from Mother.

Charleston, SEP3, 7-30P

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am going home now, Sister is going to town.  Good bye from Edna.

East Las Vegas, SEP4. 4-30

Dear Ed-Don’t know if you will receive this but want to let you know we are doing fine, I am feeling lots better than I have, Hanna has got the house all ready and we have all the furniture we need only what we are to get from home. Maybe we will send you telegram when it arrives, then you can start at once.  Love to all from Minnie & Hanna.

Rocky Ford. COLO,. SEP5, 7-PM

Dear Hanna, How are you, Mrs., baby & yourself- I’m having a glorious old-time wish you were here.  I have felt so well that I dont’ care if I ever see N.Mex. again.  Love to all, Della.

Rocky Ford, COLO.,SEP5, 7-PM

Dear Mrs. Whalen, Wish you could have seen this in reality. The melons are so good up here.  Much better than we have in Vegas.  Hope you are feeling better.  We will be home by Thursday.  So long-Della.

East Las Vegas, SEP7, 11-30A

Dear Ed-Maybe you are on the way, have been waiting to hear from you.  Hanna went to see if goods had come yesterday & it had not, we will move tomorrow, our address 812 Railroad Ave., it is no closer to R.R. than our own house is there, we are doing well.  Love to all from Minnie.

Chicago, Ill. SEP6, 1-30AM

Dear Minnie & Hanna,

I rec’d your card this A.M. first I have rec’d from you since I ans. the letter you wrote me.  I was surely glad to hear from you.  That you are all well.  What a reunion you will have when that family gets there.  I am glad for you.  I will look for a letter from you after they get there.  I have not heard a word about Lucy since I left Charleston.   Has Hanna caught a “fish” yet?  Hoping to hear from you soon.  Goodbye with love, May.

Charleston, SEP8, 7-30P

Hope yourself & boy are feeling well.  Suppose you are very, very anxious to see all.  Love from Agnes.

Charleston, SEP12. 7-30P

Dear Mamma,  How are you?  We are ready to start tomorrow.  How is Edward?  We never started school this year.  Aunt Julia is here.  I am down to Grandma’s with Edna and Mary is going to stay at Grandma McCarty.  With love from Helen.

September 1910

SEPTEMBER 1910

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, SEP1, 10-30A

Every body is well.  Was over to see your mother and she is well.  Her new home is nice every thing is so convenient and handy.  She certainly ought to enjoy it.  How is Baby & yourself also Hanna?

Mrs. J.D. McMahon

LETTER

East Las Vegas, SEP1, 4-30P

Dear Ed, I’m afraid you won’t be at home and the children will open this, but I have to tell you to be careful of the children coming out here, they came near lynching a negro porter on the train between here and Colorado, he tried to assult a young lady, this was this month, and about a year ago they did lynch a negro porter for raping a little ten year old girl who was in the berth above her mother and father, so you must be careful and when they go to clean up your state room he will want some of you to go out as it is so crowded, well you take all the children out in the coach with you don’t leave any of them in ther while you are out and be sure & take every thing you need to eat from home so you won’t have to leave them, also be careful of your watch & money, you can lock your room and will be safe but don’t neglect the children, them porters are treacherous, I had to tell you this Ed I have heard so much about porters out here.

E. Las Vegas, Sept 1 ‘10

My dear Ed,

Your letter received yesterday and see you have moved proper, poor little children I bet they are bewildered, see the three young children never were outside the gate six times in their lives when I was taken sick, people use to think it so strange that I never visited, but I knew well the children and I  both got more rest & ease at home, so now they are like rats shut out of their nest, but you should divide them, I see where Helen, Edna & Katherine went to ma’s, well that is a good division, then Mary can look after the two with you, and Ed don’t come out here till I send you word, that will be as soon as the goods come, we couldn’t get along without them, and we will send you word as soon as they come, because we are anxious to see you all.

We got some 2nd hand furniture yesterday from a man who is going back to Alabama, he has been here since last Oct. and he leaves cussing the town, the altitude, the people & the doctor, he is a rich young man with a wife & three children, but they relieved him of a lot of his money while he was here, his brother-in-law came this week to help them move, it was him who told us that this man was so rich, he owns four plantations, but what good did it do to him, poor fellow, he came in and stayed & talked with us an hour, he thinks he will get well at home, he is going to build a tent for himself and he thinks his stomach will be better, he can neither eat or sleep here and have been wanting to go home for two months but Dr. McClanahan has held him back, till he wouldn’t stay any longer, he says Dr Mc is a robber and he sure did rob him, he knew the poor fellow had money, we bought a bed & springs, dresser, little wood heater, highchair, dishes and four or five mattresses, we didn’t want the mattresses but he gave them to us so we can trade them to Mexicans for work, we gave $9 1/2 for all those things and thing they were a bargain, they had the rest sold, we know where we can get another large bed and that will be enough beds, oh yes, we got a cot also from the man, so we will have cot for Hanna, folding bed for girls, big bed for you, baby & K. and crib for Margaret, then this bed we got from man for me.  I’m glad we got the heat so we won’t have to use furnace so soon.

Hanna washed this morn and has gone to see about moving furniture now and it is only nine o’clock besides that she has taken baby to Mexicans twice and washed & dressed him, poor girl runs herself to death what a pity all our mother’s girls are that way, they all work themselves to death and can’t help but be that way, if we had only been born lazy how well and strong we would all be now.

Bridget Kintz is still doing fine, she can’t curse this place it sure treated them well.

My pleurisy is still bad, it has made me very weak, it won’t get better as long as this damp weather last, we had a terribel rain last night but the sun is out nicely today.

The doctor just dropped in he says I am doing O.K. and as soon as the weather settles I will do fine again, they had a terrible time with me lately, even threatened to put me in the asylum, there is one here you know, well when this pleurisy struck me I began to get ready to go home and was going inspite of everything they could do, Hanna ran and telephoned for the doctor and he came post haste and Bridget Kintz came and they finally got me calmed down, but I sure gave them the time of their lives, but I’m glad now I didn’t go, you would have been surprised to see me walk in on you and your house all torn up, but I have got very contrary and am liable to do most any thing.

So Edna says I’m not her Mamma any more, well she won’t think that way when she sees me again, does Edna forget how I always took her to town with me every time I went and how we always went in and got ice-cream, and don’t she remember how in the winter time I used to dress her up and put two big red ribbons in her hair and send her down to grandma’s and grandma would never know her for a long time, surely Edna shouldn’t forget her Mamma and I believe you folks are telling stories about her.

Ed did you send the blinds, you didn’t say whether you  did or not, let us know, so we can get some if you haven’t I will send you a cardtoday as to wheather to bring me wool underwear, Hanna is going to price it here.

So glad ma is able to be around again, I guess your ma won’t be able to be around by the time she gets through with you all.

McGovern took the Bill of Lading down to agent and we haven’t seen him since, he will do his part right I’m sure.

Well there isn’t much news going around, our neighbor’s daughter had a party last night and they sent us ice-cream, give my best to all the folks and love to all from Minnie.

Last Known Mail Sent in August 1910

My dear Reader, This is the last known mail sent in August 1910.  The family has been separated since April 15th.  4 1/2 months doesn’t seem long now, but, it must have been an eternity for Minnie, Ed, and 6 little girls.  Now, there is hope of a Reunion in a short time.  The energy level must have been electrifying for everyone.  Most importantly, this  family is going to be together after their division of distance and health.

One thing to keep in mind about the chain of who wrote to Minnie…………… the reason for Agnes McCarty writing the most, is simply,  she could write.  Agnes worked for the Charleston Court system and ended her career working being Judge Shuey of Charleston, private secretary. In 1926, Ed bought Judge Shuey’s home at 903 E. Jackson Street.  And, it was Agnes McCarty who informed Ed to buy this wonderful house before anyone knew. Grandma McCarty could not write, and I am sure Minnie’s father and her two bachelor brothers found it not their job to do so.  As all first families in rural America, one’s education stopped the day they turned 16 years.  This was not the case for Ed Whalen.  He was the last child born and he was privy to not only a high school education, but, college too.  As for the McCarty’s, Agnes was the last born and she was the first McCarty to graduate from Charleston High School, 1908.  In Ed’s family, I learned Grandma Whalen couldn’t write, because a family member found a document with her signature signed by an “X.”  Old, because I have documentation that prove otherwise.  I believe Grandma could write for all of her letters and postal cards she sent to Minnie were in one handwriting only.  In the same handwriting signed by “Mary Whalen,” I have an insurance policy through the Knights of Columbus.  Lastly, I have a letter written sometime in 1880′s by her brother Thomas from Ireland talking about receiving her last letter.  If he could write, I am sure Ed’s mother knew how to write too.

Penmanship was beautiful back when and it was a very English method used.  In reading my grandmother Minnie’s letters, I would use up a whole paper just trying to figure out a word she wrote.  I am still at a lost for a few words Dr. McClanahan wrote when he explained the medicines Minnie was taking by him.  To make my point………….here is an I.O.U. note written in 1897.  It speaks volumes of trust, operation of business practices, a man’s penmanship back then, English penmanship (note the “n” on Charleston), and money.  At least, this is what I “see”.  Do you find more to this humble I.O.U. note?

Grandpa Whalen's I.O.U. note to a local grocery store establishment

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, AUG31, 3-PM

Hope yourself & boy are feeling O.K.  I got three dresses for Helen & two for Mary.  She will try & have them finished this week.  Will write a letter when I get time.

Love, Agnes.

“…so glad you have the goods started….”

Yes Reader, A reunion is soon to happen.  August was a fast-moving month for Ed, Minnie and Bridget.  In fact, they all were involved with moving about the country……..and, all due to an illness.  Tuberculosis.  I guess we can all suspect this was more common then we know.  At least, it was for family.   Imagine a 1910 man doing laundry, packing, organizing the arrangements of what goods to send into unknown territory, and have 6 little girls all under 10 years to watch, feed, cloth and wipe their tears from time to time.  Then, keep up his letter writing to Minnie-!  That was hard / stressful times.  So many heroes in this family helping out Minnie: Hanna, Ed, Agnes, and all the Las Vegas new friends.  But it is Hanna who shines.  A young maiden of 22 years and she sacrificed so much to be the perfect caregiver to an older sister, then, instant nanny to a colicky baby.  Remember the “conveniences” of 1910 didn’t include electricity, hot water, toilets, bathtubs, laundry machines,  and gas stoves.  Both Ed and Minnie’ did have a telephone though.  But, of course, the telephone wires did not reach each other.  Thus telegrams had to still be sent.

I love Bridget’s gumption and fiery attitude to get Minnie out of bed.  She must have been good medicine for Minnie at a time when emotions ran high for Minnie and the realization of the Charleston move.  And poor Hanna was out looking for furniture-!

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, AUG29, 3-PM

Dear Minnie,

I am glad to hear you are getting better.  I guess you think I had forgotten you but I think of you every day.  I have been working harder this summer than ever before.  Am glad this last baby is a boy, would like to see him.  Love and best wishes, Julia.

Charleston, AUG29, 2PM

Dear Minnie,

Began to pack clothes today but won’t get done as I will wait for wash and have every thing clean.  Won’t have it done till last of wk.  We are all well.  Helen, Edna & Katherine are at you ma’s & rest are with me.  Will write letter soon.

From, Ed

Arcola, Ill., AUG30, 2PM

Dear Aunt Minnie,

How are you?  We are all well.  Helen, Mary & Edna was down here about a week and went home Saturday.

With love from,

Marguerite McTaggart

Arcola, Ill., AUG30, 2PM

Dear Helen,

I miss you, Mary and Edna very much.  What day are you going to New Mexico?

With faithful love,

Marguerite McTaggart

Arcola, Ill., AUG30, 2PM

Dear Cousins Catherine, Margaret and Lucile,

How are you?  I wish you were here so I could see you.

From cousin,

Marguerite McT.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, AUG31, 11-30A

East Las Vegas, Aug 30 ‘10

My dear Ed,

You letter received of the 27th and so glad you have the goods started, I felt lonesome to think our nice home is broken up, but hope our next home will be as pleasant, I guess the girls will be surprised when they come home and find the house empty.

Hanna has been having a time looking for furniture, she put an ad in paper and only two have answered so far and they were too high-priced, so Mrs. Foster is going to take her out in her buggy and go to second-hand stores, Mrs. Foster bought furniture from a family leaving here once and she got several hundred dollars worth for $45 other people also got bargains but it seems luck don’t fair us that way, however we will get what we need some way, and Ed did you send two mattresses for folding beds & the other, Hanna is going to get Mr. McGovern to see about tracing them from here.

My pleurisy is lots better and I feel in lots better courage than I have for a week, it has turned very cool, makes me thing of winter, I would hate to think I had to stay here all winter without you & the children, I hope the goods won’t be long in getting here, guess you can’t come till they do, as we couldn’t get along without beds & bedding, you can visit around among the relative till we get fixed up.

Bridget was down yesterday, I was in bed when she came and she made me get up, said she would set fire to the bed if I didn’t she said I was a regular old Shan-a-ran, she nearly dies at how careful I am about myself, she is doing so well, the doctor met her here and told Hanna he would take my chances anytime before Bridget’s, he says the throat is so treacherous, one thinks they are better when they are not, George likes his job just fine now it was new to him at first and so much harder than the brewery.

I hear they are going to begin on the reservoir right away, so maybe we will have the irrigation here after all, some says it will be just the thing others don’t’ thinks so and we are not competent to judge, so you will find out all about it when you come.

Della was down last night, she & Mrs. Welch are going to Rocky Ford tomorrow to stay a week, don’t know how we will get along without them.

Had letter & card from Agnes yesterday she spent pictures of herself & some more of girls it looked very natural.

Have had cards from the girls yesterday, they are having a fine time, I sent Fr. Costello a card today.

Ed if I were you I wouldn’t have the Courier sent out here this winter, believe we would get along better to forget Charleston as much as possible, how does it seem to be out of a home and have the house rented, we could get a house for less rent then we are going to pay, but the house isn’t near so nice as the one we have selected and the location is better, still I guess we will,l kept the one with the furnace.

Well I hardly know what to write about today, the day is so cold & cloudy that I don’t feel inspired to write, hope you are getting along fine in your preparations, Hanna has one comfort made toward keeping house, see we will have to get out of here the 9th and will have to have enough for two beds, will write again, Love to all from Minnie.

“Hurry the train with our things so we can get straightened up.”

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, AUG23, 10-30A

Dear Minnie,

Just got home from Tim’s.  John brought out your letter & cards to Helen & Mary Sunday, so I got then there, and when I came home this eve., the baby’s cards & note to me were here,  so I will send you card.  Would write you a letter but I have the darn toothache.  The first ache in 20 years.  It is fearful.  Would have it pulled tonight if  I had anyone to stay with children.  So there is no use in me trying to write a letter till I get that tooth fixed, but will write you tomorrow sure.  So don’t think I am careless about writing.  I wrote you four letters last wk & 1 card & then you grumbled.  This tootache has put me in fearful humor.  We are all well.  Helen, Mary & Edna are still at Maggie’s.  If John goes up town tonight, I will send card with him.

With love to all from,

Ed

East Las Vegas, AUG23, 1-30P

Dear Ed,

Will drop you a card today & will send letter tomorrow.  I was up at Kintz all day yesterday.  If you haven’t started the furniture be sure and send the blinds for windows, think I forgot to mention them.  Dr. was here and says I  have done grand.  He hadn’t been here this month.  Hurry the train with our things so we can get straightened up.  Love from Minnie.

Arcola, Ill., AUG23, 5PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am playing the piano.  Sister is writing this for me.  Isn’t this a pretty card?  Sister sent you one yesterday and Mary tomorrow.  We just had breakfast.  It is raining this morning.  Good bye from Edna.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, AUG24, 1-30P

Las Vegas, Aug 24 ‘10

My dear Ed,

Received your letter Monday I was up at Kintz that day and Hanna brought up your letter & several cards, I enjoyed my day up there very much, it is the first time I sat down to a table since before Christmas, I have felt better ever since they came till yesterday, well for couple days before I had a hurting in what I thought was the bladder or womb, well yesterday morn my bowels moved two different times and I saw a lot of blood so I naturally thought it came from where the hurting was and I was alarmed, I hated to had to call the Dr. as I didn’t want to have a doctor bill this month but we called him, well I told him just how I had been, and of course expected him to examine & find out was wrong, instead he knew just what it was, a bladder trouble with a great big bill, he sent me a prescription from drug store, but it wasn’t long till I found out the blood came from bowels, so Hanna went and told him & he said to take warm injections, so that’s how it goes with the damn doctor, you have to know what ails you, yourself, instead of them finding out, when you are paying them for that, there was $2 to him 50 cents for prescription gone to the devil, without no value received, if I am dying a doctor shall never come to me again, and that scatter brain doctor we have thinks if he doctors anyone for a pain in the toe that it is wonderful if they get well, you would think he snatched them from the grave, I am sick of him, of all the doctors none are like Dr. Icnayan, this Dr. says “Well when your husband comes he can’t help but think I have been awful good to you” think of it and he never did a thing for me, it has been the climate & God that helped what little I am helped, and he feels so proud of himself, when a confinement care ends well, you would think it was all due to him, that he was to be thank for the woman and baby being alive at all, and when Edward was born he never put a hand to me till the baby was in the world, he didn’t do like the other doctors, they used their hand to press and try to help matters along, but you would think this one had performed some great operation, really he makes me tired, of course I don’t let on to him, he has been reasonable in comparison to the other doctors here, but believe me, he got plenty for all he ever did, we will treat him right though because he is as knowing as the rest of the doctors here and  more reasonable in charges, they are day-light robbers, the other doctors in this town, well I’ll give the poor doctor a rest he would have a fit if he knew I talked about him because he likes me, but I do hate to pay out money for nothing.

I have had my breakfast now and will proceed, well we engaged the house yesterday, Hanna had the man come down to see me, so we are to pay $14 and the water that will make $16 all but about 15 cents, see we will have the furnace that will save buying stoves,  I hated to go over the $15 but we can’t change the way of the town, they charge high rent, if this house was in any good location, it would rent for $30, so I think we are doing very well, the neighbors won’t bother us.

Well Ed how soon do you think our things will get here, we have our rent paid here till the 9th and we don’t have to begin paying for that other house till we move in, and the Normal won’t open till the 13 so we can’t get the things here sooner, the girls can go to the Normal, of course we will  have to be out of here the 9th, but we will have the pillow & things we brought with us, so that will do us, I do hope Ed you sent the things the minute you got my letter so that they will get here, I wish we had told you to send them couple weeks ago, so hurry them up.

Kintzs don’t love the place like they did the first day, Bridget is doing fine, she could feel an improvement first night, the throat is not difficult to heal, our doctor thinks it awful because her doctor told her she needn’t see a doctor here, but Im’ glad, if she called him in he would claim it was through him she was getting better, when it’s not the doctor its the climate, isn’t it strange  they first examined her sputum after the baby was born there wasn’t a germ, the next time they examined it, it was full of germs, see if she had weaned her baby at first or never nursed it at all, that baby would be safe but she don’t seem to think of things that way, oh he is a grand baby he weighed 11 1/2 when born and he must weigh nearly 20 now, she said all her babies were like that, he is spoiled,  I was there the other day and after dinner she never stopped once only rocking his buggy and fanning the flies off him, it would wear me out in my best day, she said she had to do that to all of hers, our little baby isn’t big but he is a good little darling and has a much prettier face than Bridget’s, Welches or the Mexicans, see there are four boys all about the same age.

Had card from Maggie & Mary, Maggie says the children are so good, I know they are having a good time, Maggie is so good.

The man with the hiccoughs is better, they thank Dr. Mc for saving his life.

You seem to think I am badly in need of confession, well I guess I am but I’m going to wait till I can walk to church, poor Mary Fitzgerald is so deeply religious but she wants an Irish priest, she thinks it awful to have to put up with the French and Spanish, and so it is, Bridget is going to send her boy to the Catholic school, no matter how far the walk will be, I would like to send our girls, but where we live is too far, no use in walking them to death, and I think the priest here instructs them couple times during the week besides Sunday.

There are some of our neighbors going to take up a claim next Spring, the bean crop has been fine they say, guess we will do that too, we will have to live on it 12 months, Ed how did the crop in N.D. turn out?  Have been going to ask you for a long time, from what I read in the paper it was a failure, be sure and tell me about it.

We got you recipe fixed up but instead of putting 1/2 ounce I told Hanna to get 1 once, well it is fierce no living person can take it, I made a mistake in reading the recipe, the doctor had a fit yesterday, he said he told me not to take whiskey in any form and that pine tar would ruin the best stomach, but Bridget Kintz has taken both and got along lots better than I have, if I hadn’t ruined that recipe by putting in the full ounce of pine tar you bet I would take it, I took the first dose of it yesterday and it nearly knocked me over so that was 60 cents more gone to the bad yesterday.

Was sister Bridget over last week the girls said she was intending to go, how is ma, Hanna intends to go home when her pass is up and then come back, but I’m in hopes we will get some help here so Hanna needn’t come back, she is needed at home, and we will have to do like all the rest of the people who haven’t relatives to depend on, I surely will be able to take charge of the baby in another month, to tell the truth if I am a hindrance to the people very much longer I’m going to take a short cut of this world, I have been the cause of you losing a year’s salary, that would be a few thousand dollars besides the expense of keeping up two houses & Hanna’s time, I have every penny I have squandered written down on my brain and it will stay there forever to torment me, it would have been so much better if something had struck me a year ago to take me away quickly but it didn’t, that would have been too good.

Well it is nearly time for mail man so I will close, if there is any way to hurry things do so, love to all from Minnie.

“Well Ed I guess you have started the things”

My dear Reader,  We are now nearing the end of August.  Ed is beginning to prep for sending the furnishings to Las Vegas, Minnie and Hanna are busy with the planning of the new rental for the Whalens, Eddie is doing fine with his mammy, and the little girls are busy at Aunt Maggie’s making mud pies.  Such was the day life of this family back in August 1910.

As Catherine was only 3, she pronounced Mexico, “Kertico.”

By now, we all can figure out that Minnie was very much a frugal spender.  It seems it was more her than Ed.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

POSTAL CARDS

East Las Vegas,  AUG24, 4-30P

Dear Helen,

The other girls must not feel hurt at not getting cards.  This is all I have.  Received your card this morn with news of Arcola it is very pretty.  Helen I wish you would write at once and tell us what grade you and Mary are in so we can register you at the Normal here.  Love to all from Mamma and Aunt H.

Arcola, Ill., AUG24, 5PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We got some candy.  Good bye dear Mamma from Mary.

Arcola, Ill., AUG25, 2PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am well.  I am still out to Aunt Maggie’s.  We are making mud cakes.  Good bye with love from Helen.

Paris, Ill., AUG25, 1-PM

Dear Sisters,

How are you all?  We are well and will soon be busy trying to get the children started into school.  The children went up to Aunt Louise this morning.

Love to all,

sister Kate

Arcola, Ill., AUG26. 2PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  The mail man is here and I can’t write much.

From,

Edna

LETTER

(envelop missing)

Las Vegas, Aug 26 – 10

My dear Ed,

Received your letter of the 23 this morn and was glad to hear you were so kindly remembered by Julia, I know you had a fine dinner, Julia always has good dinners, I wish I could have been there and I’m sure you missed me, but I had a pretty good day  a neighbor brought us some fish and Hanna went up and goT ice-cream, so we did real well.

Mary Fitzgerald (Bridget Kintz’s sister) and two of the children were here and stayed for dinner, George don’t like his job he is thinking of going to El Paso, the work is so much harder than he has been used to, but he ought to stick it out, as Bridget is doing so fine, she is nearly well, she said if anyone had told her she would gain so much in a week she would think them crazy, I never saw anything like the way she has improved, her throat is so good she can eat anything and her color is better than I ever saw it, my she is doing well, even if George goes Bridget & Mary are going to stay here, and I don’t blame them, it would be awful if Bridget would leave a place that is doing her so much good.

Hanna is making a new comfort, like everything else they are very expensive here I could have bought some nice big ones cheap at Boyd at their sale but was going to make them myself.

Well Ed I guess you have started the things, I’m so glad so that we can get started right, I think maybe I will do better, at present I’m not doing well, but I asked the doctor what I had best tell you and he said to come, so I’m in hopes when you all come we will do better, it will only cost a little more anyhow and that will be less than keeping two houses.

If I were you Ed I would get shoes for all the children and Hanna will price underwear here maybe it would be better to get them there too, I think it will be better to send the children to the Normal as there are less Mexicans going there, in that way they won’t have to start in till the 13th, but if those things you sent gets here soon it won’t take but a day to get the house ready, we will get a woman to clean it & wash windows then all that will have to be done will be to lay the rugs down and arrange the furniture.

So you are having the Fair, last year I went & took the three big girls when you were in N.D. ma stayed with the little ones, wish it was that time now and we could have seen a year ahead.

I’ll bet the girls will be willing to come home to go to N.M. but I bet they will be in a big a hurry to go back, I wish it had been my throat that was effected instead of the lungs think how well I would have been now, but maybe I will be O.K. anyhow.

Well Mr. McGovern just left he stopped in a little while, he is a very nice man, he brought a case of melons from Rocky Ford and they gave us six nice large ones, they are sold two for 25 cents here.

Ed you must be sure and come on fast trains, Kintzs came on a faster train then we did and they could have come lots faster had they come on a Pullman, the reason we came so slow was on account of the pass, the train stopped at every little station after we left Kansas City, be sure and bring plenty lunch as you can get nothing on the Santa Fe trains, you will have a time to keep children  in but in the drawing room it is so nice plenty of seats, we had them to leave my berth down and in that way we were crowded but you won’t need it down, as there is a half berth you could put baby on if she went to sleep, be sure and have them fix that single berth for you at night, the first night the porter didn’t fix it up for us and Hanna had to lay on it as it was, so the next porter made it into a bed, then we saw we had been cheated the night before.

Well this is Sat. morn, I have had breakfast and don’t feel a bit good, I feel like vomiting after my meals, I’m very much afraid it isn’t worth while in you coming out even though the doctor says different, I have never seen that there was much improvement, I have just had to try to hold up to keep from sinking all the time, just as it was at home, I don’t know how much longer I can keep that up, I would often have questioned the doctor more closely only that it hurts me so bad to hear things not encouraging, of course if I had a sick person on hands and saw how they were I would question and find out just how matters stood with them, like last Fall it was some ones place to look after me and find out what was the matter a sick person isn’t supposed to do such things for themselves, but I believe I have made a big mistake in not finding out more before sending for you, still this fool doctor don’t seem to know beans, I am sick of him, I do wish I had consulted another doctor before sending for you, maybe I had better do so yet, but they charge $5 for an examination.

I have the pleurisy very bad in my left side,my left side has bothered me constantly since coming here and still he insists nothing is wrong, but I know there is, everything I cough up comes from there, well Ed I wrote you a letter something like this only worse yesterday and burnt it I thought what is the use in discouraging you, but I’m going to send this letter as it  too much trouble to write so much, if that fool doctor would come down I would talk to him, he knows I want to talk to him as I went to a neighbor and telephoned him the other day, I asked him if he really thought I was improving and he said yes I said I didn’t want to be bringing you out here making expense for nothing, I went on to tell him why I thought for sure he would stop in but he has not, he wants to be called so that he can make a bill, but not another cent will he get from me, then I had him Monday and he doctored me for the wrong thing altogether, then I sent Hanna to tell him different and he went on to tell her how well I was doing and the fool takes all the credit himself, he looks just like that Dr. Stoddert at home, if I could walk I would go to another doctor and be examined if they would do it for $3 but I will not pay $5.

Well Ed you can’t help but think I am always on the warpath and I can’t help it, a fortune gone for nothing, I’m afraid I won’t be able to turn a hand this year at all.

The baby is doing real well he has been with that woman just a month today, he has began to coo and is very sweet.

Agnes said ma sat up last Sunday for the first time poor ma has a time but how well she pulls through it is fine to have a good constitution.

How is Ma Whalen did her ankle get better?

I bet the children are having the time of their lives up at Maggie’s, they will have to stay at home now to get the dresses made.

If George goes to El Paso Bridget & Mary are going to get two rooms to live in you bet they won’t spend anymore than they have to, you know Bridget has lived on beer for years but she only gave $18 per case, now she won’t buy it here on account of price, and she doesn’t even have to pay a cent to a doctor it makes me sick when I think of how we have let money fly.

Well Ed I won’t write anymore I’m afraid I have written too much already but I always have to say what is in my mind or I can’t write at all, so goodbye Ed dear and go ahead with your plans, Love to all from Minnie.

POSTAL CARD included in letter:

Dear Helen,

All your cards received while you were at Aunt Maggie’s.  Glad you had such a nice visit.  Am so glad you will soon be out here and hope  you will like this place as well as Aunt Maggie’s.  Love to all from Mamma.

Dear Edna,

How are you?  Did you come home yet?  I am not very well.  I have the pleurisy very bad and the weather is cold, damp & dreary.  Will be glad to see you all then I will feel better.

Love to all form Mamma

Dear Katherine,

So you are coming to New Kertico?  Well come on little pet, and we will be so good to you.  This is the card little Mexican Mary gave me.  She got it soiled some way.  Little Orlando gave me the one I sent Margaret.  Love to Katherine from Mamma.

Paintings By John Whalen

John Whalen (Ed’s older brother) painted this oil of his birth place in 1895.  My Aunt Catherine Whalen, told me  (1995) her Uncle John traveled back to Edgar County (Paris, Illinois) to see the old Whalen homestead.  A log cabin John’s father (William Whalen) had built in 1958.   John was overcome with emotions and mesmerized by the time of day it was, dusk.  All the enthusiastic  feelings he had for this cabin called “Home” came back to him.  Feelings, as a child, from every time he had finished his farm chores, to the anticipation of opening the door to the welcoming open hearth fireplace, to witness his mother cooking Irish stew for supper.  This oil was never framed and was found buried at the bottom in an old trunk.  My aunts warmly allowed me to have it and I had it framed in my hometown, Winnetka, Illinois.  Today, this painting hangs in my living room waiting for a brass plate to read: The William Whalen Homestead, 1858.

The William Whalen Homestead, Edgar County.

Seven Hickory Township, 1910

This is a watercolor John Whalen did for Minnie and Ed as a Christmas present for their new home in Las Vegas, New Mexico, 1910.  Seven Hickory Township is right outside of Charleston and where Ed’s parents owned and farmed land. Recently, a cousin, Timothy Whalen purchased their land from the children of Geo. Whalen.  One child being, Therese Whalen Rardin, who  lives in Charleston, Illinois. If you look closely at this watercolor, you can count 3 Hickory trees on the left and 4 Hickory trees on the right.  Thus the name, Seven Hickory Township.  It must have been painted on a warm September day, for the dirt road looks dry and the sky appears to look like the beginning of autumn.   I understand these trees no longer stand.  This watercolor was in the same trunk along with the homestead oil.  I had it framed and it’s on my living room wall.

I love both of these family “heirlooms” by my great-Uncle John Whalen and hope to live long enough to pass them onto  the daughters of my sister , Kayleen Conaghan Harrington.  Kayleen’s  godfather was great Uncle John Whalen.

Seven Hickory Township, by John Whalen, 1910

My next post will be Postal Cards and a Letter from Minnie.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard, Winnetka, Illinois

“…the children can start school Sept. 6.”

My dear Reader,  With age and careless handling,  this August 1910 photo is very faint.  This photo was taken at Ed and Minnie’s home , corner of 10th and Adam Streets.  The house still stands.  Ed is holding Baby Agnes, as the twins, Catherine and Margaret, stand nearby him.  Helen, Mary and Edna are to your right and dressed to go to an ice cream social held at the church.  It is becoming a busy time for Minnie with the expectation of Ed and the little girls arriving in a matter of weeks.  For the moment, the girls are having a great time on their Aunt Maggie’s farm.  Little Mary’s postal sounds like she is having fun too.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, AUG19, 10-30A

Dear Minnie,

I hope you are feeling fine.  Everyone is well here.  With much love from all of us.

Yours sincerely,

Ma Whalen

Arcola, Ill., AUG19, 5PM

Dear Minnie,

I was so glad to hear from you.  I will write before long, but I have no news to tell.  The children are just having a good time and are just as good as can be.  Write soon as I love to hear from you.   Maggie

Arcola, Ill., AUG19, 5PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are still at Aunt Maggie’s.  I am in the house playing the piano.  Sister is writing this card for me.  Mary is out door.  Good bye with love from Edna to Mamma.

Charleston, AUG19. 7-30P

Dear Minnie,

Got your letter this A.M. & Edward’s card yesterday.  Am down to Ma’s this evening, will write you tomorrow.  The girls are having a fine time at Maggie’s.  Every one is well.  Have no cards, got this one from Ma.  Will send baby one as soon as I can get one.  Good bye.  Love to all from Ed.

Charleston, AUG20, 5PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We had corn.  I am going to milk the cows.  Good bye dear Mamma from Mary.

LETTER

(Envelope missing)

Las Vegas, Aug 21 ‘10

My dear Ed,

Will send a few words with the cards and will write you tonight & mail in the morn, we are all well I was out  in the chair this morn, now I’m going up to Kintz and Mary & Hanna are going to old town, we are very busy getting ready for you, we want to have you leave there Sept. 1, or sooner, so the children can start to school Sept. 6.

Well Ed we must go now so I will send you a letter in the morn, so sorry poor ma has been so sick, wish it was possible for her to come out with you and go back with Hanna, it would help her and I would love to see her, bet you are lonesome without your girls, well Ed just think how hard it has been on me not to see them now over 4 months, Good bye dear Ed and love to you all from Minnie.

I’m going to have that recipe filled.

Cousins, Minnie and Bridget, Have A Reunion In Las Vegas, NM.

Hello my dear Reader,  I am posting a few family photos from 1910.  In 1910, a photographer would go from house to house and ask to take pictures of the family outside.  This is why the pose and reason for the photo of that time.  I remember my mother being very sad when Aunt Catherine called to tell her someone had torn down the grandparents home in the late 50′s.

What is great about this letter from Minnie posted today,  is how Minnie writes of the reunion both cousins had, Minnie and Bridget, in Las Vegas, New Mexico.  It must have done Minnie a world of good, to see another  family face and to realize she would be reunited with Ed and her six little girls soon.  Right now the little girls are at their Aunt Maggie’s farm outside of Arcola, Illinois.  It’s a great little town where Raggie Anne was created by J.B. Gruelle in 1915.

Minnie is consumed about her weight.  If I read her right, she must have weighed in her 90′s while pregnant with Edward.  Poor woman.  I think it was the pride to be heavier , for it indicated  a sign of prosperity.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

POSTAL CARD

Arcola, Ill, AUG17, 5PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am out to Aunt Maggie’s.  Good bye dear Mamma from Mary.

East Las Vegas, AUG17, 11-30A

Dear Edna,

Received your card and it was very pretty.  I am going out now.  It is damp, but it is that way all the time this month.  Will send the other girls cards this evening and will write papa in the morn.  I am just crazy to see you and the others.  Love to all from Mamma.

LETTER

(Envelope missing)

Las Vegas, AUG 17-10

My dear Ed – You are getting very indifferent about writing letters if you don’t do better  I am going to quit, got cards from Helen & Edna & Mary this morn, guess they went home with Maggie, the cards sounded like they were waiting for an invitation.

Well the Kintz family just went past in the cab, I went out to speak to them, Bridget looks fine you wouldn’t think she had traveled ten miles, she was sitting there holding a big fat baby, you can’t tell me there is much wrong with a woman whose milk makes a baby look like hers , she will be well in no time, she looks ten times better than she did last Fall and her voice is clear and strong, I wish I had half her chance of getting well but I haven’t, I look like a scarecrow, but I always looked that on account of my thin face.

It is nearly bed time but will write a few lines, Hanna took me up to see the folks, they are simply delighted with the place, they came expecting to see a desert and were so surprised to see a good sized town, George went to see about a job, McGovern spoke to the head man for him so I don’t know what success George had, poor Bridget isn’t so well as I thought, she was hoarse this evening and she takes no care of herself, Mary don’t help her at all with the baby and he is a load to lift, she also lifts the little girl up on her lap, and wears no warm clothes, she will have to change if she expects to get well, the trouble is all in the throat, she had herself examined a few weeks ago in Terre Haute and he also examined her sputum, he said it was loaded with tuberculosis germs, still she nurses her baby against the doctor’s orders, the doctor also told her she might be alive in 6 months and might not but  that if she came here she would get better, but I tell you she will have to get more rest if she gets well, but she hasn’t lost much flesh, she never weighed over 115lbs and now she weigh 110, she has that big heavy baby to contend with too, any woman in perfect health would lose flesh taking care of such a baby, oh I felt like a different person when I went up there, I had to laugh at them all huddled up on their little porch and they had to laugh at me in the chair, so we all laughed & talked all evening till I feel perfectly well, they think I look fine, I believe after you folks get out here I will do lots better.

Well it is Thursday morn and I’m afraid you won’t get the letter before Sunday, I slept late this morn and George was passing and stopped in then Mrs. Forbes & Mrs. Foster came and stayed so long that the mailman went past, left your letter and mine wasn’t ready.  I left the cards out yesterday afternoon for him to take but he didn’t’ come so he took them this morn.

I was so glad to get your letter, I thought you had given us up but see you had company, I’ll bet the children had a picnic that night,  I remember the good times Bridget Kintz & I used to have when we were children and stayed of nights with each other, glad they went home with Maggie they will have a nice time, you should tell them to help her with the dishes.

Hanna & I both were mistaken in the twins, they sure do look alike.

Well we are having too much rain it rained nearly all night and rained hard again this morn, I won’t be able togo out at all today, and I am in a hurry to have the rain stop altogether st that we can be getting ready for you, Ed I don’t think it would be cheaper to rent a furnished house, if we have any luck in getting a good one unfurnished because if we can get 2nd hand furniture reasonable, then if we didn’t stay here a year when we sold them we would get something, I want to go to the 2nd hand store and look, that’s the trouble the old rain keeps me back but if I were you I wouldn’t keep a room of the house as then you would have to rent cheaper and there would be no sense in that, you should have a talk with Lennie’s and  I bet they would be glad to keep the bedroom suite, they might get a roomer, then stow the rest in the barn, I wouldn’t be out a cent by the storage, try and sell the stoves, maybe Lennie’s would buy the gas and of course I would leave them the range, then you wouldn’t have much to put out, scatter the rockers among our mothers and maybe your mother would have room for folding bed, then we we see if I’m to get well here we can have them send what we want and sell the rest.

About the way you are to come, do as you like, you and  never could see alike in anything, and never will, so we must both do our own way, and ask no boot.

Well the sun is coming out maybe I can get out this evening, we intended going to look at a house, there are lots of empty housed but if the house is desirable the location isn’t and if the location suits the house don’t.

Well the doctor hasn’t been here this month, I meet him when we are out, the bill was $6 last month, there isn’t a bit of use in him coming just to look at me and no matter how I am he says I’m improving, why if I improved all he has said I have I would be one of the biggest women in town, each day I had improve from the day before,  I don’t think Bridget will have any doctor here and she is about right, we tried medicine at home & that did no good so if the climate don’t help there isn’t any use in throwing your money to a doctor just to look at one, if Bridget would listen to advise I could tell her what to do, you know it made me feel good up there, I have had to be a hermit so long, separate bed, separate dishes, separate room, everything to divide me from others, and up at Kintz it is so different, Bridget is treated as one of the family and I was  while I also was up there, she drinks out of the same glass with her children, kisses them, and acts like any mother, of course I wouldn’t anyhow, but those things hurts ones feelings.

Well George just went past again to get some meat for dinner, he said Bridget is wanting to come down as guest as it is, but she shouldn’t do t. we wanted him to take the chair but she wouldn’t ride in it, I don’t mind at all anymore if Hanna was more able to push it, McGovern is coming in the morning to take me to see some houses I would rather ride than walk in this hilly place, I am sure loving my ambition to exert myself very much.

I guess you are having a rest now that the older ones are gone, I am sure they are still there and would send them all cards, but I guess they will probably come home Sunday.

It is nearly eleven o’clock and I’m not up yet, am writing in bed, Bridget has been up all morning tending to her work, it would be better if she was lazy like me, George said he was listening to a talk on tuberculosis a while back and the doctor said that any person to lose ten lbs from his normal weight was liable to consumption no matter how well and strong that person had been, look at what I have lost I weighted 140  a couple years ago now 108, last Fall after I had been sick a good bit I weighed 122, so if I have gained any out here I must have been someplace in the nineties a while back.

Tuesday my temperature was 99 2/5 last night it was 99, but it has come up to 98 1/5 in the morn that shows I’m getting stronger.

Well Ed, I guess there is no more news at present, I hope you are all doing well and I will soon be able to tell you what to send, we don’t want to pay rent another place till our rent is up here, Love to you and children and relatives from Minnie.

Kintzs “will be here Wed. A.M. on the 6-20 train.”

POSTAL CARDS

Charleston, AUG10, 10-30A

The motto on the other side is the one we follow,—that is all we can do.  Hope yourself and the boy are well.

Love from Agnes.

Charleston, AUG10, 2-PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  Aunt Kate went home yesterday.  How is Edward?  Getting along with his black mamma?  When do you want us to come out?  Sister is writing this card for me.  Good bye with love from Edna to Mamma.

East Las Vegas, AUG10, 6-PM

Dear Edna,

Will send you card this time.  I didn’t get to go out as I expected as it is to damp.  It was raining when we awoke this morn, but our escort came by to see if we were going.  My tem was normal last night, and I slept fine.  How did you like the picnic dear Edna?  Will write papa in morn so he will get by Sun.  Love to all from Mamma.

Charleston, AUG11, 11-30A

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I was playing house.  I am going down to grandma’s now.  Good bye dear Mamma from Mary.

Charleston, AUG12, 7-30P

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am playing house.  The ice man came and papa never gave him the book.  Maybe the mailman will bring us a letter.  Got a card from you.  It was written on the 8th.  Good bye with love from Helen.

Terre Haute, Ind., AUG13, 11-30A

Dear Cousin,

Will leave here Mon. eve at 5.10 and arrive in Las Vegas Wed. afternoon at 2/15.  We won’t have to change after we leave St. Louis.

Bridget

Charleston, AUG13, 11-AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well.  I got your card yesterday evening.  Papa got your letters in the A.M. & was ans. it when Grandma Whalen came & he did not get to finish but will today.  How is Aunt Hanna & brother?  I want to see him.  Tell him we are going to as soon as you are ready for us.  Dear Mamma good bye from Edna.

Charleston, AUG14, 6-PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well,  Aunt Maggie came down to grandma’s this A.M.  Hope we can go home with her.  If it is nice we will.  We were at Mass and Sunday school today.  Papa got your letter yesterday.  Will ans. today.  Dear Mamma good bye from Mary.

Charleston, AUG15, 10-30A

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  Marguerite is here and stayed all night and still here.  Papa said you didn’t like this kind of postal card.  I am going home with Marguerite maybe.  Good bye from Helen.

LETTER

&

POSTAL CARDS

(INCLUDED IN LETTER)

East Las Vegas, AUG15, 1-30A

Las Vegas, Aug. 14 ‘10

My dear Ed,

Was very much disappointed in not receiving a letter from you this morn but I heard this afternoon that there was no mail came from the east this morn on account of the wash-outs, they have been so frequent that month around here, trains have been delayed as much as 24 hours.

We got a letter & papers from Agnes yesterday also cards from Agnes & Mary, then this morn we got card from Agnes and nice long letter from Kate, neither one of them mentioned about ma being sick, but we knew she was because Helen said she had a girl, then there were several clippings taken out of the papers but Agnes overlooked one saying Kate had been at home visiting her mother who was sick, we know now that she must have been very sick but is now better, and Ed you tell ma that if she should get real sick to be sure & let us know so that Hanna could go home, I know that no matter what happens I can’t go back. That would be worry enough for me, but if I was the cause of Hanna not being there I could never get over it.  I would worry myself to death, now you tell ma that.

Well our Denver neighbor just left, she is going to stay at the hotel tonight and go to Denver tomorrow, she is so nice we hate to lose her, I have been alone all afternoon, Edward is at his other mother’s and Hanna & Della are looking at a house we heard of, if it was spring we could get a dandy place, a house three miles from town, the ranch it is on, is rented and the owner wants to rent the house, of course it would be nice for me, but there are other things to consider, the children’s school and your work, I thought at first that we could get a horse & rig, then you could drive into town every morn and bring the children with you, we could put them in the Sisters, and they could go there early and wait there till you went home, as the Sisters have lots of children that boards with them, our children wouldn’t board with them but could stay with the others after school hours till you came for them, but I don’t believe that would be best, it would keep you and the children away from home longer that if we lived in town and while the winters here aren’t what they are at home, still there would be some pretty cold weather.  This town is full of empty houses but they won’t come down on the rent, I want to get a place not to exceed $15 per month so that the rent of our house will pay our rent here, be sure and ask $15 for our house and let them pay the water rent, that  is what O’Hara paid and it is better now than then & Ed if they wanted to use our bedroom suite you might let them, it wouldn’t be hurt and it would save storage, just as you like of course, we haven’t looked at any furniture since there is time enough and I’m not strong, but I would like you to send both mattresses, rugs, bedding, they wouldn’t weigh much would they? and can you wrap the mattresses and how about the springs they aren’t heavy, I’m so sorry we cut the spring on the iron bed, everyone here uses that kind and have just the common slates, maybe we can get springs cheap we are going to the second hand store and see what they have, we could fumigate everything and that would make them sanitary of course we would buy no second hand mattresses, so I guess Ed if you can store the furniture without cost it would be the best and don’t you think it would be well to start the rugs & bedding here right soon so that we would have them when you come, I’ll write again before you need start them, your ma could let you use some of her pillows till you leave, and my mother can help you out, and Ed, I would move down to your mother’s, You & the little ones and the others could stay with ma, so that you can get the house ready for renters.

Hanna went to look at such a nice place this afternoon I hope the rent is right, strange that houses are vacant by the dozen but still they keep the rent up, we only saw one snap & it has its faults, a nice new 5 room cottage with bath & furnace for only $16 but it is too crowded in with other house, this house isn’t in a very select neighbor-hood, but if it wasn’t so hemmed in it would be O.K.

Well Hanna just returned and the house she looked at only had 3 rooms and a two room tent, it rents for $15 and is furnished, of course the three big children might sleep in one room of the tent, I believe  will go & see it, there is more ground around it than our own house, and an ideal location, it is a shame the rent we have paid for this house, Hanna got the Kintzs a nice 4 room cottage for $18, the only thing in favor of our cottage is, that it is the cleanest little place you could find in town, well we will find us a home some place, and I won’t give over $15 for it would you?  I know we will be able to get something good enough for that I don’t care what kind of a neighborhood so it is healthy, until we get on our feet again.

I didn’t finish this letter last night as I intended I was afraid to put of till this morn as I am always blue early in the morn and you said you didn’t want blue letters, I awoke to early this morn, it is now only six and I have been awake over an hour.

Well as to my healthy, I was doing O.K. till Friday night and that night I went to bed at 10 o’clock and got up the next morn at 7 without so much as closing my eyes, I nearly went crazy after laying there for hours and I tell you I swore pretty roundly, well I went out in the chair that morn and it made me very tired I came home and went to bed but didn’t sleep, so that evening my temperature was up again to 99 1/5 it had been normal, I didn’t take it last night so maybe it has come down as I slept Sat. night, I never get more than seven hours sleep anyhow and to lose a whole night hurts me, I got weighed Sat. morn and with my big cape on 112 but the cape weighs at least 4lbs so I guess it would be 108 I’m going to weigh the cape and find out, my main living is the mile & eggs, I haven’t got the appetite that makes flesh, it don’t seem to me that I ever will, but  hope I can give up the eggs sometime, the milk is O.K.

Hanna has gone to 7 o’clock Mass, it being a holy day, we have had breakfast and Mac is coming at 8 to take me over to Old Town, he is very kind but even if I do have the chair longer than the week I will not want him to take me anymore, I would rather pay a Mexican a dime than be under compliments to strangers, but the week is up today and I will let the chair go back till you come then you can try your hand, it has been so rainy that I only have been out 3 times, so it don’t pay, this place is so hilly that Hanna can hardly push the chair.

After all there is no man like my own, there has been two men here promised to take me for a drive and they didn’t, the Dr. & Mac, well the Dr. has been busy, and my, my brave Mac asked me if I could go in a buggy I said yes, well he said he would borrow a buggy and take me to look at a certain house, well he borrowed the old road wagon and came by and called, I went to the door and he asked where was Hanna, he said he wanted to take her to see that house, well she was at the Mexicans so I said she would be home in a little bit, so he never asked me to go at all, not that I wanted to go in an old borrowed wagon, then he took Hanna to look at several places and said she could see which she liked an when you came you could decide of course, well it made me mad when I heard it, to think that my opinion, the mistress of the house, was of no consequence, I said I was the one to be suited, so when I get ready to go for a drive I will hire a buggy and I can hire someone to push my chair too, a neighbor’s boy has offered to do it but I guess it is out of sympathy for Hanna and I’m no object of charity.

Well I knew if I wrote of morning I would have some kick to register, there was a lady here last night and she said that a man can make $600 on 40 acres of alfalfa, and give the owner half that would leave him $300 so I figured that on 160 acres you could make a living, this place she spoke of is watered, there are a few places that have the water, one is now for sale, they say t is a fine place, with a young orchard, and the woman that lives there sold $40 worth of cherries one year, it is only 4 miles from town, this woman said that the 40 acres she spoke of was bought a few years ago for $2500 and the woman who owns it refused $5000 this Spring and the house I spoke of us living in is on the place and besides 1/2 crop she gets the rent of the house, that’s how it goes some people say the land here will never amount to anything, others say there is a fortune in it.

Well I must close for this time, Goodbye, Love to all from Minnie

POSTAL CARDS INCLUDED IN LETTER:

Dear Helen,

Received you letter, Edna’s card, two letters from papa, also letter from the Kintzs.  They will be here Wed. A.M. on the 6-20 train.  Hanna has a nice four room cottage for them.  Helen dear, you be ready to come the 1st of Sept.  We will have nice home for you.  Love to all from Mamma.

Dear Mary,

Have you come home yet?  Know you had fine time making mud pastry.  Will see you soon I hope.

Love from Mamma

Dear Edna,

How are you?  Are you home yet?  We are all pretty well and in a hurry to have you come to us.

Love from Mamma

Dear Little Kathryn,

So you are getting ready to come to New Kertico to see Mamma, well I am mighty glad as I long to see you all.  Love to all from Mamma.

Dear Little Margaret,

You little love, how are you?  Papa says you stay with him when the others leave.  Come and see Mamma soon.  Love to Margaret from Mamma.

My darling little baby,

How are you?  Wonder if you will know Mamma when you come out here?  A man came here today and he had a high chair to sell so Aunt Hanna has gone to look at it for you.  Love to all from Mamma.

East Las Vegas, AUG16, 6-30P

East Las Vegas, Aug. 15 -  1910

My dear Ed,

I wrote you this morn but I feel like writing again so will start you another letter, I imagine you are like me and if you are you can’t receive too many letters.

Well I wrote that much yesterday evening but go not farther, we fixed the chair into a bed yesterday afternoon out on back porch and it was very comfortable so we did the same this morn and am going to keep chair another week, I can get some good out of it that way and if I sent it back I couldn’t go up to see Bridget when she comes, they are to be here tomorrow afternoon, she said they would have to make no change after leaving St. Louis, that would be a good way for you to come, and you will have plenty help to come as far as St. Louis, I don’t know yet anything definite to tell you about furniture, but am going to see what we can do pretty soon.

We went over to old town yesterday and, I like it better than this place, they have a large square twice as large as ours at home, the buildings are mostly one story and people live in them, well in the center where Charleston’s  court house is they have the most beautiful park, full of seats and it is fine, they call the square & park “The Plaza” they never call it the square or park, then the old cathedral is fine, we were over there at the time but didn’t go in, the court-house is very fine also I enjoyed my trip very much and McGovern said he would come back Wednesday morn and take me out, but Mrs. Welch is going to  want him to help her, but Kintzs are coming in afternoon so I will go up there.

I slept pretty good last night and my temperature was normal again, but I cough a lot and Hanna got me some of the appetite medicine again, poor Bridget K. thinks all she will have to do is to come out here and get well right away, but people have to give it lots of time, I’m just crazy to get to a work, my how I would like to sew & cook.

Well I believe I will go out on the porch and lay down till dinner time I’m so contrary because being out doors is good for me I want to stay in the house I hate  to be out and am always thinking of an excuse to come in, I want my conscience to be easy, but here goes for the porch.

Well it is now after 3 o’clock I ate dinner and went back on porch a while and it is now raining it rains every day sometimes a whole lot other days a sprinkle.

Mrs. Nolette just left, she brought pansies her mother was here all yesterday afternoon we treat them will, but the French are queer, Mrs. Nolette came out here 6 years ago for throat trouble, her throat was bothering her so she consulted a doctor, he said she had symptoms of a tubercular throat, so they gave their furniture away, hopped on the train and came at once, you bet that lady wouldn’t let any thing get wrong with her, I suppose she hadn’t anything but an ordinary sore throat, she doesn’t have much to say about lung trouble since I gave her the calling down.

Ed do you think you could send the lard without it melting, I should think to seal it with sealing wax and pack tight it would come safely, you will probably have to send your bedding by freight and you can pack it in them, I’m afraid its a little old though, and may not keep still we could boil it over, lard is so high here, if it would only stop raining I would get stronger soon and see what furniture we can find, I know you would like to do something before long.

I wrote Agnes today about getting some things made for Helen & Mary, you can give her the money and she will tell you what I said about the bookcase,  I think is a good plan.

How did you like the card Edward sent this man, hope t didn’t hit you too hard.

Well Ed, I can’t think of much to write today if I I had kept on yesterday I could have wrote a tablet full, but today I can’t get in motion, I’m afraid  can’t get this mailed this afternoon we are out of stamps and it looks like an afternoon rain so that Hanna can’t go to town, will have lots of news when Kintzs come, poor people are on the road now, Hanna is going to have a nice lunch at their new house for them, they will be too tired to stop here.  Love to you all from Minnie.

“We would be very disappointed now if Kintzs didn’t come….”

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, AUG8, 10-30A

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are going to send you our picture.  We had some ice cream yesterday afternoon.  Good bye dear Mamma from Mary.

East Las Vegas, AUG8, 6-30P

Dear Mary,

Received all your nice cards.  I will send Edna the next card.  We are all well.   I slept fine last night and was out on porch all morn.  We are going out driving tomorrow if the day is nice.  Send us the picture soon.

Love from,

Mamma

Charleston, AUG9, 11AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I went to the picnic.  Aunt Kate is going home today.  Mary Louise and Geo came with her.  You said Edward is 2 months of old today and we haven’t seen him yet.  I went up to Grandma’s yesterday and they have got a girl to work for them.  I got your letter, and the twins got your postal.  Good bye from Helen to Mamma.

Charleston, AUG9, 2-PM

Kate & children are going home today.  Hope yourself and boy are getting along O,K.  Love from Agnes.

East Las Vegas, AUG9, 6-PM

Dear Helen,

Sent papa two letters yesterday and will write again tomorrow.  Received papa’s letter and your card today.  The dress samples will be nice to see.  That fish drawing of the little girl was so pretty.  Love from Mamma.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, AUG9, 6-PM

Las Vegas, Aug. 9 ‘10

My dear Ed,

Received your letters yesterday and wrote the children cards expecting the mailman to take them yesterday afternoon when he brought our mail, well he brought us none, so of course we were sure he would bring some this morning so we left the cards over our mail-box when he went away and bless you they were there when we returned, think of it he passed our house twice without leaving mail so now if he don’t come this afternoon Hanna will take letter & cards to office.

We went out in the wheel-chair this morn and I enjoyed it so much, of course when I was well and did my work at home I never went out much but you know Ed to feel bad and then stay indoors as long as I, it is a very monotonous,.  Only the town looked beautiful to me, our part of town is by no means very nice looking, so I got to thinking all the town was alike, I’m sure we can find a nice little home that we will be contented in.

We would be very disappointed now if Kintzs didn’t come, we won’t hear from my letter till about Saturday, but Hanna is very anxious for them to take furnished rooms, if they board we would be expected to entertain them to a few meals, don’t you see, and really in a little house like this it would upset us very much, we have only enough dishes for ourselves, of course if it was you & the children coming we could manage to keep you a few days, but is would be hard on us to find room for others, Dr. Mc. says he feels sure that George will get work as the head boss here is a Catholic name McMahon but they pronounce “MacMan” very stylish family, oh you bet any of the Catholics here can hold their head over water are stinking proud.

I didn’t go to sleep till after two this morn, the night before I slept well, oh it is fierce to lay awake and not sleep, after coming home this morn I lay on the bed and rested well for over an hour, didn’t go sound asleep but it helped me, the chair didn’t tire me at all this morn we were out from 7-30 till 10, stopped in at Welches for about an hour a half, that family have been a god send to us, that dear Mr. McGovern is coming tomorrow morning to wheel me over to old town, as soon as Della told them last night that we had ordered the chair he said he was coming to take me over there, I told him  I wouldn’t think of letting him do such a thing but he wouldn’t understand why, so we said come ahead then, there isn’t many young men in Charleston would do that much for one, of course Hanna & maybe Della are going along to chaperone us, so don’t be alarmed, the constable here has a horse & buggy and is a good friend of McGovern’s and he said he maybe could borrow it and take me for a drive also, but maybe that drive would be like Dr. Mc. who has never come yet, still he has been very busy, he charged the Welches $40 for their baby and told them $50 was the regular price but he threw of the $10, wasn’t he good to us?   Well everyone here are good to us.  Mrs. Ketmir, our neighbor sent over a batch of light rolls & a large loaf of bread yesterday, she had no equal in making bread, our Denver neighbors went on their trip and brought over a pile of fine magazines and all the ice that was left in her box, they sure are good to us.

It is raining this afternoon but will be nice by tonight, a street carnival came to town yesterday, it isn’t so close to us as before and won’t bother us any, I had quite a joke on Della, Mac and Mrs. Welch last night, Della said they would be down so Hanna got out my winter hat and cape & fur and when they came I had the wraps on pretending to be ready for the carnival, will Della looked so funny, I said then as Mr. Welch wasn’t coming I would go with them, well she said Mac had to go out at 8-30, so I laughed and said I was joking, what got Della was the winter hat and fun in the middle of Aug. so we have lots of fun.

So Edna wouldn’t have her picture taken with you, sweet little Edna is like she always was, how glad I will be to get them pictures, am looking for them soon as it don’t take Geo Wasson long to finish them, I can’t realize you are to be here soon, it seems to good to be true.

Ed you will miss milk and vegetables and all such things here that the relatives bring you, Ed if you have any lard left seal it up in one of them big lard cans and bring it, lard is 25 cents per lb. here, they all tell me that furniture gets broken  very badly by local, and don’t think the company stands good for it either, we will do our best to get second-hand furniture, because maybe we won’t have to stay n this town when I get well, we can go to Colorado and we could than have our furniture, what we want shipped, it all depends on what second-hand we can find.

Edward is doing well, he is a little darling, he laughs so much now, Hanna thinks the sun raises and sets on that baby, because he is a blonde she thinks blondes the nicest,  Because he is thin she hates fat babies, I laugh in my sleeve at her.

The only neighbor that hadn’t been to call on us came yesterday, she was in the hospital about two months ago and had two tumors removed, she is an old maid and very crippled also very nice woman.

I haven’t taken my temperature lately but I’m feeling real well, and can eat well, and in hopes I will sleep well from now on, I ate some hot rolls and drank tea for supper last night and that may have been the cause of my unrest,  I always eat a light supper, and have my good chocolate ice-cream, I do enjoy that, I always feel through the day as if something nice was yet to come, my ice-cream.

The caller yesterday said there was fruit in abundance twenty miles from here, and if people had a team they could drive there and get it for a song, I was glad to hear that because I felt it would be hard to raise little children without nice fruit, we may have a horse of our own when we get settled, I think at any rate we should have a cow, I see some advertized now, hope they won’t be gone when you get here.

Mrs. Forbes rather went back on us lately, since she became good friends with a neighbor she had been mad at, but she brought us two big bouquets today so she will get good again.

Well it is still raining we are expecting a letter from Agnes today, and I sent after cards a week ago to a new place, they haven’t come yet, afraid I’ll be out 10 cents and my stamp, envelope & paper, goodbye dear Ed & love from Minnie.

Postal Card included in letter:

Dear Mary,

We have just returned from a drive.  It rained yesterday afternoon and last night and was a little damp but it never hurt me.  So you rode on the merry-go-round, that was nice.  Is grandma sick?  We think she is.  Will write papa tomorrow.

Love from,

Mamma

Dear Edna,

Received your pretty card this morn.  I’m so proud of your pictures.  It seems like I am at home across the street and looking at our house.  Kintzs house is a good distance from us.  We wanted to have them near us but couldn’t get no house.  We send next cards to twins.

Love from Mamma

Cousin Bridget Fitzgerald Kintz And Family Are Moving To Las Vegas, NM-!!

My dear Reader,  I am posting two letters from Minnie today.  In Minnie’s  first letter  she reveals how the illness is beginning to wear on her.  Being in bed for all these months, her strength isn’t the same for walking, sitting and limited mobility of any kind.  One bit of history: Fly-swatters were invented in Decatur, Illinois, 1910 and could be purchased in Las Vegas for 10 cents. That was progress.

The 2nd letter tells how her favorite cousin, Bridget Fitzgerald Kintz, from Terre Haute, Ind.  is moving to Las Vegas for her health too.  Bridget has just given birth in July.  This will be the first of family both Minnie and Hanna will be seeing since their brother John McCarty escorted them in April.  Will Bridget’s arrival give Minnie the boost to get better faster?

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard

POSTAL CARD

East Las Vegas, AUG6, 11-AM

Dear Papa,

I hope you are never guilty of conduct similar to picture on other side.  We are all doing fine and hope to see you soon.  Mamma is going to write you this afternoon.  Got your letter & cards yesterday.  Love to papa from Edward.

Charleston, AUG6, 10-AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  My new dresses are made.  I am going to send you a sample of each.  She has got Edna’s all made but has to put the ribbons on and Mary’s skirt is made.  I haven’t got my clothes on yet.  Our black jams are made.  Good bye with love from Helen to Mamma.

Charleston, AUG7, 6PM

Dear Mamma,

I got your card yesterday and was glad to get it.  How are you?  We are all well.  Aunt Kate is over to grandma’s.  We were there yesterday evening.  It is raining today.  We have just came from Mass.  Papa will write you today if he can. Good bye dear Mamma from you little Edna.

LETTER

(Envelop missing)

Las Vegas, Aug. 6 ‘10

My dear Ed,

This is the second letter I attempted today, I wrote 4 sheets full in the other but it was so fierce I put it in the stove, I haven’t  been sleeping good for nearly a week and last night was the worse of all, so I feel all unnerved today and would rather fight than eat, but it is my day to write so must do so.

We received cards from Helen & Edna today and letter & Couriers from Agnes, she was telling us how nicely situated they are in their new home.

We enjoyed reading the Couriers guess we know more about the town now than you do, still I don’t take near the interest in reading the Couriers as I did when I would be over to Paris or Terre Haute for a week’s visit years ago, guess I am too low-spirited & miserable to enjoy anything since my health is gone, the only bit of pleasure  I have on earth now is my dish of ice-cream of an evening, Hanna always gets me chocolate if they have it if not plain or strawberry, but I do sure enjoy the chocolate.  We had roasting ears for dinner the man said they were not very nice so he only had a dozen left and he gave them to Hanna for 10 cents, quite a drop from 40 cents, he is a very handsome Mexican or Italian, we don’t know which, so Hanna ought to be very sweet to him and get our vegetable cheap.

Edward is doing well I don’t think he always gets enough but what he gets does him good, they are very clean Mexican people, they bathe, wash their heads and wear clean clothes, it is luck for us, as a clean Mexican is a very unusual thing.

That man with the hiccoughs is still alive the doctors gave him up couple days ago, they didn’t say he would die but that they had done all in their power, it all depends, if his constitution is strong enough maybe he will hold out till they stop, if not he is a goner, he has been out of his head for the last couple of days and he has a man nurse to control him, it is a very sad case, his mother is a widow, and in poor health and he is her support, and a model young man, it is awful just to see the trouble everyone has in this world.

Our Denver neighbor just left, she and her husband are going to start in the morn for an eighty mile drive, they are going to a place forty miles from here for the night, will take two days to get there, remain two days, and take two days coming back, they will get back Friday night, then there rent is up Saturday so on that day they will leave for Denver, her husband is a traveling man for typewriters, she surely gets to travel enough but I would rather the way we used to live ten times over.

Haven’t heard from Kintzs yet I’m so afraid they didn’t get my letter.  I didn’t know the number of the house so just put “7th 10st” as George has lived there so long I should think they would all know him, still if they don’t get the letter it will come back as I put my address on.

Hanna took a bath and gave me one this afternoon, my right arm shows great improvement, I use it now a great deal since we got the fly-killer, they are just fine to kill flies, maybe they sell them in Charleston for I see ours has been made in Decatur, Illinois but it isn’t worth your while to get one now.

Ed, so many people say that the furniture gets all broken up in moving, in that case it wouldn’t pay to move it.  I’m so sorry I didn’t see about that woman’s furniture that Mrs. Forbes spoke of, she sold a range as good as new for $15 and a table as nice as ours for $4 she has a table with two leaves and a little four-hole wood cook stove left, I think they would do us until we saw how everything is going to turn out, don’t you, we never used more than the four-holes anyhow, and those little stoves are splendid bakers.

Well it is Sunday morn and I will finish so Hanna can mail this when she goes for the mail, I slept real well last night and feel better every way this morn, when I lose sleep I get in an awful humor, they say to overcome the disease one should always be in a happy & contented humor, in that case I will never get well because I am blue all the time nearly, that is what brought on my troubles  too, they say it will and I never was happy two days in succession, then last summer’s trouble was more than I could stand, so I guess there isn’t much use in me trying to get well, if I do the expense we have been out in the last year, plus all the tearing up of the house expense, plus not a penny earned all this time will drive me crazy, it wouldn’t be a hard matter to lose the little mind I have left, to think when everything was going fine with us we couldn’t stand prosperity, it’s a darn shame to think about it.

A young Catholic girl is to be buried today, she wanted to get the world by the tail too, so she got taken down, she was only 24 years and had been a school teacher for years, also a music teacher, well she wanted to be a leader in both and studied all the time, till last February she collapsed, a nervous breakdown, she went to California but it done her no good, she came back two months ago and went to the Sanitarium, stayed there till she died, she had quick consumption, so that is what people get for being so ambitious, if I had taken half care of myself I would never have been here, but no use crying over spilt milk, it is very strange but all the people who been cured of lung trouble out here and in Colorado are always men, you very seldom hear of women getting cured, I think the reason of that is the men give up in time and women keep  on till they drop then it is too late, Della looks awful bad, she has always had the yellow consumption color, but now she looks worse and has planters on her lungs, and Dr. Mc held her up to me as an example of a cured person, that was about a month ago, I told him if she was an example of what I would be when well I would rather go ahead and die now, I wouldn’t give two cents to be like her, he said her lungs were in a fine shape, it looks like it to think she  couldn’t help a little with a baby without getting down, no, if I can’t do better than that I wish I had gone last Christmas instead of spending everything we had, of course Della has never been a bit of expense to anyone she has made her own living the six years she had been in the west, if I could do that I wouldn’t mind but I[‘m sick and tired of depending on others, if I only get well enough to go around I’m going to begin sell those stockings like Mrs. Kane sells, there is no agent for them here.

Well Ed dear I won’t try to write anymore today I’m as blue as indigo and there is no use of inflicting myself on you any longer, this pen is fierce, you needn’t let any one read my letters, but still  don’t care, what I write are facts there is no use in trying to get around that, it was a mistake in me coming here I knew the minute I heard what was wrong that I couldn’t get well.  Love to all from Minnie.

Ed if I had time to write another letter I wouldn’t send this so don’t pay any attention to it.

Letter

East Las Vegas, AUG7, 6-30P

My dear Ed,

Wrote you a letter this morn but am in so much better humor will write a little more this afternoon I should get a shaking for writing such blue letters when I am getting along so nice and you all doing everything on earth for me, but I’m afraid I’m a chronic crank and nothing will change me.

Received your lovely long letter this morn and the dear babies card, we are so anxious to see the pictures of the children and they are surely having a lovely summer, they are on the go all the time, I’m so glad because it will give them such a favorable impression of Charleston.

Received a letter this morn from Bridget Kintz they have planned to stat out here the 16th, they planned to board here until they found out if George could get work, if he can’t they are going to El Paso, Texas, I hope he will find work here they will be so much company for us, and then this is a better climate then Texas, our land-lady’s son just got back from El Paso and he said the heat there is fierce.

I’m not answering you letter now I just thought to let you know about the Kintzs coming, we advised them to let Hanna look for rooms for them, it would be very hard to board with their little children.

Well their coming makes me so anxious to see you all, it would have been as well for us all to have come together instead of keeping up separate houses all summer, but all is well that ends well, and I hope we will soon be all together anyhow.

Hanna & Della are going out to look for rooms this afternoon as Della is home, they won’t engage them till we hear from Bridget.

Hanna got new pen points last night but I didn’t know it till this morn when I wrote you.

Well goodbye dear folks and take good care of yourselves, I will send cards to some of the girls tomorrow, and write you the next day.  Love to all from Minnie.

Letter To Little Helen From Her Mamma

My dear Reader,  Minnie is beginning to sound stronger in her writings.  With all the available means of communication a 100 years later, it’s hard to comprehend how two people relied only on the postal service in 1910.  In this letter, it sounds like Hanna is making up her mind to take baby Edward to Charleston when she leaves.  I can’t imagine how helpless Edward must have felt when he read this bit of news.  After all, for 10 years of his marriage he wanted a son.  These letters do reveal that the women ran the households today and the man had not much say.  His main purpose was to provide and pay the bills on time.  Today, the man has too much say in the household-!  Because the nature of my business, Window Treatment Specialist, I am in a lot of homes.  I have yet to be in a young couples home where the woman has the final say on anything.  Even when she works and writes the check.  Yes, when you read Minnie’s letters we are all glad for the  modern conveniences, but, wouldn’t we all love to have control back in our running of the households?

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, AUG5, 1-PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well and are having a nice time.  Helen, Mary & Edna have gone over to grandma’s and we babies are at home with papa & are playing fine by ourselves.  We would love to see our little brother.  How is he?  Is he getting fat?  We are all fine & want to stay that way.  Papa will write you this afternoon Dear Mamma good bye from babies to Mamma.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, AUG5, 1-30P

Las Vegas, Aug. 5 ‘10.

My Dear Helen–Your letter received yesterday and you answered all my questions well, haven’t received Mary’s card yet, the one you wrote with your letter, it must have taken a trip somewhere like the first one Mary wrote to Edward.

We had a great big heavy rain last night it began to rain about six and kept on till ten, with fierce lightening, the streets look wet today but will have dried up before the day is over.

Well Helen dear, how do you like to stay at grandma’s now that she has moved, do you like it as well as her other house? Do you remember when we lived there, and the little dinners we used to have in the back yard under the cherry trees, you know Edna was a tiny baby then and we left her in the house and you, Mary and I would go out there and have a little dinner of apples, crackers & water, my land, but we enjoyed it, after dinner when we got cleaned up you would always say “Lets have our little dinner now.” and papa didn’t get to eat with us as he always was at the store.

I can’t write very well Helen as my pen is bad but it don’t act quite as bad as it did yesterday, maybe it will be well by tomorrow and we won’t have to get a new one.

I’m going to send two cards in with your letter for the twins, the two little Mexican girls brought them to me for a present, they are very nice little girls, their names are Orlando and Mary, Mary is a little fat girl like our own Mary.

The mailman just came and brought Mary’s card it left Charleston on the 2nd and today is the 6th, I think it must have been overlooked some place as it left when you letter did and we got them yesterday morn.

The man with the hiccoughs is still alive but no better.

Aunt Hanna is thinking about taking Edward home with her.  Ask grandma if they want him.  He is the prettiest little boy that ever lived, everyone here thinks so and I know all grandma’s folks would love him, so if they want him Aunt Hanna will take him home for the winter.

Well Helen dear I will close my letter as I want to put the cards in and my pen is so bad. Love to all from Mamma.

“Oh I cannot realize that I am soon to see you all….”

Charleston, AUG3, 11AM

Dear little Edward,

I got your card and it was beautiful.  I don’t want a black brother, I want you, because I bet you are the prettiest.  I wrote Mamma a card.  I will write you all another card some other day.  Good bye with love from sister Helen to Edward.

Charleston, AUG3, 11-AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  Isn’t this a pretty postal card?  I haven’t got my dishes done yet, but I will before you get this.  How is Aunt Hanna and Edward?  I wrote you a letter yesterday.  Edward will soon be 2 months old.  Good bye with love from Helen.

East Las Vegas, AUG3, 1-30P

Dear Edna,

Your pretty card received and you are a good girl to be helping papa.  We are all fine and Aunt Hanna is going to take Eddie home with her this winter,.  Tell grandma to be looking for him to come.  He will be company for them when you girls are all out here.  We have had breakfast and Aunt Hanna is washing.  Eddie is with his other mother.

Love from,

Mamma

Charleston, AUG4, 11-AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all nice & are going to the picnic this evening.  We are going to have our pictures taken this evening.  We were over to grandma’s yesterday P.M. when the man came so we did not get them taken yesterday.  Hope you are all well.  Will write you a letter this evening.  Good bye dear Mamma from Edna.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, AUG4, 4-PM

Las Vegas, Aug. 4, 1910

My dear Ed,

Will write you a few lines today that you will receive before Sunday.

We had quite a big shower yesterday and today is very pleasant so far, it is likely to cloud  and be thundering & lightening like fury by noon but it is like a barking dog that never bites, we imagine it is getting ready for a fierce rain but it seldom comes.

The jail-men are working outside our fence today, cutting the weeds, I hated to see them do that, as now there isn’t a green blade around us, no grass at all, some people has lovely green lawns, but they are lots of work, sprinkling all the time.

Edward awoke about five this morn and Hanna got up and took him down to the Mexican, he has been there since, Hanna just went for him and it is after nine, she has so much milk early in the morn so we want our baby to get his share, that other little pig never sleeps at all, scarcely, in the daytime so he gets more than hs share we think, she claims she has a side for each, but her own baby is so cross that she would do anything to quite him. I would think she is a very good woman, she comes up here about nine of a night to nurse him to sleep, she can’t talk any English so we sit and look at each other and make signs.

Our doctor is very busy these days, he is waiting on a young fireman that lives on the same block with us, the man has the hiccoughs now for three days and nights and they can’t be stopped.  Dr. McC. brought another doctor with him but no cure, the poor fellow will die they think, it wasn’t brought on by whiskey either.

Our neighbor brought us another loaf of that grand bread, Hanna doesn’t eat it as she saves it for me, I can’t eat a bite of baker’s bread, and this bread the neighbor sends is certainly good.

Mrs. Nolette came home, Hanna went to see her, oh she feels very bad she claims, she had every inch of her body examined while there, she had them examine her lungs in every known form, the doctor asked her what reasons she had to suppose her lungs were affected, she said she just thought maybe they were, she had no reason, she even had him to inject tuberculin, that is a sure test, well of course there was nothing wrong but a great big bill, there isn’t a thing the matter but a little nervous stomach trouble, brought on by her foolishness, while there, as sick as she was she bought a beautiful new hat and a afine silk dress already made, her poor husband is to debt to the eyes, and that isn’t all she did, he had two fine young married men working for him, they live neighbors to Nolettes and the Mrs. Nolette got mad at the women and claimed that they made her so nervous, it caused the last spell, well when in Denver she found two new men and wrote her husband to discharge the men without notice, and take the ones she found, poor Mr. Nolette had to do it, he wanted to give them notice but the mother-in-law told him if he did she would leave, so he fired them Sunday morn, poor men were in a bad fix, they wasn’t dreaming of such a thing, everyone in town sympathizes with them and an old Jew here is going to back them and set them up for themselves,, they were so well liked that people say they will put Nolette out of business, and it wasn’t his fault but the fool woman, they are barbers, by the way, but my land the barbers here are somebody each one of them men made as much as $125 per mo. and over, Nolette had the finest barber shop and bathing place in town, such a long tale about people you don’t know but news is scarce today and  I want to get the value of the stamp if I can.

Just received yours and Helen’s letter and card from Edna.  I guess Mary’s card will get here this afternoon, so you spent the day out again, you should do that often, because you won’t be there much long I hope.

Hanna was talking to the daughter-in-law of Edward’s nurse, and she said it wouldn’t be hard to get a good clean Mexican woman to keep house for us, she knew of several, Hanna is willing to stay and as good as gold, but Ed it isn’t right ot impose on her so long, Hanna looks bad, this is so different from her usual life, Della don’t get out anymore she has to stay with Mrs. Welch and the baby, and of course Hanna can’t leave me & baby, so it is hard on her, she says she is going to take the baby with her if she goes home.

McGovern & Della were down last night for a little while, a neighbor stayed with Mrs. Welch, we also have a lovely friend, that lady from Denver, but she is only going to be here about a week longer, going back to Denver, we will miss her so much, she has rooms with our land-lady.

Our land-lady is killing us, she is most awfully kind now about a week before the rent is due she gets so nice for fear we will move, then when we pay the rent she gets stiff again, she is as selfish a woman as we ever met.

My pen is so bad I can’t write it sticks in the paper, and half the time won’t make a mar, will have to invest in a new one.

I haven’t got  out of bed yet this morning, it is a little damp, anyhow I’m pretty weak yet, my temperature is always 97 4/5 in the morn and was 99 2/5 last night, hadn’t taken it for several evenings till last night, I was so in hopes it would be normal as I am in a hurry to drive out and see the town, I would like to pick our a location myself if I could, but I’m not going outside the gate until I am stronger.

Had a letter from Agnes yesterday we are so glad they are pleased with the move, wish I lived there now would love to look in on ma so comfortably situated at last.

Our Denver neighbors just left she made me feel so good, she said she wish I knew all the people she has met out  through the west that came here five, ten, twenty & thirty years ago on stretchers and how well and strong they are now, she is a darling woman, we never met a nicer person, she is far different from that Mrs. Nolette who came in and told me she thought I had the worst disease on earth, and nearly broke my heart, she has never come since, but she isn’t mad, Hanna let her know that I would be better without her.

If you folks make dear little Katherine mad  wish she would take her little bundle and come, oh I cannot realize that I am soon to see you all, it seems to good to be true, won’t we be happy, my I wish we were all settled, I didn’t mention the machine cabinet, or stand table in my last letter but we would want them, the cabinet and stand table aren’t very heavy are they?

The doctor still says that I don’t need to stay here after about a year and he thinks Colorado would be a lots more desirable place to raise a family but we can decide that later, I was thinking though in that case we could get along with very little and not bring anything out but beds, and table, we wouldn’t need dressers, wash stand, chiffonier, stand, machine cabinet or anything and that would save moving again, but always Ed, you might find some way of weighing the different pieces and then judge what it will pay to move.

We have had dinner, Hanna went after the dinner today, we had a plenty and leavings, you are going to have a big dinner, bananas & cantaloupes, well I’m forbidden both those articles so it wouldn’t do me any good to be there, they are both hard to digest, I’m also forbidden cabbage, but I ate some for dinner.

When I started writing this morn I didn’t have a thing to write about but am covering paper just the same, my pen is awful but guess you can read this, Hanna is over at the mexicans, she always waits over there, if not busy, she wants to see he gets enough, she is a regular old woman over the baby, he sure must be good to her all his life, he is so very pretty, everyone thinks he has wonderful eyes, they certainly are beautiful.

If I keep on will fill a few more pages of nothing, hope all are well, we had a little shower about noon so I will have to stay indoors today I guess, will write cards to some of the girls tomorrow and a letter to you next day.  Love to you, the children and all the relatives & friends from Minnie.

August 1910

My dear Reader,  It is August for Minnie and she is beginning to make plans with Ed to have him and the little girls move to Las Vegas soon.  As she mentions many household items, I can well relate to them.  Today, brother John Conaghan (Pekin, Il.) has the bed, as sister Sheila Conaghan Schlitt (Springfield, Il,) has the table and I have the quaint slipper rocking chair in my guest bedroom.  After reading this letter, these items have more special meaning……they have been to Las Vegas, New Mexico.

What shakes my head is when Minnie mentions how her cousin Bridget Fitzgerald Kintz had tuberculosis years earlier.  At least 10 years, for this is how long Minnie and Ed had been married.  I don’t understand how this illness took so long to get to a more serious stage.

Little Mary was always very attached to the Whalens.  They lived a block away and I am sure she found herself in their kitchen almost daily.  One of my favorite  ’stuff’ given to me by sister Sheila, is a carnival glass bowl which belonged to  great-Grandma Whalen.  I grew up hearing mom saying, “This bowl was known as Grandma Whalen Peach Bowl, because she only put fresh peaches in it.”  I display it today in my library with filled faux cherries.  I think of mom and a great-grandmother whom I never knew, every time I look at it.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard

AUGUST 1910

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, AUG1, 730P

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well & down to Grandma Whalen’s for the day.  Helen & I went up home & got your three cards from Brother.  They are nice.  Every one mentions that you will soon be well.  Hope you are will dear Mamma.

From your, Edna

Charleston, AUG2, 7-30P

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We went down to Grandma’s and stayed all day yesterday and played in the sand.  We played with the little Tirounan girl.  I got a postal for you with the picture of Little Red Riding Hood.  Good bye with love from Mary to Mamma.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, AUG2, 3-PM

Las Vegas, Aug. 2, ‘10

My dear Ed,

Received your two letters this morn, the one you wrote Saturday got in last night at 7 and the Sunday letter arrived this morn at 7, and I see your Saturday letter was mailed Sat. morn and the Sunday one was mailed Sunday evening, a person never can tell about the mails.

So you are still having rain, you bet I am glad we got away when we did, our rains don’t amount too much but it is always threatening.

Am glad the Charleston doctors all think so favorably of me.  I think I am very slow here.  I have been here nearly four months now, but if nothing happens to upset me,  I will get along better from now on, as I am improving right along,  Haven’t the temperature for several evenings, but I will tonight.

The freight is surely high, and our stoves are about the best things.  We would want our bedroom suite, our beds, folding bed, rugs, table, the rocking slipper chair, the other chairs are pretty rocky looking but still they are good, chiffonier, ice-cream freezer and all our dishes and kitchen utensils that are good. How about the refrigerator, it is very heavy isn’t it?  Well Ed, you could weigh them, you can tell better than, I know the table is very heavy as Pat Dugan and the man he had to help him could hardly carry it over to the old church that time, a good thing would be for us to try and get as much second had stuff as we can out here.

Am so glad John Dineen is getting better, it sure should be a lesson to him.  Is he at some hospital?

No the priest never calls.  They say if the regular priest was here he would, that he is very sociable.  I know he came by to say goodbye the day before he left for France, so I will wait till he comes back.

Poor boy, I don’t envy you the afternoon job of shaving, washing heads and bathing, my that is an undertaking.  I had to laugh here yesterday a lady was telling about a family where the father came out for his health, she said the son made the living, the father’s health go O.K. but by that time he lost his ambition and didn’t want to work anymore, so he did nothing, so I guess that is going to be my case.

I wrote cards yesterday to Ma Whalen, Mayme, Maggie, Mary Dunlap, Miriam Coady and little Topsy.

Poor man, are you down to one pair of pants?  Am glad you still take enough pride in your appearance as to have your clothes cleaned and pressed, most old women get over that when they have the care of house and children.

Edward is looking better, I’m very much afraid she don’t have enough for the two babies, but it is the best we can do until cool weather, then I think he can get along well on cow’s milk and other things, her own baby is such a monster that he wants to eat all the time.

Would love to see the folks in their new home.  Hanna would too.  I do wish we could get some good woman to stay with us this winter, Hanna is willing to stay but i know she will get very dissatisfied before the winter is over.  Of course we could get along fine with most any kind of help if it wasn’t for the baby, he will need a capable person to look after him and I don’t suppose I will be able.  Another thing even though Hanna is willing it would be an imposition to keep her so long, you know it is very tiresome to be with the sick so long, so I’m in hopes I can hear of some good help.

Well Ed, if John don’t go to N.D, how do you know but that man will cheat you, or will Tim be there in time to look after it, can’t get cheated anyhow, it is to bad about poor Roe Wasson’s bad luck, also that Hoddett, but he can stand it better than Roe, who has a little family depending on him.

Cliff McClannahan was down last night, his bean crop is sure go if the hail don’t come and damage it. Now he has a wife worth having, look what she has done this year while I’m laying around making trouble,  He is now looking for a house she will be in before long, They had their furniture stored here when they first came.  Dr. Mc was passing last night and when he saw Cliff he stopped in also.  We had the two for a while, but they left early.

Guess Kintzs have my letter before this.  I do hope this place will help poor Bridget and think it will if she only has the trouble in hr throat.  I remember years ago before we were married, I was over at Terre Haute and Bridget was quite poorly then, so it can’t be so bad or she would have been worse long ago, would love to have Bridget & Mary, but I’m a little afraid we wouldn’t be the best of friends long if Kate came, she is a sight to get along with.

Well it is thundering and lightening enough to rain a flood but will amount only to a sprinkle.  So the cherry tree is gone. Well was sure fine cherries on that tree in its day.  The yard looks bear I guess without any tree on that side of the house.

Mary’s months are very short, she should stay with grandma, because when she comes out here she won’t have any good grandma to go to, and she will be wanting to go back.

The filtered water is fine, don’t know what we would do if the lady hadn’t got a filter, the water is thick.  You remember Ed you wanted to get us a filter once but I wouldn’t let you?  My but I was ignorant and thought I knew it all.  You had better boil the well water and keep it on the ice while the river water is so bad, try and not get typhoid fever or that would upset all our plans for moving.

Mrs. Welch was here with her baby yesterday, he is a fine child, she had him baptized, named him Edward Daniel Boyd Welch, they are going to call him Boyd.  That was her maiden name, he is still very cross but it don’t’ hurt him any.

Am going to send for more postal cards today, haven’t began selling yet, am waiting for my sales ladies to come, they will have to earn their winter clothes that way.

I’m in hopes it won’t be but a little bit now till I’m able to go out, my temperature is still a good bit below normal, early in the morning it is 97 4/5 that shows weakness, but if my temperature leases it won’t take long to bring that up, I am so anxious to see the town, if we live in old Las Vegas the children can go to the sister school, but if you were to get a portion here it would likely be in East Las Vegas, the street cars connect them and it is not a long walk either, I believe it would be a nice thing for the children to go to the sisters school until they make their First Communion, don’t you?  The old Cathedral is in old Las Vegas, they say that is the second oldest church in the Union States, the oldest is in Santa Fe, when I am able to drive out I will look both towns over, it wouldn’t make much difference to us which town so we got a comfortable house at a reasonable price.

Well Ed, I guess there is no more news, hope you all will continue to do so well and that you will be out here a month from now, are you going to the county fair, try and go one day.  Love to you all from Minnie.

Minnie, “Now trading with the Indians.”

My dear Reader,  This post tells a wealth of information of life in Las Vegas, 1910.  Until Minnie moved to New Mexico, I am sure she never gave it a thought about New Mexico or how this yet- to- be- a- State was so totally different in weather and environment.  She fails in trying to give accounts of the surroundings, but, then, it might be Hanna had already written it to her folks and the letters were passed amongst the families.  For me, if I were a historian, I would love to have this chance in learning the attitudes and feelings of of newcomers to this raw territory.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUL29, 7-30P

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well.  Mary is down to Grandma Whalen’s & Helen is over to Grandma McCarthy’s.  So  I help papa.  It rained last night & I slept in the front bedroom by myself.  It is very wet this A.M.  Papa will write tomorrow.  He has all the clothes to put away & mend today, so he will have to hurry himself dear Mamma.  Love to Aunt Hanna & brother.

Edna

 

East Las Vegas, JUL29, 4_30P

Dear sister Helen,

Will write you a few lines before going out for the day.  I am to spend the day with my Mexican mamma.  Aunt H. is going to wash.  I have the cutest little black brother now.  He is a month old.  He isn’t your brother, don’t believe you would like him for a brother.  He is black.  Love to all.

From,

Edward

 

East Las Vegas, JUL29, 4-30P

Dear sister Mary,

How are you?  I have a new sister about your age.  Her hair is black and as long as our Mamma’s hair.  Will be glad when you come out here, Mamma said you wanted a little brother so you will love me.  I am so handsome.  Love to all my sisters.

From,

Brother

 

 

 

East Las Vegas, JUL29, 4-30P

Dear sister Edna,

Have you been to Grandma Mc since she moved?  Mamma says you three big girls were born there, so you must like that house.  We are all doing fine now.  Mamma is feeling better every day.  Aunt Hanna is bathing me now.  Getting ready to spend the day with my dark mamma.  They are good to me down there and walk the floor with me.

Love from,

Brother

 

Charleston, JUL30, 11-AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  Kathryn is playing in the water & I washed the dishes & Edna swept the room & papa cleaned up the rooms, so we are now playing.  I stayed at Grandma Whalen’s one night.  Dear Mamma good bye.

From,

Mary

 

Charleston, JUL30, 9-30P

Moving is certainly not a joke.  I used to envy movers, but never again.  Hope yourself & boy are well.

Love from all,

Agnes

 

East Las Vegas, JUL31,1-30P

Dearest little Helen,

Received your card this eve & was so glad to get it.  You are a sweet little girl to help grandma move.  Wish I was there to help you.  I think grandma will want to keep you all the time, but you Mamma wants you just as much.  Will be so glad when you are all here.  Mamma and baby are fine.

Love to all,

Aunt Hanna

 

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUL31, 1-30P

 

Las Vegas, July 30-10

 

My dear Ed,

Received your letter and Baby’s card yesterday.  No danger of Eddie beating Agnes L. time, he has nearly left us for good.  His Mexican mother loves him.  It was raining last night, so Hanna took over his basket and he stayed all night.  She said he was no trouble at all, but her own cries all the time.  There are so many of them over there that they have the baby spoiled.  Hanna told them that she didn’t walk or rock our baby.  She wanted to give them a hint not to spoil Edward.  Hanna said she really believed that old lady loved him as much as she did her own.  Poor little dear, he is so good and looked so near starved that no one could help but love him.

Welch’s baby is a fright.  He cries all the time.  His mother & Della are worn out.  Of course Mrs. Welch will get over it, but poor Della is nearly all in.  She has severe pains through her chest like I used to have last summer.  I’ll bet she is down in bed less than a month if the baby don’t quiet himself.  Her right lung is pretty much damaged and her left lung has had a touch too.  It is a shame for Mrs. Welch to let her kill herself.  That is to let the baby kill her.  They walk and rock him all the time.  It seems strange how our babies were all so good.  I think it is all in the way they are handled.  I know it is.

Had a letter from sister Bridget yesterday saying that cousin Bridget Kintz is in a bad shape.  Her doctor says it is tuberculosis of the throat.  She wrote to ask us about this place.  If George could get work here and about the girls work and how the climate was helping me. Also, if I thought it would help Bridget.  Well I told them that we thought George being a machinist could get work easy, as John could when he was here, but there are no factories for girls or boys to work in.  Then I said the best thing they could do would be to get a diagnosis of her care from her doctor, sent it to us and we could get our doctor’s opinion.

I haven’t been able to get weighed yet, so don’t know what I am gaining.  My temperature is 99 2/5 now of evening.  My pulse are still high but we don’t take them anymore.  They are so irregular.  But I’m feeling real good and relish my food so much more than I did.  I also sleep good and sound.

Now trading with the Indians.  Yesterday traded my blue wrapper for a pitcher.  They wanted 25 cents for the pitcher, so I said I would give him the wrapper for it.  He called his two companions and they examined the wrapper.  Every inch of it.  Then didn’t want to allow me but 10 cents.  It insulted me very much, so we kept Jewing.  They would hold the wrapper up, and at last, I thought they were making fun of it, so I said, “Give me my wrapper.”  They did and went on.  Finally they came back after holding a spirited conversation among themselves and we made the trade.  The wrapper was nearly worn out and too big for me.  You can also trade old clothes to the Mexicans for wood.  They are crazy for men’s clothes. So we can get rid of our old clothes here and get something for them.

So you had roasting ears.  Well how much do you pay?  We are going to have some for dinner for the first time.  They are 40 cents per doz. We got 10 cents worth.  He gave Hanna three good ones and one that wasn’t so nice he threw in.  She got them from the vegetable man.  He is a young Mexican and real good looking.  The Mexican are a mixed set of people.  They marry into the blacks and Indians.  One white man here married a Mexican woman years ago, they now have grown grandchildren.  Well this man became immensely wealthy.  They live in one of the finest places in town, but the white people won’t mix with his children or grandchildren.  They say his heart is broken over that.  He told a neighbor’s husband of ours, that he never knew what a crime he committed until he visited hs brother in Texas and saw how his highly educated family were respected.  His brother hasn’t nearly as much money as he has, so it is pretty hard on the poor man.  But I won’t be surprised if our Eddie marries a Mexican, he seems to like them so well.

Well poor Mrs. Welch just left.  She and Della are going up town to get the baby a buggy.  She got the nurse to stay with the baby.  Poor woman is worn out.  She said she would remember last Monday afternoon on her dying bed.  She said the baby cried all afternoon without stopping once and she cried with him.  She said yesterday she never ate a bit from breakfast till supper.  She couldn’t put him out her arms.  About 5 in the evening, she got time to eat 2 crackers.  Well he will be the death of the two of them and with all the crying he is as fat as butter.

We have had our dinner and had a rest.  It is now 2:30 o’clock so I will finish.   I can’t write you anymore on Sunday as we get the mail in the morn now, and my letter wouldn’t go out till Monday.

Hanna came back with the baby a little bit ago and she was very disgusted.  When she went after him the old lady didn’t see her till she stepped to the door and here she was, nursing Eddie, and smoking a cigarette.  She threw it quickly away and began fanning of the smoke.  It made Hanna mad, but she didn’t say anything.  The women go along the streets smoking the cigarettes.  It looks odd.

We sent for half pint whiskey by Mr Nolette and it cost 40 cents.  Hanna gave the old lady 50 cents and said to get a pint, but he only brought half.  Isn’t that awful?  No wonder there isn’t many Irish here.

Well  I guess the folks are settled in their new home ere this.  Agnes hasn’t written this week.  Guess they are very busy.  It is such a job to move.  Indeed Ed, I don’t blame you to be put to a stand when you think of the moving out here.  I wish it was all over and settled.  It will be September now in a month.  Oh I could scream out when I look at the way I am.  A year ago if I only had the sense I could have helped myself.  But no use crying over spilt milk.

Ed, when you have the picture of the house taken be sure and have the window blinds up and the curtains arranged so no holes will show.  That other picture of the house on 6th looked bad on account of blinds & gate.  So close the gate too.

Well Ed dear, you do remarkably well to write me a letter every day.  I didn’t get any this morn but maybe will this afternoon.  Glad the baby is nearly broke.  How I long to see you all.  It don’t seem possible we are to be together again, but that is a sign we will.  I never expected to come out here.  Thought something would turn up to prevent it, but we got here O.K.  So  I hope it will be the same about you.  I hope the move will bring back the good luck we always had before this happened.

Well Ed dear, I will close, have to take my bath soon.  Love to children, your mother & yourself.

Minnie

TURKEY HUNT

My dear Reader,

Have a wonderful and full Thanksgiving.

Denise Conaghan Snakard

“I’m in a big hurry to get well….”

I love the postal from 2 year old Agnes L. (my mother).  I “feel” her confusion and hurt over her Mamma having a baby when Agnes knew she was the baby the last time she saw her Mamma.  Another one of my favorite reads is the telling of the Las Vegas flies.   With air-conditioning today, flies is not a big deal.  Only with all the mules used in Las Vegas in 1910, of course, flies would be around.  But trying to picture Hanna with the flies at the Mexican house is comical.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUL27, 10-30A

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well, but very warm and I feel like being cross. How is brother Eddie?  Tell him I can pull his hair, for I am your baby and he can’t beat my time and don’t you let him, but spank him Dear Mamma.

From your baby,

Agnes Lucile

 

Charleston, JUL27, 7-30P

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  Papa is combing Mary’s hair.  Who scratched Edward’s face?  Agnes is in bed and Catherine is on the sofa, Margaret in on the chair.  How is baby boy Edward?  Edna has got her hair braided.  Good bye.  With love to Mamma from Helen.

 

Charleston, JUL28, 10-30A

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am up to Grandma’s to help move and they have almost moved.  Did Aunt Hanna get my postal card?  How is Edward?  You have to pay 2 cents if you go outside this postal line.  How I wish I could see you.   I am going to go out before three months.  Good bye with love from Helen.

 

 

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUL28, 11-30A

 

Las Vegas, July 27-10

 

My dear Ed,

Am sitting out on the porch this morn and will write you out here for a change.  Son Edward is here with me in his basket.  He is very well satisfied with the world since he found a black mammy.  Hanna took him down at 9-30 last night and let him nurse and he never woke till 5 this morn.  I believe this will be just the thing for him.  Poor little lamb was famished with hunger.  The Mexican woman is very kind.  She has had 14 children and looks young.  She has two married sons and six smaller children.  The rest are dead.  Well if Eddie gets as fat as her baby it will be grand.  Hanna says she never saw anything to equal his fat.  It makes it pretty hard on poor Hanna running up and down, but she would do anything for Edward.  She has a mother’s feeling for him.

Well I drank coffee this morn for the first time.  It tasted good.  I believe I am doing fine.  Haven’t taken the temperature for two evenings.  We had company at the time.  Last evening we had quite bunch.  Mrs. Emerson, the lady from Denver, Mrs. Ketmir, a neighbor, Mr McGovern and Della.  We enjoyed them all very much.  Then Mrs. Foster, the landlady, run over several times yesterday to inquire how the baby was getting on with the new nurse.  So we have lots of nice company.  Welch’s baby is a fright.  He has colic all the time.  Poor Della, he will be the death of her.  She looks awful bad.  She ought to leave or she will be down.  Mrs. Welch is a nice woman, but she never had to work in her life., so she is pretty much of a pet and is so helpless.  Poor Della is the opposite.  She always had to hustle, so it is her that has the most care of the baby.  She only goes to the store of afternoons.  She couldn’t stand working all day.  But this is harder on her than the store.  She don’t even get her nights rest now.

Well really, I am eat alive with flies out here.  I am writing on my lap and using one hand to write and the other to keep the flies off, so excuse writing.

Now I have come in the house.  They run me off the porch.  In the book they sent us of N.M. I read there was no flies here, but it is a lie and they bite worse here than in Ill.  Hanna says we have no flies here compared to Eddie’s Mexicans.  Hanna has to fan the flies off him while he nurses.  But the whole family are fat and healthy just the same.

I guess at this time the folks are right in the moving, if pa will let them.  Poor man, I guess he will be lost for a while, but it will be lots nicer for them if they don’t’ get tired of such close neighbors.  Still they will have the nice large back yard to sit in.  They mustn’t let pa put the cow in there and spoil it.  If the children go up there, which of course they will, look out for that cellar door.  You know it swings in and if it wasn’t fastened they would lean against it and go right into the cellar.

Have you found out about the furniture yet?  The lady from Denver said that when they moved from Michigan to Denver, they sent their furniture to Chicago to a firm there, whose business it is to ship furniture.  Then they wait till they get a carload going to one place.  that makes it cheaper for anyone moving, and that firm made a profit too.  Guess Seften would know about it.  Of course our furniture isn’t fine, but it is in the family so long that every piece would be like an old friend out here.  Still if it costs too much to send we won’t do it.  We already have all the expense we can stand.  So well do whatever saves a little money.  I’m in  a big hurry to get well so I can take in washing or something to help catch up.  I tell you I have been an expensive piece of property.  The doctor said he wrote you and said I would raise a big family  yet.  I said I was very glad.  I would be ashamed to face my God and not have but seven children.  I wanted to present my country with at least 15.  Any woman ought to do that good if they expect to deserve heaven.

Phoenix is only 1074, that is what the folder says.  That one we took form home gives the different altitudes.  But they say Phoenix is fierce in the summer.  I guess there is no doubt but this is the finest climate on earth.  If I don’t get well here I never will any place else.  It is far ahead of Colorado.  If they get the water irrigation, this will be the garden spot of the world.  I’m going to begin to be a Las Vegas booster.

The toasted rice flakes are the same as the puffed.  The puffed wheat is fine, we are using it now.  Get some for you and the children.  Both of you will enjoy them.

Mrs. Ketmir still sends us bread and wont’ take a thing for it.  If she don’t’ think Hanna goes for enough water, she sends it over.  She is a darling woman.  She started out looking for a wet nurse for the baby too.  found a white woman, but we had the Mexican first and she is so much closer that we kept her.  Our neighbors here are fine.  The new woman from Denver brought me the Ladies Home Journal the first thing.  They are all so thoughtful.

Ed, it made me mad to think people are still of the opinion you have a snap.  When I did that work they all thought I was worked to death, and it was my place to do it, and a woman’s work.  That way it wasn’t hard on a woman, but put a poor man in that place and it is terrible on him because it is altogether outside his place.  So can’t they reason anything out?  They haven’t a bit of judgment, So don’t let them bother you a bit.  If they don’t give you credit for all you have done all your life, God will.   You did wonderfully well always.  What man with the little you had to start with did as well?  Most men to have as  little as you had ten years ago, would be proud of themselves.  Think of the ordinary expense of keeping up a house and nine in family?  Think of the doctors bills for a family of children, their clothes, shoes and feed.  And, you did all that and saved money besides.  And, it was your head that made the money.  They make me tired.  I wouldn’t let it go with any of them.  Do your own crowing if others don’t.

The Dr. just drove past to inquire about us.  More than your doctors at home would do.  Oh the Charleston people are the limit.

Hanna just returned with Edward.  My he seems happy and that old lady is very fond of him.  Hanna is going to leave him there tomorrow when she washes.  Their own children look fine and strong and if they can raise them they can raise others as well.

Well Ed, I will have to cut my letter short as the mailman will be here in a minute and I want you to get this before Sunday.  I see you got the cards that I sent this time last Thursday.  Will write again Saturday.  Good bye dear Ed.

From,

Minnie

Edward: “I hope the poor little boy will pick up.”

My dear Reader, As brief as this letter is from Minnie, it reveals news about the McCartys (Minnie’s parents)move from their homestead upon arriving in Charleston in the 1880′s to another home, how far Charleston has laid gas pipes, and baby Edward’s feedings problems.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUL27, 6-30P

 

Las Vegas, July 26-10

 

My dear Ed,

Received your letters yesterday and today, also cards from Mary, Helen and Kathryn.  so you all went visiting Sunday as a sort of a farewell to the old homestead I suppose.  Well that is surely strange news that they are really going to move.  We have had cards from Agnes telling us but no letter yet.  Poor Hanna will be in a big hurry to set home.  She is so tickled and so am I.  Hope it is arranged conveniently and that they can have the gas up there.  Is it piped around that neighborhood?

Today is very hot.  We feel it very much.  That is the reason I didn’t write this morn, couldn’t get in the notion.  So now I will write a short letter today and will write again in the morn.

Well we are having a time with poor little Edward.  Nothing will agree with him.  Had to quit the malted milk, then put him on condensed milk, that wouldn’t do.  Then barley water, but he starved on that.  So Hanna and the doctor have searched the town for a wet nurse.  Finally found one today not a block away.  An old Mexican woman.  She has a baby a month old and lots of milk.  Her baby is as fat as butter and as black as the darkest of nights.  Hanna says its a joke to see the black and while babies together.  Well she has nursed him twice now.  It is going to cost enough, $10. per month just for the daytime.  She would keep him at night for $15., but we wouldn’t leave him at night.  There is a mob of kids there, and by taking him down late, he will only have to be fed twice during the night.  So Hanna is going to give him some milk or malted milk then.  The doctor just left, He takes as much interest in the baby as if it was his own.  I hope the poor little boy will pick up.  Of course that is another big expense added to our already great burden, but if it helps the poor little fellow, it would be a shame to let him suffer.  After his stomach gets straightened out he can go back on the cow’s milk.

The cards the girls sent were so pretty.  Edward is going to begin and send them all cards soon.

Well dear Ed, I can’t write anymore this evening.  Hanna is ready to go to town and must mail this.  Will write again tomorrow.  Oh yes, save those peaches if you don’t get to hungry for them.

Love to all,

Minnie

Last Known Letter From Las Vegas Doctor

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUL 25, 2-PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I went down to grandma’s and help her was the clothes and to dry the dishes.  Good bye from Mary.

East Las Vegas, JUL 25, 4-30P.

Dear little Margaret,

Your letter received and it was so nice.  I didn’t know you could write so nice.  Papa says you are a nice fat little girl and very sweet.  Hope I will see all my dear little girls soon.  The weather is warm here, just got papa’s letter and card from Aunt Agnes saying they were moving.  Don’t you girls fall down cellar up there.  Love to Margaret from Mamma.

Charleston, JUL 25, 7-30P.

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  Sister is writing this for me.  When do you want us to come out to New Mexico?  We got your cards this morning and sister got Aunt Hanna’s postal.  You said Edward was crying on the porch.  Good bye with love from Edna.

Charleston, JUL25, 7-30P.

Dear Minnie,

I got your letter this A.M. will ans. it tomorrow as it is very warm and I have the wash to get ready this evening.  We are all well, but warm.  Helen got Hanna’s card this A.M.  Glad to hear that you folks are all well and just keep that way.  Good bye.

From,

Ed.

East Las Vegas, JUL26, 4-30P

Dear Katherine,

Received your nice long letter.  You are a dear little writer.  So you want to come to New Ketico to Mamma?  Well you must come in another month.  We are all doing nicely.  the baby is on the porch now and I am going out there soon.  Aunt Hanna is just now buying apples from a man in a wagon.  Love to dear Katherine from Mamma.

MEDICAL LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUL26, 4-30P

OFFICE HOURS:                                                              DR. R.K. McCALANHAN,

2 TO 4 P.M.                                                                         OFFICE AND RESIDENCE,

914 EIGHTH STREET

EAST LAS VEGAS, N.M. July 26, 1910

Mr Edward Whalen

Charleston, Ill.

Dear Sir:

I have waited

this time to write you because I wanted to write good news and relate you to her condition that your wife is doing better now.  The temperature is coming down and she looks and feels better.  She gets out on the porch everyday for awhile and seems to enjoy it.  She does feel more encouraged, but it will require some time for her to get her temp down and build up her strength.  I will let you hear from me occasionally.

Sincerely,

R.K. McClanahan

Ed Has Troubles With Charleston Women.

Charleston, JUL 24, 6-PM

Dear little brother,

How are you?  I am going to see you.  I bet you are pretty.  You soon will be 2 months old.  You write me a card some time.  Good bye with love from sister Katherine.

 

Charleston, JUL 24, 6PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I wrote Catherine’s postal card.  We all got your cards yesterday.  I am going to write Aunt Hanna a postal card.  Good bye with love from Helen.

 

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUL 25, 1-30P.

Las Vegas, July 24-10

My dear Ed,

This is Sunday afternoon.  I took my bath and rested a while so will finish the evening writing to you.  Hanna went to the office this morn and got two letters for me from you and ma, and two cards for me from Agnes, then a letter and two cards from Agnes to herself, also, the Church Progress.  We got two magazines yesterday and three big bunches of Couriers, also, the Beach paper.  So we have all kinds of reading today.

We had quite a rain today and a little shower yesterday evening.  They cool the air and I don’t see as they hurt me.  I am feeling extra fine today and we noticed when taking my bath how my arms are improving, they are real fat.  On the whole, I believe I have taken a turn for the better.  I can’t stir around very good but it must be on account of keeping quite so long.  It puts me out of breath to walk or exercise any, but I will get over that soon.

One of our neighbors has a new filter and she says we can get all the water we want to use.  She is so kind.  Sent her daughter over with a bucket full yesterday.  Ed, our neighbors here are far ahead of the ones there.  They were the limit.  Especially one set.  Well I never heard of such news as that Brown woman has, if she comes again tell her the phone is out of order.  Not another thing brought her but looking for information.  You bet those things would talk.  You must have felt like I did about Jim Rosebraugh. It is strange she had to come there to phone.  Guess she didn’t get the ones she wanted after all.  Well you give her the cold shoulder if she comes again.  She won’t take a hint.

Ed, what is the name of that hair tonic you got me last fall?  Hanna wants to try it.

Glad you liked the good luck card.  Hope it will bring you fame and fortune.  I bet you laughed at the bunch of cards you received Sunday.  Well they looked so bare, and I am such a beautiful writer that I put the verses on and I thought the verse on yours very appropriate.

We got our dinner at the restaurant today.  It was fine.  We got one dinner and there was enough left to feed another.  We had baked chicken with dressing, mashed potatoes, pears, beets and lettuce, coconut pie, ice cream and cake, bread and butter, and soup.  All for 25 cents.  Its a a bargain for sure.

I see where Charlie Wiley & wife were drowned.  That was very sad.  Also, see where all our friends are coming to visit in Denver.  They are foolish not to come here.  Mrs. Nolette writes home that it is as hot as blazes there.  She is coming back home soon.

Margaret’s letter was fine.  I bet she is sweet now.  I always thought she would be a good deal like Mary.

How did Helen like her letter?  Yesterday was so warm I didn’t write very much.  Did they get the ribbons and handkerchiefs cheap?  I see in the Couriers where there was a sale on ribbons about a week ago.

Tapioca and ice cream sure make a fine meal.  Poor Hanna has to go every evening, rain or shine, to get me ice cream.  I could not finish my supper without it.  They give her two big dishes for a dime.

Mrs. Welch came down Friday night.  She looks fine.  Poor Della is the one suffered by the baby.  She is such a grand, unselfish girl and she worked awful hard during the time.  Now she is coughing and about to go under again.  If she goes, she won’t come out this time. She has broken down three times in six years.  I never saw a pluckier girl.  I know that McGovern thinks lots of her, but she said she would never marry any man.  She is too independent to be a burden on a man.  I never saw a girl I admire as much as Della.

Ed dear, I have to laugh at your troubles with the woman.  Is it any wonder a woman is sometimes cranky when she has to cope with other women?  You answered Mrs. Park’s right.  It is so much nicer to be around men than women.  They are so blame nosy.

Ma said she was up to see you Monday and heard my letter read.  She said your talk did her so much good.  Does ma say anything about coming with you out here?  She said she would like to, but I don’t see how she can.  Ed, if someone don’t come with you how can you manage?  You will have the State’s room, and can lock then in there, but you will have no one to help you at changes.  If you can’t get anyone to come, you can manage some way.  The porter will help you on and off.  there is the greatest respect shown the Stateroom passengers.  Maybe John will come as far as Kansas City with you, then we will meet you here with the cab, so you will be O.K.

Ed, there are some people here from Illinois and they brought their furniture.  It only cost them $50, but there is only the man and wife, so you might make inquiries soon and let me know, then if it is too high, we will be looking out for bargains here.  A woman is leaving now.  Mrs. Forbes came too and she wanted me to take some of this woman’s things, but I didn’t.  If she can’t sell them I said she could leave them in Mrs. Forber’s barn and if we wanted them later, we would get them.  I wouldn’t even promise I would take them, even if we moved here.  Maybe we could get others cheaper.  Hard coal is $9 per ton here and the best soft is $6.  Our neighbor said three tone of hard coal did her all winter and hearted her whole house, but she said for the last three years, the hard coal was very poor.  They had to let the fire out once a week to clean out the cinders and rocks.  Don’t you think at that rate Ed, that is, would be cheaper to burn hard coal if we could get a good second hand stove?

You say there are some very smart people in Charleston and some of the smart ones are gone, thank you.  Has Fr. Costello decided to remain?  I see they are giving lots of Socials to try and please him.  I wish he would come out here.  I don’t think much of those Spanish and French ones.

Kate hasn’t written yet and I haven’t written to Bridget.  It is so warm and now I try and sit on the porch some every day.  That takes lots of my time.  You should see me, my hair in braids and the shade on.  but what do I care when you don’t see me?  Well Ed dear, good bye, love to your mother and father and all the others.  Lots of love to you and children,

Minnie.

Letter To Little Helen From Her Mamma

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUL 23, 7-30P.

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  Sister went up town this morning and bought this postal.  she said it was for her, me and brother.  Good bye dear Mamma from Mary.

Charleston, JUL 23, 9-30P.

Suppose you will be very surprised at the unexpected news.  Hope you are feeling fine.

Love from,

Agnes

 

East Las Vegas, JUL 23, 4-30P.

Dear Mary,

Will send you the four little girls fishing,  Sent Edna the four little girls jumping the rope once a while back.  You must thank Aunt A. for getting you a nice dress and take good care of your nice dresses, so you will look pretty out here.  Love to dear little Mary from Mother.

 

East Las Vegas, JUL 23, 4-30P.

Dear little Edna,

How many cards have you now dear?  I have 125 cards. Am going to get a book to put them in.   I know you wouldn’t let a boy kiss you like the little girl in this picture did. Why don’t you go to the country with Aunt Mayme for a visit?  Love from Mamma.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUL 23, 4-30P.

Las Vegas, July 13 – 10

 

Dear Helen,

Received yours and Baby’s cards this morn, also, letters from papa.  So, you are afraid I’m not going to write.  Well honey, it has been so warm that I have only been sending cards to everyone, but papa.  He lets you read my letters to him, that way it is nearly as good as a letter of your own.

How do your new dresses look?  Pretty, I know.  Have you any dresses large enough to wear to school next fall?  When I‘m better, I am going to teach you to run the machine, then I will cut the clothes, you will be like a mamma to the other girls.  We can buy Edward’s clothes already made, papa will have to look after his wardrobe.

Edward notices everything now.  He loves to be talked to.  When you girls comes, he will be so glad to have so much company.  He received Agnes L. card, also, a card from Aunt Agnes.  He thought them very pretty.

Well, Helen darling, do you play much out of doors?  I wish you would dear, and keep the other girls out too.  Just help papa with the work, and then run out of doors.  A little boy has moved in next door to us and he plays out all the time.  A crowd of little boys comes to play with him.  They have little wagons and automobiles and have great times.  That keeps them good and healthy.  When you  come, we must get all kinds of boys toys for you and then you will enjoy being out.

Aunt Hanna has gone over to Mrs. Forbes to sew her dress.  Edward is on the porch asleep.

Mrs. Welch cam down last night.  She sent after some pop and we had a nice evening,  She didn’t bring her baby.  We have lots of nice company, but would rather have you girls and papa than all the company in the world.

Do you go to Sunday school now Helen and have your ever gone to Confession since the first time?  Do the Martins and Lillian Dick still live around you?  Does Georgia Lennie live in the same place?  When you write you can answer those questions.

How are both grandmas and grandpas?  You must ask Uncle John Whalen for one of his pictures for us.  We will forget how he looks out here, if we don’t have one.  He said he had one for us.

Well Helen darling,  I won’t write anymore today, it is very warm. Am going to send Mary & Edna a card today, and Monday will send the twins cards.  Guess dear little Agnes L. don’t care for so many, so will send her one next wk.  Does she look at them?  Love to dear little Helen and all the others from, Mamma.

Whalen Brothers, 1905

My dear reader, This author is taking some time off from Minnie’s letters to share with you a part of life in Charleston, Illinois through documentations of Deeds, Bank Notes, and photographs.  As I have so much Whalen history, I believe I have selected the best to represent the Whalen family in the early 1900′s.  Today’s post is the early history of the Whalen Brothers elevator. I start with the Note to the Second National Bank of Charleston.  I love the simple and honored  trust by both parties.  Not much paperwork either-!  Fires were common in the earlier grain elevator business.  If I recall, it had to do more with the build up of grain gases mixed with the dryness.  Thus causing a combustible fire.  If my reader is an avid Charleston historian you are going to enjoy studying the fire picture and marvel at the firemens courage and strength to carrying those buckets of water.  As for fashion, there stands Ed Whalen in the forefront in his suit and hat watching.  For sure, there wasn’t much one could do to put this fire out.  The last photo showing the rebuilding of the elevator should be interesting for all builders and architects in Charleston.  What is wonderful is the photo just being a glimpse into Charleston’s past.

John Whalen Note of 1/2 of his share in the elevator he bought with

Whalen Brothers, Dealers in Grain, Hay and Coal, Charleston, Illinois

Whalen Brothers 1912

Ed Whalen watches as his elevator burns, 1912

Building of new Whalen Brothers elevator, Spring 1912

If any readers is able to add to these photos any tidbit of information please share by commenting.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

Timothy Whalen Documentation After Coming To America

My dear Reader,  I am going to post for a while some documentation on my Great-Grandfather, Timothy Whalen, early beginnings.  Along with his brother, Patrick, the two worked on the building of the Ohio Turnpike before “jumping off the gang site” in the Edgar County area (Paris, Illinois) to begin buying up farm land as it became available.  Timothy arrived in America from Ireland at the age of 14.  Upon arriving, he worked for a New York shoe cobbler before setting out to find his father, William.  William had been a teacher in Ireland.  In coming to America the father, William, became the engineer for the Ohio Turnpike.  Shortly after Timothy’s arrival, Patrick showed up with his 3 maiden aunts who had been raising the 2 boys in Ireland..  It is not clear what happened to the mother.  To the best of my knowledge, she may have died in Ireland.   Note the two brothers each spell their last name differently.  I am not sure why either.  For both came to America in the early 1840′s.   The 1877 IOU note would have made Patrick almost 50 years old.

Timothy Whalen first farm purchase in 1851

In the 1840′s the two brothers worked on the building of the Ohio Turnpike until they had enough money to  purchase some land.  This is how the  2 brothers, Timothy and Patrick, ended up in Edgar County.

Back of Deed

Timothy Whalen's bachelor brother, Patrick, signs an IOU to 3 spinster aunts, 1877

Isn’t this a dear IOU note?  So charming.  So trusting.  Imagine a family IOU happening today?    This one is written in pencil-!!  From the handwriting and signature, Patrick had some education while in Ireland.  Patrick never married.

Bank President, Johnston, signs IOU for Timothy Whalen, 1881

I love the way this bank was simple back in 1881 and how the President of it was so involved.  My grandfather, Ed Whalen, was born in a log cabin in Granview, Ill. on his parents farm.  He was the youngest of 5 living.  One little sister, Maryann is buried in Grandview.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

“That old Dr. Starr claims he always knew my condition.”

I am working on scanning Whalen photos taken around 1910.  With progress, I will be able to post them the next time.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUL 21, 7-30P.

Dear Sister,

Rec’d your card this morning.  Hope you are feeling better.

Love from.

Agnes

Charleston, JUL 21, 7_30P.

We have been having nice cool days, but today is very warm.  Hope the boy is enjoying the warm weather.

From,

Agnes

Charleston, JUL 21, 11-AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well.  I have had my breakfast.  Edna and Margaret is eating their breakfast and Mary is done.  Catherine isn’t up yet.  Good bye.

With love from,

Agnes L.

Charleston, JUL 21, 11-AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  You never sent me my letter yet.  I wrote Agnes’s postal card for her.  Did Edward get Agnes’s postal card yet Mamma?  Good bye.

With love from,

Helen

Charleston, JUL 21, 6-PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I just got home from Grandma’s and went to Mass and Catherine went home with Aunt Agnes all by herself.  We are going up there this afternoon for our supper.  Good bye.

With love from,

Helen

East Las Vegas, JUL 21, 630PM

Dear Ed,

Received your letter and cards from Edna and Helen this morn,  It has been very warm up till now and it is raining. Am sending everyone a verse today and thought you would feel slighted if I missed you.

Love from,

Minnie

East Las Vegas, JUL 21, 630PM

Dear Helen,

Received your card this morn.  Glad you went to country and had a nice time.  We ordered our dinner from the restaurant today and it was good.  Edward is getting to be a nice big baby.  He has a great appetite.  We are all well as usual.  Love to Helen from Mamma.

East Las Vegas, JUL 21, 630PM

Dear Edna,

Received your card this morn.  You bet we will get Edna nice dresses when you come.  I guess Uncle John will bring you cards Sun. morn.  Goodbye dear Edna from Mamma.

East Las Vegas, JUL 21, 630PM

Dear little Kathryn,

Have been looking for you to walk in on us most any time.  Papa says you and Helen are coming.  Did you have a good time at Aunt Julia’s like we did last Fall?  Love from Mamma.

East Las Vegas, JUL 21, 630PM

Dear little Margaret,

How does all the rain suit you?  Does papa let you stand out in it?  I know that would be a great pleasure to little Margaret.  Take good care of baby Agnes.  Love to Margaret from Mamma.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUL 22, 6030P.

Las Vegas, July 22-10

My dear Ed,

Received your letter this morn, also Mary’s card, and your letter and Edna and Helen’s card yesterday.  Sent you all cards so you would get mail on Sunday, but after sending I thought maybe they would bother the children at Mass time.  There was always so much confusion at that time anyhow.

The weather is very warm here.  Clouds up and rains a little every afternoon nearly.  Only a few drops, but still that makes the air damp.  They say this is the warmest weather known here for years, but it don’t seem bad to us as we were used to so much worse at home.  I hope your cool spell will continue.  Your surely did do well in the country, but know you were glad to get home.  Home is indeed the best place with children.  People were always telling me how good it was to take the children and get out often, but they were mistaken.  I could keep them at home, and get some good rest, but to go it was terrible.  I always felt that trip to Maggie’s did me lots of harm.  So hot getting ready to go and so dreadful hot on the road.  I was weak to begin with, but that done me up.

I see by your letter Ed, that you have no rooster.  I asked about the rooster in my last letter, so I see the worse has happened, he is gone.  Hope you laid him away respectfully.  Poor little brown hen missed you the day you were gone.

You must be a good house-keeper to get through so soon.  That house was a mighty easy one to keep straight.  The work and cooking never took two hours a day, the children were the only work there.  On account of the three babies and the diapers. If I were you I wouldn’t keep diapers on the baby, but they might criticize a man as you were saying.

Am writing in bed. Thought I wouldn’t get up till after dinner.  We got our dinner at the restaurant yesterday and it was fine.  Roast beef and brown gravy, boiled fresh ham with cabbage, cooked tomatoes, mashed potatoes, corn bread, white bread, soup and blackberry pie, also butter and crackers for soup.  Well the one dinner made plenty for us tow, and had lots of meat left.  The beef and pork both were fine, cooked in large quantity.  It is so good and tender.  I don’t know how they can afford to give so much for 25 cents.  Mary ought to save her pennies and go to the restaurant once in a while.

The doctor hasn’t been here since Wed.  He never gives one  bit of medicine.  He thinks in my case, it is harmful.  Says to do any good, you would have to take it stronger all the time.  Then when it  so strong, you couldn’t go no farther.  One would be in a bad fix.

Well the doctor just left.  Said he was going to write you today.  I was telling him about those two from home who went to Arizona.  He said what was I kicking about, I hadn’t been here a year.  Which is true.  Guess I am in too big a hurry.  He says I am improving right along.  Said it would take my lungs a good while to heal up.  That the infected parts had damaged the area around them and they would need time to get over it.  He says the baby is in fine shape, strong and healthy, and by keeping him in the air, he will be none the worse by me being sick like I was.  Ed, you must keep the children out all the time.  It was an awful mistake for me to nurse any of them.  he says any woman with the least taint of tuberculosis should never nurse a baby, it is sure to infect them.  I wish I had understood those things sooner.  Now since we do understand, the thing to do is to do the best we can to rectify the mistakes.  We will have all the windows we can crowd in their bedrooms.  Should think that would be as well as outdoors, then we will teach them all we can, and they are all very intelligent children.  They will soon know more, than we do ourselves.  So that way I feel very much at ease.  Everything will turn out all right, with God’s help.  That is one good thing for Dan McCarthy’s children.  His Agnes never nursed any of them a minute.  That old Dr. Starr claims he always knew my condition.  Still, to save himself the trouble, he never told me to dry up the milk at once.  I’m going to have a good talk with him yet.

You people are killing me with your funs.  So Mary had to give ten cents each for her fans.  They must be very pretty, even if not as useful as Helen’s.  We never use fans here.

Ed did you ever give Tim’s children those little things I got for them for Christmas?  Wish you would, if you haven’t and if you can find them.  I think they were in the bedroom closet.

When you folks come out here, am going to put the girls to work selling cards. I can get them by the thousands and they will make a fine profit, by going to the houses and under selling the merchants here.  I know Helen especially will love to do that.

Am so glad you are going to have the picture of the house and yourselves taken.  You bet it will look good to us out here.  Tell Helen we will have our pictures taken when Edward is three months.  He can’t sit up good and straight till then.  He is very handsome, big blue eyes, and his hair is getting thick, and is so white as snow, a regular blond.

Well as to myself.  MY “temp” has been 99 3/5 for the last two evenings.  That is a little before 7 o’clock.  I am eating enough and sleep as much as seven hours.  My lungs feel very sore until I get all coughed up in the morning and then along in the evening the same.  He always says the reason the left lung bothers so much it is overworked.  When the right one opens up good that will be better.  I never noticed the difference in appearance in my lungs until a few days ago.  The lower part of my left ribs bulge out, as they should I guess, and the right side is flat.  He said that was caused by the weak condition of the right lung.   I didn’t breathe good down there like the other side.  He takes everything as a matter of fact.

This is about 2-30 o’clock now.  Hanna went over to Mrs. Forbes to do some stitching and I am alone.  Edward is on the porch asleep.  The iceman just came.  We have been in a fix for ice today.  The water is muddy and it has to be boiled and let settle, then put on ice.  So we have had to drink beer.  I take a little bit once in a great while.  Believe the milk and eggs are better for me, don’t you?

Well if you want to know how much strength I have, I’ll tell you.  The front porch is right outside my door and I went out now, twice in the last five minutes, to put the bottle in baby’s mouth and I’m completely worn out.  He has lost it again and is crying, but he will have to cry, I can’t go again.  Guess I’ll have to go and bring him in the house and hold it for him.  Well I brought him in and he finished his bottle, then Hanna got back.  She is now changing him.  I’ve come to the conclusion that there isn’t much to me.

Haven’t gone for the ride yet.  Guess the doctor has forgotten, but I haven’t been able anyhow.  The reason I wear my hair in braids is its cooler and easier to comb and I don’t’ care whether they think me pretty or not.

Our new neighbors are very nice people.  They are here for his health.  He has malaria.  They think this climate is much better than Denver.  Denver is so changeable.

It tried to rain this P.M., but gave it up.  Don’t you admire my scribbling?  I could write good if I only took time.

My sister Kate is a very poor correspondent.  Has only written once since her baby came.  I wrote her a card the same time I did Bridget, who answered long ago.

Well there isn’t much news.  We don’t take the daily here, it is 20 cents per wk.  We get lots of gossip from our neighbors, but it wouldn’t interest you much, so will close for this time.  Tell the girls I will send them cards, two at a time, from now on.  Tell Helen I will write her soon.  Love to all the relatives and yourselves.

From,

Minnie

“Mrs. Marshall and Eva Love were there and got better.”

Hi my dear Reader,  The one comment I will make is about cereal.  Please note the two cereals Minnie mentions and tell me you never thought to put it in the oven to get it warm.  Not at any time, have I given it a thought as to when they were invented, nor, I never thought  to  heat them up either.  Recently, there has been Mini Post Wheat advertise on TV to be eaten with warm milk.  Is anything new today?

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUL 19, 10-30A

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well & hope you are all the same.  We have had our breakfast & all our work is done up, so we are going to play.  It will be so nice to up up town with you & get nice things.  I like to dress up & that will please me better than anything.  It is nice & cool today.  Last night was very cool.  We all slept under the cover and kept warm.  Dear Mamma good bye,

From,

Edna

Charleston, JUL 20, 11-AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We all went down to grandma’s yesterday and we played house.  Good bye dear Mamma, Mary.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUL 20, 6PM.

Las Vegas, July 20-10

My dear Ed,

I am writing on the table and you can’t imagine how awkward it seems.  Have written on my lap ever since being here.

Today has been very hot.  It looks like rain now and have cooled somewhat.  I pity you folks back there, for our heat is nothing compared with yours.   I went out on the porch today for the first time and it made me very tired.  As soon as possible,  I am going up to be weighed.  We can get the wheelchair.  If I once knew my weight, then it would be an easy matter to notice improvement.  The baby will be two months the 9th of Aug.,. and if my temperature isn’t down by then, I ‘m going to another altitude.  I took the notion strong today.  The doctor was here, the first time since Sunday.  Said he wanted to give me a chance to get well.  I hadn’t made up my mind to move till after he left.  When he comes again will talk it over with him.  This altitude is 6383 and Phoenix, Arizona is only 1074.  Look at the difference.  Mrs. Marshall and Eva Love were there and got better.  I wish Agnes could talk with Eva Love and find out, if she can, how bad her condition was when she went there.  The doctor said this morn as my temperature remained right at 100, it showed more of a tendency to go down then up.  See it was higher a few weeks ago, now it is a little below. some evenings 98 4//5 s normal here.

I am now taking Mrs. Nolette for an example.  Wish we had known her sooner.  Of course she is a perfect fool over herself, but is better to be too careful than too careless.  I’m going to talk it over the next time he comes.  Actually I feel ashamed when I read my letter over.  Nothing but the big I all the time.

Well Ed, we have had something real nice lately.  Don’t see why we never had it at home.  Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice cereals.  I never noticed them advertized till we came here.  We haven’t tied the wheat yet, but the rice is so nice for a change.  Just put it in the oven to heat.  Try some.  Do you ever use the gas oven?

So Edna and Kathryn stills thinks of me.  Well, Margaret and Baby does, but can’t express themselves, and I know Mary does.  Wasn’t she the little girl that prayed so much last winter? So I will make an equal division between the children. will also remember their pa.  I know Helen will be willing to divide up.  There was too much for one.

A neighbor brought in a loaf of bread yesterday.  It was simply delicious.  She said she was going to send a loaf every time she baked.  We don’t want her to do that, as she is a poor woman.  So we are going to try and bargain with her to sell us the bread.  It would never do for Hanna to bake, as we eat so little. One slice a day does me.  It dries out so quickly in this high altitude.  We now have thought of a fine scheme.  On Sunday, Hanna went to the restaurant and got one dinner and it was more than enough for us two.  Before that we got the two dinners and had over half to throw away.  She is going to get our dinner through the week at times, for a change.  It is cheaper than cooking a dinner.  Besides the work and worry.  This was a new place and the dinner was fine.  Such is life among the rich.

Hanna was up to see Mrs. Welch yesterday.  She was lying on the lounge.  Still has the nurse.  Don’t even get herself a drink of water.  She is like the “bonbons” at home.  Makes me sick to see people so careful.

How are the folks?  Is you ma and pa still thinking going to the country?  Does Tim still talk N. Dakota, is Mayme and Joe as contented as ever, has Maggie been down, last, how is John?

I know it would be hot on the cars coming out here, but if you were here, it is much cooler than Illinois.  Still I wouldn’t have you come for anything while I’m at this stand.  Agnes said John was working at home now.  Ho nice, and it will be easier on ma.

You are like me about Helen.  I used to get very hurt at the way she deserted me at times.  Often thought I would send her clothes over to ma’s and tell her to live there, but she thought lots of us too.  Well goodbye dear Ed, will write again Friday.

Love from,

Minnie

“I think Fr. Costello is right about the moving.”

Lots of postal cards and a letter from Minnie in today’s post.  I love little Mary’s postal and the important accessory she must have when she goes shopping.  I am sorry Ed’s letters were never saved, they would have revealed his every day existence as a “Mr. Mom” and the raising of the six little girls.  From everything that was saved……and what was saved they were not all together in the 903 E. Jackson Street house for seventy-five + years, but found in prayer books, bottom of drawers, or in a bakelite circular collar box,  and not all in the wooden box.  It would have been Ed  who made this decision to not save them.  Regardless, Minnie’s letters do tell all and in this letter she is more detailed into describing what it was like to be a tuberculosis patient and the illness’  discomforts.

One surprising thing about writing back  in 1910, people were into abbreviating certain words, like: “wks” for “weeks”.  I wouldn’t have thought they were into this style.  Then, if I think about it, writing was the only means of correspondence, not only for relatives and friends who didn’t live near you, but, people wrote notes to their friends in town for this or that reason, because the telephone was not meant to be an entertainment device.  Nor did everyone have one.  By 1925 the phone was used more frequently to call girlfriends and gossip.  And teenage girls were into using it for pranks too.  I have letters Catherine wrote telling how she and some girls DID play a prank on a boy in his senior year of Charleston High and was convenience, “The telephone is the best invention for playing pranks.”

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUL 16, 9-30A.

Mamma received your letter & Helen started one to you today.  Hope you will continue to feel better.  Will write you a letter later.

With love from,.

Agnes

Charleston, JUL 16, 10-30A.

Dear Mamma,

How are you?   I lost the big red pocketbook and now I go with the little black one.  Good bye dear Mamma,

Mary

East Las Vegas, JUL 18, 6-PM

Dear Little Kathryn,

Received your lovely letter and want you to write soon again.  Did you have a nice time in the country?  I know you had fried chicken.  Edward would love to see you.

Love from,

Mamma

East Las Vegas, JUL 18, 1-PM

Dear Ed,

Was going to write you a letter today and mail this afternoon, but they have changed the P.O. hours and we have to go for our mail in the morn.  We didn’t know they were going to change until Hanna heard it at Mass this A.M.

We got up early this morn and it will be a long day.   don’t like to wake early, as I never take a nap through the day.  Guess you & children are in the country at the present time.  Received both your letters yesterday morn, they came together.

We are feeling as well as usual.  Had rain yesterday.  It lasted nearly half hour.  That is a pretty big one here.  Will write letter soon.

With love,

Minnie

Charleston, JUL 18, 7-30P

 

Rec’d Hanna’s letter this morning.  How lovely that your “Term” is decreasing.  How we would love to see that lovely boy.  Take good care of yourself.  Will write more later.

Lots of love from,

Agnes.

East Las Vegas, JUL 18, 4-PM

Dear Mary,

Received all your pretty cards.  Hope you & Edna had a nice time in the country.  Did you stay all night without papa?  I know Aunt Julia gave you a good dinner.  She always did Mamma.  Edward is going to send you all a card soon.

Love from,

Mamma.

East Las Vegas, JUL 18, 4-PM

Dear Edna,

Received all your nice cards.  Are you and Mary over to Grandma McCarthy’s this wk?  Edward likes you so much, as you look like him.  He says you are his chum.  Love to Edna from,

Mamma.

East Las Vegas, JUL 18, 4-PM

Dear Helen,

Received all your lovely letters & cards.  Am going to write you a nice long letter as soon as it gets a little cooler.  So you have two new dresses, how good Agnes is to you.  Did you go to the country with papa?  Love to Helen from Mamma.

East Las Vegas, JUL 18, 4-PM

Dear Ed,

Was going to write you a letter today, but it is very warm, so will treat you like the children and write tomorrow.  Received you letter this morn, and believe Father Costello’s advise the very best.  We are all doing well.

Love from,

Minnie.

Charleston, JUL 18, 7-30P

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I haven’t had my breakfast yet.  Margaret isn’t up yet.  I got your postal yesterday.  Uncle John brought it.  We went to the country yesterday, all of us, and stayed all night.  Good bye, with love from,

Helen.

 

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUL 19, 4-30P.

 

Las Vegas, July 19-10

My dear Ed,

Received your two letters Saturday, and another yesterday.  Haven’t written you a letter since Friday and this is Tues., so I guess you will think I am sick or very careless, but it is so warm.  Yesterday the heat was oppressive.  I felt very weak.

Am glad the painting is over and guess you are straightened up ere this.  I guess Con’s house is nice since he built on.  I wish you could sell our house for good money, then if I ever had to go back, I could go to Con’s house.

Nice your hens are laying so well.  Eggs are 30 cents here.  By the way did the rooster die?  He was so poorly when I left.  Have always been going to inquire but forget.

Hope you had a good time in country.  Have they many blackberries?  If they have, you might put up a few cans of juice and we could make some jelly.  Or,better still, make a few cans of jelly.  Sugar is very high out here.  We still have strawberries and blackberries on market, but they have always been 15 cents per qt.  Hanna has put up two pints of blackberries.  That is all the fruit we have up.

Well the doctor was saying Sunday what a sensible woman I was in comparison to another woman here.  He doesn’t seem to think I have softening of the brain at all.  So I didn’t tell him he said a while back, that I could watch myself and he wouldn’t come but once in awhile, and he has never missed a day, but he does nothing for me.

I think Fr. Costello is right about the moving.  Common sense told me that all the time, but my heart said differently.  It would be hard on the children and then another thing, the reasons you all didn’t come when I did was to wait and see how the climate agreed with me.  Well,  we don’t know anymore now than then.  My temperature is still at 100.  some evenings it is a little below, my pulse are high.  I cough up three times as much as I did when I came.  I had those boxes to spit in at the San. and one would last three days, now only one day.  My left lung hurts all the time, not bad, but all the expectoration comes from there.  When I get it coughed up the pain leaves.  I cough and gag every morning before breakfast very bad.  I don’t eat my breakfast till that is over.  That way I don’t throw it up.  I sit up a good deal now.  Would die if I had to say in bed much longer.  I’m sure it wasn’t helping me any.  On the other hand, I don’t spit any more blood, can lay on either side, my stomach or back, and can stretch my arms as high as I like.  I am sleeping better and eating fairly well. You see Ed, this is such an unnatural way of living, that it is no wonder I can’t eat or sleep right.  If I was like Mrs. Nolette, I would hike to another altitude.  Sometimes people do better in a lower altitude, but this doctor says this is as good for me as any other.  He sends some to lower places.  So I guess if he thought it would help me he would tell me so.

Mrs. Nolette took the bellyache last week, and sent for a new doctor that is here.  He is the only doctor they hadn’t tried.  Well, he is a great friend of our doctor’s and he knew Dr. Mc had been Nolette’s doctor so he called up Dr. Mc and told him that the woman was never so happy as when paying doctor bills.  The Dr. went and gave her a little something, told her to stay quietly in bed and came every day to visit, just to make a bill of course.  Well, bless your heart, when he came to call yesterday, she was up packing her trunk.  Off to Denver.  She had a pain in her stomach through the night and then made up her mind to go to her Denver doctor.  They sent a girl with her.  Look at that expense for nothing.  She paid out $10 to have her lungs examined not two weeks ago.  Nothing was wrong with them.  She says she never fools with a doctor, but couple days, if they don’t help her.  She goes to Denver, Portland or a place in Minnesota.  The poor old woman was over last night and told us all about it.  It is surely comical.  The people here furnish us lots of amusement, nothing like them at home.

Just received you letter of Sat., so I am four letters behind.  Your write such cheerful letters Ed.  They do me so much good.  Also got Mary’s card, letter from ma which Helen wrote and letter and cards from Agnes.  You bet we enjoy them.  Hope you can go to the country soon and be sure and enjoy yourself.  Isn’t it fine the crop is so good in N.D.  Will John go out to see about it?

So the doctor’s report was about like mine.  By septic,  guess he meant good, because I had no temperature before the baby was born, nor till the 9th day.  Only one evening, the coming of the milk caused it to go over 100, but it came down again since altogether.  I guess I am despondent a great deal, but I can’t help myself.  You know Ed, they eat meat out here on Friday, but I considered that wrong all my life, so now, I wouldn’t eat it here, even if it is allowed.  The same way with tuberculosis.  I considered that sure death all my life, never thought anything else.  So now Ed, is it strange that I feel so blue?  If it was only me to be considered I wouldn’t feel so bad, but I look years ahead and think of the children, and how you will have so much trouble.  If you had a different nature it wouldn’t be so hard on you.  I wouldn’t think those thoughts if I had the right confidence in God.  I would leave it to Him, but I’m not a good christian.  See that was I used to plan when well, we would be very suring at the present, then all the girls could go off to St. Mary’s for higher schooling, learn music, painting, singing, cooking and sewing.  In fact, they were to be wonders.  Now, we will have to let everything go and watch their health.  Oh if there is anything blue to think of, it comes to me without any trouble.  See the disease had such a good firm hold on me before that reprobate discovered it. But no use crying over spilled milk

Mrs. Welch is up now.  She didn’t get off the chair till the baby was two wks.  To hear them talk, you would think she was the first woman to ever have a baby.  They are very nice people and of course, this is the first time.  She will get over those notions in time.

Is Fr. Costello going to be removed or does he know yet?  I’ll tell you the Charleston Catholics are far ahead of the people here.  Here they are nearly heathens.  Have no faith at all.  I never see a priest.  The regular one has gone to France for the summer, and this Spaniard never has come by.  I even gave up the First Friday.  Don’t want to bother him, he knows I am here and never comes.  We met him at the San.  Give me an Irish priest every time.  I believe I wouldn’t have any religion long around those foreigners.  Did the girls and you get all the cards?  I got a big bargain in them, answered advertisements.

Well Ed, I will close this time and will write again tomorrow so you will get before Sun.  If John goes to the office on Sunday, I could write Thursday but he don’t always go does he?

Love from Minnie to you all.

“YOU RUN ACROSS PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD HERE.”

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUL 14, 12-30P

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I went up town yesterday and got a fan and some postals and I had a pocketbook full of money and spent it all.  Good bye dear mamma,

Mary

East Las Vegas, JUL 14, 6-PM

My dear Helen,

Was going to write you a long letter today but haven’t time so will send a card this time.  I’ll bet you are having a nice time this wk. at Grandmas.  Your letters were so nice.  We are all doing well & hope you are all the same.  Love to papa, the girls and Helen,

From,

Mamma

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUL 15, 6-PM.

Las Vegas, July 15-10

My Dear Ed,

Received you letter yesterday and we both had a good laugh at you experience in the rain long ago.

The weather is very hot her today, seems unusually warm.  I am sitting up today.  I can’t stand the bed any longer.  The doctor said I could sit  out to rest me, he also is coming to take me for a drive some morning when he isn’t busy.  We are getting quite chummy.  He calls me “Minnie” and “Sweetheart” and lots of pet names.  But he has a very beautiful wife, so I’m afraid my chances are slim.  Of course, if I had my health I’m not afraid, but I could get any man I put my eye on.  Married or single. But the way I look now, with my hair in two braids, takes some of the starch out of me.

The doctor has been in every day this wk.  He says they are nearly all social calls, so we don’t object.  Well, he has never let on he got a letter from you and we don’t either.  If he know I told you to write, he would lecture me about not believing him, so we don’t let on we know it.  I hope you have a good favorable answer by this time, as I am getting in a hurry to see you all.

I know the paint must be a terrible muss.  Would let the children wear their old rags till finished.  As it won’t come out very easy.

Poor little Edna didn’t enjoy the circus.  Poor little dear, don’t enjoy anything much, but nice clothes.  Tell her when she comes out here, I’m going to take her up town and let her pick out her own clothes.  And she can get as many as she wants.  Won’t that be nice?  Sorry the circus got drowned out.  Agnes said it rained  torrents all that night.  She made Helen a lawn dress and got her a lovely silk mull and is going to make it for her.  That is so good in Agnes, but it will cause her to work all her vacation.  I hope Helen will be making nice little dresses for Agnes’s children some time.

I see Mary still likes candy and manages to get it.  Good for Mary.  Oh but I am in a hurry to get well.  Won’t it be fine to watch the children grow up?  I hate to see them get big.  They are so sweet as they are now.  But I guess they will always be just as dear to us.

You asked me if we had new potatoes.  They’ re all the kind we have had for two months. Not home grown, and the apples are brought here in covered wagons by the Mexicans.  They come about 50 miles with them.  They don’t notice a distance like that here.  They make no more of 20 miles, than we did of three at home.  I don’t believe they raise anything here, but some few bring in butter & buttermilk so they manage to feed a few cows.  They charge 35 cents for butter and 20 cents per gal. for buttermilk.  We got some once, it was good, but I believe the sweet milk and eggs are better for me, and I can’t take everything.  I began taking 6 eggs yesterday.  He wanted me to, but I will have to cut them down.  My stomach felt a little off today.  I had been taking three only.

Be sure and take good care of that little go-cart, as we are not going to get Edward any.  You know, you can have that put in the baggage room on the train.  They don’t charge for them.  We have no scales and can’t weigh him.  We must borrow some.

I am still wearing the outfit I wore at home.  Winter skirt, flannel waist, heavy gowns at bed.  He says my circulation will get better.

I feel so much better sitting up.  I sat up a good deal yesterday and my temperature was less than ever, 99 2/5.  That is getting better.  For a while it was 102, that was getting pretty near to the limit.  If it had gone a little higher, he would have sent me home.  So I hope to God it will keep going down, and come up to normal in the morning.  It is only 98 of a morning.  When it is normal all the time I will get better.

Hanna went to look at some furniture and it was gone.  But there were some people who went away a few days ago, they had been trying to sell their furniture, but couldn’t, so they stored it.  Maybe we can get that cheap and it is already stored till our month is up here.  Don’t you think that is the best Ed, to store our own goods?  See, you couldn’t get anything at the second hand store, & it wouldn’t break you up to keep it.  I’ll enjoy going to look at it, if I only go back on a visit.  I hope that is the only way I’ll ever go back.  Sell the stoves as they would rust.  That is, if the doctor gave you a good report about me.

We don’t have much company anymore.  I still have my sign up and when the people begin to look at it, I read it to them.  There wasn’t many needed such a sign,but every place has it’s ignorant people and it hurts me badly.  They still send the flowers.  Mrs. Nolette herself hasn’t been here since.  She had a sick spell and was piled up in bed a whole day.  Nothing wrong but the bellyache.  That’s  what our doctor told us and her Dr. told him.  She has been to every prominent doctor in the U.S. with one complaint or another, and there isn’t a thing the matter.  Such are the French.

We have some new neighbors.  Moved in our landlady’s home.  She has furnished rooms.  The ones that moved out furnished us with gossip for a few days.  Those new people are from Denver.  You run across people from all over the world here.

Well, I just took my 3 O’clock lunch.  Egg and a glass of milk.  I’m cutting the eggs down again.  They would be good for me but the doctor said not to take more that I could stand.  He would like me to stand a good many.

Hanna still does the wash.  We hear such discouraging things about the Mexicans that she won’t want one here, and would be afraid to send the washing to their houses.  But maybe we will run across someone.

How did Mrs. Courtney’s sewing suit?  I’m afraid from the samples I saw before coming, it wasn’t satisfactory.  It seems you can’t hire a thing done and get it right.  I made six of them little rompers in one day, besides doing my regular work.  Any of their little things I could do up in a hurry and they looked good too. But my sewing days are over.  They say that is one of the worse thing on weak lungs.  I said that was a bitter dose for me to swallow.  Even now when children pass, I notice how their clothes are made and plan how easy Icould go at it to make the same for ours.

Well Ed, I guess I had better quit or will use the whole tablet.  Guess you will be through the painting when you get this.  It will be Monday AM. I guess.  Love to all the relatives & friends.  Am going to write Mayme and send your ma a cad before long.  Goodbye dear Ed,

With love from, Minnie.

“Please Do Not Discuss Lung Trouble Here.”

In this letter Minnie mentions hearing from her oldest sister Bridget, who relates how their cousin Bridget Fitzgerald Kintz just had a baby at the end of June.  Minnie hints her cousin Bridget may have tuberculosis too.  Soon Minnie will be hearing from Bridget Kintz.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

POSTAL CARD

East Las Vegas, JUL 13, 6-30P.

Dear Little Helen,

Rec’d the letters you wrote for grandma & enjoyed reading them so much.  Grandma will miss you when you come out here.  I will write her a letter tonight.  Mamma & boy are fine.  It stormed last night.

Love,

Aunt Hanna

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUL 13, 6-30P.

Las Vegas, July 13-10

My dear Ed,

Your letter received yesterday and found us all doing well.  Have just had breakfast and thought I would start my letter, then when I run out of something to write, will stop and say my prayers.  And when they are said, then I will finish.

We had what you would call a rain last night.  It began to rain about 8-30 and poured down till after midnight.  The thunder and lightening were fierce.  This is the first rain we have had that lasted over ten or fifteen minutes.  Guess the farmers were pleased.  You should also be glad, for what would you do if the bean crop was a failure here?  We couldn’t keep you here at all this winter.

The doctor was in yesterday, he says I am doing fine.  This weather has been against me.  It has been threatening rain for couple weeks and very warm.  He said that was the worse kind of weather.  Now that we have had a good rain maybe it would be better.  You know I told you that when it began to rain here it rains a couple months.  Well, they still say that is true, I hope for my special benefit that this year will be an exception.  Of course, for the well people that is delightful.  It settles the dust and cools the atmosphere.  They say it is fine, but it isn’t so good on the lungs.  They call people with lung trouble, “Lungers”  they don’t call them that before me anymore, as I let them know I didn’t like it.  They also have another terrible expression you never heard it there, it is “bugs.”  When they would be speaking of different ones with lung trouble, they would say such a one has “bugs.”  Well you may be sure they don’t say it before me more than once.  I also have a sign up over my bed saying, “Pleases Do Not Discuss Lung Trouble Here.”  I’ll fix them.
The next thing they will say is that I have been sick so long my mind is unbalanced.  Thank goodness there are only couple people that visit us that ever hurt my feelings, but they won’t anymore, we had a stiff understanding.  It was Mrs. Forber and her daughter.  Well the daughter was lovely till the last two times she came.  I didn’t let on the first time, but when she came back couple evenings after and began shooting her ignorance, I deliberately closed my mouth and would speak to her.  Well, she got up and left.  Hanna felt so bad, as they have been good to us, but I didn’t care.  So yesterday, the poor old woman came over worried to death.  Her daughter said I got mad and she couldn’t understand why.  Well Hanna just told her that it wasn’t the proper thing to discuss sickness in a sick room.  They were in the kitchen, as I pretended to be asleep, so they will be careful after this.  They keep us in flowers all the time, but shoot, I never was crazy about flowers.

My temperature stays at 99 3/5 now for several evenings, so it is improving.  The pulse stays about the same.  I can judge by looking at it.

Mrs. Welch and baby are fine.  Mr. Welch passes back and forth to work and stops at the door a minute.  Della Mc don’t get to come anymore, as she has to help there.  Then Mr. McGovern has been in Kansas for over a wk.  He is on a committee to  talk with officials and expect to be gone a month.  But some of the head men are gone, so he will be back sooner.  We miss that family as they came often.

The mailman came and brought Mary’s two cards, letter from Helen, and one from ma and Agnes, and from Katherine and Agnes Lucile.  We enjoyed them all.  Am going to write to ma and Helen this afternoon and send Mary a card.  Have sent for cards and will soon send them lots.  So tell them to look for lots after this wk.

Saw in the N.D, paper where oats and wheat would make a fine crop without anymore rain.  So isn’t that fine for us?  The flax will need more rain, but you had wheat planted didn’t you?

So Fr. Costello is going to leave.  He don’t know a good thing when he has it.  The poor priest here don’t hardly get a living.  Ours don’t get anything from the Mexicans and he only wants whatever they feel like paying from the Whites.  The Alter Society run everything about the church.  They owe $60 now and don’t know how it is to be paid.  I asked why they never had an Irish priest here, and they did have, but couldn’t get along with him.  They say the Irish priests are always hollering for money.  The people here wouldn’t put up with them.  The other nationalities take what they get and say nothing.  The priest here wouldn’t dare get anything for the church or alter, the ladies do all that.  So we won’t have much church expense here.  I’m so sorry Fr. Costello is going.  It makes me sick to think I won’t see him again.  I wish we could give him some token to remember us by.

Edward is well. Not as fat as I would like, but this s such hot weather.  Hanna is so good to him.  He surely should think lots of her.

Poor ma seemed worried as I’m in bed yet.  It isn’t that I’m too weak to get up, it is on account of the temperature,  I don’t feel strong.

After all our big rain the roads only look like they have been sprinkled with the hose.

People are surely good to you Ed.  Oh it would be nice to be at home and not be in exile as we are.  Poor Mrs. Forber says she is in exile.  I nearly died at her.  She is very comical and I paid no attention to her sick talks, as she is old.  But the daughter is young and intelligent, so she has to do what’s right.

Had a letter from Bridget yesterday.  She has had neuralgia awfully fad for two wks.  Her face is all swollen she said.  She said Bridget Kintz has a baby boy since the 29 of June and is doing well.  Said she was rather hoarse.  I bet poor Bridget is as bad as I am, if the  truth was known.  Those doctors there don’t know how to treat lung trouble.

Well Ed, I can’t think of anymore.  Ma says Helen is the only one of the children that would miss me at all, and I believe it.  The dear little girl.  And I was better to the rest, not that I loved them better, but I always expected Helen to know more than she should for her age.  Never mind, I’m going to leave Helen all my property, both real estate and personal, also my jewelry.

Love to all the children and relatives and yourself,

Minnie

Dear Ed- You asked how I was feeling Sat. P.M., but I forget. I feel well enough all the time, never have a pain anymore, no pleurisy at all.

POSTAL CARD

(Included in July 13th letter)

Dear Girls,

Have been neglecting sending you cards lately but will make up for last time soon.  Hope you all enjoyed the circus.

Love to all the girls from Mamma.

Dear Kathryn,

Papa will know I received the cards I was alarmed over, but yours and Margaret are two I already had.  Edward is fine.  He stayed at the Mexicans while we were out this morn.

Love from,

Mamma

My Dearest Little Helen,

We rec’d your letter this morn, also the one you wrote for grandma.  It was so interesting & we enjoyed it so much.  You must write for her real often.  Your are a lovely writer.  Wish you was out here with us.  Mamma & baby are fine.  Love to all.

Hanna

to Agnes Lucile, 2 years:

My darling little baby, do you think this picture looks like mamma and papa?  I am very anxious to see you my little pet.  Your little brother is well and will also be glad to see you.  Love to baby from Mamma.

Las Vegas Doctor Writes Ed, “Your wife’s general strength is fair.”

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUL 11, 730PM

Hope you are feeling better and also the boy.

Agnes

Charleston, JUL 12, 10-30A

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are going to the parade.  We went to the social last night.  Mary &  I.  We had a big rain last night.  Grandma’s coming up after us to take us to the parade.  This is Robinson’s Circus & they have big elephants.  How is the baby boy?  Dear Mamma, I am a good girl.  I like to dress up.  Our house is nearly painted.  We are all over with paint.  It sticks to us.  Good by dear Mamma,

Edna

Charleston, JUL 12, 7-30P.

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am up to Grandma’s to stay all week.  I went up town this morning to see the parade.  Mary and Edna went with Grandma Whalen.  I went up with Aunt Agnes.  Good bye,

Helen

MEDICAL LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUL 13 11-30A

OFFICE HOURS:                                                                   DR. R.K. McCALANHAN,

2 TO 4 P.M.                                                                              OFFICE AND RESIDENCE,

914 EIGHTH STREET

EAST LAS VEGAS, N.M.   JULY 13, 1910

Mr. Edward Whalen,

Charleston, Ill.

Dear Sir:                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Your letter of

inquiry in regards to your wife’s condition reached me yesterday.  My reply will state that your wife has been running a temperature of 100  – 101 & 102 degrees for several weeks.  The tubercular condition in lower right lung and upper front lung has seen more action due probably to the fact that she has recently gone through childbirth.  It is a very known fact that tubercular patients who are pregnant do well during pregnancy and usually lose ground immediately following delivery.  The birth was normal and no septic condition existed at time of labor or afterwards.  Once the lung condition showed immediate tendency to relate.  Your wife’s general strength is fair.  She is expectorating a great deal and her expectoration is filled with germs at present.  As to the ultimate outcome of this condition, time alone can tell one, but we have every reason to suppose she will begin to improve and go along as she did before the child was born.  The amount of activity is less today than it was 10 days ago.  Your wife grows very despondent at times which adds to her troubles, but we do everything till one improves to cheer her.  I should think it would be much better to give her some little time yet and see how she gets along with her progress.

I shall advise you upon time to news as to her progress.

Regards,

R.K. McClanahan

“So Dr. Iknayan wasn’t so powerful after all.”

There were two doctors in Charleston in 1910.  Dr. Iknayan and Dr. Starr.  Minnie began with Dr. Iknayan and ended up with Dr. Starr.  If you live in Charleston, you know, even today, where Dr. Iknayan lived.  Wonderful house on South 7th Street. I am fortunate to own the much coveted book, “Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Coles County”, 1906, and both doctors are reported in this book.  The book indicates, both doctors had sterling educations and gave back much to the community in services.  Tuberculosis was “the times” and very little knowledge was known until penicillin was invented.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUL 11, 11-30A

My dear brother,

How are you? Have you wear out your basket yet?  Papa got Mamma’s letter and is reading it.  Good bye dear brother from sister,

Mary.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUL 11, 4-30P

Las Vegas, July 11-10

My dear Ed,

As my letter was interrupted yesterday,  I will write a few lines again today.  In answer to the one I received from you yesterday, was so glad to get it.  Hanna went to the post office and she got your letter and Edna’s card and cards from Agnes.  We enjoyed them so much.  Ed, I appreciate your kindness so much in writing me so often, as the letters are always so cheerful and make me happy.  I wish mine were as cheerful, but I can’t help but feel a little discouraged, as I don’t improve faster.  The Dr says that on account of being the mother of so many children, my system was rather run down and I can’t expect to pick up and overcome my trouble as rapidly as a young girl.  Another thing against me, is that this wasn’t the first attack.  But he says I will get better and he said if he didn’t think so, he would tell me n a minute.  My stomach is good and will digest anything.  But, I haven’t much of an appetite and even if I haven’t, I always put enough down to be the greatest sufficiency.  Then, I am sleeping well again.  Have ever since last Wednesday night.  The dancing, street cars and all the other things that worried me, don’t bother me anymore.  I sleep naturally.  My temperature was down to 99/5 last night.  Lower than it has been for a month.  So when that gets normal, I will do lots better.  The temperature is 98 of a morning, and when it gets to be the same, morning and evening, it is a very good thing.  Ed don’t you get awful tired of me telling about myself?  But, if I tell you how I am now, you will understand my care better and when I tell you later that I am better you will see how it is.

So glad you are painting.  I do wish I could go back now.  That what we should have done last year, instead of my crazy work of tearing up the inside and ruining our nice home.  But I paid dear for my folly, it has cost me my life.  It was the first break in my health.  My worry was something terrible.  Ed, you must be very careful about the children while those painters are around.  You know they are a very poor class, that Cory.  And so many things happen to little girls.  A woman was telling a terrible thing here last wk. that happened to a ten year old girls, so it came to my mind when I heard the painters were with you.

So you quench your thirst with lemonade.  Well, I’m going to keep this beer, and you can drink it when you come unless I get started at it again.  If I do, there will be none left.  The more I drank, the more I wanted.

Poor Hanna has a miserable stomach.  It is sour all the time.  I don’t know what is the matter.  This altitude is very hard on some peoples stomachs and I believe she is one of those people.  Nothing sours or hurts my stomach.  We drink boiled water now, as the doctors put a piece in the paper telling the people to do so.  There is so much typhoid fever.

Ed,  have been thinking things over,  and I think the best thing to do with the furniture, would be to sell the two heating stoves  and maybe you can sell the gas to whoever moves in and the range is played out (the man said t would not last a life time and he predicted  the truth).  Well, that would dispose of the stoves, as they rust so quickly, then you could just put the sewing machine down to your mother’s and put all the rest in the barn.  Could board up a place in there for them.  If you sold the furniture, you wouldn’t get anything and if I didn’t get well, or if I did get well, it might only be for a few years.  We would have our furniture back there if we wanted to go back.  The way I have it figured out, is if I lived ten years, the children would be old enough to keep house for you and you would make the west your permanent home.  But, if I only lasted a few years, you would be better of there for a while, and for the little you would get for those things, it would pay better to keep them awhile and see how things turn out.  I believe that is the best, but you have better judgment than me, so whatever you think.

We got two bunches of papers and a letter from Agnes and Helen’s card this morn.  You were washing Mary’s head.  You will have to do that often this hot weather or something might happen.

Helen said on her card, that it was time for the mailman and it makes me think how unpleasant it was for you to get my letter that morn, as I wrote it when I was worn out for want of sleep, and here you were  to the eyes in work, because washing heads is fierce.  I hope it didn’t make you feel very bad, but I knew how you folks at home thought about me, that it was the change altogether.  So  felt you should be told better, but I feel quite confident with God’s help, I will get over that too, and I believer if you were here, I would be better.  Because while Hanna is as good as she can be, still you could always talk me out of many of my real and fancied troubles.  And Ed, if you think best, we will begin looking out for house & furniture.  It would cost over a hundred dollars to bring ours.  Don’t you think you could find out?

I see in the Courier where Ethel Graham is not doing well and her doctor is concerned about her.  I remember last winter I would have given all we had to have her chances.  She didn’t even have any germs.  So Dr. Icynan wasn’t so powerful after all.  I’ll bet if I began with him he would have ruined my stomach.  That is when I go so bad.  At first, he would have cured me, but its not the doctors that help much.

Hanna’s baby is well.  He has had a little trouble with his stomach, but the heat caused it and she has him very spoiled.  She couldn’t think more of him if he was her own.

Well dear Ed, I will close this time.  I really envy those letters I write, to think they will soon be with you and I can’t.  I hope it won’t be long till we quit writing letters.  If you was to get a good price for the house, I would sell.  If we ever went back we could rent cheap.  Love to the children, our folks and yourself dear Ed.

From, Minnie.

Minnie IS Beginning To Plan For Her Family To Join Her

This letter was found not with all the others, but, in my grandfather’s bottom dresser drawer.  I suspect it was due to Minnie’s comment about five-year-old Edna personality.

Baby Edward is a month old and Minnie is starting to process just when Ed and the six little girls should come.  Suzy Muchmore was Minnie’s best friend from early childhood.  The Muchmores  must have been in the framing business, for I have photos with stickers on the back, with Maurice Muchmore’s name on them.  I tried locating this family in Charleston, only to learn the family have all left by my generation.

Grandaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

 

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, Il., JUL9, 11-AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are well.  Grandma McCarthy was at Mass this morning & came over after.  Then Aunt Mayme & Aunt Agnes was here too.  Helen and Mary went home with Aunt Mayme for dinner, but I would not go.  I took the twins to Grandma Whalen’s after dinner.  Dear Mamma, good bye,

Edna

 

Charleston, Il.(sent in a letter)

(Minnie’s best friend since grade school days)

 

Dear Minnie,

Received your card and was glad to hear the boy was all O.K.  Ours is fine and dandy.  Called him, Clarence Edward.  Maurice said he thought we’d catch up with the Whalens, but he guessed you was trying to keep ahead.

From,

Suzy Muchmore

 

LETTER

(Envelope missing)

Las Vegas, July 10-10

 

My dear Ed,

All your lovely letters received and haven’t answered very satisfactorily, as I have been taking such good care of myself, but am going to break loose today and do as I please.  It seems ridiculous to be laying here and feel as good as I do.  I’ll bet I often was hard at work and in as bad of shape.

We had a nice little rain yesterday.  It made it so nice and cool, but you couldn’t tell it rained today.  You speak of the mud there, that would be a wonderful sight now.  We can’t realize there is such a thing.  I tell you, this is the grandest climate on earth.  If they only had farming here, and since people talk like they are raising wheat and oats right here, others laugh at all the farming that can be done here.  So we don’t know,  you can tell us the straight when you come and look around.

Mary thinks you would rather write letters than wash dishes.  Well it must be true, because it is hard to fool Mary.  Eddie was very much pleased with his medal and thanks Mary and Grandma very much.  I got 4 cards and your nice big letter yesterday and Hanna got 4 cards and a big letter from Agnes.  We got them all in the morn, but one that came from Agnes Lucile to Edward, came in the afternoon.  I guess we won’t get a thing today, but still Hanna is going to see.  We love our letters.

Sorry you lost your cream that morn.  Bet you were like Mrs. Cramer, “You could have cried”.  I had to laugh at Helen choosing the cards.  She could have got twelve for a dime couldn’t she?  And she only took ten, as they were not pretty enough to suit her.

And Edna won’t work anymore?  Really Edna is a very odd little girl.  I have thought so much about her out here, and she is different from the others.  She don’t care for anyone.  She used to like Mrs. Heebe so well, but she didn’t care much for either her relatives or ourselves.  By the way, Mrs. Heebe and daughter went to Arcola, so the paper stated. I know how you must have enjoyed their absence.  I always did.  Ed, you should read over the Courier every night.  It would rest you so much.  I always liked to sit and read after putting you and the children to bed.  It quieted my nerves after quarreling with you all during the day.

Hanna didn’t have any trouble with the checques.  She got one from Agnes, the same day and they took them without her ever endorsing them.  Ed, how about those numbers on the checque?  Do you begin one, two, three and so on?  We didn’t know.  I mean the little checkbook.

We have our beer still.  I’m not going to let it go back yet for a while.  I want that beer, But, I am now drinking 1/2 gal. milk every day and three raw eggs, besides my meals.  I haven’t such a very big appetite, but take plenty to get along on.  I eat lots more than Hanna.

Helen says in her card she don’t want to wait till September.  Well I don’t like to wait either.  I often sit and look out the window and think how grand it would be to see you all coming down the street.  I just feel like I would like to send a telegram and tell you to leave everything and jump on the train and come.  But the nearer I thought September was, that the Dr told me after the baby came that it would take me two months to be to where  I was before  he came and that would be in August.  Then, I figured, it would take me a couple weeks to get a little strength, so I could go around with a real estate man  to look at house, and there is the furniture to get.  But maybe I might be able before that.  I do hope I will, I want you all so bad.  The dear little children have all passed this morn going to Sunday School and they remind me so much of our own.  So tell Helen not ot worry, she will soon be here with God’s help.  Guess she thinks Mamma has gone back on her.

Well I’m afraid I won’t get to write as long a letter as I expected.  As I was writing, the doctor came in.  Then when he left, it was dinner time and and we finished dinner, Mrs. Forber came over with chicken and short cake, and she is here yet.  So, I had to finally excuse myself and say I had to finish my letter, but she is still here talking away.

I asked the doctor many questions.  I asked him how it happened when I came here, I was not running a temperature and now I am.  He said then that there was active process, but it was of a sluggish nature.  But now the blood had more room to run freely and that made the temperature.  But that I am better now, then then.  He said my lungs were in better shape.  then I asked him if he thought this place would benefit me.  He said he thought so, but it would be very slow.  Well, I said that it was  our intention to move here if it would help me, but that it would be a whole lot of expense ot come here and then not get to stay and have our home broke up back there.  Well, he said, he wouldn’t get rid of the house, that is to sell it, and then get just what we needed here and no more.  Of course, he can’t tell for sure, it is a risk like everything, but he thinks I would do better if we were together and I think so too.  This old lady  (Mrs. Forber)bothers me so I can’t collect my thoughts.  He says I will be very slow in getting well.  That it will take lots of time.  So here I will be, good for nothing, for many a day.

My letter has been broke into so bad now that I will have to quit for this time.  Hanna is going to the post office.  Not that we are expecting much today, but anything is worth going after.

I guess I mustn’t forget to tell you my temperature and pulse are the same, but he don’t think they are very bad.  So Ed, we are going to begin looking out for a house and when Hanna gets time, she can go up and price furniture.  We wont’ need so very much and you can bring the bedding and rugs from home.  You needn’t bring some of those bedclothes, they would disgrace us.

Well we will talk over this later.  I hope you are all doing fine.  The baby is well and very good.  Love to all the relatives and friends.

Your loving wife,

Minnie

Baby Agnes Writes Her New Brother

Imagine being two years old and trying to understand having a Mamma only though letters the past several months.  It must have been a difficult time for Baby Agnes to comprehend ,upon learning, Minnie has a baby boy to keep her company.

The temperature played an important role in tuberculosis.  Minnie kept a daily log of her temperatures and this book I have this book today.  When I first read it, it made no sense to me, but, once I read the letters, I understood the book.  In many of Minnie’s letters she comments on her temperature.  Then, there is the weight factor.  Fat must have played an important part in a marriage back in 1910.  At one time, I know it meant prosperity for those who came over from Ireland in the 1880′s and made their fortunes here, but had no idea this “thinking” was still around in Charleston, Ill. in 1910 too.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUL 6, 3-PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  It was Edna’s day to write, but she said she would not, so I will.  We are playing house.  Good bye,

from,

Mary

Charleston, JUL 7, 10-30A

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I want to go out to New Mexico before September.  How old is Edward now? What color eyes has he got?  Why does he scratch his face?  Good bye,

From,

Helen

Charleston, JUL 7, 7-30P.

Dear little brother,

How are you? You are not the baby, I am don’t think you are that baby, because I am Mamma’s little baby and you are not going to beat my time there.  I can talk and you can’t.  So good bye,

With love from,

Agnes Lucile

Charleston, JUL 8, 10-30A.

Dear Sister,

Hope you are feeling better and will continue to do so.  Catherine talks about N. Mexico so cute all the time.  Love to the boy.

Agnes

Charleston, JUL 8, 11AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I got your card yesterday.  Is that cathedral used?  It looks big.  Can you get up yet?  We have all had our breakfast and my it is warm here today.  We are painting the house a drab color.  It will look pretty.  We all watch the painter.  I like to watch them.  We are all well.  How is the baby boy?  I would like to see him.  My our baby is cute, she is just as cute.  Dear Mamma, good bye.  Love to all,

Edna

East Las Vegas, JUL8, 1-30P.

Dear Mary,

Received your card just now.  When are you going to the country?  You must be careful out there and not go about the horses, cows or pigs as they might hurt you.  Am going to write to papa tomorrow. Love from Mamma to Mary.

Letter

East Las Vegas, N. Mex., JUL 8, 4-PM.

Las Vegas, Fri. morn.

My Dear Ed,

Will write you a few lines to let you know we are all O.K.  I told you I wouldn’t write till Sunday, but don’t see why it would  hurt me.  But that doctor is a fright.  He wants to bore a person to death. There was a poor woman in here a while back and she said to him that she thought I could sit up and walk around some.  It would help me, as I looked so well.  He nearly took her head off.  You can’t cross him in a thing.

I am feeling as well as ever, and my temperature has been an even 100 now for two evenings.  So I think it is on the downward path.

I ate a big breakfast a little while ago.  Egg, two baked apples, and two large pieces of corn bread and a nice rich glass of milk.  We got such nine cooking apples out of a wagon from the Mexicans.  I’ll answer your questions as follow.  We get plenty of air here.  There is a vacant block on one side of us, the side I am on, so that I get the sun and air.  I now can chew the steak, and get the juice, but don’t’ care for butter.  My color is good, and I think I am gaining in flesh, but can’t tell much about the strength.  My hair has been coming out lately.  The heat here isn’t at all like the heat at home.  People here don’t have to sit around and sweat like we did there, and the nights are always cool.

Well Ed, I won’t write anymore this time as I’m in a hurry to get better, and the quieter I am, the better.  Love to all the folks and you & the children,

Minnie

Tell the girls I will write them later.  Received your letter and The Sacred Heart & cards from Grandma & Mary.  They were nice.  Also received Helen’s.  Sweet dear.  Many thanks for everything.

The baby is doing well.  Hanna is so good to him.  Never does she lose patience with him, and waits on him night & day. I want to write you a long letter, but guess I won’t till Sunday.

Good bye dear Ed from Minnie.

Big Celebration With July 4th Parade, Las Vegas, NM

In case you may have forgotten, New Mexico did not become a State until 1912.  Therefore, this letter is of significant historical value to Las Vegas, as Minnie writes and describes how the two towns celebrated July 4th.

What is so sweet and humble (and a hint of emotional sadness for me) is the postal card sent  by Grandma Whalen to her new grandson.  I am sure the “token” would have been a religious medal.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

Postal Card

(Sent in a letter)

Charleston

July 4 -10

My Dear Grandson,

I am sending you a little token.  Always keep it & say your prayers &  you will always be good.  Your sister Mary is sending you some cards.  Bye Dear from your,

Grandma Whalen

Charleston, JUL 5, 10-30A

You say it rained out there for a short time.  It has rained all day today.  Sunday seems to be our rainy day.  Love to yourself & the boy.

From Agnes

Charleston, JUL 5, 2-PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you? I can’t hardly write any more since school has been out.  So Edward sleeps in the clothes basket.  When can we all go out there to see you?

Good bye from Helen to Mamma.

Letter

Las Vegas, JUL 6, 2-30P

My Dear Ed,

I will try writing you today and hope I will do better than yesterday.  I wrote you a great long letter and when I read it over, it sounded so blue, I thought I would rather get none at all, but it was my mornings work, and I hated to throw it in the stove, but I did.  I hadn’t been sleeping for several nights and had an especially bad night just before writing.  So you can imagine the kind of letter I would write.  I slept good last night, thank God, and I feel bright and cheerful this morning.

Well I see the mailman coming.  Hope he has a letter from you.  Sure enough, he had one, and it was fine.  I’ll bet you managed to get out to get the dough.  Think you did right by going to Kenny’s and that was nice to take those shares out.  You have a good head on you.  3 per cent would make $30 in a year and that would get me a fine tailormade suit or you one.  Better than nothing.

Well the folks are surely good to you.  You get filled up once in a while anyhow.  Ham and honey are pretty good eating.  I bet this intense heat is awful hard on the old ladies being over their stoves.  I never felt the heat like I did this Fourth.  We had a big celebration.  Never saw anything like it in the east.  They gave a prize for the prettiest automobile and they were dreams.  You couldn’t see any of the original machine.  Some were covered with yellow and white flags, and you can’t imagine how beautiful they were.  Then, they had an automobile pulled by a team of oxen, showing the old and new way of travel.  Twenty in numbers and things too numerous to mention.  We could see it all from our window.  Then they dedicated a new bridge between the two towns, and had a big ball game in old town in the afternoon and the band played in our park all afternoon.  The park is only 1/2 block from us.  They played all the national cries.  It made me lonesome.  Then they had a dance in old town and one here that night.  Well, I was worn out watching the performance all day and the armory is right by us and the music kept me awake all night.  So that is the reason I felt so blue yesterday and wrote the bad letter, but I am all right now.  We would be so much better situated if you were all here.  This little house is right up against the street and I’m in the front room.  The room with door and lots of people come, whether I’m feeling well or not.  They come right in and sit down.  Maybe I would be just dozing.  So I got out of the habit of any rest in the daytime.  Another thing, it is bad for people who are not strong to have company, as the talk comes to you in the night and disturbs ones sleep.  If I only had a room like at home.  So if I wanted people in, it would be all right, and if not, I wouldn’t have to be bothered with them.

Mr. and Mrs. Welch are very happy about their boy.  She has a nurse and they don’t allow any company.  Only Hanna and one other woman.  And they can only stay a little bit, and Mrs. Welch must not talk.  Some people are handled with gloves.

Edward is doing fine.  He sleeps most of the time.  The malted milk agrees with him fine.  We are afraid maybe Welches baby will get fatter than ours, as she nurses him.  Hanna says she is going to keep Edward stuffed all the time.  Great rivalry now.

This is a new pen point, but it is one of those small ones and I can’t write very good with it.

You are under the wrong impression of this place when you say Charleston is more advanced in style.  I often think how mistaken I was.  Thought the children could wear an old thing here, sleeve aprons and the like.  Well, you should see the style of both young and old.  Let the children wear out their old cheap clothes there.  When they come to Las Vegas, they will have to be dressed.  You better watch the July clearing sales and get yourself a nice summer suit.

Well the children shouldn’t be very anxious to have me with them again.  Think of it, they go up in the loft, run all over town alone and what not.  I was scared to death if they were out of my sight a minute, for fear they would be killed, and here they are getting along fine.  There is a vacant lot close to us here and it is full of big stones that were hauled there years again for some purpose. Well it worries me to death, watching the children play there.  It’s the biggest wonder they don’t get killed, but they don’t, and they play there all the time.  So children are pretty cautious.

Don’t envy you the bath giving job.  This is fierce.  How do they manage about the hair washing?  This is a strange world.  There are two women who live by us, and they both gave up their children you might say, for men.  They are widow.  Now them women are left their health and here is me, that would stick to my children a do anything on earth for them.  Well I’m not left the strength, why couldn’t it had been them?  They are not fit to be mothers, and I would be a good mother if I were able.  But those things happen.

Our landlady is more than good to us now.  She is afraid we might move.  I told you she lowered the rent.  The old lady Forber brought us strawberry shortcake and flowers.  She says I ought to take an egg with wine in it every morning.  Says her son-in-law can get us wine pretty cheap, as he has many friends among the bartenders.  So maybe I will try that.  The beer is fine and agrees with me, but I believe maybe the milk is better.  I am gaining in flesh, but not in strength.  My temperature is still over 100.  I guess that keeps my strength down.  I had so much strength after the baby came, but in about ten days, when the temperature came, my strength began to go.

Well, the doctor just came as I was writing.  He examined me and said that my temperature was due to the active process that was going on.  Of course, I knew that.  He said there was a place on the top of the right lung, also, one at the bottom that was soft, and that nothing would help it.  Only absolute rest.  Says I must not sit up in bed, only a little bit, to rest me, but I will be all right after a while.  He says it will take lots of time.  I wrote you a lot about my condition in the last letter I sent you, but took the page out and didn’t send it.  But Ed, I think you ought to know how I am.  It must seem strange to hear I am feeling fine, but never a word about wanting you and the children to come.  I’m not all sure that I’m to get well.  I know my own feeling.  The doctor says I will get better, but it will take a long time.  I wish Ed you would write him.  Tell him that your intentions was to come here as soon as you saw the climate was going to benefit me, and that I tell you I am doing well, but still don’t seem confident enough to advise you to come.  Tell him all that and he will give you an honest opinion.

Well Ed, I won’t write again until Sunday.  Am going to get more cards soon to send the girls.  They have quite a bunch.  Am going to lie real quite and do the best I can.  He said to cut out the beer.  No alcohol of any kind goes.  Says maybe I can drink beer later, if not, he will get the people to take it back.  Don’t worry, as I am O.K. he says, but I thought I ought to tell you everything.

With love to all from,

Minnie.

Doctor Gives Minnie His Bill For Confinement

JULY 1910

My intent was never to post all Minnie ‘s letters and the little girls postal cards, but, with relatives reading them for the first time and contacting me, I find it best to publish all.  July will be keeping the postman very busy.  Also, July will be keeping Hanna on the run with baby Edward, as he begins to reject his feedings.

Today, President Obama would not need to work on a health care plan if it were 1910.  In this letter to Ed, Minnie writes about her Confinement bill.    Later  she will mention Indians, which makes me wonder if any were around Charleston at the time she was growing up. Probably not for she describes their dress code.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

POSTAL CARDS

Charleston, JUL 1  11-AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I cleaned all of the back house.  I sent up to grandma’s last night and I am home now.  Good bye dear Mamma,

Mary

Charleston, JUL 1, 11-AM

My dear little brother,

How are you?I got your postal card and I thought it was so pretty.  Good bye, Mary

East Las Vegas, JUL 1, 1-PM

Dear Mary,

How are you?  I got your cards and they are so pretty, just beautiful.  Just got papa’s letter and checque.  We are all well.  Eddie is out on the porch.  Sister Mary Cleman and Mrs. Abbott just left.  They are from the Sanitarium.  Have you many cards?  I will send Edna the next card.  Aunt Hanna is going up town.  Eddie is crying, he wants to come in the house.  Will write papa soon.  I love your cards.  Love to you, papa and girls,

Mamma.

East Las Vegas, JUL 1, 1-PM

Dear sister Helen,

Received your card and very glad to hear from you.  I am growing to be a big boy, and they all think me very handsome.  We are all well.  Mamma hasn’t had breakfast yet, but will have it in a little while.  I want some fireworks for the Fourth.  Are you going to have any?  They got me a clothes basket yesterday and not that is my bed.  this is the kind of corn we raise here.  Love to papa and sisters from,

Edward J.A.W.

Charleston, JUL 2, 11-AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am well.  How is my baby boy and Aunt Hanna?  I would love to see him.  I am going to see him some day and you.  My eye is getting better,

Catherine

Charleston, JUL 2, 11AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are playing house.  How is the baby?  He will soon be a month old.  My baby is crying and Catherine said that my baby was crying because Mary whispered.

Helen

Charleston, JUL 2, 11-AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am playing with Mary.  Me and Mary went up to Grandma McCarthy’s and had a nice time.  Good bye from.

Margaret

Letter

East Las Vegas, July 3 – 10

My Dear Ed,

Your letter received Friday with checque.  Sent Mary and Helen cards the same day.  Guess you have got them ere this and know that we got the checque O.K.  Hanna got a checque that afternoon, and Mrs. Forber brought us ice cream that evening and Mrs. Welch a loaf of bread, the next morn Mrs. Forber brought more ice cream.  They had a party and it was left, then the nurse woman brought us buttermilk.  So everyone was good to us don’ you think?

We paid our doctor bill, and he was very reasonable.  They charge $25 for child-birth here, all but Dr. Tiptar, the Catholic Dr.  They say he charges $50.  He is a villain, has no heart or conscience.  That’s the Catholic for you.  Well as I started to say about our bill, we hadn’t paid anything since May 16, and he only charged me for child-birth, and threw in the visits.  And he has been here every day since baby came and three times per wk. before that.  Oh he is a good man.  He said he knew we were under lots of expense and he wanted to be reasonable.  So now he has discharged me.  Says he will look in on me once in a while, to see how I am getting along.  He says I know how to take care of myself.  Everything depends on the temperature.  So all we have paid him since being here is $45, and he has since come enough for that.

We got a case of beer yesterday.  It was $4.50 per case of Budwiser.  It was the same price as Blue Ribbon, only the Blue Ribbon bottles are so small.  The cheaper beer was $4 per case.  Isn’t that high?  But the freight out here is something fierce.  I have gone crazy over beer.  Could live on it.  The Dr. told me I could have a little, a wine glass full, before meals, but I don’t want it that way.  I like a big glass full, about ten times a day, and it agrees with me fine.  Isn’t it a shame I couldn’t drink it at home?  I’m going to drink the beer a while, and let up on the milk some and see how it works.  The milk has surely helped, as I can see I am gaining flesh, but the Dr. says I need strength more than flesh, so maybe the beer will give me strength.

Well poor Mrs. Welch broke loose yesterday and came down.  She brought us a big piece of fine cake and said she was going to come down this afternoon to stay a long time, as her husband works in the yards now and she would be alone.  Then she was going to have him call Hanna early this morn, so she could get to Mass.  He passes here about six.  Well he didn’t call, but I was awake and called Hanna and she went to Mass.  But Mrs. Welch wasn’t there, so she went by to see what was wrong and the poor woman is sick.  The doctor has been with her since midnight and she has nothing yet.  I just thought, when she took such a going notion, it was going to happen soon.

The weather is warm here, but nothing like you have.  Our mailman is just back from his vacation and he says Kansas is fierce with the heat.  He was glad to get back here.  So I guess we have lots to be thankful for.  The weather is fine winter and summer, but that is all this place can boast of.

The baby is doing fine on the Malted Milk.  He is a handsome boy and the reason he doesn’t look much like the girls is because he is so boyish looking.  So many has remarked they never saw a more pronounced boyish face in so young a baby.  He has lovely eyes.  I think he resembles Edna a good deal, but some of the people think he looks like me.  Once in a while he looks like me.  Once in a while he has a look of yours, so we will just wait and see how he turns out.  I was so hopes he would look like you.

So Mary gets mad at people does she. Don’t blame her for going on the hunt of a good dinner, but I wouldn’t be afraid to bet whey they told her about the ice cream she came back in a rage.  I guess that last  postal card squared me didn’t it?  And the poor little thing sent me so many.  I’m so sorry she got her poor little feelings hurt.  I will do better after this.

Well I feel real worried about all the thousands your are clearing.  We are doing our best to help get rid of some for you.  And if you can’t get rid of enough, send a few thousand away to orphan homes, and pay of your church debt.  Get rid of it, because you have been too good a man all your life, to have the pesky money keep you out of heaven.  I’m afraid you will be a second John Rockefeller.  Well laying all jokes aside, it surely was a good thing you that land.  What would we have done if you had been in the elevator business during the last year? I would have had no chance at all, and as you say, that land makes as much profit.  I wish that it was paid for.  You might as well, because I’m pretty sure you will never want to invest in anything here.  You must brush up on your book-keeping and you might get a job at that here.  They say they pay fine wages here, and its lots better to work for someone, then to have your own money invested.  Of course, we could buy us a home after you got used to this place.

Well Agnes Lucile has a very little foot does she?  Bless her heart.  I gave it many a kiss.

We are going to have a big Fourth tomorrow.  Mrs. Foster and her husband came over this morn and decorated our house with flags.  I thought that was more than we did at home.

The street cars here just connect the two towns.  They don’t do much business, only on Sundays, when they go to the ball games.  The towns are so close together that everyone walks.  I’ll bet you won’t do much either.  People hold onto their nickels.

So you were disappointed in my last letter.  Well I’m sorry, I do get the blues sometimes and you are the only one I have to look to for sympathy, and you know that is my disposition.  I have just got to tell my troubles to someone who I think will sympathize with me.  And when I’m writing, if I feel blue, I can’t keep it out of my letter.  But, I’ll do better after this.

Ed, I don’t see why Ma couldn’t come out here for a visit.  Lots of old ladies travel alone.  This old lady Forber, goes on trips all over the U.S. alone and she is older than Ma.  I’m  sure she could get out here safely.  Of course I don’t like to urge her for fear of any trouble, but I’m sure the trip would do her good.  Agnes says she isn’t very well.

Ed you needn’t to plan on coming yet,  Not before the first of September anyhow.  I want to be sure I’m on the road to recovery, and hope I will be ere that.

Hanna put the money in the bank and got a bank book and checque book, so we are very business like.  Our landlady reduced our rent to $18, and she is more than good to us. So everything is going fine.

Had a letter from Mayme Friday.  Will answer when I can.  She wanted to know if I was able to help with the dishes.  Insulting a lady of culture and refinement that way.

Well, Hanna went over to telephone to see how Mrs. Welch was and she has a big boy.  Honestly, I’m ashamed to admit it, but I was down right sorry. I had been hoping it would be a girl, because she wanted the boy so bad and made so sure it would be a boy.  Well I hope she will have a dozen boys, one after another, and that she will be wanting a girl bad, before she gets one.  She has been so good, but I can’t forgive her for not liking girls.  Oh I guess I don’t’ mean that either.

Well, the wind blew now, and blew dust till even the spread on the bed is black with it.  It is thundering and think we will have rain for the Fourth, but it don’t rain here whenever it thunders by any means.

There were some Indians here yesterday selling their wares.  We got a couple pieces.  The Indians are horrid ugly and dress like clowns, especially the women.

Well I will bring my letter to a close.  Hope everyone is well, and I do worry about Katherine’s eyes.  Don’t’ neglect them Ed.  If Starr don’t help her, go to some good specialist.  Tell Ma to come out for a visit and it will sure help her.  Would love to see you all and think we will be together before long.

Love to all from,

Minnie

“If I die, I’ll forgive, but as I live, that blackguard Starr I surely will kill.”

“Blackguard”  may be more of an Irish slang brought over from “Ye ode sod” than  it being American in 1910.  For  ”blackguard”  is a word I have read in only Irish author books.  This letter does disclose a  starling slight from Dr. Starr which in today’s modern world of care, would never have happened.  How could it be that even Minnie “missed” the signs herself?  I can only conclude, Minnie must have been very , very ill in Charleston to not  have noticed herself.

The every day moments and thoughts of Minnie, bewitch my imagination, as I read her words.  She is only 30 years, and, without these letters, it would never have been possible to know her so young, a mother of 7 and as helpless as an ancient grandmother.  With foresight by Ed, these letters  were saved and without them, I never  would have had a  feeling of connection or bonding to Minnie’s existence.

Granddaughter, Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

POSTAL CARDS

Charleston, JUN 29, 3-PM

Dear Sister.

Hope you are feeling well.  It is so warm here.  How is the boy?

Love from,

Agnes

East Las Vegas, JUN29, 6-PM

Dear Edna,

Received Papa’s letter this morn that he wrote Sunday and Monday.  The weather is warm here but we don’t feel it like at home.  Tell Papa I got Extension last month and that the sub expires with July No. I believe.  We are all well.  Aunt H. is going up town now.  Eddie is doing fine on malted milk.  Love to Papa, Edna and all the girls from,

Mamma.

Charleston, JUN30, 12 – 30P

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well.  We are cleaning up this morning, scrubbing the porches and moping.  Papa mowed the yard yesterday.  Helen and Papa got letters yesterday.  Papa will write you a letter this evening if he can spare the time.  He is a very busy man.  Grandpa came just now and brought us lots of good things to eat.  Dear Mamma, good bye and love to you, Aunt Hanna, and Eddie.

From,

Edna.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUN30, 4 – 30P

My dear Ed,

Received you letter yesterday morn, Helen’s cards yesterday afternoon, and the little ones cards this morn.  What was Helen and Kath. going to the doctor’s for?  I’m afraid Kathryn’s eyes are bothering her, or maybe it is Helen’s stomach, she often complained of that.  I hope the villain will help them and not leave them as he left me.  I’m going to get even with him yet.

Well Ed, you surely are teaching the girls to look out for themselves.  I see they got their Sunday dinner at Grandma Whalen’s and supper at Grandma McCarthys, good for you.

You ought to visit the folks as much as you can, because if we get located our here, it will be very hard to never see or talk with them.  I guess we will be like the rest of the people here and get use to it.

I see you are having lots of rain.  We had a heavy rain Tuesday night.  It hailed pretty hard in some parts of town, but very little fell around us.  When it rains here it pours unmercifully, but only lasts about fifteen minutes.

Cliff McClannahan was here last night.  He said the baby was very much of a surprise to him.  He was telling us how they raise their boy.  They put him in a clothes basket right on the start, and set him outdoors , and he has lived outdoor all the time.  Well, he says he can go bare headed, and without an overcoat or mittens all winter, and he never takes cold.  Della Mc Intyre said it was a fact.  She works at the same store McC. does, and she said in the worse weather he would bounce into the store half clad, and his cheeks are always as red as roses.  So we are going to get a clothes basket today for our little man.  The doctor has been telling us all along to get a basket.  It would be making too little of him to put him in a box.  It would be fine if we were living here, we could have had porches and everything arranged the most suitable way.

Hanna went to look at a little cottage about a block from us, and they wanted $20 for it and it isn’t as nice as this one.   Well our landlady’s daughter saw her go,and when her mother came home last night (she had been at the mountain a few days) well, out ran the daughter the first things, and told her, and she came over last night and called Hanna out. Cliff Mc and Della and McGovern were here.  She said someone just telephoned her to see if this cottage was going to be vacant, and she said, not that she knew of.  Said she didn’t even ask the party who phoned what their name was.  So, of course, it was the daughter.  So I guess we can’t do any better.  Maybe it won’t have to last much longer.

My pulse and temperature was down last night.  If it only continues to go down, I will be O.K.  Last night it was 99 3/5.  It had been 101 and that was about seven in the evening.  It runs higher between 4 and 6 in the afternoon, but Hanna keeps the thermometer over on the dresser, so I don’t know what it is this afternoon.  I eat well enough.  I never eat steak anymore.  In fact, I don’t eat but very little meat of any kind, and I eat no butter.  those are two of the best things for me, but I can’t eat them.  I drink lots of  mild and take a few eggs, but I haven’t got my old time natural appetite by any means.  I mean the appetite I had when well, but I’m in hopes when my temperature goes down, I will be more natural as I every was.  I also cough a lot, but the doctor comes every day to see how I am doing, and he says I am doing lots better than he ever expected, and that I will get along all right.  And he always tells the truth.  I don’t suppose I ought to worry you by telling how I am, but I know you would rather be told right along how I am doing, because if I keep saying “I’m fine,” all the time, you will be wondering why I’m not altogether well in a few weeks.  The doctor says it will take lots of time.  He asked me today what I would do when he goes to Baltimore in September.  I said surely I would be through with doctors by that time.

Well I just had my beer and will have to rest till dinner time.   I take 1//2 glass beer about half hour before dinner and supper as a tonic.  Then the doctor says do nothing, but rest, for 1/2 hours before meals.  So will finish this letter after dinner.

Well have had dinner and rested a long time, so will continue.  We got a nice bunch of Couriers from Agnes this morn.  So we are posted on all Charleston news.  You never mention Mayme.  I’ll bet when she thought it over she felt hurt at the secrecy of the baby.  Tell her we didn’t know it was the case ourselves until just before I came out here.  Some more of Starr’s intelligence.  “If I die, I’ll forgive, but as I live, that blackguard Starr I surely will kill.”

Am glad Helen and Mary are going to Maggie’s.  Hope your Ma will content herself to stay a week.  They will have a fine time.  I wish you could get a little change also.

Mrs. Welch hasn’t been down since Sunday.  Poor woman is afraid to get far from home now, as she is looking for the new arrival.  Her husband traded off with one of the yardmen so as to be at home.  I’m so thankful that I am over that.  Just think, we would all be worrying about this time, and I am just a month ahead in every way, because the doctor says it takes a month or two to get over a Confinement.  But for being in bed, I don’t see but I’m as well as ever, if I didn’t know anything was wrong with me.

Tell the girls that Eddie scratches his own face and nose.  Aunt Hanna can’t get his nails short enough and when she don’t bring his milk to please him, he goes for hs face.  I guess he thinks it is hers.  He has got so now he watches the kitchen door for her.  Oh she has a great baby.  I would like for us to call him, “Eddie,”  but I guess if we did, others would take it to call him, “The big Edward.”  Ed, what did they call you when you were small?  I remember that little book Lizzie Burke gave you was “To Eddie Whalen.”  Wish the girls hadn’t destroyed it.  It would had been so nice for little Eddie.

How are both our mothers and fathers?  Do the fathers ever come to visit you?  Let me know how Katherine’s eyes are and who the medicine was for, if not for her.

Well Hanna is ready for town so will have to send my letter.  Was going to write more in answer to you lovely letter, but won’t get to this time.  Well write again soon.  Good bye dear Ed and love to you all from Minnie.

Brother is going to send Helen a card soon.  I showed him the girls picture and he liked them, but wanted to know where Agnes Lucile was.

Minnie’s Letter to Little Helen

What a task for Minnie to keep up being a mother 800 miles away as she completes her individual promises to her little girls.  In today’s post Minnie writes little Helen, 9, and a few words to Ed.  It is hard to imagine how a woman sick with tuberculosis while she carried her unborn, then giving a successful birth to a son, and still deal with the worries of mothering her concerns for the little ones back home. What strong constitutions women had back in 1910.  Helen loved the McCartys and spent as much time with them as she could.  She would continue being more devoted to the McCartys than her Whalen relatives throughout her life. The only family history she knew was the McCartys and if I asked her anything about the Whalens she never knew much.  It was Mary who loved and knew all about the Whalens.

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUN 27, 7-30P

Dear Little Brother,

How are you?  I am so glad to have you.  Mary got your card this morning and laughed at it when you said you scratched your nose.  She is glad to have it.  Good bye with love from, sister Helen.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUN 27, 3 -PM

My dear little Helen,

Received yours and Grandma’s lovely letters, and have got several pretty cards from you lately.  You can write beautifully, and I want you to write all Grandma’s letters for her, because you write like she talks.  As Grandma Whalen if she wants you to write for her.

Are you and Kathryn still at Grandma’s?  Do you help her with the dishes?  I hope Helen dear that your stomach don’t bother you much.  Do you think it is something you ate caused it to hurt you?

So Kathryn likes to sleep on the sofa.  Does she wear her rompers when at Grandma’s?  Did the twins get new hats this summer?  Maybe they won’t need any, as no one goes, but Kathryn, and she can wear Edna’s old bonnet, as Aunt Mayme got Edna a new one.  I didn’t get me any hat yet, but the doctor said today that I could walk out before long, then maybe I will get a new hat then.

Well Helen dear, I have one hundred cards now.  You dear little girls have sent me so many and they are all so pretty.  We are going to send for some more pretty cards, then I will send you girls lots of them.  They don’t keep any pretty ones in the stores here.  It looks very much like rain today.  We had a little shower last night, but you couldn’t tell it rained this morning.

I received Papa’s lovely letter yesterday.  Those letters always make me feel fine.  Then Edna’s card came this morn.  They are great workers there.  Edna scrubs, Mary washes dishes and Papa does a little of everything.  Tell  Papa I am drinking lots of milk, also eating a few raw eggs.  I quit eggs, since baby came, until a few days ago I began again.

Well Helen, we had baby baptized yesterday.  We are going to call him Edward, or maybe Eddie.  Isn’t that cute?

I am going to write both grandmas before long and you can answer for them.  I know you will.  You are such a good girl.

Well Helen, I won’t write anymore today.  My pen is so bad.  Tell Papa, Mary and Edna they will get letters soon.  Am going to write Papa tomorrow.  Write when you can darling, and be a good girl.  Love to you all from. Mamma.

Papa

Dearest Ed – For fear I might not get to write tomorrow I will say a few words.  The doctor said today that I got along better than anyone he had ever waited on with lung trouble.  He said he was fairly impressed that I didn’t have any higher temperature, and that I would surely get well all right, but it would be slow.  I cough up a great deal now, but they say that is the best before lungs heal.  It is best to cough a good deal.  So I am in good courage and hope to be better all together in couple months.

We had a lovely evening last night.  Mr. and Mrs. Welch, Della and McGovern were here and were more jolly than ever.  They are a circus.

Mrs. Nolette and her niece just left.  She is the French woman’s daughter.  She is going to get her husband to get us some beer tonight.  The doctor says for me to try a little for awhile, but it is 85 cents per quart here and they say it don’t taste like it did in the east.

Well Ed, if I keep on, will write a letter and I want to write you a nice long one tomorrow, so good bye dear Ed, with love to you all, Minnie.

I’m writing this letter to Helen and don’t know whether she will get it at home or at Ma’s.

Baby Edward Is Baptized By Fr. Revera

My most preferred written postal cards are by little Mary, 8.  Later, in life, as my sister Sheila and I played house, Aunt Mary was always our first call to be her, next would be saintly Aunt Helen (we called her Aunt He).  The postal card sent to her mama makes me feel warm to be able to visualize her playing house with baby Agnes (later, my Mother) and how Agnes had to have adored the attention bestowed upon her.

Minnie used great foresight in not bruising the little girls feelings as she carefully complimented each girl accordingly and made little fuss over her new born in her letters home.  In her letter I love the subtle manner in which the priest placed upon the baby. As for the baby’s feeding it seems he may have been colic………….or, he could be weaning from his mama’s medications. Something which was not taken into consideration in 1910.

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUN 24, 2-PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am up at Grandma’s.  The ice man just came.  I have had my dinner.  Last night Kathryn got up out of bed and moved out on the sofa.  Good bye dear Mamma and Aunt Hanna.

Helen

Charleston, JUN 24, 7-30P

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  Today I play house with Margaret and Agnes.  I was Mama, and put their winter caps on their heads and took them up town with me.  Good bye dear Mamma,

Mary.

Charleston, JUN 25, 11-AM

Dear Mamma, 

How are you?  We are all well.  I have had breakfast and scrubbed the back porch, and swept the front porch.  Mary washed the dishes and Papa changed the beds and made them.  Don’t you think we are great workers?  We are going to do a whole lot more.  I got your card yesterday P.M.  You hare having lots of company.  Dear Mamma don’t eat many raw eggs but drink lots of milk.  Good bye,

Edna.

East Las Vegas, JUN 25, 11-AM

Dear Helen,

Received your letter and cards and enjoyed them very much.  Received card from Mary yesterday and cards from Edna and Grandma today.  Would have written Papa today only we had company this morn and took my bath this P.M.  Will write him a long letter tomorrow.  Love to you, Papa and girls from, Mamma.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, N. Mex., JUN 26, 4-30P

Las Vegas, June 26 – 10.

My dear Ed,

It is Sunday morn and Hanna and Della just left with the baby to have him baptized.  It is nearly 8-30 o’clock.  Fr. Revera likes to baptize in the morn.  Poor little boy is all dressed up in his sisters clothes.  He looked very nice , but he has got thin.  The milk didn’t agree with him.  We have put him on malted milk now.  He seems to like the taste of that.  It is awful hard to get food to agree with a baby so young.  We will just have to keep trying until we find the right thing.

I intended writing you yesterday but we got up late and ever so many came in during the morn.  Then after dinner I took my bath, and I don’t like to do too much in one day.  So just sent a card.  You said in the card of Edna’s yesterday that you hadn’t heard from me lately.  Well Ed, I either wrote a letter or card every day last week.  Didn’t you get them?

Received Ma Whalen’s card and it is so pretty.  Tell her I am going to write her a letter as soon as I can.  I think of her so much.  It makes me feel bad to think how old she has grown in the last couple years.  I feel so lonesome to think I never can be around the old people again.  If I get better, you and the children can come to me, but we will have to give up our parents that were always so good to us, and it is awful hard to think of giving them up so suddenly.

Well Ed this is most too early to start a letter, so I will stop and say my prayers and finish later on when Hanna and Edward Joseph Anthony comes home.  Do you know I left that poor little fellow go without even a kiss and I had him in my arms giving him the bottle just before he started.  Really Ed, I have got to be an unnatural mother.  He is just like a little orphan.  But I don’t think it any use to grow attached to him when I’m not able to take care of him, but it looks inhuman.

Well it is after dinner.  The baby came home and looked very happy.  The girls said after the priest was through the baptism, he gave him a special blessing.  We borrowed a go-cart to take him to church and now that he is a Christian, maybe his food will agree better.

Sister Sirena and a Mrs. O’Darnell were to see us Friday.  Sister Sirena said she was going to give the baby a gold medal.  Mrs. O” O’Darnell is a woman who was at the San. when we were there.  She is from Montana and has four children at home, but she looks fine.  In fact, she didn’t look bad when she came there.  I noticed she still had a little cough, but she is so big and strong looking.

Has Helen come home yet?  She and Kathryn are great cronies.  The little boy who brings us eggs had his baby brother with him yesterday and brought him in my room.  Well his is only a year, but just the size Agnes Lucile was when we left home.  He looked so much like her.  His eyes and hair.  It did me good to look at him.  He is the first child I have seen since being here, except for those passing on the street.  Those people we get eggs from are from Ohio.  They came here three years ago for the man’s health.

Mrs. Foster, our landlady,with her husband and son left yesterday to spend a week in the mountains.  They have a two room cottage of their own there and spend their time fishing.  They say the snow is deep at the mountain tops. Some of our neighbors men went fishing this week and snowed balled each other, but we are having very warm weather.   I heard them say a man was here from Chicago the other day, and he said people here didn’t appreciate this climate as they should.  That in Chicago the heat was intense.  A man couldn’t wear a white collar a minute that it wasn’t wilted down.  He said people are being prostrated right along, so I guess that is the kind of weather your are having too.

Ed, you must be very careful of your old clothes.  Don’t cut up anymore pants to patch with.  Just think we can get rid of the black suit at last.  And while I think of it, this young man says to tell you that he has been under a great deal of expense lately, and would like a little money to square his accounts, if you please.

I do wish we could see some of the folks from Charleston, but, of course, it is out of the question.  And then, when people came that way and leave for home it makes for lots more lonesome.  So I guess we are better of as we are.  It wouldn’t be safe for Ma to come alone on account of her heart, but we would love to have her.  I know your Ma wouldn’t think of coming.

If any of the folks complain of me not writing them, tell them the doctor don’t approve of me writing very much, and I do all the writing to you and the children.  After a while I will write more.  Guess Helen is tired of waiting for her letter, but will write her soon.  This pen is fierce.  Hanna forgets to get the the pen-points.  Now it isn’t that I don’t feel able to write only I am very careful myself.  I am getting good and tired of being sick, and am going to do all I can to get well.  If I don’t hurry up and get well, I’ll do all I can to get worse, but I’m getting g fat in bed.

I have taken a notion for beer.  I think I will try it for a change.

Have taken a nap this afternoon and feel very rested.  Am going to send this letter as Hanna goes for the mail.  So you will get it a day earlier.  Am looking for a letter from you that will do me a world of good.  There is nothing i enjoy so much as your letters.  Will answer it tomorrow or next day.

Tell our mother that they can get Helen to write their letters for them.  She does fine.  I wonder what you are doing this afternoon.  Trying to keep cool I guess.  My I would love to go back on a visit for a week.  Your poor mother asking me if I was coming back this summer.  Wish I was able, but if I can go back a year from now, I will be fortunate.  They will have to come here to see us.

Well Ed dear, I will have to close now as Della has come by for Hanna.  Hope you are all well and don’t over heat yourselves.  Love to you, the children and all the relatives.

From your lovingly wife,

Minnie.

Every Day Living Between Charleston and Las Vegas

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUN 21, 7 -30P

Dear Mamma,.

How are you?  I got your lovely card yesterday.  I can jump the rope better than them girls, but would sooner bounce my ball.  How is the baby boy?  I would like to see him.  Mary and I are go to Humphine’s to get ice cream.  We are all very warm.  Dear Mamma with love to you all,

Edna

Dear Sister,

Hope you are feeling all right by this time.  The heat here is intense.  Helen and Kathryn are paying us a visit.  The rest are O.K.

Love from,

Agnes.

Charleston, JUN 22, 6 – PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am up to Grandma’s and Catherine she is not afraid.  I haven’t been home to read your card, but Aunt Agnes said you are feeling fine.  Good bye to Mamma and Aunt Hanna.

From,

Helen

Charleston, JUN 23, 11 -AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well.  Have had our breakfast and our ironing is done.  It was warm this A.M. but is cool now as it is going to rain.  Are you getting much rain?  Papa has not got any letters from you so long, are you sick?  How is brother Edward?  Is he growing?  Are you up yet?  Got your card, it is very pretty.  Dear Mamma good bye, From,

Edna.

My dear Minnie,

I am so glad that you have a son and that you are doing so well.  I feel sure that you will be as well as ever you were.  I would love to see you and my grandson and hope I will some day please God.  How soon do you think you can come home?  Can you come this summer?  Dear Minnie, good bye and God bless you.

From your,

Ma Whalen

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUN23, 6-PM

Las Vegas, June 23 – 10

My dear Ed,

Received your letter yesterday and also one today, also a long letter from Helen written at Grandma’s.  Helen wrote a letter for Grandma, and it sounded so good as Ma dictated and Helen wrote exactly as she was told.  The boy received Mary’s card this morn. It had gone way up to Albuquerque by mistake.  He was well pleased with it and smiled.  He wants me to send Mary a card from him.

The old lady that upset me that day is named Mrs. Forber.  She is French, and a well meaning old woman, only ignorant.  She brought us some lovely sweet pears one morning and a mess of mountain trout the next.  Her daughter wanted to bring over some chicken, but I told her I didn’t like it.  They would bring us lots if we would let them.  The old lady has quit telling such discouraging tales.  Yesterday she thought I was looking fine, lots better than her daughter did.  She was even looking out for a job for you.  A young man she knew got tired of this place and went home last week with his young wife.  They stored their goods in this old lady’s barn.  She befriends everyone.  Well she thought you might get his job.  I asked her what he did, and she said he worked down at the round house.  Well I said that wasn’t your line of business.  Well she said, “What difference did that make?  The work was easy, anyone could do it and it paid $90 per month.”  Well I said, “I wouldn’t want you to jump into anything like that you had never done, on my account.”  But she couldn’t see but what it was just the thing.  She interests herself about everyone and mean well.  She worries about us paying too much rent.  She found a cheaper place for us and Hanna went to look at the house but wouldn’t have it.  Here everything is so nice and clean.  All new paper, and newly varnished, but we are going to tell our landlady if she don’t reduce the rent we will move.  We like this little house ever so much, but if we can get one so much cheaper, all we have to move is our trunks.

You were telling me how sweet Margaret and Agnes L. looked.  Haven’t they got sweet little faces everyone of them?  It is remarkable to see such a bunch of perfect children.  Edward looks like Edna today.  His hair is white and his eyes and mouth are like her’s.  His hair will get dark, but I wish it was dark now, but I won’t anymore, blonds are the nicest.

Monday evening Mrs. Welch and Della and Mr. Mc Govern and Mr. Baker came down and brought in half a large watermelon.  It was Mc Govern’s treat.  They had eaten their share before coming.  So we had a part of it for the next day.  It was fine after being on ice all night.  We have a nice ice-box.

Yesterday morning Mrs. Forber came and spent the morning and Mr. Mc Govern came in the afternoon and Ella and Mc Govern last night, but they left early as Mrs. Welch was alone.  She didn’t come as she was tired.  So after they left the nurse came and a neighbor also came over.  She heard the baby crying and thought he was sick.  Well he wasn’t sick, but he was sore.  Poor little fellow had the running off and it was strong and made him dreadful sore.  He cried constantly.   Hanna tried everything, and the nurse went up town last night for a remedy she knew and fixed him up.  He is getting better, rested well last night.  That nurse is so kind.  We are going to have the baby baptized Sunday, with God’s help.

We are having very warm weather too, but I don’t fell the heat.  I haven’t been out of bed much yet, but feel strong.  I got up a few days ago and walked to the other room and my legs didn’t have the shaky feeling they had after getting up the other times.  I feel very strong, as well as ever, in my life, but I  cough a good deal and still have temperature.  The doctor says to stay in bed and lie still, but I can’t lay still in this hot weather.  I also have a good appetite, and am taking that tonic we brought from home.  My arms look larger and more solid than before baby.  So you had ice-cream Sunday for the first time.  Well isn’t that a shame and I have it everyday.  You should get the children to get a little bucket of ice-cream to bring home instead of going alone.  Then all of you could have a dish.

I had written cards to Maggie and Mayme before receiving your letter.  Will write one to Miss Berner later.  I really shouldn’t write so much at present.  Does Maggie ever come down,a and have any our girls gone to the country?

Well Hanna is taking a nap, so I got out of bed now and went into the next room and I feel as well and strong as I did in, but of health.  I wish the temperature would go down and I would go out and hunt up a house, buy furniture, engage the job at the round house and send for my family.  Wouldn’t that be fine?

Did Mrs. Courtney get through with the sewing?  Helen said Mrs. Tutuiler was doing the washing again.  Hope she will continue she was so nice. They say there are lots of good Mexican women here that comes in to wash, iron and clean up so we won’t have to work ourselves to death.  I worried over that a while.  People said they steal so bad it wasn’t safe to have them around, and I wondered what on earth we would do for help, when Hanna went home and you went to work.  But see, we can get plenty help, and the girls can do lots, so we will be fine.

Hanna has her hands full now.  So many diapers to wash and clothes for the baby.  She keeps him so nice.  Then the cooking and this country is awful to dirty the houses.  Maybe you would just get the floor mopped up and the place swept and dusted, when the  wind will rise and fill the place with dust.

Your letter of yesterday is over in the dresser drawer and I don’t want to get up again to get it.  So if there are any questions I will answer in the next.  I slept fine last night.  My sleep is getting to be so natural.  Have slept better this week, than for nine months.

Well I’m like Helen and Mary, can’t think of no more. When I have just about finished a letter, I feel like it would be so nice to crawl in the envelope and go with it.  Will write nice letter to Mary, Helen and Edna soon.  Edna’s letter was so nice, so was Mary’s.   Helen is going to bring home 15 cents when she comes.  It will buy you a soup bone.  Love to you all dear Ed.

From,

Minnie

Had my letter ready to send just now and got Edna’s card.  She and Mary are going for ice-cream.  Be sure girls, and bring it home, then Papa and the rest will enjoy it too.  Mamma

Minnie Discloses she is “Homesick”

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUN 18, 12-30P

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well.  This is a very warm day.  We were all over to grandma’s yesterday and last night.  We are all playing under the apple tree in the sand and are having a fine time dear Mamma.  Love to you, Aunt Hanna and E.J.A.

From,

Edna

East Las Vegas, JUN 18, 1 – 30P

Dear Margaret,

How are you?  Do you and baby still chum together?  See those pretty kittens?  They look so mischievous just like you always did.  Mamma is longing to see you and all the others.  Love and kisses from Mamma.

Dear Katherine,

So you stayed at Grandma’s all night.  You are a great little visitor since Mamma left.  It seems that sister is good to you and takes care of you like a little Mamma.  Am expecting a letter from Papa this P.M., hope he won’t disappoint.  Love to Kath from Mamma.

Dear Mary,

Am writing Papa a letter, but it isn’t finished and Aunt Hanna is going to town, so you will get this card ahead of Papa’s letter.  Your two cards were so pretty.  Had a letter from Grandma.  Helen wrote it for her.  She says she is going to stay with Grandma all week.  We are all well and hope to see you all before long.  Love to Papa, the other girls and yourself.

From,

Mamma.

Charleston, JUN 19, 6-PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I just got home from Sunday school a little while ago.  The baby was trying to button my dress this morn. Good bye dear Mamma from Mary.

Dear Brother,

How are you?  I am so glad to have a little brother.  I would like to tickle your little feet.  What are you doing now?  Good bye dear brother from sister Mary.

LETTER

East Last Vegas, JUN 19, 12 – PM

E. Las Vegas, June 19 – 10

My dear Ed,

Just now received yours letter and Helen’s card.  Yes Ed, we received all the cards and letters.  Maybe sometimes I forget to mention them, but they come just the same.

Well this is my 11th day, but I am still in bed.  The doctor says what I have been through with, acted on me as though I had walked too much or taken too much exercise, but I never before got through a Confinement as easy as this one.  I felt lots stronger all along than I ever did before.  That old woman that came in a few days ago hurt me some.  It seems I have had a little temperature and my pulse have been up ever since.  She is a well meaning old soul, but rather ignorant.  She is now looking out for a house for us as she thinks we pay too much.  Her daughter was here this morn, after Mass, and talk about clothes.  She had on a $150 dress and a hat  with three gigantic plumes.  It surely cost a fortune.  The old lady had told us the price of the dress, and she has a dozen as fine as that.  She is so nice, but I hope the old lady won’t come back.

Had letters from Bridget and May Dunlap this week.  Bridget would love to have us in Denver as she thinks Maggie and brother would b e so good to us.  But the Welch family are so kind here, just like good relatives and so jolly.  They came down the night after the old woman was here and turned all her talks into a big joke, until we laughed ourselves sick over it all.  They firmly believe that people should live, laugh and love.  That is the best way if one only had their health, but I can never be so very happy until connivence that I am sure of my health.  The doctor says I have a wonderful recuperating qualities and to keep up good spirits and I will gain rapidly.  He is going to give me a little tonic now for awhile.

So you still doubt the boy.  I bet when you see him you won’t claim him at all.  He doesn’t look like you, me or any of the children, nor can we trace resemblance to any relative.  So Charleston people will think it was a girl came and we traded some one for a boy.  He is a fine, pretty, fat little fellow.  But honestly, I see so little of him and never miss him even once, so he doesn’t seem like mine at all.  I held him today while Hanna went for mail, but he slept all the time.  He sleeps all day and isn’t very cross at night either.

I have slept well now for two nights.  Am so glad if it only holds that way.  It will be grand if I get back to sleeping, as I haven’t slept a good night for nearly a year.

Am very sorry to hear you are having the wash-woman trouble.  Maybe e it would be well to go back to old Mrs. Ray.  Surely it is warm enough for the children to drop their heavy clothes, then the work won’t be so much.  And I wouldn’t change all the sheets every week, if they didn’t need it.  It is very aggravating to be hunting a wash-woman.  That was all the work we had to hire, and I always thought how nice when the girls could help, we wouldn’t have to bother with one.  But really Ed, if I ever am with the children again, I will teach them to be lazy and keep out of hard work.  That’s the way to live.  Look at your mother, Mary Whalen, how big and strong and don’t turn a hand.  That’s the way to live, she never will hurt herself.  I don’t think our Mary will either, but Helen and Edna will have to be held back.  Not but our little Mary is a very good girl, None better.

Good morning dear Ed.  Will try the pencil as that pen was very poor.  Have had breakfast and will finish my letter.  Slept real well again last night.  Hanna is going to wash this morn.  The baby is lying on my bed now while Hanna makes him up.  Just to think the difference between this baby and the last on the 12th day.  The other time I was able to take full charge of the house, and have a racket with the Mrs. Robert’s about Norma’s wages.  Do you remember about you telephoning me that Robert’s had the Countable down at the elevator?  Well how firm  we ere then.  As soon as I got out of bed, the twins began to pick up, and the baby was so good, and I got so big and fat.  My land it was paradise.  I believe everything went so grand for a year, so that when we were let down, we would come down hard.  Well we surely did.

Isn’t Mary a good girl?  Washing dishes and was also going to help you iron.  Oh I feel so sorry to think you are in such a fix.  I do hope and pray that I will soon get better or die, so that you can make some arrangements.  It is a terrible life for a man.  Indeed if I had dreamed of bringing such misfortune on you I would never have married you.  But I thought I would be such a help, and this is the way I am.

Think it would be nice to paint the house and would get the work done by the cheapest way possible.  When you were in business no one paid you more for coal than they had to.  What color did your mother paint her’s and what color are you going to paint?

Had cards from Agnes yesterday.  Helen asked me who our company was, well it was Edward, Helen.  How do you like his name?  Aunt Hanna wishes Helen was here to take care of him when she goes to town, but I guess Papa needs Helen worse than we do.

Well Ed, don’t you think Dr. Starr had his nerve to tell Mrs. Heche our business?  You should tell him what you think about it.  Her of all people.  Don’t think I blamed you a bit about not telling the news of the baby.  It is none of their business and I know exactly how you felt about it, but they were bound to find out.  Well I’m glad we showed them all we could have a boy anyhow.  But dear me, I wish we stopped with our six girls.  Can’t see why I wanted a boy so bad, but I got so provoked at people always bragging on their boys.  They acted as though it was a shun on the people that didn’t have them.

Ed, how is Mrs. Pendergast?  I see her daughter Mary will graduate from the Normal this year.  Guess she will teach then, and he mother will have no more help than ever.  I’ll bet she don’t’ come out here this winter.

Our landlady was in last night.  She surely enjoys life.  Every Sunday she and her husband goes some place.  Off to the asylum or over to old town and they go to the hotel for dinner.  She has two children.  The girl is married and her boy works away from here.  Well her daughter has a couple of her rooms rented and does light housekeeping, and they never dream of helping each other no more than strangers.  It seems odd.

Is the work easier since the children are home from school?  I would let them go barefoot as they will be less trouble, and it is healthier.  Oh how I would love to be home.  If i don’t get well pretty soon, I am going back anyhow.

They pay railroaders well here.  Mr. Welch draws $156 per month.  They also pay stenographers and bookkeepers well.  Was thinking it would be nice if you got bookkeeping for the Santa Fe and we could get passes.  See I’m figuring on visiting a whole lot.

Hanna just went to the meat shop.  Edward will never stir while she is gone.  He is like Helen was.  They were all good, but it seems we can remember Helen better as she was the first.  Do you still trade at McCall’s?  What did Fr. Costello think of the baby?  We are going to have him baptized next Sunday.

Well I can think of nothing more to write.  The fact is, I’m rather homesick this morning.  Would like to get up and dress and take the next train back.  I believe this is a penance put on me for always wanting to move.  If I’m not well enough to warrant you coming in two more months, you will see me back.

Well dear Ed, good bye, take things as easy as you can.  Love to you, the children and relatives.

Your loving wife,

Minnie

P.S.  Well how did you square yourself with Mayme?  Bet she thought you told fishy tales.  It was laughable the way Helen stood you in the corner.

9th day of Confinement

If you are a new reader, please scroll to the bottom and begin reading.  Anyone who feel they don’t have the time to spend reading “My dear Ed,” can highlight, copy and paste into your own Word program.  Then print out and read while sipping coffee at your leisure.

My dear Reader,  It is from Minnie’s letters where I began to understand the term “Confinement.”  Not only did a mother  remain in bed for two weeks upon delivery, but, the birth of the child was nothing but a whisper to the outside world.  In Minnie’s case, the family was more concern about her pre-existing health, Tuberculosis, than wanting to publish the birth of their first son after having six litttle girls.  Also, since no postal cards from the little girls have arrived inquiring about their new  baby brother, I suspect Ed was not  allowing the girls to write of their excitement and feelings in the beginning.

Denise Conaghan Snakard / Winnetka, Illinois

ddfabrics@mac.com

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUN 16, 2-PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  Kathryn and me stayed up to Grandma Mc Carthy’s all night and still here.  Grandma got 16 boxes of strawberries and we ate a whole lot of them.  We had some for supper last night and breakfast.  Good bye dear Mamma,

Helen.

East Las Vegas, JUN 16, 6-30P

Dear Little Helen,

Received your card this morn and thought it so pretty.  Guess you are having a nice time now that school is out.  I am glad you are coming to see us soon.  We would love to have you.  We are all well and like this place better all the time.  If you were here and Papa and the rest it would be a nicer place yet.  Love to Papa, girls and Helen from Mamma.

Charleston, JUN 17, 11 – AM

Dear Mamma and Aunt Hanna,

How are you?  The dishes are done.  The mailman came and brought a card from you.  You said you had company.  Who?  Papa has got little panties on Agnes Lucile.  Good bye with love from Helen to Mamma.

Dear Sister,

Rec’d your card.  So glad to hear you are feeling so well, also Ronaldo.  I can spell it but don’t know whether I can pronounce it.

Agnes

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUN 17, 4 -30P

Friday P.M.

My dear Ed,  Will write you a short letter today.  Hanna wrote home so you can read their letter as I don’t feel like writing much.  This is the 9th day and I was fine all till today.  I feel weak, but will be all O.K. soon.

Am going to send each of the girls a pretty card tomorrow.  We got some lovely ones.  Received yours and Mary’s letter yesterday.  The letters are regular God-sends to us.  They and Mrs. Welsh and her family are keeping us well and happy, of course, the boy.  He is so quite that we forget he is here.  He is the sweetest little thing, but I’m afraid he has my nose.  That isn’t bad on a boy though and they say it is lucky for a boy to resemble the mother.  Our children should be pretty lucky then, as everyone always said the girls looked like you, only the “big woman” looks like me.

Tell Mary we had the boy named, or we would have given him her name, but the one he got equals it.

There was an old hag came in here yesterday and she gave me a fright.  So last night I began to flow a little bad.  Think that is what weakened me.  Hanna told them about her in her letter.

Well I won’t write anymore today, but will write long letter Sunday as I will be up with God’s help.  I know you would be expecting a letter when this arrives so didn’t want you disappointed.  Love to you, the girls and all the folks.

Your loving wife,

Minnie

Minnie Is “amused” By Ed’s Letter, “It’s A Boy-!”

POSTAL CARD

East Las Vegas, JUN 15, 6-30P.

Dear Ed,

Received all your letters and cards on Sunday,  Also the girls cards and yours and Mary’s letters yesterday.  Then we got the Church Prg. and two magazines yesterday , but haven’t’ opened them.  You see how busy we are.  Had a nice shower last night and the weather is a little cooler this A.M., but it is very pleasant.  You could never tell we had rain as the walks and streets are perfectly dry.  There wasn’t enough rain to help the farmers much.  will write you letter later.

Lovingly, Minnie

Dear Girls,

Received your cards and letters and will write you later.  We have company now, so Aunt Hanna and Mamma are busy.  We are all well.  So glad you were promoted.  Love from Mamma to girls.

LETTER

June 15, 4-30P

My dear Ed,

Your letter received this morn, and very much amused at the different tone, besides when the baby was thought to be a girl, but it does make a difference.  I was more surprised than a little.  Never dreamed of a boy and didn’t think I cared, but when the doctor said, “A boy!” I felt my heart go up with a pound.  AND when I saw how healthy he was, my troubles began to fade away.

I’ll bet you are a good one if you keep it a secret now that the children know.  They’ll let it out one way or another.  Poor little Helen, here we have the little house, little furniture, little baby and all, and she doesn’t figure in them.  You know that was her plan exactly, but I hope, with the help of God, that we will soon be all together soon.

What did you think of the name?  Well that was a joke.  It is pretty, but then baby was named several years ago.  He has quite a tale to his name now, but can drop part of it.  He is to be known as Edward Joseph Anthony.  You needn’t call him, but the first.  You know he is to be a priest and I thought St. Joseph and St. Anthony would help him.  Don’t you think that name all O.K.?

We had another rain last night.  I never heard rain pour so hard.  Don’t know whether it has set in to rain for two months or not.  I hope, not until I get well and able to go out some.

We got through with the nurse today.  She had been coming back to dress the baby and tend to me.  She charged us $9.  We thought it a lot, but the nurses and doctors charge high here.  Don’t know what our doctor charges, but some of them here charge $50 for Confinement Care.  This blame boy has played thunder.  If I ever knew he would cause such inconvenience, he wouldn’t have been wanted.  Think of them poor little girls, and how little commotion they caused, only at the arrival, then we always had fierce times.  But it is all over now.  If his name wasn’t already so long, I would add, “Finis” to it. We give him the milkman’s milk.  The doctor told Hanna how to fix it.  He sleeps all day and wakes about midnight and raises Cain for several hours.  Hanna has a time then, but I believe he will quit that soon.  As he is so good all the rest of the time.  He is so pretty and notices already.  He was crying for his breakfast this morn when our landlady came.    Well she spoke to him and he stopped crying and cocked his eye on her.  She says, “Well he is neither deaf or dumb, that is very plain.”  Oh he is a remarkable young man.

I bet your mother was as tickled as Ma.  Don’t know who the baby looks like.  He looks some like the girls, but not much.  But I am talking too much about the baby.  How is my dear little woman, Agnes Lucile?  I can never forget “Her”.  She was like a little kitten, the way she would nestle up to me in bed.

I see, the children didn’t get over the effects of the measles as their eyes and noses are still sore.  Maybe you had better look after them.

I guess your north side do keep track of every move.  They were always nosy.  Ed who did you hear knew about my condition?  It is well to keep them guessing.

The people here are nice and kind to us.  Mrs. Welch and all her house are fine.  She brought her husband down Sunday and Della Mc and one of her roomers, and some of them came every day since the baby came.  They are the jolliest house full I ever met, so we keep alive.

Well I won’t write anymore this time, as it is hard to think of news.  Excuse writing.  I’m getting along fine.  The milk is about dried up.  When I get well, I am going to get a job up town and  Hanna will keep house.  It will be a change for me.

Well good bye dear Ed.  Give my love to all.  If you insist, we will put a tag on this boy and send him on to you.

Your loving wife,

Minnie

“Ronaldo”

From the girls postal cards written on June 11, it appears their Papa has yet to tell them about the baby. Since there is a flourish of postal cards sent, the six little girls might have suspected something was wrong because no letters were coming from Las Vegas………or, the telegram that arrived and not read to them.  Then, the excitement from the McCartys household too.  At this point, even Ed believes the baby to be a girl.  Of course, Minnie’s health had to have been a huge concern for Ed, knowing the last time he (Ed) saw her on the platform in St. Louis (April 15), Minnie was extremely weak.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUN 11, 7-30P

Dear Mamma,

Are you well?  I am fine and I don’t get to go places like Kathryn.  They say that I am bad, but I don’t think I am.  Do you? But I just grin and don’t’ care, would sooner stay at home and tease baby.  Good bye dear Mamma from Margaret.

Dear Sister,

We are anxiously waiting to hear the details.  Hope you are improving.  Children went to picnic yesterday.  Helen and Edna were here for dinner.

Love from,

Agnes

Dear Mamma,

How are you all?  I am well and am growing.  Can stretch my arms way up big.  Can get up in my high chair all by myself.  Can do most anything and don’t’ care.  I like my bottle and fist.  Can go to bed with either.  I like to go after the eggs and milk.  Dear Mamma good bye from Agnes Lucile.

Dear Mamma,

I got your card and wanted to keep it, but Papa would not let me, so I had to put it away.  You have gone on the tooto and I am going to go on the tooto to see you soon.  Me and sister and get us a pony so we can ride.  I went to school yesterday.  Dear Mamma good bye, Kathryn.

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well.  Got your card this A.M.  I went to the picnic this evening.  Had a nice time.  Don’t’ know what I will do for some place to go now.  Will go to the shows if Papa will let me.  The twins and baby are well.  Baby is out in the yard now with the umbrella and over shoes on.  She is a great girl like me when I was a baby.  Dear Mamma love to you and Aunt Hanna.  Good bye, Edna

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I got promoted in 4B Grade.  These are my grades:  Reading 88, Arith 88, Language 85, Spelling 97, Geography 84, Science 83, Writ 79, Music 90.  Good bye.

With love from,

Helen.

Charleston, JUN 13, 2 -PM

Rec’d Hanna’s card this morning.  So glad you are feeling so well.  I bet he is good looking.  Well school is out and Helen is planning to go see you.

Love from

Agnes

LETTER

East Las Vegas, N. Mex., JUN 13, 130P

Dear Ed,

Rec’d your letters, also the children’s cards this afternoon and was very glad to get them, as we had not rec’d a bit of mail since Thurs. morn.  I am surprised that you didn’t know whether the baby was a boy or girl, as I wrote the telegram in this way,

”Ten pound boy, both fine.” so they must have sent it wrong.  But suppose you have gotten my letter by this time telling you the startling news.  You will be surprised twice.

We thought you would all be so tickled that you would published it, but see that your aren’t.  The people here think he is the finest boy they ever saw.  Doctor said he was the prettiest baby he ever saw and I think so too.  Excluding dear little Helen, and no one can come in ahead of her with me.

I tell Minnie I will take good care of this boy now and he can take care of me in my old age.  Planning kind of far ahead, aren’t we?

The doctor wanted to know his name today so he could register it, so Minnie decided on “Ronaldo”.  She kind of fell in love with that name the first time she ever heard it.  I think it is real pretty.  You said to call it, “Hanna”, but that wouldn’t be very suitable for a boy.  He is surely a bright looking baby.  he has the cutest face and brightest eyes.  Oh, I think he is a wonder.  I just got through feeding him and putting him to bed for the night.  He sleeps nearly all the time.  But I am not going to brag.

In the letter I wrote home, I told all about the nurse and time the baby was born, so there is no use in my repeating it in this letter, as you can exchange letters.  My time is limited now.  I don’t think I will want for something to do.

Everyone here is so nice to us.  Much nicer than the people at home.  I think it will be a very nice place for you to live.

They have such nice schools and churches here and the people are very nice and sociable.  Mrs. Welch and Miss Mc Intyre would do anything for us and we have Mr. McClann to thank for every meeting them.  He is so sociable.  He said he saw me down by the station at 6 o’clock that morn I sent the message and wondered what I was doing out so early.

Minnie is just feeling fine.  The doctor says she is getting along remarkably well.  She is so hungry now for ribs, potatoes and I think it is sauerkraut she said.  But this doctor doesn’t allow his patients solid food for about a week, and we do just as he says, because we know he is right.

I think now when she gets up, she will pick up and get real fat again, as she seems to relish everything she eats.

Wed. afternoon she go crazy for ice cream, so I phoned and asked the doctor if she could have some, and he said a moderate amount of plain ice cream.  But no, she wanted chocolate, so I got it for her and that didn’t satisfy her.  I had to get some more for her supper, but it didn’t hurt her at all.  The baby came during the night.

Well, I am going to quit for tonight, as it is after 11 o’clock.  Miight write more in the morn.

Hanna

My dear Ed – I will try to write you a few lines this A.M.  It is a lovely day.  Hanna has started her washing.  I wanted her to send it out, but she won’t.  Well I bet you were surprised about baby.  We are not over our surprise yet.   He is a grand baby, fat as butter and as pretty as a picture.  The people in this town are crazy about babies.  He sleeps with Hanna.  She takes full charge of him. The nurse didn’t come last night for the first time, as Hanna thought she could get along with her, but she is to be here this A.M. to tend to me and Ronaldo.  She is a fine old lady.  Everyone here is good.  I am in love with place.

I would have had lots of mine for baby, but can’t nurse him of course, so my breasts are drying up nicely.  The doctor was here only two hours at the least.  I was sick for a few days ahead, like when Agnes Lucile was born, but it didn’t hurt me much, and when I got real sick, it only lasted couple hours.  I didn’t have dulls as I did with her.  This doctor had hot irons put to my feet.  He is a good man.  I never saw a doctor like him, as gentle and kind as a mother.  Am so glad it is all over.  I know I will improve rapidly now.

So people knew about me being that way.  Wonder how they found out?  We wont’ tell any of them, do as you like, but you bet Hanna and I are the proudest people in town about our baby.  Everyone we know  here are proud of him, so he doesn’t care what the Illinois suckers think.

Don’t know when he will be baptized.  I want ma and pa to stand for him.  We can just put down their names.  I haven’t forgot the girls.  They had a fine time the last week of school.  Helen was very mortified by Kath raising her dress in front of the class.

Well good bye dear Ed.  I am sending you a letter I wrote the day the baby came.  So glad I am to feel like I do now when you read it.  Write soon.

Your loving wife,

Minnie

Hanna’s Letter To Ed

My dear Readers,

Thank you for your patience for the past several weeks.  My projects are nearly completed and all is fine.  If you are reading for the first time, please go to the very bottom to begin reading and scroll up.  Otherwise, highlight, copy and paste to a word document and all will be fine.

Granddaughter Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

Ed learns he has a son after 6 little girls.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, JUNE 10, 11-AM

Las Vegas,  N.M.

Fri. Morn., June 10, 1910.

Dear Ed,

Well you son is now over a day old and I tell you, if you would see him you would be proud of him.  I kept saying I wanted a girl, but don’t think I would trade now.  The doctor says I took to the boy like a duck to water.

Oh he is so sweet and pretty and as fat as a little pig.  Everyone says what a beauty he is, but I tell them he is like all the rest of your children.  I suppose the children are tickled over having a little brother.  We should not be afraid at night now, as we have a man in our house.

Well now, I will have to tell you how well Minnie is getting along.  She has forgotten that she has lung trouble.  Wed. eve  she complained of the pleurisy and Della Mc was here so she said just keep heating one flannel after the other and applying them to her, so I did for about an hour and it seemed to relieve her some.  So Della left about 9:15 and said she would be back in the morn.  So it was quite a joke when she came the next morn.  The fine boy was here. She laughs and says it was her remedy that brought the boy.  The pleurisy hasn’t bothered Minnie since.

We certainly have the nicest, kindest doctor that we have ever known.  That night he just treated Minnie like a mother.  So tell our mother that she doesn’t need to worry because the doctor is just as kind as he can be and he stops in five and six times a day.  You would die if you saw the directions he wrote out for us about the baby’s food.  He told the nurse to be sure to boil everything and clean it well.  So he saw me down town yesterday and told me to watch the nurse and see that she did everything according to directions.

The nurse is a very nice old lady.  You know she isn’t a trained nurse.  The doctor doesn’t like trained nurses in a case like this.  We are just going to keep her a few days, until I get on to the way of doing.

All the people here are certainly lovely to us.  Our landlady treats us fine too.  I think we have been hearing false reports about her.  If all the folks were out here, I would never go back to Charleston again.  I am in love with this place, and Minnie would be too if she was able to be around.  I just sent the wheel chair back in time.  Just thought we would rest awhile and start out again.  So now I will have to push a buggy and chair both.

It is quite a joke about Mc Govern.  He said I wasn’t strong enough to push her, so he was going to come some day and wheel her over to old town,  he will have to wait awhile now.

Say Ed, Minnie says she is going to let you name the baby, been as she named all the girls and I would advise you to do it too.  If you don’t she has the queerest name picked out that I have ever heard.  I wouldn’t try to spell it.  It is a Spanish name, but of course, I won’t say a word to her, no matter what she calls him.

Well as I am kind of busy, will close for this time.  I will write either your or the home folks every day if I have the time.

Glad you are all well.  Love from Minnie, your son and I,

Hanna.

INTERMISSION

I WILL BE NOT BE POSTING UNTIL OCTOBER 12.

Denise Conaghan Snakard

ddfabrics@mac.com

1910 Telegram Follow up……….

Wow!

Welcome to the world Baby Whalen.

My dear Reader,

Startling news……………Minnie was pregnant and you didn’t even know it.  Except for one subtle hint in late May, Minnie, Hanna or the doctor never mentioned this startling condition in letters to Charleston.  A 100 years later our children send sonogram pictures to family and friends announcing they are expecting. Only, in 1910 it was all considered “taboo” to mention a woman’s pregnancy.

Doesn’t it become clear to you now, why Minnie’s doctor wanted her out of the sanatorium and have her go to “house keeping”  as soon as possible?  He had to have suspected if this baby was going to be born at all, it was going to come early.  Both Minnie and the doctor ended up living on the same street a few blocks from each other and it was so convenient for him to stop by and attend to Minnie throughout the week.  The pressure must have been tremendous on this doctor……. for he had a very sick woman and she was pregnant.  When Minnie arrived in Las Vegas she weighed not more than a 100 pounds.  In a future post I will show a photo of the outfit she wore on the train to Las Vegas.  Minnie’s great-granddaughter, Stephanie, wore the jacket while in her early 20′s.

For now, a telegram was sent………….but why didn’t Hanna say what Minnie had?

Denise Conaghan Snakard

ddfabrics@mac.com

THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY

Telegram

East Las Vegas, N Mex., June 10, 1910

Early AM

THE   WESTERN   UNION   TELEGRAPH   COMPANY

Received at A  AC  XN  MR

VG   East  Las  Vegas  N  M    8

Mr Edward Whalen

Cor  10th  And  Adam  St :  Charleston  Ill.

Ten Pound Baby both fine.

Hanna.

z1025  AM

Postal Cards 1910

My dear Reader,  The girls postals indicate all is fine at home with papa.  Their cards are just enough to give you an indication how well they have accepted their mamma’s departure.   At least for this family, fat is “IN”.  This weight is mentioned throughout Minnie’s months in Las Vegas.  If history proves me correct, fat was considered prosperity and meant food was on the table every night.

I highlighted the last postal card’s postmarking stamped by Las Vegas, NM. for a good reason.

One thing I should mention, just hours before leaving  Charleston, Minnie made a special request of her 3 oldest; Helen 9, Mary 7 and Edna 5,  to do something for her. Minnie’s request was simple, and her expressed wish would bond the girls to their task for a lifetime.   While Minnie was gone, the girls were to decided amongest themselves to select one of the 3  babies and become their mamma.  My Aunt Helen told me how her mamma inform the older girls how fortunate they were to have had her longer than the babies had her as a mamma, and now they  were to help her  by being a mamma in her place………. until they all were able to be together again.  Helen choose Catherine, Mary took Margaret and Edna took Agnes Lucile (my mom).  This bonding with the older 3 girls remained throughout their lives.

Denise Conaghan Snakard

ddfabrics@mac.com

POSTAL CARD

East Las Vegas, Jun 8, 11-AM

Dear Mary,

Are you going to the picnic with Helen?  Hope so you will have so many good things to eat.  Have a good time.  Love from Mamma to Mary.

Charleston, Jun 8, 10-30A

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I just had my breakfast.  Mary isn’t up yet.  Papa took some pretty pictures of the babies to send you.  Papa got the three babies slippers like ours only different kind of bows.  Good bye from Helen to Mamma.

Charleston, Jun 9, 11-AM

Dear Mamma.

How are you?  I just had my breakfast a little while ago.  Helen Walker was down here last night, and gave me three pieces of candy.  I must get ready for school now.  Good bye dear Mamma from,

Mary.

East Las Vegas, Jun 9, 11 -AM

Wed. night

June 8, ‘10

My Dearest Little Helen,

I have been going to write you for ever so long, but haven’t’ had time.  Hope you had a nice time at your picnic.  Mamma is feeling fine.  She will be so fat when you see her that you won’t know her.  She enjoys your letters so much, so write often.

Love to all,

Aunt Hanna

The childrens postal cards are a delight and now they are beginning to send “pretty” cards of flowers, birds, and occassionally a cartoon.  Little Edna is the fashion queen, not only about herself, but expresses interest in her Mamma’s as well.

For medical information, learning about the discomforts that come with Tuberculosis is very chilling.  In this letter Minnie reveals more about the displeasure of the illness and how she managed.

Denise Conaghan Snakard

ddfabrics@mac.com

Charleston, JUN 6, 11- AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well.  We are eating our breakfast.  Margaret is up.  we went over to Grandma’s yesterday, and had a nice time.  Aunt Mayme gave me a nice new hat to wear on Sundays.  I am proud of it.  Have you got a new hat?  Have you got new slippers?  Papa did not get your letter Saturday.  Helen went to the P.O. Sunday, but did not get it.  One came today.  Good bye dear Mamma and Aunt Hanna,

Edna.

Charleston, JUN 6, 10 -30A.

Dear Sister,

Teresa R. died last evening at six o’clock.  Will probably be buried Wed.  Wrote Hanna letter yesterday but forgot to mail it.

Love from Agnes

East Las Vegas, JUN 7, 6 – 30P.

E. Las Vegas, June 7 -’10

My dear Ed,

Will write you a few lines today, but I haven’t’ much news as I sent you a letter yesterday.  I received Helen’s card Monday morn and it was so pretty.  Did she get it at Berner’s?

I am sending of for some cards today.  They haven’t’ many pretty ones here, and when those come I will send the girls ever so many.  It will be over a week before we can get them as I am sending to New York.

Well Ed, Don’t believe I ever was more lonesome than yesterday evening.  Honestly, sometimes it is terrible to think the way we are.  Was people ever placed in a worse position?  We should be very thankful though as there is a chance of being united sometime, but  his is fierce at present.  It seems to me I have been dead ever since Christmas, and I always try so hared to be cheerful as they say that is the best medicine.  But one can’t control their mind all the time.  I think a great many times about writing Dr. Starr a letter telling him what he is.  To think of putting a family in purgatory, through his carelessness.  I can never forgive him.  Even if I do recover this time, I will always have the taint in my system, and will be worried for fear of others being hurt that are with me.  So life won’t be much pleasure.

Well have had dinner and after reading over what i have written, must say it is a shame to write anything so glum to you, Ed, who has the hardest end to bear.  But you know that was something I always did, throw all my worries on you, then I felt better, but is is selfish for me to do so.

The wind is very high this afternoon.  Hanna washed today.  She has to bring the clothes in as soon as they are dry or they would be black with dust.  She washed two bed spreads and has awful big washings, like people when first married.  I used to rake up such washes every week, but soon learned better.

We had bacon and cabbage for dinner.  The first cabbage I have eaten since being here.  The doctor don’t allow that but it was mighty good.  He also forbids banana, but I’m going to have one some day.  Hanna got a nice large head of cabbage for five cents.  She got some cherries yesterday.  They were very large and dark and the meat of them are solid.  Don’t’ taste much like our cherries back home.

We had a man cutting kindling for us yesterday.  One of Mrs. Welch’s roomers.  His name is McGovern.  He is very nice.  He is in four days every week and helps Mrs. Welch with all her work.  Washing and everything.  Wish he and Hanna would make a match.  He would be lots of company around the house.  Of course I could board with them.  Still I believe Della Mc Intyre is very fond of him and it would be a sin to try and beat her time, as she is a delicate girl. But, all is fair in love and war.

Our priest is going away the 9th, then we will have Fr. Revera, the chaplain at the Sanatorium.  We are acquainted with him.  So nice in Ma to have Mass said for me.  Poor Ma, how I miss her.  If you and Ma were here it seems like it would be heaven.  I wouldn’t want the children unless I felt lots stronger.  Not what they are in my mind constantly.  I intended having this priest say a Mass but as you are Ed, that will do even better as we know our priest in Charleston so much better.  Have you ever got to go to Mass since we left?

Miss Mc Intyre went home to Rocky Ford and sent us some lovely roses by Mc Govern.  Then the little girls across the street brought a large dish of pansies.  It seems there are nice people around here.

I am going to dress up and have the picture taken this week if I like my looks when dressed.  We sent the chair back, but can have it sent down any day.

We are at the end of our string for rags, even used up my fine red wrapper.  I use those cups to spit in, but still have to use the rags to wipe my mouth and all.  We have a few left, but when they are gone maybe I won’t need them.  Hope not.

How is your mother’s ankle?  Has she ever been to the country or has Maggie?  I must write her some day.

Had a letter from Agnes and she was telling us some of the town gossip.  Some I was sorry to hear, as the subject of it always seemed such a lovely woman.  Hope it was a mistake.

Does the little red hen lay regularly?  Bet she will surprise you some day with a batch of chickens.  Fried chicken would taste pretty good now.

You asked me if my sputum had that queer taste.  No, it has never been like that since being here.  The doctor thinks is is for the best that I cough.  But I would feel better satisfied not to.  They say that one never knows when they are doing the best.  I can lay on either side and throw my arms any way and there is never a sign of blood.  You know at home I was afraid to turn in the bed, so my lungs must be lots better.

So John looked better when he got home than he does now.  He will have to come back, we would be glad to have him at anytime.  W e need a man around. Think we will try and beat Mrs. Welch out of one of her roomers.  We would board and room him both and he would be very handy.  Don’t you think that be wise?

Haven’t heard from Kate for a long time.  Guess she is pretty busy and don’t feel very well either.  Bridget wrote us such a nice letter telling me how I ought to enjoy this trip.  How the folks at Terre Haute were all going to Ireland this summer and leave their children at home.  She says that is the way people ought to live.  Just have a good time, look out for number one, spend money, take things easy and etc.  Well I hd to laugh, it is so easy to dish out good advise when you re not prescribing for yourself.  We all know how Bea would take that medicine.  She needs a rest very bad.  Says some days she can scarcely move at all.

You surely have plenty rain.  Nearly every letter we get mentions rain.  There is never a cloud in the sky here, and when the wind blows the dust is dreadful.  But isn’t it strange the roads aren’t dusty at all?  That is the wagons and vehicles passing never raise any dust.  Wonderful place.

Well I will ring off this time.  We can’t hunt up news when there is none.  Take e good care of yourself and children, don’t worry about us, we should be the happiest people here as we have everything we can ask for.  Good bye dear Ed.

With much love,

Minnie.

Dear Helen,  Received your card yesterday.  It is so pretty.  Did you get mine?  I have 81 postal cards now and I left one Easter one at home.  Will you please take good care of it for me?  I am glad you let Papa take care of your cards.  They would get soiled and torn around the house.

No wonder your peonies don’t bloom if baby pulls the buds.  She thinks that is fun so let her alone.  We have no flowers in our yard.

This is Tuesday.  You will only have to go to school two more days.  You will have the  picnic on Friday won’t you?  Hope you will have a lovely time.  I remember the picnics we went to when I was a little girl.  We had Sunday school picnics, and then our school teachers had picnics on us.  It was lots of fun.

Aunt Hanna is going to send you a card so I will send Edna one today and Mary one in the next letter.  After a while I am going to send you all lots of pretty ones.  Good bye little Helen.  Write me whenever Papa does.  With love from Mamma to Helen.

Las Vegas, June 5, ’10

East Las Vegas, JUN 4, 6 -PM

Dear Helen,

Received a letter from Papa and you and Mary this morn.  Also got your cards.  Am sending you this picture as you always liked reading Little Red Riding Hood.  So glad you are doing so well in school.

Love from Mamma to Helen.

Dear Mary,

Have receive many pretty cards from you lately.  This little girl looks like you only she seems out of humor and you never get that way.  So you are to be promoted, how nice.  Lots of love from Mamma to Mary.

Dear Edna,

Received your cards, and if you keep on going to school so much you will soon be able to write for yourself.  This is a picture of you and little John Sullivan.  You must save all your cards.  Mamma has everyone of those you sent put away.

Love to Edna from,

Mamma.

Dear Little Kathryn,

How are you?  But I now you are well for Aunt Agnes says you are too fat to move very much.  Isn’t this a bad little doggie?  So you are going to visit the school next week?  Papa must get Margaret some candy to eat while you are gone.  Love to little Kath from Mamma.

Dear Little Margaret,

Have you forgotten Mamma?  But I know  you haven’t.  So your visited  Grandma on Sunday.  That is nice.  Wrote Papa a letter Thursday but didn’t mail on time for him to receive it before Sunday.  Be a good girl.  Good bye to dear little Margaret and love from Mamma.

Dear Sweet Little Agnes,

Do you help Papa collect the eggs?  I hear that you are a good little girl and stay at home with Papa.  That is good.  Good bye my sweet little Agnes Lucile with love from Mamma.

Charleston, JUN 5, 5PM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I just got home from Sunday school now.  We are going to someone’s house for dinner.  Good bye from, Mary.

Las Vegas, June 5, ‘10

My dear Ed,

Your letter received yesterday and as usual it gave me great pleasure to hear from you.  I sent the girls cards yesterday.  Guess they got there nearly as soon as the letter I wrote you Thursday.  As I didn’t mail until Friday then took it to the office myself.  You should see us starting out.  Its as good as a circus.  I wear the cape and brown scarf, and Hanna puts a gray blanket over the chair.  Then I carry a parasol and away we go.  Have been out every morning lately, but can’t see that it does one very much good.  I believe I am better of sitting on the porch.  The streets here are so hilly and I’m no small load to be wheeled up hill.

This place has many nice houses.  We passed one the other day owned by a millionaire.  He is never here and will sell the place for $15,000.  Oh it is grand.  We stopped outside and gazed at it for half an hour.  the owner has eight children, some of them in Europe, and all over the country.  It seems to me if I had such a home I couldn’t leave it to look for pleasure elsewhere.

Then I saw a house this morn like ours.  Instead of one window in the middle room they had a double one.  It was set of to one side and not hemmed in like most of the places here are.  You know this place is so hilly that the streets are low and the houses up ten or twenty feet above them.  They have stone walks.  It would be awful for us to live on those streets.  The poor children would fall of and be killed.  Most of the residences are too close together,not more than three or four feet apart.  You will see a cluster of houses, then some big hallows like the place your opera house is.  then another bunch of houses and so one. But there are a great many level houses also.  Have seen a good many houses that would suit us.  We will like this place O.K. if we make it our home, because at Charleston we never left our own home and were perfectly happy.  When we are together here it will surely be the same.  I know that whenever I even went to town, how happy I was to get back home.

Della Mc Intyre comes by for Hanna to go to post office and they brought back your letter and Edna’s card.  Don’t see why they returned Helen’s card as it had a stamp.

Well I had to laugh at my ignorance describing the oxen.  Really Ed, you made a big mistake not to start me out a long time ago so that I would learn how green I really am.  As I find out more every day.

So Lucy Muchmore has another boy.  She was expecting twins, but she ought to know she couldn’t come up to us.  I was very much put out with Mrs. Welch last night.  She went on and on to say how much she wanted a boy, she never liked girls, and said she always thought that would be the greatest misfortune anyone could have, a family of girls.  Well all my love for her died that instant.  I can never like her again.  You know that is what I had against Mrs. Quince  and some others.  Being away from the children now made me feel it the more.

The street carnival left last night.  Now we will let our door open.  You don[‘t know how brave we are out here.  Never been afraid since the first night.  Still I would be  afraid out in the tent alone.  So we will not be putting up a tent here.

Poor little Margaret has taken up with the baby.  When I was home she always followed the baby around to take things away from her.  Things she thought baby shouldn’t have, but Kathryn is too big for her as she goes out so much.  Mary had better not take Margaret to school for fear she might mess her clothes or has Margaret got over that yet?  Oh I love to hear every little thing they do and say.

Well we received three editions of “Peoples Home Journal” yesterday and “Church Progress” today.  You can let up on the magazines.  Now do you want us to loose our sight as well as mind if you send us a couple dozen more?

It has tried to rain for a week but couldn’t.  Every once in a while we would hear a clap of thunder and think a flood was coming, but no, not a bit.  Isn’t June the month they thrush their oats at home?

Miss Mc Intyre didn’t say how much they made of their Rocky Ford land.  We didn’t come through there, we came through La Junta and that is the place to change cars for Rocky Ford.  It must be quite a distance from us as we were over half a day getting here from La Junta and Rocky Ford is twelve miles from there.  They have dew at Rocky ford and the irrigation makes it damp.  There is no dew or moisture of any kind in N.M.

The town of Charleston surely went in mourning after us.  You have had darkness and tears (rain) ever since we left.  Well we surely left at the right time.  I’ll bet I would be ready for my box ere this.  If I ever get strong again Ed, you won’t have very much trouble to keep me straight.  Still I don’t think my work hurt me at all.  You know I was stronger when Agnes Lucile was a baby, then I had ever been, and the work wasn’t hard.  If I didn’t have one kind of work would have had another like everyone else.  And I’m sure when one is working for their own children, it’s work of love and that lightens everything.  So I have never for one minute blamed my work on this misfortune.

Maybe we will try and have the pictures taken.  The trouble is, I want to look extra pretty at the the time, and don’t think I am quite well enough yet.

You asked me Ed, if I gained more than I expected to, and I must say I did.  I never thought it would do me any good, and I can see that it has.  Looked for my jacket to try on, but can’t find it till Hanna comes home.  I bet it will need to be let out though.

It was amusing about the baby helping rake the grass.  It is a wonder  Margaret would let her scatter it on the kitchen floor.  Do they go barefoot yet?  The children here don’t.  It seems the ground is so hot.  Also, very rocky.

So Helen don’t think it fair that Papa wants to write me everyday and I don’t return the compliments.  Well you know there are so many of you at home Helen, that Mamma loves to hear about, and out here there is only Aunt Hanna and I.  So we don’t have much news.

I put the penny you sent in the letter away Ed.  It was made in 1900, the year we were married, and I am going to keep it as a souvenir.

Well Hanna just came home and has lots of news.  She and Della made two calls.  One of the ladies they visited is a genuine old Irish woman.  The first Hanna met while here.  She has a broken wrist but is coming to see us when that is better.  I am so glad.  Didn’t think there were any regular Irish in town.  This woman is a widow and lives all alone with her chickens and garden.  Hanna also heard lots of gossip  about our landlady.  What a terror she is.  Run one roomer of with a shot gun, turned another woman out the day she was confined, and lots of things.  She has treated us O.K. so far.  Of course we saw right away that she was selfish and wouldn’t turn her hand over to oblige one, but don’t think we will have any trouble if we are civil and strange.

Will finish this in the morn. as I have all my day’s praying to do and that is a big job.

Good morning Ed.  Have had breakfast and am going out in the chair for a little while, then will rest on that for a week.  Didn’t sleep a bit good last night.  My head feels dull this morn.  I do wish I could sleep.  It seems I never get more than 4 or 5 hours sleep any night.  Would gain lots more if that was remedied.

Miss Mc Intyre was here last night and I asked her about Rocky Ford.  She said she would have the Commercial Club send your circulars describing the place.  She says there are as many people there for the health as here.  She was there 3 or 4 years and had good health until she overworked.  Now she can’t live there as she has to be in higher altitude.

The picture of the depot Edna sent don’t look very natural.  The tracks look so large but its like Helen said about the Las Vegas pictures in that book.  They looked nice in pictures but were not so much when you saw them.

Well I guess there is no more news for the present.  Hanna seems very happy today, has been whistling all morn.  There is no wind, so it is a good time to be out.  Good bye my dear Ed, write often.  You are so good about writing.

Your loving wife,

Minnie.

Las Vegas, June 2, 1910

My dear Reader,  What these letters and postal cards contain are so much local life style and bits of practical information.  All informing you what it was living was like 100 years ago……even the disclosure of prejudices opinions.

If you have any comments, please “talk” in the “LEAVE A COMMENT”………..

Denise Conaghan Snakard

ddfabric@mac.com

Las Vegas, June 2, 1910

My dear Ed,

Your letter received yesterday and it did me worlds of good. I felt so lonesome this week and that letter cheered me up wonderfully.  Also had a lovely letter from Bridget.  She writes such nice letters. Then I had a card from Lucy Muchmore.

Well you had a time of it Monday morn the first thing.  It is annoying when strange company comes in the morning and children to dress.  Guess Dudley Cochran didn’t envy you your job.  Well, surely there is a reward awaiting one that is placed in your position.  Think how easy Dud has had it and isn’t near so deserving.

Didn’t get out in the chair yesterday or won’t today as the wind is fierce.  We rented the chair for a week.  It is 25 cents per day or 75 cents per week.  I don’t stay out long.  It is a little tiresome.

We had company last night.  Mrs. Welch and the girls came.  Hanna went with the girls ot the street fair and Mrs. Welch stayed with me.  the girls met two young men that room with the Welches and they had a fine time.  They had all kinds of popcorn, candy, ball cones, and then went up town for ice cream.  It was ten-thirty when they got home.  Mrs. Welch and I enjoyed our evening as well.  She is so nice and a great talker.

Hanna is working today.  It is a very hot, and especially in the kitchen.  She stopped her work and is gone up town now for the meat.  She don’t like what they send when she telephones.  We are very choosey about what we eat.

Helen is surely a little woman to be doing the shopping.  I believe you would like the gauze vests better than the union suits because the children soil the panties in a day and the vests can be worn a week.  But I see she couldn’t get the union suits so maybe she got the vests.  Did you find the pink and blue hoses for them?

The real estate woman hasn’t been back since.  Don’t think it would be policy for us to buy such big priced property or the better location one is in.  Makes the work that much harder trying to live like your neighbors.  I do hope and pray we can all be together this winter, no matter how we live.  Mrs. Welch says the climate here is delightful in the winter.  The air seems so pure and bracing, and I never saw the beat of little ponies the children drive around.  Girls like Helen and Mary are horse back riding all the time. So the people surely have money to keep so many horses, and their seems to be any number of autos.

Hanna will have to make a visit to the priest again today as he said he might forget to come if she didn’t.  This priest is French.  We have heard his name often enough but can never remember it.  He says the Mexicans are lovely people and so does one of the priest at the San., but the Irish priest that is at the San. for his health, says they are dirty and crooked.  He said he wouldn’t work among them under any consideration.  He is so independent.  Exactly like Father Costello.  It would be amusing to see him among the Mexicans.

Ed, if I were you, I wouldn’t sell that N.D. land for anything.  It always struck me as Prudential to have that because it will be worth all kinds of money after a while.  If you raise good crops, it will pay for itself.  I’ll bet Tim isn’t thinking of selling his.

So Topsy  has begun to grow.  She will be the biggest among them when grown up.  Are her eyes as pretty as ever and does her hair still stands up?  Oh how I miss you all at times, then I try to forget.  I wouldn’t want to be back unless I am well as it was even worst to be there and unable to do anything.  But after playing lady all this time, I won’t want to work anymore either.  The children will be singing the song, “Everybody Works But Mother.”

Dinner is over and will continue.  We had Mexican beans for dinner and they were fine.  Hanna didn’t cook them as the Mexicans do.  They put a kind of pepper called, “Chili” in their beans and mash them up.  It is fine eating.

The doctor thinks I am doing as well in the house as the tent.  The room is small and has two window and and outside door.  So there is plenty air.  Guess the doctor will stop in today.  He hasn’t been here since Monday.  I do ask him questions about different things and after a while will ask more.  You know Ed, at present I am naturally a little nervous and I would rather not find out anything to worry me that isn’t strictly necessary.  He is very candid through and says what he thinks.  People are so much  different here about lung trouble than they are at home.  Here it is so common people talk as unconcerned as if it was rheumatism.  I can’t get use to that, it has given me the blues a good many times.  You see I always think of the children and fear they are hurt, but if we teach them to take care of themselves and not blind them to their dangers, they will get along O.K.  See if I had believed all the Charleston doctors told me, things would have been different.  But no I felt it was a disgrace and wouldn’t hear to any of it.

We were out of writing paper today so I am writing on our Charter Book, as Miss William’s used to say.  This is the book Hanna puts my pulse and temperature in.  the pulse never goes over 90 and the temperature 98 2/5.

We had to laugh yesterday when the mailman dunned us for 2 cents.  You see we had to pay the two cents to get 1 cent, but the letter was more than worth the money.  Would be willing to pay extra postage every day.

I wish you were tanned along with the children.  You have to stay to close.  Was thinking how nice it would be if you could run down to Grandview for a couple days.  It would do you lots of good.  I had wanted to pay them a visit, but will have to postpone mine for a while.

Well the priest just left.  Hanna was ready to go to remind him, but he came first.  He is a small man and thin, is very nice and is coming in the morn to hear my Confession and give me Communion at 6 – 30 AM.  We will have to stir our stumps in the morning.

The mailman just came.  Brought a card from Mary and a letter from Bernie and a card from Miss Neal.  Bernie’’s letter gives lots of gossip about some of your society: Mrs. Ramsey, Miss Hines and Mrs. Mitchell and others, about their cigarette smoking.  That is nothing unusual here.  The Mexican women go along smoking cigarettes as unconcerned as you please.  They carry their baby on one arm and a cigarette in their mouth and think nothing of it.  Bernie says she wish she was here instead of Charleston.  Such is life.

The climate here agrees with Hanna fine.  She weighs 120, and thinks that is too much.  She thinks she hasn’t much to do but I tell you she keeps busy.  We have large washings, and the dust here makes so much work.  Soils both clothes and houses.  She don’t want anymore of Dr. Silverman’s compound.  There was a little left of the slave and she put it on one night.  It burned her face something awful.  You know it was the bottom of the box and very strong.

Bernie says you are a model house keeper.  Said she was in Sunday and everything was fine.  Well I got up now and went to the window.  A man was passing on the other street.  He was dressed in a suit like one you wore before we were married.  He had on a crushed brown hat with your build exactly, and had your walk.  Couldn’t see what kind of a face but he brought you right before my eyes.  He kept looking down this way.  I wish we were back to them days.

It will surely rain this evening.  It is thundering but I’m afraid the rain will blow over and they won’t even raise the few beans here this year.

Well Ed, I guess there is no more news at present.  Will write you again on Sunday.  Love to you and children and all the relatives.

Your loving wife,

Minnie.

Dear Little Girls,

How are you all?  I got all your cards and they were nice.  Did you like to march last Monday?  Helen, you are a great girl to get your own breakfast, and Mary and Edna helps Papa so much too.  So Kathryn is coming to see me.  I want you all to come this Fall.  I am going to get you a nice house and we will be happy.  I bet Margaret was a good girl over at Grandma’s and of course, Agnes Lucile stayed with Papa.  Love from Mamma to my girls.

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, JUN 2, 11-AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well. It was very cold last night.  Papa had to start a fire.  Glad you are not in this dirty weather.  I go to school nearly every day.  We have had our breakfast.  Helen and Mary are going to school now.  Our hens are laying.  Grandma is well.  They are good to us.  Would like to ride in your chair.  Papa got your letter yesterday evening.  Papa will write today dear Mamma and Aunt Hanna.  Good bye,

Edna.

JUNE 1910

June 1910

POSTAL CARD

East Las Vegas, Jun 1, 11 – 30 A.

STREETS OF ACOMA, N.M.

Dear Mary,

Isn’t this a pretty house?  Those people want to sell it as they are going away and if you

girls and Papa like to we can buy.  I am afraid the twins may fall down those steps, but you, Helen and Edna can take care of them.  Let me know to buy it or not.

With love,

Mamma.

Charleston, Jun1, 10 – 30A

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  Mary isn’t up yet.  I have had my breakfast.  Just got through writing you and Aunt Hanna postal cards.  We got your letter yesterday.  Mary just got up.  She is very tired she says.  Papa will write today.

With love from,

Helen.

Charleston, Jun 2, 11-AM.

Dear Sister,

Hope you are still feeling well.  We are having regular winter weather today.  Everyone is O.K.

With love from,

Agnes

May 31, 1910

My dear Reader,

Did you catch the subtle “hint” Minnie made in her last letter about her “other condition?”  In all of her previous letters………..including the doctor’s Medical Letter to Ed…………her “other condition” is never mentioned.  What more can this bedridden woman endure?

Today, September 11, 2009, I would like to share a moment of silence with my Reader, TRIBUTE IN LIGHT in New York  for two days;

http://360vr.com/light5

Denise Conaghan Snakard / ddfabrics@mac.com

Las Vegas, May 31, ‘10

My dear Ed,

Will write you a few lines this afternoon to tell you I took my ride this morn.  Well, I can’t see what makes babies want to go out in their buggies so much.  I remember when Helen and Mary were babies sometimes they wouldn’t stay in their buggies.  Would get out and walk and no wonder, it is so tiresome.  The walks here are so rough.  Some are concrete but the most are stone and uneven.  But we made it O.K.  Poor Hanna was tired.  Up hill and down.  We called on Mrs. Welch and the Mc Intyre girls and enjoyed our visit.  They are very nice.  The school teacher wasn’t a bit dignified this morn as she had on a dressing sacque and her hair hanging in a braid.  We were amused.  Every time we met her before she was so well dressed and pleased with her looks.  You couldn’t touch her.  Guess I will try the chair a little each day.  The town is all turned around to us and we can’t tell east from west.

We have had lots of company since writing you.  Sunday afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Mullahan from the Sanatorium were here.  She is the lady who has such a careful husband.  Then after supper our landlady came and stayed till after nine.  Yesterday afternoon Miss Mc Intyre came and was so entertaining.  Then Cliff Mc McClann came last night and stayed till after nine.  He is a great talker.  If he can get of this Fall, he is going back to Ill.  His wife’s people live close to Charleston.  He thinks Illinois is the best state in the Union if it only had the climate.  His wife stays all alone on that ranch with her three year old boy.  Her 14 months are up now, but she put in a crop of beans and expects to realize something of them if it rains. He is already planning a market for the beans and they aren’t up out of the ground yet.  He says if it doesn’t rain this summer it will make three bad years in succession and the farmers will all have leave.  Wish I was a strong woman.  We could take up a claim and you could farm in N.D. and I could run the ranch here.  Still if I were strong we would all go to N.D.  Believe it to be more paying.

We also have a street carnival right in our door you might say.  Their music was fine last night.  Hanna wheeled me past there today.  We have been keeping our door locked these nights for fear of some drunken street fair person.

Got Helen’s card yesterday.  Surely you haven’t’ the second batch of kittens since we left?  See it was a year between the others.

Saw in the paper where Mary’s room had their surprise.  Did they have a nice time?

Agnes sent us two bunches of Couriers and four cards this morn  Also the House-wife came.  They sent three months of it so we have lots of reading matter.  Believe I’m getting too old to read.  I can’t get as interested as of yore.

Dr. Mc Clanahan was here yesterday.  He says I’m fine.  Cliff Mc McClann said he told him he never saw anyone improve so rapidly.  The doctor is real busy with his seven confinement cares to work on at present.  This town is full of babies.  And he has any number more on the string for the near future.

Would have liked to see Helen and Mary march.  It was quite a walk for them if they went from downtown to the fair grounds.  Still they have walked the miles before.  They had a procession here but we didn’t see it as it was on another street.

Have been reading Parker’s ad and I wish you would get Helen to go up with Agnes or your mother and get $2 worth of cotton calico if it is good.  It is only 5 cents there and it is 8 1/2 cents here.  We will need it for comforts.  Also, get 10 yards of the  crush cotton and some of that hair ribbon they are selling at 5 cents.  I am afraid those bargains will be gone, but if not Ed, I would get them.  They always come in fine.  You know, I always watched those sales and laid in a supply.

It looks very much like rain this afternoon.  Heard some thunder and it is cloudy.  Believe a good shower would help the people as well as the crops.  You surely have had lots of rain there.

Miss Mc Intyre says the land at Rocky Ford (Colorado) sells for $2.25 and $2.40  per acre.  It is irrigated and they raise sugar beets.  Also have a sugar factory there and it converts beets into sugar.  It is very interesting to hear how it is done.  She has invited  us up to see the place this Fall.

I saw a team of oxen passing the other day.  If a woman hadn’t been in here to tell us better, we would have taken them for cows.  Did you ever see any?  They have horns and look just like cows.

Well the clouds are disappearing.  We won’t have any rain.

I haven’t much to write about today, but I like to write as it seems like a little visit with you.  I really feel lonesome when I close the letter.  Hope yourself and the girlies are well.  Also all the rest of the relatives.  Will write again Thursday so you will get it before Sunday.

Our envelopes were pressed together so tightly that they sealed.  Hanna is going to steam then when she has the kettle boiling and remembers.

Well dear Ed, good bye.  Take good care of yourselves, write when you can.  Love to you, the children and all the other relatives,

Minnie.

May 26, ’10

Writing was Minnie’s only activity and I find it amazing she took in her surroundings so well without commenting on how strange she found the Mexican or Indian attires.  She let the postal cards tell her little girls what to expect when they came though.   “Ordering out” dinners was such a novelty in 1910 and one I would think didn’t happen in Charleston.  When you read how much trouble Hanna goes through to get a basket to fetch the “carry  outs” one can’t help, but ask, how many baskets in antique stores today in New Mexico were made by Indians and sold door to door in 1910.  For sure, this type of trade is new to Minnie, for she comments on it.

The postal cards continue to arrive and the girls seem to write them as Papa is trying to get them ready for school.  Mary is in 2nd grade and already writes long-hand.  Edna has Papa write them for her.  Surprising,  some of the postals reveal the Charleston school system held birthday parites for their students……and with lots of “eats.”

Even if these people were not my family, I find this life style of comparisons quite charming.  Minnie talks about hearing her Las Vegas neighbors holding Sunday service in a house as she addresses her concern for her Ma’s limbs hurting for all the work she has to do……….right down to attending to a cow as part of her “city” livestock.  When I first read this letter, I was  taken back to think my great-grandparents lived with a cow in town………but, I learned this was the norm.  Of course, no dairy was available.

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, May 26, 11 – AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We got your letter yesterday.  Sister is up at Grandma’s and she went up there last night and has not come back yet.  Mary has got to get ready for school so I will finish.  It was very cold last night.  Bad weather as you are having.  Will write you today.  Good bye dear Mamma from, Mary and Ed.

Charleston, May 27, 11 – AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I got Aunt Hanna’s postal card.  Papa got your letter.  Mary is getting ready for school.  We get out at half past eleven this morning.  I went to the church social.  Good bye from Helen to Mamma.

Charleston, May 28, 11 -30A.

Eastern Ward School, Charleston, ILL

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I sent you a postal yesterday and it was returned because I wrote on it wrong.  The cat, Sally, got another kittens again.  I am going to the post office and mail this.  Papa got your letter yesterday.  We are going to march Monday.

With love from,

Helen.

LETTER

Las Vegas, May, 28 – ‘10.

My dear Ed,

Your letter received yesterday and Mary’s card today, also a card from Helen written at Ma’s.  I wrote Edna a card yesterday.  Guess she has it.  Ed you needn’t worry about writing so much as I know you don’t have time to spare like I have, especially since you keep the house so immaculate.

We received the Extensions, couriers, Beach, North Dakota papers.   Beach is growing wonderfully isn’t it?  I believe that was one lucky thing to have that land bought.  It is all the luck we have had for a year.

Today is very hot in the sun but nice in the shade.  Wish you could see our sky.  the most beautiful blue with not a cloud to mar it’s beauty.  We have had no rain but the one little shower since being in Las Vegas.

I have sat out on the porch twice a day nearly all week and next week will go out in the wheelchair if weather permits.  I know you don’t envy Hanna that job.  Do you remember how I ust to try to get you to go out walking when Helen was a baby?  Well you never went but once and didn’t go far then.  So you would hate it lots more to wheel a baby my size.

We had a letter from Agnes this morning and am looking for you this afternoon as Mary’s card stated you were going to write that day.  I bet the twins have a time playing ball.  It is pretty cute in Kathryn to let Margaret do the dirty work, still that suits Margaret.  Why don’t they take Margaret to school?  She would disgrace them I guess with her faults.  Never mind, she will come out on top later.  Well it surly is taking Mrs. Courtney some time to do the sewing.  Be very saving of the children’s clothes as dry goods is high  here.  Calico is 8 1/2 cents and the cheapest cotton flannel is 10 cents.  So when you come, bring several bolts of calico.

Well I quit writing while Hanna gave me a bath.  It is a very hot day, but the fire was all laid so when the water struck me I thought it a little cool so Hanna put a match to the fire and maybe we shouldn’t.  Have had a hot house since.  Am sending you the measurements today.

The mailman came now with your nice long letter and the Church Progress.  Will not open it till tomorrow and will keep me busy.  The paper I mean.  The weather was cold about the time I wrote you that last letter, but  it is the opposite now.  Maybe it snowed some place close as Maggie said and we got the cold wave.

That pain in my shoulder didn’t amount to anything.  It just struck me as I went to write.  Must have jerked my back some way.  The nightmare didn’t bother me either.  I never spit anymore blood.

The reason of the wind here is the mountains.  I don’t understand how it caused it.  They are covered with trees  and that causes the wind.  The wood here is all pine and a woman was telling Hanna that it is so good for the lungs to go and live on the mountain among the pines, but Hanna would rather not go there unless we would have male company.

Well Mrs. Welch came in whern I was writing and just left.  So supper is now the next thing.  I will finish my letter tomorrow.

Have had supper so will write a little while it settles.  I ate a big supper.  Had orange sherbet.  Hanna goes up to the ice cream parlor for it at supper time.  They have such nice ice creams and sherbets.  You asked me if I had to force my appetite which I don’t.  I eat everything except onions and cabbage.  then I never drink teas or coffee because I don’t want then.  I eat everything else.  We get good steak now and Hanna fixes so many new dishes.  She got a new cookbook with suggestions in it.  We are going to try a new place for dinner tomorrow if Hanna can find a basket to go for it. She tried several groceries and ratchet stores and it seems they don’t keep them.  They say the Indians around here make the baskets and peddle them at your door.  That seems such a strange thing.

I ate such a large supper last night that I didn’t feel like writing much.  Well Hanna went to the neighbors across the street to borrow a basket and get acquainted.  It seems the reason they don’t call on us is that our landlady and this woman are at outs and our landlady has forbidden her to visit her tenants.  But his woman seems so kind she didn’t have a basket large enough so she sent her daughter to get from one of her friends and they gave us the basket to keep.  That is lots more than our landlady would do. There isn’t a bit of accommodation about her.

I sat out on the porch an hour this morning.  Now Hanna is at Mass.  The church here isn’t as large as the one at home nor as nice in any way.  They have no Catholic school in E. Las Vegas, but the priest was telling Hanna the other day when she called on him, that he was going to have a school before long.  He seems very nice.  He is going to take a trip east next month.  The congregation took up a purse for him.  Hanna says he has a very shabby home.

The Christians are holding fort  across the street this A.M.  You never heard such singing.  At present some man is preaching.  They couldn’t afford to keep a minister so they do their own work.

I neglected asking the doctor about the sputum but he will examine again before long and then I will.  I cough a great deal but he says that is the best.  Hanna took the measurements as follow:  Arm 9 1/2, Bust 35, Leg 11 3/4, Thigh 19 1/2.  That is good don’t you think?  I know I have gained and the doctor says he couldn’t even think of me doing any better.  And I am also gaining in strength.  Of course, I would gain faster only for my other condition.  You know that makes it harder for me to get around.  The doctor says  I don’t require a high altitude and we could live anyone of a number of these western states.  Denver would be fine.  Still I’m not thinking much about the future till I am better.  That will be time enough.  Was very glad to hear that it wouldn’t be necessary to stay here as I don’t believe I would ever like this place.

The Welches are not here for health.  They are both pictures of health.  He is a brakeman and has been here 3 or 4 years.  A friend of his that rooms with them has been here 7 years and is still braking.  It seems they don’t get promoted very fast.  Mr. Welch is on local.  He makes three trips per week to Albuquerque.  Is never home but Sunday and three night through the week.

Agnes says Ma hasn’t been a bit well.  Her limbs bother her all the time.  She has too much to do.  Her housework, cooking, chickens, garden and cow.  I wish she and Maggie would skip of and come out here for a month.  It would help them, but I guess either one thinks they couldn’t leave, but they may.

The people here of every denomination are surely very religious.  They have been passing in droves all morn.  Young and old.

We never notice any gas in the coal here.  We haven’t had any fire for a week.  Only yesterday.  Ed, do the children feel slighted as I don’t send more cards?  If they do I will send them more.  Am going to write them each a little letter now.  How is your mother, father and John, also Mary M.F.?  Guess she is glad school will soon be out and she can return to the country and her folks.

Hanna is home form Mass.  She says it don’t seem like Mass not knowing a soul. Ed, you needn’t send anymore papers.  You can send the Extention, Church Progress and the other two will be plenty.  If you send more, we won’t read the most instructive parts in them.

Had a letter the middle of the week that the children wrote went down at their Aunt Mayme’s last Saturday.  They ought to be glad I am gone as they are on the go most of the time.  It surely keeps you busy dressing them, but for Agnes Lucile and Margaret, you would be lonesome.  Don’t they want to follow the others?

Well Ed, I guess there is no more news.  Why don’t your hens lay better?  You ought to be thankful as long as you can have bacon for breakfast.  It is very high here.  Take good care of yourself and children and write as often as you can without hurrying yourself too much.  With much love to you an children, from,

Minnie.

Dear Edna,

So you got to go to Mary’s surprise party?  Did you get something good to eat?  Do you like to go to school?  I am glad you went to the social too.  Well that is nice Papa is awfully good to let you go to all those places.

Mamma got your cards and sent you one.  Did you get it?  Tell Kathryn, Margaret and Agnes Lucile “Hello” for me.  Lot to Edna from Mamma

P.S.  Have written the girls letters and Hanna and I tried to take a nap but it is too hot.  Looks like rain.  Good bye.  Hanna is now going to Post Office.

May 25, ’10

My dear Reader,

Minnie is nearing the end of May.  Her “conversations” are typical of a man and wife in 1910.  Only distance makes it all recorded.  I love the way little Mary always writes about food and this time she relates how Papa made noodles.  Reader, can you picture your grandfather making noodles?  Then, Ed is concerned about new underwear for six little girls and all the other domestic chores which was the woman’s place in 1910.

Not until I read these letters did I ever know about my grandfather owning farm land in North Dakota and Colorado back in 1910 along with his brothers.  It was my Aunt Helen who filled me on this venture.  The North Dakota land is still in the Timothy Whalen family today. In August of 1909, Ed with another brother, John, went out to North Dakota and bought farm land. A relative, by marriage, was already there and he took on the task of farming it.  In this letter posted today, Minnie makes reference to the land and their future together in North Dakota.  Of course, she and Ed must have been worried about their future and how they were going to live and care for six little girls too.  What a difficult burden this illness created for Minnie and Ed to cope with….daily.

Denise Conaghan Snakard

ddfabrics@mac.com

Dear Mamma,

BRIDGE AT RIVER VIEW PARK, CHARLESTON, ILL.

How are you?  We have just been to Church.  Papa is just getting dinner now.  Papa is going to make some noodles.  I am going up to Grandma Whalen’s after Sunday school.  We got all your letters last week.  Papa is going to write a letter to you tonight.  Good bye dear Mamma,

Mary.

Las Vegas, May 25, ‘10

My dear Ed,

Your letters and envelopes and Mary’s card received this A.M. and was glad to get them, but I guess it hardly pays to send envelopes as we had to pay 4 cents postage due making 6 cents besides your trouble.  Many thanks though.

Today is very windy and dusty.  Yesterday was nice.  The weather is so changeable, but always dry.  If it would rain that would stop the wind for a while and I would be able to go out.  I sat out on the porch yesterday.

So you are still changing the beds.  We were always at that.  You will be more evenly divided now and have better air.

I had a real estate woman this morning.  She had a six room cottage for only $3500.  Thought how nice and cheap if I had been up and dressed and would have sure bought it.  She is that Mrs. Abbott we met at the San.  Well I told her we didn’t intend staying here and so she won’t bother anymore.

About the children’s underclothes Ed.  They have plenty white panties and I guess they will all need new waists, but Helen/  You can get Agnes to go with Helen for them and I use to always get a two year older size than their age,  as they drew up when washed.  When the weather is warm they didn’t wear undershirts around home, and you will have to let them wear the white to school.  I think they have plenty.  I believe there are tacks in Helen’s that she could let down.  It won’t be long now till school is out and then you won’t have to be bothered much about clothes.

I don’t know how you ruined your noodles.  Surely you don’t roll them thin enough.  I seldom used but one egg and one shell of water but you have to roll them think and cut in thin stripes.  Where did you catch on to the rice muffins?  Hanna makes awfully nice rice muffins for us, but won’t send you the recipe as you will be experimenting too much.  I’m afraid you will have the children spoiled and they can’t go back to my short order business at all.  Still if you come out here there won’t be much to cook.  the Mexicans live on beans and bread.  The way they make the bread is to mix flour and water together and that is a treat to them.  So with our big family we will have to do the same.  Now that won’t include me as I will have to have the best on the market, but you healthy folks can get along.  Be sure to fill the children up on fruit and vegetables this summer because if they live here they won’t get them plentiful very soon again.  The cheapest strawberries and blackberries ever get is 15 cents for a pint box or two for a quarter.  Tomatoes never get less than 3 for 10 cents or around that.  They have to be shipped in.  Of course we can have a garden when Mary and Helen get big enough to water and hoe it.  that won’t be long because they will be wanting garden truck to eat.  So fill them up good this summer.

The doctor was in Monday.  He says I am still doing fine.  I forgot to ask him about the sputum and the other questions too.  But I have written them down to remember the next time.  I would do so much better if I could sleep better, but as I take no exercise I can’t sleep.

I think your plan about North Dakota will be nice.  I hope and pray John Wasson will raise a good crop for this year in North Dakota.  Maybe after a few years we could live there, if the winters would be moderated.  But after living here that long we won’t want to leave.  Miss Mc Intyre who is here from Colorado, was out to view the mountains Sunday and she couldn’t find words big enough to express the grandeur of them.  She wouldn’t live any place but Colorado or New Mexico.  She hates to go home even for a little visit, but I guess it takes a school teacher’s eye to see all the beauties of the west.

Hanna washed yesterday and ironed today.  Then Mrs. Welch was here yesterday afternoon and our landlady last night, and Mrs. Abbott this morning.  That is about the extent of our acquaintances.  So we will be along now for a few days.  Have seen nothing of the Sisters since leaving the San.  We will have to make the acquaintance of our parish priest as I will want ot go to Communion the first Friday.  We will have to buy a candle stick and crucifix. Hanna forgot to bring them.  They say this priest is very nice.  How is Father Costello?

You mustn’t let it worry you when the children are out in the yard dirty.  “There is a good white skin under that dirt” as your mother says.  Don’t try to keep them too clean.  Just so they get a bath and heads washed once in a while.  I saw the sweetest little girl the size of the twins passing the other day.  She and a little boy were running of, she had a little sleeve apron on and she reminded me so much of our girls.  Well the little tots went up town and their grandpa came running after them pretty soon.  That is a good thing for you that ours babies don’t run of.  Wasn’t Helen a terror to do it?

Tim and Julia must be going to get rich this year with their success of good planting.  Don’t they come to town at all?  Is Mrs. Wasson back home yet?

There seems to be a number of autos here, or the same ones pass often.  We can’t tell as we don’t know the people.

We felt uneasy about Ma not being at Mass Sunday.  Hope she isn’t sick.  Agnes said she hadn’t felt well.  I guess she can’t come out here, but it would help her.  People come for rheumatism, malaria and anything that a dry climate helps.  If some one would came part way she might bring one of the children for company the rest, but we will get along all right.  The doctor says this time should be no different from the others.

You spoke about planting the corn over.  Mrs. Welch said they had to this year in Iowa and that seed corn was $4 per bu.  Her folks are farmers.  Did the bad weather hurt oats?

So the baby is “my girl”.  Poor little thing would hardly remember me now I guess.  I really don’t know myself part of the time.  Every thing has changed so since Christmas.

Well I will have to close.  Hanna wants to take this to the post office and she rather expects a letter.  The office closes at six and it is nearly that time.  Will write to the girls later.  Take good care of yourselves.  I often think how terrible it would be if anything happened to take you away.  Of course I’m not to be considered anymore, and everything depends on you.  Love to all the relatives, the children and yourself from Hanna and myself.

Your loving wife,

Minnie.

East Las Vegas, Wed., May 18, ’10

My dear Reader,

The postal card in this post today is very special to me, only because it is from Minnie’s youngest daughter, Agnes Lucile, age 2………………and, one day, my mom.  ’-’

For a bit of history: The postal is of Eastern Illinois University.  In 1910 it was called, Eastern Illinois State Normal School.

Hanna is beginning to make friends and it is nice to see how these friendships develop into visiting, which is great for Minnie to have company in her home.  At the very least, new friends and company gives Minnie less time to become bored from being in bed all the time.

In 1910, the activity of receiving mail back and forth was very important to help curb the loneliness for Minnie.  Hers letters will continue to be peppered with price comparing between Charleston and Las Vegas.  In this letter, Minnie is fully aware of Charleston’s price for a tone of  coal, but expresses her disbelief of the higher prices in New Mexico for not only coal, but just about everything she mentions.  One gets the sense Minnie was a wise shopper.

As Minnie compares prices throughout her stay, I am stunned to read about her little rental having a telephone in Las Vegas, NM.!  Telephones were still considered rare in most homes and not yet connected from town to town or State to State.  And, in many instances, not even across town.  Families still had to rely on the services of the Post Office and telegrams.  What I do find endearing though, are Minnie’s closures at the end of her letters.  They were always from the heart……………..and so tender.  Does anyone write letters today?

Denise Conaghan Snakard

ddfabrics@mac.com

Charleston, May 18, 11 -  AM.

Pemberton Hall, E.I.S.N.S., Charleston, Ill.

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am a good girl.  Sister took me out riding.  I go to bed late and get up early.  Papa is just dressing me.  Margaret is going to write you a postal.  Papa is going to write too.  With love from Agnes Lucile to Mamma.

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am the only old girl, only worse.  I sleep with Mary and kick her.  I play in water and dirt.  My nose is getting better.  Papa’s foot is getting better.  So are we all.  I don’t go very much.  Would like to see you.  Want you to hurry and get well.  Papa will write you a letter soon.  Dear Mamma good bye from Margaret.

LETTER

East Las Vegas, May 18, 6-PM.

E. Las Vegas, Wed., May 18, ‘10

My dear Ed,

You letter received this A.M. and Helen’s letter yesterday, also go card from Kate today.  We expect letter from Agnes this afternoon.  We get lots of mail but you bet it looks good to us.

Hanna went to town.  A sister of Miss Mc Intyre is visiting here and she and Mrs. Welch, the lady Miss McIntyre boards with, came by for Hanna.  They are advertizing a new cotton line up town and giving cake, coffee and cookbooks away.  As this is a strange thing in this town, people don’t want to miss it.  Mrs. Welch brought us some more nice rolls.  She is lovely and so are the Mc Intyre sisters, but they put on so much style in their voice and talk that it isn’t pleasant.  the last one, the one that is visiting here, you can’t understand at all with the big words.  She is a school teacher in Colorado.  She says the wind here is not as bad as in Colorado.  They have terrific wind storms there.

Well we decided we would get some coal for our heating stove as we need a little fire most of the time.  Hanna telephoned to inquire the price and most is $4.50 per ton and lump is $5.50.  Isn’t that fierce?  Miss Mc Intyre says you never can get lump less than $6.50 in Colorado.  I tell you the west is no place to live without lots of money.  She is a teacher and gets $80 per month. and she and another sister keeps house together.

Hanna also had a tooth filled Monday and he charged her $3.50 for a silver filling.

Dr. McClanahan is the most reasonable person we have met.  He came every day and twice on one day for a month and you know, I was quaking about the bill.  Well he charged $2 per trip.  The other doctors have it in for him for being so honest.  They say if people can’t afford to pay him he lets it go at that.  He was a doctor in the Navy and lost his health there so the government pays him a pension, then that makes him independent and he has no family, but a wife.  He has cut his visits down to twice a week after this first month. Then it won’t be so much.  He had us to save a specimen of the sputum and urine which he will take with him today.

You folks are surely having bad luck.  Your foot worst of all.  Was there no sole on your shoes?  Be awful careful Ed and have it tended to.  What in the world would we do if you were to be laid up?  Poor little Kathryn and Margaret have had a time with their cold too.  So the “Big Woman” is breaking all the eggs.  When I first read that in Helen’s letter, I thought it said she broke her leg.

Am going to write Helen a letter tomorrow and address it to her and you must let her open it herself.

Was surprised you didn’t receive my letter on Saturday.  I didn’t feel very well when writing it but wanted to get it out Thursday so you would have it before Sunday.  Guess it laid in the Post Office till Monday.  Then I wrote you again on Monday.  You should have that today.

I sit up a good deal now, but can’t walk to do much good.  Seems like my limbs can hardly support me, but little by little I hope to improve.  The doctor always says I am doing well and will tell me if he thinks I am not.  I can turn on either side with comfort ever since being here, and don’t cough much, and can eat and sleep.  I get so tired of being sick.  Just think how long it has been. Seven long months.

Would love to have Ma, but it would be best for Con not to try to get off.  Maybe he would lose his job, and I couldn’t get over it if he did.  If someone else would come part way with her on the train, she would fall in with nice people that would keep her company and she would be O.K.  If she can’t come we will get along.

How is Maggie and Charlie, also Mame?  Mary said she was sick.  You had a feast Sunday with the two cakes.  Helen said Mrs. Grant and Ma donated.  Is your mother and father still thinking of going back to Ireland?  Does Julia and Tim ever get in from the country?  Had a card from Kate this morning and it said John stopped in on his way home.  She thought his trip did him lots of good.

The streets of this town are not paved.  They are like gravel roads, but it is natural.  There is never mud.  We had a little shower last night which laid the dust, otherwise you couldn’t tell it this morning.

Hanna washed and mopped the kitchen this morning.  We have a great little house, no library.  Hanna told Agnes to see about sending some magazines and you can ask her about it and if that magazine your mother and Mrs. Wasson takes isn’t included, would like them.  It is lonesome here without something to occupy us.  You needn’t send us all the magazines printed.  Just a few cheap ones, as the dear ones are to brightened, we would rather quantity instead of quality.  the reason we don’t order them ourselves we have not to find addresses.

Well I won’t write anymore today.  Wrote Bridget a letter this morning and don’t want to tire myself.  Will write Helen tomorrow and she will get it Saturday if mail man don’t bring she might go to the post office if she is up town.

Well Ed, dear, you must be careful of your foot.  Hope you will all have luck.  With love to the children, all the friends and yourself.  I am, dear Ed, loving,

Minnie.

We are out of envelopes.  Wish we had some.

Dear Mary,

Received your letters.  Did you have a nice time at the surprise party?  Guess you children ate the most of the goodies.

What is the matter your hens don’t lay?  Are they eating?  You must not let them sit.  The eggs are what you want.

We often wish you girls could all come in to visit us.  We would hardly have room in our little house to give you a bed, but you could sleep on the floor in the summer.  I know you would like this little house.

Write me again soon and tell me about yourself and school.

Lovingly,

Mamma.

Catch-up Time

My dear Reader,

It’s Labor Day weekend so I will not be publishing until Tuesday.

For those who are joining this read for the first time, please scroll down until you come to the first letter written by Ed Whalen’s sister to him while he was attending a business college in Danville, Ind. 1892.

Denise Conaghan Snakard

Sat. May 14, ’10

Everyone is settling into their respective routines.  Ed continues to be “Mr. Mom” and making his first strawberry shortcake impressed little 7 year old Mary.  In fact, food was usually the main topic of Mary’s when she wrote.  Later, in life, Aunt Mary’s cooking was what I always looked forward to when visiting Charleston.  Her Chocolate pie was the best-!

In 1910, everyone in town, including the school children, went home for their main meal at noon, “dinner.”  After 5PM the meal was referred to as “supper.”

Isn’t it amazing the settle colours in the postal cards from New Mexico?  The camera used not only captured all the fine detail in the contrasting of stones, clay  road, ladders, but the wonderful green off in the distance too.  Such a difference in the mid-west homes.

POSTAL CARD

Pueblo of Acoma and Mesa Encantado, N. M.

East  Las Vegas, May 13, 6 PM

Dear Girls,

Received cards from Helen, Mary and Edna.  Also cards from Aunt Agnes and letters from Papa and from Aunt Agnes.  We like our new house so much.  I am feeling fine.  It rained last night and made the weather so much better.  I sat up nearly all day today.  Will write long letter Sunday.  Will address this to Helen.  Next to Mary and Edna.

With love,

Minnie.

South Seventh Sreet, Charleston, Ill.

Charleston, May 13, 7-30P.

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  We are all well.  How do you like your little house?  I would like to be with you.  I could sweep and wash the dishes for you and Aunt Hanna. I am going to send her a card.  Uncle John come home yesterday.  He was here last night.  Said that he would have staid there this summer if you had went to housekeeping when he was there.  Can you jump the rope?  I can.  We all have ropes.  We are having good times.  Had strawberry shortcake for dinner.  Will have one for supper too dear Mamma.  Good bye,

Edna.

Papa will write Sunday.

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  Uncle John is home and is to our house.  Papa ran a nail in his foot.  From Helen to Mamma

Charleston, May 14, 7-30P

Dear Mamma,

How are you? Papa is making strawberry shortcake for dinner.  I can’t wait for it.  I went to instructions this morning.  Papa’s dough is raised all over the pans.  Good by dear Mamma from Mary.

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  The strawberry shortcake was good.  Papa made two and we are going to have one for supper. Sister is writing this for me.

From, Katherine.

LETTER

Las Vegas, Sat. May 14 – ‘10

My dear Ed,

Your letter received this morning and will answer as I am sitting up in the chair and can write on the table.

The weather now is rather cool morning and evening.  They all wear their winter clothes.  It is very hard to keep from catching cold on account of the wind.  I have been very fortunate so far.  The doctor says the little blood I spit came from the nose as my nose bled a little this week.  He says if it came from the lungs it wouldn’t stop at once like it did.  However, I haven’t seen any yesterday or today.  He says my left lung is all O.K. and the right is doing fine.  That I have done as well in one month as most people do in four, so I should be satisfied.  He said that part of my right lung, when I had the pleurisy with effusion, was practically dead when he first examined me and now the breathing is very plain.  That is the part he mentioned in his diagnosis.  He says as this weather changes it will effect me, and cause little aches at time, but that is no cause for alarm.

I am going to try and give a full account of my condition as you asked for it, otherwise it would sound funny to fill a letter about myself.

The doctor was pleased with our moving.  I don’t know exactly why, but he isn’t their doctor out there (Sanatorium) and Cliff McClann said the first day we came that the doctor said if we to the San. we would be sure to have another doctor but we asked several of the Sisters what they thought of him and they said he was O.K.  He says I can try it in the house a while and then we can decide about tent.  I sleep about 8 hours.  I breathe the same as at home, my feet and hands have a hot feeling at times.  It doesn’t hurt me to talk moderately, and he doesn’t object to me talking.  At present my tongue is perfectly clear; sometimes it has the blisters.  My color is good even my hands are nearly clear.  You know that dark color they had is leaving.  he recommended a bath everyday and then to rub in alcohol, water and olive oil mixed together.  But we haven’t don’t it but once or twice a week.  It is a big job.  Now that we are in the house, we will do so, but there was so much danger taking cold in the tent.

Our house has no convenience.  Only the water.  It is in the kitchen. but we don’t mind the other things, it is so neat and clean.  The only draw back is the meat.  you know at the San. they bought such large quantities, that they got the best and then they had the tenderloin for the sick ones especially, and it was grand.  Well at the butcher shop, they won’t cut that off unless you buy a great big piece.  Hanna don’t care for steak so we can’t get it, and the one piece of tenderloin is all I can eat.  We thought maybe if the Sisters ever came to see us maybe they would sell a little piece.  I always ate it for breakfast and it was so strengthening.  We get lovely rich milk and nice fresh eggs.  The butter here isn’t good.  There is nothing but creamery and it doesn’t taste fresh or like butter.  It is 40 cents.  The butter at the San. was the same.

Kathryn is like the little Mexicans about her talk.  It is so amusing to listen to the little children jabbering in Spanish.  I could almost see Kathryn scolding you.  She thinks she has lots more right to go than Margaret.

So glad you found the wedding license, but it will be better for you, than me, as I may want to forget there was one being footloose.  But before a year is out, you will be glad to have a proof that someone else has a right to help you with your charges.

You asked me if I felt stronger than when leaving home.  Well you know being in bed so long it will take me a little while to see where I am.  I want to be very careful about any exercise and gain gradually.  At home I pushed myself too much.

About the heart is this way. This altitude being so high it causes the heart to beat faster, and every beat of the heart pumps the blood through the body and it pumps it through the lungs at the same time so that if the heart action is too quick it doesn’t give the lungs a chance to heal.  Therefore he has me to be careful about what I eat as that effects the heart and also careful about my exertion.  Do you grab my meaning?  He drew a picture of the heart, lungs, stomach and etc. the first day and explained it all as he says people have to understand for themselves before they are convenience.

Well it is Sunday morning.  Hanna went to Mass and  I am alone.  We had company last night.  A Mrs. Welch, such a nice young woman.  Mr. McClan introduced Hanna to the bookkeeper at his store, she is a Catholic girl, boards with Mrs. Welch and she came with her.  They were chums in Iowa all their lives, so it makes it nice for them to be together.  They both were down last Wed. night and brought us some nice light rolls and cakes.  We are so glad to be acquainted with them.  Miss Mc Intyre, the bookkeeper came to Colorado for her health about 6 years ago.  Her doctor didn’t give her six weeks to live.  She weighed 96 lb. and  in 2 months she weighed 130 lb.  so after a while she went home again and in four months was down to 96.  So the next time she came back it took her over a year to gain what she gained the first time in 2 months.  So she went home for a little visit again and held her own.  She neither gained or lost.  Then when she came back to Colo. she got to working too hard.  Kept books all day and sewed for herself and others till midnight.  So she broke again.  Then her doctor said she had better come here.  That if one breaks themselves down in one climate they can’t pick up again.  So she is doing well here.  She is careful not to over work.  She only works half days.  She has had to work ever since she came out, so I don’t see how she did so well.  A woman out at the San. has been west two years and she never has turned her hand over.  Her husband watches her as if she were a baby.  Carries a big shawl around all the time for fear of the wind, and she takes the raw eggs and milk.  There never was a baby lived that gets her care, and to begin with she only has a little place effected in her right lung.  So it is very strange the difference in people.  To hear people talk it is remarkable what this climate does.  The only thing that hurts me is to think I will have to be careful of myself.  I always did think that was the last of all.

We are going to put on style today.  We have ordered our dinner from the boarding house where John stayed.  He was always so delighted with his Sunday dinners.  So if we like them it will be a little change and save Hanna the bother.

I see the people across the street are making ice cream.  To think how much of it I made in my time.  My, but I was a foolish woman to try and do all I did.  The Jews run the town here.  They freeze the Americans out if they start anything.  Mrs. Welch says furniture is an awful price.  If she knew before coming, they would have bought their furniture in the east and had it shipped.  She says you pay a great big price and get the shoddy goods.  They have only been married since Sept. and their rocking chair all fell to pieces that they paid $12. for.  So if yourself and children move out we will either have to run across some one leaving town or else bring your goods along.  Five room cottages rent for $20 and $25 month.  Still maybe living in some out of way place one could do better.  We will wait and see when the time comes.

Milk is 40 cents per gallon and eggs are 25 cents per dozen.  Now in the winter they go up to as high as 60 cents.

Well I never saw more nice looking children in one day than have passed this A.M. going to Sunday school.  They are dressed as well as the ones at home, and seem very happy.

If our visitors come next month there are several things they can bring.  For instance fill the grip full of canned fruit.  Cherries preferred if your Ma has any to spare, and jelly would be nice.  You see my appetite is pretty good as I wouldn’t be thinking of those things.

Ed you should try and get out some.  Your mother could stay of mornings and you know Helen is fine to look after the house and children if you show her you trust her.  It is awful for you to be staked that way.  It wouldn’t be hard on a woman because it is her nature.

Well the doctor just ran in.  I asked him if he thought I could safely go back to Charleston to live later on.  He said only in the summer time.  He couldn’t say the bad months, but he said Denver would be O.K. and for a permanent home he thought it so much better than here as the children would have more advantages and it is a beautiful place.  he says I a, doing splendid, and as I take no medicine he says I can see that there are no symptoms covered up.  Which sounds very true.  You ask if I have gained in flesh, but I hardly know.  I will know better when I have been up a while.  You see my flesh is so soft, but I am going to be well pretty soon of that I am sure, with Gods help.

Hanna just came in loaded down with magazines.  She went to church with miss Mc Intyre and I guess they were talking about something to read.  At the San. we had the library.  This is a public library, but it don’t seem to me like I would wan t to handle the books.  So many sick people here, and so many have the habit of wetting their fingers to turn leaves.  So if you like you can send us the Extentions.

This is a beautiful day.  I have been sitting here in bed all morning.  Since the doctor told me I could be up I am not so anxious.  Of course I sit up of afternoon, but I can sit here in bed and look right out on the street.  I guess you are all sitting around talking now. It is nearly twelve.  You will have the children all for dinner today because they were gone last Sunday and you will want them to go to Sunday school today.  Am I right?  Won’t we have lots to talk about when we meet?

When I take my bath, Hanna will measure me  as you said.  Well I won’t write the girls this time, my letter is too long, but I think of them all the time.  Had to laugh to think the baby is now  the “big woman”  and thinks she can hardly get through the doors.  Sent Agnes the papers yesterday.  Tell her to save it for you s you can get an idea about the town.

Well our neighbor out at the San. was just passing so Hanna asked him in.  He is very talkative.  Stayed an hour.  He and another fellow that was at the San. are thinking of going farming .  An old lady with money owns 320 acres about 10 miles out and they have written her that if she will furnish horses and implements, they will do the work.  Then if they prosper, will move his family.  He said when they drove out there he saw many deserted shanties.  Of course if it rains they will get along  and then they will have no money invested.  This man’s name is Hughes.  He left the San. a couple weeks ago.

Our dinner came and it was fine.  No wonder John liked his board.  We had chicken, dumplings, pears, beans, mashed potatoes, tomatoes, mincemeat pie, strawberry ice cream cake, bread and butter.  There is enough left for supper.  I hope you had a nice dinner.

Well I have told you all the news.  Afraid you will have to pay extra postage.  Was glad to get handkerchief.  With love to your mother, and all the folks on both sides.  Try and get out a little Ed, it is too bad to stay in all the time.

Yours with love,

Minnie.

Everyone is dressed in white today. The weather is so changeable.

Dear Girls,

How are you all?  I enjoyed your letters so much.  You must help Papa Helen so you will know how to keep house for me.  Everything we have is little.  A little cook stove, little heating stove, little tiny ice box, so cute.  Mary is a good girl to pray for Mamma.  Edna my freckles are gone and my hair is curly.  Now I am so pretty and I know you are.  Hello Kathryn, Margaret, and Agnes Lucile.

With love,

Mamma.

May 8, 1910

In this letter Minnie and Hanna are moving from St. Anthony’s Sanatorium to a small rental house near town.  This move is at the suggestion of Minnie’s doctor, Dr. Clanahan.  Never is an explanation given to the reader as to why the doctor wants his patient in a house.  If you follow me, I promise, you will learn the answer in early June.

One postal card is from Minnie’s own mother.  I find it touching.  Minnie’s mother never learned to read or write, so Agnes wrote the postal for her.  Very gentle voice letting her daughter know she loves her without alarming Minnie with fears.  It must have been so difficult, knowing how she left Ireland and never saw her parents again.  Now, she must have been fearful of the same results for her own child.

“Sally” is going to be a cat.  This surprised me for my mother never mentioned she ever owned a cat.  Just “Bounce” the collie.

My dear Reader, if you have any thoughts or questions, please feel free to make a Comment and I will do my best to answer.

Denise

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, May 8, 6 -PM.

Charleston High School, Charleston, Ill.

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I found Sally in the closet.  It is now dinner time.   I have got 3 more postals.

Good bye from,

Helen

Charleston, May 8, 930PM.

My dear daughter,

I rec’d your letter yesterday and was so glad to hear from you and that you were feeling better.  Will write a letter tomorrow.

With love from,

Mother

LETTER

Las Vegas, May 8, ‘10

My dear Ed,

Received all the letters and cards of last week, and I will try and do my part this week.  Edna’s card came this morning, so she can iron.  When you to go to North Dakota, you can take Edna to keep house.

Well this is such a warm day.  Our tent never gets very warm.  I don’t know how it is in the house, but will have a trail soon.  We are going to move tomorrow. We decided to take that little house.  They had a tent of their own so they agreed to build a platform and put it up for me.  the platform will be $10 and we will have to pay half, so we decided to wait till we moved in and then decide.  It is a very cozy little house.  I believe we will like the change.  It won’t be much of a change for me as I will have to go to bed anyhow.  The doctor says I am doing fine but it is very tiresome.

I laughed so much about Edna’s fight.  She is just right.  I’ll bet she and Katherine looked like soldiers marching past the time.

Had a letter from Mame yesterday.  Says she has rheumatism.  That seemed like such a rest from what we see and hear at this place.  Nothing but lungs.  I despise the name of them.

So the McCarthys got no thanks for helping Jacky.  I am sure Pa will bring it out real plainly to old Tommy.  How is Mrs. Penders?  We must blow this place up to them.  Would like to see them part with some money, not but what it would do the woman lots of good.

Your house work seems to run like clock work.  I wonder what I ever found hard about it or how I could possibly get out of humor with the children?  The older one are always more to blame than the other children.

Hanna was down to the greenhouse lately and brought me a pretty geranium with a beautiful bloom.  It looks so cheerful.  Hanna made out her list of groceries today.  She is so pleased about going to housekeeping.  She is the only well person in this place.  Still that should keep her feeling happy  to see her good fortune in having health.

John has sent us many cards since leaving.  He sent us two nice books of views yesterday.  Denver is undoubtedly a grand place.  If he hadn’t sent his clothes home he might be tempted to stay there and maybe if we had rented this little house before he left he would have stayed here.

I tried going yo sleep while writing but coudn’t do it.  Today had been quite lonesome.  A girl was to come to visit Hanna, but didn’t, so Hanna is fast asleep in her bed.  I am afraid I envy her the way she can sleep.  When she waits on me through the night she is in bed and sound asleep before you could count ten.

We have had the loveliest new blackberries several times already.  You never get them till they are homegrown.  It is hard on the people who had their gardens up to see such cold weather.  They will have it all to do over.

Well it is now Monday morning.  Hanna has the trunks packed and we will leave after dinner.  Hope it will be for the best.

I am feeling fine, ate hearty breakfast.  In fact, should be in good spirits always as I know I have improved, but you know at the best i always got the blues very easily.  I am with you all in my dreams at night it really seems that you are very near.  Maybe you are in spirit.

Wouldn’t think of buying land in N.M. without living a years in the place.  Where it was, Hanna met a family at the depot the day John went home.  They were going back to Iowa.  Had sold there farm there and bought 250 acres here.  Well they couldn’t raise a thing so they left it.  Said maybe some fool like themselves might come along and buy.

Had a letter from Agnes yesterday.  Said you were uneasy at not hearing from me.  I am sorry but you know was waiting for that examination.  What did the doctor think of it?  Hanna couldn’t read his writing, so hope it was favorable.  He say if it wouldn’t rain for about four months it would be greatly in my favor.

Agnes also said she was talking to Mr. Kenny and he said some parts here was fine.  He was in love with Las Vegas when he stayed here.  If it wasn’t for his farm back home, he would have remained here.  So it may not be so dry every place, but at present the dry is what we want.

Did you send your father’s stove home?  And did you burn the things I told you to?  Be sure to and anything else you run across that would be better out of the way.  It seems as thought the careful people are the ones that get caught, but when one does their best they cannot be blamed.  I don’t even wet a stamp or seal a letter with my tongue.  I use water.

Well Ed I guess I have told you all the news.  Give my love to my folks and yours.  Will write often.  Don’t be uneasy about my health, if anything was wrong, I would let you know.

Yours with much love,

Minnie.

Dear Edna,

Mamma received your card Sunday morning.  You are such a good girl.  It isn’t nice to fight, but if Georgia hits your first you m ust hit her back, then she will stop quarreling with you.  Is your pink dress as pretty as it was?  With love from Mamma to Edna.

Dear Helen,

Received your letter and am always pleased when you write me.  Your mustn’t wait for me to answer all yours because the doctor says I shouldn’t write very much.

Well we have the little house we talked about at home.  You will like it very much.  Everything is small and cute and I know you will be able to do the work.  Still it would be nice to have Papa and the rest near us too.  There is a large house in the same yard, we might get for them.

I have seen all color people this morning pass my window.  First white, then a Mexican, then a Negro, and now a China man.

Well Helen dear I would write you longer letter only Aunt Hanna is going to town and I want her to mail this to you.

Write to me often and always be the good girl you have been.  Good bye.

With much love from Mamma to Helen.

P.S.  Aunt Hanna sent you our new address yesterday.

May 6, 1910 Letter

Minnie is beginning to settle in.  Although she indicates in her letters she is blue and impatient to get well,  she is doing what all the doctor tells her to do.  Hanna is continuously challenged to keep herself occupied and begins to look for a place for the two women to live.  Ed keeps up the house in Charleston and by their sweet simplicity, the little girls send postal cards.

As for Minnie’s diet of eggs.  They were eaten raw.  Charleston doctors ordered the same diet for their patients too.

Minnie’s granddaughter, Denise.

Eventually, life with take on a daily routine and I won’t need to publish every letter or postal card……………a select number will be sufficient.  One nice aspect of the posting these postal cards, I get to post them in sequence with the writings.  In a book, photos are usually in the middle of the book.  So annoying………..

I do like posting the contrast of the postal cards of Charleston and Las Vegas areas.

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, May 5, 11AM

Theater, Charleston, Ill.

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am well.  I can iron.  My new pink dress is dirty and Papa washed it for me.  I am eating my breakfast.  Our hens are laying.  I go skating.  Why don’t you write to us?  I sleep with sister in your bed in front bedroom.  We are fixed up nice.  Good by from,

Edna

Trinidad, COLO., May 5, 8-30A

Dear Sister,

I arrived in Trinidad at 8:30 and gone to Denver at 9:50.

John

Las Vegas, , May 5, 11-30A

Dear Helen,

Received all your nice letters and enjoyed them ever so much.  Uncle John started for home yesterday, but won’t get there for a week.  Am glad you know your Catechism so well.  You must help Mary and Edna with theirs.  I am feeling fine and think of you all so much.  Did you have the surprise on Mrs. Carr?  write me a nice long letter.

Love from,

Mamma

Dear Edna,

They all tell me you are the best girls in Charleston, that you do your work.  do you want to come out here to live with Aunt Hanna and I or do you want us to come back?  I haven’t’ seen a little white girl since coming.  How are the twins and baby, does Georgia come to see you anymore?  You must save your cards and put them in your album.

With love and kisses for you all,

Mamma

St. Anthony's Sanatorium, Las Vegas, NMexico

Dear little Margaret,

How are you pet?  Do you help Grandma wash dishes?  We are all doing well except my pleurisy.  Will write Papa tomorrow.  Love to all from,

Mamma.

LETTER

Las Vegas Friday May 6, ‘10

My dear Ed,

Am afraid you have been disappointed at not receiving more letters from me this week, but I was waiting the first part till the doctor examined me.  Guess you have received his report, he said you would have to take to Dr. Starr to interpret for you.  He mentioned my spitting a little blood last Saturday.  It didn’t amount to much what Starr would call an “irritation.”  Still it is on my left side, and seemed to be still inflamed.  All that I coup up comes from there, but there has been no blood since Sunday.  He had me to take those Heroin pills of Dr. Starr.

This week wasn’t as pleasant as formerly.  It was a little cloudy, cold and windy, but today is nice and clear.

We don’t’ get much acquainted.  Hanna called on a Catholic lady.  She has been here a month.  In from Montana.  She has four children. The oldest fourteen and the youngest six months.  The older one stays with her husband, and the third with a grandmother and they hire a woman to take care of baby.  She claims her baby had three month colic and whooping cough till it broke her down.  But she seems strong.  She had hemorrhage first and got ready right away and came here.  She is the only one of those women here who has any children.  She is very lonesome.

I am feeling fine.  Can eat heartily and sleep well. I sometimes get blue, thinking maybe I won’t get well, but I have never been blue or felt as bad as I did at home.

Went to communion this morning.  The priest is such a nice kind man.  He is Spanish.

Well, it is after dinner now.  Received the girls cards this A.M.  Edna is a wonder. All the work she does.  So glad the tack didn’t hurt her foot.  What would Papa do if she wasn’t’t able to  be around to help him?

Hanna was house hunting this morning.  Saw a nice little three room furnished house but the rooms were very slammed the porch hardly large enough for me to sleep on.  Also, it was so close to the fence that any one going the way could reach in and get me.  The rent is $20. per month.  She is going to look further before we decide.  I think it better to get a furnished house as we don’t know how things may turn out.  But I believe we would be more comfortable in a little house than in this one room.  We even have to hire our bit of washing.  50 cents per week, it is just like boarding when we were first married at the Davis’s.  I am very very sorry that Maggie had another spell.  Maybe they may   stop soon.  Received nice card from her.

Ed, you needn’t send me the Extention.  We have a big library here in the house, and I don’t care much about reading.

‘ Hope you selected a nice dining room outfit.  Would get a new table also.  The old one wouldn’t look well when put with the new.  You aren’t’ sue then you should wait a while.

Did the break down at the light plant put the gas out of business?  Agnes says you don’t even get the paper now.  Do you still take Plain Dealers?

Ed, you must be very good to Helen in particular.  I often think that I didn’t treat the little dear as I should.  You know, she being the oldest, I thought she should know more than all the others, even when she was a baby.  It worries me a good deal at times, because there never was a better or kinder child.  When we get the little house here and Hanna wants to go back home, Helen must come out and keep house for me.  Tell her to be ready.

Mary is getting to be a fierce writer.  How does the girls treat Mary at school?  Does she still have her little troubles?

How do you all sleep now?  Helen spoke of being in the folding bed.  Do you occupy  the three rooms for sleeping?

We have a nice tent.  Two little white iron beds, white dresser and washstand, little wood stove and white oil cloth as a wainscoting, then a pretty pattern of linoleum on the floor.  When we have a home of our own together again, I am going to have a little tent room joined to the house for my use.  The doctor says that the children should be kept  out doors all the time, so Ed try and keep them out.  I know that will be hard to do as they always preferred the house, but he says children with a mother like me often are lots more robust than children with two healthy parents.

I just got through taking two eggs this afternoon for the first time as I eat so good at meal time.  I have only taken one, before, but will try two from now on.  I’m getting tired of being sick.  The doctor has no thoughts of me getting up yet.  He still comes everyday, but I have positively made up my mind to speak to him this evening, there is no sense in it.

We had cards from John yesterday.  He was in Trinidad.  Guess he is in Denver now.  Bridget sent Sullivan’s address.

Well I will write no more today as it is time for the mailman.  Excuse writing, it is hard to write in bed.  Oh how I wish I was well and like I was once.  This is a dreadful suspense I am in, but I am improving so should be thankful.  Don’t think I am blue, just impatient.  Love to the children, and you Ed, and write often.

Minnie.

Forgot to say a word about the three little women.  Are they as busy as ever?  Kiss them all for me, think the twins will be nearly four when I see them.  Edna was a big girl at that age.

Doctor’s Medical Letter To Ed, 1910

I love how the little girls would write about each other.  It gives a glimpse into the lives of “seeing” my aunts and mother being little girls.

Studying Dr. Mc Clanahan’s handwriting took me a long time.  Sometimes it would take me weeks to figure out one word.  I have still failed to figure out one word, so I substituted it with “behave”.   Because of the year, I am impressed with Dr. McClanahan’s sophistication.  He appears to be a reserved man with polite manners.  His knowledge of tuberculosis  was greatly gained by the exposure to more patients from all over the country settling in one area, and one himself, I am sure the Charleston doctors, Dr. Starr and Dr. Icynan, learned more from his letters than they might have ever known before.  I base this fact on the way Minnie’s letters describe her Charleston doctors not detecting her cough might be turning into tuberculosis early on in November 1909 and then the treating of it was so different from Dr. McClanahan.  Also, these Charleston doctors treated her two teenage sisters who had already died from tuberculosis less than a few years earlier.  All I can say, it was the times……………….

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, May 4, 11AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  Edna went to visit with Mary.  We have all had our breakfast but Margaret.  Edna ran a tack in her foot.

Good bye from,

Helen

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  Edna cleaned the house yesterday. I swept the from porch and walk this morning.  Papa is going to get us some ice cream for our dinner today.

Good bye from,

Mary

Tack did not hurt Edna.

Ed

Las Vegas, May 4, 430P

Dear Ed,

The doctor examined Minnie this morning and he has written down just what he thought so he said he would give it to John to take to you.  He said if you took it to the doctor there he could explain it more fully for you.  so Minnie thought you would get it quicker by sending through the mail, as John won’t be home for a week or ten days.   He is leaving this afternoon for Denver.  My I hate to see him go.

Minnie is feeling fine and she has an excellent appetite.  He says her lung is clearing fine.

Well I suppose Minnie has written you all the news.

Give the girls my love,

Hanna

John and I just stopped and got this from the doctor.  I can’t read a word of it.  It is worse than my scratching.  Good bye.

MEDICAL REPORT

OFFICE HOURS: Dr. R. K. McCLANAHAN.

2 to 4 p.m. OFFICE AND RESIDENCE,

914 EIGHTH STREET

EAST LAS VEGAS, N. M.

An examination of Mrs. Whalen shows following condition.  Dullness anxiously just below clavicle between 3rd and 4th rib and below right breast.  The breathing from below right breast to base pleurisy anxiously absent except in isolated patches.  Dullness over this area, but none recent are present just now.  The breathing on other two ones is bronchitis vesicular and tubercular in character and the two spots referred to are dense.  the diagnosis from lower right, dense tubercular infiltration of some what of a pneumonia type – the other areas are of the pneumonia character.  The condition shows decided tendency to behave quiescent, and we have every reason to suppress that as the tubercular areas become arrested.  The general condition will improve.  The heart action is good – pulse ranges from 75 – 92 per morning per normal to subnormal in the area.

The pulse is good in character, and the heart action is moderately good as regards rhythm and fullness.  The kidneys are normal, bowels slightly constipated –possibly some what aggravated on account of enforced wash.  Two examinations of sputum show tubercular bacillus.  First examination they were numerous, second numerous not so large.  Patient’s appetite is good, sleeps well, cough moderate.

Taking everything into consideration, that is long trip, etc., the patient has responded since her arrival and we believe and hope she will improve more rapidly in the future.

She is being treated by rest, fresh air and plenty of good nourishing food.  She is also getting a simple tonic of mix verratrum, arsenic and geratic compounds.  The patient expectorated a small quantity of blood first week, but it was only short duration in a very small quantity–possibly due to rupture of small arteries.

May 1910

In case you are a Charleston reader, this  letter hints at the way life was in Charleston in 1910.  Ed’s parents were farmers before retiring and moving into Charleston.  A very common practice in Charleston was for a farmer to “move into town” upon saving $10,000 and leave the farming to his oldest son to run.  Most of the homes built around Adams Street were by retired farmers.  I am sure this practice occurred throughout the mid-west where farming was very much a fabric of the community.

For any young reader, Tuberculosis is going to be difficult for you to comprehend the pain and complications it created to your ancestors, because of all the pain medications available to us today. Only in 1910, the medications & knowledge were limited.  Appetites diminished and any exertion caused lost of blood due to the breaking of blood vessels.  A simple turn over in the bed would cause bleeding.  In 1910, the only pain killer was a liquid heroin.  No antibiotics.  Around 1930 penicillin…..which when invented, cured tuberculosis.

Curiosity got the better of me and I googled, “Old Caretta” and learned this is a photograph of an almost identical photograph in the Smithsonian American Art Museum by William H. Jackson, 1875-!  What is amazing, the photo at the museum is in black and white, as this one is in color.  Also, the one at the Smithsonian is “flipped” and does not have two figures in the background.  Did Jackson take several photos and only one ended up in the Smithsonian?  This postal card was printed out of Colorado, like the one in the Smithsonian.  Anyway, this postal card to little Helen stimulates my imagination, trying to imagine how 6 little girls tried to comprehend how life could be so different than theirs own environment in Charleston.  I admire Minnie’s subtle education to her girls and the expectations of what they will be seeing when they do move to New Mexico.

POSTAL CARD

Old Carreta, Laguna, New Mexico

Dearest Helen,

We just rec’d Papa’s letter and also from you and Mary.  Glad that you are getting along so nice and are such good help to Papa.  Do you sleep by yourself?  we are having beautiful weather here.  Hope you will have a nice time at the party.  Uncle John is going to Denver tomorrow.  Mamma is feeling all right.  Love from all,

Aunt Hanna.

Charleston, Ill., May 3, 1030AM

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  It is raining.  I got me a new pair of shoes.  We are getting supper.  Good bye from,

Helen

LETTER

Charleston, N.M., May 3, ‘10

My dear Ed,

Received all your letters and cards and would have written you Sunday, but the doctor was going to give me another thorough examination yesterday, but he had an urgent call and couldn’t get around in the morning.  Then he was coming this morning but it is damp and he said he wouldn’t come if it was. This is the first cloudy day we have had, it hasn’t rained since we came, but when it does begin there is no let up.  It rains a month and sometimes sixty days in succession, that occurs about once per year.

John is to leave us tomorrow.  He is going to check his grip onto Charleston.  Will only stop in Denver short time.  We will be lonesome without him.  He will be a contented John when he gets back.  I see now why people always returned to Charleston.  I was provoked at you last Fall when you came back from North Dakota so reconciled to make Charleston your permanent abode, but I wish there was nothing to keep me away now but my inclination.  I also feel sorry for your mother and father for their old home in the country.  That we have for Charleston, people get rooted to one place.

Well I started this letter this morning, but it cleared off a little so I was afraid the doctor might decide to come and quit as he is so particular about me being rested when he makes an examination, but he didn’t come yet and it is nearly five.  I am tired of the bed, and he can’t keep me here much longer. I feel fine Ed and my appetite is splendid.  I am so hungry for breakfast especially.  Now this morning I ate a big dish of rolled oats with lots of cream, large piece of splendid steak, three and half biscuits, glass hot milk and half cup cocoa.  Now who could beat that?

got your letters you wrote Sunday just now, and will ask the doctor those questions when he comes.  he took the sputum with him last night, but I suppose today is too cloudy to examine it.  I will write you full particulars when he does. John is waiting to get all the particulars about me before going home, so he can explain more fully than I can write.

The man that was looking for work got a job.  I was talking to him yesterday before he left.  He is to board up town now.  Well he says he was ordered out here six years ago, but went to some relatives on a form and got better.  In the mean time he took pretty good care of himself.  Like everyone else, he got careless again and had to come here the middle of February.   His trouble is exactly where Dr. Starr and Dr. Icnayan says mine is.  His doctor in Chicago told him he needed to stay but six  months, but the doctor here says he must stay always.  He never even consulted a doctor here until last week before going to work.  There is nothing in doctoring, as it is all in rest, food and air.  I thought i would let this one come for a month and then have a talk with him when it comes to settling up. Everyone all say my doctor is fine.

Well Dr. McClanahan just left.  He says whether it is clouds or not, he will examine me good tomorrow so John will get the particulars.  He sat and chatted with us a half hour about every day affairs.  Put a tube to my heart, says it is improving and then took himself away.  No  thoughts of medicine.

Ed, I was very worried when I heard the twins went over to Ma’s.  Now don’t let them go alone anymore.  You know Helen and  Mary are too young to be entrusted with the twins.  Maybe Margaret would take a contrary notion and run toward an engine instead of away from it, and the girls couldn’t stop her.  Now please don’t let them go again without an older person.  It is a big rick for the three older children to cross the road.

Tell Agnes that Mrs. Courtney will send for some lace for the twins white dresses and their little hats.  You can give Mrs. Courtney the money and she can get the lace.

I have enjoyed your letters so much.  It seems as though I can feel everything that goes on there.  I tell you, you are living cheap.  Wish I was there to help eat that good country ham.  Still we have fine eating here.  Their spinach, tomatoes and lettuce is grand, so much fresher than the shipped in we get at home.  They haven’t so far to come.  we had strawberry pie covered all over with whipped cream for dinner.  It was fine.

All the business people here, that is the majority, are Jews and they are very wealthy. There is an old Jew sick in the house.  His room is near our tent.  He has a trained nurse to wait on him, and he pays her $25. per week.  The room he is in is $25. per week.  He is very rich and deaf, so we hear all their talk.

We will miss John so much but maybe by going back to work then he could get Ma a pass sometime soon.  We would love to see her. We are sending some hair ribbons home to the girls in John’s grip.  the large ones for the big girls and the narrow ones for the twins and baby.  Their are four large ones, we thought you could make a necktie out of the extra one for yourself so you could all be in uniform.

I received a lovely letter from Mary and enjoyed it so much.  I am going to send her a card soon.

Well it is Wednesday morning and the doctor was here and he said he would write out about my trouble and send to you.  You can take it to Dr. Starr and he can explain it fully to you.  He says he is positive my trouble was caused by pneumonia, by the way the lungs are acting now.  He says the worse place is under the right breast.  That upper place that is healing, and the right place breast part is opening up.  My breathing is getting better there too.  He thinks that I will get better, and my own opinion is that I will.  As I feel fine and the appetite is so good.  Now this morning I ate rolled oats, four lovely pancakes, baked apple, glass milk and half cup cocoa, and then took an egg at ten O’clock  Couldn’t eat my steak as the cakes filled me.  If I had only came here that first time I spit the blood it would have saved lots of time.  But we never know those things.  I feel stronger than when I left home and am using an ointment to remove freckles.  So you know I feel better.

John is to leave us about 2 O’clock.  Guess he won’t be home until after Sunday.

Your plans for the future are fine Ed.  I don’t worry anymore.  Of course I expect to have bad spells once in a while, but I am doing better in that line than I expected.  Give my love to your mother and all the rest of the folks, also to Father Costello.  I always remember him in my prayers.  Now Ed dear, don’t’ let the twins cross the track alone.  Tell the girls I will send them cards in the morning so they will get them on Saturday.  If they shouldn’t get them, they can go to the post office and ask for them.  With lots of love to all,

Minnie

Got a nice bunch of Couriers from Agnes this morning.  Hanna is fine but she will miss John to go around with her here.

Last Letter Sent In April 1910

In this letter reference is  made about the Edna’s  eyes and nose.  When Minnie left Charleston the girls were recovering from the chicken pox.    Also, the Kate and Agnes mentioned are Minnie’s two sisters.

Las Vegas, Thursday April 28, ‘10

My dear Ed,

As I have nothing else to occupy my mind I will write you again.  Guess you will get tired of reading my letters if I write so often.

This is beautiful weather we are having.  Not a bad day since coming.  Sometimes the wind blows pretty badly for a little while but never for very long at a time.  Agnes says you have been having fierce weather.  Did it do much damage to crops?  Had your folks planted their corn?

The bad weather was in our favor, as John wouldn’t have had time to help you if he could have been farming.  Did you paint the floor in the south room?  I wouldn’t buy anything new as I feel confident, with God’s help, that I will get better and we will get all the new things for our next home.

John and Hanna got a rig yesterday and drove around the country.  The people are planting corn.  The frost came too soon last year and the corn ws only roasting ears and the oats wasn’t thrashed.  The Spring was so late they didn’t get anything put in early enough.  They also have trees set oof, but  it is is no place for farming.  Just experimenting.  I’ll bet the place Wyeth is at is no better, only they blow it up.

How are Edna’s eyes?  Be sure and let me know. Agnes says the Forty Hours Devotion has been postponed.

Had letters from Kate and Agnes yesterday, giving us lots of news.  We don’t have time to get lonesome here as there are so many stirring around.  But I don’t see how they stand staying here so long.  Saw a young girl out on the porch yesterday who has been here two years, in bed now for a year, until this last week, and don’t look unhappy.

My doctor is still coming.  Says I am getting better looking every day.  I’m afraid he will fall in love with me and begin making two visits per day and charge them up to the poor man at home.  I thought I would wait a little longer and maybe he will stop coming on his own accord.  He thinks I am doing fine.  I haven’t had a pain any place since being here but still he says “Stay in bed.”

How is your mother?  Does she suffer from her ankle yet?  I wrote her a card yesterday.

We had a strawberry shortcake last night.  it reminded me of Helen.  Let the three big ones get ready and go to Aunt Mayme’s for dinner some day and she will give them shortcake if they let her know they are coming.  I guess you will be studying the cookbook and learn to make all those things yourself, which is the proper act.

Agnes said Edna stayed all night with them Sunday.  As soon as the twins begin to visit , you will have lots of rest.  Have they got little hats yet?  Little hats on the order of Mary’s would be cute.

Ed you had better send Helen and Mary over to Kate Lee’s with her pint can, we forgot to take it home.

Well the mailman just now brought your letter and we were so glad to get it.  I will answer your questions first thing. I haven’t had any touch of pleurisy,  no pain in shoulders, no sign of blood, nor anything bad at all.  He wants me in bed, as he thinks I am weak.  He thinks I had pneumonia last Fall.  That time I felt my lung stop up and it hung on so long.  You remember that it ran into Catarrh?  If I only had the lung cleared out that time I would have been all O.K.  He is going to examine me thoroughly the first of next week.  He did examine me good when we first came but he wants to watch for improvements.  I am eating and sleeping better.  Haven’t’ been in the sun yet.  He says I soon will be able to sit in the sun,and then a wheel chair, and then driving.  He believes in being very cautious.  They say he is a good doctor, and the sister says I will get better as every one either goes up or down after coming and I have gone up.  I don’t suppose it is any use in your writing to the doctor as he will tell us right along.

Every one in N.M. eats meat on Friday.  They have a special dispensation from the Pope.  However we haven’t began yet.  It is kind of hard to change a life times practice.

So Mrs. Shannahan has passed away.  I guess a great many of the old ones will have left when I see Charleston again.

We are not going to bother about keeping house till we see further.  They are so nice to us here and when I am get up will be time enough to look around.

Well Ed, I must close as it is getting near dinner time, and mailman collects the mail at twelve.  Don’t let my letter of Sunday bother you much, as it may not be so bad very long.  Give my love to all the relatives, and tell them I think of them all.

Yours with love,

Minnie

Southwestern Fast Freight

My dear little girls,

Mamma got your letters, and loved to read them.  Do you say your prayers night and morning?  Papa says you are all so good and I know you are so.  Wish you could see the pretty tent Aunt Hanna and I live in.  We sleep in little white beds.

With love,

Mamma

East Las Vegas, April 26 ’10

In 1910 , it was etiquette to refer to your in-law as brother and sister.  The postal card in this post from “Maggie” is  Ed’s sister. She married a farmer and they had 3 children in Arcola, Illinois. (less than 20 miles from Charleston)

East Las Vegas, April 26

My dear Ed,

Received your letter today and was so glad you are getting along so nicely.  You will be fine when you get through cleaning house, and settled for the summer.

I am keeping up  just the same.  The doctor won’t let me get up.  He says I will have to stay here another week and maybe six.  It all depends on my temperature which never comes up to normal in the morning before breakfast.  It is usually 97 4/5 and he says I should never have taken any exercise like I did at home.  The bed is the place to build up strength.  He seems confident that I will get well, but it will take patience, time and money.  People are right in this house who have been here for over a year.  The sister that waits on me thinks I will be better in two months.  Of course she is Irish and has her own way of thinking.

The doctor here doesn’t take the pulse.  He has that tube and listens to the heart action.  I had him to take my pulse yesterday and it was 96.  He says the pulses doesn’t go below 80 in this altitude.  My appetite is pretty good.  I don’t vomit at all since being here.  Slept fine the last two nights, and I think I am ever so much better in every way than I was at home.

God seems to have come to my assistance in making our separation bearable.  I never dreamed I could live away  from you all and be so contented, but I feel like you are getting along nice, and that the children won’t be too much trouble, and I couldn’t help  it if I were there.  That always hurt me when at home, to see so many things to be done and lying there helpless.  Now in this place they are nearly all invalids, and you know misery likes company.  I really have to laugh at times to see the poor creatures bundled up in shawls and overcoats, and telling each other how they feel.  I am here in a tent right below the porch so that I can listen to their talk.  There are old and young here.  Four boys under 23, several middle aged men and three men over 50.  Then there are six young married women besides myself between the ages of 27 and 33, so you see it isn’t one that has troubles.

I have inquired of several of the sisters, and they say this doctor is as good as any here.  He is a little too young to suit me exactly, being only 33.  He was a surgeon in the army until four years ago when he began private practice.  Still he seems to have made a thorough study of the lungs, as he has that trouble himself.

Hanna just returned from town.  She got a new waist for Ma and John will take it home before him.  He is going to start about next Monday, but he is going to Denver, and thinks probably he will stay there, if he likes it.  Hanna wrote Bridget for P.O. Sullivan’s address, and John will look him up.  Hanna met the Doctor up town and he said it was remarkable what this climate was doing for me.  So please God maybe we will all be together before long.

I was thinking Ed that of course there is no way of making a living here, but I know it is hard to get into anything there either, so if I am greatly improved by Fall you all could come here so we could live cheaper together.  Then in the Spring we could go to Texas or some place.  You could strike out and find us some location, so we will be fine in the end.  I tell you we we had ten fine years anyhow, and it wouldn’t have done never to have any reverse.

We had several callers Sunday.  Hanna met a girl at the furniture store.  Cliff McClann introduced her.  She is their book keeper and a Catholic, so she brought another girl with her and paid us a nice little visit.  Then they tookHanna for a drive, then Cliff M. came in the evening.  His wife is out on his ranch, to be gone all summer.  I don’t know who is with her, he paid $80 for potatoes to plant there.  He says this will be a fine farming country after a while.  He is quite a boomer.  He wants to go into business for himself if his brother would go in with him.  But he coudn’t pursuade his brother to live here.  No one stays here.  Only for health, but it is fine for that.

We don’t’ know what to do about house keeping.  I would like a couple rooms and a porch.  The porch to be screened in for my bedroom, then I would rather us to get our own furniture and bedding as I don’t like to be using the same bedding others used.  Of course all we would need would be a couple beds, couple chairs and stove.  We could get a big box to eat on and smaller ones for stand tables, then there would be dishes, cooking utensils, lamps and a few necessities.  It would be on a cheap scale but they would be fresh and clean, and our own so we think it over.

Well the doctor ran in unexpectedly this morning. It was nearly dinner time, he usually comes in the afternoon, but he had an operation for today.  Well he doesn’t do anything when he comes but joke.  Pretty dear joking on our part.  He thinks I will respond very quickly when I get rested, says I am very run down and that is why bed is the place for me.  Everyone says he is honest so I guess maybe it is necessary for him to come every day,because I have made it plain to him that your bank account isn’t large and that it is quite a drain on your pocketbook to keep me here, so I don’t think he is trying to work us.  I will speak to him later on.

Well I ate a good dinner.  We had the best prune apple pie with whipped cream over it.  Poor man you are the one who has the cross to bear.

Hanna is in the house sewing, so I have a little tent alone this afternoon.  I have been all day writing this letter. I write a while and rest a while.  Guess you are tired reading it.  Am going to write all the other letters when I am able to be up.  Will close this time, but you are liable to hear from me often as I feel like I am talking to you.

Love and kisses to you all,

Minnie

Dear little Helen,

Received your cards and letter.  So you fried the potatoes.  So glad you can help Papa.  Would love to see you all, tell Mama all the babies tries to say and be good to them.  Will write you a long letter soon.  From you fond Mamma.

Dear little Mary,

Your little letter was so nice, write me whenever Papa does.  Do  they give you plenty to eat?  I want you to be as fat as when I was at home the next time I see you.  With love, Mamma.

Dear little Edna,

Wish you could write to me.  All the little girls here have black hair.  No pretty little white hair like yours.  Don’t forget Mamma and be a good girl. With lots of love for Edna, Katherine, Margaret and dear little Agnes.

With love from Mama.

Charleston, Il., April 27, ‘10

Dear Sister,  Glad to hear you are feeling O.K.  Ed rec’d your letter and telephoned me that he thought it was strange you hadn’t received more letters from him.  I am going down there now.  Do not worry.  All is well.

Sister Agnes

Arcola, Ill., April 27, ‘10

Dear Minnie,

I got your card.  Was so glad to hear from you and that your were feeling so much better.  The children and Ed are getting alone all right.  I called down yesterday.  We are having snow and rain.  The fruit are all gone for I am afraid.  Be good to your self.  Say hello to Hanna for me.  Write when you feel strong enough.

Maggie

Charleston, Ill., April 27, ’10

Dear Mamma, How are you?  I am feeling fine.  We have had our berekfst.  I am going to school now.  Good by from,

Mary

Saint Charles Catholic Church, Charleston, Illinois

Charleston, Ill., April 27, ‘10

Dear Sister, Read the letter your wrote Ed and so glad you are improving so rapidly.  The children and Ed are fine.  Edna went home today.  Love to all.

From Agnes

Las Vegas, Sun, April 24 ’10

When Minnie left Charleston, 5 of her little girls were recovering from the chicken pox. References to this illness are  made in the  early correspondence with regards to the eyes and nose areas.  Minnie’s youngest sibling, Agnes, will be the author of many postal cards to follow.  As the McCarty  family began to financially succeed, Agnes, was allowed the luxury of completing her high school years.  Before that, all the children began working the day they turned 16.  This was the norm for every immigrant family then.  As a career woman, Agnes, became  the first  female Court Reporter in Coles County.  She also worked for Judge Shuey of Charleston and later my grandfather purchased his home at 903 E. Jackson Street  by Agnes informing him it was going to be sold.

I am amazed at Minnie’s grasp of Las Vegas commerce so early on in her stay.  The only conversations she omits in her letters are the politics of Las Vegas, our country or anything nationally going on.

The last comment to Ed was on a separate piece of paper.

POSTAL CARD

Charleston, April 23, 1910

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I am feeling fine.  We all got your postal cards.

Good bye from

Helen

Dear Sister,

Rec’d your card this morning.  Was certainly glad to hear you are feeling so well.  I hope it will not be long before you can take a ride like on the other side of this card.

From, Agnes

LETTER

Las Vegas, Sun. 24, ‘10

My Dear Ed,

As you don’t’ think it worth to write me, I will write and tell you the way the land lays out here.  First, I must say that I was very disappointed when Saturday night came and no letter.  I even had Hanna go to the office after supper thinking maybe a letter came on a late train, so it upset my night’s rest.

Well to begin with, this is a health resort and when that is said all is said.  The land is useless, they don’t plant it al all.  For a a couple years the land agents flooded in here, and boomed the land and talked of irrigation and fairly robbed a lot of poor people.  They say some of those agents made a million.  Well there is no irrigation, nor never will be, and even if they raised a crop there is no  place to sell it.  This is the only town around and it doesn’t take much to supply it.  You couldn’t ship out and compete with other markets.  So the poor people that bought got broke up and left.  They say it was criminal the way they they were swindled, and to think Cliff McClann tried to rope you in out here.  I haven’t a bit of confidence in him.  Farming is no good and you couldn’t get a bit of work to do if you were starving.  There are three young married women here and their husbands are away of in other states and sending the money to stay here on.  They come a few times a year to visit, but the women say they couldn’t get a thing to do here.  Not even enough to keep two in family as none of them has children.  Then a man of 3A is in the next tent to us.  He is about well and is able to do light work, but can’t get it and he is heart sick.  His wife and three children are in Chicago, but he can’t afford to bring them here.  So that is how this country is, and they say that in Colorado it is as bad.  There are fifty for every job.

Well you see all our plans of N.M. are nipped in the bud.  So we must make other arrangements.  They say it is as cheap for us to live this way as to keep house.  The doctor comes every day, he says he has to study me.  He gives no medicine only once for my bowels and yesterday for the stomach bloating.  He says now he will put me on a tonic, but we have to get all medicine at the drug store and pay for it extra.  He charges $2. per trip but in cases like mine, they take them by the month.  So I suppose it will be $50 per month besides my medicine.  Well count all that up and see what it comes to.  It looks very much to me like the old man will have to find a job.  Not but what he has as hard a one as any man in town, but we will have to make some money someway.  See your expenses will come up to $200 per month and a millionaire could ‘t stand that if he had nothing coming in.

The next question is what are you to do?  Well I have often noticed in those Grain Journals where there was a chance for a real capable man to get a position as manager of an elevator.  Maybe you could strike something like that?  If not, maybe you and John could buy an elevator around there or lease one.  Then you could store the furniture, rent the house and leave Helen with Ma, Mary with your mother, Edna with Mayme, and take the three little ones with you.  You could advertize in the paper for a good responsible woman to board and care for three little children and maybe you could board with them too.  There are many women that like children and would be glad to make some money.  That is what I figured out when I couldn’t sleep this morning.  Do as you like, but  if you can’t make arrangements, I am coming back.  There is a limit to all things and I am not going to beggar you and them poor children, spoil all Hanna’s time and when all is done and over with, even if I get better, they say I will be no account but to take care of myself and then liable to to break down at any time.  So in a business way I am a poor investment.  See that would amount to $240 per year.  It would be all right if you were in the elevator where it could be made, but otherwise this will never do.  So don’t be surprised to see me walk in most any time.

Hanna and John went to the mountains Friday.  They had a fine time.  Went up 1200 feet to a peak called Hermits Peak.  It is a twenty mile drive from here and then they took hours to climb the mountain.  They say this is a right pretty town.

I am still in bed and will have to stay here.  The doctor says my heart is improving.  He doesn’t take my temperature or pulse.  He has Hanna take the temperature morning and evening and it is always a little below normal. That is the sign of weakness, but no breaking of lung tissue.  He says I can climb up to normal better than to be above.

Well guess I will close as I am tired and know you will be before you get through reading this.  Hanna and John are fine.  I am as well as I ever was at home.  I can eat better and was beginning to sleep better till last night.  Had three letters from Agnes last week.  She told us all the news.  Hope you get through house cleaning.  Love to all, Minnie.

Well my doctor was here now.  He says my lungs are opening up and he thinks I will respond to this climate.  I do think this climate is all right, but that is all.

Ed, There is a little box in the writing desk. It has a choker for the neck and a handkerchief.  Well take the handkerchief and boil with a little strong soap powder, and burn box and choker.  Don’t let the children see you, they are so afraid of germs.  Here and I was going to do it myself but forgot.

Minnie’s First Letter Home, 1910

Minnie was born in Ireland and came over to America when she was 2 years old with her parents and siblings.  In her letters, she writes many quaint sayings and I contribute this to her parents Irish heritage more than the America style of talking in 1910.  Many of these postal cards were made by Detroit Publishing Co. and  very sought after today.  This company used a process called, phostint, and were considered to be very artistic cards. As instructed, Minnie’s letters and postal cards got passed amongst the relatives and therefore, one can assume correctly, many of the postal cards never made their way back to Ed.  Those I found still tell a story.  In fact, even into their adult lives, I found a number of postal cards the girls had tucked into their individual prayers books. My most favorite postal card  that did survive, is the one little Edna received; “Nampeyo (THE NOTED HOPI POTTERY MAKER) and her grandchild.”

East Las Vegas, April 19, 1910

Dear Helen,

Received your card and so glad you are all well.  I am feeling better than I ever did at

home.  You can soon come out here to me or I will go to you.  I know you are helping

Papa.

With love, Mother

Dear Edna,

This is the way all the Mammas dress out here,

when you come you will find me looking like this

lady.  Are your eyes and nose better?  Be a good little girl.

With love, Mother

Las Vegas, April 20, 1910

My dear Edward,

Guess you will think I am slow in writing you but am obeying doctor’s orders.  I’m to

stay strictly in bed, and no exertion, but will try and tell you some of our experiences.

As you know we left St. Louis in fine shape, well I coudn’t sleep that night with the

rocking of the train and we got into Kansas City at eight O’clock.  They met us with the

chair and the morning was bitter cold and gloomy looking.  John took us to a hotel

where we took a room and I rested a little.  Then John and Hanna went out to send the

sisters word we were coming.  We left there at eleven.  John got out at some town in the

afternoon and got some coffee, we ate ham sandwiches with it and I got deathly sick.

Threw up my socks as it were.  You know I have always said I would rather die than eat

meat on Friday, so it was a judgment put on me.  Well Friday all day was bad, rested a

little better that night and the next morning raised my blind about 5-30. We were in a

beautiful town called Las Ammar.  It was so early in the morning and my spirits went

up, and haven’t come down yet, that town was a grand sight, but the train didn’t stop

for breakfast till we got to Trinidad at  about Ten O’clock.  Then John got a cup of milk

for me, and coffee for themselves.  About forty miles east of Trinidad we began to see

snow, and for about that much farther west of Trinidad it was very high.  Trinidad is a

beautiful place, but at the outskirts of the town it is fierce, little old mud huts, and I

didn’t see a living animal, from Las Ammar to Trinidad, but some burros, they look like

little mules.  There is no farming done at all, the ground looks like yellow day.

Trinidad is very mountainous.  They put an extra engine to our train to help push us

over the mountains, and as we were in the back coach it was jerk right along.  We went

through a little town about the size of Fair Grange, six miles west of Trinidad and I

counted seven saloons right in a row, the women and children were sitting on the

platform, the town was at the side of the mountain and what they did for a living I

don’t know.

The Rocky M. are tremendous.  It would make you quake to look up them. We went

through the tunnel all O.K. and were soon in New Mexico.  We saw a little cattle in New

Mexico but not much around in Las Vegas, and Mr. McClann met us, and we came out

here.  The cab man charged $2 for us four and a dollar for our trunks.  They know how

to charge here.

Dr. McClanahan came out the first evening to get acquainted and then came Sunday to

examine me.  He didn’t let me tell him any of my care, he wanted to judge for himself.

Well he has all kinds of instruments and the examination was very thorough. He said

my trouble started with pneumonia, winding up with pneumonia  catarrh.  It was never

cleared up.  He examined the sputum and urine, and he says there is a little germ but

very few and in two weeks he doesn’t expect to find any.  Bet it was the spell I took at

Aunt Nancy’s funeral that hurt me, not my run down condition.  You know I said all

along that I had the pneumonia or grip and that Dr. Icynan and Dr. Starr wouldn’t

listen to it.

Well I have taken a nap while writing this.  The doctor will be here this afternoon.  He

comes every day and gives me no medicine, but on Monday he gave me 6 capsules to be

taken every 1/2 hours and followed by a Sedlity powder.  well it surely took me to a

cleaning, and I have been able to eat ever since.  Now for breakfast I ate: dish oatmeal,

three biscuits, piece lovely steak, cup cocoa and glass milk, took egg before dinner, a

good dinner and an egg since.  He says there is no doubt of me getting well as I ever

was, that I have a wonderful outlook and am sensible enough to do my part.

The doctor has come and gone, don’t leave a bit of medicine, but will give a a

prescription to drug store for a mild purgative.  Says I have to stay in bed another week

and he doesn’t know how much longer it would be.  Well Ed, if you wrote him and got

his opinion he says he expects to be perfectly honest with us.  He said today he wished

you and children were here, but I said no that I wasn’t a bit homesick and felt satisfied

as I am.  I don’t want you all to come until I am well, as I think it is for the best the way

we are.  I would love to see you all, but wouldn’t be back there for all the money in the

world.

John has a nice boardinghouse, and Hanna is taking fright from being dressed up all

the time.  They have fine eating here.  The sisters are so good, but they work like slaves.

No danger of me joining them.

It is nearly my supper time so will close.  Will write you soon again, but he doesn’t even

want me to sit up in bed but a few minutes.  He says I don’t need muscular strength and

I must keep down all quick action of the heart.  Kiss all my little girls for me, and I hope

and trust in God we will all be together soon again. Give your mother and my folks my

love and keep plenty for yourself.

Minnie

THE FIRST LETTER HOME, 1910

LETTER

East Las Vegas, APR18, 11-30A.

Dear Ed,

We arrived Sat. eve. at 2:20 and Mr. McCann met us at the station in a cab.  He is very nice.  He came out here with us and saw us settled all right.  He then told us all about that Dr. McClanahan and advised us to have him.  He said he would stop and tell the doctor that we were here, so the doctor came out yesterday eve, but said he wouldn’t examine Minnie until she was rested.  We are expecting him this morn, and that is the reason Minnie didn’t write you.  She don’t want to exert her self, tying to tell all about our experiences, because we are sure having some.

We have been laughing ever since we started at the the attention we are receiving.  The porter and wheel chair and sisters all waiting on us.

I don’t have a thing to do. Only go to my meals.  It is very tiresome for me, because you know I would rather be working, but I guess I can get used to it the same as the rest.

The sister brings her meals to Minnie, then she brings her something in the middle of the morn, also afternoon and at bedtime.

Minnie likes it fine out here, she is now planning on us going to house-keeping and having you folks to come out.

John and I are going out to the tent city soon, and see what it looks like.

We aren’t going back to Charleston any more, so if you want to see us you will have to come out here.  It  isn’t a bit of trouble traveling with the children in one of those staterooms.  You don’t have to step outside for one thing.

Minnie stood the trip fine, she didn’t seem a bit tired, and as she rested real good last night.

We are in a little tent all by ourselves and the sister that waits on us is very sweet and kind.

I have to go to the dining room for my meals.  It is a very pretty place.  They have a good many borders, and are all so stylishly dressed.  I haven’t met any of them yet.

The priest was in to see us last eve.  he is very nice, kind of reminds us of Father Costello,.

I wrote Agnes a long letter, so you can exchange letters and in that way I won’t have to write the same thing twice.

They have a Chapel right in the hospital.  I went to Mass this morning at 7:30.  They just have the one Mass.

Most of the sisters here are Irish.  There are fourteen here now.  Two of them are visiting sisters.  One is here for her health and the other one came with her.

The doctor has just left and he gave Minnie a thorough exam and said she seemed in fine condition, but he wants to examine her sputum and study her case before he give her any medicine.  He seems very nice and explains everything thoroughly.

He said he would be perfectly frank and true with her in all things and he wanted her to confide in him the same as she would her Confessor.  He said that Minnie was of the kind that when she started to  pick up, that it would not take her long.  He said she had too much Irish in her to give up,  He seemed very pleased and encouraged after the examination.

He said he didn’t think she would have to stay in this hospital very long, He always likes to get his patients in a nice pleasant home like place as soon as possible, and I am sure that it would suit Minnie fine.  He wants her to stay in bed all the time now for a few days, so it wouldn’t increase the heart action any.  He said she must have had pneumonia last fall and that was the start of all this trouble.

So we are feeling very happy today, because we feel sure that it won’t be very long until you and the children can come out and all will be happy again in a house of your own.  Now don’t worry a thing about us because we are getting along all right.

Tell the children that Mamma said for them to be good and say their prayers regularly and everything will be all right.

Well I think I will close.  You and Agnes exchange letters and you will both have all the news

Love from all to all,

Hanna

APRIL 1910

My dear Reader,

After my brief introduction of Minnie and Ed to you,  you may have mathematically registered there is a 10 years difference between them.  Romantically, I was always told,  ” Papa never intended to marry, but, Mamma said ‘Hello’ to him as she passed him in front of Parker’s and he fell in love.”  On January 31, 1900 they were married.  By April 1910 they had six little girls; Helen 9, Mary 7, Edna 5, Catherine and Margaret 3 , and Agnes Lucile 2 (my mother).  Also, Minnie was seriously ill with tuberculosis of the lungs and needed “to take the cure” outside the home.  Rest, high sea level elevation, dry and rarified air was the prescription for her.  Charleston held the opposite .

Tuberculosis was not a stranger to Minnie’s family.  Since being married, two of her sisters had surrendered to this dreaded disease while still in their teens. As Minnie and Ed began to research sanatoriums, reports from various Charleston families were raving about this new place in the southwest , St Anthony’s Sanatorium, Las Vegas, New Mexico.  If it weren’t for the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe railroad making this destination a resort, I would have thought it strange enough anyone would travel here for their health in 1910. Of course, the will to live was the driving force for Minnie to have considered straying so far from home by mere reports from Charleston folks.  Charleston was so civilized compare to knowledge  the Rough Riders stayed in Las Vegas in 1903 and Indians still roamed.  AND, New Mexico was not a state until January 6, 1912-!

After much correspondence to the Sister Superior, Minnie and Ed had high hopes for this sanatorium to offer her one desire.  Minnie wanted to get well.  Minnie’s  Dr. Icynan was agreeable and was very pleased with the health conditions and attitudes of this compound.  He knew the Charleston families who had spent time here and believed Minnie would be able to adjust to the long distance of separation for one reason.  It was run by the Sister of Charity of Leavenworth (Kansas) since 1896 under the watchful eye of the Sante Fe Bishop.  You see, she was going to be going to the only Catholic sanatorium in America.  St. Anthony’s was clean, good food, the nuns waited on your hand and foot, and well-mannered patients.  No one was mistreated……….as was the norm in sanatoriums in 1910.

It was decided Minnie would travel to New Mexicao by train with her sister, Hanna, as her companion and aide.  Their brother John would be the male excort.  Ed would sell his third of the business to his two brothers to have money for Minnie’s stay.  He would be the first in Charleston to become a full time parent in the home, raising six little girls.

Upon submitting an application to the Sister Superior and accepted, Minnie and Hanna packed trunks of clothing, bedding, kitchen utensils, toiletries, and other accessories, while the grandmothers prepared baskets of food for them to eat along the way.

St. Anthony’s had a capacity of 60, Minnie and Hanna were assigned a tent on the grounds of St. Anthony’s for $15. per week.  Once Minnie learned from the Las Vegas doctor she could get well, Ed and the girls would dismantle their Charleston home and join her.

POSTAL CARDS

Kansas City, Mo, April 15, 1910  1:30PM

Dear Helen,

We arrived in Kansas City at about 7 O’clock.  Mamma is feeling real good.  She is sleeping now.  Be a good girl and mind Papa.

Aunt Hanna

Dear Little Edna,

You must not forget to say your prayers every day for Mamma and she will be will soon be well.  I will write a long letter to tell you all about the trip Sunday.

Aunt Hanna

Trinidad, CO, April 18, 1910  10PM

Dear Helen,

We are now at Trinidad.  We have been seeing snow all along for about 50 miles.  Mamma is all right.

Aunt Hanna

East Las Vegas, New  Mexico, April 18, 1910  11:30A

Dear Ed,

The doctor just left and he says Minnie is getting along fine.  But he says it would be nicer for us to have a little home of our own in a week or ten days, because i could prepare her diet so much better.  Don’t worry we are all fine.  Good bye.

Hanna

Charleston , Ill, April 18, 1910   10 – 30A

Dear Mamma,

How are you?  I haven’t enough to send unkle John one.  Because it is Sunday.  Good bye from Helen

Letter From One Cousin To Another,1893

Hi Readers, This letter is from Minnie’s cousin, Bridget.  Bridget will appear later in Minnie’s letters.  For now, the cousins are school age and in 8th grade.

3 McCarthy sisters, Charleston, Illinois. About 1891 posing for a school picture. Minnie is on the end in the front row. Sitting next to her is her sister Katheryn and their little sister, Hanna.

Now, to read Bridget’s letter:

Terre Haute, Ind.

Oct., 20, 1893

Miss Mary McCarty

Charleston, Ill.

Dear Cousin,

I thought I would write you a few lines hoping your are all well as this leaves us at present.  We are having very nice weather over her for this time a year.  I guess Bridget and Kate has gone to the Worlds F.  Nell Godfrey and her cousin Mayme went Wednesday night.  They got a pass up there.  I would like awfully well to go.  Did A.R. go yet?  Tell Jerry that his chum Tim Sullivan had to leave T.H. because he done a very bad thing here.  I will tell you in my next letter what he done.  I guess you are going to school now.  Did you go in the B. class again.  We are all going walnutting Sunday.  The diphtheria is very bad here, there is some one dying with it every day.  Have you very many flowers this fall,.  I have a good many and want more to put on pa’s and Willie’s graves in the spring.  Have you seen Mrs. Lutz since I came back, I wanted to see her so bad before I came, but you know how Kate is.  Work is very dull here how is it over there.  Tom Dowd was over here the time of the races and staid one night with us.  Did you go to the county fair.  Ask Kate H. if she got my letter, tell her to answer it or if she don’t, she will get what the boy got with the shingle.  There was an opera here about two weeks ago called “Pecks Bad Boy” I went  and it was just splendid/  There are operas here about every night.  Is Mary H. working in the same place yet.  How is Rose Vanghan?  Well I can not think of anymore to say at present, hoping you will not neglect writing as I did.  I remain your fond cousin,

Bridget Fitzgerald

1205 N. 10th St.

Terre Haute

Ind.

Let me know how Uncle Daniel’s folks are, and especially Danny.

Minni'e Math assignment around mid 1890's

One last surviving letter to Minnie is from Ed.  August 19, 1909 while he and his brother John were on  a trip to North Dakota to see their farm land tended by their brother in law, Roe Wasson (Julie Wasson Whalen).

Ed Whalen writing to Minnie on The Webster, Fargo, N.D. 1909 stationery. "C.G. Welton, Proprietor"

Fargo, N. D. , Aug 19, 1909

Dear Minnie,

I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well and hope when these few lines comes to your hand that they will find you enjoying the same good health.  Amen.

Well to proceed.  We let Minniaspolis this morning at 9:15, and arrived at Fargo 5:30.  The country we came through from Minnieapolis was very poor, wet, hilly and lakes, but when we got to within 10 mi. of Fargo, I never saw anything finer from there on.  the grain shocks were as thick as they could stand on the ground and they were that way as far as you could see.

Think we will look around this country tommorrow.  This is a fine town of 30,000 more thrushing machines here than you could count and by the looks of the grain fields they will need them.  Charly is not very well, was nearly all in this eve.

Well to finish up in the old fashion way that I began, you know that the pen must come in for it’s share, and I can say that is is very poor and if you would believe it, I did not think of my own pen until now.  Would that not make you smile?

Will write you when I see this country, will close for tonight.  With love to you and the children my Dear Minnie., good bye, Ed.

Minnie at age 10

This is a ‘hint’ into the life of Minnie when she was a little 10 year old in Charleston, Illinois, 1890.  100 + years later, I found this little gem tucked into a vanity box and damp from the roof leaking into the closet where it had been placed by some house aide.  It now sits framed on a miniature easel in my library shelf.

Charleston, Ill..

Dear Uncle Jack – As I have never written to you before I hope you will excuse all mistakes.  I have been taking THE CHIMES for a long time and like its stories very much.  I am a little girl ten years old and to to St. Charles Sunday – School.  Rev. Father  Donahue is our pastor.  I received my First Holy Communion the 14th of  last July.  Fearing my letter is getting too long and hoping it will not find its way to the waste-baket, I will now close.  Wishing THE CHIMES every success, I remain your niece,

Minnie McCarthy