Letters from Holt County, Missouri
Betty
Charnholm is descended from the BALDWIN and SWOPE families
of Holt County. The following letters were to Flora Swope who
left Holt Co. in 1880 and went to Colorado. The letters were
written to her from brothers, cousins and father. After each
letter she has written an explanation about who some of the people
are who are mentioned in the letter.
September 22, 1880
Dear Sister, it is with pleasure I seat myself to answer your
kind and over welcome letter. We are all well at present and
I hope this will find you the same. I had the chills last week
but I am well now. Florry, you say you are getting so fat and
saying you could beat me in a fair foot race. I'm afraid you
would lose your money, you aren't fat enough yet….Be careful
and don't get too familiar with that young man or he might tromp
your toes. Well Florry, we are batching now. Molly is gone home.
She went home a Monday. Kate stayed one day and night with us.
It is a`raining to day. You asked whether it had quit raining
or not, it rained every day for eight days….Tell Sam I am
very sorry that his dog is dead. How is Cleopatra. Has she had
any other fits? I'm very sorry to hear of her having fits. Tell
Sam he need not be growling about the people of Holt not writing.
If he had wrote to me I would have wrote to him. Mr. Collier
and his girl is not getting along very well. He was here this
morning. Collier is in a fix now. Mr. WALLIS is about to play
him out and he is in more trouble than any fellow you ever saw.
You wanted to know if I had heard anything from Mr. FORD, nothing
particular. Joseph and Benny was down last week. They said he
was alright. Well, I can't think of anything to write about so
I will close. Write soon, George SWOPE. To Florry.
NOTE: This letter was written to Florry
SWOPE in Colorado from her brother George in Holt Co., MO. George
and Flora were children of Christopher SWOPE and Phebe (BALDWIN)
SWOPE. (Phebe had been married previously to Crittendon ROOT).
Florry must have gone to Colorado earlier in 1880, perhaps for
her health. Molly is Mary Ann, Flory's half-sister. (Christopher
SWOPE was married to Eliza GOODWIN before he was married to Phebe).
Kate is Eliza Catherine (SWOPE) BALDWIN, another half-sister
to Flora. Sam is probably Sam BANISTER who married Cleopatra
"Clara" (BALDWIN) CUNNINGHAM. I don't know who Collier
is or Mr. WALLIS, probably friends. WALLIS could be WALLACE as
there were quite a few WALLACE's in Holt Co. Mr. Ford is probably
a friend. Joseph and Benny could be sons of William who married
Francis LAMBERT and was son of John L. and Louisa BALDWIN. William
lived in Fremont Co. Iowa.
October 5, 1880
Dear Flora,
I take my pen in hand to let you know that we are well at present,
hoping that these few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing.
We received your letter a week or two ago and was glad to hear
that you were well and to hear that you got out there safe.
We all want to see you very bad. I am very lonesome here especially
when the boys are out at there work. I would have written sooner
if I had had any paper but the boys have been so busy with their
hay they would not take time to go to town to get any. Molly
went home two weeks ago today. She made apple butter she said
you told her to make. She canned grapes, what there was of them.
She canned the peaches, what there was of them. There was only
enough for six half -gallon cans full. Jerry's has all been sick
but they're all better. Will's family is all well. Sis was down
here last Sunday. George has two spells of the chills, two chills
each time. Lewis has had his health very well. I have had my
health very well. George bought four calves today. He gave eleven
dollars apiece for them. Margaret was here today and washed for
us. Mrs. MOODY and Mrs. NICKSON dried about a bushel of apples
apiece. Mrs. ARMSTRONG dried about a third of a bushel. George
sold the gray to Polk for sixty-five dollars. She had the big
head. I am a getting' tolerable tired of keeping (house). I
would not mind it so much if I had nothing else to do. I will
come to a close by requesting you to write soon.
Christopher SWOPE.
We have might pretty weather here There has not been frost enough
to kill the bean vines yet.
NOTE: Letter written to Flora SWOPE in
Colorado from her father, Christopher SWOPE, in Holt Co., MO.
Molly is Mary Ann (SWOPE) BANISTER, Florry's half-sister. Jerry
is child of Phebe (BALDWIN) and Crittendon ROOT before she married
Christopher SWOPE; he would be Flora's half brother. Not sure
who Will was. George was Flora's brother. Lewis is also Flora's
brother. George and Lewis were still at home with Christopher,
the father, and unmarried in 1880. Not sure who Margaret was.
Mrs. MOODY, NICKSON and ARMSTRONG are probably friends.
November 4th, 1880,
Dear Sister, it is with pleasure I seat myself to write you a
few lines to let you know that we are all well at present excepting
me. I had a chill day before yesterday. You must be in some
awful confining business that you never have time to write. I
would like to hear from you very much and I want you to write
soon as you get this letter. I wrote to you about six weeks
ago and I think it is about time I was getting an answer. Well,
I will quit quarreling at you, I guess, though you need a good
walloping. It is raining today and the leaves are falling very
fast. Mr. GLENN met with a bad accident. He got his hay and
shed and stable and corncrib burned down and burnt a hole in his
hog-pen and let his hogs out and that was the worst of all. Well,
Florry, how do you like Colorado by this time? Sam and Clara,
how are they getting along and what are they doing? Ed, how is
he getting along and what is he a doing? I reckon you are getting
so fat and feeling so well that you never think of coming home
and I don't blame you. I wish I was out there, too, and see if
I wouldn't get fat, too. Well, I guess I must close as I am in
a hurry, so good by. Write as soon as you get this letter. Tell
Sam and Clara to write, I want to hear from them. Bye Bye, George.
NOTE: To Flora SWOPE in Manitau, Colorado
from her Brother George SWOPE. Mr. Glenn is probably a neighbor.
Sam is Sam BANNISTER and Clara is Cleopatra BALDWIN CUNNINGHAM,
his wife. Ed is Edwin PHILLIPS, Flora's cousin, son of William
PHILLIPS and Susan Mahala SWOPE. Ed went out to Colorado for
his health. To Flora SWOPE in Colorado Springs, Colorado, From
George SWOPE, her brother.
November 6th 1880
My dear Aunt, I set myself down to write you a few lines to let
you know that I am well and George is sick. All the rest are
well now. The baby can crawl. Dee BEALER is keeping saloon now.
Sarah cooking dinner now. Pap is going to town now. Duck BALDWIN
is dead. I heard you were working at the hotel for a living.
All your beaus are well but Asa WIGONS….Asa WIGONS is staying
at John PEWS. George SWOPE has got one of the old maids staying
at grandfathers….What is Sam, the old coon, doing now? I
want to know how big your boy is now. Mary took Ella down to
her sisters. Cord is still in Iowa. Vina got a letter from John
BELL. Florry, I would like to see you now. I and Sam is going
to school now. I don't know anymore to write at present. Write
soon. From Robert E. ROOT to Florry SWOPE. Good Bye.
Remember me when this you see though many miles apart we be.
Sarah BALDWIN has a fine gal at her house.
NOTE: To Flora from her nephew, Robert
E. ROOT. Robert was son of Jeremiah ROOT, Flora's half brother.
Dee BEALOR is probably a friend. Not sure who Sarah is. Duck
BALDWIN is Susan America (BALDWIN) MINTON, daughter of John R.
and Louisa BALDWIN. She died on Nov. 6, 1880. Asa WIGGENS is
a friend. John PEWS is no relation. Sam is Sam BANISTER, mentioned
earlier? Mary may be Mary Ann SWOPE who married Polk BANISTER.
Mary Ann is Flora's half-sister. Ella may be Ella WILSON who
married Lewis, Flora's brother. Don't know who Cord, Vina or John
BELL is. The second Sam mentioned is brother to Robert E. ROOT.
Sarah BALDWIN is probably Sarah CUNNINGHAM. She was the 2nd
wife of Daniel P. BALDWIN, son of Jeremiah and Betsy (LONG) BALDWIN.
November 11, 1880
Well Flory I stand myself to let you know that we are all
well as common and hope when these few lines come to hand these
few lines may find you well. I believe the rest of the kin is
well as far as I know. Duck MINTEN is dead. She died last Friday.
We have all been sick this fall. Well, Ben and Mag haven't married
yet. Dan and Sarrilda still swings on the corner gate and there
is some talk of Kate and Asa WIGGENS marrying. Dan's are all
right, they have got a gal at their house. Dee BEALOR is running
a saloon in Forest City. … And there is some talk of Susan
BALDWIN and George FRAZIER a marrying. And your chum is allright,
you know. I have just come home from St. Joe. George says he
has got a new suit and new boots. Asa says he told you to not
take any more phisil. Lily has got a new dress. Jerry took a
phisile and doesn't feel so well. But the Baby is as fat as a
pig. Well I will bring my letter to a close by asking you to
visit soon. Good bye, from SJ and J ROOT.
Tell Sam and Clara to write. Tell them we are all well.
NOTE: To Flory SWOPE in Colorado from
Jeremiah ROOT and wife S.J. in Holt Co., MO. Duck MINTEN is Susan
America BALDWIN MINTON, daughter of John R. and Louisa BALDWIN.
Not sure who Ben and Mag is. Dan is Daniel BALDWIN, son of Eliza
Catherine SWOPE and Moses A.J. BALDWIN. Eliza is Flora's half
sister. Dan married Sarrilda (LAMBERT) in 1882. Asa WIGGENS
was a friend, not sure who Kate was. Dee BEALOR was a friend.
Not sure who Susan BALDWIN and George FRAZIER was. Not sure
Asa and Lily are. Asa LAMBERT married a SWOPE, but not sure
which one. Phisil, I assume, is a medicine. Jerry is Jerry ROOT,
half brother of Flora. Sam is Sam BANNISTER and Clara is Cleopatra
BALDWIN CUNNINGHAM, his wife.
Mound City, MO
November 28, 1880
Mr. S. Banister and family
I again seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that
I have not forgotten you if you have me. I haven't heard from
you for a long time nor from anyone else out there. Why don't
you write once in six months? I have wrote several letters out
there and haven't got any answer for months….Well, try to
write once and a while. Well Sam, times is better here than they
have been for a long time, worse is plenty. Hands is getting
$1.00 per day for gathering corn. Sam, I have sold my bottom
land and got 7 ½ percent…. There was a big supper
in Mound City last Thursday night…. Sam, how are you getting
along with your Dairy Business and how is your health now? Well
I have harvested 1000 bushels of corn this fall. I have sold
$200.00 worth at 23 cents. It is worth 25cents now. I sold 11
hogs for $160.00 at $4.10 per hundred. Well Sam, I have got 2
good span of mules. I want to sell one of them. I didn't know
but you would be back this winter and I would let you have one
of them. I haven't heard from Florry for a long time. How is
she getting along and what is she a doing? Sam, I am going to
send a deed in this letter for Florry to sign. I don't know her
number so I will send it to you. I wish that you would see her
for me if you please and send it back right away. If you will,
I will do so much for you. You can tell her how to put her name
on the line. If she wants the money sent to her I will send it.
If not, ask her what she wants done with it….Well, hoping
that it will find you all well. Write soon, yours as ever, D.H.
SWOPE….Please send the deed right back.
December the 12th 1880
Dear Florry,
I take my pen in hand to let you know that we are all well at
present, hoping that these few lines may find you enjoying the
same blessing. We received your letter about a week ago and were
glad to hear that you were well. The boys are nearly done gathering
corn. They have a day or two gathering yet. They raised about
2000 bushels. They sold between 200 and 300 dollars worth and
they have 8 or 9 bushels left. George bought 12 or 13 calves
but he has had some bad luck. He has lost 3 calves. We have
had some tolerable cold weather but we have had no snow of any
amount. Doc's and Jerry's and Will's (families) are all well.
We all want to see you very bad. The house looks very lonesome
when there is no woman about. We get along tolerable well. I
do the cooking and housework. The boys do the out work. I will
now send the rest of that story. There was one paper I did not
get. The boys say they will try and get it from Doc. I believe
I can't think of anything more to write now. So I will come to
a close by requesting you to write soon. Christopher SWOPE
December the 17th 1880
I wrote last Sunday and George said he wanted to write some in
the letter and I waited for him to do it but he is gone to Polk's
now so thought I would wait no longer. Pink RAMSEY has left him
and run off with another man. She left him some time this week.
The boys are done gathering corn.
NOTE: Doc is son of Christopher and Eliza,
Flora's half-brother. Jerry is probably Jeremiah ROOT, son of
Phoebe by her first husband, Crittendon ROOT. Not sure who Will
is. Polk is James Polk BANISTER, who married Mary Ann "Mollie"
SWOPE, dau of Christopher and Eliza and Flora's half-sister.
Don't know who Pink RAMSEY is but apparently she had been going
with George.
To Flora from nephew Robert E. ROOT
January 31, 1881
My Dear Aunt,
I set myself down to write you a few lines to let you know that
I am well. Now I hope this few lines come to hand will find you
the same. Cord BALDWIN is married to a young fellow in Iowa.
Doll HUTTON is married to David MUNKRES. John R. BALDWIN is
dead and Jack BANNISTER is dead. Henry LONG's wife is dead.
Louiza is keeping house for John H. MINTEN now. Well, Flora,
there is a heap of sickness here. Well, Flora, all your old chums
are well. Now I saw John LONG the other day. He was well. Dora
MEK and Ed FOUNTAIN is married. Ella has got back and Perry took
off his Crapes. Well, Flora, I am sorry you give out the notion
of coming back. We would like to see you. Pap and Lewis went
a fishing today. Alfred was a year old Saturday. Well, Flora,
I have a pair of skates. We are going to skate after a while.
Oh, yes, we had a find time coasting. Christmas day the hill
was black. Well, Flora, you want to been here and seen Jim and
Ella coasting. To excuse bad writing. Write soon. Robert E
ROOT to Flora SWOPE. Good Bye.
NOTE: David MUNKRES is son of Howard and
Sarah (MUNKRES) MUNKRES, probably related somehow to Granville
Perry MUNKRES who married Lucy BALDWIN, grandaughter Eliza (SWOPE)
BALDWIN, half-sister to Flora. (The MUNKRES Genealogy says David,
born 1858, married Armeda (DOLL) HUTTON in 1873. They had one
son Roy who married Effie TOTTEN and had Alta and Louise.) John
R. BALDWIN died on Jan 14, 1881. Don't know who Jack BANISTER
is for sure but he died 22 Jan 1881. Henry LONG is probably related
to Elizabeth LONG, Phoebe BALDWIN's mother. (Phoebe was Flora's
mother). John H. MINTEN was married to Susan America BALDWIN
and she died in 1880. Louiza is Mary Louisa FOREMAN who married
John R. since John died and John H MINTEN is Mary Louisa's son-in-law.
John LONG is probably another relative of Elizabeth LONG. Dora
MEK is probably MEEK , not sure who Dora MEEK and Ed FOUNTAIN
are, probably just friends. Not sure who Jim is, but big Jim
BALDWIN is mentioned in later letters, also. Not sure who Perry
and Ella are, but a crape is a band of crepe paper worn on the
sleeve as a sign of mourning so I guess Perry liked Ella and quit
mourning when she returned. Not sure who Alfred belongs to.
February 1881, Mound City, MO
Well Florry, it is with pleasure I seat myself to answer your
kind and ever welcome letter which I received the other day.
We are all well at present except Jim. He is sick. We have a
great deal of sickness in this neighborhood. Jack BANISTER is
dead. Henry LONG's wife is dead. John R. BALDWIN is dead. Well,
Florry, you say you wrote to Doc for your money and did not get
it. I don't know why, he sent the money some time ago. Perhaps
though you have got it by this time. You say you don't know when
you are coming home. You say you are going to buy some lambs
if you get your money. I don't see how you are going to tend
to lambs or what you are going to do with them. You can't run
after and hunt them this cold weather. I think you had better
let that job out. No one to look after them but you. Maybe you
know best though or maybe you are going to take in someone to
help you, if so that might sorty do. Florry you said you heard
that I was going to get married. I never heard of it. It surely
can't be me. Maybe it was George KERR instead of me….You
wanted to know when I thought you had better come home. I don't
know, use your own pleasure about that. Zook has not got his
things yet. I got a letter from him some few days ago. He wanted
me to send them to him but I have not sent them yet. Well, when
did you hear from Mr. Long last? I heard that you were getting
letters from him but I did not believe it. Well I guess I must
close for this. Bye Bye.
NOTE: To Flora SWOPE from her brother,
George SWOPE. Jack BANISTER, Henry LONG and John R. BALDWIN were
discussed in previous letter. Zook is probably a friend or business
acquaintance. A Mr. ZOOK signed the probate papers for Eliza
Goodwin SWOPE, first wife of Christopher SWOPE. Not sure which
Mr. LONG Flora heard from.
Mound City, MO
April the 16, 1881
Dear Cousin, I take the opportunity to write you a few lines.
I arrived safe at home April the 1st. Found all well. Doc
was just moving out so we moved in….Carry and Anna are well.
They went up to Green Coudons today. They went up on the train.
They expect to stay til Monday morning so I am keepin' batch
as it sees my luck. Well, I believe that I am pretty good hand
to keep batch, don't you think so? Although that hash you made
was just splendid. The sweets, too….Well, how is your health
since I last saw you. I forgot to ask you how your finger was
the time I last saw you, tho'. I suppose it was all right or
you would have mentioned it. Oh yes, how is that finger, that
you had a hand in? How is the boy's garden? Do you get the soda
water to drink. I wish that I had a drink of it. Oh yes, there
is lots of weddings here this spring. I will not mention only
the two prominent men of the neighborhood, that is Mr. J.M. HUTTON
and George SWOPE. J.M. HUTTON was married the 13th day of April
and Mr. George SWOPE, your brother was married April the 7th to
Miss Bette NOLAN. I suppose that you have heard of both weddings
before now. You mustn't be mad at George for marrying for he
has got a pretty wife, that accounts for him not writing to you.
I told him to write to you, I guess he did, didn't he? Did you
sell your cows? Have you heard from Manitou? Did the postmaster
send you the county paper? Is Mr. CHAMBER's family well? I saw
Maggie and Linne BALDWIN. They was all well….I saw James
SWOPE the day I got home. He said that they was all well. I
saw your pa the next day after I got back. He was well. Jerry
was there this morning. They was all well. I saw William.…he
said they was all well. Charles MORRIS (could be MOSIER) has
a sale the 23rd. He is a going to California, him and family.
The Millers were all well, so far as I know. My health hasn't
been very good since I have been back though I am better. I had
a bad cold. I cut my foot yesterday, though not very bad, I am
in hopes. Give my regards and best wishes to all inquiring friends.
I remain as ever, your lovin' cousin, Edwin H. PHILLIPS. To Flora
SWOPE, my little girl, bye bye. Write soon and often.
NOTE: Doc is Flora's half-brother. Not
sure who Carry and Anna are. Not sure if Green Coudons is a person
or a place, I may not have Coudons spelled correctly. J.M. HUTTON
is probably a friend and George is Flora's brother. He married
Clarice Elizabeth "Bettie" NOLAND on 7 April 1881.
Mr. CHAMBERS is probably a neighbor. Don't know who Maggie and
Linne BALDWIN are, or Charles MORRIS or William or the MILLERS.
Edwin is Flora's first cousin. Flora's father, Christopher,
had a sister, Susan Mahala, who married William PHILLIPS and had
Edwin.
May 11th.(about 1883)
Dear Brother and Sister, I seat myself this afternoon to write
you a few lines. Hoping to hear from you soon. This finds us
all well and I hope it will find you enjoying the same. Well,
Florry, it has been so long since I wrote to you I thought I would
write you a good long letter to make up for last time. We haven't
heard from you for so long we are getting very anxious to hear
how you are a getting along. I hope you are getting ready to
come home on a visit and stay all summer. I know we would have
a good time. We feel quite lonesome since Lewis went away. We
have never got but one letter from him since he went away and
it was only a very short one. He sent his picture back to us.
Well Florry, we have got a fine boy. He was born the last day
of February. He weighs 14 pounds. As he is a big boy we give
him a big name. We named him Edward Elmer. I know you will wonder
who he looks like. Everybody says it looks just like George so
you know he is pretty. Of course, I think he is pretty and just
ever so nice. George is planting his corn. We have got our garden
all made and it is growing nice but it needs rain very bad. Martha
SWOPE has been sick for about two months but she is getting better
now. Well, must tell you of the weddings. Emma CLARK and George
GORDON and Jenny MEEK and Perry MURRY. Mr. GORDON and Em are
living in Mound City. We got a letter from Tom's folks about
3 weeks ago. They were all well and are getting well pleased
with the country. George says he is going to Washington this
fall. I hope you will come up this summer and help me to coax
him out of the notion for I don't want to go. It is so far and
would be so wearisome. Well, Florry, George got me a new album
and I want you and Jake to have your pictures taken and send to
us. I would like ever so much to have them. If you will send
them in the next letter, we will have ours taken and send to you.
As we never saw your husband we would very much like to see him.
I guess I will close for this time. Hoping to hear from you
soon. George is going to Mound City this evening he thinks he
will get a letter from Lewis or one from you. So no more, write
soon. From Bettie SWOPE to Jake and Florry STEINER.
Well, Florry, I will try to write a little to you. I am about
done planting corn. It will take me about two days yet. I reckon
you never think of going west anymore. I thought I would go out
to Washington this fall. Well, I don't know much to write. The
people and the neighborhood are about the same as they were.
Lizzy WIGGENS and Em are still spoiling to marry. I don't know
what will become of them. Em says she never had but one beau
and never got a letter in her life. I will close for this time.
Write soon. From George to Florry.
NOTE: To Flora and Jake STEINER from Betty
and George SWOPE in Mound City, Mo. (Flora married Jake STEINER
16 Jun 1881.) The letter must be written about 1883 as Elmer
was born that year. Lewis was Flora's brother and he moved to
Doniphan, MO. Martha SWOPE may be wife of Christopher M. SWOPE.
Emma, George Gordon, Jenny and Perry MURRY and Lizzy WIGGINS
must all be friends. Tom is probably Flora's half brother.
He moved his family to Portland, OR for a few years. Flora has
a half brother Tom but they wouldn't be getting a letter from
his folks, so it must be in the next generation if he is a relative.
Dear Brother, Sister and Family,
We will try and answer your ever welcome letter we received some
time ago. Have neglected writing longer than we ought to have
done. We have been so very busy this spring and don't go to town
often of busy season. Probably Lewis will have to go to town
to have something fixed about farming tools and I don't have letter
ready and not time to write for he is in hurry with his crop.
He will get done plowing corn this month. Our crop looks well
now. We had it very dry in May. We begun to think we were going
to have another drought but don't look that way now. I have fine
garden and my chicks are doing well. Feed is so high, I just
raise for our own use. I think corn is about 80 cents per bushel.
We had enough corn to scant feed us through. Will have to buy
some chicken feed. Well, Florry, you spoke of not being in good
health. I hope you are well long before this time. We are all
well. Hope these few lines may find you all in good health.
We received a letter from George and Bettie in May. They were
all well and wanted to know your address. He said they had got
a letter from Polk and Mollie. They were well and thought where
they lived was the greatest country on earth. We never get letters
from them. I think George said their address was Paisley, Oregon
when he was here last fall. Lewis likes the West. I don't know
how I would like it. But I think I would like any healthy country
and where it was not too hard to make a living. I hope we will
decide this year whether we will make Ripley Co., MO our home
or not. We have not made up our mind yet just what to do. Albert
SWOPE sold his Holt Co., farm this spring and rented a big farm.
He said he wanted to put out 4 or 5 hundred acres of corn. Doc
has bought Becky BLAIR's place. I guess you know it. I think
he paid $67 per acre. Albert got $55, I think, for his place.
It was located close to where we used to live. Verne don't go
to school. They don't have much school out in this back woods
place. I want to send her when there is school. She don't think
she wants to go to town and go to school. I guess she would if
she was more acquainted there. I guess it is six o'clock. I
can hear the whistle plain from town this evening. I guess we
are going to have more rain. It rained yesterday and today.
We want to go to town tomorrow. We have a few wild huckleberries
and black berries ripe now. Well it will soon be the Fourth of
July. I wish you folks could celebrate with us. Is the water
good in that country? We have the worst water here I ever drank,
not claimed to be very healthy. We use cistern water all the
time in summer season. The climate is very changeable here, cool
nights most generally. We don't have very cold winters but one
notices cold so badly on account of such poorly put up houses.
If it don't get too late, Verne will write some to Marie. She
has gone with Lewis to put horses in the pasture. I will close
for this time. Lewis and Ella to Florry and Jake.
NOTE:From Lewis' wife to Flora S. STEINER
at 16 E. LaPlatte St., Butte, MT. Postage dated June 21, 1902
from Doniphan, MO. Mollie is Mary Ann, Flora's half-sister.
She married Polk BANISTER and they moved to Paisley, OR. Albert
is Doc SWOPE's son, Doc is Flora's half-brother. Vern is Vernell,
Lewis and Ella's daughter. Becky BLAIR was a neighbor, Doc SWOPE
had been executor of her estate. Marie is Flora's daughter.
Forest City, Mo. July 15, 1905
Dear Sister,
I will write you in answer to your letter at hand. Will say we
are all well and was so glad to hear from you for we had not heard
from you for so long and you change places so often I was afraid
we had lost track of you. We were surprised to hear Essie was
married but glad to hear that she has done so well. In regard
to Tom and his family, Tom is dead. He died about a year ago.
Frank and Rose are at Oregon City. George is in Alabama somewhere,
I do not know his address. Rose is married and I do not know
her name. Uncle Dan is in the Poor House and I suppose Oregon,
MO is his address. Say, about three years ago you told me you
were going to California and you were going to visit Polk and
Mollie. Did you visit them? If so, tell me all about them, how
they are getting along, what they are doing and what kind of a
country it is. In regard to those hens you spoke of, they do
not sell by the doz. any more, they sell by the lb. They will
cost about 10 cts. a pound here, now, and hens will weigh from
5 to 8 lbs. apiece. But they are hard to buy at this season of
the year. As for my work, I would not charge you anything. Well,
everything looks fine in this country and times is good. Doc's
and Kate's folks are well. I have not heard from Lewis since
last winter. Well, I will close for this time. Give our love
to Jake and the rest of the family. Write soon.
As ever, your brother and sister,
George and Bettie.
NOTE: To Flora STEINER, 22 North Fourth
St., Albuquerque, NM, from George SWOPE. Tom is half-brother
to Flora. Frank, Rose and George are probably his children.
Uncle Dan is Phebe BALDWIN's brother, Dan who married Ibby JOHNSTON
(Phebe is Flora's mother). Mollie is Martha Ann, half-sister
to Flora who married Polk BANISTER and moved to Paisley, OR.
Kate is probably Eliza Catherine, Flora's half sister and Doc
is Flora's half-brother.
Forest City, MO May 28, 1909
Dear Sister,
I will write you in answer to your letter received some time ago.
You will please excuse me for not writing sooner for I am so
lousy about writing. We are all well and hope you are well by
this time. Yes, I know Jerry's P.O. address. It is Couveta,
Okla. I and Bettie were down to see them last fall. We had
a good time and found them all well. Mart and George KERR are
there, too. They are both married. Mart has two children, George
has none. We visited them both and big Jim BALDWIN, too. Yes,
I think Jerry is drawing a pension , now. Bob and Lillie Root
are married. Lillie has been married twice. Her first man died.
George and Sam are both at home. We liked the country but it
is unhealthy. But they all seem to be doing very well. They
all own land of their own except Big Jim, he hasn't got anything.
Well, how is Jake and your children getting along. You never
said anything about them and where they were at. Elmer is farming
this year. He is getting along nicely well. I suppose where
you are it is the middle of summer. It is spring here, corn is
just coming up. Few have begun to plow. Say, Florrie, as much
as you run around, why don't you drop in here sometime. Will
close, from Geo. and Bettie
NOTE: To Flora STEINER,
Old Albuquerque, NM from George Swope. Jerry is Jeremiah ROOT,
half-brother to Flora (he is son of Phebe, Flora's mother, by
her first husband, Crittendon ROOT). Not sure who George and
Mart KERR are. I believe Bob and George and Sam are Jerry's children.
I am not sure if Lillie is Bob's brother or wife. Not sure who
Big Jim is. Jake is Flora's husband, Jake STEINER. Elmer is
George and Bettie's son. Don't know who big Jim is. Don't know
who Mart and George KERR is. (There is a ref to Mr. George and
Elizabeth KERR visiting Mrs. SWOPE in Mound City News about 1886,
so this must be them. Maybe they are related and maybe just friends.)
Elmer is George's son.