Some old family letters

To Belle Ralston from Blue Springs; July 1878

From Helen Andrews; Blue Springs To Peter Ralston Roscoe, Illinois, July 20, 1878

Blue Springs July 20 1878
Dear Father
Received your letter some time ago. Was glad to hear from you. Thankful to know that you are in your usual health. We are all well at present excepting little Mary. She is some cross yesterday and today but I hope she will not be sick. There is some sickness in town with children. (Cholera most ??????) children dying. David is well this week. was sick all last not able to do anything. You asked David in your letter how he was getting along to provide for his family. Dear Father I will tell you the honest truth. He has very hard times. All our corn is sold but a few ears to feed and we have nothing to live on. We have all the wheat in the flour? and that is not full. David does not like to go in debt for anything to live on and what we will do the lord only knows. Our wheat is looks rife with the chints bug in it. David is afraid its ruined. the corn looks well but I suppose that to will be taken with the bug if all is destroyed the will of the lord be done. He will not let us starve who trust in him he will provide, I am sure. Sometimes we don't know we will get this thing or that and there is always some way provided so Dear Father I have written you a very discouraging letter but don't feel bad Dear Father we have a nice garden. I have checked in it and we had new potatoes the 14 of June and have them every day on the table. We have peas beans onions beets and cucumbers ready to eat some time ago and the sweet corn will soon be ready. We haven't got no cow yet and I don't know when we ever will not if we don't raise any crops. Tell sister Margret I would like to write her but I haven't got any paper or envelops and nothing to buy them with. Sisters enquiring about how we are getting along. I have told them in every letter and I don't like to burden them with my poverty they perhaps think they are hard up but let them see me. People out here wonder why our folks don't come and visit us they don't know that Thomas is coming so don't tell. Oh, I am so glad he is coming tell him to hurry up I want to see him. The harvest is on need David's oats to ripen. The weather is very warm a good deal of rain thunder and lightning. I don't have a lot more to write at present. Now write me soon and let me know you are getting along.
No more but remaining your affectionate daughter
Helen Andrews

1881 Letter to Isabelle Ralston Probably written by Helen N Andrews

Beloit Wis, Aug. 8. 1881
Miss Belle Ralston
My dear little cousin
I don't know what to write only to say I want to go with Adell. I wish I was down in the country. All quite well now. I know Adell will have a nice time. For I always do. Stand your ground playing croquet. Have you seen my fan? It is so exquisite. Come up as soon as you can. From your noisy yet loving cousin, Net. P.S. Have you seen R.R. lately?

To Belle Ralston from Beloit; Oct 1881

[Probably written by Helen N (b 1863), daughter of David (1826-1901) and Helen Ralston Andrew (1832-1909)]
Beloit Wis., Oct. 20, 1881
Miss Belle Ralston
Cousin Belle
I received your ever welcome letter this afternoon. Oh Belle, how glad I was to hear from you. All quite well. I hope it will stop raining don't you? Say, Mamma says when you come up she will try and be ready to return to the beautiful country home that you possess. She has been talking of going on the cars to Mr. Hendersons, but if you are coming up before very long she thinks she will go down to the old house of her youth with your folks. With the all important (if) she is well. Mate of course she must take along for I say give all the country benefits possible to her. I do not know what I am doing because Mate is talking so and telling what she wants me to write. Well one thing she wants me to tell and that is "That is if John will not bother her she will come down, she thinks he bothers her so very much". Pappa keeps quite well and in the shop every day. Willie (may be David W??) goes to school and Adell goes to high school. Of course I am doing my best to plague her as usual.
There is a great deal of sickness and deaths in town. All of our neighbors are sick it seems to me.
I have my plants in the house and we can not see out of the windows, we have to open the doors to see out, they are almost trees I think.
Adell and I have engaged new hats at Bradue, they had only one in the shop that we wanted, that was trimmed as we wanted, so she went to Chicago yesterday and will be back tomorrow so will have them for Sunday. They are these sensation(?) hats. As hard as a stove pipe hat trimmed in old gold and black and twisted. They are pretty I think. They are black.
Dr. Clarke's two daughters were married not long ago. Both in one night. Fred Messer married on of them. You know Fred is the foreman of the shop, and quite an old batek?? too.
We have taken a box at the Post Office No (968) and when you write please put the number on the envelope. I hope you will get a good preacher Belle. Adell says ask Net(?) if she remembers that bridge the first night. Adell remembers all she says and have you got any chairs yet to sit your company on. Don't let any one see this it is so silly. I cant write any thing any how. Oh, how welcome you all will when you arrive here. I will try and find some chairs to sit my company some way. And have a light to if need be. Malahag, as Willie says.
Good night dear Cousin
from your cousin
Net,(?)
Mamma sends her love to all

85577 Stevenson Ave
Pasadena, Calif
Oct 13, '19

Dear Aunt Jane:

We want to drop you a line in order to express our sorrow and sympathy for you and family in your time of sadness and grief.

The news of Belle's passing came as a great shock to us, as the last report before was that she was better.

While it seems very hard for you in your old days to have one slip away from you who you could lean upon and find comfort and support, yet what a glorious change it is for her o be able to lay down her burden and be with Jesus forever. Precious Jesus, the only One who fully understood all the heart aches she had to bear and who will forever wipe away all tears from her eyes.

We feel sure she hears the Savior say: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant", for she was indeed a good and faithful servant, and we always enjoyed her letters so much.

We hope Martha can be near you so you will not be lonely. I wonder if Aunts Bella or Elizabeth are able to come and see you. It would be a real joy for us to sit by you dear aunts again but we know we shall meet again sometime, whether it be down here, or up yonder in the presence of our Lord.

Will enclose a poem by Rev. Easton that I saw in a paper. I had a friend to copy it on typewriter for me. Isn't that the same Easton that preached at Argyle? I was thinking Ma said that was his first name. Will also enclose another poem that we like.

Must close now with much love to you all. We would be glad if Martha would write and let us know how you are.

[Part of this last paragraph is not legible, it is on a fold in the paper] and Strengthen your trials we know.

Your Loving Nieces
Nettie & Abbie

Note-
Jane's daughter Isabelle died September 17, 1919, age 56. Her obituary is on the internet
Nieces are Janet Ann Nettie McEachran 1874-1937 and Abbie Floretta McEachran 1880-1928 1st cousins of Grandpa P Wm Ralston

Blue Springs
Sept 10 1878
Dear Wife
I am well and in good health. I got here on Sunday forenoon. I found the folks all well the children have grown out of my knowledge and look healthy. I expect to go to Beatrice tomorrow. I came up through the Indian reservation from Marysville saw some of the big ???. I stayed overnight at their Village at what is called the Agency kept by white folks the squaws in the morning would hop out of their huts to the spring for water some with their baby's on their back, all having blankets over their heads.
I will leave for home on Monday I think I will go to Rockton where I got on. I will have to stop overnight at Marysville from that I think I will not have any stops until I get home if I make connections as I did coming out. I will be at Rockton on Wednesday I don't know exactly what time.
I hope you are all well. I will soon begin wishing to see you and the too baby's and all the rest with Grand Pap. I wont write anything about the country. I can tell that when I get home. The country looks well enough.
We got our pictures taken in Lawrence, us three bros in one picture I half doz. We felt sorry when I left when I think I wont need write any more I sent a postal from Blue Springs David looks about the old thing and Hellen looks a little older. Good bye humbly releying on Devining Providince to bring me home in safety
Your loving husband
Thomas Ralston

.

Sunday Eve.
Dear Folks,
I have received the Royal League questionnaire & one question is about Papa's birth date (of course, I know his age etc) but they want the source of my information. I have written Wm asking him to copy from grandma Ralston's family Bible¹ the record as made in that, and of course that would be best, but I think the record is also in that large Bible² of ours that I gave you folks. The older Bible would probably be considered the more authentic as being written in at or soon after time of birth. Well I guess that is all I need about that.
Earl called up yesterday to tell us Lucile's baby boy arrived yesterday A.M. Probably you'll see it in the papers. Esther had us over for 2 o'clock dinner to-day. Her sister Augusta was there for a few days visit & goes home to night at midnight.
We had a plant delivered last Sun by Ben's from John McD. Family & a long letter from Grace since. Also a letter from Margarette writing at St Cloud Sat. a.m. & said she'd be back on her job by now. Had eight hours sleep & light breakfast & called Vida while waiting for train to Sauk Center. Said Belle would get more leisurely breakfast & then out to Vida to see her & perhaps shop & take p.m. bus to Redwood F.
Forgot to say Evelyn took them to Mayfair for 7:30 train to city & took 9:31 p.m. train via N. Western, so made good connections for Margerette's school.
Also had a plant from my Circle & Evelyn from one of office girls. Fred Sammons called one P.M. He wasn't home the day Mr. Axtell's note came so didn't get it in time to come over.
Helen Exman was at the funeral & she was out here for quite a long time Tues. eve. Came just as Ev & I got home from the doctor's. Helen works in a Postal Sta.
Haven't heard from Aunt Lizzie since the girls were here. Presume they were busy as Bessie intended to go to Seattle to see Palmer & presume look for a house.
Think she'd be back so Belle could go back to her school by Feb 1 if Aunt Lizzie was no worse, so Bessie & Elsie will have charge of things till more help is needed.
I suppose you are busy making over the house. Of course we'll be interested in what changes you make & the new arrangement for your living. Hope your mother is no worse.
Sure having nice weather but promises to be colder. So thankful we haven't had any of those bad Western storms. Nice letter from Grace Cross but written before she heard about Papa. A letter from Daisy & she has been in hospital for serious operation or treatment & guess Ernest has to help a good deal about the house work. Said Papa's letter at Christmas time was written two different days & wondered if because he wasn't able to finish first day. I think he ran out of news & just waited over Sunday to finish it. Think he got it off the Mon before Christmas & I wrote her last week.
Mon. Morn.
Cooler this morning but no snow etc here. So glad we had it mild for so long. E. ready to leave & she can mail this.
Love, Mother

Chicago, Sept 2, 1949

Dear Folks,

Been thinking about you folks and that every one is busy- back in school for M.J. & Duane I presume, and the others getting ready to go. Wonder if Harold is back from his trip South West¹. Presume he enjoyed a lot of it, if it wasn't too hot, any way a lot different from Illinois & fine to see it all. It was rather cool here of late & have the heat on mornings for nearly a week. Seems pretty handy.

Sat. wind & rain brought down a lot of the crabs. Evelyn made some jelly Sat. Mrs. Smith took some apples Mon. but the garbage man got most of them yesterday. Must get a lot of the branches cut out as can't use many of them & don't need all that shade. Wed. P.M. had a hard rain & windstorm & brought down more & broke some smaller branches off the big tree back of the garage. I have made some pear sw. pickles & sauce, from the tree back of us.

Last eve Evelyn had a Com. Meeting of the officers of her Missionary Guild here. Guess she has good helpers, as every thing is pretty well planned. I am glad if she doesn't have as much on her mind this year coming.

Been very busy this year especially since papa's death. I never could have managed it alone. Am too forgetful for one thing & makes me so tired to have it on my mind. Good training for her tho.

I attended to Grandma McA's affairs, but there wasn't near so much to do & of course, I was younger then by 30 years.

Had a good letter from Mabelle telling about Carolyn getting off to school, & that she was much pleased with her little apartment. I hope she enjoys her work and won't get lonesome. Mabelle was pretty tired from the rush of last 10 days before Carolyn left, so much extra to be done & social affairs too. Mabelle isn't feeling so good this past summer & has to or should take things easier.

Guess all of you have so much to do that you don't always think of taking things easier at times. We were so glad you dropped in last week on your way home from the R.R. Fair. Evelyn & Mae went down to the Fair Tues eve and enjoyed it a lot. E has a new girl in her office now. She is from Wisc. Came in Mon A.M. looking for work. Had been in other departments & they sent her to Gibson. She began work Tues. They had adv. In Sundays paper, but she didn't see that. About all who ans. the add. were much older women & not so well fitted for the work. She has a sister in Bish. Magee's office down town, so is pretty nice that they can be together & not lonesome for this younger one. Under 20 I think. Of Course has to be taught how to do some of the things, their way etc. but Ev seems to like her first rate. I don't know if she had work before or not. Any way not in Chicago.

Haven't heard from Jean or Belle since they left Minn. Wrote Jean this wk as she must be back to school by this time. Said she would have to get back earlier than Belle would. We have some of the girl's addresses in Washington State. They sure enjoyed their car and getting to see all their relatives this summer & so glad to see all of you folks here.

Well, is 9:30 & I must get this mailed so you will get it tomorrow. Hope every one is well & not having to work too hard. Take care of yourselves Evelyn and Kenneth.

Much love to all

From Mother