Tag Archives: tom mccall

Family matters

"It seems mity lonesome to be off from all your people."

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It’s snowing here, and Poppy and I have colds. Which means Rockford and I probably won’t be going away for a few days for our anniversary.

Oh well. At least I’m not off from all my people.

Aug. 8, 1918

“Dear Brother”

I now take the pleasure in writing you a few lines to let you know we are all well at this time. Hoping when this reaches your hands safe it will find you all well. Well Tom I have almost give up hopes of Pa ever riting to me any more. I rote to him time and a gain and have got no answer. I want to hear from him mity bad so I hope you will write and tell me how he is getting along.

Well brother you don’t know how much pleasure it would be to me to see you all. It seems mity lonesome to be off from all your people although I have friends by the score here it does not seem like kin folks. Well Tom, Dovie is married. She was married 2 weeks ago today. She married Mr. Richard Isom. He is a mity good Christian man. I am going to send you one of their pictures when I am sure you will get it. Give Elisabeth and the children my love and keep plenty for yourself.
Well Tom all the children can rite for them selves but Roy tell Rhoda Bella said she was going to send her some post cards. She said must she back them to her or you.

Well Tom I am still at work in the mill. I make $1.60 every day. I have been working there four years and the Boss has never said one cross word to me. I dont feel like I have got any Boss. It is a nice place to work. Dovie is married now Bella will have to keep house for me now. They are still here with me but are going to house keeping soon. He has got a good trade. He is a spinner in the spinning mill.

So as I guess you will get tired of reading this I will close for this time and if I get an answer to this next time I will write more.

So write soon
From your sister as every,
Mrs. John T. Smith
So good bye.

Family matters

"Times is fairly good here."

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A few years ago, my mom gave me a shoebox full of old papers that her grandfather had saved. Some of them were yellowed receipts and such, but there were also quite a few letters from various family members. I scanned and transcribed them when Mom gave me the box, and then I didn’t do anything else with them other than think, “There could be a book here.”

Maybe some day I’ll get started on that. Until then, though, I’ll share the letters here. This one — to my great-great-grandfather from his brother — is the oldest.

January the 19: 1914

Dear Brother,

It is with much pleasure that I [illegible] a few lions to let you know that we are all well at this time. Hoping these few lions will go safe to your hands safe an find you all well. Well Tom I have been thinked I would [illegible] been putting it off you musent think hard of me. Well Tom I have been wanting to come over there for some time an have had no chance. I cant leave Eller an the children by their self an there is no one to stay with them. The old lady is gone back to the county home. Well Tom you must come over an see us. Eller and all the children has had a chance for measels. Their time to take them is next Sunday an I would bee glad if you would come an stay with me a few days. I will have no one to stay with me for every body has got the measels around here. Well I hope you had a good Cristmas an enjoyed your self. I had a mighty good time through Cristmas. We rabbit hunted some. They was one day that we killed 11 rabbits. We killed in all 25 an 3 patteridges.
I would like to see you all but I don’t know when I can get to come now. It will bee some time before we will get through with measels. Tell all of the folks howdy for my. Tell Jasper that all I no to [illegible] He hah just [lyed?].

Well Tom times is fairly good here. I want you to come if you posible can. I will be lonesom here by my self when Eller an the children gets down. You come an we will eat fresh meat till we cant see. I just killed on of my hogs to day that I had when you was here. It mad a good one to. You let me no whether you can come an stay a few days or not by return mail an if you can I will rite you when thay take them. So I will close by saying rite soon.

From your brother George McCall to T.R. McCall