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Easter Sunday Clay City Ills.
April 10th 1887
Dear Uncle
I will try and answer your letter this Sabbath evening I received your welcome letter yesterday evening we are all well at present and hope this may find you the same Well I suppose you have got Ellis letter by this time I am glad you have a good place to work the weather has been pretty bad this spring had snow 14 inches deep the 30 of March it snowed all day that day and very near all went off the next day well I have only 27 chickens and 3 hens setting on hen eggs and have 11
turkey eggs setting and am going to set some more tomorrow have about 30 goose eggs setting Elmer is working for Mr Mason has hired 2 1/2 months I believe I was at Jessey and Katy wedding had a very nice time there was a good many there I have not been to see them since they moved was up to Layfaette [sp?] last Saturday night. Minnie was out to meeting to day but she did not come past hear she was over one day last week a little while. I was up to Sunday school and meeting today and Ella Smith came home with me and Jim came home with Ellis and they went to Jordan tonight. Andrew Lindsey least child died this week was buried last Friday. Shaby Bissey
was down Friday and stayed all day. Shaby George Ellis and I are going down to Mr Beckels next Sunday. well George has not been with me but once since you went away he came from Olive on night. how does you and Miss Vail [Vail or Nail] fair these times pa has got about well again they have lost one their little girls since I came away. Minnie Berry went down to her school today to be ready for tomorrow morning. Lymann Babcock has been teaching a week Ellis has got his oats sowed at last will begin plowing for corn ground tomorrow grandpa is making boards as usual he took a job of making 5000 for Mr Vail [Vail or Nail] has over half enough timber sawed with what he has made. Well Will I will be glad to get one of your pictures and will try and get some taken of mine some time this summer I got a letter from Albert yesterday he is going to canvass books he said. Antona is up north gets $72 for month for five months. Shaby gets along just tolerable well the children have been very near sick with bad colds but are better now gramma said that she wanted you to go and see Aunt Betsy if you could and then tell her how she was in the next letter Mary was down last Saturday night and Sunday she is well gramma was down to Mr Beckels this last week. I do not think the party did you much good after you went to so much trouble to have one. Lilly is not very well since she has been up in Decatur well I think that I have wrote all the foolishness that is necessary so I will close for this time granpa went up to Mr David Baylors this evening to see their sick child well I will close
write soon
Alice Fulkerson
excuse poor writing
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Clay City Ills.
July 3 [or 8] 1887
Dear Uncle
I will answer your letter this evening I am well at present I was up to Sunday School and preaching this morning. there was a good many folks went to the springs today I began to write this yesterday evening but did not get it finished just old folks went or the most of them was well I have not much to write this time I am going to work a week or two for Mrs Vail [Vail or Nail] will go next Monday I am going to town tomorrow I want to pick the geese this evening I washed this morning just got the clothes out and I thought I would finish my letter it rained a little last night I am going to try and have some pictures taken some time this summer you said you was going to send me one of your pictures in your next letter but I failed to see it. the chintz bugs is about to take every thing. we are going to cast our oats day after tomorrow Jim Smith is going to cut them with the self binder Ellis is helping Andrew Lindsey today with his oats Andrew help them in there wheat David Baylor has got back to these parts again Mortica is coming in about three weeks and Antony is coming in two weeks Shaby can hardly pass the time away it threatin rain so much she just runs around when you write to Albert if you have not wrote to him yet tell him I would like to hear from him I wrote some time ago and have got no answer yet. we got a letter from Uncle John the other day and Earnest picture Uncle John talks of moving to Kansas if he can sell his property. Minnie Berry was down last Friday and stayed all day. she went to the celebration down at cisne [sp?] today Mr Simmons took her down there was a picnic in Harters Grove last Saturday but I did not go well I believe I have got about all of the news there was not
much to write maybe there will be more news next time I can tell you how I got along at Mr Vail [Vail or Nail] well I believe I have wrote about all I will close for this time write soon and tell me all the news
Alice Fulkerson
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Clay City Ills
Oct 30 th 1887
Dear Uncle
I seat my self this Sabbath evening to answer your letter which I received some time ago and have neglected to answer till this evening I went to Sunday School this morning and to preaching this afternoon we have a new preacher this afternoon but I can not tell you what his name is the new preacher is at Olive preaches there tonight but I can not go so I thought I would answer your letter I am going to start to school in the morning I have worked out very near 7 weeks this
summer but I can not get any of my pictures taken I guess I have not seen that picture yet of yours Uncle Albert sent me one of his the other day Ellis had some of his taken the other day but has not got them yet Mr Purdy's lost their baby this week did not know it was dangerous till it was very near dead died Friday morning George Coggan and Clara West of Clay City were married a few weeks ago a preacher by the name of Beckett and Lee [sp?] Peak was married this last week
Will Bay goes to Babcocks regularly I kind immagine there will be a wedding the some time this fall just guessing at it though. Sherman Staley and Bunn Bay was both married the same day to the Mcgeehe girls Bunn and his frou [sp?] went west to Colorado Uncle John said he would like to hear from you once in a while. Hiram Davis goes to see Essa Gray I think there will be another wedding and Hiram Smith still goes to Hosseltons yet Minnie Deweese is staying with preacher
Smith wife this winter and going to school at the center Homer Stanford is teaching school at the Rusk school house out west of Flora Lyman Babcock the seminary Minnie Berry the wells and a Miss Miller from Louisville the Baylor Della Pettery John the Jordan and Hiram Smith the Stanford Jennie Davidson has gone to Missouri to clerk in a store come down Thanksgiving dinner we will roast a turkey well I must tell you about my [Alice apparently left out part of her thought here] we only raised three gramma gave them to me we had 50 little ones but only kept 3 how is that for high Uncle Charley is talking of coming home this winter maybe I will go home with him well I guess I have written about all the news for this time I worked for Rogan [sp?] Stanford part of this week she had a spell of the typhoid fever but she got it broke up before it got very bad Abraham went north this fall and Alvin is working for Mr Bunn [sp?] oh yes I have not told you that Mr. Bunn built him a new house cost him $22 hundred and he is building a new barn now just putting on some style George Bissey and Nelson Pierce had a little row and George gave
Nelson a little thrashing well I will close as you will think this is enough foolishness write soon
excuse poor writing
Alice Fulkerson
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Clay City Ills
Nov 20th 1887
To Uncle Will
I seat myself this Sabbath morning to write you a few lines as there is no Sunday School today and it is a most too cold to go if there was there is quarterly meeting at Harmony today but I could not go and I did not have my other particular place to go so I thought I would write some letters only have two others to answer I wrote you a letter a few weeks ago maybe you have got it by this time Well I do not know as I have so very much news to write this time. I am going to school have went 3 weeks liking one day am going to town next Tuesday if nothing happens to get me a new dress. I was down to Mr Beckels last Sunday had a fine time Charley gave me one of his pictures I was very glad to get that picture and very much obliged ... return the compliment you tell Miss Cora I would like very much to have one of her pictures and will send one up in your part the country when I get some taken Ellis had some taken I think they are real good ones he
said he was going to send one to you I do not know whether he has or not. Oh yes there was a load of us went over to Lymans spelling last Thursday night had a good spelling and lots of fun Olive Babcock was down and stayed all night a couple of weeks ago it was the night of Ellis Birthday and Minnie Berry and Jim was here Jerry Purdum and Jim Berry has gone to Arkansas the talk is that Jim is going to get a place and send for his cook or his intended cook. it is Miss Truitt. Minnie Berry says she is going in the spring. Mortica is talking of coming home Christmas where are you going to spend Thanksgivings at I will spend it at home I expect Aunt Nena [sp?] started for the north yesterday Well I guess I have wrote about all the foolishness in the neighborhood. I wanted to go up and go to meeting with Lyman last night but thought is was to cold well that is a pretty good turn out for one name at your Sunday School if the others would go I should think you would have a big Sunday School or is fosters all there is close to church or is it all that want to go well I have not been to Sunday School for two weeks Do not know how they are getting along Well I believe I will half to close as my paper is about to give
out and then I will not get my other letters wrote again my company comes this evening
From Alice
Alice Fulkerson
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Clay City, Ills
April 18, 1888
Dear Uncle
I take my pencil in hand this Sabbath evening to answer your welcome letter which I just received last Friday it has layed in Clay City every since the 11th of Mar. I got a letter this week from Uncle
Albert that was written the 26 of Feb. and I did not receive it till last Friday so you must not think I have neglected to write to you. We are all tolerable well but grandpa he is not able to do any thing he has a very bad cough bothers him of nights so he does not rest hardly any Uncle Aaron Clawson died the last day of Mar. they sent word for grandpa to come to see them but he was not able to go even if he had the means to go on I was at Sunday School at Bethel meeting at Olive today there is meeting at Bethel next Sat. night & Sun. at ½ past 3 wish you was hear to go to meeting also at Olive in the morning that is Sun morning I went home with Minnie Berry last Sun you know it was Easter & 1 day of Apr. so Shaba Bissey & Min Apr fooled Og Berry they cooked some eggs & then layed one that wasn’t cooked on top so Og got that one & we had lots of fun. Della Petty John taught our school this winter Odel come & stayed all night & she wondered if you remembered the evening that you fell over the stump I suppose it was a grand show if it was not like my exhibition Della had or was to have & exhibition on Monday night after her school it rained & so she did not have it till the next Mon. night & it rained so the creek got out so I could not go after all. I suppose you enjoyed chopping wood as long as school lasted anyway well I would like to have seen you stepping in come home next fall Uncle Albert is coming next fall you spoke about me coming up there to work but I can not come I wanted to go up where Charleys is but thought I could not very well what is the matter with him [a word or two are unreadable] & her have not busted up have you well I will half to tell you about George he went north this spring I got a letter from him this last week he is in Macon Co. Eva Harter is married & gone to Texas to live Abe Carney [sp?] is married to & Essa & Hi [sp?] played out Ella Hosselton & [unreadable] is not married yet but the talk is they are going to be Frank Lee is married to Alice Adkinson he did not get Minnie she is waiting for you I guess so do not be uneasy she is staying in Clay City well as my paper is filled up I will close for this time write soon & I will have more news next time
grandpa wrote a letter to Aunt Betsy & sent it to table Grove you must get if for her & send it to industry
From your Niece
Alice Fulkerson
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Aug 20th 88
Son Will I will scratch you a few lines to let you know how we are getting along my fet [I believe this word is meant to be foot or feet] is getting along tolerably well I cannot let it hang down much yet it is not hurting me very much nor has not been very painfull it is still keeps dry and the pasture is getting short we will have some corn but it will be trifling we have not threshed yet there is to be a machine in the neighbourhood in a week or two and we will have to try to thresh if we can we have not had any word form John Fulkerson for some time but we are looking for him to come after Alice we have concluded to let her go her chance for school is so poor here that we thought it would be best for her to go we have the promise of mary to live with us Cottners have left the Henderson place after a Law suit and live in the Marklin house Mr Beckels have traded places with Jord Ervin and are going down in wayne the Post office has been changed Mr Richard Duff is running it we have had a letter from Charles lately but he did not say just what he intended to do did not know but what he might be home soon we have had no word from John Clawson lately I should have liked for Ellis to have went there and went to school but I do not know as he will go he will not go to School here to amount to any thing as he has too much business on hands Now Will if you have a chance of making much or a contract ahead you had better stay where you are if not I should like see you at home soon I think I can be around in a couple of weeks but it may be longer I do not know whether I will sow any wheat or not I was talking of sowing some on Dave Baylers Marklin farm but it keeps so dry that we cannot plow and there is some clearing up to do and I cant do it so I think it doutfull about our sowing any there I think your mother is some better than she has been for some time She has been taking some medicine from Dr Wilson and I want to get her some more soon Let me hear from you soon no more at present
O Clawson
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Tuscola Ill
Oct 9th ’88
Dear Uncle
I will try and answer your letter which I received some time ago I expect you will be surprised to hear from me & also when you get this letter if you have not heard from home since I left I have not heard from home since I left I got here a week ago last night was nearly wore out when I got here but am well at present hope this will find you the same I have lots of work to do I am getting $1.75 per week I guess if I can stand the work I will stay 6 mo. Rosa Crackel [sp?] is up here to she is working in the dress shop Ella Crackel is staying up here going to school since Blair is teaching school here to & Manda Smith is at her sisters well I will tell you all I can think about home well I suppose Uncle Charleys are down there now they was coming on Thursday that was last Thurs. (Oh yes) Uncle Albert is married was married in Sept his post office address is Clarks Nebraska we got a letter from him just about a week ago before I started from home Charley Humphrey was married in August to Miss Ella Stanford well I dont know very much to write this time I went to church last Sunday night to the Methodist meeting there is a theatre in town this week but dont expect to go I dont hardly feel like I was in town but I am working for Mr Kenner [sp?] of Flora I suppose you know Uncle Johns have another boy they call him Charley Ray he is over 2 mo old Well dont you think George Bissey has gone to Minnesota is in St Cloud I have not heard from him since I came up here I got a letter from my cousin Walter Fulkerson last Monday week have not answered yet well I will close as it is bed time & I am tired I want you to write soon & tell me all the news
Good night
From Alice Fulkerson
Write soon
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Christmas gift
Dec 25th 1888
Mr. William Clawson
Dear Uncle
this Christmas night I will try & answer your letter which was wrote the 30 of Oct. have written so many letters & not had so very much time to write that I have just neglected to write to you I am well & hope these lines will find you enjoying good health oh yes Albert married his Thompson girl I got a letter from Uncle Albert since I been up here answered it tonight oh yes Abe Stanford was to be married this evening to Miss Laura Carman I got a stovl [?] to the infair [affair?] to eat turkey but hardly think I will go. Well Ellis is down in Old Clay I guess he was up here in Edgar two or three weeks & told me he was coming around here after corn husking but the next thing I heard he was back in old Clay George is back down there to now Rosa Crackel went last Friday so there are some of them back now I dont think Ellis & George Lee can stay away from their girls long enough well I dont know very much to write one of my Ind cousins is coming to see me before long he aimed to come this week & then he had to put it of a week I look for him next week it is Walter Fulkerson well I do not get to go to Sunday School & only to church on Sunday nights well I guess I have wrote about all of the news I was at a Christmas tree last eve would have went this evening to another but it was such a bad night I did not go I got a new calico dress & a silk hand kerchief a bottle of cologne & a bow of ribbon well I guess I will close what did old Santa bring you
good night
wishing you a happy New Year
From Your Niece
Alice Fulkerson
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Tuscola Ill
Jan 24th 1889
Mr. William Clawson
I will write you a few lines as I received a letter from home this morning wanting me to write to you they want you to come home on a visit & they thought I could hire you to come I guess I will be married the 21 of Feb. I send you an invitation to the wedding dont know what kind of a time it will be but not a very big time I dont expect I will go home in two weeks from today I guess I suppose you can guess the intended so there is no use telling you I have been looking for a letter from you but failed to receive it I got a letter from George yesterday the folks is all well at home exept the baby Aunt Mary said it had a bad cold we have had no cold weather this winter hardly dont seem like winter hardly of course you will not fail to come home
Alice
