Photo of Ann Wilson and William Taylor

Transcription of Letter

Letterhead of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg [PA]

715 Capital St XII-II-MDCCC [12-2-1900]

Cousin

My Dear Brother Emmet,

Yes, the Photos are good, well as I remember them. You know I lived with Grandfather and Grand Mother for years on and off. Bro Seldon was there quite a good share of his time especially at nights, to attend Grandfather and many a time Sell went for the Dr. in the night when Grandf would take a bad spell. You know he died of a corn on his second little toe. He pared it too close, it got raw, he put soft soap and most anything on to draw it until he had to have his toe taken off. Still it eat on, Gangrene or blood poison set in he had his foot take off above the ankle _still it eat on until it took his life. He was as noble as he is looking in his photo. There was a gate on the line fence between fathers, & Grand f's farm. Every day Grand f drove to Enon to get the news (and a glass of whiskey if he felt like it, I never saw him when he was under the liquor, and he said it was nobody's business if he felt like it). There and about 7 of us youngsters would see who could get to the gate first to see who have it opened. Then coming back from town there was a "bigger" scrabble and rather more in number for he would always bring a stick of candy _if there was the 7 we always got a little candy, if but 2 of us _some of us would be tilted over in some corner

2) asleep, then the candy would be in larger pieces _but one stick was about the limit. Poor old Grand f lay on his back for months. We could hear him pray many a time to himself in the next room _and no body religiously inclined ever left his home without being asked to have worship. When he died he had every thing of his wearing apparel given away. I remember his last shoes. I donÕt believe he had worn them three times, when a tramp came along, told he was from County Down Ireland _that was Grand f's birthplace _the shoes were quickly handed to the tramp and he put them right on. The tramp's shoes were all worn and did not cover his feet. (at the same time I don't believe the tramp ever saw Ireland.) Grand mother also was beloved by all. Grandaddy was sort of impulsive, into everything _for all the fun that was going _ . Grand M was ever ready to hold things in check. A good sound counsellor, a great Church woman after Grand f died Grand M took his place always had family worship. She and I would put in the longest days _sever times I well remember of her (on cloudy rainy days, and our clock not inclined to keep good time) insisting on it being as late as it looked and to bed we would go. I would lie there and toss and could not sleep and I don't believe she slept either- however- I remember on three occcasions when the sun came out and the chickens crowing and I jumped up and dressed and looked out and saw some of our little folks come paddling through the meadow in their bare feet of course to play awhile. Another time 'visa' 'versa.' I was going to wash. Grand M thought she would not wake me until the wash water would be boiling. Finally the water boiling. I was called, breakfast all over. I commenced washing _had our two clothes gathered the night before- washing all on the line and the stars were shining as brightly as ever and I done my arithmetic questions and milked the cow when I saw a faint light in the East and when she felt beet, the Photo looks just like her _her mouth would droop and her brows set, her natural way was brows rather set, but mouth rather more laughing. She never missed a communion season at old Rev Father Dilworths Church called Little Beaver Pres. Ch. Some of our boys would take her to Church and Father Dilworth always had her stay with him Sat, Sun & Monday until after sermon. He had a widowed Sister living with him. Grand Ma & She were good friends too. Grand Ma would help me learn scripture verses, & hymns, as our Sunday S Teacher gave the prize to the one who learned the most verses. I had the most verses and can repeat the greater part of them yet, thanks to our sainted Grandma. (The prize was never received.) It was about this time (the summer I learned the verses) your mother and dear little Carrie visited Penn. I think Carrie like you has no recolection of Penn and your relations at that time. I will never forget it _for I became so attached to her it nearly broke my heart when Aunt Ellen visit came to an end and she was to take my dear little Carrie away. Was I about 13 years old then? I was born 8-12-1844. Grandma was a very small woman. I don't think (judging by weight of people now) she weighed much over 100 lbs. When Grand f lived he in his last 3 or 4 years was so crippled with Rheumatism, but kept a large Grey horse he got so fractious and run off one time, and upset he & Grandma out of the sleigh- they were both so bundled up and Grand f being crippled- they could not get up and was making a strenuos effort to when old Charley Silliman, a close neighbor- came along _and heard Grandma say "Daddy are you hurt?" Grand f said "God a massa no, Mammy are you all right?" The old man Silliman took them

4) in his house. The horse trotted on home with hot bricks & straw scattered along the road, not much damage done to the sleigh. When warm weather came they thought to ride again before selling their horse. This time they went to Canfield, Ohio to visit Martha and Frank Servis. They got there in good time for Grandf would not have much ? on the horse _ he was pretty well sweated. The next morning (You know Frank and Martha lived in style on the nicest St in Canfield_ he was a lawyer) Grandf got up first on his mind was his horse. He had a new red flannel undersuit Grandma made_ the morning being warm_ and he never thinking, slipped his shoes on and out he goes to the barn _ none of the servants were up yet_ in his red underwear without a hat. Grandf did not know he had gone without his outside pants_he had the horse nearly brushed_ when he discovered to his sorrow his red suit. Curry comb & brush was flung & he took leaps for the house such as an Indian could not do_ but not without being seen. Martha's dignity was brought down to mortification. Frank laughed until you could see every tooth in his head and the neighbors & passersby thought a lunatic had escaped. But when it was explained it quiet down and was not told on them for years_ when Frank thought it too good to keep told it to some of our boys. O my I have written two sheets, but I do like to think over the past especially when I am away over 300 miles from any of our folks. I get kind of homesick, lonesome. AL is so busy these times and gets along so well, the people pay him a great many compliments. And all want him to attend their farmers Institute and speak. Next week he is to speak to State Dairy Union. Other speakers come from Main & New Y. I often go along but don't go nearly as often as I'm invited. Bert is married and settled in his own home. Am glad he is married. We love his wife. She is very tall. Charity and Fred are both in good health. We have reason to feel thankful for our many blessings. Thanking you again for the Photos and address of your folks. I have just looked over this leatter and would write but little more to any of your folks and am going to ask you to send it around to them for I'll likely never get on to such a stringing on again. And dear cousin Frank, you O me a letter. Currie, Ella, William I will write separate letters next year but do write to me. I love you all. AL and children from in love Martha Ellen Martin.

[A parenthetical note - Enclosed stamps to keep the letter going around]

[Another parenthetical comment written sideways on third page - In Grandfathers young days in Ireland he joined the orangemen that being an organization against the Catholics. They came to his fathers house to kill him as they had killed others. Grand f hid under the bed & they did not find him _next morning he left for America. When my brother Wm visited Ireland he saw the grave yard & tombstones of our ancestors.]

[From the letterhead, this letter must have been written by Martha Ellen Taylor, Mrs. A. L. Martin, a daughter of Samuel Taylor, an older brother of Ellen Taylor Ramsey.]