Letters From The Past

        Compiled By Bonnie Gaunt Snow

NOTE: I have transcribed these letters as they were written, errors and all. If you are related or have information concerning any of the people mentioned, please contact me; I will be happy to make you a copy of the original letter. I would like to discover whom all these people are and update that information in the notes. C. W. York 107 Bowman Ave. Danville, Illinois Jan. 20, 1903 "Dear Cora, As I have just finished my days work I will try to answer your letter. It is snowing here to day we have scarcely been without a snow this winter. The kids have all had the chicken pocks. They have all got well but Katie she has just broke out with them. It made them all pretty sick. Lena caught them first at school. Well you may know I was surprised to hear of Hen and Claudia being married. I expect they will wish they had not been so fast in about 9 or 12 months, don't you? ha, ha. I was suprized to hear of Joe Morehead's death, poor Ida will have a hard time trying to raise her three little ones. Where is she staying? I was glad to see Perry and Lewis. Perry stayed until Friday morning. Lewis has hired out for the summer up at Alvin about 10 or 12 miles from here he gets 18 dollars for the first month and $20 for the rest of the time; he will go to work the first of March. [Quince?] let his horses run off with his milk wagon one day this week spilt 50 gallons of milk and it cost him $21 dollars to get his wagon repaired. By the way Daisy told me to tell you she would hate to see you after you had took four or five bottles of Perscription for she bet you would be the fatest woman in Ky. I would not thought you would have taken it as you use to tell me when we live in Danville It didn't do a person any good. But I suppose you just thought that because it was me, ha, ha. My baby has got her Stomache and Eye teeth through. Maybe she won't be sick all next summer. I am going to wean her the first of April before cleaning house time and garden making. Mrs. York sent me a new waist and the three girls a blue Cashimere dress apiece, Guy a pair of shoes and waist and Sylvia a Album, my old man three pair of gloves a Handkerchief tie and some more things to tedious to mention. Has Mollie dried up and blowed away tell her if she has not to try and give an account of herself. I heard Rose [Coumer?] is looking for an heir any time, Oh yes Aunt Betty visits her often now. I suppose Ag is looking out too as she wrote me she had her a girl to stay with her. I heard Mary Ann is awful poorly, poor thing, I feel very sorrow for her. Well Cora I only get one and two eggs a day and haven't all winter, suppose they will go to laying before long. Tell Audrey and Verner they ought to see my birds they are so nice they wake me and the kids ever morning, a singing. . I suppose my big brother will work for us again this year [Aaren?]. The last letter I had from him he said he was comming in about six weeks. Lena is writing to Nola she said for you to give it to her. I suppose I had better close as I do not know nothing to write I have not been to town but once this winter that was Monday before Xmas. Daisy and I went (?) so you see I know nothing to write have not been to Daisy's since Xmas, they all spent last Sunday here. So write soon and all the news, and excuse this scrathing. Best regards to all my friends. As Ever, Susie (bye bye.)" Note: Some of the above mentioned people are Charles York born June 1868 in Kentucky; Mary "Susie", the author, born Dec. 1875 in Kentucky; Lena York, born November 1895; Sylvia York, born February 1898; Guy H. York, born September 1899. Source: 1900 Federal Census for Grant County, Kentucky. This family was living in dwelling 37 in the Sherman Precinct. Charles and Susie had been married 5 years. I haven't discovered Mary "Susie's" maiden name. The recipient is Cora Eliza Webb Ashcraft, born April 5, 1874 in Grant County, daughter of James Austin Webb & Lucinda Meece Webb. She married Otho Stanley Ashcraft July 31, 1895 in Grant County. Otho Stanley Ashcraft was born July 31, 1870, in Grant County; he died February 5, 1942, in Grant County. Cora and Otho had two children, Verner, born January 5, 1897 and Audrey Fern, born October 24, 1899. Cora died March 23, 1905, two years after these letters were written; the cause of her death was pneumonia. Source: Otho and Cora's marriage bond; Verner and Audrey's birth records and death certificates; Otho's death certificate. The will of Benjamin Ashcraft, father of Otho; the 1900 Federal Census for Grant County. Knoxville, Kentucky Feb. 23, 1903 Mrs. Cora Webb Ashcraft Knoxville, Ky "My dear friend, Replying to your kind and consoling missive of several weeks ago. I beg leave to say that it afforded me a great deal of consolation and encouragement! We know that we have a "Sincere Friend" in the hour of affliction. My dear companion has gone to that "Heavenly Mansion" from whence no Traveler ever returns! And God being my divine helper I will endeavor to meet him in heaven. I will also raise my little ones in the fear of Him that "knoweth all things." Please accept my thanks for your proffered help also your "husband's." Nothing would afford me greater pleasure than to accept your kind and welcome invitation to join your "Happy Circle" but I greatly regret the inability to do so as the children and myself haven't been very well since the death of my husband. But Cora just as soon as the weather clears, I will come to see you. Thanking you for your sympathy and trusting to hear from you soon. I remain as ever, Your Sincere Friend Ida Bethel Morehead" NOTE: The above letter was written by Ida Bethel Morehead on February 23, 1903. It concerns the loss of her husband, Joseph Morehead. Ida Bethel Morehead was born September 1870 in Pendleton County, Kentucky. Joseph Morehead was born November 1866 in Pendleton County, Kentucky; he was the son of John K. Morehead and Narcisus Vice. They had at least two children; Cecil B., born June 14, 1897 and Cline, born July 15, 1898. C. W. York 907 Bowman Ave. Danville, Illinois February 14, 1903 "Dear Cora, I will this eve as I am through my work try to answer your letter, we are all well but Lena, she is not very well. Charles, Robert and Lewis bought a stalk of bananas Thursday and that night Edna and the boys came over here and we all eat so much and I think Lena eat too many. She vomited up nothing but bananas, all day yesterday she is still puny yet. Guy and Sylvia went over to Oder's yesterday morning and have not yet returned. Daisy said she would bring them this Eve as she was going to town. I have four dozen of eggs to send to town this Eve, get 25 cents for them. That is the most I have sold yet. Daisy takes them for me. Edna's music teacher gets all of them. We had a snow that fell one week ago today 18 or 20 inches deep, the deepest snow I ever saw in my life. Very near Charles knees he liked never got to Oders Sunday morning, he took the horses and a drag and had to make roads from there over here and on the place. I have been sewing this week, making the kids up these summer clothes. I want to get them all done again time to clean my yard and house. I have not made them no new dresses since we came back so that will be 1 year the 11 of March. So you know they was running short of dresses and all to short for them too. Cora do you think you will come out this year? I would be very glad to have you all come if you can. I don't know when we will ever get back there for you know a person that has know one to leave with there things can't go very much and to stay as long as a month so you all have got relations who will take care of your things. And you can come very well. I heard Sam and Betty was coming out this summer. I will be glad to have anyone come that I know. Well Cora I thank you very much for your advice regarding me and my mother in law. I never mistreated Mrs. York in my life when she came to see me or I never expect too. I never thought that looked so very well for anyone to mistreat anyone about there house unless they did not want them, but let it go, what do I care. I got the only York I wanted, ha! ha! So far as Mr. York he has been as good to me as a father since I have been in the family and Mrs. York as a mother in her way. She is very good to me and Charley and kids I don't deny it. She gives the kids about all the clothes they wear. I have only bought Lena one dress in too tears that was that little red Indian Linen and have not bought Sylvia none and they have six new ones a peace to make now that, that is calico and ghinghams not counting there cashimere ones. I am going to make there white dresses she bought them 2 years ago this summer, and that is all the Sunday ones they will get, as they are growing so fast. Port sent us his Photo this week he looks so nice, but he looks bad I think, poor fellow I hope he will live to serve his time out, as I know he must have a rough time from the way he writes. Well Cora come over for dinner tomorrow. I have baked light bread, East rools and a big bana cake. Marion and Hattie are going to spend the day here tomorrow. You ask me one time in your letter why I didn't send you Guy's picture. I did not have them made, perhaps if we all live we will all have our Photo's made next summer some time and then you will have us all, ha! ha! Well Cora today is Valentines day. You may call this a Valentine from me. Do you ever hear of Ella Caldwell, where is Frank and his wife living now, how is Sallie? Tell Kate Hello for me, and tell Mollie to chew my heel and do you visit Mrs. Dunn or what has become of them. If you visit her tell her I said Howdy. Well I guess I had better close as I have got to clean up my house for tomorrow, so write soon and often to me who is always glad to hear from you. I am as Ever, Susie (so good Bye.) It has just commenced snowing again." From C. W. York 907 Bowman Ave. Danville, Illinois June 22, 1903 "Mrs. Cora Ashcraft, Dear Cora, after so long I will try to write to you! It is raining here today I have been out after my little ducks I lost three they were out and I could not find them, and now I am sitting by the stove trying to get dry. Charley is almost over his 75 acres of corn the second time, he has awful nice crop. He wants to plow it twice more before harvest. He will have 40 aces of his oats to cut and he wants to work for Oder through the hay harvest. Bye the way, Daisy and I went to see Minnie Oder yesterday Eve the first time I had been there or seen her since the Chautaugra last year. She got her divorce three weeks last Saturday. She said she is going to stay where she is if she possibly can. Charley and Claude Oder boards there they pay her $3 1/2 a week and Otis is at work. Dick makes $1.50 a week [Ricketts?] 1 1/2 she can live alright if they keep at work all the time. I feel very sorrow for her she looks so bad. Nute is at work on a farm not far from Danville he gets $25 a month. I saw Nute last Sunday he says he is going to get married in two weeks. I just despise him. I told him he had a nice little woman he could of lived with if he had a been a man, but a dog she could not live with! But the old fool just laughed! Well Cora I do not know much to write this time we all went to a big Circus the 25th of May! The Ringling Brothers will show here next Saturday. I don't guess I shall go! Also we all went to Uncle Bob's Sunday week and no one to home so we had a nice drive and that was all. They don't talk anything about coming to Ky. this fall, they said they didn't expect they would ever get back as Uncle Bob is so feeble. She says she is going to give me a Hair of turkeys this fall. I got Sylvia a lovely hat Saturday it is a [traskin?] one of those real soft frames can mash them all up in your hand and won't break. It has a black velvet ribbon sash and the flowers are daisys. I will get Lena one next Saturday. I never moss a Saturday afternoon going to town. I met Mrs. [Grilten?] on the street Saturday and had a long talk with her. She lives in South Town and is making wrappers and shirt-waists. We are going to drive over and see them awhile before long. We are fixing for the fourth. They say there will be the bigest time this year they ever had. I have an awful nice garden done had peas and lots of new potatoes. I can have beans by Sunday, I have 60 ducks and lots of chicks I have 35 ducks done feathered out. Can get 25 ct a piece for them any time but Charley don't want me to sell a duck or chicken either untill fall and then fatten them and sell them all at once. If I have luck you bet I will have several Silver dollars out of them! Well Lewis York did not dislike Ill as bad as he said for he came back. He is at work on a farm two miles East of us getting $20 a month if he will only stay. I made 3 1/2 gallons of strawberries preserves. I am going to get a crate of Rasperries and Daisy has got lots of Blackberries for us both! I thought your dress was so pretty. I have had nothing new to wear since I came back only what was given to me! I made me two new shirtwaists. Daisy give me one and Mrs. York one. I want to get me a nice Taylor made suit this fall. If nothing happens but Ag wrote and said she heard I was up and coming again, but No Indeed there is nothing up yet and do hope there will never be again! I weaned Katie the first of April and you bet I am seeing a fine Time this summer for the first time in 9 years! And I bet if I had of stayed in Ky I would of done had another one before now! I made my wedding dress over and am getting the good of my black silk Bud gave me this year. I am so poor and thin this summer! I think I am too poor to look well in my clothes. I got me another pair of kid gloves but they are a dark red this time. I lost one of my black ones and have the other one just as good as new. I had a letter from Perry he is in [Paisler?] Ill not far from here. Charley is going to look at a farm tomorrow if it is to wet to plow. Joe Long sent him word he could rent it and he would go with him any day he would come up. He knows the Lady she is a widow woman. The farm is about 6 miles from Danville. I don't want to stay here next year if we can do any better as our house is old and so much white washing to do but will stay and put up with the house if we can do any good. It has quit raining and now it is so cool. C. W. and Bud is hauling hay for J [I?] since the rain. Well I must close so write soon and all you know. Bye Bye for this time. I am as Ever Your Friend. Susie Give my love and best regards to all I know and tell Mollie I think just as much of her as ever but I know I wrote the last letter, ha, ha." Note: Newt Oder is Newton J. Oder, born 1857 in Grant County; son of J. T. & Lucy Oder. Minnie Oder is Minnie Lowe Ashcraft, born about 1869 in Grant County; daughter of Richard A. Ashcraft & Margaret Lowe Ashcraft. Newton and Minnie were married December 16, 1886 at her parent's home in Grant County. From the above letter they divorced June 1903 in Illinois. Source: 1860 Federal Census for Grant County; Grant County Marriage Index, Ashcraft. "Mollie" is Mary Elizabeth Webb Ashcraft, born 1871 in Grant County, daughter of James Austin Webb and Lucinda Meece Webb. Mollie married Clarence Nimrod Ashcraft July 25, 1894, in Grant County. Their children were Cecil Webb Ashcraft; Coloda Webb, married Thomas Dean Webb; and Iris Ione Webb. Source: Marriage Bond; Birth Records; Death Certificates. "Ag" is Augusta Virginia Webb, born 1862; daughter of James Austin Webb & Lucinda Meece Webb. I believe she married a Mr. Kinney. C. W. York 907 Bowman Ave. Danville, Illinois August 4, 1903 "My Dear Cora, I shall first begin by asking you to pardon me for not writing sooner, but I know you will not think hard when I tell you all. I have had a seige of cooking for harvest men. And last Friday we threshed I had 40 men all night and Daisy and I got dinner for 32 men! We had 1317bu of oats! They made over 40bu to the acre they done fine! Charley has not sold his yet as they seem to think they will be 35ct a bu they are 32ct now. Well I want to tell you we had a fine rain last night and this Eve it is raining hard again. It has been dry quite a while and I look for wet weather from now on. We have nice corn but won't be as good as last year it is selling now at 53ct a bu. And last year it was 35ct gathering time. My hubby and I were fixing for town this Eve but am afraid we won't go. It is just pouring sown rain. Minnie Oder and children was here 6 of July and we made Ice cream. I have not been to see her yet, will go spend the day when the Chautauga commences. It commences Aug 8. And last until Sept 3. Rose [Coumer/Commer?] has a big girl. I have not been to see Uncle Bob and Aunt Betty this year we have set next Sunday to go. Don't know how it will be. There was a Negro killed a white man in Danville will be two weeks Saturday night. There was a mob took the Negro out of the Jail knocked him in the head with a sledge hammer tied a rope to his neck drug him 3 or 4 blocks hung him shot him full of holes and then took him down and burnt him! Bud and Robert both watched it all through. They said it was awful. I went down next day went all around and Charley saw the Negro's Remains nailed up in a goods box setting in the alley. I saw the man the Negro killed. There is several more Negros in Jail and they had to call the soldiers from Springfield to guard the jail ever since. They say they will have the rest of the darkies when the soldiers leave. I hope they will clean out some of the devils before they stop. We went to soldiers home the 4 and from there to Douglas Park. There was the prettiest dancing and Waltzing I ever saw. Don't you all ever think of coming to see us. I wish you would come. I always tried to treat you all as well as I was able when you came to see me and would do the same now! I am fixing Lena and Sylvia's school dresses. There school commences 1 of Sept. Sylvia can read as well as Lena. Lena is in the third Reader. I will start Sylvia in the first though, as I am afraid she has the second Reader by heart. We took a drive Sunday and have been running around a lot since corn was layed by. I will have the hay bailer hands to cook for as soon as it drys up. Charley says he will have 40 or 50 dollars worth of his straw. I have 50 ducks growin can get 25ct for the any time but will keep them until I sell my Chicks about Thanksgiving. I was a little surprised to hear of Hat, hope she is better. Ag and Betty tells me of about 40 more going to be fresh. I am glad it is not me, ha! ha! Katie was 2 yr old the day we had threshers she has been wearing little Pantys all summer, She never was sick with her bowels. Well I will have to close as I want to write to Ag. So please don't wait as long as you did before or as long as I did and I will try to do better next time so Bye Bye. Our love to you and all I will close write soon. I am as Ever Your Chum Susie Katie got up and made those marks." Note: "Hat" is Harriet Webb Hutchinson, born April 19, 1868; daughter of James Austin Webb and Lucinda Meece Webb. She was the wife of Jefferson Hutchinson; they had two children, Webb Leland Hutchinson and Nola Hutchinson. Harriet died the year after this letter was written. A lamp she attempted to blow out exploded and she was engulfed in flames. This will be mentioned in a following letter. Source: Birth records; copy of the newspaper article concerning the fire. C. W. York 907 Bowman Ave. Danville, Illinois October 4, 1903 "Friend Cora, I shall at first commence by asking you to pardon me for not writing sooner. I have cleaned house since you wrote me and had so much sewing to do that I just could not get my mind fix on writing but bye and bye I will try to do better next tome. It is raining here this Eve. Charley has been cutting corn for 3 or 4 weeks he will get done this week him and Bud has cut over 700 shocks. He gets 5ct a shock for cutting he has it all to shuck! He thinks he will have between 800 and 1000bu! Oh I will be so glad when they are done I never want him to put out such a crop again, as it just keeps him and poor me hustling all the time. We will move March the first you bet I will be glad to get our horses and set up to farming to ourselves again! He will put out 30 acres of corn and some potatoes, we will have no hands! I got the girls a lovely cap apiece. I want to get them a cloak and my self a taylor made skirt when I sell my chickens. I have about 4 dozen to sell and 11 more ducks, old hens are 12 1/2ct a lb I think I can get 15ct by Thanksgiving. I got 35ct for all of my young chicks sold 9 last Saturday. I get 22ct a dozen for eggs, sell 5 and 6 dozen a week. We have two fine hogs to kill they are over a year old. Well we all went to the Indiana Fair it was just grand! I did enjoy the horse raceing so much! We all went to the Opera one night last week the play was Ten Nights In The Bar Room. It was so sad. It was a good play. The fair commenced here yesterday and lasts all week. We went yesterday. Daisy and I want to take in ever Evening if it does not rain. I saw Minnie Oder Sunday ourselves and her and her children spent the day with Hattie and Marion in town! We are going to spend the day with her next Sunday. Uncle Tom came out last Monday night and stayed until Tuesday Eve. Poor old fellow I feel sorry for him. He looks so old. He said tell you all Howdy for him. Aunt Betty told me to tell you to tell Mr. & Mrs. Ashcraft to make them a visit she would do all she could to make enjoy there selves! They say if we come home next fall they are sure to come with us if we all live I think we shall come home next fall. But you know that is a long time off to talk about. The girls both go to school. Lena has a house she has drawed and wants me to send it to Verner. They often talk of the children and wish that they could go to old Ky. I got me a lovely Peticoat it is black! I gave $2 1/2 for it! I guess I will not get my taylored made suit before fall so it will be new to come home. I will get me a skirt and I think I will get me a silk waist this winter. I have not decided yet what to get. There new suits this fall are long I will send you a picture of one of them. I do not like them at all! That is the reason I put off getting mine. I washed all three of my rag carpets washed them on the machine. I want to get me a new carpet when I move. Well Cora what do you think of Sisy Wynn! Ag wrote to me last fall and said X (a circle with dashes surrounding it follows the X) had come in for the fall season so I guess he did! ha! ha! She will soon have regiment won't she. Well I must close and get supper. So you must write soon and a long letter. I remain as Ever your Old Chum. Susie P. S. Give my love and best wishes to Mollie and family and all my old neighbors how I would love to see them all. Good Night" Enclosed in this letter was a drawing made by Lena York; she wrote the following on the back: "Dear Verner I will send you some of my drawing. My teacher learns all of us to draw. Sylvia and I go to school every day. We have a big time. Mama got us a box of colored crayons and a box of colored pencils and a big tablet a piece. I will soon be eight years old how old are you Verner? I would love to see you and Audrey and poor little Nola so bad. Why don't Nola write to me well I will half to close as it is alsmost school time so bye bye. From Lena to Verner and Audrey write soon here is a kiss." F. F. Mann Stiles, Iowa December 12, 1903 Mr. & Mrs. Ashcraft Knoxville, Kentucky "Dear Aunt & Uncle I will try and write you a few lines today to let you know how we are getting along this is a awful bad day it sleeted last night and today it is snowing. We have had several snows this winter. I went down to Uncle Harp's yesterday Gus has a awful cold. I have rented me a place 1120 acres I pay $300 rent for it it is a fine farm there hasn't been any of it plowed for six years. I have got 15 head of hogs and I want to buy about ten are twelve calves. Artie's Pa give me about 7 tun of hay that will be enough for me. Well how is all the people, and have any of you sold your tobaca yet. The place I rented is in Mo. Well Artie will write some I will close for this time hoping to here from you soon and hope to see you next fall. Well good bye! Fred Mann" "Uncle & Aunt I will write you a few lines this Sunday morning to let you know how we are getting along. We are having some zero weather now. Well we havent gone to housekeeping yet don't know if we can get posession before March are not. We have rented a fine farm and it has good improvements and lots of fruit. Well Cora what are you doing. I have been sewing carpet rags have got enough for 30 yards of carpet we taken them to the weaver this week. Ma is going to have a Turkey for Xmas. I wish you folks could be here. Our organ and other goods got through alright wasent any thing broken except one lamp. How is Verner and Audrey. Does Verner still go to school or is he talking of taking a trip to Colorado next week. Chess [Kinney?] and his wife was here Friday night to see Fred. We have teased Fred about Girtie coming to see him. Ma and I was not accquainted with her and we told Fred we knew she came to see him. Port Kinney is to be married next Sunday. Port is going to do awfully well for she is a fine little girl and comes from good Family, they are dutch people but well respresceted. And her brother goes with Rosy. The protracted Meeting is going on at our Church now. And we have been going to Meeting and haven't got to visit very much. Well I will close for this time, This leaves us well and hope this will find all the same. Write soon from Artie Stiles, Davis Co. Iowa" Note:Fred Mann was born January 1881 in either Grant or Pendleton County, Kentucky. He was the son of Tennesee Belle Webb Mann & Martin Mann. Tennesse Belle was the daughter of James Austin Webb & Lucinda Meece Webb. "Belle" died January 5, 1881 in Grant County, most likely from complications after childbirth. She and Martin had another son, Charles, born August 16, 1878. The two boys were raised by their Webb grandparents in Grant County. I do not know "Artie's" maiden name nor when or where she and Fred Mann were married. Source: Grant County Census records; the inscription on Tennessee Belle's tombstone; Grant County school records. C. W. York 907 Bowman Ave. Danville Illinois February 5, 1904 Mrs. O. S. Ashcraft and family Dear Friends, This gloomy rainy afternoon finds me once more trying to answer your kind letter received and read with much pleasure! We had a letter from Mr. York Tuesday telling us of poor Hattie's death. Oh Cora you don't know how bad I hated to hear that, If it had been one of my own folks I could not took it harder. This is my fourth attempt to write to you since I heard it. We have not heard of no more from it and Mr. York never told anything only about her getting burned and the house burning and he said Jeff got burned pretty bad too. I want you to write me all an ever thing about it as soon as you can! I hope Jeff will get along and can see after his children. Oh Cora just think how quick mine or are your little family circle could be took from us! It is too bad to think of it. I feel so sorry for her little children! Just hink they will never know the care of a mother will they! Poor little Lena and Sylvia cries ever time we talk of it and says poor little Nola and Webb has no mamma to wash them and cook them something to eat. But Cora you must stand it the best you can for you know we all must die sooner or later! What do you think Jeff will try to do. I wish I could be with you all and share your troubles for I think as much of you all as any of my people and would do anything for you all I could in time of need! Oh Cora I know it must have scared you all nearly to death. Cora did Hattie know ever thing and know she mist die or did she not! If she had of died a natural death it would not have been such a shock but to think she had to be burnt! Well Cora I shant worry you any longer this time but will write more next time please write as soon as you can Cora for you know I want to hear from you all! We all send our Sympathy to you all and poor Jeff and his little ones! Bless there little hearts! I remain as Ever Your Friend, Susie York Bye Bye" Note: The following is the newspaper report of the accident and subsequent death of Harriet Webb Hutchinson: Williamstown Courier, Dry Ridge News, Thursday, February 3, 1904 Page 8. A horrible accident occurred at the home of T. J. Hutchinson, four miles east of Dry Ridge, at half past eight O'clock last Friday evening. The family had all retired save Mrs. Hutchinson. A lamp had been sitting on the mantel under the stovepipe, which had become very hot from a big fire in a stove. As Mrs. Hutchinson picked up the lamp to blow it out she said to her husband, "This lamp is awful hot," and as she proceeded to put it out it exploded. The oil flew all over her, and she was enveloped in flames in a moment. She seized some comforts and tried, with the aid of Mr. Hutchinson, to smother the flames, and thought they had done so. The husband put her outside the door and returned to rescue his four children. When he had gotten his children out he was horrified to find his wife horribly burned. She lingered in great agony until Saturday morning, when death put an end to her suffering. Mr. Hutchinson's hands and his face and his body were also badly burned, but it is thought he will recover. The children were saved. The house and contents were consumed. Mrs. Hutchinson's funeral was preached at the Knoxville Baptist Church by Rev. William McMillan, after which she was buried in the Knoxville Cemetery. Mrs. O. S. Ashcraft In care of Lewis At Home Thursday Night Friend Cora, Your letter just received, was glad to hear from you. You know I was very much surprised to hear of my dear Aunt being dead, as I had no idea she was so bad. Yes Claudia had wrote for us to come but we never got her letter until Monday Eve. Bud said he had no idea she was so poorley, or he would never a left so soon but death is very certain, poor thing she has never had much pleasure since she married, I feel so sorry for her poor little ones. I have never heard what they are going to do. Well we are cleaning house all but one room will clean it tomorrow. I am so tired tonight I can hardley sit up so you must not expect a long letter an will half to excuse this written. We white washed 5 rooms, and put carpet on four of them, we have things looking very neat and clean. I get 27 and 28 eggs a day no hens setting yet, got 31 ducks eggs. I want to raise lots of ducks and chickens too we have been having lot of rain too, and warm as summer Oh you ought to see the grass. I got 18ct last week for my eggs I have not sent my eggs too town this week I have 12 dozen to send away now. I will send this by Lewis I suppose you will bot be surprised to see him. My darling is still at work for Oder, will work for him until it gets dry enough to plow you may think me early cleaning house, but wanted to clean while I had help Bud does all the heavy work, Bud is likeing real well he says he thinks he will like better when he can be with Charley. I made 4 new bonnets this week one for Daisy and one for Edna and my kids the rest. Marvin Oder and wife will move Monday on Bowman Ave. In Jerman town. Hi is going to follow teaming. Daisy is done cleaning house. Well I will close as I am sleepey and half to finish cleaning house tomorrow. So write soon. I am as Ever, Susie" Note: I don't know who the author of this letter is but it is not "Susie" York. C. W. York 907 Bowman Ave. Danville Ill Mrs. O. S. Ashcraft Dry Ridge KY R. F. D. No 2 February 4, 1904 Friend Cora, I will try now to answer your letter was glad to hear from you and to hear all the particulars! I am glad to hear Jeff is better! I heard last night that Claude Nolan was dead. It looks like all the people I know back there will die I do hate to hear such sad news! Well Cora [Suse?] Tomlin that married [Sersy?] Ashcraft came to Danville yesterday. He wrote to Charley about 2 weeks ago to know if he knew of any one that wanted to hire a hand and that he was coming the 15 so they came Nip Ashcraft is his uncle he met them at Danville. Ves B. came too yesterday he came through with them and Ves came out here. I wrote Suse last night that I would be glad for her to come over. I will be glad to have one I know. Cora I hope your hand is better, did Gus come in? Daisy and Mrs. Adams has spent the day here today help me make my new carpet! We are all torn up and packing to move. We have to paper the house before we move! I bought me a new carpet 35ct a yard, It is a pretty pattern I think. Daisy and I are going to see Suse A. Sunday Eve awhile. Ves says Robert is coming next Monday. Oh Cora I got 10 Valentines that old [Grince?] sent them. Lena and Sylvia got too apiece awful pretty ones fancy. There school mates too little boys and Edna sent them one apiece. Chas got a awful ugly one I guess Daisy sent them anyway he sends her 4. Well I guess I shall close as this is all the paper on the place, And news are scarce. I am going to town tomorrow my hubby hawls ever day! So that is all this time will try to do better next time so, bye, bye, I am as ever Susie (To her old Chum)"