Hutchinson County
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Hutchinson County
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Submitted by: Gail Lynn
Hello, again, Darrell.
I'd like to contribute a letter written by me grandfather, Daniel Demorest Sharp. Judging from the handwriting and the boyish enthusiasm, I'm guessing he was about ten years old when he wrote this. The family lived in a sod shanty near Olivet for a time while Daniel was a boy. He was born at Barrington Center, Ill., May 28, 1870, and moved with his father, Thomas Stokes Sharp, and step-mother, Belle E. Dailey to Hutchinson county, Dakota Territory, in 1877, where he lived the usual Pioneer life marked by oxen, sod houses, droughts,and the great blizzard of 1888. He mentions several realtives in here, and I can identify them for you if you like. Following is the text from a letter written by young Daniel to his grandmother about 1880:
Olivet, Dakota
Hutchison Co
Nov 4th
My dear Grandma,
Perhaps you have forgotten there is such a boy as Daniel Demorest Sharp, but its a fact and I am that boy and you are my Grand-Ma. I thought I would write and mention it before it was too late for if I neglect much longer that boy will be something else. Well Grandma how do you do any way it seems so long since I saw you or heard of you that I hardly know what to write about. I hope you are enjoying good health and feel happy. I should like to see you and talk with you but of course that is impossible. I am not sure this letter will find you but I hope it will. Since you were here we have had pretty good health and some sickness. I have had most of the health and papa and mamma the best share of the rest. I believe papa must be getting old he has had so much rheumatism. Now he dont have it all. I have some myself sometimes. Last spring Olivet and I took a start at growing. My trousers are getting to short and Olivet is spreading around considerable. Mr. White built a new store, there is a fine Milwaukee Courthouse, two new hotels. Norrie Baldwin has built a church and the Cambellites are going to, and the Devil has got as many as both put together and as any body can have Dutch beer or Kentuckey whiskey as they like. There are a good many houses built, too. I could tell you plenty of news, but it would be of folks you dont know. I dont hear much from Uncle Fraileigh, Grandpa Sharp wrote us some about Barrington people last spring, and Uncle Dan has forgot me I guess. I suppose he has plenty of boys and girls of his own to think. I intend writing to him too as soon as I can if you are at Aunt Katy's please give my love to her and Uncle Asbury and to my cousins Charley and George. I suppose Charley is about man grown by now. Maybe I shall be able to go and see you all some day. I should like to very much. We are just getting into the beginning of winter though we have only had light frosts so far. I am going to trap for furs this winter when it freezes up. I made some money at it last year and can do better this. But I shall also attend school, we have a fine house and a good attendance. This is the pleasantest fall I have seen in Dakota very little frost yet. We dont expect a hard winter. Times pretty hard, a great many people wont be able to meet their debts, wheat only 50 cts. Come and see the roan heiffer, she is as big as the old cow. But I also want you to come and see me too, and stay and visit when you are here. I shall be mad if Mitchell gets you and hides you away next time. We have 15 head of cattle and horses now it takes about 55 acres of hay to winter our stock. We expect seven calves next spring. Papa says I may also say "and a lot of chickens that are not hatched." He says he can manage to keep poor by hard work. Claims are worth from $800 to $2000 round here now. I think ours worth $1600 and in two years it will be worth $2500. Papa has not run in debt or mortgaged yet and I hope he never will.
Bet you Im tired Grandma. I am not used to writing. You must not get provoked at my bad writing. You know I love you. I always did and always shall. I send my best love to you. Papa and mamma join me. Please write to me when you can.
I remain your Loving Grandson,
Daniel Sharp
The following was submitted by M. E. Scobell on June 16, 2001:
These are a transcription of letters my great-grandfather wrote my great grandmother when he had to go to Colorado for his health at doctor's orders. He had tuberculosis. My great-grandmother evidently had to stay home and work the farm. At the time of the writings he was 49 years old. He died before year-end.
Great grandfather George Edward Scobell was born the 25th July 1860 in Bosanquet Twp., Lambton, Ontario, CN and died the 4th October, 1909 in Vineland, Pueblo, CO at age 49. In 1903 George was a representative from Hutchinson County, 6th District, to the state legislature in South Dakota. These letters were written to my great grandmother, Margaret Elizabeth McLin Scobell, born 27th October 1875, died 11th January 1938, Sioux City, Woodbury Co, IA.
Postcard dated 21st January, 1909 mailed from Denver, CO to Mrs. M.E. Scobell in Tripp, SD.
Dear Wife:
Arrived here in good shape. I had a fine night's rest coming through. It is a fine crisp morning, no wind, no snow. I ate a pretty fair breakfast. I leave for the springs at nine o'clock. It is now 8:35. I will be at the springs before noon or about that time. I feel that I am going to be better right away. Keep a stiff upper lip and a brave heart and remember.
Geo. E. Scobell
Letter dated 22nd February 1909 from Colorado Springs, CO.
Dear Wife Margaret & Children:
I received your long letter dated 17 Saturday. I was just sitting up in bed preparing to eat my supper when your letter was brought in. I went to dinner Sat and had 100 (temperature). Sunday also to dinner and had 99.2. I send you a bill of fare. I had my 4th helper sick Sat. It is one month today since I arrived at the Sanitarium. I have not heard a word that would intimate I was not to stay on, but rather the opposite, so rest content Dear Ones. Money. If Geo. (his son, George Edward Scobell, Jr.) does not get more land to work, you will not need so many horses. I was just thinking. Although I said not to sell Baldy, we could not very well afford to refuse $400 for the team--if they look good enough to anyone for that sum. I will finish after dinner if able.
I'm able. We are having a snowstorn. It began last evening and still continues. Well Dear, send some more of those letters of large size. I can write the little ones. I must get to bed now, so with the expectation of getting your sad letter tomorrow, might I close with the hope this will find you feeling all right again. By the way, I am feeling good.
Geo. E. Scobell
Postcard dated 2nd April, 1909 from Rocky Ford, CO.
Dear Wife:
I send you a PC because I have no paper. I just want to let you know that I am nicely located. In ten minutes after I started out to find a home I was all fixed. I get board at a boarding house; $4.50 per week--have a room a block away for $1.00 per week; furnish my own coal. Am feeling fine, no distress in breathing, good appetite. I want to get me a "Chasing Chair" and blanket and begin to "Chase the Cure" in earnest.
Geo. E. Scobell
Letter dated 6th September 1909 from Pueblo, CO.
Dear Wife and Family:
This morning I seat myself to write you what news there is to tell about myself. In the first place, I have a cold and a sore chest. It is cold and wet. It has rained two days and noights and is still damp and cloudy. Well the landlady told me Saturday that some of the roomers complained of being disturbed by my coughing nights and would have to move if I stayed.
At this point in my writing, the landlady came and invited me to the front window to watch the Labor Day parade. When it was over I was too tired to write so layed down til dinner. To resume, I told the lady I would look for a room, but would not dare to go out in the rain. She said no indeed, I should not. Well it has rained ever since till this forenoon when it began to clear. I asked if the parties had made any more complaint. She said no, just asked if I was here yet. She said, "I said yes and he is not going out in the rain to look for a room." "Oh no, of course not," was their reply. I asked if she would rent me the room for another week. Said she did not know about that--the party is here yet. Just rest content as it is and see. I got George's letter and draft yesterday and your last letter the day bofore while the Old Dr. was visiting me. I did not read it until he was gone, and so missed the chance to ask about your trouble in the chest, but will find out before I write again. In the meantime, from this on you have to just not give yourself a chance to take cold. No running out in the cold wind with nothing to protect your chest and throat do you hear. I am afraid your lungs are affected. Do you raise anything from your lungs? If not you may not be (sentence not finished).
You asked me what the Dr. said about me going home. He said as soon as you get over coughing and get fleshed up. By then there would be a cold winter there and I would need to be careful. He examined me the week I was at the Amhurst. Said I was in better shape than he expected to find me. My left lung was in the 2nd stage and the right in the first. Could not see why I should not get well. Now I have heard so many different findings that I do not credit anyone implicitly. I think the Vivifiers are good and I believe will cure me if I don't meet with some other misfortune. If I have to leave this room, I have a mind to go to the Springs. I won't have so hard a time to keep a room. I am tired, so tired, so with love to all I will close. If Mother (Mary Elizabeth Toole) and Alice are there, say hello for me.
Geo. E. Scobell
Letter dated 28th August 1909 from Pueblo, CO (I believe this was misdated by George due to illness and should have been dated 28th September 1909. For that reason I am placing it at the last. He died 4th October 1909.)
Dear Wife:
Come to me without delay on my account. Get all the money you can. I am perfectly helpless. You must come and hurry.
Geo. E. Scobell
(P.S.) I'm 10 miles East of Pueblo
