Letters from Alice Starr (Curtis) Sheets

Punctuation and capitalization added to the best of my ability given the structure and legibility.

Jate (Jason) and John are her brothers. Lethe is her sister. Fred Clevelend is her son

Addressed to: Mrs. Hannah Curtis, New England, West Virginia

Willow Island West Va

July Sun 19th, 1885

Dear Father Mother and Lev,

This Sunday morning I will write a few lines. I have no news to write. We are all well, and very hot weather to endure. As to the crops some fruit: corn pretty good. Potatoes tolerable good. No wheat; but ought not to complain. For it is a general failure with wheat. Our garden is good. I have 300 nice young chickens had 61 turkeys but the hogs left me 33, they are very nice being large enough to fly up in the trees to roost. Ma I have some Bronze turkeys and if I had good luck I well send you a setting of eggs next spring. I raised 12 goslings. They are grown, ready to pick and the train killed 4 of them last Wednesday. Very discourageing isn’t it?

Pa how are you making it with the Railroad? And when will they commence work? Is Wood Co to be taxed to help build it. We got a letter from Jate a few days ago. He said they are all well and seems to be very proud of his boy. Where is Al & Frank now? We heard that Geo was married is it true or not? We enjoyed Lethe & Ed’s visit very much. Grand Ma, Curtis & Lethe are learning very fast – they read spell & write.

Monday morn

Lev, Laura has a parrot. She is going to learn it to talk. Wont she learn it some fine speeches? Ma, Lu is very anxious for you and Pa to come up and see Cleaveland. He say you will see the finest Boy in the State. People that have seen Pa, says baby looks like Grand Pa Curtis. With love to you all will say good by for the present

Alice

Let us hear from you soon

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Addressed to: Mr. E. W. Curtis, New England, Wood Co., West Va.

Willow Island

Aug 12th [1885]

Dear Father & Mother,

I should have wrote sooner but have delayed from time to time. We are all well, but find the hot weather hard to bear. Von [her son] arrived home all right - well pleased with his trip. Ma many thanks for favors.

Sat 15th well I thought I would have this letter at New England by this time, but here it is yet not finished. We have the boarders again and that keeps us busy. Within two weeks there has been two stores broke open. Will had his watch & chain stolen and some goods. Mr. O’Neil about 2 miles above had 95 dol. in money & 25 dol. worth of groceries taken. No clue of the thief. We have had some good showers of rain for which we are very thankful as it has helped the corn. I wrote to Lethe six weeks ago. Have not heard from her since. Tell her to write to me. Von told me the Geo. Lamps wife had left home & they did not know where she was. Has she come back yet. Are you drying apples yet and have you many to dry. The boys are waiting to take this to the office let us hear from you soon. Wishing you all well

I remain as ever

Your loving Daughter

Alice

If you hear from John I would like to know it; it seems that I can not bannish him from my mind.

Lev, tell Lethe that there is a big picnic at Harness Grove to day and dance and Joe Cochran is one that helped get it up. Ask her what she thinks of that

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Addressed to: Mr E. W. Curtis, New England, Wood County, West Virginia; postmark Oct 27 1885

Willow Island West Va.

Oct 25th

Dear Father & Mother

While I have a few moments spare time will write to you. We are all well and fall work pretty well done. Our school commenced last Mon. We are boarding the teacher. Lethe wrote me that Alice [wife of their brother John Sidney Curtis] had gone to Pittsburgh. What does she expect to do there for a living? I wish she had left Frank [the sister in-law’s son] with you and Ma. Uncle Charles [Devol Curtis] gives a wave every two weeks as he goes by to Matamoras. He has not stopped to see us yet. Uncle John & Aunt Julia surprised us. Uncle John is looking better than I have him for years. Pa when have you heard from Uncle Sid [Sidney Walter Curtis] and Aunt Ruhama [Ruhama Juliette Curtis, both in San Francisco]. You asked us to come down this fall. I think we will stay at home and give you and Ma chance to come and see us. Lee [her husband] seems to think we can come, but I don’t see how we can this fall. If any of you get sick, I would not wait one day, but if you all have good health don’t look for us but come and see Fred, you and Grandma. We have promised Von and Earl [two older sons] they could spend Holidays down to your place. They can hardly wait the time to come. I have no news to write so will bring my letter to a close. Lee wants to write some. Let us see you soon for this is such nice weather. With love to all

Alice

in a hurry. Fred Cleveland is the best looking boy in this world and every other.

Yours Lee

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[Lethe lost baby in child birth on 21 Nov 1885.]

Willow Island, Nov 24 [1885]

Lear Bro Lev,

I have read both of your letters, but was very sorry to hear of Lethe's trouble. I fear she will grieve about it. We are all well. Lev, if the river keeps open so the boys can get from Parkersburg they intend to spend Christmas at home. Lev, write and tell me if Ma raised turkeys this year. If she did not, I want to send her one by the boys.

We got a letter from Jate last Saturday. They are all well. Lev, I was so glad to hear what you told me about John. When did you hear from him and in what way?

Yesterday I was 36 years old and tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I wish Pa & Ma were here, not that we are going to have very much, but I would like to see them.

Let me hear from home soon. Love to Pa & Ma

As ever your

Affectionate

Sister Alice