BLACKWELL FAMILY LUCY STONE 1855-61 BROTHER Stone, William BawmanRidgeville Ill. June 7 1859 Dear (????) You will have learned by a letter I sent of (????) that very unexpectedly, I find myself on the way to Wisconsin, but (quit?) the (life?) to (book?) again in two months. (Hary?) has some business that requires his presence there, and so it seemed best for me to come too. I hope you are having good luck with your barn but pray (???t) (?ray) yourself to death. I left Sarah and the children well. I hope Clare is there now. I am right on a prairie, with Norwegian German, Irish, English, and only one American family under whose roof I slept last night . The women work out as much or more than the men, and are never allowed more than four days after the birth of a child before they have to go out to milk and in the family nearest us the wife slept in an out-house all winter because her husband, who lay snug by the fire. Said, when the baby was born, and it was a girl “if she will have gals, cold is good enough for her”. And he, is a very good specimen of the whole. An intelligent Norwegian who teaches the school here, says he thinks the country is going into barbasion. There is no soft water in the region. and a barrel and tub, are all that the best conditioned have to catch rain water. Hadn’t you better move West? Don’t you all feel anxious about Charles? It is a week since we have seen a newspaper, (for we are going with our own horse and buggy) and have heard nothing since the destanetion, of Laurance, and the imprisonment of Charles at LeCernptoin & that Sarah (brave wife) had gone to share whatever falls to him. I have no doubt they mean to kill him. I heard Sen. Lane. at Chicago a week ago tonight. He is a coarse vulgar man. Without principle, or any high moral sense - at least, so he seemed to me. In about a week more we shall be at la Cross. & then, I hope, shall find some papers. I have not heard whether Charles Sumner survived that cowardly beating. I believe that all those things indicate “the beginning of the end “. God speed the right - We have a lot of books with use and when I am not helping Hary survey his land. Shall make the most of my time with the books Will you sign the enclosed. & Send it to Mr. Loring? and don’t forget to send it soon, as he needs several days notice - With love and best wishes to all and especially Mother Lucy I have concluded to send direct to Mr. Loring myself.LS 1859(Lucy Stone to her Mother) 1856 Bridgeville, Ill. June 7, Dear Bro. Bo: You will have learned by a letter I sent Phebe, that, very unexpectedly, I find myself on the way to Wisconsin, but in the hope to be back again in two months. Harry has some business that requires his presence there, and so it seemed best for me to come too. ... I am right on a prairie, with Norwegian, German, Irish, English, and only one American family, under whose roof I slept last night. The women work out as much or more than the men, and are never allowed more than four days after the birth of a child, before they have to go out to milk, and in the family nearest us, the wife slept in an out-house all winter, because her [?] husband lay snug by the fire, said, when the baby was born, and it was a girl, "if she will have girls, cold is good enough for her," and he is a very good specimen of the whole. An intelligent Norwegian who teaches the school here, says he thinks the country is going into barbarism. There is no soft water in the region, and a barrel and tub are all that the best conditioned have to catch rain water. .... We are going about with our horse and buggy..... and have a lot of books with us, and when I am not helping Harry survey his land, shall make the most of my time with the books..... Lucy.Lucy Stone Feb 24 /1854 to brother Bowman Hallowell McNeely CC Burleigh - lecturer Women / Conv at Albany get referral of petitions[*Brother Bowman [Stine?]*] Portland Me. Feb 24/84 Dear Brother B. I found Sarah's family, as usual. Lucy surely going to the grave. Little Emma growing a charming child. She goes to bed all alone in that far room in the corner - and sings herself to sleep with chick-a-dee-dee- Makes no fuss, never cries while I was there. I am detained here. (with some excellent friends) by a storm through which cars could not go, so that I did not reach my meting at Hallowell last night - Shall probably go there next Monday. But I write to say to you that I have written C. C. Burleigh to write you relative to meetings in our neighborhood - If he write you and will go up there, just drop lines to Duncan and Hunting, and get several meetings in a place, if you can - Had he not better lecture in Hardwick too? If you cant go with him. Cant he take the old Red, and go himself? Please pay Bea Henshaw $5. for me, towards the $5 - 0, which Mr. May is willing we should use in our own Co. I did not stop to see Charles at Fitchburg. the snow and wet were so bad - the Woman's Convention at Albany [will] got their petition referred to a Select Com. Is not that grand? Best wishes - blessings, and love for all LucyLS 1854Walnut Hills June 21 (1855) Dear Luther This is the longest and will perhaps be the hottest day of the year - you have no idea how oppressive the heat is here! It seems all the time, very much as it does in "dog days", at home. Even the thunder showers, bring no reviving life - Only in the early morning can one feel any [?ige?] - I got your letters last week, and the very same day had a chance and sent them to Sarah. I was very glad to hear - I have no doubt you have very grand times, in your "association" - Success & long continuance to it - I like to join it in the course of a month - Sarah will stay here and Emma & I shall go East. - That is the plan at present- Sarah and Emma are both better - I am well, but do not like to risk the heat. and when Mary goes North, as he does every summer, to collect for the Firm I shall turn my steps homeward [planing?] Phillip toward the meaning and necessity of [ievion?] I just the know nothing splint fire Poor John Gardner tries to [?dle] his [?] back [?] damned [?] off Lucy not less glady - then formerly, but with the half sad feeling that it is not my home any longer - It is the old home. and as such shall be hallowed - I think I shall go to Gardner with Emma, and see to Harry's things - after I have been a little time at home - I hope that swollen knee is not dangerous. but you must be very careful - It is the work, so hard, in those hard weeks, Harry & Ellen and I went out 30 miles on the railroad the other day to visit a friend - I thought of you, and the hard farming of N.E. as we whirled past acres of corn & potatoes, where furrows reach twice as far as from the school house to [farm?] lives through rich black soil, where no stone or stream or hill is visible - So easy to work! There too, the grass is more abundant the foliage thicker, wheat, and forests such as N.E. never saw - and just with all this, I would rather have one hard rocky hill in N.E. than the whole of this vast west! There is no oxygen in the air, no water but rain water to drink never a breese that makes you feel as though you wanted to fly away with it - So there is a lack of vigor. And children look puny, and men and women sallow, and they feel, just as they look - I have not seen one rosy cheeked child since I came here - and the West is prolific in children - but think that I am homesick, or sick of Harry. I love him more and more every day. and his mother and brothers & sisters too. They are all kind & good & wise, and I love them dearly. but that does not affect the climate, or create oxygen or pure water. We shall go East I think. if we get out of business here, of which there is a prospect - We have had green peas ever since the first of June - and now we have beans, and beets, currants & raspberries & every thing that really rich good land can raise - Cousin John Stone was here last week, He came with his daughter and took me in a buggy out to see Sarah. We then drived with his daughter & also called on Mrs. Stagg - I will write to Mary Ann about her so she can tell Peet. Cousin Stone left with me a book of the lives of the early settlers of Ohio. It gives quite an account of Uncle Jonathan. It says that our great grandfather was killed while serving in Gen. Wolfe's army at Quebec. It has a letter from our grandfather to the Hon. Gen. Lincoln written during the time of the Shay's rebellion, quite characteristic. I will borrow the book to carry home if I can if not I will copy some from it. I have nearly all my time to read and hope I shall grow wiser for it. I have had very few letters, so have had few to answer. I spent last Sat with [??]. Carried her over a dinner of green peas, peach sauce, and boiled eggs. Emma was so delighted that she peeped into the dishes every five minutes until dinner She thinks that Phebe writes the best letters. I am very glad to get letters but pray take your Sundays for rest through the summer, and I will accept the good will in the place of letters. Take care of your knee, dont work too hard, live the longer. What good speeches they had at the N.E. Convention! HaveLS to June 21 Brother B 1855 Great Grandfather Stone's death N. E. Chereulim- Lhellymon PlenumSan Francisco, Ca April 1 MERICA ATION: ers of your bank held on March 21, 1950, proposed resc share of the outstanding common stock from $12.50 to ,238,052 to 20,476,104 and amending the Articles of e effective as of the close of business on March 31, 1950 holders present at the meeting in person or by proxy, represented around eighty per cent of the outstanding the proposed resolutions signified their accord with m gardless of the size of their holdings. shareholders of record at the close of business on Mar an additional share of stock for each share owned of re al numbers of shares is enclosed. 1950 now represent the same number of shares aCincinnati, July 11, 1855 Dear Brother Bo: ------ Harry rescued a slave last week------ Lucy Stone1856? Kenosha Wisconsin Wednesday Nov. 21 Dear Brother Bo You may have looked often for that warranty deed. the letter I enclose will tell you about it. The man wont give a deed to us simply because the man to whom he sold it, he knows is able to pay but he does not know that we are. But when Smith of whom we bought pays him, he will give Smith a deed. Who will then give us one. Harry thinks it is entirely safe. Sometime when you write just return the enclosed. I wrote to Father a short time ago. And then expected to go home about this time, but there are a few more places in Wisconsin that I want to visit. [before I] Harry left me this morning.having stopped a few days with me on his way West for a short collecting tour - He is one of the the kindest and best men in the world. I think Samantha and I, are very fortunate I expect to go home in about two weeks - I have several invitations to lecture for Lyceums in N. E. and so may possibly see you this winter - I saw Martin Keith at Chicago, the other day - He is teaching there - I have not heard from Sarah since I came to Wisconsin. I tell you Bo, you would never farm. When you are, if you could only once see, the fine, easy farming land here - It is grand, and no mistake - Tell the children that with the ten cts. I kept for me. I have bought a rope to hang them all with, because they dont write me a letter - Take good care of mother, and dont work too hard, nor let Samantha With much love, Lucy [*Lucy Stone] Orange Aug. 27 57 Dear Bo The envelope containing your signature properly witnessed, and without another word from any of you, came safely. I am much obliged for the silence - It was certainly very good, for a house full of people to be so forbearing - If it were not for mother, I would do as I was done by- I hope you got the statement of monies - Whenever you sign any of my business papers please add "trustee for Lucy Stone" We are all very well - Our garden give us now plenty of beans, corn, squashes, tomatoes, onions - cabbages, cucumbers, potatoes. & a lot of melons, not quite ripe - Wont youhave a few? [?] people who did not write a word to me, in your last envelope -- I have just now discovered that I have $27. if the Mercantile Bank, if [?] which failed a day or two ago - I [?] it too bad, I had a letter from Sarah a few days ago. Her family are all well Mary is back again keeping house - and Clara is teaching a private school in the village - My Bridget proves a very good girl - Tell Mother I shall observe her birth day, with [?] honor. With love for [?] soul if you & for all that you did not write me a singe word, Lucy W. Brookfield June 20, 1858 Dear Lucy: Mother would like to have you and your husband come here before she goes to Gardner. She thinks that if she were to go there first you would leave so soon that she would have but a slight opportunity to visit with Mr. Blackwell. I will go after you, if you will come, the last of this week or perhaps the first of next before we commence haying. I should like to see Gardner and should have an opportunity to visit with your husband on the way home. Please write by return of Mail and let us know what day we shall come after you Love to your husband and all the rest Samantha sends love. W B StoneW. B. Stone 1858W. Brookfield Dec. 9. 1861. Dear Lucy: I would say in regard to the money you propose borrow that I have no amount of money on hand. I have just been paying my hired help and have expended considerable on my buildings. I have taken down the old wood house and have put in its place a little tenement - have widened the [?] at the barn and extended by the other building 13 feet providing room for woodhouse and will room in that. I am also about commencing an action against Mr. Pierce for damages for flowing the meadow. What the expense will be is more than I can tell. If I should get thrown with Mr. Pierce without expending a hundred dollar deposit which I have in Ware Savings Bank I suppose I could get that for you, but if I should take it out now I could get only about five percent as it has been deposited only about one year but if I should leave it till after the five years dividend I should probable get six percent or more so that I shall be a looser unless you pay more thansix per cent. I believe that seven per cent is the legal rate in New Jersey. If you are willing to pay that I should lose nothing in taking my money from the bank. [?] Mother say she could raise fifty dollars We are all about as normal. Mrs. Henshaw is quite sick. Write soon and let us know whether you would like $50 at 7 per cent. In haste W. B. Stone [*Wm B. Stone W. Brookfield Mass Dec 9/01*] July 11 - 55 Cincinnati Dear [?] [?] We are all well. The plan is now, for me to go home with little Emma in a week or two. Ellen will not probably go with me, but come on a little while after. She will give no trouble, eats bread and milk, and will be most of the time in the fields sketching. None of you need put on starch or fixins for her. If she goes with me, I shall only stay a little while at home, but go to GardnerLucy Stone 1855 and we will board ourselves there. It is possible that Sarah will go too after a month or so. The climate is not good here, and though we are well, [?] we feel better at the East and so we are going to stay there awhile Harry rescued a slave last week. Harry Wilson speaks tonight and we all go to hear him. With much love Lucy Stone We may be home next week Sat.