Nelson May 15 1897
Dear Emma
I received your letter last night and for fear your father will be gone
I will answer it today Em I know you have taken good care of your
Pa and you will be very lonesome when he is gone do you know when
Uncle Allen and your Pa is gone that every link will be broken and uncle
Allen is very poorly I went up to see him last week no one left but
Jim and we don't see him very often it makes me feel as if we were
going one by one tell your Pa that I wish him a pleasant trip and will
get there safe tell him to give my love to Charlie and his family I
never will forget our visit out there
Em I wish you could come out here decoration you mothers grave is all
settled in but I will have it filled up and decorate it with flowers
I will do it as long as I am able for it is a sad pleasure
Uncle John is not very well this Spring tell Pa your uncle Joe is all
right now thank the Lord
I am looking for aunt Ell every day well Em I can think of everything
but my heart is so full I can't write good by and our love to all
write as often as you can I would love to come out and may be I will
well Ben good by and may we meet again
from Aunt
Phebe Hoyt
* * *
Written by Phebe CAMPBELL Hoyt (1832 - 1917), dau. of Joseph & Ann
Clinch Campbell.
Sent to Emma CONGDON Buck (1848 - 1928), dau. of Phebe's sister
Sarah(1824 - 1892).
"your father" -- Benjamin Docray Congdon (1825 - 9/27/1897). As I read
the first sentence, I thought Ben was dying, but reading a little
farther on it appears he was taking a trip to son Charlie's in St. Paul.
"Uncle Allen" -- Allen Seely (1826 - 1909), widower of Phebe's sister
Mary Ann Campbell. [This is a digression, but some may be interested in
some of Allen's connections. His eldest brother, Jonas Bellows Seely
(1810 - 1888) m.Hannah Van Dusen (1815 - 1898) Jonas son, Grant Seely
(1848 - 1922), was the father of Lois Heloise Seely (1886 - 1963), wife
of Mahlon P. Crandall (1891 - 1961), son of Allen's daughter, Ada
Campbell SEELY Crandall (1858 - 1944) Hannah's brother, William Van
Dusen (1823 - 1892). was the father of Oscar Adelbert Van Dusen (1849 -
1923), who m. 2nd CC Ann Tubbs (1855 - 1930) Oscar's brother, Frank Van
Dusen (1853 - 1938) m. Georgette Adelia Hall (1863 - 1937) Georgette's
brother, Edwin J. Hall m. CC Mary Merritt, dau. of Eliza An Hazlett.
Allen's sister, Ann Kezia Seely (1832 - 1915) m. Anthony Wayne Lugg
(1825 - 1897), related to many of us. Anthony's children were very
active in the Campbell Reunions.]
"every link" -- not sure what she is referring to. Besides Ben and
Allen, two more of Phebe's brothers-in-law were still living, James
Loop and Geo. W. Tubbs. Sisters Eleanor CAMPBELL Bosard, and Jane
CAMPBELL Tubbs were still living, as were brothers John H. and Jos. D.,
mentioned later. Plus sisters-in-law Calphurna Bottom and Dollie Bottom.
"Jim" -- ???
"Charlie and his family" -- Emma's brother, Charles Harris Congdon (1856
- 1928), still living in St. Paul, MN. His family included wife Anna
Rebecca McWilliams (1858 - 1934), daus. Anna Bernice CONGDON Colwell
(1888 - 1992), Helen Congdon (1892 - 1899), and Louise Congdon (1893 -
1992).
"decoration" -- Decoration Day, as Memorial Day was called there well
into my memory. It was THE big event of the Nelson year. Home coming
for those scattered away. All went to the cemetery and decorated the
graves with flowers. The Elkland H.S. band played. In my day there was
a color guard from the American Legion or VFW; in Phebe's day it may
have been from the GAR During the years I went, Elkland got the use of
its band for the "real" Memorial Day. Nelson got the band for its
Decoration Day by holding the event a week before or after. I would
hang around the cemetery, exploring, while adult old friends, who
perhaps hadn't seen each other for years greeted and chatted. I tried
to stay out of sight to avoid my mother introducing me to her friends
and relatives with "and this is the baby of the family." No self
respecting 10 or 12 yr. old boy wants to hear that. After the cemetery,
there would be a big fried chicken dinner at the school.
"Uncle John" -- Presumably Phebe's brother, John Harper Campbell (1836 -
1899).
"uncle Joe" -- Presumably Phebe's brother, Joseph D. Campbell (1839 -
1909).
"aunt Ell" -- Presumably Phebe's sister, Eleanor CAMPBELL Bosard (1828 -
1910).
* * *
This was the last of the letters that were in the envelope Myra Arline
BUCK Seiders sent my mother. I hope you have found them, plus Ed Hills,
Jr.'s letter, and the Herbert Clinch Hughey letter Roger kindly shared
with us, of interest. Don't hesitate to ask if you have follow up
questions on the people mentioned in them. Thanks go to Roger, Marylyn,
Alice CAMPBELL Prescott, and Ann Lugg for their comments and participation.
Lastly, you're all encouraged to submit items of your own. The more
people doing the sharing and commenting, the more worthwhile for all of
us. If you don't have "old treasures" to share, you can share questions
and comments.