| 1909 Letter John W. DeWitt to Paul
Cudworth |
|
Dear Joyce,
I am attaching the transcript of the letter
from my gggrandfather John W. DeWitt (1850-1918) to his wife's uncle Paul C.
Cudworth who was born in Sullivan Twp in 1834 but living in Manistee Michigan at
the time of this letter (1909). There were a few names that I struggled with
(marked by ?). I am hoping that people more familiar with the genealogy and
vicinity will be able to make them out. It is meant to inform Paul Cudworth of
the changes in the area and property owners since he was a boy. It is
interesting and hopefully informative to some whose family names are referred
to. Don't hesitate to let me know if there is more I can add.
Barbara HAYMAN Stollsteimer
 |
9 Dec 1909
Uncle Paul,
When I have been on earth about seventy five years and have moved up towards
that pole that Dr. Cook did not find, I believe I should like to receive a
letter from some of my friend who were yet living and traveling the roads that I
did when a boy. So if you will come down to Troy in your mind and come up on
Paynes Hill near the old Academy and start with me I will take you to Mainesburg
the town though old and nearly depopulated by our living friends yet contains
the remains of those that are dear to us, and looking upon the surrounding hills
and down the valleys will bring to our minds many pleasant relationships. Well I
have no auto so you will have to ride behind a nice brown horse and I know you
have not lost your love for the horse, for this lives forever in the life of a
Cudworth or any one who has any of the blood in him. Well we must start or we
will not get to the Burg for Christmas. We will go down the hill across the rail
road and start up Maine St. and on our right we find a nice brick building used
as a Court House in place of the old Adams Hotel. On our left instead of the old
Payne shops and store we find dwellings and a hotel called the Williams.
Photo at left - John W. DeWitt |
We go on and we see the old Pomeroy house and bank same as ever,
the Leny(???) House at our right with some improvement. We pass by
the corners and just beyond you will find the building used in your
time for publishing the Troy Gazette but now by two happy go easy
fellows who buy eggs, butter, TC and do some insurance and collect
their old store debts. On our right just across the way we see a
nice home and occupied by a DeWitt and Armstrong. Well we will go on
next to DeWitts lives Isaac Clever then Lyman Oliver then Dell Smith
and so on. But we must go on. At the top of the hill formerly owned
by Horace Pomeroy lives Mrs. Henry Sweet formerly Ester Orvis and
her nephew Wm Sweet. They have a creamery and stock farm, a very
nice place. We go a little way on and come to a small house in which
Joel Adams lives with his daughter. He owns the Bill Frisk farm. A
short way on and we come to house and go in and find an old man
sitting and smoking his pipe, reading the newspaper, or he may be
napping, or he may be humming some old song, or he may be plaguing
the dog or it might be a small boy or his neighbors little girl but
he is there and enjoys life I believe. You will also find a happy
woman, although at this time she is not very well. You will also
find a man that you could see the Cudworth look and build very
clearly, also two boys (good boys) one of them taller than you are
and full of life and only 14 years old the other quite small but
boys must not step on his toes or down they go! Well we must go on
over to the next house. Here we find just as good a man and woman
and two children, a girl and a boy. And they are bright and full of
life. We next come to the old Reddington home. Ed Reddington lives
here but is blind. Next is the Bill Frisk farm owned by Joel Adams
and worked by one of Bill Bixby’s boys. Next is the Runion (?) farm
owned by Orin Ruggles. Next is the old Jackson farm. One of the boys
– rather old men – live there. We will go down through the woods to
Sylvania. It is a nice little town and the old Waldo store is doing
lots of business, they also do a large undertaker business. We will
drive on quite fast now and go up Bailey Hill. Ezra Dann is yet
living. Daniel Bradford is dead. At the top of Bailey Hill we now
see in Old Tioga Co. once more. Coley Smith lives a t the top of the
hill. Dell Ballard lives on the old homestead and raises mules and
Guernsey cattle. The Nathan Palmer property is owned by Pem Rose's
wife and is much run down. Chas. Palmer lives where he always did
but has no post office. It is all R.F.D. now. Alvin Palmer is living
but his old shop is about as near gone down as he is. A nice house
is built on the old Dan Bixby farm and is owned by Ray Palmer. Elmer
Strait lives on the old farm yet but drive faster next is Burt
Palmer, Next old Slingerland farm worked by Lester Early a son in
law. Abraham S. and wife are both dead. Next James Lay property
owned by Harry Hulslander one of Charleys boys. Next Sam Rockwell
has a new house. Next Geo Smith farm owned by Bert Squires who also
owns the one next to it. He married Ida Smith. Next George Squires
farm. Mrs. Squires lives there the farm is worked by Al Oby(?)
Smith. Next is Joe Strange just the same as ever. He once told Uncle
Jerome in my hearing that he had two things to be thankful for – one
was that he was a democrat the other was he had no wife. We’ll go
on. The Fayette Gray place is owned by John Strange who married Ed
Gray’s daughter. Next is Isaac Squires farm owned by E.R. Orvis’
wife - and mostly by wife - you remember her. Next is Geo Robbins
ever the same slap and slather though a pretty good fellow. Next is
the spot in Robbins Hill where many guns have been made and lots of
ammunition been wasted and no good thing ever done until the good
Lord or the other fellow come and got Old Bill Robbins – no one
lives on the property. Do you remember the socks that old Jane stole
out of our store? Well I have you in sight of the Burg and I think
you can find your way in so I will have you until some other time
and I will take you around and introduce you to the strangers. We
are well and hope you all are. This is your Christmas Present.
Truly Yours,
J.W. DeWitt