Joel Shumway Family Letters - Robert W. Heald

 

Letter written by Joel Shumway to his children June 4th,1887

Sent to Ranson Bronson, Ohio, husband of Rebeka Shumway (Bronson) - Photo

In envelope from Courerneur NY dated Sep 27 1889 to Rebecca Bronson

As it was a letter to the family in 1887, it was probably forwarded to the members of the family living at the time in Ohio, Rebeka Shumway (Bronson). It became the possession of Mary Winifred Cate (Heald) his Great Granddaughter and Granddaughter of Rebecca Bronson, daughter of Sarepta Bronsson (Cate), and currently in the possession of Robert Heald.

Fowler, named in the first line of the letter is Fowler, NY

The envelope is stamped Courerneur, NY is which is near the Canadian border. Family farm was at Antwerp, NY, near Courerneur, NY.

His number 4 is hard to read. see the first line of the letter for the symbol, then 4th 1887.

I have changed the spelling of some of the words to the modern day spelling. Other words such as sum I have left as in the letter meaning "some",

letter follows:

Fowler June 4th 1887

Dear Children

Having a chance to send you a letter by Mabalie I gladly imbrace this opportunity to inform you of our health which is good at this time and has been ever since you left here for the most part of the time and we hope these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing I have nothing special for news to write you at this time but hard times and that is not only here but elsewhere provisions is very scarce and dear wheat is two dollars per bushel flower is five dollars and a half per hundred and the season no body can tell you better than I can write. and children you dont know how much I want to see you but when I shall God only knows we have had very hard luck this Spring for I had to buy better than a ton of hay this Spring and after we got through the winter we had the misforturn to loose that heiffer. She calved on Thursday moring and apears as tho she was going to do well. She was smart and in good order and she was taken Saturday. Straining and she laid down to wands night and died right off and the other cow began to fail the latter part of winter and she got so down when she came to calve she could not get up a lane but she is like to make alive ont but wont be worth much for milk this summer. So we have got two calves and no cow and it makes us very short and for butter and milk and it tis very hard times for us this summer for we have all owr grain to buy and potatoes too and they are scarce and dear for wheat is two dollars per bushel and rye and corn is ten shillings per bushel. Flower is five dollars and fifty cents per hundred and money and is very scarce and I hard to be got so it makes it very hard for poor folks. I am oweing some money and I no not where to get it and I dont no as I ever see harder times in all my life but I think if my health holds good we shall get a long Sumney or other.

for the prospect is that winter grain is coming in well and there is a good deal of that soon last fall we hope for better times. I now need some help and if Joel (Shumway) could help me to some money now soon it would be help in need. for I expect nothing but that I shall loose that land if I can't get some money to pay on that before long and I don't see no way to get hold of any at present. I feel in hopes that I shall be better off another year if we should live for my Steers and hands and gentle they come to about plowing.. The best that I ever see for the first time they was even hitched to the plow. I went down and plowed...............you I between the house and now and then we went down to my lot and struck out that peace of ground where my peas and oats grow.......into three lands them. Stunned I out and hated the steers till about two o'clock. Then I went down a lane and plowed all that ground and got it done before sundown and shant had no body to help me only to strike out a lands and they are as handy to plow as any old cattle. We are in a good way to lvais provisions a nuff if it cums in well we have got about one half of that land below the ledge plowed up harmon plowed up about one acre and quarter and I got margiling to plow for me one day and we have got it all planted and soed and considering the backwanires, of the season crops look very promising but how it will turn out in the fall we can tell now. O children you dont no how I want to see you.How glad I would have been if I could got up this morning and I came down and seen Ransom and Rebecca and Joel and the little children but then times are past and gone and our thanks only can extend to each other which my thoughts often. Do and I hope we shall live to see each other again on the shores of time but whether we shall or not God only knows but whether we do or not let us try to live so that we may meet in that upper and better world where parting I will be no more.

I will now write off that record as you requested me .

This is the record of our family. You’re marriage I have not set down and have ......assnd wilsh you send it down in the first letter you write and I want you should I write as often as you can for it tis all the way we have to converse with each other a poor way but tis grate deal better than no way tell Joel that if he has any regard for his poor old father he must send him a letter and send some money in it to help me in this difficult time. he wont never be none the poorer for it. he wrote to Amy Baily to have me send him a letter and I would be glad to but this such hard work to compose my mind that I thought that I could not write but one this time. Tell him he must be study and prudent with his wages but above all be careful to chose that good part which many did that never will be taken away from him.O children I think some times that I wished I had the wings of a pigeon and I could scate through the air like them. I would soon be there and see you in that country but we must be contented to wait God's time and I hope it won't be many years before we shall see each other again Pam baily found I that chain of mine and I have got them both now and if we even live to see each other often, we can make it right to pam.......It concudes this letter writing to you the bethren I and blessing this from your affectionite father till death

Joel Shumway

Joel don’t think that we have forgotten you because we have not. wnot any more to you for we often think of you and would be very glad to see you and Joel want you should write me a letter and send me sum money in it. You can and let me know if you mean to help me pay for that land or not for I think that we had better keep it for we never shall do any better this form yours affectionate friend and Father.

Joel Shumway.

Letter from Joel Shumway, (1782-1852) to his children.

Sent to Joel Shumway, Jr. at Granby Ticking Company, State of Ohio

from Antwerp, NY, near Coureneour, NY, western part of NY near Canadian border.

Joel Shumway, sr (1782-1852) letter follows: dated 27 Feb, about 1850.

(Prior to 1855 when Rebecca and Joel moved to Wisconsin and prior to his death of 1852.)

Children of Joel Shumway, Sr.:

 

Joel Sr (1782-1852) lived and died at Fowler, NY, near Anterp, NY .

 

Dear Children

tis with the greatest degree of anxiety that I now take this opportunity to converse with you by the silent language of the pen.

We through the mercy of goodness of God we enjoy a good degree of health at this time.

O Children you dont know how much I want to see you but when I shall God only knows and when I try to write my mind is so broken that I can't in .ic..but you must forgive me if I write anything wrong.

I would give more to see you one our than I would to write a week and I do feel in hopes that we shall one day meet on the Shores of time where we can converse face to face as we have in dayes that are past and gone.

O children you don't know how I want to see you. Yes the silent hours of new night can witness that you share a large part of that heart that loves you and there is not a day but that I think of you more or less and it seems as tho it was'nt right for us to be so far apart that we can't see each other but since it tis so let us try to live so as to meet where parting will be no more. Where we may praise God and the Lamb for ever and ever.

O children be faithful. Seek the Savior while he is near. Call upon him while he may be found for you maybe as sunced that the time will soon come when there will be no mediator between God and man then if our peace is not now with God auful will be our situation

O children live humble before God. Watch unto prayer which is the Sincere Desire of your unworthy friend and father.

I will now tell you something of my situation. My health for the most part has been very good. I have for a few days this winter had a bad coff, but it has pritty much left me for the present. I think we have raised provisions so as to be cumforable this year and if we have a good season I think we shall this year to cum for we have got considerable wheat and rye soed last fall and got considerable ground I to put in next spring but I have under took to put me up a barn next Spring. I have got the principal part of the timber but and it involves me almost too much in work but if my health holds good I think I shall get along with the work part and I have got to buy sum lumber and I dont know how I shall pay for that unless I can get sum help from sum body and I want to know if Joel if you can help me to sum money. I am really ready and if you will help me you shant loose any thing but it if you can and will write me a letter and let me know about it. So I may know what to depend upon I want you should write as soon as you get this for I want to know if you can help me or not. I want you should if you can let me have sum in the Spring. You can send me a five dollar bill in a letter. Do it up snug and tite and seal it good and no body will mistrust that there is any money in it. I dont want you should think I mean to dun you but I feel as tho I really needed sum help you will probably cum down next fall and then you can fetch me sum more. I want fifteen or twenty dollars and if you can't help me send me a letter and fifteen let me know and whether you help me or not I want you should cum down next fall and see me for I want to see you very much and when you write me another letter Joel I dont want you should be in so big a hurry but that you can write or let sum body else write so us to fill your letter up for we have to give as much for a half a letter as we do for a hole one, and now Rebecca you want I should write down the text that was preacher from when mother was buryed and you look at hebrews the 4th chapter and the 9th verse and you will find it there. Remain with these forever to the people of God. I now this evening which is the 11th day of February take my pen to finish this letter and hardly know what more to write, but if I could see you I could find anuff to converse about I want you should write whether you have heard anything of a barn or not for you have never wrote any thing about him in none of your letters.

Give my love to Mr Bronsons family. Tell the old gentle man and lady we would be glad to see them.

So no more at present. This from your affectionate friend and father.

signed: Joel Shumway

Joel, write me a letter as soon as you get this. We direct this letter to you and Ransom may pay me half of the postage. Write to us often as you can.

 

 

next letter from A. Shumway to Friends and Children

29 of January

________________

Respected friends and Children

I shall appropriate my time this evening the 29th of January to let you know that we are in health and to answer your letter dated Dec br 3 which we hear with deep interest and intense feelings and with humble gratitude to our kind beneficial parent for his preserving mercies that we none of us have been called to pay. Through the firm grasp of death....... it is a general time of health in this place now shant particular news to communicate as it respect your neighbors here.

Mrs Goodals health is none of the best.

Mr Vereen has ...our house different from what it was your Close preys am nice. has converted into a boy. Your baby into a keeps..........and suppose you were a greatesd with S. Boleom's family. He bought Mr Hubbards farm moved on to it. His two oldest Children were taken sick with a desease the Doctor call the Groop. It begins with an inflamation in the breath pipe, then breathes laborious and hard till death.

Believe them sufferings the oldest died on Sabbath day the next on Thursday following. Their strugling for breath is indescribable....... four weeks last Wednesday.

Almina, Harmons wife came here to weave on my Loom.

She brought her Child 1 years 8 months old.

In a few minutes I perceived it breathed hard.

She saw it has taken some cold previous.

It lived one week and died at our house.

Language is inadequate to describe it sufferings.

It Died with the same desease the other did.

It is buried an the top of the Sandhill above Mr Goodals towards the schools house.

There they are considering to have the burying gound.

I am informed they are going to take up they are considering to remove the dead from that ground by Mr Shedens bury them there.....you wrote you thought we could do better there with nothing but our hands then we could here.

I must tell you to have no house nor home nor nothing but what we could obtain by day labour to sustan us in old age is a gloomy thought in deed.

We have a comfortable living we had meat and grain and all kinds of garden source see as to be tolerable comfortable we have but one cow, we have a good yoke of cattle.

I thank you for your advice and should be glad to live where I could see you and am glad to hear you are content and doing well.

The winter so far has been favorable but a little snow and cold weather.

You may dismiss your fears as it respects Clarise well fine.. She has every thing necessary to make her comfortable and is exceeding kind husband.

I shall dismiss temporall subjects now and tell you something about the state of religion here. The work seem to go on. 14 baptised last Saturday near the new meeting house by the Methodist your uncle Avak and Cousin Almeda Shumway was amoung the number.

I never heard of so general a kind of revival as at the presant.

I do believe God is about to cast his work.

Should in righteousness

A. Treatise by Wilbiller on the propheseis has recently fell into my hands. He wrote 19 years ago he states things as they have taken place since and says there will be tenable years begin this year next year. The salft vial of Gods wrath will be poured out in the air the Savior will leave the Mesiatoral Sect will be no longer an advocate before the this one scene he most awful transform - O in 1893 will make his personal appearance and sweep the wicked from the earth and reign with his sunks 1000 years or may so he explained in the prayer.

and desire of your unworthy friend.

A. Shumway

Rebeca shant wrote half wont to short for room. (note: written at very bottom. It may be that paper was short of supply for letters as this letter was written on the back of the letter from Joel Shumway.)

 

3rd message on 4 pages of letters of Shumway.

 

The evening of 11 of February finding a little more room on the paper unfilled I shall endeaver to give you some of the news that reports is

Carrying along A. M. Ping from Antwerp was here Saturday.

Perhaps you know him, he married Ann Carse He says he has just come from Watertown there is 400 Indians unmed with good Rifels and Tommahawks and knives encamped within 4 miles of Watertown towards Sackets harbor. Some 1800 more on the lines that will meet tomorrow the 12 at the glafs Factory in Alexander.

What the result will be we cannot tell nor what this Canadian indians are pouring in a.......for.

Mrs Begewell is ............ for you good evening..........the best of heavens blessings attend you.

signed: A Shumway

They say there is Deshefing times in Canada in Consequence of the rebellion.

M C. Kenza was at Antwerp yesterday and suppose you have the news of the day in the papers there is so many contradictory reports we hardly know what to read it or what not. Perhaps you have heard the fate of the Carline and the men on bond being we wait the even of providence we know not what a day may bring forth.

Clairisy wrote you we have had communication from W. & P. They state on the account of two boys their mother were sixteen that were scaling of the ice the 18th of Jan. Both drown and both buryed in one grave are of them worked with Wm on the Merles......

Give my love to all inquireing friends for the people in Fowler. I believe there has been many lords set with us by own good fine this evening you and

I wish you and your little ones, write soon and often as is convenient.

signed Rebecca Bronson

 

3rd letter within 4 pages.

When Joseph his brethren shite

afficted and trembling, with fear

his heart with compassion was file

from weeping he could not forbane

And while his behavior was rough

to bring their first sin to the mine

but even they were humble enough

he has time to show himself of finrs

How little they thought it was he

whom they has all knew the sots

how great there confusion must be

as soon as his name he has told

I'm Joseph your brother he said

one stile to my heart you are our

you souls my are thought I was dead

but good for you satis sent me hear

Though gently destroyed before

when change fresholing she outpe

they now are unfounded much more

not one of them dare to look up

case Joseph whom we would have slain

for givesus the will we did

and will he our household maintain

O he is a brother indeed.

thus draged by my consciences of course

full laden with quilt to his loved

turnaround with terror and shame

unable to utter a word.

At first he looked stern and severe

what anquish there fierest my heard

Expected each moment to here

the sentence years sick depart

But O what surprise wheich he spoke

When tenderness be a need on his face

my heart into pieces was broke

Overwhelm and unfoundeed by gone

for sinner I now the first Joel

by the I was sole and now was slain

to dice to sedome the from hate

and receive the in glong to say

I am Jesus whom the through .....

and crucified after ....

but let me hensforth .....

thy brother thy bone and they flash

thy hardon and freely bestow

thy wants you will fullly ....

Ill gudie the and guad the below

and soon will receive these theing

go publish to sinner around

shuit they may be well to come

yn lone bread of life sabaound

and tell them that yet .....

O sinner the message over

and no vain excuses preten

but come without furthe d....

To Jesus our brother and friend

I have finished my verses and I will write a few word to let you know that we are in good health our folks has wrote the most of the news you thought I had ought to write about my misfortune. I have now got another one to tell about my misfortune. I lost antther boy the first of November and if I keep on I do not know but I shall be as bad as Mrs Betes to lose me once in a month or two.

signed.

Goodby

C

Note: Polly Shumway (1812-xxxx) married (27 Mar 1836) William Dunlap,

d

I received a letter from Polly last week.

They were well and have got a son born the eighteen of December weighed seven pounds and now weighs 12. They call him William Arthur (Dunlap). Polly and William was out here last August.

We went out to wens mills with them we went to Uncles ........ and forg.... mother and Susan and Jacob was y tere .....were all well dont is to and good was there and...was to someons sick.

Aunt Olive has got a girl as much was to .sourness sich Aunt Olice has girl as much

old Amanda health is not much better she has got a fine boy and wand pleased enough with it to Mr. Rorman has bussic to all winter, and is not able hardly to stir well as welling as his sister Mr bibbs health is great a y.... yet the rest of the neighbors are all well.

Leainda Graffen was here three days and seems her alive to you Grady.... much room to write so if ust be show give my love to ...Bronsons......we were all glad to have such long letter from you for ......complain that other folks don't write nothing but when you write we want to here the hab I have not had want wa as of vegflgats nor bud letter about him/.

I have not hard what way is of velgets son but let about him ...we wne t a way ......to school and I think he has to want so.

Since he went away .................and I think

I have not heard what way is ofel gets now but

goodby

signed

C B - note this may be Clairissa Shumway Bronson

 

Please Email Robert W. Heald with any questions/comments on this article.