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Identifier
jc18881208
Date
12-8-1888
Description
Two letters written by Ernst Gerard - one two his son Jospehef and the other to Anna, Joe and others. Mr. Gerard writes about traveling to Wichita, and life on the farm.
Physical Description
Two pieces of paper, one measures 4.5" x 7.8" and the other one measures 9.7" x 8"; one envelope that measures 5.5" x 3.3"
Rights
This material is in the public domain.
Publisher
Digitized by Forsyth Digital Collections.
Repository
Recommended Citation
Gerard, Ernst, "Two letters from Ernst Gerard to his children" (1888). Kansas Territorial Documents. 26.
https://scholars.fhsu.edu/tj_ks_territorial_docs/26
Language
eng
Transcription
Corbin Decber 8 88 My deare Son Josephef I send you a letter datet Dezebre 1 to Paris you dit not get it the way you moovet ? I think I resieft your Lettre datet Dezemre 4th inclusive $10, now I can warm my self on the Stove again I both my self som Coal, and paid Mr. Ramsiger 1.40 for [illegible] I owet him. Anna and you wanted to no how I getting along anyhow Well ten leth me tell you I am well so I wish al of you be the sam, I got every thing in good Condition. I due my on little Cookin and got good Bread to eat Wish I bak myself I both me 1 Bskt Potatoes 2 Lard and 1 gallon Saurkraut som Aniens, and ½ dozent Eggs and tat does me for a Spell again. I got 3 chickens and a Rooster I both but no sints of an Egg. Eggs be 20 cts a dozent in Corbin now. Buttre 18 cts and Oats only 16 and 17 cts. I hope at will be 25 cts a bushl befor long. You no after ten years every thing getin up a little higher I got al the Oats and Millet just alike you left here ecept what I feed to the colt and [illegible] I don™t think to giv any away for sutsh a Price. I tell every man ho wanted to rend our Place I has not got any answeher from Texas yeth, and so our Land is al for Rent yeth. Except the 30 Aires east of the House well Joe that is about al for this Thime I no Old Man Mitshel you no on the Prairy Creek School House is dat he was only one Day sick he is bairet in Wiliamses Chappel Grave Yard. Ther is lots of sicknes around her, at dit com [illegible] near we got a Funeral in our Corbin House. Misses Hard oldest Boy was pretty lo doun. The Docters giv him [illegible] up now I guess he is getting better. I can nothing her from Hearth and nobody else, the Town suport the Famiie so long the Boy get bettre. I think ther is and old Irsh Fellew whit to big Sons he wanted the old House for his Familie he got 5 horses, he ben her 2 thimes now for renting our Place I rad to you about it in my last Lettre wat I send you to Paris datet Dezembre 1-88 well I wish you al a good held alike I am now and be in Peace so long you be to gather, and enjoi yourself so good you can, Our old Cow givs plenty milk sins our Calf is wened Msses Crakin [illegible] 2/3 and 2 1/3 of it [Corrected version] Corbin December 8 88 My dear Son Joseph I send you a letter dated December 1 to Paris you did not get it the way you moved? I think I received your letter dated December 4th inclusive $10, now I can warm myself on the Stove again I bought my self some Coal, and paid Mr. Ramsiger 1.40 for [illegible] I owed him. Anna and you wanted to know how I getting along anyhowWell then let me tell you I am well so I wish all of you be the same,I got every thing in good condition. I do my own little Cooking and got good Bread to eat Wish I baked myself I bought me 1 basket Potatoes 2 Lard and 1 gallon Sauerkraut some Onions, and ½ dozen eggs and that does me for a Spell again. I got 3 chickens and a Rooster I bought but no signs of an Egg. Eggs be 20 cents a dozen in Corbin now. Butter 18 cents and Oats only 16 and 17 cents. I hope that will be 25 cents a bushel before long. You know after ten years everything getting up a little high I got all the Oats and Millet just like you left here except what I feed to the colt and [illegible] I don't think to give any away for such a price. I tell every man who wanted to rent our Place I has not got any answer from Texas yet, and so our Land is all for Rent yet. Except the 30 Acres east of the House well Joe that is about all for this Time I know Old Man Mitchell you know on the Prairie Creek School House is that he was only one Day sick he is buried in Wiliamses Chapel Grave Yard. There is lots of sickness around here, at did come [illegible] near we got a Funeral in our Corbin House. Misses Hard oldest Boy was pretty low down, The Doctors give him [illegible] up now I guess he is getting better. I can nothing hear from Hearth and nobody else, the Town support the Family so long the Boy get better. I think there is an old Irish Fellow whit to big Sons he wanted the old House for his Family he got 5 horses, he been here 2 times now for renting our Place I read to you about it in my last Letter what I send you to Paris dated December 1-88 well I wish you all a good health like I am now and be in Peace so long you be together, and enjoy yourself so good you can, Our old Cow gives plenty milk since our Calf is weaned Msses Crakin [illegible] 2/3 and 2 1/3 of it At ben just 12 in my boarding House now. Cold Calf Halfer Cow 2 Dogs 2 Cats 3 Chicken 1 Rooster and myself and al of us be satisfith can not Human be-ings just the same so. [illegible] I got plenty Feet for al of them, just the two Dogs, can not live on Oats Straw and Millet I wish you got bat af in Gainesville ther be mor ? ? than her on the Farm I cut due the barkin myself. Well Children tat is about al I no of now Except an Excursion on the 11th this Month from Caldwell to Wichita and return for 75 cts. Ther is the best way for me to see yours Moters Grave, a sutsh a Chance may be I don't get any more for a good spell Well my best wishes to all of you from your truly Father Ernst Gerard Wath Anny don't right any mor I got Envelops now again to answer [Corrected version] That been just 12 in my boarding House now. Cold Calf Halfer Cow 2 Dogs 2 Cats 3 Chicken 1 Rooster and myself and all of us be satisfied, cannot Human beings just the same so. ???? I got plenty Feed for all of them, just the two Dogs, cannot live on Oats Straw and Millet I wish you got back at in Gainesville there be more [illegible] [illegible] than here on the Farm I cut do the barking myself. Well Children that is about all I know of now Except an Excursion on the 11th this Month from Caldwell to Wichita and return for 75 cents. There is the best way for me to see yours Mother's Grave, a such a Chance may be I don't get any more for a good spell Well my best wishes to all of you from your truly Father Ernst Gerard Wait Anny don't write any more I got Envelopes now again to answer [right side] Corbin Sumner Co: Dezembre 15th 1898 My dear Anna Joe and al of you I resieft your letter datet Dezembre 10. I am glad tat you ar all well again, you dit not tell me wath sicknes Joe dit hav ether on what Passenger Train joe ben Firing? Well Children I ben in Wichita and bak for 75 [illegible], the first Stepp out of the cars was to inquire for the Cemetery, so I went past our old Home to Oaek Street, I saw our Old House the [illegible] Cotton Tree and the Cikamore Tree an the Place wehr the Tump stood is a little sunk. I been lookin arount ther for about 15 minutes, an dben takin not one of the Sisters of Charyte than I went 4 or 5 Blocks further to Oak Street. Ther I took the Street Car and went to the Grave Yard. I found the [illegible] righth away. Ther is an old Fence moofet away from Lone Grave rigt to Mothers Grave. That monument looks good the dit lay the Foundation arount the Grave, but no [illegible] is on it yeth. I Inquired on the Corner of the Grave Yard, by the Stone Cuttre, (the boss himself was not there) the Man told me, so soon the get the Stones the will finnishet [left side] alike he just to be at would be a good thing to geth himself from this Blood Purifir, and tak it for a week, that is bettre than any thing else. The weather is very good for the last 4 weeks at never did freeze over ½ insh ice an din the day time at melding again, the nights be cool but the days be fine for this time the year. Well Children I wish al of you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from your truly Father Ernst Gerard I dit see an Antilope this morning. I went for my gun but the antilope com to glass to the house, with a bell arount his Nek, also a tham one. I resievet the St. Louis dayly Demohrads [Corrected version] [right side] Corbin Sumner Co: December 15th 1898 My dear Anna Joe and all of you I received your letter dated December 10. I am glad that you are all well again, you did not tell me what sickness Joe did have ether on what Passenger Train joe been Firing? Well Children I been in Wichita and back for 75 [illegible], the first Step out of the cars was to inquire for the Cemetery, so I went past our old Home to Oak Street, I saw our Old House the [illegible] Cotton Tree and the Sycamore Tree and the Place where the Stump stood is a little sunk. I been looking around there for about 15 minutes, and been taking not one of the Sisters of Charyte than I went 4 or 5 Blocks further to Oak Street. There I took the Street Car and went to the Grave Yard. I found the [illegible] right away. There is an old Fence a foot away from Lone Grave right to Mothers Grave. That monument looks good they did lay the Foundation around the Grave, but no [illegible] is on it yet. I Inquired on the Corner of the Grave Yard, by the Stone Cutter, (the boss himself was not there) the Man told me, so soon they get the Stones the will finished [left side] alike he just to be at would be a good thing to get himself from this Blood Purifier, and take it for a week, that is better than anything else. The weather is very good for the last 4 weeks at never did freeze over ½ inch ice and in the day time at melding again, the nights be cool but the days be fine for this time the year. Well Children I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from your truly Father Ernst Gerard I did see an Antelope this morning. I went for my gun but the antelope come to glass to the house, with a bell around his Neck, also a tame one. I received the St. Louis daily Democrats [left side] I notitzt the got the Masson Lines Stretshet around the Grave alike waiting for som material, I bent her for a good wilh, at look it to me so homly, thousent of old remembrance went true by Heat, a seldsome feeling got over me. Than I went to the Town again, past our old Home again and went to the Depot. I did not care any more to see the the Cyti, except I went t oold Bridge to see the old Rocks. I been [illegible] onest so long agoAl my old Frinds, I only saw Bisans and Braitsh both them tougt I was dat long ago after I stayet ther I went to the Depot and stood ther till the Cars got me home again. So soon Mr. Brogan found I was on the Train, he went true al the Cars to find me he told me if I went riht to him, he would take me al over the Town, after a wiel he broughth his Wife and Child to me in the Cars and we ben talking till the Train stardet.The 6 or 7 Cars just just was Krautet, som of the Passengers have to stay in the Gagn Way. Her on the Farm is nothing news the old Irish Mann he wandet our Place, rendet Cathe Castellos Place, and Path Rhyne, I did not see em sinse. So every Ting is here at Home alike you left it [right side] I don't go to nobody, and nobody coms to me, exept I go to the post Ofiece and back hom again, the [illegible] Harth in Corbin got one Child sick whit Tiotfory Fever and her oldest Boy cant leave the Bed yeth. I brougth her my Wash the day ther be som Wommen to wash for her and leth her have the monay for it, so tat she can keep the Children alief. I belive her Husband the raskel left her for good. I been trying to sell the Corbin Property if I can get $200 for it. The Prices for Oats 17 cts Corn 21, Weath 80, Potatos 90, Eggs 18 Buttre 18. I dit not sell any Oats yeth. I no I geth 22 or 25 cts next Marsh for it. So long I cann help myself I want to keep wath we got, the Thime will come, that we geth some thing for it, next week I butsher our Calf. I did not see an Egg since you left from our on Chickens till this Morning one of our Chicken got one you no ther was 3. Chicken left from them wath Mary could not catsh, and I both a Roostre for 20 cts just to no wath Thime at is in the morning, Our old Clock don't want to run anymore. Well Children that is al wath I no for this Thime, I am well and wish al of you the sam. I believe Joe is not so healty anymore [Corrected version] [left side] I noticed they got the Masson Lines Stretched around the Grave alike waiting for some material, I bent her for a good while, at look it to me so homely, thousand of old remembrance went true by Heat, a seldom feeling got over me. Then I went to the Town again, past our old Home again and went to the Depot. I did not care anymore to see the City, except I went to old Bridge to see the old Rocks. I been [illegible] once so long agoAll my old Friends, I only saw Bisans and Braitsh both them thought I was dead long ago after I stayed there I went to the Depot and stood there till the Cars got me home again. So soon Mr. Brogan found I was on the Train, he went true all the Cars to find me he told me if I went right to him, he would take me all over the Town, after a while he brought his Wife and Child to me in the Cars and we been talking till the Train started.The 6 or 7 Cars just was crowded some of the Passengers have to stay in the Gang Way. Here on the Farm is nothing news the old Irish Mann he wander our Place, wander Cathe Castellos Place, and Path Rhyne, I did not see em since. So every Thing is here at Home like you left it [right side] I don't go to nobody, and nobody comes to me, except I go to the post Office and back home again, the [illegible] Harth in Corbin got one Child sick with Typhoid Fever and her oldest Boy can't leave the Bed yet. I brought her my Wash the day there be some Women to wash for her and let her have the money for it, so that she can keep the Children alive. I believe her Husband the rascal left her for good. I been trying to sell the Corbin Property if I can get $200 for it. The Prices for Oats 17 cents Corn 21, Wheat 80, Potatoes 90, Eggs 18 Butter 18. I did not sell any Oats yet. I know I get 22 or 25 cents next March for it. So long I can help myself I want to keep what we got, the Time will come, that we get some thing for it, next week I butcher our Calf. I did not see an Egg since you left from our on Chickens till this Morning one of our Chickens got one you no there was 3. Chicken left from them what Mary could not catch, and I bought a Rooster for 20 cents just to no what Time at is in the morning, Our old Clock don't want to run anymore. Well Children that is all what I know for this Time, I am well and wish all of you the same. I believe Joe is not so healthy anymore Return to Ernst Gerard Corbin, Sumner Co., Kansas, If not delivered within 10 days. Mrs. Anna Gerard Gainesville, Texas Kook Co: P. [illegible] 73 Cancellation stamp has: Corbin Kas. Dec [illegible] Cancellation stamp has: Gainesville Tex. Dec 16 9 AM 1888
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