Hall Family Letters Part 2

Hall Family Letters 1878-1889

The letters below were written to Ira Hall Jr. and his wife Helen (Beatty) Hall from other members of the family. This is a continuation of the Hall letters, covering the years 1878-1889. Part One contained earlier letters dating from 1863-1869. The transcriptions were made from good quality photocopies of the original letters. Occasionally a word was illegible and was marked with "[--?]" or a guess at the word in brackets. All of the original letters are now owned by Ira Hall Jr.'s great-grandson Raldon Hall.

6.) Letter from Helen (Beatty) Hall, Mexico, Audrain Co., MO, to her mother-in-law, Mandana (Swift) Hall, Jefferson Co., NY, November 10, 1878. The letter suggests that Ira, Helen and the children had visited New York somewhat recently. I do not know who "Laura" is. It is ironic that Helen mentioned her father's good health - he was killed not long afterward (1880) by a team of runaway horses.

Mexico - Nov. 10th, 1878

Dear Mother,

I have several times asked Ira if he had answered your letter. He said you write. So before the close of this Sabbath Eve, I will give you some account of our long silence. Ira was quite busy during the month of Oct. Circuit Court was in session. I can only excuse my omissions of duty in this respect, like yourself, I find other duties pressing which compel me sometimes to omit those that would give me equal pleasure. The past week I attended meeting at the Christian Church conducted by one of our able ministers, as I did this morning -We have morning and evening sermons, beginning at nine in the morning during the week. Had to rise early to be on time, but failed two mornings, on hour or two by a [--?] I had promised assistance. Mr. Hall has excellent health. The children have been well with the exception of chills Claron and Zellon had them after their school commenced. The children talk of Grandma and have not forgotten the pleasant time spent there. I would like much for you to see them now. We hope you may yet make us a visit. Laura left Saturday night for a visit to Ill. Will spend part of the winter with an Aunt. When you last wrote you spoke of Father's health improving hope he will recover his usual health. My Father is not as old by ten years, remarkably strong with health. I am sorry to hear of Winnie's poor health. I wrote Ella soon after receiving her letter she said if I would do so she would answer promptly. I should like much to have that promise fulfilled. The verses you selected I think….[end of page - rest of letter is missing]

Part of Helen's letter to Mandana.

7.) Note written on a scrap of paper by Helen (Beatty) Hall. At the bottom of the note, it says "wrote 18 May 1880 P.M. on the cars bound for [Fulton?]." I am not sure of the meaning of this sad note, except that perhaps Helen was very ill and seeking treatment in another city.

My dear boys - it has been but a few hours since I left you. I fear it shall be my last. But love each other - write to Ma and don't forget her - but think of her morning noon & night. Perhaps it may be. Claron kiss little brothers. I do not know how you will be cared for. Ma has not done all for you her boys that she should done. I am so weak-

Helen Hall

8.) Letter from Mandana (Swift) Hall, Stowell's Corners, Jefferson Co., NY, to her son Ira Hall Jr., Mexico, Audrain Co., MO, June 30, 1881. Envelope addressed to "Ira Hall Att'y, Mexico, Audrain Co, Mo." Ira Sr. had died two years earlier, so Mandana was presumably living alone on the farm. Helen's father had died in the past year as well, which explains Mandana's "kind regards to Mrs. Beatty." The "Uncle John" is probably Helen's brother, John W. Beatty.

Stowels Corners June 30th 1881

My Dear Son Ira,

Your welcome letter of the 14 inst was duly rec'd and I was glad to hear from you again. You say "We are tolerably well". Are you not very well? I would be glad to have you enjoy the best of health. Did Zelon have the mumps?

Your garden must look nicely, with corn in tassel, it is not much above the ground here and it will be a long time before we have new potatoes. Will you have any peaches this year? We have had a great-deal of rain here. Yet I don't think crops and vegetation look as well as they did last year. There are not so many apples here on this place as there was last year, and I think not any where in this vicinity. Grass they say is lighter than it was last year. I did not get the papers you sent me to Watertown. I have not got any from you since quite a while before I left Ella's last spring. I sent to Watertown to enquire if there were any papers there for me and they said not any. Ella and Hully were here a week ago last Sunday and staid over night. Reuben is not feeling very well since his northern trip. He went to Ogdensburg, Potsdam and Renssalear Falls. He said that Byron Inglehart's daughter was sick with consumption when he was there. She has since died. I do not think Reuben will go west before Sept., if he does then. He is not well and does not seem to have ambition enough. He has been talking of going to the big woods and rusticating awhile in hopes that he might feel better.

I thank you for your generous offer to pay my fare to Mexico just for my own gratification; but I should not wish to accept it after your giving me all of your share of the rent. I know that your family expenses must be very large and I do not wish to add to them. When I wrote to you I was thinking that if you only lived but a short distance from here how nice it would be for me to go and stay with the children or have them come and stay with me so that you would not feel anxious about them and could go and have a pleasant trip. As you say that you don't want me to come on your account at all I think I will stay here for the present. Ella does not want me to go west - She says she does not want to be left alone, and she has such a little tyrant for a husband I would feel very bad to leave her. My things here need care. I have plenty of work to do piecing and quilting. Ella wants me to make her a spread like yours. Still I would like to be where I can do the most good for my time is short. How are the boys spending their summer vacation? Does Uncle John live on the farm now? My kind regards to Mrs. Beatty when you see her. My love to the boys. Please write soon. God bless and take care of you and yours.

As ever your loving mother,

M. Hall

End of Mandana's letter to Ira Jr.

9.) Letter from Edwin W. Hall, Greenville, Muhlenburg Co., KY, to his brother Ira Hall Jr., Los Angeles, CA, December 15, 1888. Edwin wrote this letter early on Christmas morning, on stationery imprinted with the names of the two colleges of which he was President: "Greenville Female College and Greenville College for Young Men." His title on the stationery is "Rev. E.W. Hall, A.M., President," suggesting that he was a Reverend and had a graduate degree. According to his letter, he was also breeding and raising horses for sale. It is likely that Ira did not receive this letter until February, 1889 (see next letter for explanation).

Dec. 25, 1888

Dear Bro Ira,

I wish you a "Merry Christmas." I have been up since [--?] (6 A.M.) built my fire where I worked and looked over my secretary and cleared off the rubbish and find your letter unanswered. I went away Saturday to spend Sunday. I came home tired from Sunday work. I was up nearly all night Sunday night. Lulie is up looking over her Christmas things. Of course it is a great time with her. [Elinor?] has not put in an appearance yet. We will have a quiet Christmas today. The young ladies happen this year to go home or have gone visiting. Two brothers boarding with us are gone too so we have no boarders today. We did think of inviting company but I told Sarah that I preferred a quiet time. We are having splendid weather. I think I never knew such a beautiful fall & early winter in this country as this. We have had no cold weather yet. We may have a very [--?] winter as we do sometimes, so mild that we will not be able to put up any ice. I do want to see it cold enough to get ice. The roads are pretty good. I drove East-Wind [horse] out to the fair grounds yesterday. I drive him some to keep him gaited. He looks very fine now. I expect to go this week to Louisville to make an arrangement to have him trained as soon as the season will allow. I will send him there as it will be the best place to sell. I shall [--?] $5,000, as soon as I send him to L-. If nothing happens, I think he will bring a lot. Of course there is risk in keeping him, but I will take the risk for a while. I presume I shall sell the coming spring. If I had kept my horse a stallion he would have been worth a fortune to me. As a gelding, if anything happens he is ruined. He has got a wonderful constitution, so I have strong hopes of him. I am sorry you are tied up there in real estate. I hope you will get out without loss. I lost heavily in real estate in Chicago & Evanston a few years ago, and I have not got over it yet. It is risky dealing in city property. If one goes in at the right time he make money. I do not hear from Win very often, I hope he is doing moderately well at least. - You spoke of the election. The Democrats were terribly disappointed, they did not think it possible that they would be beaten. The party is terribly corrupt. I hope the R- will manage so well as to stay in power for years to come. I hear from Claron once in a while. It is too bad that your boys are so scattered. All send a hearty Merry Christmas, Write Soon, Yours,

EW Hall

Top of Edwin's letter to Ira, showing the college stationery.

10.) Letter from Edwin W. Hall, Greenville, Muhlenburg Co., KY, to his brother Ira Hall Jr., Los Angeles, CA, February 3, 1889. This letter was also written on Greenville College stationery. Envelope addressed to "Ira Hall, Los Angeles, Cal." and "Please Forward." Along the side it says,"If not called for in 5 days forward to E.W.H." with an arrow to the pre-printed college address on the envelope. Below that, on the side, is written, "Rec Feby [?] 1889 from E.W. Hall" and "Died Feby 27th /89 Such wrote Sarah T. Hall." Edwin died just 24 days after writing this letter, at age 50. Ira probably received the news of Edwin's death in a letter from his widow Sarah shortly after receiving Edwin's letter, and marked the date on the envelope.

Feb. 3, 1889

Dear Bro,

I wrote some time ago but was uncertain where to direct as you did not give the number & St. I will now send it to this address, hoping it may reach you. We are usually well. I have stood the winter very well indeed. It has been the mildest winter I ever experienced. We have not had cold weather enough to get ice. The roads have been very good, so that I have driven my colts most of the time. I wish to keep them hardened, so as to be ready in the spring. I expect to send East-Wind to the great driver [Cril?] Davis and I shall send several mares to a very fine stallion in his hands -Gen. Washington. I bought a mare while in Louisville Christmas [work?] for breeding. She sold when two years old for 750. She is finely bred but was ruined through [--?] for driving single. She drives double. I got her to raise colts. I will have four mares to breed this coming season to the very [--?] - blood. Is Win teaching? I heard of the war. He does not write very often. When do you expect to return East? Will you settle down in Mexico? [--?], Write Soon, I fear, however, this letter will not reach you.

Yours,

EW Hall

End of Edwin's final letter to Ira.