Cassville Mo, June 6 1897

Mrs D S Ferguson Dear friend, I received a letter from you some time ago, was glad you wer all well, and doing well. Guess Mr Dave had better turn his attention to buying and selling Stalk, thair seems to be monney in it for him, and not so hard work as farming. He can hire that done. Do you think of building soon.

I have a nice garden, have Peas and Potatoes for dinner, have any amount of Onions, Letice and Radishes and have had a long time. Have had Frying Chickens, and have lots of them now, guess Ive too hundred young chicks and more to catch. My but they are lots of trouble, most run my feet off, after them rainy days they are most trouble. Its ben raining all day and I wanted to go to Church. I am glad it rained, we needed it.

Crops look well. Thairs lots of Peaches, Apples about a half crop, no end to Berries and Plums. This is the greatest Berrie country. The lovelyest Strawberry, any quantities of them. We will soon have ripe Peaches. Rasberries are just comeing in, will commence to ship the last of this week, and may be sooner.

I wish we had a little home down here somewhere. I dont like to rent and have to moove around and its not like home. I thought sure Frank would get in a good summers work this time, he has ben gone over too months and has ben laid off half the time and have to pay $13.00 a week for Board and do a few days work now and then. High watter and thairs going to be more of it - is now for that matter.

Well I guess I am never to have nothing but what I can eat and wear. Thats all I can make use of, but I would like to have something for a rainy day. I will be old some day if I should live.

Hurar for Tennie, she is going to teach the West Liberty School. We all wish her success. Harry says you bet they will have to stand round, for Tennie is big enough to whip the best of them. He is sure that Tennie will have to laugh a great many times. He thinks if he could only step in the School House, he could make Tennie gigle out. He might get left. He has a fals mustache, Black as a crow, he wears on special occasions. You can imagine how becoming it is to him. I am going to get him long Pants, cant get knee pants big enough any more, is quite tall.

Good gracious, I will soon have no children. How swiftly time flies, and yet how long the weeks and months sometimes seem to be. Yes, and I realise that I am passing away as swiftly as time, in a short time this world will know me no more. I will scarsley be missed, things will go on just the same. Only our actions live after we are gone. I wish I could always remember this. It would help me to be more careful. I sometimes forget that God sees me and knows every thought of my heart. If I always remembered this I would be more careful and try harder to be pure, but I am very _______ easily tossed about, do many things I should not. I am so glad that we have a forgiving loveing Father, else I should have no hopes of Heaven when this rough voige is ended.

How is the Church getting a long at Pine Grove, dear old Church. I would like once more to sit on its benches and hear the woord Preached from good and honnest hearts regardless of stile or monney. In my mind I can see Bro Proffet standing in the Pulpit with a pair of jeans pants on, perhaps worn and faded but striving, oh so earnestly to impress the truths of the Gospel on the minds and hearts of his hearers. Oh, I have spent many happy hours, the memory will ever be sacred to me.

How is Proffetts getting along now. What is the matter with Prewits folks, havent they got a good place. Is Martha married yet. Where is Jim, does he stay at home and help his Father. How is Mary and Coalman getting along. What has become of Bennetts folks, has he entirely recovered. How are they getting on now and Mr. Berrys folks, do they still live at Pine Grove yet. How are Rickeys getting on, do they still live thair.

How is Mr and Mrs Hogan, has Will ever got well yet. Who owns our place now. How does the orchard look? Has thair ben any improvement made, any more land cleared and broke. Have Whitachers gone yet and Godwins, what are they doing. How is Ashbaws getting on, is she still discontented and wanting to go back. Ethel is quite a young lady now and real smart and sweet. She was sutch a nice little girl. Has Mr and Mrs Teeler ben Divorced. I dont see how she makes a living for her family.

Oh yes, Frank wants to know what has become of Aunt Nacy. He hopes Mr Dave wont take advantage of his absence and be smiling round the widdow. Distance lends enchantment in his case and he seems more enamored then ever. Never mind Mr Dave, I am sure she will decide in your favor, for Frank is getting grey as a Rat, and Bald dont express it, just a ring of hair around from one ear to the other.

Dont let on Mrs Dave, he wont like me to tell you, thinks he aims to get a wig, Black so as to look young. I told him you and Mrs Jim wer coming to see us this winter. He seemed to be afraid (all of a sudden) that he would take cold in his head this winter and probly have the indfluendaze if he didnt have a wig. I offered to make him a nise cap and ruffel it and fit it up nice but no, he didnt seem to think he would look well in ruffels, so I suppose he will have a wig if it takes all his wages. Thairs no accounting for mans contraryness. I could have fixed him up real nise if he would have let me.

What are you doing this Summer and how is Miss Eula getting along, does she talk yet. She is real pritty and sweet and so is Arvil. Sutch nise pictures they took. Arvil is getting to be a big Boy now, and Charlie must be most as big as his Pa Pa. He will be getting married too some of these days. Dont be in a hurry Charles. You have lots of time. Wifes are a good deal of trouble sometimes, as well as a big responsability on young mans hands. Now Arvil I would like to get a letter from you. I am sure you can write now as you use to write before I left.

Harry has got a Dog and some chicks and a Shoat. You see he is getting considerble property and one old Rooster with one foot, he lost the other in the war - no in the snow. He has a girl, her name is Maud, she is a beaut - she has so many freckels it would be hard to tell whether she is Blond or Brunett. She has Red hair and Blue eyes and a Roaming nose. In shape she reminds me of a Barrel with a string tied round it. Harry would be readdy to fight if he new I had told you about his girl.

I would like so mutch to see you all. I miss my old friends sadley. I never go to picknicks or out to spend the day in the woods and take dinner with me. It would be no pleasure to me. I shall never forget the good times we all have had. It will be a pleasant memory while life lasts. We shall meet again some day if not in this life, in the Endless one where _____will be no more. Shall we all meet in Heaven.'

I have written till I am tired and I guess you will be by the time you get through reading. Hoping this will find you all well and prosperous. Will ask you not to wait to long before writing me. I am lonly some times - many times.

Love to all, as ever, your True Friend, Sadie Palmer

Cassville, Mo Sept 12 1897

Mrs D S Ferguson

Dear Remembered tho neglected friend. I got your Postal card. I am sorry to have caused you uneasiness through my carlessness Time flies so swiftley sometimes that I loose track of it. I did not realise it had ben so long sins I wrote you.

The weather has ben so dry and hot that every thing is Parched and Burned up. The drouth seems to have struck this neighborhood with more force than any of the rest of the County. We have about one 4 of a crop of corn. Peaches and Apples are Poor. The continued drouth has made them small. Have but few canned yet, will commence to can in morning if nothing happens.

I have not felt well for some time. Its so hot. Shall be glad when the weather gets cooler. Nettie and I wer weighed yesturday. Nettie weighed 97 lb and I 99 lbs. You can imagine how fleshy we are. I aim to get fleshy when the weather gets cooler. You just come up and see if I dont. The children is looking forward (with delight) to a meeting of my nose and chin, but Ill fool them yet.

Louis has sold his farm, or traded it, for one 4 miles north of Purdy and 5 miles from Monett. So you see that means that we all have to moove as we live together and perhaps will for some time to come as I dont care to live alone and she dont want me to. Oh, I dread mooving.

Its a perairie country up thair. Its a nice farm, a big orchard, lots of tame Blackberries and Goosberries, grapes, Pears, apples and Peaches, 80 acres, 6 timber, all under cultivation, no grubs and but few rocks. Will raise wheat exclusiveley, has the most of it ready now. Thairs monney in wheat in this part of country this year.

I hope you have not suffered with drouth this summer. I suppose you are very busy working in fruit. Its lots of work to take care of fruit and hot work too.

How is Tennie getting along with her school. Hope she likes it and will come to see us next Spring. Would be so glad to have her. It would seem like old times. Charlie is most grown now, isnt he, and Arvil is getting big too. How sweet he looks in his picture with his gun. And little Ula, I cant realise she is so large. She must be real pritty. Who does she look like, me I guess, of course she dont take her good looks after you or Mr Dave, and I was thair you know so mutch of the time, she aught to favor me some.

Well how is the church getting on at Pine Grove and Bro Proffit, does he still Preach for you. I hope you and Mr Dave goes to hear him. It must be hard work to preach to Benches. and when you are thair, just think how glad I would be if I could only sit beside you as I ust to do, and after church go home with you and have sutch a good time. I dair not think of old times and old friends. It makes me sick, heart sick.

Frank has ben sick this summer with the ague, has had several attacks. On the whole has got in a very poor summers work. I am not well at all, it is so hot, no rain yet.

Please give me Jim Furgesons name. We owe him some and I would like to pay him a little a long as I can. He has ben so good about it. I want him to have every cent of it, if I never have anything. It seems as tho we can never get anything ahead, try as we ma.

Now Bell, I am awful tired, have ben working in peaches. Have 15 or 16 gallons put up,. We are going to moove Monday, so when you write again direct to Purdy.

I have washed and filled my strawticks. I wish you could see them. I put two on Harrys bed, had to have a chair to get in bed. I didnt need any breakfast next morning as my feet was the highest. I am so light it takes me a good while to break one in. If you and Eula was here to lay first on one side and then on the other, I might hold the middle down. Will show you something near the way the beds looked and us after we had retired. Harry dont like me to draw his picture, but I must.

(Spot for 3 x 5 inch handdrawn picture)

Thair, I am verry tired after taking a family picture. I know they will not like me to send thair pictures but I dont cair. I am sure you would like to see how they all looked. Am sure you would recognise the children. Am sorry Frank wasnt here so I could have taken his pictrue. Am sure I could have taken him natural as life and I know you would have loved to have his picture. Am sorry, but sutch is life.

Love to all. Write soon and tell me all you know.
Bye Bye, As ever, Your truly, Sadie Palmer

Washburn, Mo, Novem 20 1898

Mrs D S Ferguson and Family

I will try once again to write you a letter. I dont know how long its ben sins I wrote you last, a good while I guess.

This is a dreary kind of a day. No preaching. The preacher failed to come from some cause. That makes Sunday a long day. We have church every Sunday as a rule, Sunday School and Christian Endevar.

Well how are you all getting on by this time. Winter is on hand and as usual I am hardly raddy for it, but that will not stop its coming.

Well we are still all living togather and will this winter I guess as Baby Inez is to take car of and Nettie is not strong. It nurses the bottel and has to have its milk warmed nights as well as during the day. It sleeps in the crib and I put it by my bed and take care of it nights. Its fat and well except the earache that makes a good deal of trouble, especially nights.

Its a pritty little tot, real sweet as Babies usually are and lots of trouble. It has dark hair and Blue eyes like Nettie. It looks like our side of the house. No, I shall not allow it to call me Grandma. I am far too young for that. It can call Grand Pa, Frank all it wants to if he will let it. I have no desire to be old and I will get that way soon enough.

Harry feels very proud of being Uncle. I think he does at least. He is just getting over the measels, did not hurt him mutch. I expect Nettie and Baby will booth have them. Am glad I dont have to have them, once is enough for me. They seem not to hurt anyone very mutch this year.

I was very sorry to hear of the death of Mr (Simon) Ashbaugh. How his family will miss him. Poor Mrs Ashbaugh will feel worse dissatisfied than ever. I pity her. What are they doing - is Guy with them. I am so sorry for Mrs. Tabor. Arthur was sutch a bright boy. Where are they now, and how are they getting along. What has become of Gadnins and Mrs Teeter and family.

How is Mrs Hogan getting on. Give her my kindest regards. Poor Will, I am so sorry that he cant get well. Such a bright promising boy, it will most kill his parents to give him up.

Well you have a young man and a young lady at your house now. It dont seem possable that Charlie and Tennie are grown. How time flies. Our Children will soon be gone from us. I ask myself the question, what shall I do without them. Will home be dessolate. No, not if my Husband is spaired to me, but we shall miss them. Oh it makes my heart ache to think of it. I must not borrow trouble, it comes fast enough. I may not live to see it.

Tell me, do you know anything about Stiles. Have you ever heard from them sins they went away. What has become of Vandiague. Has his wife every come back yet. And who is on our old place. Has it ben improved any sins we left? When are you a going to build a new house? Write me and give me all the news. What has become of Arthur and wife. How does Mr Tom Furguson get on and Ann.

Corn crops are good here, no apples to speak of. Its the first time they have ben scarse sins we have ben here. How is crops with you.

I expect Frank home the last of this month. I shall be glad, his health ha not ben the best this summer.

I hope Arvill and Tennie will come if none of the rest of you wont. I mean to come to see you some time, if I live. Dont know when it will be. Am living in hope. Tell me what you are doing. I am a going to finnish my rag carpet.

Well Thanksgiving will soon be her again. I dont know what we will do or have, but what I do know is we have mutch to be thankful for. I am truly thankful for life and a reasonable amount of health. My children and Husband have been spaired to me and numerous other blessing of whitch I am so unworthy.

It seems as if thair is so mutch misery and want in the world, while I am clothed and fed. How many homeless creatures wandering here and thair without food and clothes, without shelter nights, many of them sick. Thairs but few days that some one dont come and ask for something to eat. We do not half appreciate the many good things that come to us.

Well how is little Miss Eula geting on. Lots of comfort to you no doubt. Of yes I would like to see you all so mutch, but I cant and when I think of the good times we have had, it makes me sad indeed. I think they can never come again. Verry soon we must pass out of this life. What, Oh what are we laying up for the future. Our works do follow after us. May God help us to be more careful of our words and actions.

Well how is Bro Proffits family and does he ever preach for you now. Poor Pruits, are they as bad off as ever. He surly lacks sens. What of Jim Pruit? Give my regards to Mr. Dave. Kiss the children for me. So Bye Bye, love and best wishes to all. God bless and keep you.

As ever, Your true friend, Sadie Palmer

Washburn Mo. Feb 20 1900

Dear Mrs Ferguson and Tennie,

I will try and ans your welcome letter we rec'd some time ago. Would have wrote sooner but couldent get my mind settled enough to write to anyone. We have had so much to bear I dont know how we have all stood it, but I have found out that we can bear much in this world.

Today they have gone to bury a man aged about 28 who leaves a wife and one child. God help her to bear it. I know how her heart aches. So much sickness and death. We have had 6 deaths here in town in the last 3 weeks, all Pneumonia cases.

Poor mama took sick on Wed the 1st of Feb and passed away just one week from that day. How little we thought when she took sick that God would call her away so soon, my Mother, the best friend I had on this earth.

I left home and came over to care for her on Feb 2 and she was awfull bad. Then we had two doctors but she was so delicate and poorly constuted that she couldent stand a desese so severe as Pneumonia. I never could give her up untill the last breath was gone. She suffered so and she was so glad to go to rest.

She was consicious till the last and gave us all her message of love and the sweet assurence that we could come to her and be an unbroken family in heaven. She requested us to sing when she was dieing and the minister was here and several friends and they done the best they could. She died easy with her eyes on her family, such a sweet smile on her lips. On how awful it was to see her forever slipping away from us.

Poor Papa, I was afraid he would die, he had such a bad spell a few minutes after she died, if we hadent of had whiskey handy, we could never have saved him. And Harry was a perfect lunitic, the shock was to much for his nerves. The Doc said he would have to be carefull or he would be a idiot.

Oh how much I had to bear. I am so thankfull that I came right over and done all I could for her. I dont know what Papa will do. Our house is ruined and our hearts broken. I can see her dear precious hands every where. Papa was building such a nice celler and fixing up the home so nice but it is all in vain, he has nothing to work for now.

Aunt Em, Mamas sister, came but she was to late and Uncle Birt, he got here at night and she had died that morning. But it did them good to look on the calm sweet face that told its story of suffering but at last of peace and rest. As I looked at her dear folded hands I thought of how many rough places they had helped me over and how many deeds of kindness they had done and Oh Lord, who could ever take the place of Mother.

She was nicely put away and her funeral services were held at the Church and she had so many friends here who will sadly miss her She was Pres of the Ladies Aid society and that order sent to Monett for the flowers which was very beautifull. I will send you one that came off of her dear hands that was taken out of the coffin at the church, as a keep sake.

Tennie, I am going to live a different life and meet Mama in heaven. How many times I have heard her pray for her children. How I miss her every where. On such awfull sorrow. I cant write any more. My life is all gone, it seems to me. Yes, Mama spoke of you several times and said she would so love to tell you good bye and meet her in heaven. Mrs Ferguson I know you will never forget that message. Good bye for this time. God bless you all.

Nettie.

The envelope for this letter was bordered in Black.

In the 1900 Missouri census, Harry was visiting at the home of Dave and Belle Ferguson. I was unable to find Frank Palmer, and feel he returned to work on the boats, and perhaps to live in Iowa. I have been unable to find the marriage information for Louis and Nettie, so do not have their surname.

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This page was last updated December 1, 2000.