Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch to her son Charles I. Bowditch, Fall 1881

[From Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Micaville, North Carolina, to her son Charles in Urbana, Illinois. She mentions people being arrested for carrying pistols; talks about their house being finished in the next few weeks; says she'd love having him home for Christmas; and talks about various day-to-day events in the family.

The letter is incomplete and undated. It's a single sheet of paper, about 9 by 11 inches, folded in half so that there are four pages to write on. The pages in the part of the letter transcribed here are numbered 5 through 8 in the upper right corner, so the first sheet (four pages) are missing.

From the content it was clearly written from Elizabeth to her son Charles in Urbana, Illinois. It mentions writing to Mr. Felts to come and finish the porch & mantels, that the weather has allowed them to have the lumber sawed, and that the house would be painted this fall. From comparison with the letter of 4 September 1881, in which she notes that the inside of the house was done except for the mantels upstairs, and that the dry weather was preventing them from sawing lumber, this letter was probably written later in September or in October of 1881.]

with his throat, and has been for some time. He takes cold easily, and it always affects his throat seriously. He is still at Mr. Ray's.1 He makes it too confining, very seldom comes home to stay all night, goes and comes in the same day.

I have not heard from Joe2 since I wrote you. He was here in the summer. I wrote him the other day telling him that we has the Whooping Cough, for I thought he might come upon it unawares, and it is too late to take it now.

There is a good deal of lawing going on, or about to go into effect next week, several returned for carrying pistols, &c. Young Gurly (Matt Halls3 wifes4 brother) who is working here with Johnny,5 he is one of the offenders. I am glad of it, for no one has any use for pistols about his person, and they are so dangerous!

We wrote Mr. Felts6 to come as soon as he could to finish the porch & mantels. This wet weather has given us a chance to have all our lumber sawed, so in a month or six weeks we shall be done. We have also sent for the paints to have the house painted this fall.

Robert7 has been at work on Creed Youngs8 Mill. It is finished so that it will grind corn, but I don't know whether he is still at work on the other part or not.

Marion9 is getting in as bad health as he was last winter. He improved so that he looked quite well this summer, but he is in a bad way now. Some better today I think. Robert & he had contracted to build Martin Wetherman10 a house on the land he bought near Tom Young's.11 I think he is to be married too this winter to a Nichols, some relation to his brother's12 wife.13

You ask how I would like to see you at home on Christmas. I should be delighted. It would be just perfect happiness to me. I should rejoice with all my heart. I would kill the fattest turkey, and give you all the welcome it was possible. It would seem like old times again, and if it were possible to see all my children together once more I should be delighted. Nat14 has forsaken us. You must come home by him and see him, and bring us some news of him. I cannot give him up!!

How does your singing school come on. I expect you will surprise us when you come. Have you grown any taller? Ga.15 says "tell Charlie I shall be so glad to see him!" I shall begin soon to count the days. I think Liou will know you. He looks very well now.

I have finished drying apples and will have more than we can use, and they are quite a good price now. Peaches are selling for twelve to fifteen cents peeled.

Will you stay at the same place another year? I hope you will, as you seem to get along so well, and they are so kind.

Ga. is fixing up a basket of grapes to carry to Mrs. Carter16 tomorrow. She is going in to church, as she frequently does, and Liou is never wanting, tho if she stays all night he comes home before morn'g. He does not approve of town life at night, as he gets no supper.

Write soon again. Johnny5 is going to town and will get you some Mica & those Rocks of John Young,17 who is doing well in that business. I will send it as soon as I get it. I am astonished that Jo. did not do as he said he would.

With a deal of love, hoping you will write soon. I am

your very loving

Mother

  1. Garrett Dewese Ray (1833-1912)
  2. Joseph Bowditch (1858-1923), Elizabeth's son, Charles's brother
  3. James Matthew Hall (1831-1916)
  4. Rachel Jane Gurley (1852-1935)
  5. John Abbot Bowditch (1856-1933), Elizabeth's son, Charles's brother
  6. Thomas B. Felts (1833-1919)
  7. Robert M. Hilliard (1852-1926), Marion McDonald Hilliard's brother
  8. Creed Fulton Young (1837-1887)
  9. Marion McDonald Hilliard (1851-1918), Robert M. Hilliard's brother
  10. Martin A. Weatherman (1851-1890)
  11. Thomas S. Young (1830-1891)
  12. William Weatherman (1848-aft 1900)
  13. Martha Elizabeth Nichols (1845-aft 1900)
  14. Nathaniel Ingersoll Bowditch (1846-1913), Elizabeth's son, Charles's brother
  15. Georgiana Abbot Bowditch (1848-1927), Elizabeth's daughter, Charles's sister
  16. Laura Jane Avery (1838-1929)
  17. Possibly John W. Young (1844-1917)