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

[From Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Micaville, North Carolina, to her son Charles in Urbana, Illinois. She mentions a multi-day Methodist Conference in Burnsville; talks about how their bees have finished swarming; and mentions about various day-to-day events in the family and area.

The letter is incomplete and undated. There are two sheets of paper, the first about 9 by 11 inches, folded in half so that there are four pages to write on, and the second a smaller sheet written on front and back. The first page on the first sheet in the part of the letter transcribed here has the number 2 in the upper right corner, and the smaller second sheet has the number 3, so the first sheet (four pages, probably) are missing.

From the content it was clearly written from Elizabeth to her son Charles in Urbana, Illinois. It mentions that Mr. Felts has a contract to build a house for Mr. Green, and that "As soon as he has finished here he will undertake it." The letter to Charles dated 4 Sep 1881 notes that Mr. Felts was then working on Mr. Green's house. This letter also mentions that the corn was doing well. It was thus probably written in the summer of 1881.]

did, during his long spell of ill health. He says he thought he was getting better, but he is worse than ever.1 Mr. Felts2 says it will be a long time ere he is able to work. I think he stays with Sim3 & John4 and helps them when he feels like it.

The Corn up in "Fred5 piece" looks well so they say, so does the Meadow that Hutchins has leased. Did I ever express to you our thanks for the corn that you gave us? I meant to every letter, but may not have done so. I have so much to write when I sit down, that I do not say half I wish to. It was a great present, for without it we should not have had enough to go through.

There has been six or seven horses die in and around Burnsville. John Young6 lost his fine horse, Dr. Austin7 ano. Sul Boone8 also lost theirs, and I do not know the other persons.

They had a very violent thunder storm in B. last week, struck young Dr. Whittington's9 barn and slightly affected his horse that was in the stable, demolished an apple tree in the lot.

There has been a Methodist Conference in town & Ga.10 went and staid from Wednesday till the next Monday Eve'g, of course had a splendid time, went to preaching three times a day!! Fred5 says there was more people than he ever saw in Burnsville before.

He & Uncle John11 were out here Sunday, and started back in the eve'g. A great rain was threatening. Uncle John had his Waterproof & was ready to go, but Fred had only an umbrella, and I expect got soaked through. I have not heard from him since. We wanted them to stay, and I think Fred would if it had not been for Uncle John.

I will get you the mica and mail it to you. I presume ere this you have received a package containing your shirt, &c., which I sent some three weeks since. Hope you were pleased with the "Toy Grasshopper" & the sleeve buttons.

I gave your love to Mr. Felts & Robert.12 Both were pleased & Mr. Felts sends his back with many good wishes for your good health, &c.

I do hope you will be careful of yourself, and you are so pleasantly situated that I rejoice daily. I cannot but like the persons with whom you are living, as you think so much of them. I am rejoiced that you suit them so well as never to hear a cross word. It speaks well for you as well as the people you are living with.

Mr. Felts has the Contract to build Mr. Green's house in Bakersville. He has been interested in mining, & will build quite a large house. As soon as he has finished here he will undertake it.

You improve in writing very much. As I have often said, you will be the best writer in the family. Take pains, and still keep the idea of going to school this next winter. John Bellew13 is going to Mr. Rhem14 this summer.

Uncle John will spend the winter North, but will leave here as late as he can to avoid being frozen up. He says he does not wish to come here till the carpenters are gone. He is getting nervous in his old age, and likes quiet. He came out here and staid during the Conference in town.

Fred5 I think likes store keeping, tho he says it is very dirty work, handling meat, flour, feathers, &c. You hear from him occasionally I believe.

The bees have just done swarming. Some swarmed too much. One of your Blue Hives sent off a very large swarm and it died out, and the swarm went off with one of mine. Both out at once. Yours settled on the large Chestnut, and mine on the Apple tree by the Crib. Both went off while we were fixing to hive them. We put one swarm into the new Hive, and one into Pa's15 patent hive, & one into your blue one that died out, and one into my green one that died in the winter, and the rest into old Gums, as we had no Hives made.

I must now close, as my paper is full. I will get the mica when Mr. Felts goes to Bakersville. Take care of yourself, and be a good boy is the earnest prayer

of yr. loving Mother

  1. This probably refers to Marion McDonald Hilliard (1851-1918), who is mentioned in other letters as being in poor health, and doing construction work.
  2. Thomas B. Felts (1833-1919)
  3. Simeon C. Hilliard (1856-1938), John B. Hilliard's brother
  4. John B. Hilliard (1861-1936), Simeon C. Hilliard's brother
  5. Probably Frederick Darlington Bowditch (1859-1920), Elizabeth's son, Charles's brother
  6. John W. Young (1844-1917)
  7. William M. Austin (1832-1912)
  8. Jeremiah Sullins Boone (1854-1932)
  9. Willard Porter Whittington (1854-1928)
  10. Georgiana Abbot Bowditch (1848-1927), Elizabeth's daughter, Charles's sister
  11. John Edwin Abbot (1831-1911), Elizabeth's brother
  12. Robert M. Hilliard (1852-1926)
  13. Probably John R. Ballew (abt 1863-)
  14. John E. Rheim (1836-1897)
  15. Joseph Henry Bowditch (1818-1900), Elizabeth's husband, Charles's father