Jan 31, 1889
Dear Brother & Sister & Family:
I thought I would write again. We wrote to you as soon as we got home and have never heard from you. We wrote a long letter. Smith & I both wrote we was going to send you a barrel of fall apples but could not hear from you. How are you getting along? How is all of your health? If I could see you I could tell lots of (??). Our folks are all well. I have not got good health, but I don't complain much. The Dr. Says I never will have good health. The children all go to school but Roy (Ray?) he is over five but I think he is to young (heint?). We having splendid winter.
Melvin is running a hay press so he is not home much this winter. He gets more than he can do. We built a new house this fall: 24 foot square, story and a half high. Smith bought a lot of cattle last fall so that we are tied at home about as much as ever. Bought 40 head of calves and some cows and heifers milking 7 cows this winter. Expect to milk 10 next summer.
How is Sam getting along? I suppose Jane is fat as ever. I suppose Ella goes in company by this time. Your girl I suppose is lots of help to you now. Can she play on the organ? I wish I could hear her.
If you get this letter answer it right away. I will answer it. I have the headache so bad this eve that - that - I can hardly see.
from sister Mary to Hulda and family
Editor's Notes:
I am now quite sure this letter is from Mary Lucretia (Taylor) Snodgrass to Ed, Hulda, and family. The "Smith" referred to above is her husband, William Smith Snodgrass.
The writer of this letter was somewhat of a puzzle. We finally solved who the "unworthy sister" was, after 20 years, but still were unsure of the writer of this letter. It was compounded because we knew that Ed had a sister named Mary and Hulda had a sister named Mary or May. The way she signed the letter, it looked like it could be either a May or Mary.
But, on discovering some more about Ed's sister, Mary, we now know that this is she. She had a son named Roy born approximately 1884, placing him in the right age range. Her husband's name was William Smith Snodgrass, which explains her referring to her husband as "Smith". Melvin is somewhat of a puzzle, as we see two boys, Samuel and William F. Perhaps Melvin was a middle name for Sam, or we have another boy not accounted for.
Jane, referred to in the letter, is Sam Taylor's wife (Mary Jane (Wolfe) Taylor, Ella is Sam Taylor's daughter. "Your girl" referred to above is Aurie (Taylor) McBride.
As to the referral to Aurie taking organ lessons, I recall Marjorie McBride telling me that the organ that belonged to Hulda was a family heirloom. I recall Marjorie telling there was at least one piece of furniture that Hulda brought in the wagon from Iowa to Kansas and I believe she said it was the organ. I believe this organ may still be in existence, possibly in the possession of one of the McBride family.