Kennicott Documents

by you and our sainted Mother, when Isabella was a baby two days old to Mr Tennisson, and many others after I returned to the south, and in them I can again see how our dear Mother toiled and slaved for her family, with very few comforts to cheer her on, but her sufferings on earth hav long since ended and she has been reaping the reward of all her virtues, and the patient endurance of her troubles, and is now a happy angel in heaven, but I can never cease to regret that it was out in my favor[?] to render her situation happier al[?] her burdens lighter, - here are some letters from Dear, Mable James and George - I always associate the memory of George with my own son Edward. he was about as old whe I last saw him[underlined] - poor[underlined] boy I shall never cease to regret, that, I once greivd his dear kind heart; but I was thoughtless and and did not mean to hurt his feelings prehaps you will remember that when Mr Tennisson left me at Fathers he bought a cow, to keep my little boy in milk George went every morning across the frozen pond to milk her - one morning I saw him coming at a distane he saw me too[underlined] and out of sport raised the vesal to his lips, to pretend he was drinking

when he came in I scolded him for drinking the milk from my babe - Oh! I can yet see how his heart swelled out and he could not answer a word - but with a burst of tears, - Oh! I can never forgive myselef, I loved my dear little brothers dearly and can never cease to regret dear George - but forgive me dear sisters for calling up these sad memories

Bell has been writeing to you and I suspect she has said all ther is to be said I can very happily situated after all our losses and if we can only collect enough to pay our debts I shall be quite satisfied I have smart good children and that is a great blessing if they mov in any enterprizing town they would make quite a show and no doubt do well for them selves - but we must be content as we are I must leav room for Hellen to write pleas excuse this large blot my little Alla fell and hurt herself, is what caused it. Give my love to all and do write, and tell me all about yourselves how is Hiram doing and all of them let me hear Give my love to all God bless you

Your sister Mary

Sunday evening.

My Dear Aunts

As there is no room in Bells letter, Ma has promised me some in hers, as I wanted very much to write to you. After reading Sister Bell's, neat and well written letter, I am afraid you will scarcely deign to notice my insignificant letter, but any how I will risk it, as I know you are very kind and indulgent Aunts; if I may by the kindness with which you treated us when we were there. Some how I never could write as well as Bell; she always wrote better than any of her schoolmates. I suppose Bell told you, all about the old chest we found with the letters in, some we cried over and others we laughed very heartily at.

Dear Aunts if you could only see little sister Alice, I am sure you would say more of her than you did of Bell when she was a baby. Ala is a sweet little creature she has large dark eyes and very long hair; she is a very smart child for her age only nine months old, and can say a great many words quite plain, and can almost walk though she has not cut any teeth yet. Ma says little Ala looks very much like her own Dear Mother. But I must now stop for awhile as I hear a knock at the door. Dear Aunts it was no one, but Mr Miller the schoolmaster, who came to hear us play some sacred music on the Piano. He is a very excelent young man though very odd. Tell Dear Uncle Asa to have his mina[ret?] in readiness for me as he promised in a letter to me two or three years ago; for prehaps I shall be along that way

Monticello Dec 12 1852 [(born in 1811) written in pencil]

Dear Sisters, I have not written to you for a long time. the cares of my household, and a young babe, together with many other duties, have completely occupied my time; am I am growing old and feeble, [(age 41) written in pencil] my energ is leaving me. I Shante most probably not have written now, had I not in makeing search for something came upon a large package of old letters from all my friends, all or neary so that I have received since I came to the south, there wer letters from all of you that are now live-aing[?], and some that were written by the dear departed ones, I have wept over some of them till I am almost blind, Oh! what buried memories have they not raised up what, deep - deep[underlined] wounds which never have been, nor never can in this world be healed, caused to bleed afresh[underlined] = Those dear last ones are brought again befoer me sometimes by their own dear treasured letters - and some times by letters from the rest of you; here is one letter from home writes:

[page turned] and shall want to see it and the origanal too, if he has not given them both away to some fair lady there. Tell Dear Uncle he will insult my high dignity if he writes all of his beautiful letters to Bell and none to me, I think it is high time to be getting jealous dont you? We often hear of you from Dear Uncle John and Cousin Charly but that does not satisfy you must write to us yourselves Dear Aunts, if you can condescend to spare time to write to such as we are. Give my love to all my kind relations and remember

Your affectionate neice Nell

Buffalo January 8th.. 1853

Dear Charlie

I am glad to hear that - "Charlie Kennicott still remembers his old friend Lod[?]" Our Club is in a flourishing condition and is doing well You say you were sorry that you offended certain parties I would not be sorry if I was in your place they[underlined] deserved[underlined] it[underlined] and[underlined] they[underlined] knew[underlined] it[underlined] and tried to "bite a little" Ed Van Horsan does not knoew[underlined] about my sung[?] place in the B&N H RR may go some where else. Old "King Ephraim has resigned the charge of the 3d[?] Dep and A P Stanton [illegible] taken his place hi is a a verry good teacher and I think that the school will sustain it good name under his charge as under Mr Cooks There are not many of the Old schollars in attendance most all the Girls are teaching school Fanny Murphy for one None married yet. Charlie I believe you will come down here to get a [illegible] yet and surpise some of us "hey boy" Do not know that any of the Girls (excuse[underlined] this[underlined] error[underlined]) knew that you defended their cause - Rullison of the "Phantastictor"[?] does not have any Hops" this winter he wrote up to the Song[?] News[?] Ass[?] to know the price of American Hall and they wrote him he then wrote that the price was to high and he was not going to teach for fun any more he had done it long enough Do not think that I could stand it in such a country where they do not dance - Tell Bob that if he does not write me about what fun[?]

he is having shooting I will shoot him when he comes down here (over the d) Since I wrote you have been to Shenectady and Albany and passed Christmas got home the day before New Years - went calling New Years and called on all the Girls Charlie Johnson had a Party the other night went and had a delightfull time "Dells" Violin and Guitar were thus and we kept it up untill One half past One o Clock - Cannot write a long letter this time for various reasons [illegible Soon]

Yours truly Frank Kennicott[?]

Wheeling Jan 14th 1853

My dear Cousin

As I have just begun to write letters and have not yet written to you and as I have never heard that Uncle Doctors children have favored you often and as I want to hear from you I thought that I would have the more reason to avail myself of that pleasure and privilege

George was twelve years old the day before yesterday; In celebration of the event we had a Turkey for supper, and Ice cream in the evening. Some of the neighbors came in and we had a very pleasant time of it George and I were at "The Grove" on Saturday last, and drove some cattle home with us which although not very hard work is sometimes very tedious and provoking. They were all in good health at the Doctor's.

We go to school steady, and get our lessons at home. We have monitors sometimes. The teacher has given me a class of small scholars - I have Rose and Harold and one of the little Thornton

girls in my class

We make a quarter of the school and carry our dinner in a peck basket

You must write all about your school and your studies.

The ice is not strong enough to skate now so that we can't have any sport in that way We had a candy pull[underlined] on New Years eve. We invited the Thornton Children over and we had a fine time pulling it

Tell Uncle Asa to send my flute out the first chance

I hope that you are learning to dance so that next summer you can teach the rest of us.

Give my respects to all the good people and tell Fanny that she must write to us and let us know how she spends the winter.

You must answer my letter as soon as you can.

Your affectionate cousin Ransom.

Buffalo January 25th 1853

Friend Charlie,

I have been waiting some time for a letter from you but at last I have come to the conclusion that you had written last and I - -

"Was your debtor For a letter"

I know that I wrote one but it was not quite good enough to suit me so I laid it in my drawer at Mr Marshalls determining if I had time to write a better one if not to send that. I suppose it was not mailed your answer will tell at least.. - "

Well my friend I have been making a great change in my business matters. A certain banking gentleman down town came up to our office and had a long talk with Mr Marshall, a day after my father told me that the said gentleman had made an excellent offer for my services and after a good deal of begging on the bankers part Mr Marshall consented to let me go With my fathers wishes and the offer of a very liberal salary I consented to go at last, although I was not sure whether the change would be for the better or not. I like it very well however and I can have a large salary, or I am promised one next year if I am attentive to my business.

And I am determined to be attentive

and not change from place to place. and be a "jack of all trades". I know that to succeed I must stick to one thing,, - ,,

Our club is in a prosper =ing condition the initiation fee is now 50 cts dues 25 cts a month. We meet now on Thursday evening. The question for debate next Thursday " is. "Is Napoleon throughout his whole career justifiable or not. I as chief Dispt took the affirmative side which I consider altogether the best as the only thing that can be brought up on the other side is the Divorce of Josephine which will weigh anything.. - ,, - ,, The Club have decided to send $50. to the Washington Monument Assn to which of course you will subscribe being a member. No by doing that will get the club into the papers. That'l be some you know & will give us a lift.

Snowing like blazes it is good sleighing now and it bids fair for a merry time for which I am glad as it has been very dull heretofore. All the boys are well I believe. I must go to work at my books as they are not all pasted up yet

Good bye for the present

Yours &c Wm A Bigelow