September 3, 1921
To: Nancy Brown
From: Kate Crawford, Lake Mills, WI
Kate describes events prior to her trip to Wisconsin and her arrival at Erinside Beach at Lake Mills, Wisconsin.
Scan of 1921-09-03 Kate Crawford to Nancy Brown
Erinside Beach
Lake Mills, Wis
Sept 3d 1921
Dear Nan
Your letter reached me in due season and I was glad to hear from you. I was surprised when I went over to Lelas[1] to find you gone.[2] I had a pleasant time there. Lela was so good and kind and thoughtful. It made J-[3] & I both feel good. I went to Rosehill[4] Friday morning, then to the Drs & had the spot burned out of my cheek, then started for here Saturday at 2 oclock. Stayed in Milwaukee 2 hours, reached here at 830. Stayed with a lovely old lady for four days. She boarded us & roomed us & fed us up beautifully for $10.00. Then the 1st we came here. The cottage was untidy looking and as we had nothing much to fix it up with, the outlook was poor, but a neighbor loaned me 4 strips of matting and a rug and 2 quilts and we went down, took 2 pails & brooms, washed the porch walls & floor & screen, put down the matting, moved the furniture around, made up our cots. A lady sent us a beautiful bunch of gladiolas, a bottle of berries, a glass of jelly, a pan of apples & a pan of grapes, tomatoes & cucumbers & doughnuts, so we have started on our way. Leroy is going to give us a chicken for to morrow. K-[5] floated in on us yesterday aft, found a way across country. Will go to C-[6] Monday Noon to be ready for work Tuesday morning. I had a letter from Aunt Laura[7] to night. She is living in San Francisco. Her address is 176 Belvidere St.
The first night I was here I cried all night. Many sad memories met me, but God in his infinite grace sustained me and comforted me. I think often of you. [looks like the a portion had been erased] and have made so many years. The girls went down town tonight to get some things for over Labor Day. It is a gala time every Saturday night, the band plays & all the towns people & surrounding country meet & exchange greetings & do their trading. Remember me to H- & E-[8] & love to yourself.
Girls send love & I must close as it is bed time.
Aunt Kate
Write when you can.
——-
[1] Nancy’s daughter, Lela (Brown) Mueller
[2] Nancy was helping out her brother and sister, Ethan Keith and Hannah (Keith) Towne, who still lived in the family farmhouse in Galesburg, Michigan
[3] Her daughter, Jessie (Crawford) Eck
[4] Rosehill Cemetery, where Kate’s husband, Hiram Crawford Jr., was buried. Hiram died in Chicago December 2, 1920
[5] Believe she is referring to her granddaughter, Kathryn Eck
[6] Chicago, Illinois
[7] Laura (Hands) Crawford, the widow of Lucius Prosper Crawford; Pros was the younger brother of Kate’s husband, Hiram
[8] Hannah and Ethan
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