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.
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 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] Lela (Brown) Mueller, Nancy’s daughter
[2] Nancy lived with Lela and Lou, but was visiting her brother and sister, Hannah (Keith) Towne and Ethan Keith, in Galesburg, Michigan
[3] Kate’s 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, Katherine 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] Nancy’s sister and brother, Hannah (Keith) Towne and Ethan Keith
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