Victor Hugo Noyes to Cora Noyes, December 1883

The date on the letter looks like Dec 1887 but Victor died in 1886. The date has been determined to be 1883, it being known that Victor was working in a tin shop in Kansas City in March of 1884.

“I have many more envelopes than letters, and none of the letters were enclosed in an envelope. Envelopes at that time carried the month and day, but not the year, so are not of much use in dating anything, anyway. It’s strange because the postmarks on postcards did carry the year.” Source: Nancy Benton 12 Sept 2003 email

Victor, son of James Allen Noyes and Caroline Atwell, of Liberal, Missouri was writing his sister Cora, who had been apparently inquiring about visiting. She had recently lost a job at a printing shop, possibly in Liberal.

He writes of activity at the tin shop where he works in Kansas City, the boarding house on Holmes street, a walk along the river, and a fledgling romance.

He also writes of having been to two spiritualist lectures.

Transcription of the letter follows the images.

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Victor Hugo letter 83 a

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Victor Hugo Noyes letter 83 b


(pg. 1)

Kansas City

Dear Cora –

I received both your letters and card yesterday at the shop. I am sorry to learn that you lost your job at the printing office.

You asked if you could stop and see me as you went be to (illegible). Yes, certainly, but the boarding house at which I am now staying is full and besides there are no boarders here but men. Most of them work at the iron foundry at the end of this street which is Holmes street. Since I wrote to you last I have been hear two spiritualist

(pg. 2)

lectures. It is quite cold here now. In the shop where I work we keep a big fire in the stove so that it is not uncomfortable. Why I quit backing was that it was so cold I could not keep myself as comfortable as I would be boarding. I pay three and a half dollars a week. Times are getting a little dull in the shop now. that is there is not so great a demand for tin ware in this season of the year as commonly. The Missouri river is in plain sight for several miles up stream from the shop window. for the last couple of days it has been full of floating ice proberbally frozen in it tributaries during

(pg. 3)

the cold weather we had a while ago and thawd loos in the succeeding warm weather. I took a walk a week ago last sunday along the bluff that overlooks Union Depot and the view was just grand. I walked 2 or 3 miles in all before I got to the city reservoir (?) where I took a street car and rode back. There are four women work in tin shop at soldering. One of them (who is about my age) get a long first rate.

Some of the boys say I will make a mash of it. “making a mash” is all the go here now. This is the slang expression of a gentleman and lady going to gether the boys are only teasing me

(pg. 4)

about Miss Emma is so you need not be afraid about me.

I expect you find it trouble to read this letter. It is of little importance so skip what you can’t make out.

Victor Noyes

* * * * * * * * *

Thought I’d add a link to a page where you can view what the old Union Depot in Kansas City looked like circa 1880.

Carr’s Chapel Cemetery

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Carr’s Chapel Cemetery

Courtesy of Nancy Benton, this document shows the rows in which certain members of the Brewer family are buried at Carr’s Chapel Cemetery in Dade county, Missouri.

In row 1 is Mary Johnson Fowler, wife of John Fowler (direct line), Catherine Hedden Brewer, wife of Daniel Levi Brewer (direct line), Alva Brewer, son of David Nathaniel Brewer and Delana Louise Fowler, David Nathaniel Brewer and Delana Louise Fowler Brewer (direct line).

In row 2, we have, Robert Lincoln Trent and his first wife, Dora Nancy Fowler Trent, daughter of John and Mary Jane Fowler, and an infant that would have been a child of Robert and an infant who perhaps died at the same time as Dora. Elmer Brewer was a son of David Nathaniel and Delana Brewer. Next to him are his daughters Ruby Ellen and Nora Edith who both died in 1918, perhaps victims of the great influenza epidemic. We see next to them Robert Walter Brewer and his wife, Edith, and their son Robert.

The Scagels

The following pages cover the Scagels concerning this blog, who eventually married into the Atwell family in 1830. Thanks to Nancy Benton for the pages.


The Scagels

Orson Patrick BRYAN, having married Sally, the daughter of George Scagel, the
descendents of this marriage would also be part of the Scagel family. It has
been a long time since anyone with the Scagel surname had lived in Waterbury.
There are Scagel descendents presently living in Morrisville and Richmond. Of
course, the Bryans and Scagels had close family ties. Two of my father’s
brothers and one sister, who died as infants or young children, are buried in
the George Scagel lot in the old Center cemetery.

George Scagel came to Waterbury in 1794. Lewis’ History of Waterbury says p.
30, “George Scagel took up his residence on a center plot in 1794, and spent
his life there. “This was early in Waterbury’s history as a political entity.
The first settler in the area of Waterbury was a Mr. Marsh, who arrived in
1783. Ezra Butler, who is considered to be the first permanent resident in
what was to become the town of Waterbury, arrived in 1785. Note that Georg
Scagel arrived a scant nine years later. The Bryans, thorough the Scagels, are
one of the oldest families in Waterbury to continually reside or own property
and pay taxes in the town. Book 2, Page 123 of the Waterbury Town records
states that George Scagel purchased from Josiah Smith on January 6, 1797, land
in the Center for which he paid $200. This was “the original right of Joseph
Badgley in the township of Waterbury.” A map of the lots assigned to the
original grantors, shows this to be the lot where the brick house, opposite the
Methodist Church, now stands.

George Scagel apparently was a man of considerable substance. The brick house
was originally a farm house built by George Scagel. Even today, it is the most
imposing structure in the Center. We have noted that the community’s first
church services were held in a barn. When the present brick church was built
opposite the Scagel home, it was built on land donated by George Scagel in
accordance with family tradi-

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tion. Among my mother’s newspaper clippings is an article written about the
church in 1949. This article states, “Land for this church was leased for the
sum of $10 by George Scagel to Chester Lyon, Thomas B. Scagel, and Ira Hudson,
trustees of the church.” Thomas Best Scagel was a son of George Scagel. He
was later the postmaster at Waterbury Street. Apparently the $10 involved was
a good faith token payment for the land. An interesting story involving the
church is that the church bell was pealed 100 times on the 100th birthday of
Rachel Lee Scagel, the mother of George Scagel. She was born in 1733, and so
this event occurred in 1833, shortly after the completion of the church. On
that same day, at 100 years of age, she took a stroll from her son George’s
house in the Center, to her granddaughter Sally Bryan’s house. This would, of
course, be the house on present Route 100, where my father was born forty years
later.

A resume of the movement of the Scagel family to northern Vermont may be of
interest. Jacob Scagel, fourth and last known child of Christopher and Deborah
(Wallis) Scagel, was born at Rye, New Hampshire, October 25, 1736. An entry in
the marriage register of the Congregational Church of Rye for the year 1755
states: “Jan 21 Jacob Scadgel and Rachel Lee were married.” In a record
published by the Hunkins family, in 1961, it states that George Scagel was born
in Maine on October 8, 1765. In the genealogy chart of the Scagel family, his
birthplace is given as Rye, New Hampshire. In the reminisences (sic) written
by Edith Emma Atkins, it states that George Scagel came to Vermont from Saco,
Maine. George Scagel may have been born in Maine, but authenticated
information shows that the family started moving north from Rye, New
Hampshire.

Over the years, there have developed many variations in the spellling of the
Scagel name. In 1766, Jacob “Schagell” was living in Rye, New Hampshire. In
1769, Jacob “Scagel” was employed in building the road from Middleton to
Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Also, in 1769, Jacob “Sceggel” became a resident of
the latter town. The New Hampshire State Papers report that by 29 January 1770
Jacob “Seageal” had fulfilled the conditions of the deed issued to him in
Wolfeboro. Jacob and Rachel (she who lived to be 103 and died in Waterbury
Center in 1836) lived in Wolfeboro for five years, during which time their last
three children were born. On December 8, 1770, Jacob mortgaged his land for
fifty pounds. Unable to meet the payment on the morgage, the court forced
Jacob out of his home in April, 1775.

The family next moved east to Parsonfield, Maine which area was just opening up
for settlement. In 1785, the family was still in Parsonfield

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field, for the history of the town states that in that year Jacob “Schagel”
owned a potash works. It is not known when Jacob Scagel left Parsonfield.
Possibly, he turned over the potash works to his son, Jacob Jr., when the
latter returned from the Revolutionary War. He may have turned the business
over to his son, George. In those days, no recording of deeds was required
when property was transferred from father to son, so the possibility of
following the movement of people through transfer of property is made
difficult.

At the taking of the 1790 census, Jacob and Rachel Scagel were living in
Newbury, Orange County, Vermont. Official records there show that also in
Newbury, Vermont were Jacob’s sons, Jacob Jr., Elijah and William. No where is
mention made of George Scagel, Jacob’s son, being in Newbury.

George Scagel probably came to Waterbury from Saco, Maine as noted in the Bryan
family records. Later, George’s older brother, Jacob Jr., moved north to
Stanbridge East, Quebec. Also, later, Jacob and Rachel Scagel moved to
Waterbury. Later activity of Jacob is not known. He died March 18, 1817. We
have been unable to find a gravestone marking his place of burial. He was in
his 81st year, and his wife Rachel was nearly 84 years old. They had been
married for 62 years. Rachel continued to make her home with her son, George,
for another nineteen years.

Two of my grandfather’s brothers married two Scagel sisters from Standridge,
Quebec. They were second cousins. My second cousin Macie Bryan Evans is
descended from Jacob Scagel, from both her grandfather Denis Bryan and her
grandmother Mary Scagel Bryan.

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Scagel 1

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Scagel 2

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Scagel 3

Burton Jones

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Burton Jones

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Burton Jones WWII 2

Burton Jones, son of John Levy Jones and Jessie Brewer (daughter of David Nathaniel Brewer and Delana Fowler) was a nephew of our Bettie Brewer Noyes. He was born Sept 24 1917 in Missouri, and died Nov 5, 1975 in Yakima, Yakima, Washington. He is buried at West Hills in Yakima, Washington.

He served in the European Theater during WWII.

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Burton Jones Funeral Paper

All images are courtesy of Jim and Dieanna Swearngin.

Ray Noyes Family Gathering

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Noyes Family Gathering

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Noyes Family Gathering (fix)

Courtesy of Nancy Benton we have this photo of a Noyes family gathering in Liberal, Missouri circa 1932.

From left to right: Jamie Noyes; Ray Noyes behind Mary Lou Noyes; Charles Bryant with Viola Noyes Harmon in front of him and Kathleen Bryant in front of Viola; Pansy Bryant, Lloyd McKinney with Dorothy in front of him and Jim McKinney in front of her; Ray Bryant with Delana Brewer in front of him; Betty Noyes. Photo circa 1932 or 1933, taken on the South side of the Noyes home, a mile east and about 1/2 mile south of the town of Liberal. The image is courtesy Nancy Benton who supplies identification.

Jamie, Mary Lou, Viola, Pansy and Dorothy (direct line) were children of Ray Noyes and Bettie Brewer. Charles Bryant was married to Pansy. Viola Noyes Harmon was Ray’s sister and wife of Ollie Harmon. Delana Brewer was Bettie Brewer Noyes’ mother.

Noyes Half Brothers, Franklin L. and George W. (Two Images)

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Noyes Half Brother

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Noyes Half Brother in Civil War

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Noyes Half Brother Civil War (fix)

James Allen Noyes (my line), son of James Noyes and Sally Marble, had a number of half-brothers and half-sisters by his father’s second marriage to Susan Waters, but as far as I’m aware only two of those half-brothers survived to adulthood, George W. Noyes and Franklin L. Noyes. We have two pictures of half-brothers, one in Civil War uniform and one in civilian, but as both of these men served in the Civil War we’re unable to distinguish which photo depicts which brother.

George W. Noyes was born May 8 1840 in Pavillion, Kalamazoo, Michigan and died March 3, 1870 at Pavillion (according to the family record). He married a woman named Emaline Melvina Aldrich and they had two children, Maud, born 1867, died May 3 1870 in Pavillion, and Henry A., born November 1869 in Pavillion and died March 9 1870 in Pavillion.

George served in the Civil War in Company K, the 87th Infantry Regiment out of New York.

Name: George W Noyes
Age at Enlistment: 21
Enlistment Date: 15 Feb 1862
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Kalamazoo, MI
State Served: New York
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company K, New York 78th Infantry Regiment on 08 Apr 1862.
Mustered out on 12 Jul 1864.
Transferred to on 12 Jul 1864.
Birth Date: abt 1841
Sources: New York: Report of the Adjutant-General

George, in the family record, is given as dying 1870. However, he appears in the 1870 census with “Madeline” or Melvina (would be his wife Emaline Melvina Aldrich). I have seen him elsewhere given as dying in 1871. The Noyes Descendants, Vol. I says 3 Mar 1870. Ae. 30 y 9 m 25 d. Died of consumption. Michigan death records gives him dying March 3 1870.

1870 Pavillion, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Roll: M593_680, Page 278, Image 558
31/30 NOISE Frank 25 blacksmith $250 $100 b. MI
Maryette 21
Anna 3
William 3/12
35/34 NOISE Geo. 30 farmer $1200 $359 b. MI
Melvina 19

Franklin Noyes was born July 24 1845 at Pavillion. He was married in 1865 to Margaret A. Aldrich, sister of the above Melvina, who died in 1878 or 1873 (according to Find-a-Grave).

Frank served with Company K, New York 78th Infantry Regiment.

Name: Frank L Noyes
Age at Enlistment: 18
Enlistment Date: 15 Feb 1862
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Kalamazoo, MI
State Served: New York
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company K, New York 78th Infantry Regiment on 08 Apr 1862.
Mustered out on 12 Jul 1864.
Transferred to on 12 Jul 1864.
Birth Date: abt 1844
Sources: New York: Report of the Adjutant-General

They had Annie M. born March 28 1867 married a man named Rheynard, William L. born March 23 1870, Louie Noyes who was born Oct 3 1870 and died Jan 12 1871, and Maude M. Noyes who was born 1873 and married a man named George Middleton.

Louie’s Cemetery record gives the birth and death dates as here. The Col. Henry E. Noyes and Harriette E. Noyes Genealogical Record of Noyes Descendants gives his birth 3 Oct 1868 in Michigan. However, Louie doesn’t appear in the 1870 census, which was recorded the 20th of August. But William was only 3 months old in the 1870 census, and Louie is given as born the 3rd of October.

The family record appears to give Franklin as dying July 28, 1871 but the 1871 is instead 1891.

The 1880 Yankee Springs, Barry, Michigan shows him and two of his children he’d had in his first marriage.

131/131 NOYES Frank L. w m 34 farmer b. MI parents b. NY
Clara (?) w f 29 b. Canada father b. England mother b. NY
Anna M. w f 13 daughter b. MI parents b. MI
Willie L. w m 10 son ” ”
James L. w m 1 b. MI father b. MI mother b. Canada

This is his headstone at Find-a-Grave and gives him dying July 29 1891. He married 2nd a Clarissa (Clara) Hubard/Hubbard 1878 Feb 3 in Yankee Springs, Barry, Michigan.

The Noyes family was particularly tragic in the way it was struck over and over with premature deaths, many said to be victims of malaria.

The photos are courtesy Nancy Benton, from the family of James Allen Noyes.

Frank’s wife Margaret and son Louis are buried at McKain Cemetery in Pavilion, Michigan, as are George W. and his children Henry A. and Maud.