Monthly Archives: November 2010

June 6th, Ray Noyes letter to Bettie Noyes

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Dated with a month and day but no year, I have vacillated back and forth on whether this letter from Ray to Bettie Noyes would have been written during Bettie’s 1902 June visit with the family of Allan Noyes (a brother of Ray) in Oklahoma. Bettie’s first letter to Ray (at least the first of her two surviving letters) was written May 30th, and then another was from June 23rd, and I was given the impression she wrote frequently. However, Ray’s letter, written in response to one from Bettie which hasn’t survived, mentions that her letter had been dated the 12th but not postmarked until the 14th, which would be May 12th and May 14th. So, is this from another year? Or is it possible that the dates only appeared to be the 12th and 14th, and were so transcribed, when instead they were the 2nd and 4th. It seems more likely to me that the dates were June 2nd and June 4th. Mail traveled and was delivered quickly. Bettie could write a letter to Ray and seemingly be certain he had received it the following day. Also, I’ve a difficult time imagining that Ray, who prompts Bettie in this letter to get her mail out more quickly, would have waited more than half a month to respond to her. Not only this but Ray appears to mention his brother, Paul, taking the cattle to “the nation” at the same time Bettie left, which would be the Osage Nation. It’s difficult for me to imagine Paul would have been gone for that long a period of time to take the cattle to the Osage Nation. He had his own farm to which to attend.

Yet, Ray states also that he had “set a hen” the week Bettie left and he imagines she will hatch some time that week. If it takes about 21 days for chicks to hatch then if the chicks were expected to hatch some time around the 8th (the 6th was a Friday), he would have set the hen around the 18th of May.

The letter is primarily concerned with answering inquiries Betty had written concerning their farm–which seem to be the only inquiries she’s made as lists his answers numerically and there are no answers concerning anything else. The letter, however, seems playful. Ray does a nice job describing his meal for the evening and teasing Bettie with how good it was.

Liberal MO June 6

Dear Girl, Your long welcome letter arrived today seems like yer were rather long getting it mailed the letter was dated the 12 and the (illegible) postmark was the 14, I would think when he is harrowing (?) wheat yer could get a letter mailed any day. Well I will answer questions first No. 1 The garden looks real nice the sweet corn is in tassel

No. 2 the blackberries are very fine the largest early harvest that I ever saw but there

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wont be many of them

picked 22 qt. today and took them to town and sold them got $7.75 easy I think they will all be gone in 10 days more picked 3 qt of red raspberries and caned them and they made three pt. after they were caned. No. 3 Your chickens are doing real well considering their master but the old hen down at the cattle shed has had some bad luck and her brood has thinned out a good deal they all live on shelled corn now I set a hen the week after you left so you would have something to do when you got back she will hatch some time this week so I guess I will (illegible)

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a job. You have just four little ducks left.

No. 4 The timothy (?) looks real nice but not a great big crop but a good average will likely comence setting about the first of next month.

No. 5 how I get along batching well just Burn (?) but to tell you what that means I will tell you what I had for supper tonight and then you can guess To commence writing I had light bread with cream, Honey, Syrup and jelley to eat on it next I had Grape (illegible) and fingersnaps and some awful good minced ham, drank milk so you see I made no fire

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now was that not good wages for any body would you not of liked to of ate with me. No. 6. No have not sold (illegible) more haven’t tried to (illegible) (person’s name illegible, Paul?) took his stock out of the pasture and went to the nation about the time you left he never said (illegible) about the pasture bill either

No. 7 a fellow by the name of Ray has (rest of page illegible)

P.S. I f this aint long enough will lose more

1902 June 23 letter, Bettie to Ray Noyes

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This is one of two surviving letters sent from Bettie Brewer Noyes to Ray Noyes when she went from Liberal, Missouri to Oklahoma to stay with Ray’s older brother, Allen, and his wife, Susie. It wasn’t a pleasure trip. Allen and Susie’s daughter, Carrie, is mentioned in the second letter, so Bettie was there subsequent her birth in 1902. But Susie had also been ill and in the hospital. The letter doesn’t give an indication of the nature of her illness, which appears to have required surgery, but whether the surgery was essential is unclear as Bettie states she felt Suzie’s stay in the hospital did more bad than good. Bettie does mention Suzie’s experiencing headaches. However, Bettie’s visit there seems to have less to do with Suzie’s having been ill than a subsequent, nearly immobilizing depression. Perhaps Suzie was actually suffering from postpartum depression.

The mail was fast back then. It may as well have been email, it was so fast. Bettie states that she imagines by now Ray has gotten the letter she wrote Sunday. June 23rd was a Monday and she’s writing Ray at about 10:00 at night. The Sunday letter would have to be the one she had written the day before. I have the impression that she was likely mailing him nearly every day.

Having been helping out with Allan and Susie for a full three weeks, Bettie’s patience was wearing thin between Suzie’s crying spells, which had not abated, and the arrival of relatives of Suzie’s which meant the descent of two continually crying children on the household. Bettie must not have been used to such behavior from her own children, which would fit with what I’ve heard of them running a very formal household. Also, Bettie seems to have gathered no understanding of the reason for Suzie’s crying spells, and appears to even be dubious of them. The household is in such a state of upset that she wonders how her brother-in-law can get farm hands.

Miller Okla. June 23

My dear Boy

I will write a little to you tonight. Joe Reynolds folks came and if nothing happens I will be at Home Sunday night.

It is awful hot here now. Allen is still cutting oats he has six men besides his self. but I don’t mind the work very bad but Joe Reynolds kids both squall ALL OF THE TIME and I get sick of that they don’t hardly let Carrie sleep any in the day time

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I don’t know what they will do when I am not here to do the work but I dont feel that I am able or that it is my duty to stay and do for them all by myself.

I told Allen I wanted to come home and he said all right I thought maby he would try some more to get a girl but he has not. I don’t think there has been any change in Susie she has worried lots since Joe’s come. She takes a spell of crying most every day when the men come in to dinner. I think it strange that he can get any hands. How would you like to

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go in to dinner and hear a woman crying and talking and two kids qualling as loud as they could every day.

Allen says it gives him the head ache and I have had a headache so much since I have been here though never so bad as to have to go to bed. We all want to come home awful bad. I expect you got my letter I wrote Sunday by now. We went and took it to the Office were all awfully tired when we got back well it is 2 and 1/2 miles up there but we got so lonesome here by ourselves

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Well I will quit and go to bed and try and sleep a spell, it is so warm I don’t know whether I can go to sleep or not – but it is getting late for it was almost 10 oclock when I got through with the work. so by bye.

Go to the May 30, 1902 letter, Bettie to Ray
A letter from Ray to Bettie, dated June 6th, unknown year

1902 May 30 Bettie Noyes to Ray

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1902 May 30 Bettie Noyes to Ray
Miller, Oklahoma Territory

This is the first of two surviving letters sent from Bettie Brewer Noyes to Ray Noyes when she went from Liberal, Missouri to Oklahoma to stay with Ray’s older brother, Allen, and his wife, Susie. It wasn’t a pleasure trip. Allen and Susie’s daughter, Carrie, is mentioned in the second letter, so Bettie was there subsequent her birth in 1902. But Susie had also been ill and in the hospital. The letter doesn’t give an indication of the nature of her illness, which appears to have required surgery, but whether the surgery was essential is unclear as Bettie states she felt Suzie’s stay in the hospital did more bad than good. Bettie does mention Suzie’s experiencing headaches. However, Bettie’s visit there seems to have less to do with Suzie’s having been ill than a subsequent, nearly immobilizing depression. Perhaps Suzie was actually suffering from postpartum depression.

Bettie must have ridden down by train. The locations mentioned are fairly confusing. There is a town by the name of Miller currently in Pushmahata Co. OK in the SE portion of the state, but Bettie mentions being picked up at Oklahoma City in Oklahoma Co. An 1895 map shows a town of Miller in Oklahoma Count, in the Spring Creek area, toward the center of the state, below Logan and west of Pottawatomie. But she mentions Yonkers, which is in Wagoner Co. in the NE portion of the state.

Bettie and Ray’s children, Pansy and Cora, would have been only about 7 and 5 years of age respectively. In the second letter, Bettie says “we want to come home” which leads me to believe that Bettie had brought Pansy and Cora along with her.

Miller Okla. May 30 1902.

Dear Ray I got through allright had a fine trip. Allen met me at Oklahoma City the River was up and they could not get to Yonker (?). It has been raining every day for I don’t know how long it rained on us. Coming out just sprinkles though and we did not get wet we stayed all night in Oklahoma City and drove out the next morning

They seemed real glad I came but of course I

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cant be sure whether they aimed for me to come or not the girl that is here is expecting to have to go any day I told Susie I would just as soon do all the work if I stayed and she said she wanted me to stay and they would let the girl stay untill she was sent for. I asked the girl what wages the girls got down here and she said from 250 to 600 a week and I asked Susie what they had to pay the girl and she said she did not know 200 dollars she guessed they had not ask her.

Susie took on so when I

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got here untill I almost wished I had not come but she has a bad spell 2 or 3 times a day every day they say. She seemed awfull well this morning laughed and talked with me all morning but when Allen came in to dinner she had a bad feeling spell she dont never talk that way when Allen is not in I cant tell for sure How long I will stay Susie says they would like for me to stay but Allen has not said any thing about it and I have not asked him Susie dont take any interest in any thing or do any thing only what she is told so Allen could not

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get along with out some body. When she was at Hospital several died and she saw them carried out and she thinks a good deal about that and talks about it and I think going there did more harm than good. Allen said they took her to the operating room twice first time they chloroformed her and she did not know it but next time they did not give her any thing and just took her by force and she just screamed and hallowed. I am awful sorry for Susie she complains all the time with her head hurting just like mine did that fall when I was sick I wanted to pick the ducks this evening but Susie wants me to go to town with her so I dont know what Ill do. I forgot to say it had cleared up.

by by until I write again.

Go to the June 23, 1902 letter, Bettie to Ray
A letter from Ray to Bettie, dated June 6th, unknown year

Edna Stark Noyes Letter to Bettie Noyes, April 13 1897

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Below is a letter from Edna Stark (b. 1872) wife of Paul Noyes (b. 1869) to Elizabeth “Bettie” Brewer Noyes (b. 1877), wife of Ray Noyes (b. 1874), a brother of Paul’s. The letter shows that at the time they were living in Whiterock, Oklahoma. The baby picture that Edna mentions as having received from Bettie would likely be one of Pansy, who was born Dec. 8 1895. Grace also mentions two of her own children, Grace, who was born in 1892, and Ormal, who was born in 1893. They had another child, Garrett, but he isn’t mentioned.

Enough is written that we may glean some information on Edna’s garden and Paul’s farming, the weather, their hopes and the hopes of the community.

By 1900, Paul and Edna were back in Barton County, Missouri, living a couple of households from Ray and Bettie.

Whiterock Oklahoma
April 13 1897

Dear Bettie Noyes,
Liberal MO

Dear Bettie. Your letter and baby’s picture was received last Thursday and I was glad to get them the baby looks so fat and healthy. Grace and Ormal have grown quite a bit since you saw them. They just stay out of doors all the time when it is nice weather.

We had quite a rain Sat. night Sun. morning since it made everything look nice the wind is from the

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west today and is cool. I hope it won’t frost because my garden is all up nicely peas are three inches high. The last frost got part of my radishes but they are coming out. I am not having any luck with chickens I have had about one hundred hatch out but they have almost all died.

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We have two Sabbath Schools here now Saturday and Sunday we never have gone on Saturday but go once and awhile on Sunday.

Paul is breaking sod now on the school grounds (?) he takes his dinner and stays all day it gets lonesome for the children and I to be alone all day.

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The wheat is about three feet high in some places there certainly will be a large wheat crop here this year and the people surely need one if they do any where The prairies are covered with flowers and Grace and Ormal go out on the lin (?) side and picks their hands full I am making them some dresses and I will have to stop and go to work.

Your Sister,

Edna Noyes

(Envelope postmarked Whiterock April 14)

The P. J. Umbrite Drug Store in Liberal, Missouri, 1895

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P. J. Umbrite Drug Store

I tried photoshopping it some. Just for the fun of play.

P. J. Umbrite Drug Store

Original from web

This photo was originally up at the late Barbara Irwin’s web page on Liberal. The information on it was:

“In 1895, the Umbrite and Son Drug Store was the oldest one in western Barton County. P. J. Umbrite had lived in Liberal ever since the town was founded and had had the drug store for nine years. His son, John, had passed the exam given by the State Pharmacy Board in May1895.

“Those in the photo are P. J. Umbrite on the left, then A. L. Branson, and John Umbrite.

“In December 1895, the Liberal Enterprise newspaper printed a four page supplement that detailed the history of Liberal and also told about Liberal’s businesses and citizens…”

That was 1895. In 1897 there was a terrible fire in Liberal that consumed the better part of the business district on November 4th (coincidentally, the same month and day I’m writing this). The fire began as a trash fire in the rear of the P. J. Umbrite & Son drug store at 10:30 in the morning and was enabled by a high wind to spread rapidly. J. P. Moore in 1963 gave the Umbrite store as having been “two doors north of the present post office building.”

The 1900 Ozark, Barton, Missouri census shows this would have been Philip J. Umbrite, who was then 47. He was from Wisconsin, his parents from Germany. He’d been married 24 years to Clara E. who was born in Wisconsin as well, her father from Vermont and her mother from New York. In the household was Ralph P. who was 10 years of age. Philip was given as a druggist and saloon keeper. He was living next to Samuel P. Horn, 48 years of age, married to Elizabeth M., who was also a saloon keeper.

John Umbrite would be St. John Umbrite, also in the Ozark, Barton Missouri census in 1900. He was 23, born in Jan 1877, his parents from Wisconsin (obviously Philip J. and Clara). He was married to Frances A., also 23, who was born in Missouri, her parents from Ohio. They had a 1 year old son named Samuel P.

I don’t observe A. L. Branson in 1900.

Doing a search for Umbrite I came across the following photo that is labeled as “Bus in front of Umbrite’s Drug Store, Richmond Beach, Ca. 1915”. It was further identified as being part of King County Snapshots at the University of Washington Libraries.

Bus in front of Umbrite's Drug Store, Richmond Beach, ca. 1915

Could it be?

Yes, it was. The 1920 census shows St. John Umbrite, Frances A. and Samuel P. now in Richmond, King County, Washington. Umbrite was given as a druggist.

The 1900 and 1901 volumes of “Meyer Brothers Druggist” show St. John Umbrite in Liberal. The 1905 volume reads, “St. John Umbrite, formerly of N. D., was in St. Louis recently purchasing an outfit for a new store to be known as The New Overland Corner, at Boise, Ida. Mr. St. John has attended several of the A. Ph. A. meetings and is one of the prosperous pharmacists of the country.”

“The Era Druggist’s Directory, Volume 15, 1911” shows John in Omak, Okanogan County in Washington state.

According to the 1911 and 1916 censuses, Philip J. Umbrite and Clara moved on to Canada, residing in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Production of “The Corner Store”, Liberal, Missouri

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Touched up

 

Original from web

 

The above image was originally on the late Barbara Irwin’s web pages on Liberal, which are no longer maintained. I photoshopped it some and looked around hoping to find some information on the play.

Thanks to John Talbot Smith’s 1917 “The Parish Theatre, A Brief Account of its Rise, its Present Condition, an its Prospects”, we can know something of the play that was being produced.

Corner Store, The.
4 acts. 6 males. 3 females. 2 interiors. Plays over two hours. With such characters as a wild orphan asylum girl, a Dutch policeman, an Irish mail-carrier, a colored loafer of genial nature, Uncle Eli, the keeper of the little store, his good son and beautiful ward and loving wife, he would be a poor dramatist who failed to make a good play. This one is rollicking, yet tender, and the scenes in and about the store are dramatic and funny together. It goes very well with an audience. Price, 25 cents.

I’ve no date on the photo and it would be difficult to make a guess because of the costumes, but because we have a photo of the 1909 Liberal basketball team made at Fritts Studio, which has an identical backdrop, we’re able to at least place it circa 1909.

McKenney Bible Images

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Thanks to my cousins for sending photocopies of these pages to me.

Lloyd McKenney’s bible was used for recording some family history. I didn’t see it until about 2003. The genealogy I received as a child wasn’t in the bible, it was instead on loose paper, but in the case of the Hackney and McKenney families it was much as in the bible. The Crockett’s went back more generations.

We have a page recording the bible was a gift from a Rev. Paul Barth of the First Luther Church of Ponca City, Oklahoma in 1944.

All the below images link to larger images.

The below page records a brief history of Samuel and Sadie Elizabeth Hackney Crockett, written by Sadie on Sep 29, 1931, transcribed by Lloyd into the bible.

The below page is Lloyd’s recording of the McKenney line from George W. McKenney and Isabel. A good bit of info was missing on the family at that time.

The below page concerns again the Hackneys and also the Crocketts.

Lloyd notes a trip made to Tennessee to try to verify the Crockett genealogy.

Lloyd writes of the gift of the bible to him and that his sister, Thelma, had it rebound for him.

Lloyd’s notes on bible verses.