April 23, 1932

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

My Dearest Polly,

Do you believe in ghosts? Neither do I and yet I have seen her in my

house, my garden, all around the ranch. Sometimes she acts like she knows where she’s going, other times she just stands and stares into the air. She doesn’t frighten me, but I wonder why she’s here and what she’s looking for.

She’s been a part of my life for such a long time, since John and I married and moved to the Home Ranch in ’96. I’ve had times where I thought I was imagining her, and then I’d turn around and catch her out of the corner of my eye, sitting in my chair or walking through the kitchen. I could never tell John about her. He is the ever practical husband and would just laugh at me. My sisters are much the same, they would say I’m being fanciful, even though Grandma Strong always could see those on the “other side”. My darling children , Harriet and Levin, are grown and gone and in these hard times my ‘ghostly’ friend is of little interest to them. Yet once in awhile it seems as if my ghost can almost see and hear me back. She will tilt her head or she’ll stop and turn like she’s looking right at me.

Oh Polly, you are my dearest friend and best confidant. You have been with me since childhood and I have shared all my thoughts with you , but now in my 57^th year I am afraid I may be going crazy. I admit I do talk to her, I am so lonely out here on the ranch. John is gone most days and often nights as well on business. I only have our milk cow Pet and my ghost to keep me company. Do the departed get lonely on the “other side”? I wish I knew what she needed from me. Perhaps it’s what I need from her that keeps her by my side.

You must excuse my ramblings. I’m not a feeble old woman yet though I find myself more and more thinking back to those times we had together when I was so young in Jamestown. The world has changed and I don’t seem to have changed with it.

Remember my first letter to you? Before I was Harriet Walrath Charles and was just “Hattie”?

Jamestown, New York

January 15^th, 1885

My Dearest Polly,

Today is my 10^th birthday and I received my first stationary so I am writing to you my first letter to my dearest friend.

I wanted to let you know where I moved to since leaving Mama’s farm. We are all living with Mama’s mother, Charity Bugbee Strong, in her boarding house in Jamestown, New York. The town is crowded and so much different from our home place. There are no milk cows or orchards here to play in. There are no fields or grass. All we have are some chickens out back in the dirt. Mama says she could not keep the old place as it was too big for her to take care of. She has leased it for now to Mr. And Mrs. Welch and all their children.

My big sister Allie is with us, my older brothers Charlie and Met and the baby Nell have all settled in as best we can.

It seems so unfair of Papa to have died. I don’t really remember him and only have an old photo of him that Mama has kept. Poor baby Lois is still buried at the old place and Mama doesn’t even have a photo of her.

Grandma Strong made me my first apron for my birthday. I am so proud to be a working member of the family now, not just a child to be scolded and tolerated. I have already done the morning dishes before school.

Oh Dearest Polly, how I do miss the old life. I’ll share more of our new life in my next letter.

Your dearest friend,

Hattie

Jamestown, New York

February 17, 1885

Dearest Polly,

I must share with you some of the strange and funny things that happen in this new place. Grandma Strong has several widow lady boarders who stay with us. This house has three stories to it with 7 rooms and Grandma and Allie spend the day cleaning and cooking for the ladies. Every morning they get up at 5 0’clock and get the morning meal ready, then wash the mid-morning dishes, start cooking the supper, clean the rooms, empty the slop jars, mend the clothes, sweep, and finally entertain guests in the evening. We have many guests, those who just stop in for dinner and those who stay overnight. Sometimes they give Grandma $1.00 for her trouble, but more often nothing is offered.

The ladies never pay their rent on time. Grandma only asks for $7.00 a month for board and room, but they always have excuses for paying late.

Mrs. Lawrence’s husband has just been arrested for burglary and she has only paid 80 cents on the rent. Mrs. Besinger’s brother is in the lockup for burglary and larceny. I’m not sure what larceny is, but it must be quite awful to be put in the lockup for. Mrs. Phenix stays up in her room and doesn’t open her door. Grandma says she is a mean old cat! Grandma has called the Sheriff several times on her when she doesn’t pay the rent. The Sheriff throws her out but she always comes back. There are so many people who come and go here, some just stay the night or two when they are in town.

Poor Grandma gets the sick head-aches and has to lie down in a dark room for a little relief. Of all the grandchildren I think she likes me the best because she will tell me stories of our family and how life used to be.

I sit quiet beside her with a cold rag for her head and listen. I am the ‘dreamer’ Grandma says, the one who writes poetry and songs and writes in my journal every night just like Grandma does. Mama does not have the time for the ‘indulgence’ of journal writing she says, but I think it’s just because Mama isn’t as good at writing as Grandma and I am.

I will write again soon.

As always your best friend, Hattie Walrath

Jamestown, New York

February 23, 1885

Dearest Polly,

I promised I would tell you more about the town and what we have been doing here.

Mama has been out for days looking for work. She is selling homeopathic remedies from my Great Uncle Will Shed’s Pharmacy. She takes her bag each morning and gets on the train and goes to different towns selling door to door and then comes home very late at night and starts over the next day. Poor Mama is so tired that I hardly see her at all. Mama and Mrs. Winters went out yesterday selling milk and it was 20 below zero I heard them say.

There are so many people that come to call every day. Grandma says the less food we have the more people there are to feed. Yesterday was a very lean day. Neither Met nor Charlie killed any rabbits so we had a pot of baked beans for supper. At least we always have pies and bread every day to fill us up. Grandma has been sewing capes and dresses for the ladies in town. She was paid three whole dollars for the cashmere dress she made for Mrs. Winters.

Lizzie Frazell is my best friend here, but not my ‘dearest’ friend of course. The boys and baby Nell and me and Lizzie have been going out behind the house on the hills and sledding on our bobs. Met broke his and has been trying to fix it. Oh what a grand time we all have. Grandma warmed us up with roasted nuts and apples. What a treat!

We all take music lessons from Mr. Pierce. He’s not such a nice man, but Grandma says he doesn’t charge much so we must be polite to him. My piano is coming along nicely. Allie is the one who is wonderful on the piano. She is always being asked to parties to play. Mama says we can’t take lessons much longer as she owes Mr. Pierce $14.00 and doesn’t have the money to pay him. All the talk here is money money money. We never have enough to pay for groceries or the coal or anything! I hear Grandma and Mama talking late at night when they think I’m asleep. I hear an awful lot of things when they think I’m asleep.

I will close for now and write again when I can,

Still your best friend,

Hattie

Jamestown, New York

March 3, 1885

Dearest Polly,

I have so much news I hardly know where to begin.

First of all Mama has a new job at the Gokey Shoe Factory. She likes it so far. She starts at 6 o’clock in the morning and gets home at 6 0’clock in the evening and is pleased with the shorter hours. Mama makes $1.65 for a weeks work. Grandma says old man Gokey is a "skin flint"’. I’m not sure what that means, but Grandma didn’t act like she was very happy with Mr. Gokey. I thought I would get to see Mama more, but she is out most evenings calling on her many friends.

Here is the fun news. Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs. Besinger tried to sneak out of the house without paying their rent. Grandma caught them and wouldn’t let them take their furniture. She was holding it for payment. The Sheriff came and said Grandma had to let them move their furniture anyway. Grandma was madder than I’ve ever seen her. She called them ‘miserable sneaks’. Between the two of them they owe Grandma $11.75 in rent. Grandma went up to the Surrogate’s Office and filed suit on them. Now they are in real trouble I think.

Mama’s renters on our home farm have left. Mama has a Swede looking at it right now, but no one is willing to pay the rent we need. Oh Polly, I so wish we could move back there again. I miss the pony and the times we had trying to get him to pull Met and Charlies box wagon. Mama says we can go up there this Spring when the thaw comes and look over the home place, but it would be so sad to see it and yet not live there.

I do so miss all my friends from home and will write again soon.

Till then, your dearest friend,

Hattie

Jamestown, New York

June 22, 1885

Dearest Polly,

We have all been ‘busy as bees’ as Grandma Strong says. Mama and Grandma packed up a picnic lunch and all of us, the boys too, took the stage up to the Lake ! We weren’t allowed to swim of course, but we girls did get to take off our shoes and stockings and wade in the water. Met and Charlie got to roll up their trouser legs and go in up to their waists. Sometimes it makes me so mad to be a girl! It reminded me so much of how often I would sneak away from the house at home and dunk my feet in the duck pond. Do you suppose Mama ever wondered why my stockings were wet when I came home?

It was a lovely fair day and in the evening we all went with Grandma and Mama to hear the ‘Chautauqua” readings. Most were pretty boring, all about being good and such, but in between there was singing and playing of music. That part I liked a lot.

Mama, Grandma, and Allie rented a boat and went out onto the lake. We younger children had to stay on shore, even the boys. There have been so many drownings this year on the lake that Mama decided to take no chances with us.

We were lucky to catch a seat on the last late stage for home. I wish we could do things like this more than once a year, but Grandma says that more than once a year is ‘frivolous’. Well maybe I like being ‘frivolous’!

Is ‘frivolous’ a sin? I wish God would be more clear about sins. They seem to change depending on Grandma’s mood. I do know that questioning Grandma is a sin, so I’ll try and be good more often.

Your best friend ,

Hattie

Jamestown, New York

July 10, 1885

Dearest Polly,

I thought it was time to catch you up on the goings in our town. Grandma calls it my ‘morbid letter’. I don’t think it’s morbid and I know you would to catch up on who is gone now.

Loren Bush was killed on the railroad at Dexterville Crossing some days past. J.E. Mayhew died last night and Wellington Woodard died this morning. Clyde Lescher has died. Johnie Houser has had trouble with the Odells and has run away for parts unknown

Uncle Darwin was dangerously sick and Mama and Uncle Will Shedd went up to see him. They said he wasn’t as sick as they thought so they came home. He died the next day.

Thede Winters got beastly drunk and made a rumpus, so Grandma said.

John Lawrence was tried for petty larceny and got 60 days in jail. Mrs. Osborne was on trial for ‘keeping a house of ill repute’. I don’t know what happened because Mama and Grandma caught me listening and wouldn’t talk anymore.

Mama has had stones set on Papa Lewis’s and sister Lois’s graves. Ezra Fuller shot and killed himself in his father’s door yard this morning. .

Mrs. Wood’s had adopted a baby and Grandma went up to see him. Grandma pronounced him a fine one but he died the next day. Mrs. Woods went and adopted another one. Grandma and Mama went up and dressed the first baby for the funeral for her.

My bird Cappy died and we draped his cage and had a first class funeral with lots of flowers

There has been lots more goings but I only wrote about the interesting ones.

Grandma has a new job taking care of Mrs. Fuller. She has ‘brain paralysis’ they say and can’t take care of herself. Mr. Fuller is paying Grandma $3.00 a day to stay with them and wash and feed her. She has to watch her too as Mrs. Fuller tries to run away. Grandma says she is so tired that she’ d like to lay down and never get up again. Grandma is 65 years old now and way too old to work so hard.

I must go now and will write you again soon.

Your best friend, Hattie

Jamestown, New York

July 22, 1885

Dearest Polly,

I am so sad and unhappy I barely know where to begin. Of all the terrible things to happen, all seven of us, Grandma Strong, Mama, Allie, Met, Charlie, Me and baby Nell are all packing up and moving to Colorado!

Where is Colorado and why do we want to move there?

I don’t understand Grandma and Mama at all. They say there are ‘opportunities’ in Colorado. A chance for a new life. What does that mean? I think it is all nonsense. What is wrong with our old life?

I don’t want to live where there are Indians and bears. I have stomped through the house making dire predictions of how we all will be killed. The boys are excited of course. They can talk of nothing but hunting bison and fighting Indians and being Cow-boys.

Allie is quiet, she has made a sweet life in Jamestown but seems content to leave. I ‘m glad she has no husband yet. If she had married would her husband have gone with us? I don’t want to leave any of us behind. Baby Nell cares only that her doll can come too. She doesn’t understand that we will never see our friends and family again. I feel like my heart has been cut out. Oh Polly, what am I to do? I hate the talk,talk, talk about Colorado.

Grandma has gotten $2000 for her farm. She signed away the papers yesterday and got $1200 in cash and an $800 mortgage. It sounds like such a lot of money, but Grandma had to settle the Lawsuit that she lost. I don’t know much about the Lawsuit except it’s been going on for a long time and Grandma has to pay money.

Mama also got $2000 for her farm, except Mama only got $500 in cash and the rest in mortgage. They have been selling off our furniture too. Grandma even sold off her Great-Grandmother’s rocking chair for $3.00 and the stove went for $20.00.

I have pouted and cried till I made myself sick. No one cares though. They are all too busy getting ready for The West.

I will write you one last time before we leave. Until then I am always your dearest friend,

Hattie

Jamestown, New York

August 29. 1885

Oh My Dear Polly,

I am the saddest and maddest girl in Jamestown New York today. Tomorrow we will board the train with what is left of our home belongings and start our journey Out West.

Mama has put the last flowers ever on Papa’s grave and baby Lois’s. How can she leave our home where we have been for 200 years. All I ever heard was how important a family we were. How the elders came over from England on the second boat after the Mayflower, how the Bugbees and the Putnams and the Strongs and the Walraths settled in Connecticut and were important farmers and preachers. How our families settled this country and fought in the War. We belong here! We are respected here.

In Colorado we will be nothing more than another group of immigrants.

Grandma says we take our home and loved ones with us in our thoughts no matter where we go. I don’t want them in my thoughts! I want to see and touch them and be with them right here.

Mama took us to the photographer for a last picture of us 5 children together. I am enclosing a poor copy of it to remember us by.

Wishing and praying has not helped. In the morning we will leave for Chicago on the first step for The West.

I will always hate Colorado. I know I will.

I will write when we stop for a rest.

Till then, your saddest friend in the world,

Harriet Emma Walrath

Lincoln, Nebraska

September 10. 1885

Dearest Polly,

I told you I would write when we stopped for a rest. We are in Lincoln Nebraska for a time and staying with Mr. Robert Lazell and his wife and their daughter Jennie.

Jennie and I have become great friends already and we have had fun walking around the town.

We left Jamestown on August 30^th and with a great deal of crying we said goodbye to our friends and boarded the train for Chicago for the first part of our journey. The train fare for all of us to Lincoln, Nebraska was $90.00 and our household goods were shipped later. In Chicago we stayed for two days to have our baggage catch up with us and then onto Lincoln, We crossed the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers into Nebraska. Grandma took things to make our trip comfortable, blankets and picnic hampers of food.

All the trees here incline towards the North because of the wind. We crossed the Platte River in the morning and finally arrived at the Lazell’s at noon. Allie is sick and we hope she can rest and get better.

Jennie and I and Mama and Mrs. Lazell have seen much of the town. We have been to the Post Office, the Public Fountain, the State Capitol, and three churches. All are very large buildings.

The people here are very friendly and come to call often. After all, we are the newest ‘oddity’ in town. I am so tired of the same questions of why we are here and why we are headed Out West. Grandma just keeps saying it’s for the opportunities there. I still think it’s all just nonsense.

I must close this short note and will write more the next time,

Still your sad friend,

Hattie

Lincoln, Nebraska

September 17, 1885

Dearest Polly,

We are still in Lincoln Nebraska waiting for what I’m not sure. I am bored to death with seeing the same things here.

Grandma says the town is a nice size, that it has a town square with proper buildings, is very clean, and ‘nere a drunk to be found’. I think it is too bare of trees, hot sticky, dusty, and just boring.

Jennie has been sick with a bad cold so Nell and I have been ‘raising a ruckus’ Grandma says. Grandma’s patience is not a good here as it was at home.

One bit of excitement though, the State Fair is here all week and the farmers came into town with their goods to display and sell from Harvest season you know. There were so many people and so much bustle. Jennie and I got to visit everything and what a great time we had. The Lazell’s had several families stay with them while they were at the fair, so including all of us it was a very crowded house.

Mama and Charlie and Met have gone onto Denver to see about prospects in Colorado. We have not heard anything from them and Grandma seems very discouraged. She has even gone to a realtor in Lincoln to see about settling here. It seems there will be no going back.

I don’t know where my next letter will be from, but I will let you know when we land. I suppose Nebraska is just as good as Colorado. I am so far from home that it doesn’t matter.

Your lonely friend,

Hattie

Alamosa, Colorado

September 21, 1885

Dearest Polly,

Wonder of wonders-we finally received a letter from Mama and the boys. She had found us a place in Alamosa Colorado and we are to have it rent free. Mr. McDonnell is our benefactors name. Mama didn’t say why he’s doing this but we packed up right away and shipped our trunks out. Grandma paid $53.00 to ship our goods and $55.00 to ship ourselves.

At 10:00 p.m we boarded the train to Denver with crying again and fond farewells for a long trip. From Denver we changed trains to Alamosa and finally on September 19^th we awoke for our first glimpse of the “most beautiful Rocky Mountain morning and the awe of the San Luis Valley,” Grandma’s words.

Mama and the boys met us at the depot and the next morning we went up to the prairie to see our new home. Not much of a place as I can see. No windows and just a door for light, mostly a wood shack, but everyone was so happy to not be traveling anymore and be together as a family once again.

The first morning in our ‘new home’ we were all working hard to get breakfast which consisted of cooking over a hole in the ground. Very slow business at that, but we got it done. We sat on a work bench and boxes and boards and all laughed together and felt we should not be homesick any more. In the end we all cried.

It is cold inside the house, there is no fire inside and just a campstove outside for cooking. Mama has found 2 joints of pipe for the kitchen stove when it arrives so we can have heat indoors.

There is snow on the mountains over the valley and the water in the tub is freezing already. What a strange country this is, so different from what we’ve known back home.

Do you remember Mr. Emerson and his wife and son Charlie? Mr. Emerson is related to the writer Ralph Waldo Emerson from home. They have settled in Alamosa and are quite well established. They have been a great help to Grandmother and Mama so I guess we are as settled as we will be for awhile, at least through the winter.

I don’t know if you will hear from me soon, but until you do I remain,

Your best friend, Hattie

 

Alamosa, Colorado 

November 13th 1885

Dearest Polly,

I’m sorry it has been so long since I wrote, we all are so busy here that I have hardly had the time.

There is no school close by to go to so Grandma Strong has been teaching Nell and I our lessons in the morning, then all of us go outside to work hard on the homestead. Everyone has their chores to do, even Nell now.

Met and Charlie love the Wild West. They do all kinds of odd jobs, anything that pays, like picking potatoes for the farms or herding and feeding cattle or mending fences all day. Sometimes they don’t come home at night they are so tired. Then they stay over at whichever place they’ve been working at.

There is little time for play anymore. All of us are expected to pull our share and contribute. The boys have grown up so fast, they are our main breadwinners, but little at that sometimes. They hunt when possible. Allie and Grandma still keep house for us, Mama is often gone to see friends. There are so few people here that seeing anyone besides the family is a treat.

We get lots of mail from back home, but the longer we stay in this country the more we loose touch with our loved ones left in Jamestown. Their letters are long and newsy, but their life is so different from our life here. We live on the Frontier now. There is no proper society Grandma says. We all work alongside the boys, we have to, there is no one else to do it.

Charlie Emerson, Mr. Emerson’s son, comes over to help when he can. Mostly he comes over to pick up Allie to stay over at the Emerson’s house. She has become very close to the Emerson’s, or is the Emerson’s son? Grandma says there are so few young people of ‘good breeding’ here, and the Emersons’ are good breeding. Mr. Emerson has let us have a few cows to start our homesteading with, but it hard going to feed them and us.

We have seen few Indians. They pass by and look in the house at us. Like all settlers we were terrified at being killed at first, but we find the Indians here are hardly the savages we’ve been told of on the plains.

Our Indians are poor and dirty and hungry, always begging for food. Grandma gives them a few biscuits and sends them on their way. Their horses are starved, their dogs are starved, the men and women are starved. Only the babies look fat, at least until they are several years old and stop feeding off their mothers. I try and feel sorry for them but we are not doing so well ourselves that we can share much. Grandma says the Indians look like ‘coyotes, all shaggy sneaking dogs”. I suppose that is a fair description of both.

I must go now and finish more chores. I will try and write more often as time allows.

I feel so much more grownup now, I have left my childhood in Jamestown I think.

Still you dearest friend,

Hattie

Alamosa, Colorado

December 31, 1885

Dearest Polly,

Oh Polly it’s already the end on the year. So much has changed and our family most of all. Met and I go out most days to work on the claim. Every family member takes turns going out to the claim to clean it up and get it ready for Mining. Grandma and Mama are so sure we have a good gold pocket there, I just see a big hole in the ground. Met and I still fight a lot, Grandma Strong says we wear her out with our bickering. He’s just a mean boy! He thinks he can boss me around all day.

We mostly have the Emerson’s over or we travel to their place. Allie and Charlie Emerson have become a couple. They go out riding all day and don’t come in till dark , which makes Mr. Emerson scold.

Baby Nell had her 7^th birthday in November. She is old enough now to help with the house work, she can do the dishes. She and I still take morning lessons with Grandma but only when Grandma has the time. Grandma still does almost all the house work and Mama goes visiting, mostly to the Emerson’s but also to Dr. Hayne’s and his wife.

The Emersons had Mama and Allie over for Christmas dinner. Allie got for presents a red plush brush broom holder with a thermometer, a 2 lb box of fancy candy and a pair of kid gloves. Mama got a pair of wool blankets , a silk handkerchief and a shell pocket book.

Charlie Emerson brought some boards over and the boys made us a table so we can eat on something besides boxes. We also have more people to stay the night with us since we can feed more. Travelers are always finding a meal with us. Grandma says that the San Luis Valley has “beautiful climate and beautiful skies, if only skies were bread and butter what a beautiful time we would have”.

Grandma cooked 5 mince pies for New Year’s Day, Mama brought a turkey for her to cook, Allie made coconut cake, Met caught a 6 lb trout in the irrigation canal and our Charlie killed 9 rabbits. We should have quite a feast for the New Year.

We still get lots of letters from home and we write lots back, but home is fading. I am so glad to be able to write to you specially, you are always my bestest friend.

Happy New Year,

Hattie

January 15, 1886

Alamosa, Colorado

Dearest Polly,

Today is my 11^th birthday and no one even cares. Last year I had presents and my friends around me. This year is just barren land and cold and wind and my sisters and brothers. Mama gave me more stationary for my gift. She says I’m becoming quite the little writer of the family. I don’t want more stationary, I want my friends from home and a party and fun. We have so little fun anymore.

Every day Nell and I have a few lessons, but by midmorning I go out to the Claim with the boys and clear rocks and brush or shovel out the waste and help cart it out of the mine. Every day is the same chores, the same people, the same dull life. We never see anyone else but the Emerson’s. Charlie Emerson and our Allie have become a formal ‘couple’. I guess that means sometime soon they’ll be engaged. Charlie is o.k., but he isn’t very dashing or romantic.

Now Polly don’t scold, I have NOT been reading romances, you know how Grandma frowns on them. But for goodness sakes, can’t a girl hope for more? Grandma Strong says Charlie is good and strong and steady and from good breeding. Heck, so is a good horse! Sorry about the ‘cuss word’, I’ve been around the boys too much.

I know I shouldn’t complain, we have a house and the boys always find work and can kill enough rabbits to eat, but is this all there is to life? Boring!!

Your crabby friend,

Hattie

Rocky Mountains, Colorado

July 4, 1888

Dearest Polly,

Please please forgive me for not writing till now! I know it’s been simply ages since I’ve written, but so much has happened to the family that I hardly know where to begin.

First of all, we have moved several times since I last wrote you. We now live in a little mining camp along the Cottonwood Creek area near the Peak of the Crestone Mountain. There has been quite promising gold strikes here and as people have moved in and out of this area Grandma and Mama decided to come over this way to set up a sort of boarding house while the boys do odd jobs around the mines and a bit of hauling of goods for the few new families.

We all live in the same house, when the weather is nice the boys sleep outside or in tents. If we have visitors the men sleep outside and any ladies share the beds with us girls. Supplies are hard to come by. Grandma ran out of salt to preserve with so we had to make do with fresh meat, fresh bread, fresh potatoes, and fresh everything else. Charlie finally went into the San Luis Valley and brought us flour, sugar, salt, coffee, and some wheat for our chickens. Nell and I do all the washing now and Mama and us girls made a calf and cow corral all by ourselves. We don’t have any near neighbors and mostly just each other for company.

Most of our days are spent outside doing the usual chores. The boys work all the day and are quite grown up now. I have started learning long division and Grandma Strong says I am making good headway, which is very nice I suppose, but why I have to learn such things I just don’t know.

Nell and I wanted to do something to celebrate Independence Day so we drummed on tin cans and hammered on percussion caps. I think Grandma was not too pleased with the noise, but she finally just laughed at us. We ended today with Grandma killing one of the chickens and Mr. Duncan coming by and bringing us potatoes and staying to dinner. About Mr. Duncan, he is quite a ‘character’ Grandma says and I will tell you more about him and our other characters the next time I write.

Please don’t be angry with me for not writing for so long, I promise to do better from now on.

You are still my best friend,

Hattie

Rocky Mountains, Colorado

August 2, 1888

Dearest Polly,

One year ago today we all came up to this camp from Alamosa. I guess this place is no worse than most other mining camps are, it’s a hard place to make a ‘go of it’ as Grandma says.

Grandma, Nell and I milk the cows, feed the chickens, do housework, study a bit in the mornings and walk out in the afternoons looking for berries, particularly gooseberrys. Last night Grandma made stewed gooseberrys, cream biscuits, butter cookies and coffee for supper. Grandma has been trying to use soapweed for washing but she can’t make much out of it. She says we are ‘gaining inch by inch’, but I sure don’t see much difference in our life. We work even harder here in Colorado than we did at home in Jamestown, all without our friends and extended family around to help.

Our most interesting ‘character’ is Mr. John Duncan. Mr. Duncan came here from Boonsbury Indiana. Grandma Strong says that he was born in 1851 but came out here when he was 23 to find gold. He had heard from a soldier with Fremont’s Fifth Expedition that there was ‘untold wealth’ in our slopes. He built a cabin and has been prospecting here for nearly 14 years. I don’t know how much gold he has found but he travels to a smelter over in Pueblo every so often. Grandma keeps his jewelry and his cat while he is gone. The town of Duncan is named for him, not much of a town as a mining camp but it has a newspaper, the Duncan Eagle. Mr. Duncan is fond of staying over for dinner and telling stories. One of his favorites is the tale of the dead Indian is his tree. Seems a Kiowa hunting party left one of the Indian's perched in his yellow pine tree close to his cabin. Mr. Duncan really didn’t want a dead Indian in his tree so he moved him to another tree further from his cabin. When the Kiowa hunting party returned they were very unhappy about their Indian being moved and Mr. Duncan expected trouble. Lucky for him that the Indians just talked trouble but moved on in the end.

Grandma Strong says Mr. Duncan is a ‘nice old bachelor and don’t take advantage of friendship’. I think Mr. Duncan is sweet on Grandma.

I better close this for now, I will write again soon,

As always your friend,

Hattie

Rocky Mountains, Colorado

Thursday Nov, 29, 1888

Dearest Polly,

T0night is Thanksgiving night and we have all had our supper. Grandma had made frig and zied rabbit with gravy, potatoes, biscuits and butter, beet and peach pickles, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and coffee. We are all stuffed. All the boys are here for dinner including Mr. Duncan of course. After supper we all took a game of Casino. Mr. Duncan has gone home and Carlie has gone with him to spend the night.

Nell and I have put on our ‘best bib and tucker’ as Grandma says and have played ‘real civilized’.

The big news is the additions to our one room house. Carlie and Charlie and Metta have drawn 26 house logs with the horses, Pete and Pedro, and in only 3 weeks had made a kitchen and bedroom. Just in time for the first snow on October 6^th. We had lots of rain that day too which made Grandma mad cause she said we ‘had the benefit of a wet indoors as well as outdoors as a Colorado roof is not much good to shed water’. A Colorado roof is made of poles and covered with dirt!

Mr. Scanlas and Mr. Lane are paying Metta to cut posts for them for $8.00 per hundred and poles for $2.00 a pair. Met sent $2.00 with Mr. Lane to get groceries for us. Grandma says it is a bother to live so far from town but there are other conveniences that a town ‘ knoweth not of such as good wood and water for the getting.’

I suppose, but town does have people to visit besides family and boarders.

Till I write again,

Your dearest friend,

Hattie

Short Creek, Colorado

Friday March 8, 1889

Dearest Polly,

Our little camp finally has a name, Short Creek. And haven’t we all been as busy as bees around here. We had a wonderful Christmas and New Years followed by plenty of thieves!

First was Christmas. Nellie and I made paper flowers for the Christmas tree and made Christmas gifts. We had apple and pumpkin pies for dinner. Carlie fixed up my accordion and we all sang and played games in the evening. A Kentuckian came over from Sand Creek to get Metta to go and hunt for a party of hunters lost in the Valley.

Mr. Duncan and the whole neighborhood came over for New Year’s dinner and Nellie and I had fun on the ice.

Now for the thieves! Two men came here to buy the posts that Metta had cut except they stole the posts and some of our hay! They left in such a hurry that at least they didn’t steal our 6 new sacks of grain.

Then we had a large weasel thief kill 7 of our chickens in the chicken house by cutting their throats and sucking their blood. Metta shot and wounded it. We should treat all thieves like that!

Oh my goodness, I have forgotten to tell you about the biggest thief of all! Charlie Emerson ‘stole’ our Allie and made her his bride. She is now Alice Mary Walrath Emerson and has been for over a year. They now have baby Mary Alice, who is the sweetest baby that ever was and baby Jimmie. They live in Alamosa where Charlie is the Sheriff but Allie and the little ones come and visit often. I wonder why I forgot to tell you? It doesn’t seem fair that our Allie has gone and become a wife and mother of her own instead of our big sister.

I suppose when it’s my time to become a wife and mother I’ll understand it better, but not right now. Right now I just want to be a growing up child and little sister.

And of course your best friend,

Hattie

Short Creek, Colorado

Saturday, October 19,1889

Dearest Polly,

I haven’t written much lately as life is just too boring to put into words. Mama spends most of her time in Alamosa with Allie and the babies and Grandma and Nellie and I are here alone. Grandmas says that suits her just fine, but not me. The boys come along when they get time from working and stay the night as often as they can. I am learning the violin.

The most excitement was the 4^th of July. Carlie set off a stick of giant powder to wake up the mountains. They answered back ‘whang whang’. Mr. Duncan came back from Pueblo and had dinner, then picked up his cat and jewelry and went home to his cabin in Duncan.

We have a new ‘character’ in town. Moccasin Bill is his name and he and our Charlie are good friends. They have killed some Mountain Sheep for us to eat and brought us three deer to eat and best of all a pet antelope. Charlie named him Annie. A strange name for a buck. Annie liked to get loose and leap the chicken fence and we found him as far away as the camp of Lucky. The men at the Lucky Saloon liked to get him drunk and watch him try and hold up his head. Charlie tied a red bow around his neck so everyone would know he was a pet but some mean hunter killed him anyway.

There is talk between Grandma and Mama of Nellie and I going to a real school. Grandma says she has taught us all she can. Crestone is the biggest town but it’s far from here, maybe 7 miles or so. They have a big school for all the grades but we would have to live in town to go there. Other children from the Valley board with friends or relatives so they can go to school. I don’t want to leave Grandma and live with strangers!

I hate being picked up and moved just to please the adults. When do I get to choose what I do?

Your very cranky and rebellious friend,

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

Monday, November 18,1889

Dearest Polly,

Once again we are on the move, this time to Crestone, about 7 miles north of our home on Shortcreek. Mama and Charlie went into town and found us a house to live in this winter so Nellie and I can go to school. Grandma says it’s a ‘small rent, $2.00 a month, and she supposes a small house too’. It belongs to a rich man named Dexter. Mr. Marshall and Metta came down with a team of two mules and a span of horses to move our goods. It was snowing when we left and after we took our dinner we left around 1 p.m. We took Brindle and her calf along, then Whiteface broke out of the corral and caught up with us 3 or 4 miles from home. Mr. Kilgore stayed to keep up our house in Shortcreek.

We made it by nightfall to Mr. Moccasin Bill’s place, he’s the noted hunter who is our new character. It was so cold we had to stay the night with him. Next morning we started again for Crestone and got there around noon.

Grandma was excited to see the mountains change scenery and maybe excited to see a change of scenery of people also. Grandma is talking to Mrs. Griffith, Mrs. Hikifer, and her daughter about starting a Sabbath School.

I’m looking forward to school myself, it’s been a very long time since I was in a real school. I hope I make some nice friends of the girls already there. I had to be tested to see what grade to put me in and I guess that Grandma Strong wasn’t as good as a teacher as we thought. I have been put back several grades from where I should be. It doesn’t matter though, I’m going to study hard to catch up.

Here’s a secret. I think Mama and a Mr. Daniel Seger are keeping company. Mr. Seger has gone into business with our Charlie on several mining properties and he spends more time at our home than business would allow. I don’t think I like him much. Oh he seems respectable enough and from a good family in Lanark, Illinois but surely Mama has more sense than to ‘take up with a man’. Anyway, she’s 49 years old and should not be thinking of romance!

I think lots of changes are on the way for all of us.

Remember you are always my best friend,

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

October 19,1892

Dearest Polly,

It’s been ages since I’ve written you and I hope you forgive me for the lapse. I’ve had nothing much to write of late except for the usual schoolgirl tales which are not much interest in the long run. I was able to catch up my studies and be placed in the correct grade in school for my age. I made some schoolgirl friends over the year or so, but no one who can replace the trust I have in you as my best friend.

I did want to update you on one change in our small family. Allie’s dear baby Jimmie died at 15 months of age last year. He was such a beautiful baby and such a happy one too. I suppose one baby can’t replace another, but Nellie Rhodelia Emerson was born today to fill the hole in Allie’s heart left by Jimmie’s leaving. I wonder if Charlie is disappointed not to have had another son born. Baby Nellie is named after my baby sister Nell and Mama’s middle name, Rhodelia. Her big sister Mary is such a pretty little girl and Jimmie was a handsome boy, but this baby looks all squished up. I hope Allie isn’t too discouraged by her looks.

I am enclosing a picture of Jimmie when he was a baby. It seems sad that it’s all that’s left of his time here on earth.

I close with love, Hattie

Crestone , Colorado

Sunday May 14, 1893

Dearest Polly,

I finally have some exciting news to tell you. We have had our first murder trial down by Cedar Creek! It seems as John Mayer and William McFadden had staked a claim at Cedar Gulch which is north of Duncan. Their claims overlapped another group of prospectors by 5 feet and neither group would give up ground. Mr. Mayer lived with his family in Duncan and Mr. McFadden, who was single, lived in a tent at Cedar Creek. Billy Morris, who was with the prospector’s group, went to Mr. McFadden’s tent and had a heated argument. There was an exchange of shots and Mr. McFadden’s pistol began misfiring and when the shooting stopped Mr. McFadden lay dead in the tent.

All this excitement happened on May 11^th. Today was the Miner’s Court trial. My brother Charlie was one of the jurors. The jury ruled that Mr. Morris shot and killed Mr. McFadden in self defense. Mr. McFadden was buried in Cedar Gulch and Mr. Mayer has been assured no harm will come to him or his family as long as he gives up his claim to his mine, which he has done.

It seems like all such a waste, no good has ever come out of any mining claim along Cedar Gulch anyway.

The Cottonwood Camp area is booming with lots of new mining claims. Charlie is working with Mr.Dimmick in his mines for $3.00 a day. Charlie and Carlie have agreed to contract their own mine into a stock company with Mr. Dimmick. There are 6 shareholders with 15 shares each. Everyone is excited with Mr. Walling’s new stamp mill up and running. All and all things look to be pretty prosperous soon.

Soon to be your wealthy friend,

Hattie

Rocky Mountains, Colorado

December 25, 1893

Dearest Polly,

Merry Christmas my dearest and most devoted friend!

I am here at Grandma Strong’s for the holiday. There are so many new people moving into the area as the mines are said to be booming. Carlie and Charlie took 11 burros to the stamp mill and loaded them up with 170 pounds of sacked ore each. Two or three Mormon families have moved in and set up their tents which swells our population to twenty or so. More than enough Grandma says. Grandma has been making breakfast for the miners mostly she makes potato soup, egg pancakes, coffee and cabbage. For dinner she makes cabbage pancakes and coffee but the miners are late coming in so we all have to wait for them before we can eat.

Grandma made an ample Christmas meal today though. She had chickens, nice dumplings, tomatoes, potatoes, bread, cake, cookies, jelly cake, tea, coffee, and wine. Mr. Duncan, Billy Morris, the acquitted murderer, and Jimmy Malory all came to dinner. Mr. Duncan stayed till 11:30 p.m., mostly talking to Grandma about old times.

I have been playing my violin at plenty of dances around the different camps. My violin partner is John Charles. He is the oldest son of Judge Levin Charles and visits the family home in Crestone often. He is quite a good player and a congenial fellow. He is studying to be a lawyer with his Uncle, Judge John Charles of Denver. Right now he is just a law clerk but he has good prospects, so he says.

I will close now with a wish for a Happy New Year,

Hattie

Cottonwood Creek, Colorado

January 30, 1895

My dear dearest Polly,

I am sad to say that a great tragedy has befallen the family. Allie’s husband, Charles, was shot and killed while performing his duties as Sheriff of Alamosa. I am transcribing the article from the Alamosa paper for you as it details the murder far better than I could tell it.

“AN AWFUL TRAGEDY

C.H. Emerson, City Marshal, Shot by Abe Taylor

Capture of the Murderer and his Accomplices in Crime.

About one o’clock last Saturday afternoon the usual quiet of this city was disturbed by the whistle of the yard engine and ringing of the firebell. Inquiry developed the sad fact that instead of a fire that City Marshal C.H. Emerson had been shot while in the performance of his duty by the desperado Abe Herald, alias Abe Taylor. Excited men and women were everywhere seen and the crowd hastened to the mill, where the tragedy had occurred and where the wounded marshal lay.

The correct version of this sad affair is that during the forenoon of Saturday last Superintendent Johnson of the Alamosa Milling Company received a telegram from LaJara, Colorado stating that a load of oats had been stolen from the Sherwin ranch and to look out for it and the perpetrators of the theft. Marshall Emerson immediately located the criminals who were in progress for the sale of the stolen property. Messr. Emerson and Gerteisen first accosted Taylor in one of the leading business houses of the city and informed Taylor of the telegram and charge against him. Taylor denied any knowledge of the crime but was arrested pending investigation. Taylor seemed to take the matter philosophically and indifferently repaired to the mill, where the load of oats and the accomplice, young Thompson, where the team was. Taylor amicably agreed to drive the team to the livery stable to await further developments on the larceny charge. Marshal Emerson and Taylor mounted the wagon but the horses became fractious. Taylor dismounted to control the horses but appeared with revolver in hand. The awful tragedy began in dead earnest. Taylor’s first shot struck the little finger of Emerson’s right hand. The marshal fired at Taylor, whose second shot pierced the left breast of Emerson, who fell to the ground fatally wounded.

Marshal Emerson leaves his devoted wife, Alice Emerson and his daughters, Mary and Nellie.”

My poor sister is a widow now with 2 young girls. Mama has gone to be with her and I’m sure she will bring her back to Cottonwood to stay with us for awhile.

I hope that man Taylor is hanged by the neck till dead! I know I should be more of a Christian and forgiving, but I will never forgive such a mangy, sneaky, murdering thief! That Allie’s dear husband should be murdered over stolen oats is just too awful to bear.

I am your sorrowing friend,

Hattie

Cottonwood, Colorado

February 3, 1895

Dearest Polly,

We are still reeling over the tragedy of Allie’s husband being killed in January. Allie is being very brave for her two little girls. Mama brought Allie back here from Alamosa for awhile but she wanted to be in her own home so she went back to Alamosa. Charlie had so many friends in town that Allie won’t be alone too much. I don’t know how she is fixed for money, but I would hope the town of Alamosa provides some income as Charlie died doing his duty.

Are you ready for some ‘romantic’ news? Mama and Mr. Seger have gotten married! I cannot imagine why Mama would do such a thing. Surely she is too old for romantic nonsense. For goodness sakes Mama is 51 years old! I never have warmed up to Mr. Seger and don’t plan to ever call or think of him as “Papa”. She says she was lonely. Now how can she be lonely when she has us children and Grandma and now two lovely grand babies to be with I will never know. Mr. Seger is quite involved in all the mining around here and has invested in many claims, but I don’t see much substance from the man. He certainly comes from good stock and I suppose will be able to take care of Mama. For now they are staying with Grandma and Nell and I until he can buy a house for Mama in Crestone.

I wonder if I will find someone to share my life with in this small community. I have just turned 20 years old, have finished with my schooling, and so far just have friends to go to the dances with. Surely if Mama can find someone at her age I should be able to find a suitor too.

I would die if I have to be an ‘old maid’.

Your anxious friend,

Hattie the Spinster

Cottonwood, Colorado

February 28, 1895

Dearest Polly,

Oh my there is so much news I hardly know where to begin. First off, I have a suitor! I won’t tell you his name but he was traveling through town and stayed with Grandma and us for awhile. He is older than me of course and very dapper. He would be described as a ‘man of the world’. He has been so many places and seen things and loves to talk about his travels with me and the places he would like to show me. Sometimes he sits with me and holds my hand! My heart races when he does that! Oh my is this what love is? I just know he is going to propose soon, why else would he talk about taking me on his grand adventures? I’m not sure that Grandma or Mama wholly approve. Maybe just because he’s older, but not too old for me I can tell you!

Baby Nell has a suitor too. His name is Walter Parker and comes from a large family that lives here. A very nice boy and he and Nell seem very content together. He’s not too exciting but is devoted to Nell and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear of an ‘announcement’ from them. Nell is only 17 years old but she has never had any ambition to be anything but a wife and mother.

I have bee n writing articles for the Duncan Eagle newspaper. Mostly comings and goings of families and dances and such, but still a real job making a bit of money on my own. Grandma and Nell and I still do all the housework and work our garden and tend the milk cow but now I have a creative outlet for my writings. I feel ever so grown up.

When next I write I hope to be an engaged woman,

All my love,

Hattie

Cottonwood, Colorado

June 1st, 1895

Dearest Polly,

I wish I could tell you that I am indeed spoken for, but as yet have not had the experience of saying yes to a proposal. In fact, I have not even heard from my beau for quite some time.

He writes infrequently and says little of any future plans that we may have together.

I don’t understand this kind of love at all Polly. He was so very attentive whenever he stayed with us, surely he wouldn’t have talked of our going away together unless he had every intention of doing so honorably.

I can’t unburden to anyone about this. Grandma never was fond of him and would purse her lips whenever we spent too much time together and Mama has no patience for talk of the heart. I feel sick all the time. Grandma says I just need a good tonic, doesn’t she understand that for my kind of sick a tonic would be no use at all!

Oh Polly, I miss him every day. I miss our touching hands and sitting close and whispering soft love words. I know he loves me, he told me over and over how much he does!

He is traveling all around the West selling mining and mill equipment and he says how lonely he is in his hotel rooms without me by his side. He says other things too but they’re too private for even my best friend’s ears!

I never felt what it meant to ‘yearn’ for a man before, but if he would ask me I think I would go to him no matter what the arrangement would be. Of course he is too honorable to ever do such a thing, but at night I dream of just the two of us together.

I am ever practical and will bide my time and wait until he is in a better financial position to make his declaration. Oh how I hope it will be soon!

I remain your single friend, but not for much longer I hope.

Hattie

Duncan, Colorado

November 25, 1895

Dearest Polly,

I haven’t had anything newsworthy to write of late and I didn’t want to bore you with mundane details of my life, which is what it is….Mundane.

I have been so discouraged of late. Nothing ever happens here except for the occasional visitor, working in the garden, seeing the same few people over and over, sewing and mending. Oh we’ve had a few small ‘booms’ here and there but nothing that amounts to much over the long run. Everytime someone has a new strike there is talk and more talk about how this area is going to grow and we’ll all be rich. Just wishful thinking to my mind.

I receive fewer and fewer letters from my beau. I still love him with all my heart and am waiting for the day when he’ll be back this way again. He says he’ll be here soon, but he’s been gone so many months and still no sign of him. Grandma says I’m waiting for nothing while other opportunities go by, but I say true love is worth waiting for, isn’t it?

I have been playing at a lot of dances of late with my music partner, John Charles. I mentioned him sometime back. He’s a nice enough fellow, polite and very musical. He plays the violin and I play the piano, accordion, and violin. We have some jolly times at the dances and he always is the one to escort me sound to home. After the dances he stays over with us as he lives in Crestone which is 6 miles away and too far to go back to in the wee hours. Grandma thinks him a fine fellow from a good background with ‘promise’. She has been matchmaking for some time I think but my heart belongs to another. I don’t plan to lead John on of course but it is nice to see the way he looks at me and the way he pays me special attention. It isn’t mean to flirt now and then. We have become quite a couple with our music and I enjoy the dances ever so much more when he is there. John can be fun but he isn’t very dashing or romantic like the other one.

I can’t wait till my beau comes home for me and we can see new places and do exciting things like he promised.

Till then…

Hattie

Duncan, Colorado

January 15^th, 1896

Dearest Polly,

I am 21 years old today.

Grandma, Mama and Mr. Seger, Allie and the babies, Nell and her intended Walter Parker and his family, the boys Metta and Charlie, the whole extended family were here to celebrate the day with me. We had toasts, maybe a few too many as I have a headache this evening, and pies and cakes and all sorts of happy decorations, yet tonight I don’t feel festive one bit. I feel mostly sad.

Johnnie, John Charles you remember, came by too and brought me flowers picked fresh and a lovely card. He is here most times anymore and pays me all the attention of a prospective suitor. I confess it is a nice diversion and we do have good times and lots of gay moments, but my heart is spoken for and yet I have not heard from my beau in many months. I thought today of all days, my 21^st birthday, that a card or short letter would arrive from him, but it did not.

Grandma and Mama are pressing me to be more encouraging towards Johnnie’s suit and I try to be fun and sparkling around him, but when he goes home I feel flat inside. Oh he’s a nice enough boy and I do have a fondness for him, but not the love I feel for the other, the love deep inside that burns all the time!

My goodness, I thought I was over such melodrama at my age. Maybe Mama and Grandma are right, maybe I should grow up and come to terms with the fact that my love is not coming back, that he dallied with me while he was here to pass some agreeable weeks and never intended to keep his promises.

No…I’ll not believe it yet. I must give him more time to declare himself as I know he will .

I will wait.

Your sadder and older friend,

Hattie

Duncan, Colorado

January 29, 1896

Dearest Polly,

Johnnie asked me to marry him today. I told him no.

I feel so bad I cannot stand it. He has been very kind to me and I tried to be kind to him back, but in the end I had to tell him about ‘you know’. I told Johnnie that I loved another and that before I could come to him I would have to write to the ‘other’ and tell him about the proposal and see if he loves me enough to come back and marry me himself.

It hurts me so much to cause him so much pain but I think everything must work out for the best.

To-night I feel as blue as I did a year ago. Life does not seem worth living. If I don’t get over this it will surely drive me crazy, as crazy as I was last year. God help me, I want to do what’s right and I want to do right by Johnnie. I don’t want to make him miserable but I don’t want to be miserable myself.

I didn’t want to deceive him so I had to tell him why I had been holding back.

If Johnnie and I are meant to be then I will spend a lifetime trying to make him happy and be as kind to him as I can be.

I hope the snowy wings of innocence and love will protect him always.

I never thought love could be so painful.

Your friend in turmoil,

Hattie

Duncan, Colorado

February 18, 1896

Dearest Polly,

I received my answer back from Frank today. Yes, my beau’s name was Frank.

His reply was short and to the point. He is happy for me that I have a solid steady man who is asking for my hand in marriage. He doesn’t feel like he can make such a big commitment as marriage at this time, even tho he swears he loves me still. He wishes me well in the future and says he will cherish the memory of our few short weeks that we had together. A sad end to my dreams.

When I told Grandma about his reply she just said ‘good riddance’. Oh if it was only so easy for me! Grandma says it’s time to stop being such a moonfaced child and get on with the future. I suppose that future is my becoming Mrs. John Charles.

Johnnie is a good man and has worked hard to show me he can be a good provider. I do have fun with him and I will do my best to be the good and loving wife that he deserves.

I have heard it said that nothing replaces your first love, that special rush of passion that first love brings. That is all past for me now, I can go forward as a more sensible girl who is ready to grow up and give her husband her heart.

Oh God Polly! Such brave words when my heart is in pieces. I must do this! I am 21 years old and may not have another chance for a suitor in this small mining camp. If Johnnie should ask for my hand again I will say yes.

I will put my memories of Frank away with my other childish pursuits and get on with life.

Your loving friend,

Hattie

Duncan, Colorado

March 18, 1896

Dearest Polly,

To you my dearest friend I can pour out my heart.

I have been going to a lot of dances lately and don’t feel too well tonight. I danced until 12:30 a.m. and danced more than I ever have. I am lonesome for Johnnie. I left him tonight going home in a dream. He says he has a dose of love and maybe I’m indulging in a little dose of love myself. I have been slow to come around but I think I am capable of love now.

I have a bad cold and my throat is sore, I think a ‘hot whiskey sling’ will be just the thing. I have been indulging in strong drinks lately, it is good medicine for me. I know I am naughty to be drinking and know I must stop but you understand why I am doing it. I’m afraid I’m ‘batch crossed eyed’ tonight and am awful dizzy.

Johnnie says there is still “Only One” question left to answer. I must answer it soon. I miss his sweet kisses and I can imagine the pressure of our lips together. When he kisses me I can forget the ‘other’ for awhile.

When the time comes I will be his true girl.

You are always my true friend,

Hattie

Duncan, Colorado

April 20, 1896

Dearest Polly,

I am an engaged girl!!

Johnnie asked the one question still unanswered and I said ….Yes.

I feel like I’m floating.

He’s such a good and kind man and I’m learning to love him more and more each day. We have put the other matter behind us and only look to the future from now on.

I am going to write forever tonight because I want you to know all about him.

First of all he is 29 years old. He is medium height, slight build with blonde hair which is already beginning to thin a bit. I think he is very handsome of course. He is soft spoken, loves music as much as I do and is gentle, no rough ways thank goodness. He does chew tobacco but I’m sure after we’re married I can get him to stop that nasty habit.

He has a brother Frank who is 3 years younger. Frank was married to Elise (Baby) Brothers 3 years ago. They had a son Sydney the next year but he died last year. Since then Baby has spent most of the time in Denver with her family. I don’t think she is coming back to Crestone. Frank is a bit of a drifter, he works at all sorts of odd jobs at different ranches and just now he is in Victor, Colorado working as a miner.

Johnnie’s father lives with him. He is Judge Levin Charles, retired from the Saguache County Court. Judge Levin and his older brother, Judge John Charles, came to Colorado in 1862 to do mining law. Judge John lives in Denver. He is married to Fannie and they have an adopted daughter Maude. Maude is a story all to herself. She is the black sheep and causes the family all sorts of trouble and heartache. I could write an entire novel on Maude.

Judge Levin brought his 2 boys out to Crestone in 1883. Their mother Annie had died and they were being raised by their Aunt Cynthia. Johnnie and Frank took to Colorado right away. They had lots of freedom and they planned on being cowboys and fighting Indians. The Indians were gone or tame by the time they got here.

Johnnie studied on a law career like his family. His ancestors settled in North Carolina in the 1700’s and were all lawyers.

Johnnie spent a year in Denver clerking law for his Uncle John. He seemed to take to it well and then something happened and he came back to the home ranch in Crestone and he’s stayed here ever since.

So this is the family I’m marrying into. I will be caring for my husband, my father-in-law, and probably his brother too. Quite a daunting task for a new bride I think. As long as Johnnie and I have each other though all else will fall into place.

I am your floating on air friend,

Hattie Walrath, soon to be Charles!

Cottonwood, Colorado

November 19, 1896

Dearest Polly,

I am so excited that the big day is almost here and I just must tell you about all the goings on in preparation.

Johnnies dear dear Uncle John in Denver has been so generous to send us everything we'll need to set up proper housekeeping. We have new blankets and comforts and pillows and sheets and towels and napkins and 24 yards of swiss cloth so I can make new curtains and such from Joslins Dry Goods in Denver. He also is providing a new carpet and wallpaper! I am so lucky to be starting out with so much. His Uncle John even took Johnnies measurements for his wedding suit.

Uncle John has shipped a bedstead, bed springs, mattress, one of his extension tables, 6 chairs and 1 rocking chair. I guess we wont want for anything after this.

The Charles Ranch house is another matter. It's small but sturdy, built not from logs but heavy timber. A solid house . The main house was built in' the 70's and the addition finished this year. The 'final proof' on the Homestead was made this year too. There is plenty of land, a place for the garden and maybe one of my lilac bushes will take there. Of course there is a small stable for our cow as well as a small blacksmith shop. Unfortunately the house is in complete disarray and very dirty, what with the menfolk 'batchin it” for so long. No matter. Johnnie and I will get it shipshape in no time.

Oh Polly, I am so anxious to make it my own, and a little scared to tell the truth. But I'll have Mama and Grandmother and all my family close by to help me navigate my new life as a married woman.

Closing for now,

Hattie Walrath (not much longer)

The Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

November 26, 1896

Dearest Polly

Yesterday was the Day of Days as Grandmother said. I became Mrs. John Charles! Mrs. John Charles! Mrs. John Charles!

Even as I write my new name it doesn't seem quite real yet.

The day started out cloudy and I began to despair then as the noontime approached the sun came out and all was perfect. Rev. Mr. Newman of Hooper officiated the ceremony at noon with about 30 guests in attendance All my family of course and Johnnies father Judge Levin Charles and his brother Frank who stood up for him. After prayers and blessings and congratulations were finished we all sat down to a dinner that no one could be ashamed of. Our older guests left before night but we younger people staid and danced and partied till the small hour of 1 a.m. All are pleased for us but Johnnie and I are the best pleased and happiest of all! Grandmother Strong's blessed us with the wish that we may go through life living for and living each other.

I know I've made the right choice in a helpmate and lifemate. Together we will weather what comes and love each other forever.

One small incident I must tell you about. During the ceremony and afterwards I saw the strangest person watching from a small distance away. I will presume it was a woman but hard to tell. Short hair, men's breaches, strange shoes, just staring at me the whole time. It was quite unerving I can tell you. She didn't move or interfere with us, just watched so intently that I finally asked my brother Mett to go over and ask her to leave as this was a private ceremony and she was trespassing He said he didn't see anyone but he went over anyway and when he got close she was gone! I don't know where or how she left but her gaze and demeanor were quite odd. No matter, the day was all I hoped it would be and November 25, 1896 will always be my happiest day ever!

I am so over the moon in love,

Mrs. John (Harriet) Charles

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

March 24, 1897

Dearest Polly,

I have such sad sad news to impart. Johnnie's dear Father passed away today. He had been visiting in Denver for a spell after our wedding and in his letters to us he expressed how tired and weak he was. He said not rest nor medicine seemed to relieve the malaise. Once he came back to the home place he didn't seem to get any better. He had written his brother John that he was very blue after retiring from the Judgeship in Sauguache and wasn't able to muster up any enthusiasm for anything. Not that he enjoyed his time as Judge in Suaguache. He often said the town was “full of no goods, dead beats, saloons, and the sorriest excuse for a town he ever saw”. Neither hunting with the boys nor reading his favorite papers seemed to help. Finally he caught a bad cold which went into pneumonia and he passed on to that perfect reward promised us by our Lord.

Our sadness is tempered with the knowledge that he is now with his beloved wife Annie and their first born baby whom he was separated from for so many years in death.

We are in Sorrow,

Hattie

RIP my dear father in law.

Judge Levin Carroll Charles

April 2, 1824 to March 23, 1897

Age 73

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

September 19, 1898

Dearest Polly,

All has been as usual here so I've had no news worthy of writing to you about.

Johnnie has been staying up in Denver as his Uncle John is in poor health and recovery seems to be fleeting. He writes often and I know he is so frustrated with the situation with his cousin Maude , adopted daughter of Uncle John and his wife Aunt Fannie, who has been such a trial to all with her wild ways. When Maude married Harrison (Harry ) Givens on April 15, year of 1891, we all thought she would settle down to be a good and productive wife. It was not to be. Harry was a wasterell who couldn't succeed at this Flower Business nor anything else. He stole money from Uncle John, abandoned Maude to run off to Kansas where Uncle John pursued him and brought him back to Denver. No charges were pressed of course and the family hoped all would settle down. It was not to be. Harry and Maude were divorced but that did not stop the fighting between them. All came to a head when Harry attacked Uncle John at the house while trying to break in and attack Maude. She escaped by climbing over the upstairs balcony and hiding with a neighbor. Finally Harry, who was then living with his mother and brother Walter in rooms at the Charles Block downtown, took an overdose of Laudanum which he was addicted to and died before the doctor could revive him. Maude has since gone to carry on with various low type of men who use her for her allowance from Uncle John. She makes no effort to be a decent woman and I'm glad that Aunt Fannie has not lived to see the state her adopted daughter is in. John despairs of dealing with her and her constant demands for money. He thinks Uncle John may yet recover but I think not. He is so lonely there and misses me very much. He worries about me here on the ranch but I have plenty of help with family and all but can't wait until we are together again.

I miss him too

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

December 9, 1898

Dearest Polly,

Today Johnnie and I received the sad news that his Uncle John has died in Denver. At the hour of his death it is reported that his faithful dog who never left his side these last terrible months started howling for his master. Maude of course was not by her father's side, but will certainly make an appearance in time for the disposition of the will. Uncle John was in intense pain the last several months of his life from renal disease and we must be grateful to the Lord that his suffering is not longer.

He was a great man, a distinguished lawyer, and a staunch Republican all his life. He was a pioneer of the Denver Law Community arriving in 1862. He will be missed by his peers as well as those of us who loved him.

Mr. A.M. Etsey is in charge of the will and other legal matters for Uncle John and Johnnie and I both fervently hope that he can make some headway with Maude and stop her bothering Johnnie with her constant crying and pleading.

Judge John Quincy Charles

October 5, 1822 to December 9, 1898

age 76

As always,

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

May 30, 1898

Dearest Polly,

The most wonderful fantastic thing occurred yesterday and Im finally able to share it with you. I know I've been neglectful in not confiding in you sooner but I've been so afraid something would go wrong. It often does you know.

Yesterday May 29 I and baby passed the Crisis and I gave birth to a healthy beautiful perfect baby Boy! I'm a mother at last. I can't express in writing my joy and pride in him. Grandma pronounced him a “fine fella” and indeed he is. He has his father's light hair and John is so proud to be strutting around. My goodness you'd think he did it all by himself. I'm so happy that my first was a boy and I know John is so pleased also. What every father wants.

Mama and Grandmother and Allie were all here to help and they will stay awhile until baby and I are settled.

I must tend to him now and try and rest while I have the help.

His name?

John Levin Charles Jr.

Would it be anything else? We will call him Little Jack or Jack.

My heart is too full of love and happiness to write more for now.

I am the proudest Mother in the World tonight

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

March 22, 1899

Dear Polly,

I have been so busy with baby and all that I've hardly had time to think or write. Baby is so sweet and so far has been healthy for which I thank all the powers that be on his behalf. My days are filled with taking care of his needs and those of my husband and his brother Frank. Frank mostly lives with us, occasionally works in the mines around here or over in Victor, Colo, then back with us. He was married to Elise (Babe) brothers in '93 but after the death of their baby Sydney in '95 and his pending divorce this year he has lost all ambition and does not stir himself much to help with finances nor help around the Ranch. As he is John's only living family I try to keep my peace.

Crestone and area seems to be booming again with new interests moving in all the time. There are several new strikes in the area which gives the town a “boom town” feel. Even Cottownwood where Mama, Mr. Seger, Allie and Grandmother live is feeling the Boom. There are about 20 houses with inhabitants living there now Grandma says. It's a very exciting time to be here I can tell you.

John and my brothers have been busy supplying logs and doing assorted work for the mines. If only their pay kept up with their work, but such is the way the business interests work ,I'm told.

My joy is always my dear baby boy and if I want for more it's only to see his future brighter.

Sending all my love,

Hat

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

January 1, 1900

Dear Polly,

I can hardly believe a new year and a New Century are upon us! So much has happened to our little family in the last Century that I thought I would catch you up on all the changes in our lives that I might have missed.

If I repeat myself I know you won't mind as you as ever my most trusted and patient confidant.

I'll start in the beginning when in September of '85 2 widows and 5 children sold everything and packed up goods and parcels to make a new life in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. Mama, Grandmother Strong, Charlie, Mett, Allie, myself and Nellie began our grand adventure. It was often hard going but we held together as a family should and from our beginning in Alamosa Colorado we moved to the mining camps of Short Creek and then onto to the camp of Cottownwood, once known as Lanark. Now of course I live in the town of Crestone with my new family.

We have been blessed with joyful marriages and the deepest sorrow of loosing loved ones.

Are you ready for an accounting?

Grandmother Charity Strong is doing well altho she never remarried after Grandfather Israel Strong died in '80 in N.Y. She does favor a Mr. John Duncan of Duncan, Colo, but of course no marriage at her age.

Mama Emma Walrath married Mr. Daniel Seger in '95. They live in Cottownwood with Grandmother for now but are looking for a house in Crestone for them and Mr. Seger's 3 children.

Brother Mett married Lena Lawrence, Judge Lawrence's granddaughter, in '95. Their first child, Emma Lena was born in '97 and died in '97. Their second child, Hazel May was just born in '99. I expect more will be added to their family in time.

Brother Charlie is yet unmarried and enjoying the bachelor life.

Sister Allie married Charley Emerson in '86. Mary Alice was born in '87, little Johnnie in '90 but died in '91, and Nellie Rhodelia in '92. Charley was murdered in '95, he was the Alamosa Sherri ff, and Allie seems to have no interest in making another match.

Then there is me, Hattie, married in '96 to John Charles and I have one delightful little boy, John Jr. born in '98.

Finally the baby of our family, sister Nellie, just married to Walter Parker and no little ones yet but we are hopeful soon.

Not a bad accounting as I see it. We've been blessed with so few deaths, alto the death of children and a cherished husband are awful occurrences All in all we prosper here in the Valley and may we continue to do so.

Always my love,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

August 22, 1900

Dear Polly,

It is a sad day for us here in the Valley. The San Luis Valley Land and Mining Co headed by Mr. GeorgeAdams and founded in '97 have succeeded by skullduggery and dirty dealing to get a judgment against the inhabitants of Cottonwood to force them off their land which was deeded to the Company after all these years the inhabitants living there. The Company was awarded all the grazing and mining rights which nullified the mining claims we had held and worked for so long. First the inhabitants, including Mama, Mr. Seger, and Grandma, were told they had to pay to live in their own houses, like a rent owed to the company. Then Mr. Adams threatened to call in the U.S. Marshalls to forcibly remove all the people and tear down the houses. They were offered $125.00 for the property that was stolen from them, which they finally took. Originally the Company had offered $50,000 for all our homes and our mines, but Mama held out thinking they had the law on their side and could keep their homes, or get more money for them, but when the lawsuit was settled in the Thieves favor those left in Cottonwood were at the mercy of the Company.

We have all been busy as bees packing and moving the family to Crestone. Mama and Mr. Seger and Grandma have taken the house across the road from us and we are papering it and cleaning before they move in. As nice as it will be to have them closer than the 12 miles Cottonwood was from us, it is still a sad time in the Valley. Grandma said she didn't look back at the old homestead once she was in the wagon and on her way and she had no regrets but I wonder if I would have been so brave.

I worry about this land grab in the Valley and if the powerful forces of the Company will affect our lives further. I pray not.

Ever Hopeful

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

January 6, 1902

Dear Polly,

Life has been going on in a predictable pattern with little excitement to share with you. John has been in great demand to play his Violin at the area dances for which he's paid $5 or sometimes $10. Most welcome money. I accompany him on the piano when there is one to play but it's John who is the star of the family! We have become quite the duo around the Valley. We practice at home most nights and it is one of our great pleasures that we share in each other.

I've been hopeful of adding to my little family with Johnnie 3 ½ years old now but we have not been blessed so far. (I say this in a whisper to you dear friend, John has purchased an 'electric belt' and we are hopeful that perhaps that can cure the 'problem' . I dare not comment on the device to him and have decided it's best to just ignore it's presence.)

During the Christmas Holidays John and little Jack and I went up to Denver for a visit and had my and Jack's pictures taken at the Nast Studio there. I must say we do look like a handsome duo. I will send you copies.

Also in happy news my dear friend Lucille Gregory and her husband Frank had a little boy today! Grandma went up to see him already and pronounced him a 'good one and worth raising'.

Post script:January 23, 1902

Frank and Lucille's dear baby boy passed away this morning aged 18 days.

Post script:January 24, 1902

Went to baby Gregory's funeral.

I close for now,

Hat

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colo

Dearest Polly,

February 2, 1902

Johnnie has been ill and now has come down with pneumonia The Doctor has been here and is hopeful all will be alright.

February 3,

Little Johnnie is no better but no worse. Doctor thinks that if he has no fever he will be better in a few days.

February 5

Johnnie is doing a little better today.

February 6

At 10 minutes to 5 this morning my dear little boy left us.

My heart is broken.

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colo

February 7, 1902

Dearest Polly,

My most precious, my most loved, my darling little John Levin Charles Jr. was visited by death yesterday morning and death left it's shining mark and took my baby boy from us. It doesn't seem that this can be, that my light has been taken from me and left such a dark and dead heart behind in his mother and father. I sat and rocked him in my arms while the dawn appeared and prayed to a merciful God that baby would awaken and give me one more of his lopsided smiles. He is gone. There are no words of comfort, no commiseration from others that have lost babies, nothing that fills the ache deep inside me. An ache only a mother can know. John has been stoic as befits the father, but I know in private he is grieving as desperately as I am.

Grandma says that such is life and death. We shall be with him someday. Some day? What about all the days from now on without his laugh, his joy, all gone forever. Mama says this is what we as mother's must bear. She did as she lay my sister baby Lois to rest. I now join that awful motherhood. I have no words. It's as if I died with him. I know I must go on with the process of everyday living, it's expected of us, but I will never be the same. Death's mark has left its print.

I can write no more,

H

February 8, 1902

My dear little man, my dear baby Johnnie was laid away in his bed of beautiful flowers that were all his own today. We laid him where I can see him from my kitchen window next to Frank and Elise's baby boy Sydney. I shall miss him every day. After all that was done that could be done was over, we came home.

H

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

May 29, 1902

Dear Polly,

Today would have been my precious baby's 4^th birthday, had he lived. Mama came over and put fresh flowers on his grave. Grandmother has not yet visited his grave but she will soon I'm sure.

The spring flowers are all in bloom but my world has lost its color. All around me I see only gray. Oh yes, I go on with the business of life and my duties as a wife, but I am no longer a mother. The part of the day that is hardest for me is rising in the morning. I still go to Johnnie's bed to kiss him awake, to smooth his fine light hair, to watch his eyes drift open and his smile to open the day, He's not there of course. He lies deep in the ground lying in his favorite blanket with the satin pillow his Grandma made for his eternal rest under his head. The plain box that my brothers and his Papa made holding his sweet self. When John and the others are out working and I know I have time alone I go over to the grave and sit beside it, talking to my boy as if he were alive beside me. Sometimes I read his favorite story, or I sing one of our favorite songs, silly ones that made him giggle. Thats when I feel a little less alone I suppose. It would never do to let John or my family to know I do this. A mother must put aside her grief and carry on as all mothers have done before her. At bedtime I lay beside my husband and long to be in his comforting arms, to cry out my anger, to share our grief. This also is not the way it's done. There is a wall of grief between us and while we are not cold to each other neither are we as close and loving as before.

The one constant is a strange one. Remember the odd woman I saw at our wedding? The one who left so quickly and quietly no one saw her go? She has reappeared more often and still keeps her distance but her gaze is so unnerving and direct yet welcoming that I wish she would come closer so we could talk. I feel in this odd woman a kinship of a unexplained sort. I saw her shortly after my dear baby was born and through the years, always standing in the same place and sometimes looking perplexed, as if she's surprised where she is and somewhat confused. I surmise she's a bit touched in the head , yet I never am frightened by her presence. Now when I see her I'm comforted It could be grief has made me the one touched in the head.

I've saved the big news for last. I am expecting again. After 4 long years I'm to have another child. John and my family are pleased but I'm not sure how I feel. Grateful yes to be a mother again, but also strangely angry. As my dear little boy was dying in my arms, another child was already on the way. Does God think that this new baby can take the place of my precious one? Am I supposed to put my first born aside in my heart? Oh yes a mother's love can cover all her children, but I confide in only you Polly, it will not be the same. I am not so very excited and feel a resentment towards this new life . My time is due in October so it will not be very long for baby to arrive. Perhaps once the day comes I will look upon this new child and feel the love and contentment a mother should.

Until then I keep my own counsel and express my doubts to only you. And maybe to my odd woman next time she appears. I think she would understand.

I am...Mother to be again,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colo

October 13, 1902

Dear Polly,

Yesterday the 12^th baby and I passed our Crisis and we have a girl born to us. She is a healthy 7 ¼ pounds. Quite large for a girl. Yes I am a mother again, for how long only God and the fates know. Grandmother says that she is pleased that another dear baby has come to fill the place that little Johnnie left. As if it could be.

I think John was disappointed that this child is not another boy, but for myself I'm secretly pleased. There will be less to compare to my dear Johnnie. I am just relieved that the Crisis is passed and all is well for the both of us. In time I expect I will love this one as much as I did our Johnnie. For now I'm just grateful the Crisis is over.

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

December 27, 1902

Dearest Polly,

I write with happy Christmas greetings to tell you all is well with us, baby, and the rest of the family. Our celebrations included all the family for which we are grateful to be together. I had a heavy heart as this is the first Christmas without my dear Johnnie. How he would have loved the decorations. Baby is still too young to notice much around her but she seems to be a bright one at that.

I think we have finally agreed on a name for her. We waited to see if she would live the first several months before committing a name to her but as the new year approaches it is time. Harriet Clementine Charles. Grandma and Mama approve. Harriet after myself and Grandmother's mother. Clementine is just because it's a pretty name. Baby Harriet started out looking like her Papa with his fair coloring and hair but I think this will be a child that favors me.

After all had left after the festivities I went out to Johnnies grave and laid a small toy on it I had been saving for his Christmas present. No one else knew I'd gone out there except that odd woman who shows up from time to time. She was standing by his grave and this time gave me a small smile and then was gone. It was comforting to share this small gesture with her. Maybe I'm still crazy from grief but it doesn't matter anymore. I like having this odd friend, albeit a silent and strange one, who seems to understands how I feel.

Moving onto a new year I pray for the continued health of all and hope the year will bring us happiness and prosperity, the latter which has been lacking for some time in our area. We soldier on, what else is there to do.

Lovingly,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

November 19, 1905

Dear Polly,

Can you believe once again I have let so much time pass without writing you? The struggles of life and living have interfered with my writing but today I vowed to take some time and take up pen to you.

First, baby Harriet and all family are fine and doing as well as can in these hard times. But then when weren't times hard for those of us who work the land and depend on the Larger Concerns for our livelihood.

Baby Harriet is no longer a baby but a beautiful child of 3. She indeed has my features and my darker hair and eyes. I've never indulged in the sin of vanity but I look at my darling daughter and wonder at her fineness. I am enclosing a recent picture of my girl so you will not think I'm bragging.

John has had a hard time making a go of it in Crestone and area for some time now. The mining interests wax and wane and businesses move in and out accordingly. I economize where I can but when the garden fails and there is no water for hay and alfalfa it's a tough time. John has gone to Diamondfield Nevada to work in the mines opening there. A bleak place devoid of life and very little water except that which is brought in. He sends me all of his wages he can but that leaves him 'broke' and he is frustrated about where the money goes and why he's not getting ahead. I try to understand and not get angry when he criticizes my housekeeping management. He works so very hard but then so do I as most of the work around the Ranch falls to me. My brothers try and help when they can but they are looking to pulling up stakes for awhile and joining John in Nevada if the work holds out there. John writes that he misses us desperately and thinks that with 5 or 6 months of steady work ahead , Harriet and I should leave and join him for the winter. I suppose it would be milder there than here. The fields here are done for the winter and I could board the cow and horse out to family for their care. I'm of an anxious mind to pull up and join him but if he says come then I will do what he says of course. He doesn't want me telling the family about those plans yet and certainly not about how much he misses us. He is a proud man as all decent men are and his needs are for my eyes alone. I will say nothing for now and wait to see how this 'new strike' progresses He wants me to start packing in preparation for his word to move but I think I will not start yet. Time enough after he gets a better idea of how much and how long the work will last there. I know nothing of Nevada except it is barren desert, unbearably hot in the summer months and desolate in the winter ones.

We shall see,

Staying in place Hattie,(for now)

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

September 23, 1906

Dear Polly,

Once again I take pencil in hand to update you on the home news. Business concerns remain difficult here for those of us who have stayed. John and Frank started a Brick Kiln some time ago and while there was building they prospered some but now with not many new interests coming in all is at a standstill. Of course it may be harder to prosper when John and Frank spent many of their days sitting on benches outside the Bank Building chewing tobacco and spitting. My John is a good man but how I wish he had more ambition to better himself and our little family.

Frank had “one of his restless spells” and left for Victor, Colorado to work in the mines there. They are having quite a boom with lots of hard work to be had. He says there is “more work than he feels like doing” and he feels a thousand years old. His friends spend his money faster than he can make it and it's time to go where he has no friends to help him be broke. I don't think my dear brother in law needs so many friends to help him spend money as he has always been able to do that very well on his own. He wants John to sell off the land on the Lower Ranch but I hope John ignores this idea. Frank is ready to move on again but doesn't say where. I expect it will be back here with us until he gets restless again.

Baby Harriet and I and all are healthy and doing as well as can be expected. I don't have the luxury of moving on when I have hard work I don't feel like doing. I suppose I sound a little grumpy but sometimes I wish the men worked as hard as we women do. Ah well, such is the fate of us women and I suppose it is the correct order of things.

I must be extra tired tonight. My next letter will be much cheerier I promise.

My love always,

Hat

Crestone, Colorado

October 12, 1906

Dearest Polly,

I promised you a cheerier letter the next time I wrote and here it is. It seems as though my letters have been so much of birth, death, birth, death as is the pattern of life, but now I will write a letter of bits and pieces that fill in those events.

My darling beautiful daughter is 4 years old today. If only her brother could have lived to attain the same age I think he would have been a great big brother.

I have not been blessed so far with a little brother or sister for her but we are a happy family with just the three of us. Prepare for a mothers bragging.

I put Harriet in clothes and shoes for the first time when she was 6 months old and had her first picture taken then. She said her first word at 18 months, of course is was “Papa”. She lost her first tooth at 11 months 16 days and she walked at 16 months. Altogether a very accomplished little lady. With her Papa working away from home so much she is my constant companion and joy. She wants to help with everything but my greatest pleasure is how musical she is. She tries to play the piano and has learned a few easy pieces and goes around the house singing all day. May I be forgiven to think she has a real talent. Between her Papa and I how can she not?

Frank did indeed return to our home ranch when he quit work in Victor but unusually he did not stay long. He's working in Villa Grove on the Trinchera Grant as a foreman he says. Quite good news but I doubt it will last as he is too restless to stay long. How I wish he were more stable and responsible but I thank my luck that my John is the responsible one.

Times continue to be hard here with little work but John does what he can where he can. There is some talk of a new crop that is becoming popular with some potential and that's Ginseng. John has been looking into it and thinks it's a good idea. I hope so as the market for hay and timothy and alfalfa is limited with the mines not producing so much and as their horses, mules, and donkeys are not in demand then neither is their feed. The Big Ranching concerns out on the Baca Grant provide all the feed they need for their own stock without buying from us. We are lucky to grow our own vegetables and have our own milk cow so we are doing better than some. Hard times have always been the norm and we must accept this and trust that favorable conditions will return. Most of the mining camps my family lived in such as Liberty, Duncan, Short Creek and Cottonwood have been abandoned and the homes and buildings left to fall into disrepair and collapse. Many people moved to Crestone and have now gone onto other booms. Such is the expansion of our country but it's still sad to see the old places disappear.

My goodness listen to me so philosophical sounding. I will close for now as I want to make a cake for Harriet's celebration. All my family that can will be here for her party. Each year marked is a blessing to be savored and we all intend to do the finest savoring we can!

Happy 4^th Birthday to my darling Harriet Clementine,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

October 17, 1907

Dear Polly,

I take pen in hand to once again record the passing of a dear loved one. Grandmother left for her reward today and we are mourning the loss of our Guide and beloved Mother and Grandmother. These past years Grandmother lived with Mama and her husband and was mostly in fair health. The last passing year left her tired more and more and she rarely left the house but for special family occasions and even then only for short periods. While her passing was not a surprise it is still a hard one. Grandmother was the one who decided on all of us immigrating to Colorado, held us together through life's storms, the one I felt closest to. She was my Grandmother, my teacher,

and in many ways like my Mother. Mama had to work as she could and Grandmother had our care and upbringing.

We were blessed to have had her for so long to guide us with her strength and love. She has finally come to that long rest that she so richly deserves.

My head is content that she is residing with our Lord, but my heart is heavy with loss.

We shall all miss her dearly,

Hattie

Charity Bugbee Strong

January 17, 1820 to October 17, 1907

age 87

Crestone, Colorado

June 22, 1908

Dearest Polly,

I have the most wonderful exciting news to impart. Yesterday the 21^st I gave birth at last to another baby boy, a fine healthy baby boy. He has my dark hair and is perfect in every way. We couldn't wait to name him and we chose Levin Lewis Charles, after both his Grandfathers. His big sister, being 6 years older than him, immediately decided to become his protector and fiercely watches over his every breath.

John is so proud to have a son again, not that he doesn't love Harriet, but there's something about the father/son bond that is special to a man.

Oh yes, once again that odd woman has come to visit me. I saw her right outside my window this morning gazing through at Baby, then she lifted her head and stared straight at me with the sweetest small smile as if to say Well Done. I smiled back but did not get a response. It's possible that she is touched in the head as I've often wondered. She regained that odd distant look she often has like she's surprised to be here, and then she moved off and was gone. For all that I was pleased to see her.

I am relieved the Crisis is over and baby and I are doing well. My old fears about loosing a child have come back. I say nothing of course, it would not be seemly to think about a child's loss, yet how can I not? My precious Johnny was also a healthy one until his short deadly illness. I must not dwell on such things, life is never guaranteed in our little ones. Rather I have to enjoy each moment I have with him and do my best to be vigilant against the harm that can come to our innocents. My joy at being blessed with another child is unbounded.

I am a Mother of Two!

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

October 9, 1910

Dearest Polly,

I have the happiest of news for you. Today our family was increased by another baby boy. Harriet at 8 years old takes her big sister responsibilities to heart once more, as she has done with Levin, and now a new baby comes into our lives. He is so fair and already I can tell he favors his Papa. My Crisis was not so difficult as before for which I thank all that be. We have decided again not to wait in naming him and have chosen Carroll Christian Charles. Carroll was his Papa's fathers middle name. Christian because I like it. He is fine and looks healthy but my worries do not abate even at that.

Harriet is doing well after a terrible scare earlier. She came down sick and nothing I did could aleeve her fever. John was in Denver attending to business. Mama came by to help but Harriet seemed to rally and Mama went home. Then another fever fit came on and I despaired of her recovery.

Clara Farnham came and spelled my care so that one of us was always sitting with her with a cool rag, not much help but all we could do. Finally Harriet rallied and very slowly began to recover. The fever has left her a bit frail and sickly so I tend to fret over every little cold and sneeze. It is ever such with our little ones, their lives are so fragile. For now she and Levin are doing well and I am grateful for our days. John takes me to task for worrying so much. A mother's burden.

I am thrilled to have this new baby boy. Levin is only 2 and he looks at Baby Carroll like he's a strange squeaking toy. I know that they will be close and loving brothers if the fates allow. May Carroll Christian grow up happy and healthy and be a credit to his namesake.

I am the proud mother of three,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

December 26, 1910

Dearest Polly,

I had planned on writing you a Merry Christmas letter full of all the family doings with our new family of 5, but once again Death has come to claim a precious one from our lives. Today my darling Carroll Christian was taken from us with Pneumonia His illness came on so suddenly and before we had a chance to call the doctor he was gone. I can't feel anything but numb right now. Grief will come but for now I just sit in my rocker as John and family once again prepare a grave and build a box to lay my baby's body in the ground next to Little Jack. I am plagued with questions. Tell me God, what reason, why is it we loose these tiny lives. No answers. Mama says don't question God. It is the way of the world and our burden as mothers to bear.

Today, right now, I am sick of this burden. I look at the Piano where Carroll often sat on my lap and banged his fists with delight on the keys. A musical baby to be sure. A Promise gone.

It's getting dark outside. Time to make sure all is ready with Baby's resting place tomorrow.

I'm as empty as can be.

Hat

Carroll Christian Charles

October 9, 1910 to December 26, 1910

Our Baby 2 months 17 days

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

March 1, 1912

Dear Polly,

I have been quite ill this last month with fresh grief at that and so am just now taking up pen to paper to be the bearer of sad news. Another tiny life came into our lives on February 8. A tiny sickly girl baby who drew shallow breaths for only 4 hours before succumbing. I have little recollection of the moment she left us as I was near death myself at the time of my Crisis. My months before had been so different with this babe. I was sick and weak always with little appetite or energy. I would run a fever, recover a bit, then start again. I could tell this little one was not thriving as it should. Sometimes a mother can tell when all is not going well. Indeed I was so near death myself that I was not able to tend to her final needs nor her burial.

Her Papa and my family took care of the particulars and laid her next to her brothers John Jr. and Carroll. Three of my 5 babies now lie side by side in the ground. I am so grateful that Harriet and Levin are doing well. They are such a blessing to me and Papa. Even tho she was only on this earth 4 hours Papa and I felt she should have a proper name and not be buried as Baby Charles. We choose Dorothy Emma Charles.

Oh Polly I am so tired of sending such sad news your way. Is there any more to life than this? Today it seems not.

Bear with me dear friend,

Hat

Dorothy Emma Charles

February 8, 1910 to February 8, 1910

Our Baby 4 hours

Crestone, Colorado

September 12, 1912

Dear Polly,

I think it's time to catch you up on the everyday goings on around here and in general. No births nor deaths to report thank goodness, only gossip.

John has been spending some time up in Denver regarding money owed him and Frank from his Uncle John's estate. The money has been tied up with legal troubles from Maude but finally John and Frank received each $332.00 as was their due. John had to pay back the lawyer, Mr. Smith, the $100.00 that he borrowed for my care after baby Dorothy died and myself almost too.

Then he owes $425.00 for tools and such he purchased from the Mine and Smelter Co. All told we're back in the hole again. Crestone is on it's last legs it seems. So many families are moving out, The Hummels and Scovells have gone to Saguache to live. Everyone is hard up John says. There is no work here. The Independence Mine is still flooded so no work there either. Nell;s husband Walter only made $16 in wages and I don't think they can last much longer. John had Mamas husband Mr. Seger put in a garden but it was a failure. The creek has been dry for weeks, John had to open the fence so the horses could go up the creek for water.

My brother Met has come home and is in a bad way. His foot was blown off in a mining accident and his suit is not settled yet, if ever. He doesn't know what he can do to eat. John may have to sell his tools but he is trying to hold out as on the 15^th of November he is taking over management of Mr. Gould's garage in Saguache for $125.00 a month in salary.

I am having my teeth fixed as my sickness when Baby was born took nearly all of them. Harriet is going to school but is not very well or strong. Levin is doing well and all in all we are not as bad off as many of our friends and family. Thank goodness John will have a steady income managing the garage.

Hopeful for a better year to come.

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

January 27, 1913

Dear Polly,

We received just today the news that John's adopted cousin Maude has passed away. You remember she is the adopted daughter of his Uncle John and Aunt Fannie in Denver. The one who caused them so much trouble and shame. She was buried in a paupers grave at Riverside Cemetery in Denver, far from where her 'parents' lie. I believe no one attended except for one or two from the funeral home, as it was their job. She died at the Speer Hospital in Denver after a confinement of several weeks. The hospital cares for patients with communicable diseases among other things. We understand that cause of death is listed as Insanity with Diphtheria contributing. We are not surprised. Maude's life has been a sordid one at times. After her divorce and subsequent suicide of her husband Harry, Maude made no effort to improve herself or be a good woman. She carried on with many “bad sorts”. Her interests were in going to the moving picture shows and leading the gay life with whichever man would accompany her. She of course paid for all. The men would hang on until she ran out of money, then abandon her for others. She was perpetually broke and hounded Uncle John, when alive, and my John endlessly for more money. The lawyer for Uncle John's estate was thoroughly fed up with her demands. She had pawned or sold anything of value in Uncle John's house she could, lied about it, pretended it was in storage. Paintings, rugs, china, silverware, all were sold off to keep her 'fancy men', the lawyers words not mine. Uncle John's estate provided $5 a week for her upkeep, quite a goodly sum. The money eventually ran out because of her persistent requests for more. Her rooms at the Charles Building were free of course, they were next to Harry's mother and brother. None of it was enough. The letters to John begging him to petition the lawyer for more funds were embarrassing She said she couldn't get a decent job in a shop because she hadn't proper clothes or even 'undies'. When that didn't work she threatened to 'go on the town' to procure money. Finally both the lawyer and John had to cut off all ties with her. Once Uncle John's house sold she did receive a fair amount of the profits, then she tried to take John and Frank's share too. She was an attractive woman but a sad child who never found her place in this world. Perhaps because she was always the 'adopted' daughter, never the 'real' one. Or maybe there was something fundamentally wrong with her. Uncle John and Aunt Fannie adopted her when she was 3 years old, right after their other adopted daughter, Helen Jean, died in '71. She did remarry by '02 to John Holliday. He had a steady good job and seemed a decent sort. They had a little bungalow at 3457 Lawrence St in Denver. Not a great neighborhood but working people at that. None of us knows what happened to him but by a few years he was gone and Maude was doing housekeeping for some family and living back at the Charles Building. For some time she told people she was a “seamstress” from French New Orleans but none believed it . I don't think she and John divorced as she was buried with her married name, Maude Holliday. I don't know when her sickness took hold but I think it was for some time. She must have been in great pain. Maude was fond of Laudanum before her sickness and I imagine that was the only relief available during her decline. I wish I could feel sorry for her but the strain she put on John for so long makes me not care. Not very Christian but there it is. So ends a sad and wasted life.

Your dear friend

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

April 13, 1913

Dear Polly,

I have time for just a quick note. Mama has had a pain in her chest for some time so she finally went to the doctor. He diagnosed her with the Cancer. We are all devastated with the news but are holding strong for Mama. She has started the first of three treatments but they are quite expensive at $5 a treatment. Met's wife Lena has gone over to the house to take care of Mr. Seger as he is in failing health himself. It is a hard thing to become old and dependent. I don't think the treatments will do much good for Mama but if they help for a time then they will be worthwhile. All is in other hands than mine, we can only hope for a better outcome.

Your worried friend

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

September 5, 1916

Dear Polly,

Life here in the Valley continues to wind it's way through the years with not much changed in circumstances for those who stay here. We have managed to make a slow go of it but as yet have not considered pulling up stakes and moving on. John has been working up at Willow Creek and is delighted to be almost done. Frank has as usual gone through a variety of jobs, never sticking to one or the other, and leaving as his whims decide. He still does some work on the Trinchera Grant, which is owned by a New York concern, and they seem pleased enough with his efforts. He also has been a muleteer and postal carrier for Crestone. Has been. Now he seems keen on training show horses. He purchased a correspondence course on same from Dr. Berry in Ohio, but as yet has nothing to show for it. From time to time he takes off for Denver, staying weeks but always returning to the Home Ranch broke. He has a woman up there, I believe she is Audrey Uhl of the Saguache Uhl's I think. She writes him love letters and chides him for not writing or seeing her often enough. She also gets drunk and in fights with other Hotel tenants where she has rooms and gets thrown out. No I don't pry, he leaves her letters scattered over the parlor tables. I suppose she's the kind of woman one visits in Denver but not the kind to bring home. That's fine, I don't need another mouth to feed.

In happier news Harriet and Levin started school again today. Harriet is excited to be in 9^th grade. She thinks she's quite grown up already. My pretty daughter who weighs 96 lbs with lovely dark hair and eyes. My poor Levin is not happy to return to school. He is my precious boy and is ever so upset to be leaving me for school. I try and tell him it's only for the daytime but he is so unhappy that I fear he may make himself sick in order to stay home. I fret and his Papa scolds. Neither approach is very good so we will send him off and hope for the best.

I am as always grateful for the health and peace in my family, may it continue,

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

February 28, 1917

Dear Polly,

There have been such goings on here with Frank and I find myself more and more short tempered with his behavior. I am critical and a bit unkind, not that I don't have reason, but sometimes I can''t help myself. John takes me to task, defending his brother as I would expect. He keeps saying “poor Frank, how his life changed and he became so despondent after his wife Baby left him and baby Sydney died”. He never did recover from those blows. We all have suffered our losses yet we have gone on to make the best of life as we can. Frank has not. His melancholy overrides all sense. Working little, sitting all day and chewing his tobacco. Reading those never ending Cowboy Stories he spends his money on. Wasting more money on his “Denver Women”. Now there is real trouble from Denver. Frank is being sued by a woman and her mother, and they are demanding a mental competency hearing for him. I don't know the particulars. John says it's not for a ladies ears so he only gives me a broad idea of the suit. I fear this time Frank may be in more trouble than he can just walk away from. On top of that Frank owes so many debtors, including Dr. Berry from Ohio, the mining interests he 'invested' in, personal friends, all manner of debts. Often the letters from debtors are left unopened and ignored. I know John is very worried about the outcome of the suit. As the oldest brother he feels an obligation to take care of the youngest brother, but these matters are beyond our money or expertise to solve. I often find myself at odds with John over his brothers' lack of regard for us, his relying on us for his every need, when we are not so well set outselves. I confess to bitter words and recriminations. I am sorry it is so between my husband and myself but how can it not be when John has no desire to improve himself beyond his meager best. I confess dear Polly that my anger and recriminations have forged a further wedge between us. I wish I could be the all patient long suffering wife, but suffering with silence have never been my way. I penned this little poem awhile ago, it seems so appropriate now. For your eyes only...

“Life without golden love-what bliss it this?

Oh, let me die when love is dead with me

The stolen words, the honeyed gifts, the kiss

There are the blossoms of youth's glorious tree.”

I pray for the best for all concerned,

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

October 12, 1917

Dear Polly,

I have just now received a letter from Mama notifying me that her husband, Mr. Seger, has passed on to a better place. My brother Met has gone up to Monte Vista to help Mama with paperwork and details from his passing. Mr. Seger had been in poor health for some time and was living at the Old Soldiers/Sailors Home in Monte Vista. Mama became his guardian in July '12. He was no longer able to care for himself or his affairs. He had invested in many mining and business interests so I hope that his care at the Sailors Home did not deplete all his funds. I am sorry for Mama of course, she seemed to be genuinely fond of him. I never was close to him but for all that I am sorry to hear of his death.

Mama's health continues to decline. I'm glad Met is there to help with Mr. Seger's arrangements and be her strong arm to lean on.

In memory of my Step Father

Daniel Seger

Crestone, Colorado

January 1, 1918

Dearest Polly,

So begins another year. All celebrated till the New Year entered with much noise and firing of guns in the air. The younger children pounded caps with rocks to make enough noise to celebrate their own way, much as my siblings as I did when we were young. My Harriet being 15 thought herself much past such childish pursuits and went to a dance for the young people in Moffat. My darling Lev at only 9 stayed with his Mama, choosing to be the ringleader of his cousins in the cap pounding caper. We are as well as can be expected so I will move on to other news affecting our small community.

In April of last year the country decided to enter that horrible War in Europe, for whatever reason I can't decipher We should have no interests in their petty quarrels and shifts in power. By July of last the War reached our Valley and the first of our boys left to join the Conflict. They were a gay group heading out, first to Britain and then on to France. Much joking and bragging about experiencing French Women and French Wine. As a woman I wasn't to know of such things but I do listen when my menfolk talk. Thank goodness my family is either too old to fight or too young. I do not think much good will come of this far away War and feel such a sense of dread with their going. The War has been waging for some time now and I very much doubt there are a lot of women and wine nor gaiety to be had in a country so ravaged. I read what little news comes in our newspapers from Denver, but common sense tells me this War is more awful than others. All I can do is Pray for our brave fellows to come home safe and whole.

I will close for now and wish my dearest friend the best of New Year's and the coming year.

Ever,

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

August 21, 1918

Dear Polly,

I have to report some good news coming our way for a change. A good friend of Franks, Mr. W.L. Van Eck has written to say that he is the General Foreman of the Tomboy Mine in Telluride and is offering Frank a good job if he leaves immediately. From Mr Van Eck's letters it sounds like this concern is a profitable one. Certainly the accommodations are first class. The miners are not housed in a Boarding House but in a real Mine Hotel. There are only 2 men to a room, steam heated with electric lights, and a dry room to change in. Men are expected to change their working clothes before going to their rooms. There is even a janitor to take care of the rooms. There is a Pool Hall, Billiards Room, Dance Hall, Library, and Moving Pictures shown twice a week. About 35 married couples live there also with plenty of good warm houses to rent. No better mining accommodations to be had in the U.S. For only $1.00 a day. Shute loaders are paid $4 a day, timber men $4.50 and their helpers $4.20, Machine Men get $4.75 a day and there is some 'easy money' you could pick up also. Mr. Van Eck thinks he could get Frank as high as $5.50 a day. He says don't wait but come soon and bring all the men you can. 40 or 50 are needed. Frank says he's going, who wouldn't with those conditions, and my John is considering it. He would be gone for quite awhile and that is always a worry with just me and the children here to get along without him. Still, he will think the offer over and I know a part of him is excited to follow Frank. Thank goodness Frank's mental competency hearing was settled at last. I again don't know the particulars but Frank is free to move forward with his life. If only he wanted to move forward. I despair of him ever making any move away from the easy life at our Home Place.

We will see where this all leads,

As ever

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

September 1, 1918

Dear Polly,

I just have time for a short note to share the Influenza News from our Valley. The world and our country has been under siege from this devastating disease and I see no end in sight. The Spanish Influenza it's called and a more powerful illness I hope never to see again. Striking our young people with dreadful suddenness and fatal results. So many of our brave fighting boys returning from that awful War have succumbed to it's final conclusion. The military camps and large cities have been hit especially hard and we here in the Valley had hoped to escape it's path, but this August it has entered with a vengeance and left so many dear lives lost.

I very much doubt if the schools will open in time. Dances are canceled, Moving Picture Houses closed, even Churches have canceled services. We live in fear of each new outbreak as there is no treatment that seems to stem the tide of death. Please don't think me being melodramatic. This disease has spread throughout the World, no corner has been spared. The loss of life is astounding. I keep the children close to me and don't let them go among others as much as I can. All us Mothers are doing the same. Harriet and Lev complain greatly, but John and I are united in our resolve. In the meantime I have started schooling the children myself. I dare say I can do as good a job or even better than the regular school. I have not been overly pleased with the quality of our poor schools here.

For all that I Pray this scourge will be over soon and no more lives lost.

I am your every vigilant friend,

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

September 26, 1918

Dear Polly,

John and Nell's husband Walt are planning to join Frank in Telluride at the Tomboy Mine as soon as they can get some leave. They hay is just finished and we have to see to the garden and get the potatoes in. John hasn't found anyone to help me look after things here but once he has they intend to leave. John and all have been looking all over the country for work but its been a hard matter to find any means of any kind. We have more hay than we've had for some time but not many places to sell it. John is selling off our stock including our grey mare. He will look for someone to put down ole George down as he can't eat and is only suffering. I have been over in Salida with Mama. John says everything is all 'balled up” and is frustrated how things will turn out. I can say no more about that. That awful Spanish Influenza has lessened it's grip on the Valley some. How I Pray that it has run it's course and life can resume on a more normal course.

Mama is not doing well. She had a surgery where they removed a Tumor the 'size of a pie plate' yet The Cancer has moved through her whole body. She is in much pain and can't eat. I find it hard to look at her as her body is so thin and her skin is pale as parchment paper. She labors to breathe and I despair of her staying in this world much longer. If John and Walt go to Telluride I will have to come home to the Ranch of course. I am so worried over what to do with Mama and how to provide her care. John himself has been quite sick and sore with disintary for some time.

I must trust that somehow it will all work out.

I am your frustrated friend,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

October 8, 1918

Dear Polly,

The day I have dreaded and yet expected has come. Mama left this life today after her long and painful illness. I know it's wicked to say out loud so I'll whisper to you instead, part of me is glad it's over. She lived a long life and was a strong, brave woman who did the best for her family always. She joins Papa and baby Lois and Mr. Seger in their heavenly reward. Her pain and cares are over. Even more wicked is to admit in a small way I envy her burdens laid down and her struggle over. Dear Heaven Polly, I hope no one ever knows I've said such a terrible thing! I will chalk such heresy up to being tired and discouraged and feeling so alone these days.

Walt has left for Telluride to work but John is still with me at the Ranch. I don't know if he doesn't want to leave us or is not inclined to the hard work. My I am being uncharitable aren't I? Suppose it may be a reaction to Grief.

Even though I'm a grown woman and mother of my own, it still hurts to loose one's own Mother.

My darling children are thriving and I am grateful that the death news is of a Parent, as is the natural order of things.

You are my most trusted friend today and always

Hattie

In Memory of my Dear Mother

Emma Rhodelia Strong Walrath Seger

December 16, 1844 to October 18, 1918

age 74

 Crestone, Colorado

February 19,1919

Dear Polly,

Well that terrible War in Europe was finally over last year, and of course those on the side of right prevailed. Thank goodness we have the Denver papers delivered to us so we get the news a little late but better than none at all. The Saguache Crescent keeps us informed but I like to hear more of a world view from the big Denver concerns. They are calling it the War to End All Wars and how I pray it will be so. The details in the paper are sometimes too difficult to read. John says a woman should not know of such things, but as it is our sons who go off to those horrors I think we Mothers should know the details. I read the papers after he has turned in for the night. I am not always the obedient wife I should be.

On the good news side the Spanish Influenza seems to be waning from the Valley at last. John received a telegram from Frank over at the Tomboy Mine in Telluride and he advises John not to come over at this time as the “flu” is still exacting it's toll with the miners. Frank had been working at the Smuggler Mine north of Aspen till it closed last year, then friend Bill Farnham got him a position with the Tomboy. Bill reports his Father has passed from the disease.

Mr. Van Eck has written to John that he does not advise coming over to the Black Giant and Little Giant Mines in Wenden, Arizona as he had first suggested. The Copper prices have fallen from 23 cents to 16 cents and in some cases 11 cents. The mine owners have countered with cutting wages by a $1.00 a day. The miners in the northern area are on strike as they will not stand for it and he fears the mines will close down because of the labor problems. Best to stay where he is, which seems to suit my husband quite well.

John had an accident with the bobsled down on Willow Creek and almost broke his back. He had gone for a load of wood and the bobsled tipped over trapping him. Our team, Tom and Jim, stopped when spoke to and never moved till he could remove himself from under it. Those horses have more sense than most men. This has been an especially poor winter and hay is scarce. What can be found is over 30 miles away and $20 a stack and poor quality at that. I guess the horses earned their hay this time. John has applied to the County for the Water Job. It is for a Ditch Rider and would be a steady occupation and pay. He says there is not much chance for this year but he will continue to apply and we will see what comes.

Papa and I are worried to death about Harriet. Her teacher, who is old enough to be her Grandfather and has grown children, has fallen in Love with her. We have taken her out of school for now. She is only a child and knows nothing of his interest thank goodness. We are not sure how to proceed from here but for now she is better off at home.

All else is well. Levin misses a great deal of school himself as he is often too sick to go, so Harriet helps him with his lessons and tries to keep his school work current. I fear he is falling behind but sending a sick child to school betters no one. I must confess it's pleasant having both the children around, especially as Harriet is able to help me around the house so much. She is quite the accomplished young woman. I am so pleased she and Papa have kept up their music together. They are quite the duet and Levin and I their willing audience.

I will close for now,

Remaining your dear Friend,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

September 4, 1928

Dearest Polly,

I can hardly believe how the years have flown by and my neglect of you and our friendship. I have no excuse but I will try and do better by you. Life can just sidetrack me from the pleasure of talking to you.

Now for my Big Big News. Today my darling Harriet was joined in marriage to Mr. Fred (Fritz) Janssen. He is a fine man from Texas originally, of German heritage I believe. He will be a good provider for my daughter and their family yet to come. Fred is 25 years old and Harriet is just turned 26. She is head over heels in love, How I remember that feeling the day I wed her Papa. She was of course the most beautiful Bride, her Groom just as fine and looking proud as could be to take her hand. Harriet met him when he was working out on the Grant and around the Valley. He is a Water Engineer by trade with a steady job and good pay. All as important as the love they share. Love can only bond a marriage together so far if the trials of life stretch too far. They have courted for some time and I think they are a good match for each other. They both have their love of music to share and seem to be alike in temperament Fred has purchased a lovely little home in south Denver and while I shall miss her desperately it is right that they start their life on their own. How I wish I could have done the same but I had the care of John's father and brother from the first. So it was expected in my day. The one problem before the marriage was that Fred is a staunch Catholic and could not marry Harriet without her taking instruction from the local Priest and formally converting to his faith. To that end I accompanied her to her lessons and chose to be Catholic myself. John was not a bit pleased but as it was my decision he must abide by it.

I close for now a happy parent and a proud one. My first living child has grown up and flown away to her new life. I am blessed to still have my precious boy with me, may he wait for awhile before he too 'flies the coop'.

I am a Happy Mother in Law,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

June 14, 1929

Dear Polly,

I have the most exciting news to share with you this day. Crestone has had an armed robbery and we were in some small way involved.

A small boy was wandering around town and stopped to look at the windows of Wirick's Jewelry Store on Main street between the Bank and Bolton's Bath House. He saw 2 men in the store looking like they were robbing it. He ran across the street to alert Art Bitterly and Glenn that the store was being robbed. The criminals were out in the street by then trying to get Mr. Wirrick into a car, but he refused so they drove off. Art grabbed a gun and fired off two shots, trying to stop the car but not injure the occupants as he wasn't sure what was going on. They tried to phone the Deputy Sheriff, Luther Camel, in Moffat but the telephone lines had been cut at our Ranch. Art and Glenn climed into Mr. Hendrick's big car and gave chase as far as Moffat where they called Sheriff Slim Paul in Saguache. The hold up men crossed country on Highway 17, then turned onto dirt roads to Blanca where they were apprehended. It was later found that they were 'notorious criminals'. Quite a lot of excitement for our little town I can tell you. I'm so glad the criminals did not try and confront us while cutting the telephone lines at our place. I would have been frightened still.

After that the other news is rather tame I'm afraid. Just as well I think. Harriet and her Fred are settling well into their little home in Denver. I hope to visit once she is ready to have us up. She is busy making curtains, papering the walls, all the home touches a new bride takes such pride in. How well I remember. The 'home folks', that's us, are doing as well as expected. Lev is growing up so fast. My goodness he'll be 21 years old on the 21^st of this month. He has been doing field work around the ranches and helping his Papa of course, but I think he's looking at going up to Denver to try his independence wings. He has a talent for fixing machinery, especially automobiles, and I hope he can find a trade that suits. Speaking of his Papa, he did indeed secure the Ditch Rider position and has held it for some time. He's gone for long days at a time but seems happy at it. As happy as he ever is with work, not that the job is that hard. Once Levin is gone I will only have Frank here. He doesn't seem to have any interest in doing anything with his life but sitting around and reading his 'stories'. Sometimes I truly think he is crazy in the head.

I have little family left here. Most have moved on to California or other places with better opportunities. My sister Allie's youngest girl Nell Emerson is here as is Allie. Nell works for the Telephone Exchange. She is quite proficient and has learned how to handle and repair the exchange equipment. Allie's oldest girl Mary married Ed Irwin and have 2 lovely boys. The live in Victor and visit whenever they can. Allie herself works at the school making lunches and lives with Nell. Well I think I will close for now. I just had to share the story of our genuine Crestone Desperados.

My love as always

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

May 11, 1930

Dear Polly,

As another Mother's Day arrives I must share with you the most beautiful gift a mother can receive from her child. My darling boy Levin wrote me the most wonderful letter. He is in Denver working in a Garage doing all sorts of mechanic work. Not much pay but a lot of experience. I am so proud of him. I'm transcribing his letter so you can see how precious he is to me.

My dearest darling Mother,

Here it is Mother's Day and I believe it was made just for you, for all the Mothers you are the sweetest, gentlest and most thoughtful of all. I have failed to write as often as I should please forgive me and remember however lax I've been in showing you my constant love and devotion, neverless my thoughts ae always of you, my dearest. I received your letter with the darling poem in it, please don't change it at all, for it is wonderful-wonderful to me at any rate, for it was written by the sweetest on in the world, my mother. I shall always keep it.

I wanted to be with you today and was almost tempted to drive through but with my Cities Service payment come due I just couldn't afford it. A feeble excuse at the most, not to be able to afford to see my Mother, when just one smile on her sweet face would repay me a million times, but I know you understand. Well dearest Mother I will close for this time. Wishing you every happiness and joy that a letter can bring on Mother's Day,

I am your loving and devoted son,

Levin

He is a very special son isn't he. I count my blessings many times that he has become such a fine and loving person. It's not every child who adores his Mother as Levin does. Of course I feel the same for him. I am enclosing the poem I sent to him for checking the flow, the one he says is wonderful. I don't know if I'd call it all the wonderful, but if my boy likes it then so do I.

“Mother's Day”

Just a moment please, while we pause to say

“God bless you Mother”, “This is Mother's Day”.

Tis in mem'ry dear, the we set aside,

One day each year, to be glorified.

Just knell at her knee, if only in that,

Thank her forever, for prayers that she taught,

“God bless you Mother, and keep you from harm”

Still rings in her ears, e'everlasting in charm.

Tis not in, a gift, which money can buy,

But in mem'ries rich, she'll cherish on high.

Just a moment, please, while we pause to caress,

That God given Mother, whom all will attest

Mrs. Charles

Not a bad poem at that after all I think. As Levin likes it then so do I.

I am a very grateful and loved Mother,

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

June 5, 1931

Dear Polly,

Terrible news has just arrived to plunge all into deepest sorrow. My wonderful brother Charley has passed away. A terrible accident on his ranch. He was driving cows to pasture when he slipped on a rock in the creek striking his head. His wife Ellen found him unconscious when she went to look for him. It was far past his time to return and she traced his path till she came upon him lying in the water. There was nothing to be done to revive him, the blow and the cold water combined to still his heart and his head. He had just layed there too long before help came. He was a fine man, good husband and stepfather to Ellen's children, a man that will be sorely missed by all his loved ones. He married Ellen Stout later in life and by all accounts they had a happy union, though not blessed with children of their own. Ellen has become our sister and is much loved herself. We will do all we can to help her through this terrible time while grieving so deeply ourselves. Charley is the first of our adult siblings to be taken from us. We will miss him with all our hearts.

In sorrow again,

Hattie

In Loving Memory of my Brother

Charles Morgan Walrath

September 3, 1870 to June 5, 1931

Age 60 years

Crestone, Colorado

March 12, 1933

Dear Polly,

All has progressed as usual in our Valley since I last wrote. Of course the disaster in banking and devastation of the country has continued with no end in sight. It's a terrible thing to see so many men without jobs or hope, roaming the countryside, begging, and leaving their families to fend as best they can. Most terrible is the children with no homes or food. I try to help those unfortunates who find themselves in our fields with some food, but we do not have so much as we can share a lot. My heart aches with their suffering. We are not so far from their plight. I am forever grateful that John still has his Water Job. He doesn't work every day anymore but without that and the garden and our few cattle we too would be destitute. It's sad to see these fine people who once had farms of their own reduced to vagabonds on the road to nowhere. They drift to wherever the rumor is of any work and oftentimes find that others have already taken that place or it was just a cruel rumor after all. I pray Mr. Roosevelt can do something to remedy our nations disaster.

In other news I received a letter from my niece Irma, my baby sister Nells daughter, of the terrible earthquake in California. She writes the quake is still shaking things up in Oakland where they live. They say the one down south is worst than the San Francisco one if you can imagine that. The oil fields in Long Beach are all on fire as is most of the city of Long Beach but the water mains did not break so the fire was soon under control. They have friends down in the middle of it in Huntington Beach and Pacific Avenue and have not heard from them so are hoping all are alright. Irma has finally finished school and is hoping to get a job. Her father Walt is still working which is something to say in these times. Mr. Roosevelt had closed the banks out there with no word about it until they were closed. People took it as they should because they knew it was for the best. Now the banks have just reopened and she says the banks have plenty of money and people are putting their money back in again. She has been seeing a nice boy named Owen, “not so good looking but not so bad either”. He will graduate soon with a degree in Civil Engineering and in 6 more months of schooling his B.S. Degree. The more degrees the better his prospects I suppose. They have gone together for 3 years and have only had 2 spats in that time so they must be pretty well suited. I expect news of an 'announcement' as soon as his college is finished. Irma is a lovely girl and I am happy for her.

Since I have no big news of my own I hope dear Polly you don't mind me sharing other family news. There are so few here anymore to share with and you are always my best and dearest friend.

I will close for now and remain

Hattie

Crestone, Colorado

June 29, 1935

Dear Polly,

I have just this moment had a telegram from my dear Levin informing me of his marriage to Charline Leah Turner Tinnen in Fairplay today. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised as he has been seeing her for some time, but there it is. At 27 years of age he is certainly old enough to make his choice of a life partner but I am deeply hurt that they were not married here where his Papa and I could have attended the nuptials. I will say nothing of this as I'm sure the decision was made by his wife.

So this is the new woman in my son's life. They met when she was teaching school in Pagosa Springs and he was working in the area. She is a few months older than him, a divorced woman with 2 small children, a boy Kay and girl Lellabelle, or Lee, from her prior marriage. Levin comes into this union with a ready made family that he is very fond of. The children seem fond of him also and I assume he will be for all purposes their father rather than a step Father I had a feeling that this woman would be 'the one' for my boy as his letters were filled up more and more about her and her children. Charlene and I have not taken to one another readily but for the sake of my darling boy I will make the effort to put my doubts aside and try and get along with her. She must meet me half way at least and do her part.

I am a reluctant mother in law

Hattie

Charles Ranch

April 28, 1936

Dear Polly,

I have the most glorious news a mother can have, no wait, a Grandmother can have. A telegram came today from my Harriet and Fred to inform me I am a Grandmother of a fine baby boy. I am so excited and relieved that her time is over. Harriet was never a strong child and is not terribly strong now, but all went well and 'Mother and Babe are doing fine' as the saying goes. A Grandson at last. His name comes as no surprise, Fred Janssen Jr. They will call him Freddie I suppose. In these modern times I hope that Harriet will not have to live with the constant threat of loosing him and be able to enjoy each day as it should be. I will try and get up there soon for a daughter needs her Mother to get her settled, no matter how grown up she is.

I am once again 'Over the Moon' with happiness, May they all live long and well with their new family.

I am the most happiest Grandmother in the world,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

May 1, 1937

Dear Polly,

Here it is another year and May Day at that. I remember as children we would make May Baskets of wildflowers and hang them from our friends and neighbors doors. An old fashioned custom in these modern times that has fallen away.

This horrible Depression is continuing and I am so afraid that the country will never recover it's prosperity for it's people. John and I continue to get by as we are used to doing with so little, but the young folks who cannot find jobs are hard put to make a go of it. Levin lost his job at the garage in Salida and even with Charlene teaching school and raising chickens there was not enough money to support his family. They have come back to Ranch to live and it is mighty crowded here especially with 2 women who are both used to running their own homes. We have outfitted the attic to put in a bed and dresser for their needs but it is very close here for all of us. Levin worked for some time at the Canfield Mine and Mill and Charlene cooked for the crew. When that job ended they came back here until a new jobs are available. Charlene's children are very handsome and quite spoiled. Charlene's mother Belle treats them to all sorts of little gifts and fine times when they visit her in Durango. Once they are back here they become sullen and complain of chores and 'nothing to do'. Charlene doesn't take a firm hand with them and doesn't allow Levin to either. It can make for a tense time. As much as I love having my boy home with me I am hoping he can find a good job soon and get back on his feet. He keenly feels his duty to his family and it erodes his confidence to be dependent on his Father and Mother.

Until then I am holding my tongue and trying to be a positive presence in the family.

Your friend,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

August 19, 1937

Dear Polly,

I am a very lucky woman to be alive today and able to write to you of this news. Last week myself, Levin and Charlene, her daughter Lee and son Kaye were riding over The Million dollar highway from Durango to Montrose after spending some time with Charlene's mother Belle when our car was hit and demolished. Another car had come around a curve from Montrose at terrific speed and hit us. Mostly we escaped with cuts and bruises, with thanks to God. A passing motorist took us to the Hospital in Montrose. John came over as soon as he received the news and Mr. Luther Gross took us to Saguache where we had the care of a doctor. All are recovering fine. I was injured by flying glass but am on the mend as well.

I am so very thankful that the children were not hurt bad. If we really do have 'Guardian Angels' them I'm sure ours were working hard that day.

So ends our little excursion. I'm not sure I'll be ready for another auto trip anytime soon.

I am your Grateful Friend,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

January 5, 1938

Dear Polly,

I am so excited to tell you about our own New Years Baby. She arrived just after midnight on New Years Day and is the most perfect baby you've ever seen. This being Charlene's third child her time was not so difficult. Levin is just in awe of the little one. He sits by her side staring at her or touching her tiny fingers as if he can't believe such a beautiful baby is his. I always knew he would have a beautiful little one, my boy is so handsome how could he not? Even more exciting is that she is the first baby of the New Year and KLZ radio in Denver broadcast such. On good days we can receive the station down here and we were able to hear the announcement. We were thrilled. Her parents have already named her, not waiting to see if she'll survive as we did in my day. Welcome to our family Charlene Levin Charles. I am so glad that Charlene and Levin are still staying with us after all. I will be able to spend all the time with her, my first Granddaughter. I don't often get to see my Grandson Freddie as Harriet and Fred are busy in Denver and don't get down to the Ranch often. Freddie is 2 now, quite the little man I'm told.

I suppose her other Grandmother, Belle ,will be down soon to inspect the baby, giving her blessing and bringing all sorts of lavish presents. Baby is Grandmother Belle's first and only Grandchild. Never the mind, once she goes home to Durango the little one will be all mine to coddle and spoil.

I am bursting with pride and love for Levin's darling child,

Your new Grandmother of a Granddaughter,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

March 7, 1939

Dear Polly,

My heart is so heavy I don't know if I can write. Today John and I sold our home, our dear old home where we've made our life, to my daughter Harriet and her husband Fred. It was necessary I suppose but my heart hurts all the same. The house is in such disrepair as well as the fields and outbuildings. Neither John nor Frank have been able to keep the old place up. The money is needed so Levin and Charlene and family can purchase a house in Alamosa with the plan that John and I will join them there. I know it is for the best for all concerned, but I walk around touching those dear old walls, staring at the familiar sights of barn, pasture, mountains, feeling and remembering. The yard where their Papa and I took our vows. Most of all the dear little graves of Johnnie, Carroll, and Dorothy. We are not to be moving yet, but I see the future coming. I don't know how I'll bear to leave.

I saw the odd woman today too. She was so close to me I could touch her I think. She looked so sad herself, as if it was her home too being sold. She followed me all around the property as I remembered all the joy and heartbreak that is part of our place. Her comfort was so strong it was a bit unnerving. I spoke to her aloud of my memories and she would turn her head and nod at me as if she heard every word. Long ago I ceased to wonder at who she is and why she comes to visit me, I accept and am grateful for her presence. I am including the poem I wrote to our home. It may be silly to write to a poem to a house but I am pleased with it and will include it to you.

I am your very sad friend,

Hat

                                   "This Old Home"
                                   
                                       Dear Ole Home you surely know
                                      We did not will to let you go
                                      To those who love you less than we
                                      You know it was necessity.

                                      I do hope when they see the door
                                      Where Johnnie stood when he was four
                                      That they will not erase the mark.

                                      And where our little Meadowlark
                                      Builds her nest way down the yard
                                      Their children will try very hard
                                      To let her be.

                                      And the lilacs that hang o'er the gate
                                      Altho too low, I'd really hate
                                      To have them closely trimmed.

                                      Ah, dear place, my eyes are dimmed
                                      With very very bitter tears
                                      And yet, I pray with coming years
                                      They'll leave each shrub and tree.

                                                       Hattie C.

Charles Ranch

March 17, 1939

Dear Polly,

My family seems to be doing as well as can be expected so I thought I would share some of the War News from Europe that is the talk of the Valley.

It looks wary across the sea. Hitler wants the earth and is going after it. Somebody must stop him and I think they will. Too bad to be a beast, to look like and act like one, loose all that's manly and forget the good earth that has served well. Can any good come from being like that? Not if there's a just God!

My John and some of the other ranchers have a certain respect for his ideas on how to get his country back on it's feet and help the ranchers and farmers recover from this terrible Depression we've been in. They listen to the rebroadcast of his speeches, in English of course, on KLZ Radio. I do not find anything at all to admire about the man, listening to him is like hearing a mad bull rage on. I fear that this country may be pulled into the European Conflict. On that John and I agree. We do not see any benefit to once again entering a fight that our country has no stake in. That was done in 1917 and was disastrous for our beloved sons and husbands who left to fight 'over there'. I'm sure our Mr. Roosevelt will have no truck with committing our boys to this Foreign menace Let England and France take care of their own fight. Surely the side of right will prevail once again as it did in the other War. May God make it so.

I hear more and more War talk from the Denver papers. In any case all we can do for now is watch and listen. I confess to having a terrible case of the jitters over this matter. Let our leaders in Washington keep cool heads and strong resolve to keep our country safe and war free.

I am your worried friend,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

April 18, 1939

Dear Polly,

I'm choosing to send you some local news this time. Ruth Howard Davidson, Billy Davidson's wife, took a dose of carbolic acid 3 days ago and we were told she died today, a suicide. How terribly she must have suffered! Why such a route? Many easier ways of passing on, if you must go. I was so sorry to hear of it , she must have been grieved over trouble of some kind. Probably manifested a thousand fold.

April 18,

I have just heard that Mrs. Billy Davidson did not die of poison as reported. She is still alive. Dr. Shippy thinks she will live. I can not hazard a guess of how much damage she did to her body with the acid. Maybe it would have been better if she had died. While suicide is a Grave Sin, I think the price she will pay for her rash deed will be a long and terrible punishment for one already suffering torment of the mind. It's God's will to have saved her, for all that I can only hope the damage is not so great and she can recover for a good life.

I am her concerned friend,

Hattie

Denver, Colorado

December 10, 1939

Dear Polly,

My goodness it seems as I am one lucky ole woman to be writing to you.

Harriet sent Hazel and Jack down to me from Denver to bring me back to her home. I was too miserable to think I knew I had to have attention, so I was forced to go.

It was a good thing I did come as I would have passed on there at home without a soul to realize the fix I was in. Levin and Charlene were off working at Summitville Mine and John was on one of his extended jobs checking for water and ditch issues.

My teeth had run poison into my system to render me so weak I couldn't feed myself. Nor could I hardly walk. What alerted Harriet to my plight I'm not sure but am ever grateful she heeded her instincts and had me rescued. It saved my life for sure. I am under a doctors care and am beginning the task of recuperating. Hattie takes every care with me and I am slowly able to enjoy dear Little Freddie, who is not so little at that.

John was contacted with the news of my illness and is at the Home Place taking care of all there. He has not had a chance to come to Denver to see me but I understand that job and duties do not allow. Levin was quite distraught and wanted to leave his job right away, but Charlene convinced him there was nothing he could do to help and jobs are too precious to risk loosing one right now. I have my dear girl to help and as I'm on the mend I am confident I may soon return Home restored and ready to be myself soon.

I feel very lucky to be alive and am your recovering friend,

Hat

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

December 8, 1941

Dear Polly,

I must record the most awful event that occurred yesterday, December 7. Our dear soldiers were attacked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii with a dreadful loss of life and devastation. The Japanese Navy made a dirty sneak attack on Sunday morning and have destroyed many of our ships in port as well as most of our fighting airplanes. The word from the area is that as many as 1500 brave men have been killed by the sneaky devils! News is very slow to come in as Hawaii is terribly far away in the Pacific Ocean, so all here are never far from our radios waiting for more news. Each broadcast has worse and worse tales and we here are as stunned as any at the unprovoked attack of our Fleet.

I have just heard on the radio that Mr. Roosevelt declare that our nation is at War! What else could he do after such a rotten thing the Japanese did. I am afraid for my family. Everything is up in the air with gossip and tales and no real way of knowing what the truth is or what is really happening. That we are now at War is the one truth for sure. I pray that our fine fighting men will enter this battle and bring a quick end to the Evil that is Hitler and the Japanese Emperor he is aligned with. Fear must not rule our lives, we must trust in God and his righteousness to get us thru this awful time.

I close as your stunned friend,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

December 23, 1941

Dear Polly,

We are all still in shock and disbelief over the Hawaii attack that has plunged the country into war fever. Many of the boys in the Valley have signed up to fight. Our country has been directly attacked and we must respond in kind. The news from Hawaii is so hard to fathom, so many ships destroyed, so many lives lost and injured. I suppose that we will also be fighting with the “Allies” in Europe as well as in the Pacific. I have always been the one to say stay out of outside conflicts, but I understand why we have to fight this time. I will hate to see all the death and sorrow that will come from this Conflict but don't think it can be avoided. Once again we Mother's must hold fast and pray for our loved ones to come back safe and sound. The 'saber rattlers' say that once we are fully in this War it will be a over soon. I don't think so. A woman's opinion is not what men want to hear so I keep my thoughts and fears to myself.

On family news Charlene is in San Fernando, California, having her operation. I have sent Levin $302.00 to pay the hospital bill. He hated to ask his parents for the money. We do what we can to help him. He works so hard to make a living for his family with nothing left over for emergencies. John complains yet in the end he's the one who wired the money. The rest of the family are doing fine.

Let us all Pray for the Conflict to be over soon!

Your hopeful friend,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

May 6, 1943

Dear Polly,

We have just today come from the Funeral for my brother in law, Frank. As I write this I am still in shock and hardly know where to begin.

On the 3^rd Frank had been just sitting in the house as he did most days. John was out working, I was busy also, and little Charlene was staying with us for a time. Charlene said she noticed her Uncle Frank had taken out his gun, spoke briefly to her, and left the house, walking across the fields. When it got dark and he hadn't returned my niece Dorothy Hall and my brother Met went out to look for him. Charlene thought he had headed for the haystack but we eventually found him in the Willow Stand Grove. There was no need to call a doctor as he was beyond any medical help.

The funeral was at the Crestone Community Church with Rev. Norris Twitchell of Alamosa presiding. There were vocal solos by Mrs. Billy Hutchinson and Mrs. Franklin Hoffman. We laid Frank to rest in the Charles Family plot on the ranch with Grandmother Strong, my 3 babies, and his baby Sydney. John is reproaching himself for not seeing the signs that led to the ending, but how could he? As ever I knew Frank he was morose and in deep despondency. He had brief moments where he rallied but never for long. All say the change came when his Baby Sydney died and his wife Babe divorced him. Perhaps that's true. It's easier to blame circumstances rather than oneself. I was always hard on him, maybe even unkind at times, but I tried to light a fire under him and push him to make something of himself. He was able to find work in the mines or on ranches, but when the mood fit he'd up and quit and move back here or to another town. The cycle went on again and again. Worse was his affect on John, who was not much of a go getter himself, though he tries to do his duty to his family. Seeing Frank just sit around and not contribute, reading his endless stories, smoking his cigars, influenced John to want to do the same. I was hard pressed to keep my temper and I'm afraid to say often I didn't. What Frank was was a very loving and patient Uncle to Charlene. We don't see Freddie in Denver so much, but little “tinytot” stays with us frequently Frank had the arthritis so bad in his hands he couldn't do much with them these last several years. I know there was great pain, but Frank always took the time to button up the dresses on Charlene's dolls, no matter how long it took. He doted on her as we all do.

What caused his final breaking point none of us can say. I am sorry to see his life end this way, in such sin before God's law, and I pray that the Lord is kind to him and forgives his manner of passing.

The newspaper's obituary states he was a pioneer of Colorado.

That's a fair enough epitaph

In sorrow,

Harriet E. Charles

In Memory of my Brother in Law

Frank S. Charles

March 27, 1870 to May 3, 1943

Age 73

Charles Ranch

May 28, 1944

Dear Polly,

My poor Levin has been in quite a state lately and finally decided to 'come clean' to his Mother. Levin and Charlene's marriage has hit a rocky spot for months now and he is at his wits end on what to do or how to proceed with her. He wrote out a very long letter explaining his frustrations but has chosen to share it with me first before presenting it to her.

Most of all he feels under appreciated, that what he does and how hard he works to provide for the family, 2 of which are not his natural children, is ignored or ridiculed. When he tries to talk to Charlene it is always, “too tired too busy”. As they get older he sees her traits of stubbornness and contrariness become more and more apparent. She is often short with little Charlene, who is only 6, while indulging her older children. She says he is partial to little Charlene which he denies. Levin tries to discipline Kay and Lee but Charlene interferes resulting in both of her children having no respect for him and defying him. Tonight he has had enough and is ready “have it out with her” and to set down his terms. If she is not happy with that he says “fine”. She may take her children and go, but she will never take his child away. Since Baby has inherited all his “bad qualities, his meanness, and desires to please only him, then she can stay with him” Charlene can think this over and let him know what she decides in the morning.

My poor boy is suffering so much over this, I knew that things were strained between them but assumed it was just what all married folks go through time to time and was mostly a result of hard financial times of which they never seem to recover from. Thank goodness he has his old Home to come back to and his Mother who is his greatest friend. Since Charlene was divorced before she should not have a problem leaving the marriage if these terms don't suit.

I hope his letter will wake her up to her behavior and things can smooth out some. I will stand beside him no matter what he decides.

We shall see,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

July 1, 1944

Dear Polly,

Things seem a bit more settled between Levin and Charlene at the moment. I don't know what they said to each other but I think she was shocked to have him stand up to her and hopefully changes her ways and her attitude towards him.

For now they have moved to Alamosa and have a house there. Charlene is teaching school again and Levin is the Supervisor of a garage. He is doing quite well and seems settled. He says he's getting a raise next week, he should be making $40 a week then, and the owner is quite pleased with his work. So many boys are going off to War that those who are still here are in great demand, especially Mechanics. I am greatly relieved to hear all is well between them. His boss Carl is buying another Garage and is putting Levin in charge of it. He wants Levin to be the idea man and let others do the repairs. It is wonderful to work for a man who appreciates what you can do.

More big news, there is a passenger line between Durango and Denver now and the planes make stops in Alamosa. How I would like to see that. This world is certainly a wonder. Don't I sound old?

Charlene's oldest, Kaye, is working on the Trinchera Grant. He seems to have settled down now that he's working. Boys become men when they have to work and carry a man's responsibilities. I'm glad to hear of it.

Charlene's brother Frank is fighting in the Philippines when last heard from. She is very worried as is Mother Belle. Letters come slowly or not at all and news from that quarter is not so good. This War has taken it's toll not only on our brave boys but the ones left here to do the worrying. No one at home is exempt. We all have a child or husband or dear friend in harms way. I am so grateful that my boy is doing his part here at home and away from the horrible fighting.

As always,

Hat

Charles Ranch,

September 11, 1945

Dear Polly,

The most wonderful news has arrived and the whole country is celebrating with true joy. This awful War has ended! Germany fell in May and Japan in August. That coward Hitler and his henchmen killed themselves before the Allies could get to them, a fitting end to the Evil they perpetrated on the world. There was an awful loss of life in Japan before the final surrender. From the newspapers and radio we hear that a secret bomb was dropped on two Japanese cities, destroying them completely and all their inhabitants. It is a fearsome thing to try and understand and I can not imagine such a deadly power. Many in this country are upset that we would be the instrument of such destruction but I think Mr. Roosevelt had to do what he had to do to end this long awful war. I am just grateful and relieved that the fighting is over and our boys will be coming home soon.

Charlene has received word that her brother Frank is safe and will be home as soon as possible. It will take some time to process our brave fighting men back to their families but we will have a huge welcome home when we see them again. May this be the Last War our loved ones are sent to fight in.

A prayerful friend,

Hattie

Charles Ranch

Crestone, Colorado

1946

Dear Polly,

Now that the war excitement is over I think it's time to catch up on family comings and goings, mostly goings I'm sad to say.

Sister Allie's daughter, Mary Alice Irwin's husband, Edward Irwin, passed away January 11, 1943 in Denver. He and Mary were married in 1904 and lived in Victor, then Crestone, then finally he moved to Denver where the lower altitude was thought to improve his condition. It did not. Edward was brought back to the Crestone Cemetery for his final rest, Rev. Robert Enyart of Saguache officiated and Mrs. Billy Hutchinson and Mrs. Strader sang his favorite hymns, “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere, Jesus Savior Pilot Me, and Lead Kindly Light.”

The hardest loss was that of my dear eldest Sister, Alice Mary Emerson, (Allie) this year. She had been in fairly robust health for her age. She often visited friends and family in the Valley, never complaining of ills, but in the end age took it's toll as it will for all of us. My second sibling to pass on, I will miss her sweet smile and joyful presence. She rests now with her dear long departed husband and baby boy in the grace of our Lord.

My immediate family is doing well. Freddie is growing like a weed and little Charlene is the most precious of children. I only have the two grandchildren and while I hoped for more, I am so happy these two babies have thrived.

I will always miss my dear sister,

In Memory of my Sister

Alice Mary Walrath Emerson

October 1, 1865 to 1946

age 81

In Memory of my Nephew in law

Edward Huston Irwin

May 28, 1878 to January 11, 1943

age 65

Home Ranch,

Crestone, Colorado

1946

Dear Polly,

Just when I thought I was finished with Death News, one of the hardest losses of all has come to our family. My life partner, my husband, my children's father, my dear John is gone. I don't know what to say or how to feel besides numb and in a fog. His did not suffer much, his passing was mercifully quick. Little Charlene, John, and I were sitting in the parlor when we noticed John was trying to talk and could not. Before we two could render any assistance he had passed. Nothing could be done to revive him. The shock is profound.

These last few years we have seen a decline in his mental facilities attributed to old age. He was kicked in the head by a mule when young and the doctor thought that was the cause of his diminished mental state. He and little Charlene would sit behind the garage on the bench while he talked to the animals and the past friends and family that only he could see. Charlene was afraid to see him converse with those only alive in his mind, but the animals would stay so still and not run off. Maybe it was the softness of his voice or plain animal instinct that kept them calm. It was a thing to hear him talk to his 'ghosts' as if they were sitting right beside him. Maybe they were. I've heard that when one's time is approaching, the veil between death and life is thin, allowing our loved ones to come to us with comfort and guidance. Certainly in times of sorrow and trial my Odd Woman has appeared, silent and watching yet such a friend to me in ways I can't explain.

If I was not always kind to my husband .may I be excused for my harsh words, I saw so much more potential in John when he was younger and could get angry to see him waste his opportunities time and time over. I wanted so much more for my children than it seemed he did, or was willing to work hard for. All that is over now, he has earned his rest beside our three children and his brother and father. I know I am not alone, I have my dear Levin and Harriet to comfort me, my precious Grandchildren to carry from their Grandfather. Still I feel abandoned in some way. It does not make sense nor is it the proper way for a wife to feel. But there it is, for your eyes only my trusted confidant. As I write this that Odd Woman has appeared at my side. Her smile can communicate so much, this one says she understands and is with me as I find my way forward into Widowhood. I admit to being afraid of this new path. John was often away from home but always here, if that can make sense. The future is one step at a time.

I am the Grieving Widow,

Mrs. John Charles

In Loving Memory of My Dear Husband,

John Levin Charles

June 10, 1867 to 1946

age 79

Alamosa, Colorado

1948

Dear Polly,

A lot has happened in these last few years, not the least of which is my change in living arrangements. As you see I have moved to Alamosa and live with Levin and Charlene and little Charlene. Charlene's other children are becoming adults. Son Kaye still works on the ranches and on the Grant in the Valley. Daughter Leelabelle, Lee, is quite the fine young lady and spends most of her time with her Grandmother Belle in Durange attending parties and doing what 'well bread' young ladies do. My darling little Charlene is the baby of the family but such a beauty already. She is quite a fine young lady herself. Levin still works at the Garage, Charlene still teaches school, and I take care of Baby for them. We have ourselves quite a time. I tell her stories of the English Royalty and we often laugh to ourselves with their antics. She is such a joy to me, very much her Father's daughter.

I did not want to leave the Ranch and was hard put to go, but Levin and Harriet insisted that I couldn't take care of myself and the Ranch properly so I was moved out. It seemed Harriet and Fred couldn't take me to Denver so it was left to Levin and Charlene to take me in. I miss the Ranch more than I can ever tell you, at least Harriet and Fred own it and I can visit if I can find a way over there. To leave my home of so many years, my babies and husband's graves, made my heart hurt so hard I was afraid it would break. No I'm not being 'dramatic', just honest. Charlene has a way of making me feel more of a 'boarder' rather than a family member, but I am happy to be with my dear boy and Baby. Of course I do not speak of these things to Levin, he is hard put at work just now. With our returning soldier men needing jobs there may not be a place for him at the Garage anymore. It is so unfair as Levin has been the best and hardest working of all the men there. Those who left as boys have returned as men with wives and children to support and feel they should have their jobs back that they had to leave when called to War. There are no easy answers but in this case I fear Levin will be the looser.

This year I lost more of my dear family. My sister Allies oldest daughter, Mary Alice Emerson Irwin, my niece, passed away this year. She had lost her husband in '43 but was blessed with her two sons, Charles Strong Iwin and Eldred C. Irwin to be her comfort and care. She was a beautiful woman and lived a good life, what more can be asked of this world.

My dear loving brother, Lewis Emmett Walrath, Mett, also passed on this year. He and his lovely wife Lena had stayed in Crestone through boom and bust and was the one I relied on most to help with the Ranch when John was away so often. Lena is my sister in all ways, cheerful and smiling and a joy in our family's life. It is wonderful that she also has her children to help through this dark time. Her girls, Elma and Hazel, are married to fine men and should she need it will provide her with loving homes.

Of our family of five children that came with out Mother and Grandmother to this Wild West there are only myself and baby sister Nell left. Nell and her husband Walter moved to California some time ago for a better job and are quite content with their decision. For myself I would hate to leave the Valley I have loved so long. May it not be so. Levin says he hopes he never has to move again. He is happy with his little house and his life, even if his wife is forever nagging him to be more. I agree with my boy. What is wrong with staying where you are regarded and happy?

I am your displaced friend,

Hat

In Loving Memory of my Niece

Mary Alice Emerson Irwin

1887 to 1948

age 61

In Loving Memory of My Dear Brother

Lewis Emmett Walrath

July 28, 1872 to 1948

age 76

Oakland, California

December 1, 1950

Dear Polly,

Well as you can see I have been uprooted once more and I've landed in California of all places. It was certainly not my choice to be living here but then I wasn't consulted as to my wishes Levin lost his job at the garage in Alamosa when the last of the soldiers came home to reclaim their place at work. No matter that Levin was the best and hardest working Mechanic they had ever had, Giving the men their old jobs back was considered “Patriotic”. Levin was in quite a fix until Nell's husband Walt suggested we all pack up part and parcel, sell the house which my ranch money helped pay for, and join the California Crowd. So here we landed. It is a beautiful place, flowers bloom all year, nary a snow drift in sight, plenty of sunshine, but not my dear Colorado where my happy memories lie. In my old age I should be grateful that I have a roof over my head and a family to take care of me when I need help. I try not to complain, to be patient and loving, but I can be hard pressed sometimes not to speak my mind in strong terms.

Levin has found a good job and that's a blessing. Little Charlene is quite the treasure. Charlene's children have married and moved on. Kaye stayed behind and Lee has married a man named Jimmie. Lee is in California with us but has her own apartment of course with her husband.

The house is quite small and we are crowded into a confining space. Charlene's mother Belle also lives with us. Belle and I share a room and poor little Charlene has just a tiny bed in the closet. I feel so sorry for her but there's not much I can do about it as long as Belle Turner is here. My darling Granddaughter does not complain but I still think it's a shame.

On the sad news side my sister in law, Charlies wife Ellen Stout Walrath has died. She had stayed in Crestone living with her granddaughter, Dorothy Hall. It was ever a shame that she and Charlie never had their own children but such is the way it was. We were all so fond of her, she was as much as sister to me as were my own. My brothers are all gone and each of their wives too except for Lena, Mets wife. Lena is such a tiny firecracker of a woman I think she may live forever. Now there is only myself and the youngest, Nell. I am grateful that for the most part all lived into old age. Not many families can say the same. For myself, I'm not ready to go yet. I have a touch of the Arthritis but for all that I want to see this new State I'm living in. There is so much different here from Colorado to experience.

I will try to stay positive and get on with it. Life progresses in ways we never imagined.

Ever your friend,

Hat

In Loving Memory of my dear Sister in Law

Ellen F. Stout Walrath

September 2, 1874 to November 18, 1950

age 76

Oakland, California

October 9, 1953

Dear Polly,

My Harriet's birthday is almost here and I don't even have a birthday card ready. I started to crochet a mat or two and will try and get them finished some day. My elbow is lame and unruly and refuses to do as it should. My hands are not so bad though I can't close my hands but with my fingers as crooked as they are I can still hold a pen and a crochet hook. I am living in a rented house that I share with another old lady. The lady who owns this house stays in her private bedroom and is payed to cook and clean for us. The other lady I share a room with is not very friendly but is much more pleasant than living with Mrs. Turner. Levin and Charlene moved us into this place when they purchased another house. They don't live so far away yet Charlene doesn't have to spend her time caring for us. I certainly do miss my Little Charlene. She was always a joy and comfort to me, doing all kinds of special favors to make her Grandmother happy.

I went to Levin's yesterday for such a nice dinner. Didn't get home till bedtime. That Levin of ours is a dear! Baby is so nice, not loud like a lot of girls her age.

November 5, 1953

Dearest Polly,

I just found this entry and realized I never had finished it. Guess I'm loosing my head out here. I do get a bit homesick, I don't see the folks often enough I guess, and I never was with strangers before. I have no kick of course, but some day I may beat it back to Colorado while I'm still able to travel alone. I do waddle quite a bit. My elbow cramps today, but can't lay it onto the weather. It is a lovely warm day, sun so bright it seems like summer.

That ole cat Mrs. Turner and Lelabelle are in their own apartment somewhere. (I sound just like Grandmother Strong don't I). Mrs T did not like to be here with me and raised quite a fuss to move out. It is a good thing to have Lelabelle with her Grandma! Lelabelle has some kind of job. She had left her husband Jimmie and I think he has remarried already.

I'm afraid I've had quite a dust up with Charlene and doubt I'll see Levin so often as she hates me. They usually came together to visit me. Kaye came out to visit Charlene and he left after a terrible argument too. I don't think he will be back. Kaye's temper can get the better of him but then his Mother is his match. I'm not a party to the details and know better than to ask. Levin tries to stay out of it as much as Charlene will let him.

My elbow jerks around terribly, it cramps loud enough for me to hear it, yet I have finished the mats I was crocheting and am working on an open work border on another mat that Babe brought me. It is quite a heap of work I can tell you. I'm glad my hands let me do something to take up my mind. I'd be a lonesome melody if it were not for writing or crocheting

Levin keeps up his music as does Harriet I'm told. I am so happy that Freddie is also quite the musician himself. The Charles Place orchestra was good and much appreciated in those days when real musicians were needed. Wouldn't Dad be happy if he knew the family has kept up the old ways. All is generally well here, Levin seems always tired and has the Arthritis in his arms, but all in all we are fine in this beautiful country.

Your friend,

Hat

Oakland, California

January 19, 1954

Dear Polly,

I am writing this on nicer paper and hope I don't scar it all up, it's too pretty to use. I just had an accident with the ink bottle. I shook it to see if it would shake up somepin' to make this writing plainer and I didn't screw the cover tightly enough and the ink shot out all over my little tablet. Well I mopped it up and will try'er out again. I'm never sure of anything since my hands and arms are as unruly as an ornary kid. Guess I'd better feel thankful they are no worse. California climate seems nice enough though Everything green, flowers blooming, leaves on the trees, but the wind blows a little Mrs. Baker says it's cold out doors.

Just now received a lovely birthday card from Harriet and the 'message' beautifully worded. I love it so much, so much! I love poetry and wish I could write it down when I think of it sometimes, you know I'll think of a line or two and if I don't have a pencil and paper handy so- it doesn't do any good to think of it. “Goofy”? I'll betcha. I'm so glad Freddie is doing so well and will be out of high school this year. You bet I know he's a good kid. I guess I should say a nice young man. I can imagine how he has grown. Nice that he is tall. I'm glad Freddie plays the violin. Wouldn't John be proud too if he could know that?

My I'd be happy to hear Freddie play the violin, I'll be I could jump up and kick my heels together. I love violin music, yes piano too! I miss music so much since Harriet and her Papa played so much, and her and John and Uncle Walt for played everything that came along. They never got tired of it.

I'm surely goofy as it seems to me I had written to Nellie Emerson but she said she hadn't heard from me in awhile. I'd even forgotten the doilies I made for Harriet that Mrs. Baker said I had made and sent to her.

I have time to crochet and write, it gives me something to do to pass the time away. Mrs. Baker comes into my room to visit more often now that Mrs. Belle Turner has gone to stay with Lelabelle in her apartment. Lelabelle divorced her husband and he has remarried already again.

I'll quit now. The birthday card and pins and powder were so beautifull from my darling girl. I love it all!

I don't feel any older than I did a year ago. So what? I'm glad to be alive even tho I limp when I walk.

Oodles of love,

Hattie

August 28, 1958

Oakland, California

Dear Polly,

I am so shaky today that I can hardly write to you. This may be my last entry to you as I'm feeling so strange and not like myself at all. I can't describe it right at all, just all a jumble.

It's seems the prerogative of us 'old folks' to take a look back at our lives and see what we could have changed, the mistakes we may have made, and what legacy we leave for the next generations. That is not for me. Life has been what it is, some good, some bad, but mostly a fair life. The loss of my 3 beautiful babies was by far the hardest to bear, yet I had the most loving of families to be by my side and keep me going in those darkest of times. My darling Levin and Harriet, little Charlene and Freddie has been blessings beyond words. Most of my brothers and sisters, Mama, Grandmother Strong, and my husband John lived long lives. We were a lucky bunch I can tell you!

If I must put pen to paper and leave a legacy, I suppose it would be to shoulder our burdens without complaint, as all of us have burdens, those seen or not, and carry on one step at a time into the next part of our lives.

I am amazed where my steps have taken me. From “sea to shining sea.”

Jamestown New York, Crestone Colorado, Oakland California. I have seen terrible wars, hard times and better ones. I am not so arrogant to think my life has been an special one, but I do think I did the best I could for all concerned and can leave this life toward my final resting place at Peace.

For you dear Polly I reserve the most love one can have for one's journal. I suppose it was very silly to name a journal and talk to it like it was the dearest of friends, but that is what you are to me. A place where I can record my innermost thoughts, even if they are not always the most charitable ones. You are that Special Friend that I can pour out my heart, my troubles, my silly moments to. If someone reads these pages, I hope they do not judge me too harshly, but has a smile or two to send my way.

Lastly, that Odd Woman has been by my side constantly lately. She is so clear to me, more than ever before, and has brought my darling family with her to visit. All those that have gone before come to sit by my side. It is with much joy that we are together again, sharing tales of the old times and happy memories. Mrs. Baker comes in and asks what I'm smiling so big about.. She says I even laugh out loud at nothing there. She's wrong of course. All are there, waiting for the right time for me to join them.

She pats my hand and says “there there, time for your rest Mrs. Charles.” I just smile and close my eyes to please her. It doesn't matter, they will still be there when I awaken.

I am so tired Dear Polly, I think I will close for now.

Ever you are my closest companion and dearest friend.

Love, H

Oakland, California

August 29, 1958

I awoke this morning not feeling at all myself. Something is wrong with my hands. Little Charlene is here with me, I do know that, but all else is so fuzzy. I have been trying to fasten my clothes without result, like my hands are two sizes too big, and just now have dropped my pills that Charlene has put in my hands to take. My goodness there is a tiredness washing thru me that I've never felt before. Not the tiredness from hard work, but rather a terrific weak tiredness. I think I'll just lay down here on my bed and close my eyes for just a moment till it passes. Poor little Charlene looks so upset, I want to tell her that I'm just taking a short rest but can't seem to get the words out. No matter, I'll tell her when I awake. A small rest is all want.

Now there is that Odd Woman! What is she doing here at a time like this? After all these years I think I can feel her touch at last, she's holding my hand so very tenderly. She is leaning over me, whispering in my ear. Thank you she says. Thank you for sharing your life with me. What an odd thing to say, even from this Odd Woman. I feel such a peace now. I've always thought of my Odd Woman as my personal Ghost, but now I wonder, is she my Ghost...or am I Hers? There may be no answer, maybe it doesn't matter so much after all.

Sleep is coming for me, I am ready.

Dear Polly,

Old habits are hard to break so I will make my own entry into Hattie's journal as Dear Polly to record her passing away peacefully in her sleep on August 31, 1958 from her stroke on August 29^th. She had her loved ones around her, both seen and unseen, and did not suffer greatly. I take comfort in the belief that she rests now in the love of her family and loved ones. Her story of how our lives were intertwined is true. For thirty years or more I would see snippets of Hattie's life, would hear her voice, sometimes scolding me, sometimes soft and sharing. I never once questioned this strange friendship, but rather was grateful to have shared a small window of her life. I do not agree that she was not a Special Person. I was blessed to get to know this woman through her journals, her letters to loved ones, her home which I was able to visit at the Charles Ranch.

Was she my ghost or was I hers? I don't know. It used to bother me not to have the answer, now I'm just grateful to have been her friend.

In Loving Memory of a Colorado Pioneer, Granddaughter, Daughter, Mother, Wife, Grandmother...

and my Fellow Traveler.

Harriet Emma Walrath Charles

January 15, 1875 to August 31, 1958

age 83

And lastly....

….I can think of no better final words than these from her Grandmother Charity Bugbee Strong in 1893.

And Ever Near us though unseen,

The Dear Immortal Spirits ever Tread:

for all the Boundless Universe is Life

There is no Dead.

Respectfully,

Lindy S. Rose.

“The Odd Woman”

Boulder City, Nevada
August, 2017