Paul Family Letters 46 - 60
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46] Big Falls Dec 10 1906
Dear Brother:
I think it has been some time since I have heard from you and I believe I have been owing you a letter for some time. I think the last I heard from you, you was working at the saw mill, how did you get along and how did you like it anyway.
I have been pretty busy ever since I went to work here, of course it has been inside work mostly, but I have had pretty long days and you know that gets tiresome after a while. They have begun to build the railroad from here to International Falls now and of course that makes more or less work at the office. Some of them claim it will be completed by the first of July, but it seems to me that, that will be pretty quick work. Of course this will be a lively town as long as the road is building, but I don’t expect it will grow as fast after the road is completed as it has during the past year. Even now there doesnt seem to be much going on, of course there is lots of work to be had but there doesn’t seem to be much of any real estate being sold and I think it would be hard for a person to see a town lot or anything like that just now. I have no doubt but that the town on the other side of the river will make some kind of a start in the spring and if they do of course, Backus and Brooks, the people that are back of it will probably buck Big Falls all they can.
I have been having an awful cold but I think I am getting better of it now. I had a hard cough and I have about decided that it is the whooping cough that I have been having. It seems to take me about as your cough did you when we were down there, as it seems o choke me sometimes and I have had it make me vomit too.
How are all the folks getting along. I suppose you see Clara quite often. I heard something about Melvin and Bessing going home for Christmas, is it really so? We are expecting Clara up here for Christmas wish I could go back home with her when she goes, but don’t think I shall try to get away this winter. Suppose I shall have to quit again in the spring, I didn’t know but I could run this job and the claim too, but don’t think I will be able to make it unless I can get away a little oftener than I have lately. The agent is a nice fellow to work with but he doesn’t like to work very hard and so is apt to leave most of the work for me to do as long as I know how to do it. I think when it gets a little warmer I shall go down to the claim a little oftener and so give him something more to do.
We have a lot of snow now between 3&4 feet I think, in the woods, it has been a bad thing for the loggers. Hope you will all keep well and write often.
Your loving bro
Andrew
[ Written in black ink on the 8½ X 10¾" M&I letterhead stationery; the envelope has the M&IRC return address and the envelope address is- Mr. Walter E. Paul, Barnum, Minn, Carlton Co; the postmark reads- Big Falls Dec 11, P.M., 1906 Minn.; the postage is a red Washington two cent stamp; the rec’d postmark on the back is obscured.]
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47] Big Falls Minn Jan 27 07
Dear Brother Walter
I will take a little time to write to you a few lines this morning. Grace and George have gone to the Prespeterian Church this morning and Clara and I are staying with the children. It is another cold morning we have had cold weather ever since you left here. We were real pleased with those postal cards you sent. I had them in my pocket when I was up at the drug store last night and I showed them to Mr. Thompson. He seem very much pleased with them and wanted me to ask you what you would charge to furnish 100 cards -. 50 of each view. He said they were the best views he had
seen of the town and though the the plates must be very good ones he seemd surprised when I told him you did all of the work yourself.
Clara and I expect to go to church again tonight I don’t hardly know whether to take her or not, I think you know how she usualy acts when she goes to church
I heard you were having some help hauling ties. I was glad of it as you will probably be able to get more ties cut than if you were to try and haul them yourself.
Write often and let us know how you are getting along. Thi is about all I have to write this time, so good by.
Your brother
Andrew Paul
[Written in black ink on 8 X 10½" light blue ruled paper; the envelope address is- Mr .W. E. Paul, Barnum, Minnesota and Deer Park is written in the lower left corner; the postmark shows- Northome & Morris R.P.O. Jan 28 1907 --; a partially obliterated received postmark is on the back; the postage is a red Washington two cents stamp.]
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48] Northome Minn., Dec. 10th 1905
Dear Brother Walter:
Yours of the 4th came to hand some time ago and I will take of the present opportunity to answer it. I generally have enough time on Sunday to catch up all my corespondenceif I get right about it early in the day. I always go to church twice on Sunday and that takes more or less time but time well spent I think. From 5.30 Monday morning until 10.00 Saturday night as a rule I am nothing more than a piece of machinery and only claim enough time to eat and sleep whenever I get a chance. I don’t want you to think I am complaining by this as I like the work and the time goes fast during the week. When a fellow goes to Railroading he might as well decide to take things as they come and be satisfied. Things are getting pretty lively up her now most too much so to be comfortable. Stuff is beginning to come in for Ripple and that wi h what freight we have for the stores and camps in and around Northome make quite a heavy freight business. The other night we had over 35,000 lbof way-freight but they had the section hands come and unload it in the morning, so that was not so hard.
This is an Oliver Typewriter that I am using and I have not got quite used to it yet. It is a nice machine and I think I would get to like it after using it a little. The key-board is a little diferent than the Smith Premier and that makes it a little awkard on the start.
Arthur got back all right and you have probably heard from him brfore this. I asked him all kind of questions about Deer Park but it seemed as though he did not have very much news to tell. He said that you were all getting along well, and all seemed healthy. We went right up town as soon as he came and I got through work and got a room for the night and I gess we talked until after midnight. In the morning I managed to get him off on one of the work trains. You see I had a pull with the train men or he would have had to walk. Since then one of the store-keepersfrom Ripple was down here and asked me if I could not get him a ride up the line., but I didn’t think I could do anything for him. I don’t want to risk my standing with the boys any more than I can help. They have been pretty strict about letting people ride on the work trains more especially so since that man got killed up here at Mizpah.
I am glad you have got that sawing machine it will be such a help in working up wood this winter. You must write and tell me how it works. I don’t think you had used it any when you wrote last.
If you intend to work out this winter I think you would do well to come up this way. Therewill no doubt be lots of work up the line this winter. How do you think you would like R.R. work, I do not know but you could get a job up this way somewhere on the road if you wanted it. may be at Ripple Mr. Robinson thinks they may have to have three men up there and was speaking to me the other day if I knew of any one that would check freight. I though of you right away and told him that you might come up here this winter but I did not know whether you would like the work or not. I would be afraid to advise you to go into it as a person has to like it pretty well in order to stick to it.
Will have no more time to write now.
Your loving brother,
J. Paul
[ Note attached by WEP: Written while Andrew was working as helper in the depot at Northome.]
[ Typewritten with a purple ribbon on 8½ X 10¾" M&I stationery with a letter head; the paper is brown from aging; the envelope has the M&I return address and the address reads- Mr. W. E. Paul, Barnum, Minn, and Carlton Co. written on the left; the postmark shows- Northome Minn. Dec 11
A. M. 19 --; the postmark on the reverse shows- Barnum 12 9 A M 1905 Rec’d; the postage is a red Washington two cent stamp.]
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49] Ripple Minn. July 2 1905
Dear Brother Walter.
It is about time I was answering your last letter to me. I was very glad to get such a long letter from you, and to have that list of questions answered so well. I think I shall have to keep the letter for future refernce as I may forget some parts of it.
I came down here to the homestead yesterday morning as the mill shut down until after the Fourth and I had some work that needed doing down here. The garden is doing quite well as we have had plenty of rain and the weather is warm. There are lots of mosquitoes down here now although they do not seem quite as bad as they were two weeks ago. The large flies are very bad just now but will probably not last more than two or three weeks longer.
I am getting along pretty well with the work at the mill. I had begun to plan on going out to the harvest this fall, but do not think I shall do so now, as this job will furnish me with as much work as I want. I think they will have about two months run. The mill is a little larger than Woodburys was and probably saws out a little more lumber I could have gone to work in the Button & Olson mill if I had wanted to, but I thought that the other mill would probably have a longer run and so worked there as I do not like to be out of a job for a while yet.
I suppose you read the account of that drowning, in the “Compass”. It was a very sad accident. I knew the man very well as we worked together quite a while this spring. Arthur and Grace were up at the falls when it happened. They shut the mill down as soon as they heard of it and we spent the rest of the day searching for the body. I think it is liable to be picked up any day now. It is the first time in years that a driver has been drowned here.
Well it is getting about time for me to start for town. I want to come back this afternoon and do some more work in the morning.
I am getting quite used to batching and like it quite well although it is a little lonesome. There are three rabbits staying around the house that make a little company for me. Two old ones and a young one. One of the old ones has a small white spot in its fore head and the young one has quite a large spot. I was throwing pieces of biscuit out to one of them yesterday. I could toss a piece right on top of its head without scaring it. I put a salt-lick out when I was here in the spring, about 10 rods from the door. I see the deer have taken all the salt away while I have been gone.
I think there will be lots of fruit in the woods this fall. Blueberries sem to be doing well and the plumbs are growing nicely.
Well I think I must stop now as it will take me over an hour to walk up town.
Your loving Bro
Andrew Paul
[ Written in black ink on 5 X 8" tablet paper with faint blue lines; the envelope address is- Mr. W. E. Paul, Barnum Min- ; the postmark shows- Ripple Minn. and except for a 5, the rest of the postmark is missing or indistinct; on the back one postmark reads- Northome July 4 P.M. 1905 Minn. And the other shows- Barnum, Mi-- Jul 6 12M 1--.]
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50] Ripple Minn April 7, 1906.
Dear Brother Walter:
I suppose you people have begun to wonder what has become of me. I think I wrote to Mother a short time before I left Northome. I came up here on the 20th of March and have been helping Arthur do his loging since. we got them all hauled on Wednesday, I spent Thursday in town and then came down here to my place. Yesterday I dug a drain for my celar as the water was coming quite badly. Arthur had helped me sort the potatoes last week and we found that they had rotted a lot. I am sure they did not freeze in the celar as there was no frost on the ground next the door. But I know a lot of them was frosted when we put them in as it got pretty late before I had the cellar finished. I hope I shall be in better shape to take care of the crops this fall. I expect to be pretty busy this summer as usual and shall be lucky if I get all the time I want to put in the garden. I expect to go to work next week again if I can strike a job that suits me. There will be lots of work in town this summer and no one need be idle if they care to work. There are two new saw mills being put in this spring and Mc Afee is rebuilding his mill, or rather, is building a new one as I don’t think the old one was worth much after going through the fire. I think I shall get work at some of the mills I do not know just which one yet, I know I can get work with Mc Afee anytime as he has told me so but I am thinking of trying for a job with one of the new mills which is going to be built as soon as the frost leaves the ground. Mr. Kemp is the mans name and he seems like a nice fellow too.
I am thinking some of going out to the harvest this fall but am not sure yet. How would you like to go too if you could get through haying in time? I should like to get started some time early in August if I went, some time before the tenth anyway. I had Arthur partly talked into going last year but he decided not to and I guess it was just as well that he did not. I will probably see you some time in June and I may know more about what I can do then than I do now. I have got another payment to meet on a lot some time in September and I do not know whether I shall get enough a head to do it if I stay here or not. I have no doubt but that I can stand them off for another six months If I cannot make the raise, so I am not worrying any. I may be able to sell the lot by that time and get as much out of it as I put in at least. I don’t think it has raised a penny in value since I got it, and I do not know as the same kind of property would sell as well now as it would have then.
We have been having some fine weather during the last few days. The snow is going down now and it will not be long before a person can get around in the woods again.
I am glad to hear that Melvin is going to get a lay off. I think if he comes up this way he will strike a job all right. The M&I is having a pretty hard time with their agents just now. The agent they have had at Funkley, the next station south of Northome has been getting drunk right along. The other day he was gone and when they found him he was in a saloon, drunk and playing poker. it would not have been so bad if he had been using his own money, but he has just blown in about $100.00 of the company’s money and of course they could not stand for that, and they fired him They will let men work and handle train orders, etc. when drunk but when they begin to tamper with the money they generally find a way of letting them go. I shuld like to have staid at work long enough to have made it pay to take a station, but of course I could not, as it was. I had the satisfaction of having one offered me by the “Super” anyhow.
I suppose you will begin the spring planting before long. I shall start as soon as I can as I want to get it all done during the month of May, And then have time to get in a few weeks work before going to the wedding.
Love to all,
Your brother
Andrew J. Paul
50] Ripple Minn April 7 1906. cont.
[ Note attached by WEP: When this was written Andrew was on his homestead a few miles down river from “Ripple” which was later called Big Falls.]
[ Written in black ink on 8 X 10" tablet paper with light blue lines; the address reads- Walter E. Paul, Barnum, Minn with Carlton on the lower left; the postmark shows- Ripple A 9 1906 Mi--.; on the reverse the postmarks are partially indistinct showing- A 9 P.M. 1906 Minn. and Minn-- Rec’d.]
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51] Ripple, Minn., May 21st, 1905
Dear Brother Walter:
Your welcome letter came some time ago and I must answer it before it gets any older. We watch the mails pretty closely for news from home, or perhaps I do a little more than the rest. So you must write all you can think of and lots that you “suspect”’ as Samanthy would say.
By the way, I have beem reading one of Samanthy’s books. It is called “Sweet Cicily,” it is a temperance book and I liked it pretty well. I think I told you once about the traveling library we have here. It is very much like the one you have in Deer Park. I have read quite a few of the books and like most of them pretty well. One of them is “To have and to hold,” if you ever get the chance I wish you would read it; some of the others are, “The man Whithout a Country,” that is a pretty good one too; “Tales of the Telegraph; “Dr. Latimer”; “The reck of the Grosvenor”; etc.
I am now reading a book intitled, “Cildren of Gibeon”.
This last week I have spent down on the claim, that is since Tuesday. I went down with Arthur and staid with him Monday. I have been getting along fine with the cooking and do not think I shall have any trouble with that although I have not tried to bake bread yet but shall try to get a batch started early this week. I want to get all the seeding done that I can this next week but do not expect to quite finish it. There are over two thousand posts besides a lot of poles that I shall have to peal yet and I want to get them done before the mosquetoes get very bad. It will probably take me to the middle of June to finish at least.
Grace got mother’s letter to day. Suppose you keep pretty busy now days. Was glad to here you had been taking some more pictures, I hope you will do all the work of that kind that you can get. Arthur is getting quite a lot of photographic work around town this spring.
You probably get all the railroad news in the Compass and so have heard of a new survey that has been run through town. No one knows just what it is for but it is generally supposed that they are looking up a more suitable crossing below the falls. This survey runs right through my residence lot which I took last spring and it may be that I shall get a chance to sell it.
I was glad to get so much news from your letter but still there are a lot of things that I would like to know about. I believe it will be a good plan to send you a list of questions and then you can answer them in rotation if you wish. I will number the questions and then you can number the answers if you want.
Are you all keeping well?
Have you been hunting much this spring?
Are there any deer around there?
What shape are the horses in this spring?
Are you doing much breaking?
How are the clover fields coming on?
How many potatoes do you intend to plant this year?
Will you have more potatoes than you want?
Is there any sale for them in Barnum, and what price do they bring?
Who are the farmers you carry cream with?
What do they pay for it at the creamery?
Does mother make any butter at all?
Is the new buggy for one horse or two?
Is Jerrys leg any better?
Do you have very good roads this summer?
51] Ripple, Minn., May 21st, 1905 cont.
Is Mr. Woodbury doing anything with the mill now?
How many of Alfred Reavses boys are at home now?
How is Frank Reeves getting along?
Do you have any more excitement with the Dunckerds?
Does Ickenburry preach in Deer Park regularilly?
How is he getting on in the store, or don’t you know?
What kind of a store has Mr. Woodburry and Mr. Addington got?
Is Al Woodburry around there yet?
What is A.L.Hoffman doing after going out of the dairy business?
What is the last gossip in Deer Park?
What ever became of the Traveling Library at Mr. Knapps?
Does Mr. Blackhurst still go to Rutledge to preach?
How is the League getting along?
Have you been taking very many pictures lately?
How are you getting along with your Book-keeping?
What for a time do you have at the parties they are having now?
What for a ball team do they have this summer?
How is the Sunday School getting along?
Is Mrs. Brown still Suprintendant?
Are they making any plans for the 4th of July?
Is there anything else that I have forgotten to ask about?
Of course you do not have to answer all these questions if you do not want to. They are only a sample of the things I wonder about. On the other hand if there is any thing that you would like to know that I do not write about I hope you will be free in asking any questions you wish. I know there are lots of times when there are things that slip my mind when I am writing that you would probably be interested in.
I do not know as I ever told you about the Ingersol watch I got quite a while ago. You know my other watch is played out and I had to have some kind of time-piece when I went to work. This one cost me $2.00 It is a different one than yours being a stem-wind and stem-set watch. It will probably last until I can get my other one fixed or get a new one. I also got me a “one man saw,” it is a second hand one but as good as new. It will be a great help in sawing up wood, etc. I think to-morrow I shall get me a garden hoe and some more dishes. It may be that I shall have some company some day and if I do I shall need a few more things to cook with.
I find that I can make biscuits and pancakes that are quite edible. I also have rabbit stew most any time I want it. I think that rabbit that used to stay with father has come back again. It seems quite tame and I shall let him stay if he is not too hard on the garden, so when I want to get a rabbit I have to go away off in the woods some where.
51] Ripple, Minn., May 21st, 1905 cont.
There are lots of deer coming out on Arthurs meadow and I am in hopes we wil be able to get one before long.
Hope you will not be offended at my asking so many questions. I will keep the answers all confidential if you put them on a seperate paper.
Take good care of yourself and keep well.
Your loving brother
(Andrew W.E.P.)
[ Andrew did not sign this letter; WEP added his name at the end in pencil and enclosed in large
( ). Typewritten with a purple ribbon on watermarked 8½ X 13" paper; the watermark- MINNESOTA BOND; the typewritten address is- Mr. Walter E. Paul, Barnum, Carlton Co. Minn. with Deer Park in the lower left corner; the postmark reads- Ripple May 21 1905 Minn; the postmark on the reverse shows- Barnum Rec’d and the rest is indistinct; a second postmark on the reverse is indistinct; the postage is a red Washington two cent stamp.]
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52] Ripple Minn., April 23. 1905.
Dear Brother Walter:
It was a long while ago that I got your last letter and I do not think I have answered it yet.
I suppose that you are having Easter exercises down at Deer Park this after noon. We had some special singing at church this morning, but it did not go off very well as we did not practice enough beforehand. We had a pretty large crowd for us but of course there was not as many as you nave down there every Sunday. The Epworth League meetings are attended as well as the preaching services generally.
We have been having some very pleasant wether during the last two weeks. I have been keeping quite busy, as there is lots of work for all who want it. I have been cutting cedar for Mr. Robinson, as you have pribably heared. He wants me to work for him all summer but I do not think I shall be able to do so as I expect to get the job of cleaning some lots later on at which I think I can do a little better than I am doing now although I am making pretty fair wages now.
In the evenings after supper I have been coming down here to the office and practice on the typewriter. I sent off for a text book on typewriting by touch and have been studying it since. I think it will come pretty easy after a while. I am writing this letter by touch although I still have to glnce at the key board once in a while, and make more or less mistakes. I wish a good many times that I had some one here that understood telegraphy so that I could keep in practice on that also, but then I do not think it will take me long to pick that up the next chance have. I do not suppose you are getting as much out of practice as I am as you have a chance to be around a telegraph office once in a while at least. By another winter we will have a depot up here too, and then I am afraid I will get uneasy and want to go back on the road again.
Don’t think by this that I am getting discontented, for I am not. I keep well and find lots to do and am getting along fine in every respect.
Most of the ice is out of the river and the fishing season has begun. Some of the fellows in town have been putting dyninite in the river at the foot of the falls just in front of George’s house. Last Sunday they got a fish in that way that weighed over 30 pounds. There has been no sturgeon caught yet and I guess it is pretty early for them yet. We have a line set in the river just in front of the door and catch a fish once in a while.
I wish I was going to be able to go down there this summer and go fishing with you again but I am afraid I sjall not be able to do so.
I want to made continual residence on my place after July 17th so that I can commute next spring if I want to.
When you write you must tell me all the news that you can think of as it will all intesest me, it seems to me that we do not get so very much news about what is going on in Deer Park now. I see by the Gazette that Willie Dye has got back again. Is there anything interesting going on in the neighborhood now? Do you hear anything from Clara?? I do not think she has written to me for the last two months.
Hope to make a clearer copy next time I write.
Your loving brother,
[signed] Andrew J. Paul
[Hand written note in ink written in vertical lines at the bottom of the second page.]Grace wants you to tell mother that she got that package and that she and Emely are very much pleased and send many thanks AJP
[Typewritten with a purple ribbon on 8¾ X 11¼" typing paper; no envelope exists.]
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53] Johnson Minn. No date
Dear Brother:
Your pictures came all right, and I think they are fine. I was surprised to see what good pictures you got from the plates taken last winter in the woods. The one taken on the fair grounds was a good one and looked very natural. I am glad you went to the Fair and hope you had a good time. It is a pretty dull place out here and nothing “doing.” Once in a while they get up a fight in town but it generally does not last long. Two weeks ago to night a couple thrashing crews got mixed up and they had to haul a couple men out of town in a wagon after it was over. I am glad the crew I work with is a quiet one and don’t get into trouble. They have had three kegs of beer already and are planning on several more.
They were talking of taking a picture of the outfit at one place where we worked but they did not get around to it. I am sorry that they did not as I wanted to get one to send to you. Perhaps they may get it taken yet althoug I don’t much expect it. These Dutchmen don’t bother with such things.
Melvin took a telegram out to a fellow the other day and happened to mention something that was in before he got it open. “Oh” he said “did you read it?” I thought that was pretty good.
I was terribly surprised to hear that rumor about the new X ray. I wonder if if Rollo won’t try to trade him off for a girl somewhere. I guess he would have to go outside of Deer Park to do it though. I am sorry for Willie if he has had any trouble because it must be very unpleasent to leave home under those conditions.
Have you been hunting any yet? I often think of what a good time we had fishing before I came away. I tried hunting out here a little but it seemed pretty tame. I wish you could see the little rifle Melvin got the other day. It is a second hand one but is as good a new. Remington 22 cal with rear peep sight. It shoots five and will take the long cartridges.
You need not bother about finishing off one of Eva’s pictures if you have not done it allready. Bessie says she would like two or three more of Earnest and the fish if you are going to finish off any more. I would like to get a camara for a day and try taking some pictures while I am here. But I don’t suppose I will find time to do so.
I will have to stop now before I get “writers cramp.”
Your Loving bro
Ilhlujuull. (approx.)
[ Note in pencil attached by WEP: When this was written Andrew was working with a thrashing crew near Johnson where Melvin was Station Agent for the G.N. Andrew’s signature is in our “Secret” Morse Code]
[ Written in black ink on 8 X 10" blue ruled tablet paper.; no envelope exists.]
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54] Bemidji Minn Dec 19 1904
Dear Brother:
I hope you do not think I have forgotten you, as I have not writen to you since I have been here. I think of you a dozen times aday and wonder how you get along. I hope you will not try to do too much, as it must be quite a job to take care of all the stock and keep the fire wood cut.
I hope you will be careful of yourself and not get hurt choping down trees or anything like that. I beliving I am getting to be a regular old granny about worrying. Father seemed to have lots of confidence in your being able to handle things, when I saw him, and I believe so too. I do not know but that you will have as easy a time of it as you did last winter and spring, as I am afraid I let you work pretty hard. You did as much or more than I did right along.
I am not working here becaus I like to be away from home by any means, but becaus I think it is better to get a steady Job than to be shifting about and then lying idle half the time I am getting along better with the work than I did when I first came here. I have a better boarding place and feel more contented. I am now working with an old dispatcher that has got knocked out by drink. We get the work done over a little easier than we did before. He is a pleasant fellow to work with too. I have been getting a little more spair time lately and so have chanc to think about some thing else beside RR work. Tell ma I took my clothes to the steam laundry here in town I do not know whether they caught the “gray Backs from them or not. I hardly dare go and get them for fear I shall bring some of them back again.
This is a great town with some great people in it. To day a man came to our hotel and regestered and left his grip. He had been drinking and he went back down town before night a fellow brought him back. He had lost the Hotel and did not know where he had left his luggage. I guess he was afraid to try to eat when others were around so he made them put up a lunch and he took it to his room just before supper time. There are between 40 and 50 saloons in town so you must know there is “something doing.”
I will close with the usual charge to write often.
Your loving brother
Andrew Paul
Tell mother I will write to her before long but I will not do so tonight
[Note attached by WEP: Written while he was warehouseman in the M.- I. Freight office]
[ Written in black ink on 8½ X 11" M&I letterhead stationery as before; The return address on the envelope is- After --- days return to A.J. Paul Bemidji, Minn.; the address is- Mr. W. E. Paul Barnum Minn with Carlton Co, in the lower left corner; the postmark reads- Bemidji, Minn. Dec. 20 9 P.M. 1904; the envelope has a PO red two cent Washington embossed stamp; on the reverse is the postmark reading- Barnum, Minn. Dec. 21 10 AM 1904 Rec’d.]
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55] Moose Lake, Minn., Saturday, Feb 5, 1898
Dear Sister Clara,--
I will commence this letter now but may not finish it for some time.
I have been at work sawing wood to day. Guess I have nearly enough to last all next week.
It snowed hard nearly all day yesterday, by night there was over half a foot of fresh snow on the ground.
I went to look at my snares today and I found nothing in them I had not been to them for a week. There was so much snow on top of them that I took them all up, but I will put them out again as soon as the rabbits begin to run.
Sunday morning
Grace has just gone to church with Mr. And Mrs. K. She went because there is to be five or six babies christened this sunday.
Week before last Mr. K. sold a two year old heifer and a yearling calf for $14. He went to Moose Lake a few days after and didn’t get back until 10 o’clock the next day, we don’t know whether he got drunk or not for he would say nothing., and has been very glum ever since.
I don’t know when I will have my next vacation, but probably go home some time near the end of February and spend a week. I can get a ride to Moose L. most any time, so you will not know when I am coming till I get there.
Last week I took an examination in Grammar and passed. Tomorrow I will begin studying in Grace’s Grammar. I finished my Geography last Friday and will take an examination in that this week and if I pass I will study Physiology in school and History at home.
Last Friday evening Mr. K. and I went over to that German family that we told you about. I had a nice time. The most that interested me was their guns they have guns of all shapes, aizes and kinds, there was one muzzel loading rifle that weighed 25 pounds.
Your loving brother,
Andrew J. Paul.
P.S. Monday evening.
I got a letter from Jennie to-day but no papers from home. Perhaps they were there and the post-master forgot to send them. Guess Mr. Berlik is going again to-morrow and will have him ask for them. He is here to Mr. K’s just now.
It is fun to watch the children throw snow-balls. Wish you could happen to pass by where you could see the whole crowd out in the yard and the air nearly full of snow-balls. Occasionally some one gets an eye or ear full and have to stop long enough to dig the snow out.
No more now.
Grace.
[ Written vertically across the top of the page] We have just finished supper and Andrew is groaning with the stomach ache. Ha! ha! He wishes I had a rocking chair for him to lay across as he says he used to do when a small boy.
[ Note attached by WEP: Andrew went to School with Grace for Teacher in “Split Rock” the year before Clara and I went.]
[ Written in pencil on 5¾ X 8¾" tablet paper with blue ruling; Grace’s P.S. is written on the back of Andrew’s last page; no envelope exists.]
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56] City of Deer Park Minn Sunday. Oct. 16. 1898
Dear Brother Vadulak,-
I suppose by this time you feel pretty much at home out there. Is Split Rock anything like what you thought it would be and how do you like all the children?
It is raining this morning so that we could not go to Sunday School it is to be held at Mr. Hegbergs. There didn’t any of us go out to hear Rev Utsinger preach at Mr. Brown’ as it was rainy.
We finished digging potatoes on Friday we had about 220 bushels in all.
Yesterday Pa went to Barnum and I did odd jobs about the house among other things I had to burry a calf. Which one do you suppose it was? It was the one we called Jill. Last Monday I was feading the calves some dish watter about 2 o’clock, I noticed that Jill did not come up with the rest but did not think anything about it then. But on Tuesday night, when I saw that she was not with the other calves I thought it was time I was looking her up. I found her on the east side of the pasture she had put her head through the fence and got hung. we got her up to the barn and fed her on milk out of a bottle but she did not live many days.
Yesterday I got that year book I sent for they only sent one which is for the year 96.
Mr. Parkins and I went out to watch for deer last Friday night but we did not see anything I did not get home untill after 8 o’clock.
Monday Evening
It has rained nearly all day to day also. This after noon we went over and fenced the hay stack on the oat patch.
I think I will ask you some questions now. I will number them so that you can just wright the answers down under the same numbers. Perhaps Grace can help you answer some of them.
First 1. Is Mr. Jhon Kwpick and family in their new house? 2. If so, what do they use the old one for? 3. How does Mrs. Jhon & Mrs. Mike get allong now days? 4. Where do you sit in the school room?
5. Do the children talk English to you much? (If you talk lots to them I think they will soon talk English all right). 6. Do you see any thing of Hugo Loos? 7. Is that “bridge” trouble all over yet? I guess that is all the questions I can ask just now.
I suppose you will be way ahead of me in your books when you come home.
Your loving Brat
Andrew Paul.
Barnum Minn.
[Note attached by WEP: Deer Park = Afterwards Nemadji
Vadulak = Polish for Walter
I was going to school with Sister Grace for teacher.
“Split Rock” = Polish Community 11 miles West of Moose Lake
Mr. Perkins = Neighbor 1 mile away
“Kwapik” = Name of family where Grace and I lived
X = Andrew’s trade mark made in the upper left corner of his first page.]
[ Written in pencil on 6 X 8¾" tablet paper with faint blue ruling; the envelope address is- Walter E. Paul, Moose Lake, Minn.; the postmark shows- Nov. 21 1898 Minn.; and a red Washington two cent stamp is affixed; the postmark on the reverse is unclear.]
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57] Barnum, Minn., Nov. 16, 1898
Dear Brother Walter,-
I will begin a letter to you this evening and finish it when I get ready.
Last night Ma got a letter from Grace. She said you had a cold, which I hope has left you by this time.
To day we have been working on the other side of the crick near the grove. If we do not haul the dead trees away from it this fall the fire will be apt to burn the whole grove next spring. We have stoped work in the swamp as the ground has frozen hard.
Last week Pa took away all of the little pigs except the little one. He got $1.50 each for them.
Thur. Evening
Yesterday I sent in my Deer Park Items by Mr. Perkins. I directed them to Box No.4. I do not know wheather he guessed it or not.
Mr, Jukes was by here to day he went down to Mr. Perkins’es to get his male which Mr. Per, was to get for him yesterday.
Mr. Per, is thinking strongly of buying the Jukes place. He and Alice went over to look at it yesterday. Alice said she fell in love with it the first thing.
Last Tuesday Mr. And Mrs. Reeves were surpried by the sudden arrival of their son from Iowa. I do not know which one it is. It neither Bert or walter. He was here this forenoon and took dinner here he is trying hard to get a deer before he goes back.
Next Sunday the Sunday S. will be at Mr. Dye’s. Sunday after next (when Rev. Robinson comes) the meeting will be held at Mr. Locks. Last Sunday Mrs. Polar and her son Clarence attended the services.
I have not shot any venison yet, but intend to go off on a hunt a few days befor Thanksgiving.
Last Sunday night as we were comeing home we saw a large deer just north of our old hay pen. He had a very large pair of horns. He did not even run but just walked across the road and then stoped and looked at us. He finally walked off into the woods. Some of the rest saw a deer on the same evening on the road north of cowen’s place.
Friday evening
I have just been out watching for deer over in Arthur’s Pines but did not see any.
Mr. Dye came over to Mr Perkins this morning and brought our male. Ma got a letter from Arthur and also one from Melvin. Mr. Dye is useing Mr. P’s horses to haul hay and wood.
I believe I have written that the S.S. will be at Mr. Dye’s house next Sunday. Rev. Utzinger is going to hold every night this week except Saturday and Sunday. I suppose they will be held from house to house in the same way that the Sunday School is held.
Last Saturday Mr. Guilbert had a house raising. We did not go it was so late when we got through doing the chores. We knew that the rest would be gone by the time we got out to Mr. Dye’s. Mr. Dye told me that those that went were Mr. Salto, Theis, Young, Clarence Reaves, and him self. Mr. Foote said he went also. Mr. Dye thought it would take another day to finish it, as they did not get the walls much higher than the windows.
Mr. Jukes was over here to day He is expecting Eva down in a few days to spend Thanksgiving with him.
Tell Grace I think I will write to her next.
From your loving brother,
Andrew J. Paul.
57] Barnum, Minn., Nov. 16, 1898 cont.
Dear Walter.
In Grace letter she said you had a hard cold. I hope you are most well by this time. I have tried not to worry about you, for I know Grace will take good care of you.
I am anxious to have you and Grace with us again. Do you still like it there? You don’t have use for your new german socks and arctic shoes much yet do you, but they will come good later on. It is most 9 oclock and I expect you are in bed. I must go to for we will have to get up early in the morning, if we go to town. Andrew will stay alone. I wish you and Grace could be with us Thanksgiving But we can be thankfull to God for all things, where ever we are. I had a letter from Melvin he said the baby weighs 15 lbs. Well I guess every thing is about as it was when you were home. I am looking forward for Christmas (or the week before) Good night and a kiss from, Ma.
[ Both letters are written on the same kind of 5 X 7 7/8" blue ruled tablet paper and were mailed together; no envelope exists.]
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58] Nickerson Minn 9/4 1903
Dear Brother Walter;
I got your letter last Tuesday and intended to answer it before now. Mr. Dye was over here yesterday and gave me that $7 so I sent it off to day by regestered mail. He said you and Clara were over to Williams birthday party. You must write and tell me what for a time you had.
I am getting along very well, and am beginning to feel very much at home over here. I keep the car reports and seal the cars and keep the seal report. Ther is not enough freight to handle to give me what exercise I need. I hope the agent will give me something more to do pretty soon. I have not done any wire work yet. He sometimes tells me to let him know if they call him. I generally stay up with the night operator untill 9 or 10 oclock; so you see I am putting in a lot of time at the office.
I hope you had no trouble in putting up that millet. ____ I have just had to ans the phone. That was a new experience for me but I am beginning to get broke in now.
I do not know whether I will be able to get home any sunday or not.
I could have gone home last Sun. as far as the work was concerned, but as the other helper had not gone then I wanted to stay by the office I will see what the station agent says & may b I can get off.
I am sending you a few messages which I have copied frm the agts msg book. They are a sample of bsns mags. It is pretty hard for me to get much of from the wire; there are some very poor senders and some that are very rappid, and then there are some that I can take pretty well.
From your loving bro
J. Paul
[ Note attached by WEP: Written while he was helper in the g.n. depot at Nickerson, his first Railroad job.]
[ Written in black ink on The Western Union Telegraph Company Night Message forms, 5¼ X 8" and printed and ruled in brown ink; the first page is written on the horizontal lines but pages 2, 3, and 4 are written vertically; the envelope has Great Northern Railway Line in large capital letters in the upper left corner; the address is- Walter E. Paul Barnum Minn.; the red Washington two cent stamp is placed over a box of small printed matter; there is no cancellation mark or postmark; on the reverse the postmark shows- Barnum, Minn. Sep 5 10 AM Rec’d. Nickerson is located in Pine County about 1/3 mile south of the Carleton County Line and about the same distance from State Highway 23.]
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59] Johnson Minn Oct 23 ’04
Dear Brother Walter:
It about time I wrote to you again as you have had but one letter from me since I have been away. I did not write home last Sunday as it had been about three weeks since I heard anything from home and so thought I would wait until I heard something before I wrote. Melvin got a letter from mother last week and so I was able to hear how you were all getting a long.
Melvin and I were out for a trip on the hand -car before dinner to day. We had a sail on the car which will take the car along about as fast as one cares to ride if the wind is good. We started out down the track toward the east. we had to pump the car a little going down as the wind was a little in front of us and would not quite take the car, but after we got down near Chicki’s we turned the sail around and came back a flying. we came back in about 20 minutes and held the car in a little at that. I believe one could make 25 miles an hour easy in a good wind.
I quit thrashing last Thursday. The fires in the engine got to leaking so that they could not run and so they let the crew go. It would have taken about 4 more days to finish what thrashing they had to do. I am now working for Mr. Bartels who lives near town. I think mother will remember him. He has quite a lot of plowing to do and I am running one of the gang[?] plows. I hardly knew whether I could drive five horses or not before I started; but have not had any trouble yet.
He is paying me $1.25 per day. It is not so much as I got in thrashing (2.00) but I am satisfied as we work short hours and it is easy work. You only have to walk behind the plow and keep the horses going. I am driving three horses and two mules which make quite a combination. It would be rather hard for a fellow to get a job with another machine now. But there might be a chance later on.
We have been having some pretty windy weather lately. Last night it cleared off and we had a hard frost. The last three weeks I was with the machine we did not work a third of the time on account of wet weather. It seems to be settled now and I don’t think it will rain again for some time. (over)
[Written vertically at the top of the first page] That box has not come yet but we are looking for it on every freight. I have not needed the things yet and probably will not for a while yet.
I am keeping well and getting along all right and hope it is the same with you.
Your loving bro,
Andrew Paul
[ Written in black ink on 8 X 10" blue ruled paper; no envelope exists.]
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60] Barnum Minn. Oct 16th 1898
My Dear Girl,
It rains so to day, that none of us have gone to meeting. You know then how we are spending the day. But how much you and Walter are missed you do not know though. I would like to have got a letter from you saturday, But as we got a line from Mr. Watson writen the 12th telling how he left you, I could wait better.
There has not been any one here since you went a way.
Your Pa went to town yesterday with Mr. Perkins. Clara and I went dow there, a little while in the afternoon, Alice was sweeping and slicking, she had been making a book cupboard.
Your Pa bought six pair of cotton socks for 60 cents. They are good ones for that. I hope you are rested from moveing and going so much and being up late nights so much before you went. I was afraid you would be sick.
(Monday) We did not wash to day, it rains so. I have been packing away old papers most of the forenoon and moving around the trunks, so to be ready to pack the fruit away, when it comes cold, Mr. Perkins came over to get some butter. It is twenty cents a pound now, so he said. I think you and Walter must have a hard time going and coming from school, if it is as rainy there as it is here.
Clara looked over our letters and decided there was nothing to write.
Tuesday morning) It continues to be rainy. Your Pa has gone over to Mr Jukes, Clara is washing the dishes, Andrew is siphering. He is going to take his library book back this afternoon. So I will close my letter so he can take it with him.
Be a good girl, take good care of your self. write as often as you can and all about how you are fixed for wood and other comforts, Remember your mothers heart goes out for you, especially of late. Look to God for help to lead you in all of your ways both spiritually and scocially.
Lovingly your Mother.
PS. When you write tell what Bessie said about the pictures..
60] Barnum Minn. Oct 16th 1898 cont.
Dear Walter,
I suppose you know what it is to go to school, by this time, and how Splitrock looks. Carlo missed you the first and seckond day after you went, he was quite uneasy to go out and then come in, would whine and look around. One week of school has gone. So the weeks will go, untill the time for you to come home will come. I miss you in the morning, at noon and at night, but when I think you are going to school and with Grace to, I feel better. I must stop now and see about getting dinner. Well we have been to dinner, had potatoes and milk gravy, pork and beans, raw onions bread and butter. It keeps raining, I wonder if you had your verses to say to Grace to day.
Now I want you to write how you like your school and all about how you and Grace are fixed for comfort. What time do you go to bed and get up? I suppose every thing goes by clock work with you and Grace.
I hope you will take good care of my Walter and see that he does not get hurt. I don’t know as there is any more to write, as Andrew has wrote to, and asked a lot of questions. It is Monday evening and raining hard, I must stop writing and see if there is enough potatoes in the house for breakfast.
I hope to get a letter from you both, this week. Be a good boy.
Tell Grace to kiss you for me.
Mother
[Note attached by WEP: Written to Grace and I at Split Rock. “Mr. Watson”,- Grace’s future husband had taken us from Moose Lake to Split Rock, 11 miles, in a two horse livery rig. Crossing a small pole bridge, the bridge broke in the Center and Mr. Watson was thrown under the horses hoofs but the horses stopped on the broken bridge and stood quietly while he disentangled himself.]
[Both letters written in pencil on three sheets of 6 X 8¾" blue ruled tablet paper; no envelope exists.]
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