Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Final Installment of Aunt Nonie's Wedding

At last... the final chapter of the wedding letter.  First two parts are in previous posts.  Read them first if you are just starting!

.... I had given her a centre piece of my needle work, and with this mass of silver, beautiful linen, cut glass, and embroidery, a set of Havaland china decorated in delicate pink flowers and gold, and a dozen American Beauty roses in the centre, I leave you to imagine what the table was like.  We had gone over the afternoon before and set it ourselves.  About five oclock all the guests but my son Charlie and myself left.  Then Nonie and Mr. Harper fussed around the house like two old married people.  Packed their girps for the Park trip which they are taking, I counted all the silver and linen and put the latter away, the former was spread out on the polished dining table to show in the evening, and then we sat around the cozy grate fire in the dining room and talked until the gentlemen from the Assay office, seven in number, two with their wives, arrived.  It was such a jolly party.  Mr. Harper showed them over the house, and then we all gathered around the dining room fire again and Mr. Harper and I passed champagne and cake.  It was all so bright and informal you might have thought it was just one of Nonie's regular evenings only we did not let her serve. Mr. Harper has been in the U.S. Assay office twelve years, under three administrations and his associates one and all look up to him with the highest esteem and liking.  It is said about town that seldom has there been a marriage here which has called out the expression of good will that they have heard for Mr. Harper. The guests all left by ten oclock and Nonie went up and changed her dress.  They wanted Charlie and me to go to the train with them, but we found it was so belated that they could not get off until half past twelve, so at eleven we drove home and I suppose they are at one of the park hotels today.  One of the gentlemen from the office took the silver down and put it into the vault until their return, which will be at three oclock Thursday morning.  I will go over on Wednesday, see that the house is in order, there is a man staying in it while they are away, make their bed and take them something for breakfast.  I hope you are not weary with this long letter, but I felt that it was hard that you could not be with your eldest daughter yesterday, and that it was hard for her not to have you, so I did my best to supply your place and relieve her of all care and .  I was dubbbed the mother-in-law pro tem.  Nonie is looking forward to so much comfort in seeing Bertha Peaper and perhaps Lou this fall.  With love to you all, I am
Yours cordially
Imogene S. Lotz

713 Spruce Street
Helena, Mont.
July 1st 1898

Some information on United States Assay offices...
The Assay Offices of the United States are part of the United States Treasury Department. They are responsible for the testing, melting, and refining of gold and silver bullion and foreign coins and recasting them into bars, ingots, or discs. Assaying is done at all the federal mints, but special plants were established at New York in 1853, at Boise, Idaho, in 1869, at Helena, Montana, in 1874, at Deadwood, South Dakota, at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1881, at Seattle, Washington, in 1898, and at Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1909. Other than the federal mints, there is now only one assay office. It is located in San Francisco.

Continuation of Aunt Nonie's Wedding...

This is the second installment of the chaperone's letter concerning Aunt Nonie's wedding. The first part of the letter is two posts down. Here the chaperone describes Nonie's new husband, her wedding, her new home and the dinner afterward.

At half past eleven Mr. Harper arrived.  Here I must digress and tell you something of Nonie's husband, from a strangers point of view.  If I had a daughter I should be happy to give her into Mr. Harper's keeping.  He is of course a self educated and self made man.  He has seen little of the world from the social side, but he is a perfect gentleman in every sense and has the best of all good breeding, an exquisitely refined nature.  Mother nature makes these gentlemen and often excells the efforts of college and society. The extent of his means I do not know, but he is well to do, and I never saw a man more thoroughly worship a woman than he does Nonie.  She may do with him as she will - have all that he has and to his eyes, all that she does is right.  My sons and I left for the Church.  Here I found about fifity people in spite of the weather and no invitations.  The full Chapter of Daughters were there to see their sister married.  Just as the Court House clock was striking twelve, we heard the carriage dash up to the door and Nonnie and Mr. Harper walked up the isle to the Chancel.  Rev. Mr. Love was waiting for them and they were married with the complete good old Episcopal service.  As it was all so free from ceremony and only good friends present, they all came right forward and crowded around them to wish them well, as there was to be no other opportunity given then.  As soon as they could free themselves, they with Mr. Love, Dr. & Mrs. Carmichael, Mr. and Mrs. Ford, myself and two sons, passed into the vestry to sign the register and certificate.  It was from here that I sent you the telegram.  This immediate party then drove right out to Nonnie's new home to eat a wedding dinner with them.  My house is so small that I could not offer it for any entertainment so we all decided that the new home was the place.  This home it is impossible for me to describe.  The house is very unusual because of so much beautiful hardwood finish inside, but I am sure Bertha Peaper has told you all about that.  When the furnishing first began, Nonie and Mr. Harper asked me if I would not give up my time to them and assist them.  I have been a house keeper for twenty four years, most of that time in one of the best residence portionsof Chicago, so they felt that I would be of service besides acting as chapperone.  I can only tell you that in going through A. P. Custin's furniture Mr. Harper chose the best and highest priced article to be had in each line, from the parlor to the kitchen.  I do not know exactly but his bills must come close to three thousand dollars.  While Mr. Harper never bought a carpet or a chair before, his ideas are so refined that his taste is perfect.  Everything is most solid, substancial but plain - no imitation woods, and the colors to be in keeping with all of that rich cherry and oak run rather to the orientals, while all designs were dignified instead of light and frivolous. The lace curtains and portiers are all the very best to be had in the city.  They had given the management of the dinner entirely to me, and I had an excellent cook and waitress in the kitchen and at two oclock we sat down, nine at table, to as complete and perfect a dinner as you could wish.  Here we met with a slight dissapointment.  We had intended to have a young friend come in with his camera and photograph the dining table and wedding party to send to you, but the day was so dark and rainy he could not come.  The table was beautiful with the linen which you had sent, and the knives and silver from her home people, then the gentlemen of the Assay Office borrowed one of the Saint Louis spoons and matched the pattern, buying one dozen largest sized dinner forks, one dozen medium sized spoons or desert spoons and a carving set of silver mounted horn handles.  It must have taken a hundred dollars to do it.  Then the "Daughters" gave her a gem of a cut crystal bowl.  Mrs. Wickes sent six gold bowl small handle after dinner coffee spoons.  Mr. Kelly an old friend of Mr. H. sent a pair of most exquisitly cut caraffs, Mrs. Switzer an imported Teapot, cream and sugar.  Mr. and Mrs. Ford, the latter is my niece, a chaffing dish.  Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt a beautiful Rookwood vase, Mr. Custin sent a mahogny pedistal which Nonie had admired very much.

to be continued....

Sunday, September 6, 2009

The letter itself...

 
This is the first page (front and back) of the letter to Aunt Nonie's mother about her wedding.There are five pages front and back!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Aunt Nonie's chaperone writes her mother about her wedding...

This very long letter is addressed to Emma's mother, Magdalena Igel, from the chaperone of her sister, Lenora (Nonie). it is dated July 1, 1898 from Helena, Montana. This letter describes in very great detail the wedding of Nonie to Mr. Harper and the subsequent wedding dinner and gifts. It included a pencil sketch of the dress itself.

Dear Mrs. Igel,
I am going to write you a long letter, and although you do not know me I feel sure that both you and the girls will be glad to read it. We woke up yesterday morning to find that it was simply pouring. The first rain we have had here for weeks but Nonie was not in the least depressed. We talked of you all and wished you here but decided there was no use crying for what could not be, so I assumed the reins and began the driving. I was determined there should be no hurry and that Nonie should have nothing to worry about, and at ten o'clock sent her upstairs to dress. By half past ten I was entirely ready myself so that, I could give her any assistance possible. The consequence was that at quarter after eleven, she walked down to the parlor entirely ready and sat quietly down to put on her gloves, and then read until Mr. Harper arrived. I do not trust her to have told you much about her costume so I will give you the best idea I can of how she looked. Her dress goods of course you know. She had it made by the best dressmaker here, one who understood the figure as well as style and it was a great success.  The collar and reveres which outline the full vest was of a soft grayish apple green satin outlined with quilling of narrow black satin ribbon. There were bands of black lace insertion going around the body of the waist, pointing up in both front and back, passing under the reveres in the front. The whole finished with a crush girdle of the green satin. The satin for the collar and reveres was tucked in tiny welts and the skirt had three rows of the black satin ribbon quilling. The whole effect was very artistic and finished. I have made a little rough pencil sketch whose faults I am sure you will overlook if it but gives you some idea of how dear Nonie looked on her wedding day. Her hat was made by the best milliner in the State and was extremely becoming. The frame was of the softest black braid, the fine rich brim faced with pleated pale pink Chiffon. The crown was wound with thick ropes of the pink chiffon and falling over it from the centre to the rim was pretty cream lace which subdued the pink. The trimming was from the centre of the front. Four spangled black quills curving back, thru each way from the centre and flowing back from the centre and between the quills was a long black aigrette. (the tufted crest of an egret) The rim was prettily dented to one side of the back and underneath the dent a bunch of black satin chrysanthemums. Fresh white gloves compliment the costume and I must call to your memory the rich beautiful coloring of her face which made this color scheme possible. I realize, dear Mrs. Igel that I have spun this out to a terrible length but I know you are hungry for every crumb of news. At half past eleveen Mr. Harper arrived.
[remainder of letter coming next!!]

Saturday, August 29, 2009

A Few Notes about this Blog


As mom and I read and transcribe these old documents to include them in this blog we come across many dilemmas.
Do we 'fix' the spelling?  
Do we correct the punctuation?  What if it doesn't make sense if we don't?
How can we show the spacing and format?  
How do we show the marks that are not words at all... scrolls and embellishments?  
What if a word is crossed out? 
And what about the words we can't even make out?  
Some of the writings are so faint that we can barely read them.  Some have bled a bit.  Most are on paper so frail that we hesitate to touch it.  Often they are torn and words are difficult to discern. The handwriting is absolutely gorgeous.  We can hardly wait to show the true beauty behind these precious words.  We are reading up on how to flatten out the paper and repair the tears so that they may be scanned properly.  They must be re-humidified and then taped with PH neutral tape; so it will take time.
All this and we have barely begun.  The actual box we have opened is tiny... about the size of a cigar box. There are many more giant boxes filled with documents... literally thousands.  And each one we read leads to other questions.... who are these people discussed?  Where are the places they speak of?  What about the words or terms that are unfamiliar? .... and then off we go trying to find the answers and spending more hours on this 'hobby'!  What kind of Pandora's Box have we opened?  We don't know, but we do know that each of these letters, clippings and notes reconnects us to our past and to a way of life that is so dear and sadly long gone. We would love to hear from you, our family, as you read these posts.  You can comment at the end of any post, so please feel free to do so.  I hope you are enjoying these glimpses into time as much as we are. 

A Love Letter from Richard to Emma

This letter is on folded tablet paper.  It is from Richard Igel to his future wife, Emma.  He is assuring Emma of his situation (employment) and his love despite his absense.  His spelling and grammar are rushed as he awaits a train, but his feelings are very clear. We transcribed it as it was written, so please excuse the run-on sentences and lack of punctuation!


Louisville, July 31, 1860
My dear Emma,

Again I have spend (sic) four lonesome days here after the pleasant hours in Madison until at last to day my bussiness (sic) has come to a termination, the situation, I spoke of in Greenville, Miss, has been procured for me by Messrs Wilson Peters & Co and I shall this evening leave for Memphis. After having seen Madison again and after passing such happy hours with you my dear Emma, Louisville with all its stirring & bustling seems desolate and dead to me, a change of things therefore will be very desireable. If I reflect that this evening and many successive days every turn of the wheel will take me further from the one I love so much it almost gives me bad cheer to my voyage but perhaps someday I shall have the reversed feeling which will amply repay me for the present bad one. Find accompanying this letter my likeness, if you look at it with the same feeling I look at yours I shall at least have the satisfaction that there is one on this wide earth that loves me. Give my best respects to all your relations to Louisa, Leonora, and your Papa and mamma in particular there is nothing new i can write you but there is something old which is always new to me, that I am ever your loving and faithful
Richard


Excuse my bad writing I am in a great hurry for my departure is unexpected soon.

Emma Igel's father's Death Notices - Dr. Charles Schussler

These are various newspaper notices concerning the death of Emma's father; Dr. Charles Schussler. He was a remarkable man who served in the Union army during the Civil War as General Grant's surgeon.

Died
Schussler - In this city, Sunday evening, September 20th, 1874, at 7 o'clock, Dr. Charles Schussler, in the 67th year of his age.
The funeral will take place to-morrow (Tuesday) afternoon, at 2 o'clock, from the family residence. Friends are invited to attend without further notice.


ATTENTION SOLDIERS! All Soldiers who seved in the war of the rebellion are requested to meet at the Court House this evening at seven o'clock, to make arrangements to attend the funeral of their late comrade, Dr. Charles Schussler. Let there be a full meeting.


From Daily Courier, Tuesday, September 21st

Dr. Charles Schussler - The death of Dr. Charles Schussler occurred yesterday evening at seven o'clock. The deceased was widely known in the city and was in many respects a remarkable man. During the forty-two years of his residence in Madison he stood in the front ranks of his profession. In educational and professional attainments perhaps no physician in this city has yet equalled him. His knowledge of medicine was extraordinary.
Charles Schussler was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1807. He received his education in the Universities at Tubingen and Vienna, and subsequently graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1828 he left Germany for New York City where he established himself in the drug business. Shortly thereafter the drugstore was sold and a brig was purchased in which the enterprising Schussler led a colony to Texas, then engaged in the struggle for independence. Returning from Texas after a few years Dr. Schussler lived for a time in New Orleans, but finally came to Madison and held his residence in this city until his death.
The California gold excitement attracted the Doctor across the Continent for a time. At the breaking out of the late war Dr. Schussler promptly offered his services in support of the Union and went out as Surgeon in the first Regiment raised in Indiana, the gallant Sixth, commanded by Colonel T.T. Crittenden. Dr. Schussler served four years as Surgeon, having charge of Brigades and Divisions, and finally the immense Post Hospital at Nashville. His health was enfeebled by arduous labors and exposure, and he never fully recovered from their effects.
For several years he has gradually declined in strength. Yesterday morning an attack of the valves of the heart first prostrated him during the day, and at eventide, carried him to his last repose. Peace to his ashes!


The mortal remains of Dr. Chrles Schussler were Interred in Springdale Cemetery yesterday afternoon at three o'clock. In advance of the funeral cortege was a military band, the national colors, and a squad of the late companions-in-arms of the deceased.
The soldiers appropriately carried their muskets reversed, and when the body was deposited in the grave fired a final salute to the memory of the departed. The medical profession of the city preceded the hearse in the procession and a long line of mourning friends in carriages brought up the rear. The pall bearers were Messrs. Charlesworth, Cravens, Cochran, Tilton, Harper, Orr, and Dietz.

Friday, August 28, 2009

A letter from a member of Congress

This short letter on lined tablet paper has an embossed Congressional seal in the top left corner that reads: First Class (above a image of a Congressional Building) Congress. We believe it was some sort of letter of introduction of a Mr. Dunn to Emma Schussler Igel, my grandmother's grandmother.  It was written by Michael Hahn, whose biography follows.  From other letters it seems that Mr. Hahn was Emma's uncle.




Washington, March 2, 1863.

Miss Emma Schussler; Madison

Dear Emma;
I shall leave here in about four days for New York, where I will spend a few days previous to my departure for the West, to see all my folks. I will stop at Madison about a day or so on my way to St. Louis or on my return from St. Louis.
I have enjoyed the acquaintance and friendship of Mr. Dunn of Madison in the House of Representatives here and have found him an excellent and talented man. I like him very much.

Yours truly, etc.

Michael Hahn


Information on the possible identity of Michael Hahn:

Michael Hahn
(1830-1885)
HAHN, Michael, a Representative from Louisiana; born in Bavaria,
Germany, November 24, 1830; immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in New York City; moved to New Orleans, La., about 1840; attended the graded and high schools, and was graduated from the law department of the University of Louisiana in 1850; was admitted to the bar in 1851 and commenced practice in New Orleans, La.; elected as a Unionist to the Thirty-seventh Congress and served from December 3, 1862, to March 3, 1863; returned to New Orleans and engaged in newspaper work; appointed prize commissioner of New Orleans; elected Governor of Louisiana on February 22, 1864, and served until March 4, 1865, when he resigned; manager and editor of the New Orleans Daily Republican 1867-1871; founded the village of Hahnville; member of the State house of representatives 1872-1876 and served as speaker in 1875; appointed State register of voters on August 15, 1876; superintendent of the United States Mint at New Orleans in 1878; district judge of the twenty-sixth district from 1879 until March 3, 1885, when he resigned; elected as a Republican to the Forty-ninth Congress and served from March 4, 1885, until his death in Washington, D.C., March 15, 1886; interment in Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, La.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

A startling discovery

After a bit of research into the poem from the previous post I have discovered the author is actually Frances Dana Barker Gage. I have copied a bit of Mrs. Gage's biography below as she is quite an important figure in the Women's Rights and Temperance movement. It is interesting that our great, great, great grandmother was familiar with her writings. I wonder if they knew each other, because the book in which the poem is found wasn't published until 1866, several years after our Emma copied it for herself.


Frances Dana Barker Gage

Frances Dana Barker Gage

Frances Dana Barker Gage (October 12, 1808-November 10, 1884), a lecturer, political activist, journalist, and novelist, was an outspoken advocate of women's rights, temperance, and abolition before and immediately after the Civil War.

Frances was born near Marietta, Ohio to frontier farmers Elizabeth Dana and Col. Joseph Barker. Coming from New Hampshire, in 1788 the Barkers had crossed the Alleghenies with Rufus Putnam and wrested land from the Indians. Elizabeth, from a liberal Massachusetts family, taught her children to admire individual liberty. Elizabeth's mother, Mary Bancroft Dana, had also moved to the West and lived 14 miles south of her daughter, on the Ohio River which bordered the slave states of Virginia and Kentucky. All three generations of the Dana women assisted escaping slaves. Frances often paddled a canoe to her grandmother's house where she helped provide the refugees with food and comfort. Shortly before she died, Frances remembered feeling slaves' hurts as though they were her own and disgust with other pioneer children who chided her for sympathizing with escaping Negroes.

In her youth Frances was disciplined by her father because she had assisted a visiting barrel maker. Such labors, he said, were not part of a girl's domestic sphere. "What a pity you were not a boy so that you could be good for something," he lamented. From that moment she was determined to overcome the limits that had been set for women.

Frances's parents were more liberal in their religious beliefs than their neighbors. She much later wrote, "I never could accept the belief or doctrine of total depravity or of special providence, or the power of any being by prayer to move the universe, or any having right to do so if he could. Consequently I was led into association with the Universalists, more as a disbeliever in the doctrine of eternal punishment than any fixed faith."

In 1828 Frances married Universalist James Gage, an abolitionist lawyer and iron founder in the village of McConnelsville, 30 miles to the north. He was a friend of the New York State Universalist evangelist Stephen R. Smith. Through 35 years of married life, James supported Frances's commitment to help others. They raised eight children, all of whom thrived. She lived in McConnelsville for a quarter of a century, raising her children, educating herself, and gradually gathering influence among her peers.

Professional writing brought Gage regional fame. Writing in The Ohio Cultivator and other regional journals as "Aunt Fanny," 1845-62, she offered a warm, domestic persona who offered advice and support to isolated housewives in Ohio. She published Poems in 1867.

She extended her circle of acquaintance beyond Ohio by writing letters to women of like mind, including Englishwoman Harriet Martineau, whose 1837 book, Society in America, included a chapter, "The Political Nonexistence of Women." Another correspondent, Amelia Bloomer, engaged her to write for the New York State temperance newspaper, The Lily, 1841-54. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, whose 1848 Seneca Falls Convention launched the women's rights movement in America, was also on the staff.

Sojourner Truth In 1851 at Akron, Ohio, chairing the state's second women's rights convention, Gage, overriding audience protests, allowed the ex-slave, Sojourner Truth, to speak. Years later Gage recorded her recollection of Truth's speech, "Ain't I a Woman?" This version, superceding that of Harriet Beecher Stowe, has become the standard text and account of the event.

Gage stepped comfortably into the roles of public organizer and orator. She was a talented public speaker for more than 30 years to audiences of both men and women. Her addresses covered her "triune cause"—first, abolition; second, women's rights; and third, temperance. Eastern women's rights leaders and friends like Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Bloomer, Lucy Stone and Antoinette Brown encouraged Gage to be a women's rights emissary in America's Middle West.

Musings and Memories

It is appropriate to start this blog with a precious poem written in 1864 by Emma Schussler Igel, our grandmother's grandmother. It may have been a poem she knew and recalled or one she wrote herself.  It is written in pen on folded tablet paper.  The handwriting is beautiful and the lines are spaced into sets of eight with a sweet and simple line design between the sets.  She signs it with only the date and her initials.
Emma had moved away from all her family in Madison, Indiana to Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She followed her husband there as he relocated to become an apothocary; otherwise known as a pharmacist. Emma must have missed her home and family and was struggling to be cheerful in this new and strange place.



Musings and Memories

"I am lonely, I am weary.
Would you know the reason why?
'Tis not that the day is dreary,
Not that clouds o'er hang the sky.
No. The April sun is beaming
Warm and genial as 'twer May.
Earth and air in beauty teeming
Woo my spirit from the gay.

This new home is very cheerful.
Husband, children - all are here;
But my eyes are sometimes tearful,
Tearful for old memories dear.
By my window I am sitting,
Gazing out upon the street,
Thousands to and fro are flitting
No famliar (face) glance I meet.

Ah! I miss the bird and flowers
Of the home I've left behind -
Miss the hill-tops and the bowers,
Miss the odorous-wafting wind.
This is not the same old carpet,
Upon which we danced at night -
These are not the time worn curtains
Which shut out the summer light -

But I will not sigh in sadness,
Will not let my heart grow cold,
Soon t'will throb again with gladness
Soon these new things will be old.
Kind and genial hearts are hovering
O'er life's pathway everywhere;
They will come and render sacred
Carpet, curtian, table, chair.

Flowers of love will spring in beauty -
To my fancy on the street -
If the dusty paths are trodden
Daily by familiar feet.
If I scatter seeds of kindness,
Here and there as best I may
Roses, fragrant as the old ones,
Soon will cheer the lonely way.

Home so loved - old friends so treasured -
Half my heart I'll give to (the) you
Half I'll keep in good condition,
Warm and lighted for the new
I may drop a tear of sorrow
for the past - tho' far away.
While I'm pilfering from tomorrow
Smiles and sunshine for to-day."

May 1864 E. S. I.