Poor Cecilia, Trifling Hiram

Among some old photographs and papers I cleared out of my father’s house recently as he was downsizing for a move to assisted living, were a few old letters. They are not from my family, but from my stepmother’s family. Old letters are fascinating no matter whose family they come from, so I scanned them and am transcribing them now.

There are three letters, the oldest from a farmer in Illinois to his son. It’s dated 1868, which I am still trying to fathom. The other two are from another farmer, in Nebraska, to his daughter, dated 1890 and 1891. I’ll start with the 1868 letter. It’s from George Betebenner to his son John W. Betebenner in Jefferson, Iowa.

Pages 4 and 1 of the 1868 Letter

The letter is looks like it’s headed “Mico Wabash O Ills.” The family was in Wabash County Illinois, so far so good. But there’s no place called Mico and a look at the map doesn’t help. Place names change, so it could be called something else now. Before I look at old maps, I check the census for 1870, which shows the family in Wabash, and the Post Office/Enumeration District is Mier in Wabash County. Another look at the letter and now I can see “mico” is actually Mier.

“June 21, 1868

Dear Son, I Received yours of the 8th June the other day and feel glad to understand that you are all well and understand by your letter that you intend living a different life in the future which is the duty which is the duty of us all to live more devoted to our lord and Master who has Been so kind and indulgent from the Earlyest period of our infancy to the presant time. My advice to you is to persevere in the cause which is a good one. In refference to Baptism you have been Been Baptised in infancy By sprinkling which I consider sufficient though some prefer immersion. My opinion is it all amounts to the same in our church or in Lutheran church they all baptise by sprinkling so I am satisfied on that point. So it does not matter what denomination we unite with, we have but one lord and Master to serve.

“I must tell you about the Boys. Benton and Bud have gone to storekeeping…”

I have a tree sketched out for the Betebenners, and John W., the recipient of this letter, is George and Lydia’s oldest son. Jacob, George, and Benton follow. For now I’m guessing “Bud” is George Jr, but I’ll have to nail that down.

“They have a store 9 miles north west of Olney. Benton bought himself 80 acres of land and built store house and dwelling on it. Bud has only Half of the store. He has invested 16 hundred dollars in it, they are doing a pretty fair business.

“I was to see them some time ago.

“Our harvest is close at hand, we intend to commence next Thursday the 25 inst. We have about 47 acres of wheat to cut and looks very well, the spring wheat I get from Mt. Anderson does very well. After the wheat is cut we have between 40 and 50 acres of grass to cut which will keep us very busy.

“Our peach crop is not so abundant as last year, we had a very cold spell about the time they were in bloom and killed the greatest part of them.We have had a very backward spring, farmers could hardly get in their corn on account of so much rain. Some of them have just finished planting. We are plowing ours the second time and look very well.

“We are all blessed with a reasonable share of health at present and so is Mary’s family well. Cecilia and family are also well. But poor Cecilia has to live a poverised (poverished? impoverished?) life on account of Hiram so trifling, if he had taken care of himself might to live commortably (comfortably?) all this life.

“I now close with our Respects to all and remain yours till death

Geo. Betebenner

Please let us hear from you soon.”

There is a daughter Mary on the family tree, but I don’t have a Cecilia or Hiram. And is Hiram dead or just unwell? Questions for tomorrow.