Amanuensis Monday

John Newmark at TranslyvaniaDutch has started this Monday prompt.  For those of you new to this the definition of Amanuensis is: one employed to write from dictation or to copy manuscripts. 

My transcription this Monday is a letter written by my gtgrand father James E. Wise (1854-1904).  The "voice" I hear in this letter is one of love and affection from James for his family.  Also interesting was the glimpse into James' occupation.  He was apparently a procurer of cheese and eggs, at least on this particular trip. (There is no punctuation or appropriate capitalization in the letter so I am inserting periods where I think appropriate)

Riverton, Iowa, 7-11  1901
Folks at Home. I have just got to this place,  got my chees from Depot.  got Supper and have afew minutes to get this letter off.  I have finished up about 2000# I find this lot melted down in bad shape don't think I can do much here but probale will clean up what Frank will send me by Sat eve.   I find that I made no bad deals the other trip. I have been watching the egg market. find white giving less than 6¢ for them and Six at some places I am afraid you will go low on them.  Break them down to six ¢.  I never seen such weather. crops are all going to burn up in this county. all gone in Kansas.  I think I will get in Sat eve. Hay is not keeping up this trip. got a fill on new hay and to much water .  Wind is all right think she will be all right in the morning.  Well I will close.  Hope you are ok on every thing.

Your Father, J.E.

Tell Albert and my girl I will bring 5¢ each when I get home and probale will get enough out of this trip to give my wife a penny.

Amanuensis Monday - April 1918 World War I letter home

John Newmark at TranslyvaniaDutch has started this Monday prompt.  For those of you new to this the definition of Amanuensis is: one employed to write from dictation or to copy manuscripts. So I will be participating in this and using it to transcribe letters and documents I have accumulated during my years of research.  This particular document is a letter from my grandfather, Albert Wise, while he was a soldier in WWI. He was 26 years old and had enlisted in 1917.  I have about ten letters and will be posting them periodically.

April 10th 1918

Still in France

Dear Fred & Edna,

Will try and write you a few lines today. We just got out of the trenches again with good luck didn’t loose a man, and only two slight wounds so I think we are lucky. Our Capt was wounded the first time we were in the trenches and is still in the hospital but is getting alright from all reports. And we hope he will soon be with us again for we think he is the best in the regiment. We were in the same place this last time as we were the first. When we first when in to the[m] we were somewhat scared of the big shells that would come over and burst close to us. But now we are use to all of this and it don’t bother us a bit. And we are not as much afraid of the gas as we were. For I don’t believe the germans have the gas that they had at first. I mean it isn’t as strong and they don’t have as much of it as they did. We are on the Lorraine Front you can look that up and see about where we are located. The germans haven’t a thing on us, and I think we have on them, and will have lots more in time. But most every one thinks the war will end some time this summer and I sure hope so for this is no place for a white man. Sure am glad I was born in America where they do things. Will have lots of funny things to tell you all when I return. But don’t believe that will be until fall. But some of the boys think the war will end this month. It sure would tickle us to death if it would end, but we all hope for the quick close of the war. But we want the germans licked first, and put where they can’t cause any trouble for awhile. We are back of the trenches about 4 or 5 miles I guess so are not in very much danger. The weather has been very bad for the last two weeks has been cold and rainy. But surely will clear up soon. Well I guess I have wrote about all I can for this time so will close. 

With lots of love

          Your brother

Albert

O.K.

Q.W. Mills

Lieut. 168th Inf.

Amanuensis Monday - Letter from a Friend

While reading Joan's blog Roots'n'Leaves I noticed her Monday posts called Amanuensis Monday which were transcriptions of family diaries or other material.  I wondered what this word meant so I went googling.  I found the definition: one employed to write from dictation or to copy manuscripts.  Further research into the origins of this prompt idea lead me to John Newmark at TransylvaniaDutch. Since I am of that certain age (retired), and no longer "employed"  I will "volunteer" and  join in the fun of Amanuensis Monday.

So here is my first Amanuensis post.  This is a letter in my possession, dated July 8, 1860 from Mary Eliz. Heliner of Emmitsburg, Frederick county, Maryland to her "friend", Minerva Louise Favorite Douglass of Ottumwa, Iowa.  Minerva is my gt gt grandmother. The letter is quite difficult to read in some places and impossible in others.

Dear Friend,
I received your very welcome letter and you can hardly imagine what joy it gave me for when I wrote I had the wrong direction. I had to guess the place. I was sorry to hear of your ???? affliction. I hope brighter days are in store for you. When you move east perhaps you will regain your nice happy ??? ????. …I am glad one of your children is a ???? ahead of mine although the name is not pretty yet I like to have some of my friends call there children that name. There was a gentleman in town yesterday from Mercer, a Mr. Fleming. Sis ??? requested him to call to see Laura Smith, I did not see him so told Laura that Sis was to be married soon perhaps it is ??? . we have very cold and unpleasant weather. Cold enough to wear shawls in evening and morning, it certainly is very unhealthy. On the fourth I was at a fishing party, Danners girls, Brooks girls, myself and Maria were the girls. Pierce Danner and James Helman were the boys. We had a great deal of fun. We rode out and back.  I was at very large picnic last week but did not enjoy myself very much. There were too many at it for any pleasure. Ellen Weltz is married. She married a man in Baltimore. You remember her, she always lived next door to you. I will now answer the questions you asked. Mary E. Eichelbarger is not married nor any of the family. Your Guthrie is living in Davenport Iowa. She has been there nearly three years. She is not married but Jane is married to George Beam, they are living near town. Mr. Guthrie is dead nearly two years. Mrs. Shiles and William are both dead. The rest of the family are living in St. Joseph Missouri, moved out this spring. Charlie Bow is married to a Mis Maxwell. He is living in the country. Sarah Troxel sends her best love. She says she would like to see you. She is living with her father ever since Charles is married, she is the same lighthearted creature she ever was. Josh and Eli are still single. Isaiah Bow is married to Miss Bushman. Cal Zimmerman is very delicate. She does not go out much since she had her child which is a little girl. Joseph Weltz has been living in Virginia five years, they are very much pleased. Jeminas mother is out with them now. She will be home this week. All the girls send their love to you. Every person appeared glad to hear of you. I told a great many persons that I had a letter from you. They would all like to see you. Philomena Pittinger and Victoria are coming home. Phil is not well, she thinks the country will do her good. Your Aunt Marg. Jones lives in Iowa City you are not far from her, they are doing well. Fishers are in the same place. I would like to see all of them. I wrote to Jim that he was coming in but he has not made his appearance yet. Smalee was in but did not come to see us. I think it very hard he might have called if only for a few moments. There has no doubt been a great many changes since you left, a great many have died, some have married and moved off. Frank Eysler is living in St. Joseph. She has two children. She does not like it out there, but she is one of these discontented creatures. If nothing happens I expect to go to Virginia in a few weeks. I hope I will enjoy myself. Pearsons are living in Westminster. Mary is to be married soon. Aunt Molter is dead this two years. Sam bought her house and is married and has two children. He married a lady from Pittsburgh. Rev. Mr. Senham is also married again. He is living near Philadelphia. Annie Diven is married to Harry McDivim. He is living in Kansas. Julia Shark has grown to be a very fine lady, very sociable and pleasant. Kate Geets is still single. She is keeping house for George since his wife died. Susan is married and is living in Hanover. What I have not told you please remind me when you write again. All the family join with me in love to you and your family, remember me to your husband, answer very soon and believe me ever your true friend. Good bye hope you are all well, Mary Eliz Heliner

 

Poem at the end of letter

 

Oft in tender recollection

Call to mind thy absent friend

Cherish for her that affection

Which shall never ever end