No. 69

Chas. in 1884 in February

Stewart King c/o

John C. Davant, Attorney

501 Cleveland St.

Clearwater Florida

December 19, 1939

Dear Stewart,

The man named Jared in this letter was a hired-man farmer who lived there helped Charles. At the time of Esther's decline, his own wife was having—and burying—children. He was also from New York but didn’t stay long with Charles.

Feb 25, 1884

Dear M--Esther won’t leave bed. Jared’s wife visits daily to try to nurse the babe and to boost spirits, generally. The children help when they can, and once spring comes if she is not better, might take her to Independence for “institutional rest”—hers or mine. Methodists too far. -- Yours, Chas.

Your mother said that when Charles wrote, “Methodists too far” he was referring to Esther’s family. “Mr. Keil”, as they called him, was Ezekiel Spawn, who was not a patient or kind man.

Your mother said she wanted to visit to check up on the children but had her own. She told me, “You just cannot imagine the snow and isolation when you are on a farm. Why, there is not one interesting person to talk to, no one with a brain or desire for travel, to lift one’s outlook. There is nothing to do or say when you are looking at rows and rows of wheat. No access to the arts or pills. Drudgery! Mediocrity!”

But why did Charles not tell me about these hard times with Esther? I never knew about Cedar Falls or his first farm in Grundy. Had I known about how hard it was for him, I would have never turned down his proposal. It was for you that I stayed with your mother, it was for you. I thought I could protect you, dear one, from her unusual ways. If Charles would only have come out with all this trouble, you know, given me some access to it, well, I could have used it.

--Miss Minnie

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