Esther married and had three daughters, Lillian, Cora, and Adeline, shown in the photo below. Esther is in the center surrounded by her granddaughters, and Lillian, Cora, and Adeline are the women in the back row. The women in this photo are all dressed in black, which makes me wonder if the photo was taken at the death of a family member.
Esther's daughter, Cora, married and moved to Michigan, 700 miles from her home and family. Below are excerpts from letters written by Esther and other relatives to Cora. The letters give us an idea of life during the 1890's. Tragically, Cora was found to have breast cancer when she was 40 years of age and she died a few months after surgery, leaving three young daughters. The final letters from her mother and Aunt Ellen are quite touching as they try to comfort Cora.
As I read the letters, I was impressed at the love Esther and Ellen felt for Cora. They were unable to travel to help her so they did what they could. They wrote to her, sewed for her, prayed for her, and sent gifts to her daughters. It made me think of how the women in my family might gather together during such a tragedy. We would do whatever we could to ease the burden and show love, just as these ancesters did.
These letters are typed exactly as the women wrote them. The women did not have the benefit of many years of education and their letters are difficult to read. I have included only excerpts of a few of the letters.
1897 from Esther to Cora (nicknamed Code). Esther has been preparing a box to send to Cora for several weeks when her daughter Adeline (Ad) tells her that Charly is going to Adams that day and can take the box to send. Esther rushes to put everything in the box but some things are left out. I love the description of the stockings she has made with the "harness" that goes over the head to hold them up! Vera, Rita, and Leah are Cora's young daughters. Glorian and Florence are Adeline's daughters.
"We are as well as usual it has been very cold yesterday and today not eneough snow for sleighing but half the folks go with sleighs and sleds and cutters the other half with wheels Charly went to Adams today and took the box that we have been so long getting ready the things have been scattered around my room so long it seems lonesome to have them gone they told him it would be sent tomorrow morning I dident expect it would go today was going to write about the things to night and put it in the box I should have done more if I could have had a longer time have left some thing half done I was working the last button hole on a peticoat for Reta when Ad came in and said C was going to Adams I sliped the needle of and put it in and when the box was gone found the buttons lying on the stand dident sew them on the waist for dident know but they were tolong the harness is to keep the stockings up put it over the head with the cross on the back and pin to the stocking with a safty pin the piece of striped outing was left of my night dress was going to make Vera a peticoat of it but it is pretty light colored it will do for a sheet for the very little est bed or to wrap her up in at night the plaid I got for waists to the petticoats then we found some thing else so hemmed each end and thought it would do for Vera to wear over her ears when she went out to hold the lantern there is a sack that was given to Glorian she has out grown it but I guess there is quite a little warmth to it yet I intended to cleaned it up but hadent time
the package pinned up in a towel is little miss Gladdis wardrobe if the children are by you can lay them aside without opening it there is a pair of socks for Pete tell him I think they will be large eneough wish I could have knit another pair and wish I could have sent more to Lill and famlly had planned for a number of things had some stuffed kittens for Lelia and Harley but forgot them had to hurry at last as usual well mabe their turn will come I would have liked to make all of them a present I haint been to the store ... to get something for all but it began to rain fine and freeze and was so slipery I dare not go around got what I could where I stoped and let it go at that they must take the will for the deed my will is good to do lots for ... now we were trying to help you I told Ad if it save you as much work as it made me it would help you some but I have enjoyed doing it all the same."
June, 1897, Esther to Cora:
"I fixed over my best black dress after I came from Mich it is my best dress yet I think I made over my thick one that you girls gave me I went to a grange picknic the other day and wore the sateen that I got in Mich I wear the blue dress that I made there and have on the dress that Lill gave me have made one calico have worn it two or three times I have on the shoes that I bought in Hartford the rubbers that I got there are as good as ever for all I know I made me a peticoat of my black sateen it was getting faded the blue I sent you I got becaus it was cheap six cts a yard it was in two pieces but when I was packing the box something said to me put in the blue dress she needs it more than you do so I put it in I hope it will wear as long as mine has
about Ads dresses she got her a ecru that is the color the cloth is serge while I was west she wore it two summers for her best the set of it never suited her last summer she got her a black serge I think it was eighty cts a yard that is her very best then she got a blue serge for forty cts a yard that is for a hack about to wear to grange and visiting last week she had her light colored one fixed over with silk front collar and cuffs eaton yacked sides it looks better than it ever did she has calico dresses but makes her nice ones go a good ways she fixed her green cassimere over for Florence F is the tallest but wears her dresses short Ad has one or two dresses she wants her to wear out while she can Florence has a blue silk waist if I dont forget it will put in a piece Glorian wears Florences white dress made over to fit her F had a new hat with her last summers ribon on it it wasent soiled is blue and white Glorian wears her last summers hat that is about all O Add made herself a cape like her black dress lined it with thin silk it was 25 cts a yard the silk
thursday night this morn Fred Ada and Walter called here they had been to Henry Hubbards wedding he was married tuesday night to a Hollis girl Ada said she was nice her greatest charm was that she dident seem to feel above anybody they had lots of presents Walter is fat he is not as tall as Florence by half a head but weighs considerable more he looks like Barney Hubbard in the afternoon Aunt Ry came along with Charley Church she wanted I should go with her to Rolls it was so hot and I would have to get ready in a hurry I said I couldent go she said Roll would be after me tomorrow
Frane's birthday is next sunday Aunt Ry has the satin for her a dress I wonder if F will ever wear it she never was so well fixed for dresses as she is now and she dont go as often as I do I went to the grange picknic last week we all went then we went sunday forenoon to hear the sermon to the graduates at Adams in the forenoon and at Belleville in the afternoon and tuesday to hear the graduates speek that is all I have been this summer to church three or four times we have had a cold backward spring good for grass but bad for corn we had considerable rain at one time but now the showers seem to go around us."
1897 Esther to Cora:
" Well Roll came after me friday afternoon so we had a good visit went to church sunday there was 26 there it dident seem much like old times there wasent as many there as there would have been there was several families that had measels Lelias children had them tuesday was Rolls birthday Ad Charley and Ellen and Walter came I was going home with them but they said if I would stay they would go to Hen Coons the next day so I stayed Hen went to see Cliff graduate at Williams Colledge in Massachusetts his education has cost a good many hundred dollars now he has got to get into some buisness he is fitted for teaching but he would like something that would bring in more money we shall see he is 25 years old I came home thursday saturday was quarterly meeting at Adams Ad dident care to go and C was going so I went with him and staid all night with Ellen she is pretty well but wants lots more money then she has got she wants a carpet and some lace curtains and wants the roof of her house raised up and a lot more things I presume she will have it all if she lives long eneough we dident have any fourth it is hot sat sunday and today were very warm days we are wishing for rain there is heat lightning to night think it will cool off the air I was going to do up the Ladies world to night but Ad hadent read it so it will have to wait how does them little girls get along are they grown to be big girls and is the baby in short clothes and has she got much hair on her head this is a piece of Florences waist think I remarked that she was the tallest woman in the house presume she has got her groth it is after eleven so must close
with love to all mother"
Esther to her granddaughters:
March the 8th 1898
Dear Vera and Reta
I received your nice letters and was glad to hear from you and to know that you could write so well I could read both of them every word I hope you will write again tell me about Leah what is the color of her hair and how long it is as if it is cut short and what color are her eyes and the cunning things she does and how she likes the chair your Papa called it a back house but I dont suppose it matters what it is called if there is a cushion put in the bottom she can sit in it for a chair it is one that was here when we came and we hadent any use for it I ment to have washed it all up clean but neglected it till I had to pack in a hurry and had to sent it dirty that is what we get by putting off things till to morrow that we ought to do today and now I will tell you about Uncle Charlys pigs he has an old mother pig and she has eleven little pigs they are red with black spots all over he lets them come out an the south side of the barn when the sun shines and they root around and frisk about they look like puppies then there is another mother she has ten pigs they are younger and haint been out yet but in two or three days they will be out if it is warm
the 13th
if you knew I was writing this you would want I should hurry up Reta called her doll Harley is it the one you had when I was there and what does Vera call her new doll and what became of John L Sulivan is he alive yet and are you going to keep your calf for a cow now I want you to study and learn lots Florance learns like everything but Glorian cant stand it to go to school all the time well she dont go half the time she goes a few days and stays at home a week she will be eleven years old this month not very large likes to sit in her mothers lap I am glad the cloak fits I though it would be pretty large for this winter and would be about right next then when you write tell me about Harley and the other one I suppose you like Harley best and Lelia is she a pretty nice girl and tell something about Edna does she grow good looking I was so sorry to hear that myrnie had been sick I hope she is well now
we have six more pigs since I wrote about the others I am getting awfuly sleepy so good night with lots of love
Grandma to Vera and Reta Sternaman
Addie wrote to her sister about making syrup...
Friday morn, when I got up this morn it was sprinkling a little now the ground is white with snow so I guess we shall make some more sugar, it has not been a good year for making sugar so far. We have made only 55 gal of syrup from 200 trees. Ma says "How nice it is that Vera can write. And she is so glad that they get along so well How I wish I could send them in something all baked ready to eat. I presume we will not write again before sunday. Ma says you must be patient and not try to get well to fast. Florence has gone to school she drives her own horse This week she has to start at eight o'clock. The next two weeks she will ride with the other girls. There I hear Ellen at the breakfast dishes so I must stop for this time
Love from all
Addie CollinsEsther's daughter,
Esther wrote the following letter to Cora shortly before Cora died. At the end of the letter, she quotes scriptures to comfort her daughter. I can only imagine the anguish Esther felt at not being able to be with her daughter and granddaughters at this time.
MRS CORA STERNAMAN, TOQUIN, VAN BUREN CO, MICH
POST MARKED: 14 MAY 1900 ADAMS, N.Y.
POST MARKED: 16 MAY 1900 TOQUIN, MICH.
may the 10th 1900
my dear suffering child
mabe you think I dont write very often but realy there aint much to write about we are haveing a backward spring we need a good rain there has been a good deal of sickness around it is of the nature of the grippe there was four sick at once at mrs George Mathers part was help mr and mrs Muzzy were both sick in bed at once Roll and Franc were both sick at once Mrs Crosby went to take care of the Muzzy's was taken sick is sick at home now. her grand daughter had to come home and take care of her I think they are nearly all improving but it takes so long to get entirely over it, it leaves the eyes weak I heint been so as to read or write much but they are getting stronger am so glad you got the box all right and glad the thing fitted Ellen has to make things nice she cant stop I think the Lord will reward her now dear Cora be sure and give your heart to the Lord every day he will bless and care for you and your family look to him for help and strength at all times try leaving out salt from your victuels O if I could be there but I am an envalid myself it seems queer to think I am so I cant work but it is the Lords will we will be submisive
now little girls how your grandma wishes she was there and well and strong to help you take care of your mama be as good to her as you can take the best of care of her and cheer papa and be good girls grandma wishes she was sick
Mother
What I do now thou knowest not now but thou shall know hereafter
Jesus said "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die."
The Father says, "Fear thee not, for I am with him. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; for I will help thee; for, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
The psalmist David wrote,- "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust."
Esther wrote this letter to her granddaughters after the death of their mother.
VERA STERNAMAN, TOQUIN, VAN BUREN CO, MICH
POST MARKED: 6 JULY 1900 ADAMS, N.Y.
June the 25th
dear children
your grandma feels so sorry for you and wishes she could say lots of compasing words I know you are all so lonesom and it is so hard for Papa when he comes home at night and dont find mama there so you must be good and not cause him any trouble I know he loves his little girls and they love him so you must be good to him that will be a comfort to him I wish I could do lots for you but I cant do mach for myself I have to be undressed and got into bed think of that in the morn I have to be got up and dressed I wish I could write lots to you but guess I cant this time you will go to Mamas grave some time and take some flowers it is very dry here farmers begin to get discouraged dear girls how I wish I could write better so to make my letters more intertng mage I will get better after a while today is the fifth of July we had a lot of company the children fired off a lot of fire crackers and thought it lots of fun I am about the same sit in my wheel chair all day give my love to all and write to me
Grandma
Seventy year old Esther died a few months after her daughter.
