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Volume 057-4 - October 2003 (6 pages)
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Page: of 6
Statira Tomlinson Maltman
by Maria E. Brower
eo Wis. HISTORIANS AND FAMILY RESEARCHERS
sift through the paper trails of time left by our ancestors. Although historically rewarding, often the search
is more intriguing than the outcome or the answer to a research puzzle. Sometimes the original research quest or the
evidence found to solve a difficult research problem remains unresolved, yet the journey was worth the trip. The
most common record groups used daily by researchers are
straightforward and routine.
After searching hundreds of documents and thousands of
pages of original records the most you might learn are the
vital “facts” and skeletons of the transactions of a persons
life. Two types of records are the exception: diaries and
journals, and personal letters. They supply the emotions and
human qualities that give us an opportunity to know what
the writers were feeling, thinking and experiencing—a window into their world for a short period of time. They put
flesh and blood on the skeletons of our ancestors’ lives.
A year ago a letter was discovered that was written between March 6th and 12th 1871, and mailed from Nevada
City, postmarked March 12. The envelope was addressed to
Mrs, A. L. Tomlinson, Fairport, Monroe Co, New York.
The Letter
Nevada [City] March 6, 1871
My Dear Mother
I have just sent your letter to the office and neglected
to put little Alice’s letter in. I told you of the burial of my
old Doctor he drank himself to death and the last visit he
made to a patient was to me. I was quite sick about three
weeks ago and called him that was the last time he was
out. This is the Doctor I told everything to you remember
my telling you about it—you ask where the money comes
from to settle up with. Out of the Estate of course. There
is no other place for it to come from that I know of.
I wish there was, for I would like to have some myself
just now. I would send some of my things home but I
have not made the inquiry about freight yet—there is
plenty of time You ask if Marsellus is as much for my
interest as he appeared. He acts very strangely they are
much put out about my not going to their house. I have
not seen him in a long time. But I guess he will do all he
can he will have to for his own interest and that will be
doing for mine.
Sometimes I wish I had staid [sic] home but then .
could not have been contented without seeing to my darlings grave. So perhaps it is all for the best although I am
very lonely—
I had to pay out some money for getting out the papers
that is for Clerk’s fees, and that money some Sixty Dollars I got from McRoberts. I told you I had some busif. Nevada Gounty Historical Society 7
Bulletin
woe 57 NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2003
ness with him I wish I could send you Ten Dollars of it. I
do not know who to ask to get it changed for me into
greenbacks. I do not want anyone to know what I do with
it. Have you heard from Mrs. Wheeler since I left? There
is a letter in the Buffalo Post Office addressed to me and
to your care Can you not get Mrs. Wheeler to call for it
and forward it to you. It was written by Mrs. [Fanagan?]
of Ohio. I would like very much to get it. Your letter of
the 1st of March with the copys [sic] of several letters is
just received. I hope Brother made a successful trip to
Rochester. I hope he will never loan Winfield a dollar
again but will let this be a warning in future.
Do not be uneasy about Marsellus he can not take my
interest & that is all secure and Wills too.
He will act the rascal if he can else I am much mistaken but do not be uneasy or worry about me, but look
out for yourself and do not go through the kitchen floor
into the Sistern [sic], I think so much about you all, one
thing rest assured of and that is my pardner [sic] is being
well wached [sic] by more than one— The mine is paying though not very steadily. It is opening again today
and I do hope it will continue for several days my only
alternative is that they will make a good sum—and clean
up well.
Be careful what you say to Howels. I never saw this
place so dull, times are very hard here and people wear
very long faces
Give the Howels my love. The peach trees are all out
in blossom and Mrs. McRoberts has 17 or 18 young
chickings [sic] all doing well. I hope you are not exposing yourself trying to raise some. Have Walkers been to
see you yet—or has Hamilton made any arrangements
about taking the place— Write when you can and may
our prayers be mingled together in supplicating our
Heavenly Father to spare us to meet again, on Earth
Your daughter
The Funeral
Three months earlier, the funeral of Statira’s husband had
taken place at the Congregational Church in Nevada City
on Saturday, December 10, 1870. All business places in
Nevada City closed at 1 o’clock—sixty-nine businesses
firms had signed an agreement to close until after the service. The church was densely packed and hundreds were un1