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Letters to Ellen Morrow Ryan's mother 1887
Posted 19 Feb 2011 by ReginaCM
Letters written by Ellen (Morrow) Ryan to her mother (Ellen (Spence) Morrow) in River Falls, Wisconsin in Sep 1887 to Mar 1888.
Ellen Morrow Ryan (June 17, 1861-Aug. 3, 1919) was the daughter of Robert Morrow and Ellen Spence Morrow. Her father died when she was 12 years old. She immigrated to the United States following two brothers to Wisconsin. She came to Dakota territory in the 1880's and filed a homestead claim. She refers to "breaking on it" her homestead in the following letters.
Envelope (containing 3 letters--there is little punctuation and some...
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Letters to Ellen Morrow Ryan's mother 1887
Posted 19 Feb 2011 by ReginaCM
Letters written by Ellen (Morrow) Ryan to her mother (Ellen (Spence) Morrow) in River Falls, Wisconsin in Sep 1887 to Mar 1888.
Ellen Morrow Ryan (June 17, 1861-Aug. 3, 1919) was the daughter of Robert Morrow and Ellen Spence Morrow. Her father died when she was 12 years old. She immigrated to the United States following two brothers to Wisconsin. She came to Dakota territory in the 1880's and filed a homestead claim. She refers to "breaking on it" her homestead in the following letters.
Envelope (containing 3 letters--there is little punctuation and some misspelled word---typed as the letters are written)
Post Marked March 4, 1888 from Fort Totten (Dakota Territory)
To Mrs. Ellen Morrow (Ellen Morrow Ryan’s mother)
River Falls, Pierce Co.
Wisconsin
LETTER 1 IS ON FORT TOTTEN, DAKOTA STATIONERY
March 2, 1888
Dearest Mother it is with every feeling of love and affection that I now sit down to write you a few lines to let you know that I am still in best of health. Hopping (hoping) that these few lines will find you in the same good health. Thanking a God for his great mercy unto us. Dear Mother, you will I expect think that I might have wrote sooner but it does seem it is one of the hardest tasks I have is to get time to write it is now most half past eight and I expect every minute to be interrupted with some one or other still I wanted to write and find out how you have been this winter or if you don’t think it awful cold we have had a aful snow storm for the last few days but it does not seem quite so bad to day the mail did not reach the sity yesterday atall but we are in hopes it got there to day so we will have mail to morrow. Well Mother in too more mounths I will be going up on my claim and have some notion of staying there all summer but does not know for sure yet. Dear Mother I suppose you will be woundring how I spend my time. I am still in the same place I have been here since June I could not hardly tell you what kind of a place it is it is not very grand but it is very warm I have not had a cold for this winter The folks is very nice and my companion is still nicer and just as good as the can be some time when you see Ester ask her to show you the picture I sent her when I sent my own I would like you to see it for some time in the near future I intend to come and see you and bring them along. So mother you can guess the rest. Dear Mother I think that this is the mounth your birthday comes and as I don’t know the day I will send you five dollars for your birth day and hopes it will reach you in time so now Mother I have little more to say onely that I am as happy as I can be. Hopes you are in best spirits. With love and best regards I remain you affectionate Daughter till death
Ellen Morrow
I most forgot to tell you I had a letter from Mary Reid and she said they were all well and that her Grandma was dead one year ago last January that is about all the news she sent. tell Samuel I will write to him next letter I write. I have thought I would write to him thousands of times when you write let me know how all my friends is down there. I wrote to Esther Vaconic (??) a long time ago but has not heard from her yet so now good night x x x x x x x x lots of kisses for you.
LETTER 2
Fort Totten, Dak. Sep. 12, 1887
Dearest Mother it is with pleasure that I now sit down to write to you you will think it strange that I have been so long in answering your last letter. But just shortly after I got it I went down to visit Hester & Dave at Thompson & stayed too weeks & it seems since I got back I have been so buissy I have onely wrote too letters since I got back but I could not wait any longer I wanted to here from you so bad to here how you were getting along & if you had any thought of comming up to Dakota to see me. Dear Mother I had thought this summer I might go down some time in the fall but I have been away so much I hardly think I will be able to go & any way I would rather have you come up if I had any place for you to come to but my home is not much of a place yet still I have good hope & I think before many years I will have a pretty nice farm I have 96 acres breaking on it now & will break it all up as fast as I can Hester was well when I left her & I had one letter from her since I got back. I thank you very kindly for your card that you sent me but Mother I don’t think that it will be nessary for me to have a card to remember you by when gone I hope never to see any of my relatives go before me. But Gods will is mine & I know he wont leave me one day longer on earth when I am prepared for heaven. I have two aims the one is to reach heaven & the other is to break up my farm & I some times stop to think which I am making most head yaw on. Ester Simpson sends you her love & thanks for your card she thinks it is aful nice she is well she was down here last night & I went up we are together real often. I have little more news to write onely that I am well & in perfect health hopping (hoping) that these few lines will find you the same it is aful stormy to night & has been tissagreable all day. give my love to all my friends keep a good share to yourself. I remain you Daughter till Death
Ellen Morrow
if you need any money to get anything with let me know
x x x x
LETTER 3
Fort Totten
Dec. 21, 1887
Dearest Mother as it is drawing near Christmas & I know you will be on the lookout for a letter from me I thought I must write to night it is quite late so you will not care if I make it short Dear Mother I was very sorry & very surprized to get the sad news if it had been any one but Silia (?) I would not thought so much of it but she always seemed so much wiser and older than the rest. We are born but we little know the life we will live or the death we will die. Well Mother I am in perfect health and strength and as happy as I can be I have very hard to work but it is a pleasant place and so warm but I suppose Ester told you all the news. Dear Mother I cannot think of any thing that I can send you onely this card. I think you will like it as well as any one I could send you. Let me know if you see any change in the appearance of me since you saw me last. Dear Mother it is snowing pretty hard today but we have had a pleasant fall with hardly any snow Well Mother it is almost time for the mail to go out & I must make it short but will write soon a gain I think it very strange that Dave has not wrote to you but I dont think he can think of much but the welfare of his beloved but that will ware away and Mother will be remembered again we may find very dear friends that will intrest us for a time. Well Mother I suppose you are with Peate and Mary now how well I would like to send them something for Christmas but there is nothing here worth of sending & it is three prices what is here well I must finish these few lines by wishing you and all my brothers and sister and friends a mary Christmas & a happy New Year
I remain you loving Daughter till death
Ellen Morrow
Is good night Mother I wish I could see you but I hope the time is not long till I can see you with love to all good by x x x x x x x x x
OBITUARY:
GREATLY BELOVED PIONEER LADY LAID TO REST
August 3, 1919
Borne to her grave in a casket strewn with flowers, the tokens of respect and esteem in which she was held by hundreds of friends who paid tribute to her memory by their presence during the ceremonies. Mrs. James Ryan, a pioneer settler of this region, was buried here yesterday.
Hundreds of friends of the deceased formed a procession in automobiles at two o’clock in the afternoon at the Ryan farm east of the city and proceeded to the Presbyterian church where funeral services were conducted by Rev. Prentiss H. Case. A sermon fitting with the life of Mrs. Ryan who had been a staunch member of the Presbyterian church since early girlhood marked the occasion. Appropriate vocal selections rendered by individuals and a choir added to the effect of beautiful expressions made in the sermon by Rev, Prentiss. Following the impressive ceremonies at the church, burial rites were conducted at the grave, marking the last resting place of one more of Ramsey county’s respected and beloved women.
Born in County Antrim, Ireland, June 17, 1861, Ellen Morrow Ryan had reached her fifty-eighth year when called to other worlds. The daughter of Robert and Ellen Morrow, the first of whom died when the now deceased Mrs. Ryan was but twelve years of age, she came to the United States in 1879 to make her home with two brothers who have preceded her to the land of her future home.
April 24, 1889, she was united in marriage to James Henry Ryan, the wedding occurring at Grand Forks, this state (North Dakota). To this union were born five children, all of whom survive her. They are: Lawrence, Bessie, Corinne, Gertrude and Dewey, all of whom were at their mother’s side when death took her from them.
A member of the Presbyterian church from her sixteenth year in life, she continued her affiliation with the organization as a constant worker for its principles throughout her entire career. Always leading an exemplary life, showing kindness and regard for others combined with neighborliness and beautiful Christian character, she was respected and loved by all who knew her and more particularly so by those coming in constant contact with her daily life.
Always a faithful wife and loving mother she contributed her portion of worldly improvements in the characters exemplified by the fruits of her marriage, all respected in their several spheres of life.
It was only recently that the illness of her physical body had deterred her ways of daily routine, a year’s period marking her only serious illness and that not constant, but brought on a gradual failing health. Every effort of medical science was exerted in her behalf but it was unavailing. A final demand on her bodily resources could not be withstood and after a sickness lasting only three days caused her to answer the great call on Sunday evening, August 3rd at six o’clock.
There remains to mourn her departure a husband, James Henry Ryan, and the sons and daughters mentioned, all of this city, together with three brothers, Thomas and Hugh of Culbertson, Montana, and David of Alexandria, this state (Minnesota, not North Dakota), and two sisters, Miss Hester Morrow of Culbertson, Montana, and Mrs. Jane Rodgers of County Antrim, Ireland, and hundreds of friends here and throughout this section of North Dakota.
Pall bearers who served at the burial rites were John McCauley, Chas Peterson, C.W. Kelley, John Spelsman, H. E. Baird and T. A. Haslam.
Out of town relatives attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Soule, Cogswell, N.D., Mrs. Peter Steffler, Minneapolis, Miss Hester Morrow, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Morrow, Culbertson, Montana; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Morrow, Cass Lake, Minn.
She liveth long who liveth well;
All other life is short and vain;
She liveth longest who can tell
Of living most for heavenly gain.
She liveth long who liveth well,
All other life is short and vain;
She liveth longest who can tell
Of true thinks truly done each day.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 from the residence and at 2 o’clock from the Presbyterian church for Mrs. James Ryan who died Sunday evening following several years of intermittent illness. She had been treated by specialists and was very much improved in health for a long period until lately. News of her death comes as a shock to her many friends here.
CARD OF THANKS
For the loving kindness and beautiful floral offerings during the illness and death of our dear beloved wife and mother we wish to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation.
James Ryan and Family |
