This letter was written by Kate Currie Gilfoil , (3/12/1853 - 6/2/1939), to her nephew, William Cromartie Currie, Sr, (12/3/1885 - 8/3/1957), and his wife, Sallie Rebecker Day Gibbens Currie , (8/19/1879 - 8/29/1973), my grandparents.
"Dear Gardner" is my grandfather's older brother, Gardner David Currie, (6/4/1876 - 12/20/1941), still single at 31 years old. He and "Will" were the orphaned sons of Aunt Kate's brother, Howard Cromartie Currie, (/12/1851 - 4/20/1887), and Lucy Jane Lynch Currie, (10/29/1855 - 1/22/1892). These two sons were the only to survive of their 6 children. They married and each had only one child, a son.
"Aunt Annie" Eliza Currie, (12/1/1860 - 7/20/1951), is Aunt Kate's sister. She never married.
"Little Jim" is Aunt Kate's son, James H. Gilfoil, Jr., (born 1880), and his wife is Edna Pilcher Gilfoil.
"Mamma" is Hester Ann Selser Richards Currie, (2/2/1820 - 6/10/1909).
"Sister Huldah" is Huldah Amanda Devine Currie, (6/6/1848 - 4/3/1934), Aunt Kate's half sister. Her father and mother were William Cromartie Currie, (6/17/1810 - 10/2/1876), and Adaline Whitaker Currie, (11/2/1818 - 8/28/1849). She never married.
"Betty" must have been hired help.
"Kittie" is my grandmother's sister, Kittie Gibbens.
"Bro Forest" is my grandmother's brother, Forrest Gibbens.
"Elizabeth" is Aunt Kate's daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Bullus Scott Gilfoil, (1881 - 1970).
"Uncle Jim" is Aunt Kate's husband, James H. Gilfoil, (1853 - 1936).
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Aunt Kate is writing this letter just a couple of months before my father was born. It seems that he was the first of 3 grandchildren born that year.
Gardner must have had a terrible time with his broken leg. In another letter my grandfather says that poor Gardner already had a crippled hand and now would have a crippled leg. I don't know that he had either. The whole family at Neely seem to have been very worried and caring about him. No wonder, since he had lost all of his family to disease except for my grandfather.
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Omega, Madison
March 8th (?)
1908
Dear Will and Sallie,
It's night and I
ought to be in bed but, I first must
write a few lines to you because I
know you are anxious about our Dear
Gardner. I could write most write a little
book. Well Gardner's resting some better
today and night. He has just suffered terribly
in fact has had very little sleep since
last Sunday and Aunt Annie has had next
thing to none herself for she is the main
nurse in every way and is certainly good and
sweet to Gardner. Says she gets as much
sleep as Gardner and has no broken leg and too
she is such a good nurse. I have wished for
some good strong body like you Will and little
Jim but of course you both could not leave
your work. We expected Jim and Edna today
but expect Edna is sick for she is that
all the time now but I think they are to
come tomorrow or next day. Poor ole Gardner
(end page 1)
(The original of this letter is 8" wide and 10" long.)
just gave up and cried day before yesterday.
Said we had so much to [do] and that it was too
much for us to have him to nurse like he
was a baby that, that hurt him more
than the pain and he is so like a girl
and hates for us to give him the bed pan but
I told him not to worry that I'd been
helpless several times and we love him
more than any money and I don't see how anyone
of us could be spared now for even a day for
Mamma and sister Huldah give him his
meals and do a lot of other things. Aunt Annie
bathes hime, fixes his pillows and etc. Aunt
Annie sleeps on the bed with him. That
is she gets from 1 1/2 to 2 or 3 hours sleep
some nights while I sleep on the lounge
in his room to help give him the bed
pan and when one cannot do it by themselves
I have Betty to help me in the kitchen
in the mornings. (?) (?) are bad
keep one in constant squirming (?)
Well Sallie so you are going to have
(end page 2)
Kittie as a neighbor. That's nice but
what will Dear Mother do? I was so
sorry for your good bro Forest and darling
Margarite. Oh let me tell you Elizabeth
thinks she is about 2 1/2 months and the
little thing is just tickled to death.
It most makes me afraid something
might happen to her and I think Edna
thinks she is 4 months. My word
we have a lot of grandchildren at once
but you can lord it over all of them by
being the first. Have done very little
gardening but, have some lettuce mustard (?)
coming up. We sent you 6# (?) of butter
just the day after I wrote you last.
Uncle Jim had a immerate (?) carbuckle (?)
on the back back of the neck. Do give my
love to all the dear ones at home and I give
Miss Kittie my very best wishes for her
future happiness. I am most asleep so must
say Goodbye with best love from
us all.
Aunt Kate S. Gilfoil
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