ADDRESSED TO: Mrs. A.J. Stage, Lambs Creek, Tioga Co., Pa.
FROM: her father-in-law, John A. Stage, Mount Sterling, Ohio
April 30 1891
Dear Son and Dauter; i thot i Would Write you a fu lines to Let you no how we are. all Well except me. i have bin Sick for 2 weaks But are So as i are around again But i are not aBle to Work yet. i Was agoing Back to the mill again But the Doctor ses i have no Busenes thar any mor to Work thar. Well Helen, you had aut to Be out hear to Se my yard. it is a perfect flour pot. evry tre is full of Blossoms. it looks ofel nise But i cant enjoy mySelf hear eny more. it is So Lonsom to me now.1 Cory is no company to me. She is to Selfish. i Wish you and the children2 Was hear By me again. then i could enjoy mySelf Better. Well helen, Sunday Was my Birthday. i was 60 years old. i Was Borned in the State of neW Jersey in April 26, 1831. the Rest of the children is Well.3 i cant think of much to Write. i have got my funeral expences al paid But 14 dollars. i dont no But i Will come out thar this Winter to see the folks if i live that long. i expect Stella4 and me Will Haf to look for a home next year. ida Ses she is ago(ing) to get out of hear next year. Stella is agoing to School now.
Well helen i cant think of much mor to Writ this time. Bo Balen is very Sick But is Some Better now. he took Sick the night Before i Did. kiss the children For me and tell Tesse That granpa Would like to See hir. give my love to all my friends and take a Shar for yourSelves. Anser sune. Direct to Mt. Sterling, Madison County, Ohio, P.O. Bos no. 80. i forgot to tell you that we have got our garden mad and potatos planted. everything looks nise. We Will have a Big frut crop hear and a Big Wheat Crop. Folks is planting Corn hear now. Thay have Bin planting all this week.
From your father
John A. Stage to his Son and Daughter
GoodBy Write Soon
Notes from the peanut gallery:
1) According to the information I have Mary (Knapp) Stage, John's wife, dies in November of 1891. Perhaps she was no longer at home.
2) The children of Albert and Helen Stage, at this point, were Tessie Viola (b. 10/14/1888) and Nellie Avis (b.10/15/1890).
3) The children of John A. and Mary Stage (in order): Sarah (1857-?), Albert Jackson (1858-1937), Katherine (1859-?), John E. (1861-?), Ida Mae (1863-1953), Emma (1867-?), Clara Angeline(1868-1907) and Estella (1870-?).
4) Estella went by Stella.