MS 983 - Hollington Family Papers Transcripts (1881 - 1884)

June 19, 1881

To Sister [Mary Hollington] (West Unity) from Lillie and Billie [Maria and Will Frederick] (Bowling Green) June 19, 1881 [cover address to Joseph Hollington, West Unity, postmarked Delta Ohio June 21, 1881]

Bowling Green Ohio
June 19 1881

Dear Sister

Your note of the 16th was received last Evening and I now hasten to reply to its contents but I fear I can not give justice to all that is before me to write, for I have just left the dinner table and payed our last respects to a spring Chicken, fall Beef Strawberries and alot of other choice eatables to numerous to mention. So you may Know what condition I am in - there goes the Buckle on my pants. Dog on the spring chicken. The thought of getting a box of oranges but after reading your note. We give that up - we don't care for them its most to common fruit - but pare apple we are sick of and Strawberries we have all hours of the day Why Since Lill and I has been having So many Strawberries they halft to Send to Toledo to supply the market

You wanted to know how Will was, he is all right living on the fat of the land, The chickens is growing - the one we had for dinner feels like a big one - Tell Pa the potatos is all right, there is afew Bugs on them but will do no harm - unless you Stay all Summer.

Tell Ma to Pitch in and have a good time and not trouble her Self any about Lill and Will for we are happy - and enjoying our Selves hugely - the only faint spell I have is about Milking Lissie

Take Notice

Be Shure and have a good time and Stay just as long as you think we want you to - Lill Said the Currents and Cherries was getting ripe very fast - I don't Know what She means by telling you

Oh well by this I will close asking you to write soon Lill wants you to give her Love to all the Relations and give my love to all and kiss them all for
Lill and Bill

For Pa Ma - and Moll
We send love and Strawberrie Kisses Lillie and Billie
PS
Let no one read this Letter -

November 16, 1883

To Mary Hollington (Bowling Green) from Mrs. H.C. Oldroyd (Chattanooga, Tennessee) November 16, 1883

Chattanooga Nov 16th 1883

Dear Mary,

I thought perhaps you would like to hear from me so will scribble a few lines to you this afternoon. In the first place I am as well as usual Charlie has been somewhat under the weather today so I did not send him to school. By the way he has been going to school for three or four weeks and I think he is getting along right nicely - You know we used to think he would not like to go - he has never objected in the least to go; and seems to take hold and learn and I guess likes it well enough. I believe I will be more comfortable this winter than I was last. There is an open grate in our room and when we have fire in it, it looks quite cheerfull I like my Gasoline stove very much and am getting so that I can manage it very well at first I used more Gasoline than my neighbors - but am getting a little better on that score. There are three families living in the building besides "we ons" (as the n------ say) - each occupying one room they are very nice people so I am not very lonesome. You would hardly believe how nice they can live in only one room. I have a safe to keep my dishes and eatables in so am that much better off than I was in B.G.

There is a meat market in one of the down stairs rooms and right across the street there is a fruit and vegetable market and fish and Oyster house and two Groceries just a door or two above so you see if we have the where-with we can get something to eat right handy - Mr Oldroyd has only missed two days work since he commenced work in Chattanooga, one day he was sick before I came and the other the day I got here; and he had the offer of three jobs last week besides the one he had - he has prospect of work all winter, so I am not sorry that we are here. I must say that I have enjoyed my self so far very much. Usualy on Sundays Mr O has taken us to some noted place and I have just more than enjoyed it. I was very tired when I got here, it was very cold when I left B.G. but it got warmer and when I reached Cincinnati it was raining quite hard I was sorry for I wanted to see something of the City but you know one is never very much pleased with a strange place if they get there in a rain. I got into an omnibus and went right to the Cincinnati and Southern depot and such a dingy hole as it was cold as a barn and a very faint light. We tried to amuse ourselves by eatting our lunch - but even fruit cake could'nt make up for the unpleasantness of the surroundings and what made it worse an excursion to the Exposition had come on the morning train from the South and they had to return, on the same train I took so the Depot was crowded and you had to hang to a seat if you were lucky enough to get one or you would lose it. I managed to get myself and Charlie on board the train, all right, and was very glad to do so, for Charlie was getting very tired and cold I did not sleep any in fact would not for some one said that an old man had had his pockets picked and I did not want to lose all my money jewelry and so forth. So kept awake we had to come through twenty seven tunnels and it made the smoke come i n the car so thick

It has been very pleasant in Chattanooga so far rather warm some of the time but I did not mind it very much. One Sunday I went to Fort Wood and the Confederate Cemetery. The next I spent on the top of Missionary Ridge - It was a lovely day and I wandered along to my hearts content. The next I went to Cameron Hill could see the earth works our soldiers had thrown up to defend the City from an attack on the River, also visited the pen where the Mitchel Raders were imprisoned Next Sunday the day was lovely but Mr O did not feel well enough to go out so stayed at home. The next we went to the National Cemetery where 14,000 Union soldiers are buried. The Mitchel Raders who were hung are buried there; but we did not find just where, we will have to go again for we could not do justice to it in one visit I wish you could see it. It is a beautiful place just at the foot of Missionary Ridge where many of them were killed. Last Sunday it rained and we stay in doors all day. I wish I could send you a boquet of roses oh but there are lots of them and very pretty ones to. Chattanooga is not a very pretty place for it is very rough and rugged but every direction you look you see new buildings going up but houses are very scarce but not so N------. You meet about six to one white person - and some of them are so very dirty and filthy. I have to hire my washing done and it was done so miserably that I couldn't stand it so hunted up another wash woman this week and was better pleased. I wanted to go to Church Sunday for I have not been to Church since I left B.G. The M.E. Church are building a very fine Church just a little ways from our house it will be. it is said the finest Church in the South when finished I have been invited to sing in the Choir - I do not know as I will though but expect to attend the M.E. Church so you see I aint all Presbyterian yet Mother wrote that the new Preacher in B.G. was an improvement on the last but how do you own the town and Church in particular without - N.B.G. You in Particular must miss him and regret his departure I am sorry for you. I thought of you when I was tramping around on the Ridge I wish you could have been along for you could not have helped but enjoy it - it was just too grand to talk about. I looked over towards Chichamauga battle ground and thought of Will Frederick - and then I gathered persimmons and thought of our Berry tramp and O I would like to hear from you if you do not find this to dull please answer

(address)
Your friend Mrs. H.C. Oldroyd
No. 13 East 8th Street
Chattanooga Tenn.

January 27, 1884

To Mary Hollington (Bowling Green) from Mrs. H.C. Oldroyd (Chattanooga, Tennessee) January 27, 1884

Chattanooga Jan 27th 1884

Dear Mary,
Don't think because I have been so long answering your letter that I have forgotten you. I think of you very often but one thing and another has prevented me from writing one thing was I thought I would go out to the Cemetery and try and find the grave you spoke of. I remember seeing the name William Green on a stone but do not know if it were the right one or not, they have a register at the office and I could find the regiment there and then could tell if it were the same. I do not like to go alone and have not had a chance when Mr O could go along. We had some pretty weather I said one day that it would be nice to go out to the Cemetery - he said that Charlie and I might go but I didnt like to so have waited but I want to go again real bad and if I do will try and send you some little thing from it or from near it. Are you most froze by all accounts you have been haveing some cold weather. We cant complain though they say we have had more cold days here this winter then they have had in the last eight winters put together. Christmas we let the fire go out and had windows up and I wore my Cashmere dolman and went out for a walk. The week after New Years we had about three tolerable cold days. But we were comfortable indeed I will be very well satisfied if I am always as comfortably situated. Mr Oldroyd has missed just three days on account of cold, and I am sure he could not have done so well in Bowling Green. Our room is very comfortable, and we have had the where with to buy coal when we needed to, and if we have not lived on the fat of the land we have not gone hungry, neither have I fallen away any, more's the pity. But I beleave I like Ohio better then Tenn yet I do not think the people I mean the rich will compare with the common people of the North and dont you forget it they hate the Yanks as they call every one that comes from the North, I would like to know what Chattanooga would be if it were not for the Northern people nothing but a mud hole, for Northern Capital and Northern enterprise has just made the place. I have not been going around very much lately. I cannot tell you any more about the city. How would you like a million or two of little red ants. We have plenty I keep my safe standing in cans of water that keeps them out of the victuals before I set the cans every thing was just covered with the little pests. I have been using condensed milk but I have the promise of some milk tomorrow we are quite hungry to have fresh milk once more. Charlie is playing dominoes he can play a very good game, he wonders if Mr Hollington - wis-tles yet - Mr Oldroyd said he saw a n----- funeral this afternoon, there was a big n----- with a blue sash on riding on horseback in front of the hearse they are a funny people. They are as thick as hasty pudding. I had a letter from Mother this morning and answered it this evening and have this thus far along dont you think I have done well. I have a new dress - brown so I don't suppose you would like it. You can get dry goods as cheap as dirt here. Ric Rac that you have to pay fifteen and eighteen cents for is just five cts and all kinds of goods marked way down if I had money enough I might lay in a stock that would last three or four years - but. The City clock is striking nine and I have to get up and have breakfast before half past six. I will have to wind this epistle to a close. Dont follow my example and be so long answering this - I will try and do better another time, and try and write something more interesting

Your Friend
Mrs. H.C. Oldroyd
No 13 East 8th Street
Chattanooga Ten

P.S. Give my regards to all the family and write soon

March 26, 1884

Postcard to Mollie [Mary] Hollington (Bowling Green) from Will [Frederick] (Tiffin) March 26, 1884

Tiffin Ohio Mar 26 1884

Dear Mollie

We got together Monday night about eight o'clock - Mr Shell was Buried yesterday Funeral at half Past two- I never in all my life seen so many folks at a funeral - but we will tell you all about it when we come here - we are ---------- stayed at aunt ----------- last night - we will be Home this week one day - we send love to all - be a good girl and a good old ------------

Ever your Bro
Will