Last time we read a letter from Edward’s youngest sister, Ella. Now we fast-forward six years and we have a letter from Edward’s other sister Margarette. Margarette married Schuyler Pierce in 1879 and they had one son, Winfield, who would have been 19 years old at the time of this letter.
At the time of this letter, she would have been about 39 years old. I’m guessing this photo of her was taken in her 20’s but that’s just a guess.
As with the previous letter, it was written in Woodlawn, Nebraska. I don’t know if both Ella and Margarette lived there, or if one of them was visiting the other at the time of one of the letters.
This letter, though addressed to “Brother and Sister”, is I believe intended for Edward and his wife Ida, who Margarette may affectionately refer to as “sister”.
Woodlawn, Nebr
12-23-00Dear Brother and Sister,
We did not get your letter until Friday night and it was storming so hard all day Saturday and till now to-day so we could not get to the office. Will send this in the morning, hope it won’t be too late.
Cousin Anna (or Mrs. Wm. McHugh) lives 3 miles from Dana, everyone knows them.
I hope you won’t make yourselves all sick eating wedding cake and Christmas turkey.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I will have to close in haste.
with love from Margarette
The “Cousin Anna” that she refers to is likely Annie Susan Fraser, a first cousin to Margarette, Ella and Edward. According to the 1900 census, Annie (or Anna) was living in Jefferson, Iowa which is just a few miles away from Dana, Iowa.
I can’t make out whose wedding Margarette is referencing. Winfield would not marry for several years, nor would any of Edward’s children. I suppose it could be one of Ida’s nieces or nephews but I have very little information about them.
Since this is the only letter I have from Margarette, I will mention here that she and Schuyler divorced in 1911 and it was quite ugly. So much so that the local newspapers covered the proceedings. Her obituary made no mention of this. She is buried alongside her sister Ella in Lincoln, Nebraska.