Creator
D. F. Abbott
Recipient
[John Muir]
Transcription
[1]
[illegible]'07.
Oxford, Kansas Jan. 29th
Dear Friend and Brother,
Your card rec'd in due time, Thanks! I sent it to my younger daughter at Ottawa, Kansas. Three years ago she graduated at High school at Wellington Summer Co.- taught three terms & last Sept. commenced a 4 yrs. course at Ottawa Kansas. Thus far she stand 'A' in Greek & Rhetoric. Was very successful in teaching. My older daughter Esther, (now 26) was married 15 mos. ago, a farmer, her own age 6 m. from O., 1 1/3 miles from Dalton station. He bo't a $1000.00 farm & still owes $1500.00. Since 18th alt. I have been called grandpa,- 1 10 lb. girl, Ruth. Alice is 170 miles away, so I expect to
03828
[2]
see her but once a year if I live so long. My brother Seth married at Prairie du Sac, & by her had 2 sons & 1 daughter Mamie. The older son Seth taught telegraphy to, & he not liking his stepmother- ran away from Colo. & was years later heard from in N.Y. State & finally called on my brother-in-law, Thomas Woodruff, Spencer N.Y. - His baby brother died at Edinburg, Ill - - Mamie was born in Nebraska-Omaha, about 13 yrs, after you & I taught S.W. of Madison. Then Seth went to Oberlin a year, & his wife to Pr. du Sac, then they taught in N.E. Wis. Depere I think, a year & she died. Seth was continued teaching 2 yrs. longer & married an assistant by whom he had 2 sons & 2 daughters. The older son & younger daughter are now with their mother on farm.
[3] 2.
The 2nd Son, Earnest,- t[illegible], then a year at Brown - taught in Georgia a year - then his Sister Fidelia graduated at Ottawa - & now both are teaching in same school at South Bend Wash. I think you would enjoy meeting him. He takes learning easily. Was the first to study Hebrew at Ottawa, in a class of 3. Mamie was taught in georgia, & now at Raleigh N.C. - Perhaps you know J. A. Sabin My brother in law - taught at Prairie du Chien, Madison, A[illegible] Baraboo & lots of other places in Wis. & in N.Y. N.J. Ill, [Union?], Kan, S. Decotak, Cal. &c, & is now teaching in Ia. boarding with his son-in-law Ira Roberts at Jeffirson. Roberts a dentist. He Sabin was taught 54 years & counted 20,000 pupils under his charge
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[illegible] years ago. - - - Well , my brother has been dead about 12 years, & my sister 11 years. Both died on this block of ground where I am [illegible]ting. & I am 69 next Aug., 5th. Soon we shall all pass over. All Seth's family (but oldest son) "Mr. Sabin's" & my family have been members of this little Ba[illegible] [illegible] in Oxford, Mr. Sabin was [illegible] up a Pres. - but ships into M, E. or [illegible]ong. if it is the most popular. He has done a wonderful sight of good. - - - One year ago the 18th ult. my wife left us for better company. We lived to-gether 33 years. I stay with Emory Rice (son in law thro the week & come to O. o[illegible] S. I worked in harvest, & last fall picked wheat to machine a month - got lungs & head full of dust - & am not quite so well since.
[5]
3. Well, doesn't it seem as if the world has got about to the jumping-off-place. People live now about as much in a day, as they did in 50 years, a century ago. And also, isnt wickedness in high as well as low places, being f[illegible]ted out?
I wonder if indeed, the milenium will be ushered in with 1915 - unless sooner by the time being shortened.
Well, I have not said much about myself - & guess it would not interest you much, after what I have written. I taught two winters in N.Y. then 6 yrs. in Wis. & 6 in Ill., then failed farming in d[illegible]thy Kan for years. I can only count 2000 - about, of my pupils. - O, a few days ago I picked up the following of Mr.
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Sabin's diary: "Mar. 25. '63 started from Pr. du Chien 6 oclock. Dellie (Thos. Woodruffs son N.Y.) went with me to [illegible]ea. Reached Madison at 11. Went to the university spent 2 hours with Mr. Muir in his room. Went to Mrs. Skinners & found Frank & got dinner. Went uptown into the capitol, saw Mr Craig, but Prof. Pickard was out of town. Went to the Depot, then returned to Mrs. Skinners. Went into Historical room under the Bap. ch. Frank & I staid in Mr. Muirs room. Morning Th. Took breakfast at Mrs. Skinners." Then he went to first Ward School — Jamesville & etc. - - - Well, I hope I have not tired you out. Are you & yours & David & his all well.
My regards to you all.
From your friend
D. T. Abbott.
[in margin: 656]
Oxford,
Ks.
Location
Oxford, Kansas
Date Original
1907 Jan 29
Source
Original letter dimensions: 20.5 x 12.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Abbott, D. F., "Letter from D. F. Abbott to [John Muir], 1907 Jan 29." (1907). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 3643.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/3643
Resource Identifier
muir16_0601-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 16, Image 0601
Collection Identifier
Online finding aid for the microform version of the John Muir Correspondence http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0w1031nc
Copyright Status
Copyright status unknown
Copyright Statement
Some letters written to John Muir may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Owning Institution
Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Pages
4 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
