There’s a big gap in the archive – no letters between 1910 and 1928. During this period, I know that Margarette and her husband Schuyler Pierce were divorced. Two of Ed and Ida’s children were married and several grandchildren were born.
This letter is from Louise Keeler Campbell, the wife Margarette’s first cousin Will Campbell. Will’s father (John Campbell) and Margarette’s mother (Ann Campbell Frasier) were brother and sister. Will is now 68 – Ed is almost 70 and Margarette is 68. All three grew up together in Wisconsin and their families seem to have been close when they were children.
I have only one picture of Will Campbell – he is posing with his four brothers and I don’t know who is who. This picture would have been taken before 1926. Edward and James were older than Will, and the two gentlemen who are seated appear to be the oldest. So I would guess that Will is one of the men in the back row, along with brothers Albert and Benjamin.
This letter is addressed to Margarette, but the envelope is addressed to Ed. I imagine Margarette did as Louise requested, which was to forward the letter to Ed so he and Ida could read it. Mentioned in the letter are:
- Lucy Campbell, the baby sister of John and Ann Campbell. Lucy would have been about 58 at the time of this letter. I don’t believe that Lucy ever married.
- Lynn Campbell and Leslie Campbell, the two sons of Will and Louise.
There is not much of genealogical or family history interest in the letter, but I like knowing that these cousins were lifelong friends.
Mrs. W. B. Campbell
Houston, MinnesotaJan 17, 1928
Dear Cousin Margarate-
Your Christmas card received. I didn’t get many of them answered this year as I was at the Hospital in LaCrosse with Will at that time. he had an operation for Gall stones the 8th of Dec. and we brought him home Christmas day. He has recovered very well, drove his own car down town today twice of course. He gets very tired. He had had three very hard attacks one last March another in Aug. and the last a week before he went to be examined. They found three gall stones one as large as a large hickory nut and two smaller ones. The gall bladder was grown to the intestine and there were two small abscesses. The Dr. said it was a good thing he didn’t wait any longer, as it would have perforated the bowel very soon.
Lucy was here at the house and Lynn came and was here a week to keep the fires agoing etc.
We are boarding and rooming the Superintendent this year. He is very easy to cook for, eats everything that we do so it keeps me very busy. I do some other work such as fancy work and I am braiding a rug now, all wool. Work at it when I have time.
We had a very cold Dec. and one awful storm but Jan. has been lovely. Lucy went to Butte, Montana just before the New Year. The boys are both at Hampton Iowa. We hope Lynn can get in business for himself this spring. Leslie has ahd the grocery business for a number of years now. The thing of it is now to find a good location.
You can send this letter to Ed’s folks then I won’t have to write again and I don’t remember whether I wrote Ella or not, think I did.
love to all,
Will and Louise
