Sija Lawson to Margarette Pierce, Christmas 1927

Here is the postcard that Margarette mentioned in her letter to Edward. It was written by Sija Lawson, who signed her name as Mrs. George Lawson. We have the letter that George sent to Edward back in 1877. I speculated that George was a childhood friend of Edward’s.

I dug around a bit in the census records and found a George and Elizabeth Lawson that appear to match the 88-year-old George that is mentioned in this postcard. I’m a bit puzzled about the name “Sija” – not a recognizable nickname for Elizabeth (as far as I know). Sija is writing to Margarette, not Ed, so perhaps she has a childhood connection to Margarette that is independent of George’s friendship with Ed.

Anyway. Here’s the letter, and my thoughts are listed afterward.

Pardeeville
Dec 8

Dear friend,

How are you all, we are midling well for such old people.

It is awful cold today, ten below zero and drifting. The wind is blowing so hard.

Do you ever hear from Willie McKay and how is Ellie and Ed ok? All of you hope you are all well. Tell me all the news when you write.

There is no one you know here. Jennie Lawson is well. Lives all alone. Mrs. Ben Campbell is well. She lives in Kingston.

I am awful lonesome since James died. That is all my folks.

George keeps pretty well. He is 88 years old.

Love and best wishes to all of you,
Mrs. George Lawson

She mentioned several people in her postcard:

• “Willie McKay”, who is a first cousin to Ed and Margarette, and who wrote several letters to Ed through the years.
• “Jennie Lawson”, who according to census records (this is conjecture and not verified) is a brother to George
• I’m not sure who “Mrs. Ben Campbell” is. Ed and Margarette have a first cousin Ben Campbell (youngest son of their Uncle John) but I know nothing about him.
• She mentions a “James” who has died. I guess this could be James Lawson, a brother to George and Jennie (again, speculation based on census records), but I would be more inclined to believe that he is a relative of Sija’s since she says “that is all my folks”. Or perhaps he was a son of George and Sija.