Volume 11 , Issue 8

1900 Insight Of Grandma At 18-Years

I dug out some early 1900s letters that my grandmother, Constance (Warwick) McGill, received from a "best friend," John C. McClure, in Altona, Knox Co, Illinois. In the October, 1900 letter he mentions "arter to fellow." I am not sure what he meant by that, though.

In October, 1900, Constance Warwick would have been 18 years of age, living in Alva, Oklahoma Territory.

It sounds as though, John C. McClure was 19 years of age, in school at Altona, Illinois. Was Constance Warwick teaching at the age of 18 years or was she a student at Northwestern Normal School, in Alva, O.T.? Did she go to the Philippines as John mentions in the letter? OR ... Did John head her off at San Fancisco? AND ... Who was Nellie Corben, Ikie & May and Bert Knox? Perhaps someone out there reading this old 1900 letter from a "Best Friend" can help us fill in the blanks.

I plan on scanning and transcribing more of these letters written in the earlier 1900s and placing them on my OkieLegacy website in PDF form. - Oct. 4, 1900 Letter From Best Friend to Constance Warwick

John McClure starts his letter: "Oct. 4, 1900, Miss Constance Warwick, Alva, O.T., Dear Connie:

"I received your most welcome letter this A.M. It was postmarked three times. Came to Quincy, laid there awhile, then to Galva, then back to Altona, But I've got it.

"When I got that beautiful souvenir (sic), the boys in Quincy said, I never hear from you again, on account of there being paper in it without any writing. But I didn't believe it. Then when I did not hear from you for so long, I thought perhaps you were mad about something you had heard, etc.

"I hope by some mishap you did not receive that letter I wrote last. you may send it back for me to burn up. I was the happiest kid you ever seen when I got your letter this morning.

"You tell that (arter to) fellow to go straight up. Tell me who he is Connie and I fix him when I come to Okla. I never received but one letter from Nellie. It came home while I was in Quincy. Pa knew it was not your writing, or anybody's else, so he took it upon himself to open it up and read it. It was so foolish that, they did not take the trouble to send it when I came home. I read it (and I burnt it up). In the letter she said if I would answer it, she would write me a hot old letter. That was hot enough for me. As for Miss Gateka, I just writing to her a longtime ago. She quit me rather. I suppose it was that other love affair you told me about once. A word for Miss Bliss, I never heard of her before. Thats all I need say for her. Now! Whats left, Miss Warwick. Tell the (arter to fellow) I do write to Miss W. and that he had better deliver those letters more promptly.

"So you are going to the Phillipines (sic). Well! It would be nice if you could, but better that you shouldn't. Let me know when you start and I'll bet I'll head you off at San Francisco. I know you could pass the Civil Service Ex.

"I don't know where I will get a position yet. I am satisfied to stay at home for the present. Am getting lots of good things to eat. Yesterday mother and father went away to visit for the day, and I and my younger bro thought we would have something good to eat all by ourselves. So he caught a young chicken, dressed it and I fried it, and just as we had everything nicely fixed, the folks came home, and helped us eat our scrumptious (sic) feast.

"There was a cyclone struck here about a week ago. A good many building were torn to pieces. It did no damage except laid our corn flat, and blew down some trees.

"We have got the funniest teacher down at our school house She tells the kids some of the craziest things. The other my bro and I were passing. She came out began talking, and I had never saw her before. She is only 19. You have students as old as I. How would you like to have me for a student.

"Is there anything going on at Red Shed for you to go to. Is Nellie Corben going to school. How is Ikie and May. The neighbors wrote some big stories to father about Bert Knox. Perhaps you heard them.

"I will close, with the sincere hope that you will not get mad at me for writing that letter, but I thought sure you had quit.

Your Best Friend, Altona, Ill. J. C. McClure."
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