Volume 11 , Issue 9

Insight Into Grandma

This weeks insight into grandma Constance Warwick McGill takes us back 106 years to 1903, with another "Dear Connie letter" from John C. McClure, in Quincy, Illinois, where John was going to school with 900 other students.

It is September 21, 1903, in Quincy, Illinois, at 5:30 p.m. when this letter was postmarked to Constance Warwick in Alva, Oklahoma. It arrived in Alva, Okla. September 23, 1903 in the A.M., two days after it was sent.

We also learn the name of the college in Illinois where John is going to school (GCBC) in Qunicy, Illinois where John was enrolled.

Quincy, Ill., Monday. -- "Miss Constance Warwick - Dear Friend: I answered your letter before I came to Q'cy but have received no reply, but I suppose you are mad. Please write and tell me if you are. I came back to school two weeks ago today. Am taking Short-Hand. You had better come to Q'cy and go to school. The school has the largest enrollment in its history. About 900 students I believe.

"I went to Canton, Mo. on an excursion Sat. night. Canton is about 20 miles north of Quincy.

"Last Fri. Eve The Christian gave a reception to the College students. Had a fine time. The Methodist held there (sic) Conference here last week. Quite a comparison isn't it. Well, Connie, I suppose you are teaching school by this time. I am writting (sic) this in school on Short Hand paper. Please answer soon. Ever Your Friend, John McClure, 524 North 9th St., Quincy. Bye Bye Connie. S. H."

Next letter, dated October 4, 1903, 10 P.M., G.C.B.C., Quincy, Ill., postmark to Miss Constance Warwick, Alva, Okla., received in Alva, Okla., October 6, 5 A.M., 1903.

It starts out: "Quincy, Ill., Sunday, afternoon, Miss Connie Warwick: I received your letter a few days ago. Was surprised that you did not get my first letter. I can't imagine what could have ever went with it. Mebby (sic) it will come to light some sweet day.

"I was surprised to hear that Edith Thompson was married. You must not write me such sad news. it nearly broke my heart. But I have recovered from the shock, and you must tell me who she married, and all about it next time. I want you to congratulate May and Ikie for me.

"You had better come to the G.C.B.C. It is a fine school. It takes about a year to finish the two courses that you spoke of. Although you might finish in ten. I believe you could finish in less than ten. But I would advise you to just take the Short Hand course. Did you ever receive a catalogue. I expect to finish up in five months more. So you are going to the fair. Well! So am I. I want to go there and get a job, and stay till it is over. You spoke about spelling. Well you have to be a good speller. The examination is held every moth, and you have to spell 95 words out of a hundred in Short Hand course and 85 out of a 100 for the Bus. Course.

"The Short Hand exam is fierce. I have taken spelling all the time and the last Ex I succeeded in getting 94. If you are comming (sic), I would advise you to send for the text book of both Short Hand and spelling, and you could finish in probably a month sooner. Letter writting (sic) is also in the courses.

"I hope you will come to the GCBC. It is a good thing for Mrs. Snyder to have somebody to tell her troubles to. I want you to ask her what she thinks of me; and then tell me next time.

"It rained awful hard here last night and is cloudy now. it is rather lonesome here now. Where are you going to teach. Oh yes I guess you told me, and how you was going to make the kids stand around.

"Hows is the attendance as the N.T.N. Did you go to Institute last Summer. Well I guess I will close my information bureau. Hows is Mr. S.? Good by, Connie. Your T. F., J. C. McClure, 524 North 9th, Q'cy."

Our third letter was received Nov. 25, 5 a.m., 1903, at Alva, Okla., from Altona, Knox Co., Ill, addressed to Miss Constance Warwick, Alva, Okla.

The next letter starts, "Christmas Night, Miss Constance Warwick, Alva, O.T., Dear Constance.

"I have been waiting quite awhile for an answer to my last letter, but have not received it. I suppose you are having to good a time during your vacation for such matters

"I attended a christmas tree in town last Eve. It was real good. I was home today, and put in the day pretty well eating.

"It is to late to wish you a merry Xmas, but I wish you a Happy New Year, and hope you had a merry Xmas.

"Grandmother will give a dinner to her three sons, their families on New Years Day.

"I am going to a Xmas tree tomorrow eve at Galva. Old Santa brought me several nice presents. I suppose he has reached Okla by this time, as I sent him there direct.

"Our school mom had a little tree for the children.

"It rained here night before last, but is frozen up now and threatens snow. We have not had snow enough for sleighing yet. What kind of weather are you having down there? Have you had any snow?

"I am thinking of going to Peoria after New years. I will close. Write soon. Yours Sincerely, John McClure."

"Alton, Ill, Dec. 30 - 1903 -- Miss Constance Warwick:

"Hello, Connie - I am going to start this letter before New Years anyway. you said you thought my last letter had lost it self. I began to think the same thing. I am just getting over a terrible cold.

"I wish I were in Okla. this winter instead of here. The roads are so rough, that a person has to stay at home all of the time. I would sure like to attend the Literary Society at R. S. ___ all debates.

"Oh say - I did not quite understand about Al Thompson's and his soap wrappers. How did he advertise? Explain more fully. I am interested, but you just as well throw away your soap wrappers.

"You spoke about Ikie being in the soup. I think I would have been in the soup about the evening of Mrs. Snyder's surprise. That is if I had been there. if I were there now Sense and Snyder would have no show. Do you think so? I don't see what Bert Snyder want to go away of up there after a girl for. Really I don't. Miss Herod has sure got my sympathy. Now you don't need to lay any blame on my Nellie's.

"I'm sorry I had to disappoint you at Xmas time. But I am going to burst the glass some day soon, because I am growing uglier every day.

"Do you ever see Walter Ross. I guess I owe him a letter. he thought that Ross girl was the whole cheese.

"I will go back to Q'cy about the middle of Jan. or 1st of Feb. You had better come to the Gem City to get your Commercial Education. What did Santa bring you for Xmas? We had a Xmas tree at our school house. It was nice. There is going to be a big dance at Galva tomorrow eve.

"I'm not going you know. I never dance because it is wicked. I never danced but once and that was at Ikie's house. That was the night I made Bert Snyder drunk, you know. I will close wishing you a happy New Year. Write soon. Don't wait as long as I did. Bye Bye. S. H. Altona, Ill., J. C. McClure."
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