My Civil War Before, During and After
by
Josiah Conzett
Part 4
so Storeng the Rest of our Goods until Spring We on the Morning of the 19th of February 1869 - Bid Goodby to our Friends who had gatherd around us took The Stage for La Crosse and soon saw the Last of Trempelen. We had to stay in a Hotel there Over Night - next day We took the R R and in the Evening Reached reeport Ill Were we again had to Spend the Night - but after a few Hours Ride next Morning we finaly reached Dubuque and Home after A Two Years Sad Experience - Poorer than When we left Two Years, befor the Next day I was again Behind the Counter of Ackley SKemp & Co in my former Position. Now it was that People told me (especialy Mr Crocker of Sheffield Wood & Co who knew the Hancoks well) That they Knew the Hancocks would get Rid of me in some way when they felt they could Run the Store alone - and it did Look like it - and I have allways thought it was that way - A few day after Mr. J. T. H. saw me at the Door of (AB&co) Store, he Stoped and asked me if I had a permenant Engagement, I Said Yes - He then asked me why I did not come to him First. I told him that I was better pleased here - (The Old Hepporcrite)
In the Spring our Stored Goods arived from Trempealen So we were again fixed up in A Modest way in the Two Rooms of Fathers House that we had occupied at first - So Passed the Spring and Summer of 1869 without anything Out of the usual happning to us - we Visited the Folks in Plattville once or Twice, and they with Mrs Weinhart came Over once during the Summer - in October of that Year I was taken very Sick with Typhoid Fever and for a few Days my Life was dispaired of - but God willed it otherwise. So I recoverd after nearly Two Months Sickness - The Firm (Now Skemp Addinsal & Co) were very good to us during All this Time - besides Visiting us, they Paid me my Full Wages for All this Time. after Invoicing our Stock, I again Went to Plattville with a Stack of Goods, I had Two Wangons Loaded to the Top - I went with the Teams, and As it was very Cold I Walked nearly all the Way - and arived at Plattville about Midnight, to be Brieff - I stayed here until last of March, and during that Time After the days Buisness was over about 5 PM, once evry Two Weeks would get A Horse and Cutter take what Money I had taken in (from 3 to 400.00) and Ride over To Dubuque most all the way over it was Night and Darkk. I was often warned of the
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danger incured - as I Was Well Known by this Time, and all were aware that I carried considerable Money with me, however I was Never Nervous or Frightned over it and I was never Molested - I will here speak of all my 4 Seasons Experience That I spent in Plattville and not Refer to it again - The last Time I was in Plattville as A Storekeeper was The Winter or 1873 to in January 1864. I was then with J and A Christman. I had a pretty Large Stock and had the intire Family with me. We all Rode over in the Stage one Cold Winter Day - we then had Four Children - John, Mamie, Olie, and Baby Clarence we Roomed and Boarded with A Mr Squires. The Folks had No Room for us. I occupied Fathers Store Room and Paid Him #50.00 per Month Rent and also Paid him #50.00 pr Mo To Relieve me at Lunch & Supper Time and once a Week with my Ladies Auction Sales, wich by the way Were Allways Well Patronized and Successfull. I did all This with the full consent of the Firm - but they Thought Mr Vanderbie was with me all day instead of an Hour or But he needed Help so badly that I did all I could Help Him - Towards the last of January, I decided to go Home, we Had done real Well, and as the Banker there Told me I was His Largest depositer. Some Auction Afternoons we Took in #200.00 Dollars - we had a good Auctioneer., Tom Hughill by Name - he was also City Marshall - and also A Scamp with A pretty bad Reputation - but did Well for us - So one day I told Father V we would Pack up that Evening as we were Going Home. I saw he felt bad over it - when we got all Packed he went Home to our Boarding Place with us. Nellie and the Children having come down to go Home with me. The Old Gent was Silent and Gloomy all the way to the House. Then he Broke down and said, that evry Nail he drove into Them Boxes, he thought he was driving A Nail in his Coffin - Then asked me if I could not leave the Goods here for Him to Sell - He thought he now got to Know the Goods and How to Sell them & c & c. I had Serious doubt about it, but Felt Sorry for him and wanted to Help him - so I said I would Ride over in the Morning and See the Firm about it. I did so, and they said if I though the Old Man was All Right, I could Leave the Goods with him. So next day Mr A Christman Rode over with to invoice the Stock. we took back with us the Most unsaleable part of it, leaving him a fairly clean Lott. Mr Christman aranged the Terms with him and they were Liberal. To make a long Story Short, in about 6 Months Time they sent Over and took what Stock he had on Hand and it left Him #600.00 Dollars in thier Debt -
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it was a bad and Miserable - but it was as I feard - he left the Store allmost inteirly to the Management to his Daughter Anna - then A Young Girl and looked after other Irons to put in the Fire - it was very bad for him and also for me as The Firm allways held one in a Measure Responsible for it. Although I was not with them at this Time being in Buisness for myself - Mr V. never was able to Pay them A Dollar of that Debt and they frequently spoke to me of it - This was the last of my Plattville Ventures for anyone else and So ends this Part of my Tale and Experience. - - - - - ***1870***(in left margin of page) in the Spring of 1870 - I Bought a little Home on Ellis St - No 70 Paying 9.00 dollars for it #225.00 down and the Rest in Yearly Payments. Nellie and me had Saved the first Payment during the Winter. We at that Time thought we had a fine Home and were very Proud of it - but it was A Cheaply Built 1« Story Frame House Of 5 Rooms - 3 down and 2 Upstairs with only a little Hole for a Celler - we afterwards added a Kitchen and A WoodShed to it - and also a Good Celler - in July 1870 our Daughter Olie was Born in Fathers House we had not yet Moved into our own - Skemp Addinsell were on the decline Trade had moved farther up Town - so they Sold out to A Mr Chandler of Galena Ill - he Hired all the Help on the usual Terms by the Year - and Boasted of what he was going to do - But he proved to be A Loud Miserley little Skinflint and he soon saw he could not do any Buisness in Dubuque in His Way - so he wanted to Discharge us right away - but is was No go - when he spoke to me I told him as the rest had - That if he Paid me up for the Year I would quit but not befor. He was Beat and so gave it up for the Time - One day about The Last of July I met Mr A Christman on the Street. He asked me to come with them. I was glad, and said I would So the same day I told Mr Chandler that if he would Pay Me up to Sept 1st I would leave him at once. he consented and Paid me and I left the same day - He Sold out to A Mr Duncan and was glad to go back to Galena and his Shabby Stock and Store so Sept 1st I went to J and A Christmans this was in 1870. They then had the Largest and finest Store - Stock & Trade in the City - Located in Main St between 6th & 7th Strts. I was was pleased with my Situation and I think The Firm were well Satisfied with me - Amongst my
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Fellow Clerks were Phill Weigel and Chas J Keeler, J F Stampfer was one the Errand Boys. Our Home Life was Happ and all look well for a Happ and Comfortable Future. Little did we them Dream of The Dark and Unhappy Years that were in Store for us, in September 1872 - Another dear Baby Boy came to us, we Named him Clarence Augustus. He was A Sweet Golden Hair Boy - but God wanted him for his Angelic Choir, so took him Home. He died October 1874 - his death was our First Great Sorrow and was the Forrunner of greater ones if that was Possible - I now come to the Time of my Greatest Mistake wich affected my Life and all my Future Prospects and made my dear Family Unhappy and Miserable for over Ten long Weary Years, Years that I wish I could Blot out of my Life, and wich I hope and Pray the Recording Angel has Blotted it out of his Book. and I can only Hope.
Pages 95 through 100 have been removed.
Her Neck - it was my dear Wife - My Nellie - Her Surprise was As great as mine - she was trying to Locate the Hotel I was at - I had mentioned No Hotel in my Telegram - but she thought One was named, it was A very Confusing Message - so she was Trying to find it by asking this Man - he told here there was No Such Hotel but Offerd to Drive her Around to all of them To try to find me - she was just Accepting his Offer when I Came up - what the result of that Mid night Ride might Have been I even Yet Shudder to think of this day over 30 Years Ago. We Spent the Night and the Next day here - it was Sunday - But all Stores Saloons and Buisness Places were Open for Buisness - Our Col Patrick Lived near here somewhere in his Fine Estate he was very Wealthy. I thought we could perhaps Meet him at some of the Hotels, but he was evidently not in Town. we Spent the Time looking over the City until Train Time when at One or Two P.M. we went ABoard and soon were Of for Home - and glad and Happy was I. in spite of all my Troubles. We arived Home Safe and glad to get there eary Next Morning Found the Children Well and glad to see us. Annie Meinhart Was Still there and had taken care of them. She went Home a Few days later. I rested A few days, when Mr G H McDonald Sent me Word he would like to have me Work for him - He Was then in the Retail Dry Goods Buisness on Main Str near 8th St. The Old
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stand of Sheffield Wood and Co. I was glad to Exept for now we were Out of Funds, so next day once more Found me behind A Dry Goods Counter. I found there at Work, Two Old Friends Geo Start and C J Keeler. I was now Again in my Element, but my Failure still rankeld in my Heart. One day Mr McDonald to me That the Grocer, John Melhop came to him and tried to persuade him not to Employ me but Mr Mc was not that Kind of A Man and I guess from his Talk, he told him what he Thought and one day the same Melhop came into the Store To try and Quiz me about my Buisness and Failure But he got short answers and little Satisfaction - My Old time Friends and Customers from City and Country Soon found me, and in a Short time I had a fine Run Of Trade to the Satisfaction of Mr Mack, as Well as myself. But Mr Macks former Wholesale Buisness had been A Failure and so Involved him, That although he was now dooing a Good Retail Buisness, he could not Recover or Stand The Pressure of His Creditors the Chief of wich was the 2nd National Bank Of Dubuque. One day late in the Fall of 1875 its President D N Cooley and his Cashier E O Guernsey came in and Took possession of Store and Stock. I was very Sorry and Sympathized deeply with Mr McDonald - for his Kindness To me and his continued Trust and FriendShip - but them Was no Help - he had to go under - I at once went to The Christman Brothers and asked them for A Situation, but The Old Vanderbie Trouble was still held against me - Especialy so as Mr V had not Paid them A Dollar - so They would not Hire me. My own Failure had nothing to Do with thier refusel as they intemated to me - John Vanderbie came to us again soon after we got back from The West - He would not stay at Home. He was now 16 or 17 Years Old and pretty Wild - I soon got him in to the Store with me - He was Errand Boy and had only very Small Wages - Of course he could Pay us no Board - neither Did we ask it - Once in A while he gave Nellie A Dollar - After being in Charge of the McDonald Store - Mr Cooley Sold the Stock (I was still with Them) to Keller and Moser. They at once took Possession - I remained with them - but Mr C J Keeler would not stay with them and Left, George Stark had Quit over A Year befor. Keller and Moser were astonished and More than Surprised at the Amount of Buisness that came To the Store - they had done a Buisness of #30,00 or #35,000 in thier Store. They were both very close and conservative Men and
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rather Unpopular . I had Known them for Years and Had Worked with both of them befor the War, with Sheffield & Scott. Well Things went on in the usual way with us - The Children Were now Growing up around us were Good and Mama & me Wer Proud and Happy. John and Mamie were now attending The 3rd Ward School, and on the 29th day of March 1877 We were Blest with the comming of another Dear Boy - we Named Him Clarence Josiah - about 6 Months after being with K & M This was some Time in Spring of 1879 - Mr Schroeder of Plattville Came to me. He wanted me to come over and take full Charge of his Store - Offering me very good Sallary and Telling me How Cheap and Better we could Live there than Here & A Thinking it over for a few Moments I told him I would give him my Answer in A few Hours or in the next Morning - I had no Idea of exepting it, if I could Help it in the way I Wanted - for I did not want to Bury myself and Children in that Dull Town and Rob them of evry Opertunity to Get along in the World wich it would have amounted to - But I wanted to use these Chance as A Handle to get even With Keller and Moser and have them Resotre me my Former Wages wich they had cut down so much that We were Pinched to get along - so at Noon I Walked Up the Street with Mr Moser - on our way to Dinner, I Then Told him of the Offer I had - and said to him That unless they Restored my Former Wages to me (#800.00 pr Yr) I would accept it and leave at once. He got very Exited so much so as to Surprise me and Said - You Shall get your former Wages and that at once - that it was A shame They had been Cut & c & so on - Well When I come back from Dinner Mr Keller came to me At once and said - Why Joe, we intended to do this soon We only wanted to see what you could do - and this after Knowing me for Years - Knowing my Abbillities and the Trade I Controlled the Largest of any Clerk in the City at This time and for Years After. His Hypocrissy disqusted me. But I said all right, I will then stay on. Next Morning Mr Schoreder come in, I told him I had decided to stay here - He tried hard to change my Mind but as he could not Do it he went out - But he was Hurt and disapointed. A few Months befor Mr McDonalds Failure, my former Clerk T Hager wrote me asking me to try and get him A place in Dubuque, saying he did not like it There. I dont Know why I did it, Knowing what he was, But I did Speak for him to Mr Mack - and he told me To tell him to come - he soon came -
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and for a few Months when he left to Board with Mr Stoltz on Clay St At a 2nd Hand Tavern and Typical German Boarding House and Saloon the Wors place he could have found and He soon got into his Old Habits so that if I had not on Several Ocasions Shielded him he would have lost his Place. I told him of Schroeders Offer and said if he would Promise Me to quit his Drinking and so on, I would Recomend him To Mr Schroeder - He Promised - I gave him a good Letter and He Rode over - Mr S exepted him, he then left us and he Realy Kept his Promise to me - He got Married, and, Mr Schroeder Was pleased with and Kept him 6 or 7 Years, then went into Buisness for Self - So passed the Years , on the Years, up to Jan 1st 1880 - when One Day in that Month, I received A Telegram from Theodore Schuitzler anouning the Death of Father Vanderbi it was A great Schock to me, as we had not Knowen of his Sirious Sickness - I dreded to bring this News To my Wife, but Though deeply Grieved she took it easier then I thought She would - Next Morning she took the Train and went Over taking little Clarence along, she staid there for Some Time doing all she could for the Family - for at That time Mrs Vanderbie was Sick in Bed - from wich she Never Arose - she Died during the Summer, on the 4th Day of June 1880 the 5th Son was Born to us a fine Flaxen Haired Baby he was too. We Named him Vivien Eugene. One day in June also, Mr A Christman Met me on The Street. He said They would like to have come to Work for them. I said I would. Mr Keller was now Alnone. Mr Moser had Sold out to him the Year befor. I told him at once I was going to leave him - he tried very Hard to Talk me out of it, But I told him that he had Deducted #60.00 Dollars out of my Salarry wrongly when We Settled up in January - He said - Wel you drew out #15.00 evry Week and I persumed that was your whole Wages. He Knew better my Wages were #800.00 pr Year and I had Left the Ballance as A little Savings - at that Time he Would not allow it - but now rather than let me go he was Willing to make it good - but I did not like him nor his Ways - so I told him I was determined to go, and Go I did - He was so anxious to Keep me that one or Two days after I had left, Him and his Wife come to our House and Tried hard to persuade me to come back to him - but I stuck to my determination, July 1st 1880 I was again Behind the Counters of J and A Christman - - - - - - - - - - and now is the Beginning of those Years that I have written of that
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I would Oh so gladly Blot out of Life and Memory - but it Must stand, and I write it as A Lesson to my Children All them that follow them that they may take Warning from My Lifes Sad Experience and so Avoid the Shoals and Bad Temptations that Line the Pathway of Live. For our Sins will surly find us out sooner or Later and the Punishment will follow For God will not be Mocked and His Judgment is Just and And alltogather Rightous. Oh that I could Blott it out. I will not Mention my Follies - Vices and Grivious Sins of Those Ten Years that Caused my dear Wife so many Tears and Heart Aches and my Child to Hang thier Heads in Shame and Sorrow and nearly Wrecked my Life - They only Remember All this too Well - Willing would I give evy Life could They forget it - Forgiven It I sincerly believe they have - As I hope and Believe God in his Mercy has Forgiven me. So I will only Mention Events of that were of some Importance To us during those Unhappy Years. - - -- --- -- -- -
To Resume then - outside Of Fathers Death and Viviens Birth nothing worthy of Note Happend to us - (I forgot to state in its Proper place - that A year or so befor leaving Keller Store we Bought A Parlor Organ From Mrs Cutler Paying #120.00 dollars for it on the Installment Plan) in 1882 We Moved into Mr Kemps House On Eagle Point Ave - We were Compelled to Sacrafice our Home on Eliss St we Still Owned #600.00 dollars on it, and could see no Way to Pay for it, the Family growing Up and our Expences being now Hevier, but for this we did not Care so Much - we had Lived there over Eleven Years and Counting Taxes and what we Paid on it and what we Added To it we could say we got it for #8.00 pr Month Rent - The House was getting to Small for us and the Locality got to Be very Unpleasent for Several Causes, we did not Grieve very much over its Loss, so we Moved as I said - John had quit School in 1880 and went to Working in an Insurance Office for A Mr Plaister - He only staid ther a few Months and Then Worked for Dr Peterson the Dentist. I did not like to See him Leave School at his Age (14 Years) but he was Tired of Of it, and I Knew there was no Use to drive him - For I Knew that you can lead A Horse to Water, but you cant Make him Drink - in 1883 I got a Pension of #2.00 per Month From the Government - and that with the Back Pay amounting To #450.00 dollars was a good Help -
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it Paid All our Debts Organ and all and allowed us to Buy A New Carpet and some Nescessarry Furniture for the Parlor. The Furniture we have yet after 26 Years Wear, on the 12th of Feb One more Dear Boy was Added to our Flock - we named him Chester David and when about 2 Years Old we nearly lost him From A Severe Spell of Croup - but by the Providence of God and Under the Care of Dr Staples he was Spared to us - - - - in 1885 the Firm of J and A Christman disolved, it is not Nescessarry to give the reason for this here - They devided The Stock as evenly as possible, and to me was given the Task of Taking down the Stock in 2 Separate Books - one For each Party. it was no Easey Job and took us one Whole Day to do it. This Crippled Mr A Christman Financialy So he had to Borrow Largely from his Brother in Law, Mr Schmidt the Brewer - in Order to Replenish the Stock - After evry thing was in Order He and his Wife went East for Goods. I went with Them as far as Chicago and helped Buy the Staples and some Carpets - it was hard to get A Start as Mr J Christman the Monied Man of the Firm Had left the Firm. The Merchants were A little Cautious. However we got what we wanted - They went to New York and I came Home - and Buisness began to Pick up on July 5th One more dear little son Ariveved, We Named him after my first Captain in the Army - Charles Nott. we now had 7 children, Two Girls and Five Boy and evry one of them Good as Gold John was now Quite A fine Young Man and quite A Musician he was A Leader in the Henderson Drum Corps at that time quite Famous and one of the Best in the West Mamies Beux Ed Robinson also was A Member of it. They were once Invited by A Rich Brewery Firm to go with them to some Reunion I think it was to Savanna Ga they went - and they made a fine Impression down there and also Saw and Heard Jefferson Davis in a Speach - Mamie was now a fine Young Lady, she was at our Store now and had Charge of the Paper Patterns - Her Ability as A Sales Lady and her growing Popularity made The other Girls so Jellous of her that they combined togather To annoy her, of cource this Hurt her and made me Very Angry I told them and Mr C what I though of it pretty Plainly Then told Mamie to quit and go Home wich she did - Viola was growing up to be a fine Handsome Girl and Was still at School and so were Clare and Viv - now in The Fall of John quit Peterson to attend the Iowa State Univirsity
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he had Saved Money enough to Pay for one Term. He came back at the close of it - and as he was so far Advanced in his Profession by the Years Spent with Dr Peterson He was granted a 1st Class Dipolma. We now persuaded Him to open an Offic and Hang out his Sign (wich I had Mr VanBrant Paint for him) and by the Help of Dr Staples, who had Taken a great liking to him, we were able to fix him up in a real fine Cosey Style. His Office the first one was in A One Story Frame Building of Two Room on Clay between 16 & 17 St Owned by A Mr C Junck. His first few Months were rather Discouraging, but shortly Buisness picked up so that in a few Months Time he Moved into Larger and finer Rooms wher he Prospard from his first day - He now Owns a fine Home A fine Two Story Brick Building in 13th St, and Considerable outside Property is Well & Hearty & Prosperous with A National Reputation As a Lecutrer on Dentistry and as an Expert Dentist, and all This came to him because he Loved the Lord his God, and ever tried To Serve him Faithfully - and in that, that he Honored his Parents Loved his Brothers and Sisters and was Our Main Stay in our Many Hours of Trial and Need, and is that and even more to us To this day. He Stands today at the Head of his Proffession and is an Honored Citizen of his Native City of Dubuque Iowa. For all this God has so Richly Blessed him in his Home and His Buisness - He is Blest with a good Loving Wife who Has been as God ment her to be, A true Helpmate to him, They were Married March 31st 1891 - she was Miss Mae Corrance of Dubuque Daughter of Mr & Mrs Corrance who Old Honored and Well Knowen Citizens of Dubuque - in December the Young Couple were Blest with A dear little Son who will soon be 11 Years Old - A dear fine Boy the Apple Of the Eye of his Parents, and a delight to us all - - - - - -- I have in this incomplete Notice of our dear Son John got in Advance of these Notes - but as I got started with the Opening of his Career I thought I would finish the larger part of it and then only add few of the Later Events in wich he Figured so Well and Consepiously. To Resume my Story - - - - -
On the 5th day of March 1888 Our Beloved Mother was called Home at the Ripe Age of 76 Years and 3 Months - she Died at the Old Home on Almond St. Asthma and Heart Trouble was the Cause of her Death - The Lord in whom she Trusted ended her Sufferins in two days - and
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now she Sleeps in Beautiful Linwood - in the Fall of 1888 - We again Moved - This Time to West Locust St - a 2« Story Brick House with Large Yard Room and quite an Orchard, this was the Best House we ever Lived in, in Dubuque. in June 1899 - Our Daughter Mary A was United by Marriage To Dr E. G. Robinson at our Home - the Services were Preformed by Elder W. E. Robinson Father of the Groom, Assisted by the Rev Dr McCord of the M E Church. The Rooms were Pretty but Modestly Decorated and the Refreshmens Sereved were of the Same Character, Simple & Good Olie was her Sisters Bredsmiad - Dressed in Blue Cashmer and Trimed in Blue Ribbon. She was Beautifull to look at - The Bride was Dressed in Cream White Corderoy wich was very She was A Lovely looking Bride - John our Boy was the Grooms Best Man - Dressed in the Conventional Style of Bridegrooms as Was also the Groom. The whole affair was Simple but Fine and to us very affecting, for our Darling Mamie Our Oldest Daughter was now Leaving our Home - Yet not our Hearts. The Groom her Husband Now, and as we Familliarly Ed Called Him was a Fine Young Man of A good Old Family - he had Just Granduated with Honor as A D.D.S. from the Chicago Dental College and was now Connected with Dr H T Hanks - Thier Prospects were indeed Bright - So we Bid them A Tearfull Goodby and Prayed God to Bless them in all Things that was Good for them - for this Life and the Life to come, our Olie had now Graduated from the High School and was Preparing herself for Teacher in the Schools, - But Man proposes and God disposes - was never Truer Saying than in this our Case - I will Go back a few Years to help explain this. Mr Christmans Buisness Was now in Bad Shape - Extravagance and Mismanagement had Made such inroads to his Capital that he found it difficult to Buy Goods - we now Bought nearly all in the City, and to me Fell the Lot to do it - Eastern Houses Shuned us and thier Agents Passed us by. The Consequence was - we lost our Customers and Buisness fell Of Day by Day. The President of The German Bank came in now 2 or 3 times A Week and Worried Him with Statements and Dunn, until he was nearly distracted - One Evening at Closing Time he said to me - Joe I wish You would come down after Supper I want to speak to you. I Knew then that A Serious Time had come. When I came in The Store he was Sitting by A Radiator, Head on his Breast Sad and dejected the Picture of Woe. I asked him now what the Matter Was - He then Told me - The Tears
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flowing his Face, That he was So deeply involved and so Harrassed by his Creditors that He did not what to and was nearly Crazy over it - he said He wanted my Advice and Help if I could give him either. Poor Fellow I Pittied him with all my Heart. I had gone through Just such an Experience A few Years ago. I felt the Sting Yet - I Kew how he was Suffering, and I wanted to Help him. I then asked him how much it would take to pull him Through - Well he said, if we could take in #200.00 A day for A Couple of Month he could get over it all right - I then said - We would Write out an Add for both the Morning Papers this Evening yet, so as to have it apear in the Morning - Advertising A Bon A Fide Closing out Sale at Positive Cost and without Reserve. Reason for This that Mr C was going West in some other Buisness & c, Then I said now in the Morning tell all the Employees That you would like them to stay with you until the Stock was closed out, or nearly so, But if they found A good Situation befor that Time to Accept it. I said it Must be Kept Strictly Secreet even in the Family, exepting of cource the Wife - For if it got out or was even Hinted At as A Fake, it would be A Failure. I saw at once that He was feeling easier - He then said - Joe I put this in your Hands - We will do just as You say to the Letter, now come and Write out the Adds so we can get them in the Papers yet - I did so and we took the Adds over - it was now 11Oclk P.M. this was I think in June 1886, in the Morning I went over to Keely the Painter and had him Paint Two Large Singns in Large Bold Letters Announcing the Sale and I made it Strong and Convincing. When the Clerks came in Mr C called them to the Desk and told them Just as had been agreed on. There were some Long Faces Just then. They came to me to Quiz me - I told them I could only Refer them to the Add & Signs. That was All I Knew of it. They all Knew Mr C was Hard up, and So finaley took it in good Faith. It took the Town by Surprise and Mr C Special Friends came in and Wanted the Why & Werefor - for this Move - The were told it ment Just what the Adds said, He wanted A Change Was Tired of The Town and the Buisness & c - Well the first Few days it did not seem to have any effect -but soon it got Spread around and then People came in Crowds & We got Busy - We took in on an Average #300.00 pr day up to October, and Mr C was Happy and on Easy Street as The saying is. Nothing now was to good for me -
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I think he would had I asked it given me An Intrest in the Store. He Came up to the House and took me out Buggy Riding in Fact I was for that Time the Whole thing and my Word was Law. I did expect him to Raise my Sallarry without my Asking it it was my due surly after this my Work - during all That time it Kept me on the Jump Buying Goods - in October I advised him to say through the Papers That He had changed his Plans and would Remain in Buisness in Dubuque - He said Oh let it Run it will Soon die out - People are on to it now - But People understood And it Hurt the Buisness as the end will Show. Eastern Houses now were Willing to Sell him Goods and he went East to Buy Stock taking his Extravagent Wife with him And she was one great Cause of his Final Failure - Things Began to Run in the Old Rut again, Clerks came and Went at thier Pleasure, All helped themselves to thier Pay and Sold Goods any Old way Cash or Credit to Tom Dick and Harry. I now saw the end pretty Plainly and tried to Prepare for. Mr C forgot my Services I was now no better Than the Rest - He Transferd his Trust to Mr Billasch A Fellow Oddfellow and they grew very Confedential. I was Ignored. Now I made up my Mind to try and get A Situation in A Larger City - I was Angry & Discouraged. I had Worked very hard to Clear him and that Summer no One had reason to find Fault at Home or in the Store - But now I grew Reckless Threw discretion to the Winds and Run my Race, as Said I wanted A Change and was Bound To get it no Matter how, in 1887 I attende the G A R in St Louis largly with that end in View, but I was not pleased with The place so did not make any effort, now in 1889 I went To the Milwaukee G. A. R. stopepped in Chicago to Buy a few Goods for the Store and came Home nothing Accomplished. The 16th of July 1890 - A Memorable day and realy the turning Point of my Career. I never went back to A Christman again. These Months July 16 to Sept 14th are some of the Darkest Days of the Humilliating Terrible Ten Years - but the Clouds Were breaking A Light was Shining through the Faintly as Yet. in those Two Months I went to Chicago Twice in August and September Ostensibly to get Work. Ed and Mamie were then Living there they did all they could for me but I was Set in My Ways and went them at A rapid Pace for a while, but God had other things in View for me. He did not want me to Live in Chicago, so each time I came Home to my Grieving Family - On both
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these Tripp I went at our now disouraged Boy John Expense - I will not here state the Cost of it in Mony to him. (I also lost my Fine Silver Watch wich had Cost me #24.00 A few Years beforr on one of them ***Picnics***) (picnics underlined) On the 14th of September 1890 - at #11.20 P.M. I took the Burlington Train for St Paul Minn, where I arived on The Morning of the 15th and Rode up to John Vanderbies Cigar and Candy Store John had been here 10 Years, was now a different Boy - Steady and Sober and doing Fairly Well, they let me have A Room over thier Store and with him took my Meals at a Private House across the Street for a Time - On the Afternoon of the 17th Of September I enterd the Services of Field Mahler and Co on Wabasha 4th & 5th Strts. They had Just Moved into this Large and Beautifull Store - The Finest West of Chicago and doing Also the Largest and Best Retail Dry Goods Trade - I must Not forget to say that John gave me Ten Dollars for my Fare - Poor Boy I guess he Thought to himself. There goes #10.00 more of my Money to some Saloon Keeper! Now this is the explanation I spoke of and the reason of my Actions and Leaving Christman - Not Credetable and I will not try to Justify it. But who will Now deny that God Works in Mysterious Ways or that He does not Watch over and Care for even the Greates Sinner, Or who will deny that His Special Providence Guided Me to this Haven - I Recognize his Goodness and Mercy To me and to those dearer than Life itsself to me - Through All these Years of Heavy Trials, Bitter Grieff and Trouble He has lifted the Dark Clouds and now we see the Sun Shning Brightly once more - The Crushing Load is lifted from Our Hearts. The Waters have been Cold and Deep - But By the Grace of God we have Reached this our Cannan -
Mrfs Field Mahler and Paid me #16.00 Dollars pr Week to start th. I was in the Dress Goods Dept it was New way to me, to remain or Sell Goods only in one Dept and the Sale Slips - in fact evrything was New - but it was the Modern and right way to do Buisness - I soon got used to and liked it especialy as Buisness was very Good. I soon felt at Home - My Letter Home announcing my having such a good Situation was Hailed with Joy by my dear Ones, I can well immagine how they Felt after all these Years of Trials - But God Was good to us and all now seemed Well & looked Bright. in October (1890) about the
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(11th or 12th) My Wife and Baby Charlie came up to see me - Charlie was yet in Dresses and was 4« Years Old, I met them at the Train, And Oh glad I was to see them. John VanderBie was also at the Train and he took them up to my Room - We Boarded at A Resturant under the then Market Store, we took Breakfast Togather, they Met me on the Street To go to our other Meals. The first Sunday she was Here we Took the Train for Minneapolis to hear Dr Burrell Preach, at That Time we had not Electric Street Cars and no Interurban Cars to Mnpls it was either Cable or Horse Cars - These Were Two of the Happiest Weeks of my Life - on Mr Mahlers Telling me I could stay with them as long as I lived if I wished And advising me to Move up - Nellie went right out and Rented A House on Maria Ave near 6th St. Then they went Home to get Ready to Move up - The Goods the sent in Advance, so that wen they Came up the House was prepared for them, in this Work I was Greatly Helped by Rev Jacob Kolb and his Folks, in fact I could not have had the House Ready only for thier Kind Help - On the 13th of November they Ariveved and after thier First Meal in St Paul at Mr Kolbs House they gave the final Touches To the Rooms - and we had a Home again were all togather once more and devoutly did I Thank Good for his Goodness to me and Mine - No we were not all Togather - Our Dear Boy John was left behind, His Buisness was now So good and Well Established, that it Would not do to give it up, - And then there was another Attraction That was to strong and Precious to give up - but we did so Miss him - I must not forget to say, that John Paid all the Expences of Mamas Visit - and for thier Fare and the Freight Charges for the Household Goods, what would we have done without John! The Children were quite HomeSick at first - They were Strangers in A Strange Land, but they soon got over it and Then when they got Acquainted they could not be Hired to go back, Clare Chet and Viv were now Ready for School, but they had To be Vaccinated for Mamma took them To A Doctor down Town and he did Vaccinate them sure enough - the had terrible Sore Arms and Sufferd awfully - we consulted A Doctor - they Finaley got over it and Started To School. On the 31st day of March John was Married to Miss Mae Corrance at her Home in Dubuque, Iowa. This was 1891. They had A fine Wedding and A great Many Handsom Wedding Presents. They arived in St Paul next Morning and Spent their Honey Moon with us and after A Weeks Sight Seeing returned Home - we were more that Glad to see
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them. This Spring Mama and Olie and me Joined the House of Hope Presbeterian Church. Dr Christee Pastor. On the Evening of the 4th of July We Received A Telegram anouncing The Birth of A Baby Boy that day, at Dubuque Ia where She was at the Home of her Father in Law, W. E. Robinson. They Named him Rhea Benedict. We were all delighted, at the Store we were Very Busy - I was now in Charge of the Linery (?) Dept, wich had just been Created and Seperated from the Dress Goods. At first I had only one Assistant - but we got so Busy that befor The Fall I had to have One more, so passed the Summer and Fall of 1891 - John and Mae Surprised us by Coming up in Sept State Fair Time. At that Time and Several Years After the City During Fair Week Illuminated 3rd St from Sebly to Wabasha with A Grand Electrical display - it was very Fine - I think Clare quit School about this. He had in some way been Hurt in Feeling - and no Amount of Scolding or Persuasion could Get him to go back. John allways Rememberd us at Christmas Time - This Time he Sent us A Fine Sett of Dishes and Mae befor This Painted and Sent us Two Beautifull Pictures - Our Children Did not Forget us. Now comes 1892, in February we Moved into what ( and realy was in Most Respects) a fine 2 Story Fame House on St Albans St Paying #20.00 pr Month for it - Clare and Viv were now Cash Boys at our Store at #2.00 pr Week - The Teased so long to go I thought I would let them try it. But it did not last very long - Clare was there the longest Time. Viv left and went back to School Charlie was going to School Now also - when we Moved it was very Cold and the House was Cold to. I there Caught A bad Cold wich now deviloped into Acute Asthma wich I have Sufferd from ever Since and Has made An Invalid Unable to Work. John and Mae Visited Us during this Summer, in August 1892 Our dear Olie got Married to William Furst a Young Man she got Acquainted With at the House of Hope Church where he was A Member - He Apeared to be A fine Christian Young Man and the Best People in Church spok well of him, so Olie fell promptly in Love with Him and he with Her. He came to us, and was Living with us, after being with us a few Months Mama and me saw some Serious Defects in him. He was not the Young Man we thought he was and We took rather A dislike to him and told Olie so, but she could not see it. So not to Break her Heart, or have them get Married Secreetly, as Married they were Bound to be, we let it go, hopeing evrything Would turn out all
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Right, she had taken a Teachers Examination and was granted a Teachers 2nd Grade Certifficate and was Teaching A Country School. Will Furst was also Teaching School. The School Olie had and her Broading place were To hard and Rough for her - She then Went to Detroit Minn But was taken Sick and Will hearing of it went to her and Brought her Home - Will had now got a Better School - they did not want to be apart any more so about the 10th or 12th Of August 1892, they were Married early in the Morning By of the of Methodist Church on Hague Ave Near Selby Av. I have forgotten his Name. They left on the first Train for Appelton - Winter was now Aproaching, and as we found the House to Be very Cold and Unsanitary - it had no Sewerage only A Sink Hole, and that was full and Smelt Horribly, so Mama went and Rented a House of 7 Rooms at #18.00 pr Month on East 4th St Between Maria and Bates Av. Our Land Lord Objected very Strongly and Scared her badly - But I soon Cooled him of, for I told him it was in such A Condition we could not Live in it, and if Necessarry would have it condemned, he coold Of and said - Well Shut of the Water and bring me the Keys - so On the 13th of November we Moved into our New Home - not so fine - but Warmer Cheaper and better Suited for us. Here in The same Month my Pension was increased to #8.00 pr Month wich With Back Pay allowed us to Buy some Needed Carpets and Furniture and get in good Shape once more - Clare was now Working For Young (?) and Lightner at #4.00 Pr Week wich Helped us some - By Olies frequent Letters we were glad to hear that they were Happy, So passed the Winter of 1892 We were Comfortable and it if had Not been for my bad Health -(Iwas Suffering greatly with my Asthma I was using the Schiffman Cure and it was using me Up) We Would have been Comparitively Happy, in the First part of April Olie came Home to be Confined. Will did not come with her as his School Term was not out. one Day during the Summer we were Surprised by A Visit from Our Mamie from Chicago with her fine Baby Boy, she Went Home the latter Part of July. Will was now Home - on the 16th day of August 1893 On Sunday, Our Olie was taken Sick - Doctor McLaren (A Woman) with her Nurse was Called, Ollies Sufferings Were Terrible so I took Chet and Charlie on the cars out in the Woods so they would not Hear it. Hoping all would be over When we Come back. The Neibhors heard her Sufferings and had Got the Police to Stop all Traffice and Noise on the Street - so The Poor Girl Sufferd all day
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and Night, until 12 Oclk - when A sweet Little Baby Boy was Born to her. Mama was now To Called to her Bed Side - but we all Know what a Mother will Do and say to a Loved one at such A Time. I need not speak of it. She soon told Mama to go to Bed as she Kew she was Tired - and So as the Doctor told her ivrthing was all Right and she herself Was going Home, Mama came to Bed. it seemed we had hardly Got there when we heard an Unusual Noise up Stairs, Mama Rushed up and at once Came Running down Crying Olie is Deiing, Olie is Deiing. I met Will Come Rushing down to Telephone for the Doctor, when I came into the Room the Nurse Said she is Deiing - Oh how I pity you Mr Conzett, I went to Olies side at once, I saw she was Nearly Unconcious - so I took Her Head in my Arms Raised her up a little and said to her Olie Do not leave. I think she understood me and tried to Answer Me but could not. I saw she was going Fast so laid her down Gently - Just then Doctor came in he began to Work her Hands and Arms to try to Revive her, now Dr McLaren came running in She too went to Work Vigoursly and Worked for perhaps one « Hour - But Allass The Vital Spark had Faded - Our dear Olie had left us - She was now in Heaven - Thank God we Have ivry right to Believe this Knowing what a Lovly Character She was and what A Blameless Life she Led - but Oh it was So hard, and Bitter were the Tears we Shed - But our Olie was not Suffering anymore nor Would she ever Shed any more Tears - We Telegraphed to John at once and him and Mae come up on the Evening Train. John stood all the Expence as usual - For Casket R. R. Fares and Burried at Dubuque. Furst had no Money even for his and Olies Board - Olie did one day make him give Mama #10.00 or 12.00 dollars That is all we ever got out of him - #100.00 would not Square his Acount, and in One Thousand Years can he ever Repair the Wrong He has done us and his Dead Wife - He Married again a few Years after Olies Death. He had Graduated as A Lawyer from the University His 2nd Wife Paying most of his Tuition. He is now A Lawyer of some Sort in Minneapolis - To get this Wife, he had her Write us under an Asumed Name for Information and she got it Too! Then Will and her Wrote us the most Scandelous and Infamous Letters Reflecting on Olie, his Poor Dead Wife I have ever seen or heard, it was Well for Him that he Kept out of our Boys way. she herself had the Gall to Come and see me at the Store to smooth things over - she wanted to Go and see
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Mama - That I would not allow her to do - But they have Received thier Punishment int Part, but more is Coming. They Lived togather like Cats and Dogs and have Separated - His Own People will have nothing to do with him. Oh what a Fearfull Mistake our Poor Olie did make. Dr Egbert Preached Her Funeral Services Tuesday August 9th 1893. Then we took Her to Dubuque for Burriel, wich we did next (day Burried her) On our Lott in Beautifull Linwood - Her Baby Boy Harrold Followed her in 6 Weeks after. He was Burried in his Mamas Grave - Mother and Child are Sweetly Sleeping togather waiting The Last Call of thier Savoir - Our Home was Desollate for many a Day - This Summer I bought Clare A Nice Bycicle - He had a Good time with it. John sent #20.00 to Help Pay for it, during the Summer Time Brother Otto one day Surprised us by Coming in, our Hired Girl Annie Herman taking him for a Tramp would Not admit him till Nellie Came to the Door. he only stayed a few Days - during this Time I was Suffering greatly with the As the Asthma and Several Times, had to remain at Home for A day or two on Account of it. We were very Busy at the Store. I Had now Three Helpers, some were no Good and for several Years I had to Keep Changing them, so passed the Year of 1893. in April 1894 Our Boy Clarence now 17 Year Old was Attackted with Tubercolis of the Bone, Begginning at The Ankle. We Called in Dr Amos - He for A few days did not Know What it was, but soon after found out, it was very Painfull and The Poor Boys Suffering was Terrible, the Dr now went at it in full Ernest - He Opened up the Limb and Washed out Evry day - Came at all times of the Night and day - No Doctor could have been more Faithull through all thos Days of Suffering from the first days of April to the 13th day of June - Clare bore it all like A Hero, it was A Trying time for us all - but espisealy so for Poor Mama - He wanted her near him all the Time - no one else could do Hardly anything for him, But she went through it all as only A Devoted Mother will or can. Dr Amos had called in A number of the best Doctors in the City in Consultation - When at last it was decided to Amputate the Limb to Save His Life - This Disease had now nearly reached as far as the Kee, So Calling 5 or 6 Doctors to aid him or to see the Operation He Amputated the Limb above the Knee on the 13th day of June 1894. We had Written John of the day the Operation took Place and he came up and was in the Room giving all the Assistence he could. it was all done in a
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Remarkably Short Time, and was comeded by all the Doctors prestent to be one Of the Quickest Best and Neatest Operations they ever saw - The Doctor wanted to take him to the Hospital but neither He nor We would agree, so he had the Room Thouroughly Sterelized - Brought over his Heavy Operation Couch, and on that Day Hattie & Laura Vanderbie and Our Hired Girl, Carried Bucket After Bucker of Hot Water to the Room, and in other ways did all they could To Relieve Mama, for now she was Completley Unnerved, and I was not much better, during the Operation, We went up to Kolbs To wait the Result - as soon as it was Over, we were called down, he was Still Unconcious, but Soon came out of it. Well the Worst was Over, but for Weeks he Lay in Bed Suffering from it and the Morphine, wich he so Manfully Fought to Conquer, in the Fall we got him an Artificial Limb Costing #100.00 (John as usual Paying for it) and soon he was getting around as Well as could be expected, and better than most Cripples - So end those Painfull trying Days - Trying to all, but most so for Poor Clare - Dr Amos was A confirmed Opium and Liquor Fiend, we were Not aware of this at the Start - as he on several Ocassions Missed coming but allways sent some Other Doctor. We must Give him Credit for Faithfullness and good Work for Clare. He was realy One of the Best Doctors and Surgeon in the City, and had it not been for that Soul and Body destroying Habit he would have had all the Practice on The Bluff, and as it was, he had the best part of it, up to 2 Years befor his Death, wich I think Occured in 1899 - He had lost House, Furniture and all he had. His Wife and two Little Boys were Compelled to leave him - He had been in the Assylum and Hospital several times, but allways got out to soon. The last time finished him - Clare was with Him in the Office quite A while, but he had to quit. it got to be to Dangerous to be with him, so indeed the Career of one who might have been the best in his Proffession and reached the Topmost Round of it only for that fearfull Habit. - - - - After the Operation, on the same day John Returned Home - in Decemb (on the 4th) I was taken very With Hiccouphs Asthma and a Fever of some Kind. I was very Sick - Dr Amos was again called in. I was delirious for a Few days on severall different Occasions. Dr Amos was Just As faithull in attendence on me as he was on Clare - Coming and Going at all Tims day and Night - One Time it was thought I was dieing - 3 or 4 Lady Neibhors wer Rushing to & Fro With Hot Bricks
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and trying to do all they could for me - John Field happend in to see just at that Time (about 9 PM) He Seeing my Condition, went and Sent A Telegram to John at Once. John caught the late Night Train was at my Bedside in the Morning - he at once took me out of Bed and Sat me in An Arm Chair - got me A Cigar and in evry way tried To get me out of the Stupor in was in he said I had to much Medicine in me and they must Rouse me up or I would die - Well He Suceeded and befor Train Time in the Evening he was Satisfied That I would Live so Went Home again the same day. I had Several Sinking Spells after that but got over them easier, in One of them I had aranged my Funeral with Rev Mr Bantley, and asked him to Preach the Sermon, he had called to see me as He frequently did. One day in February 1895 We got A Telegram announcing the Death of my Father in Dubuque. This so Exited me that I got out of Bed was helped down Stairs and did not go back to Bed again but Sat up in An Easey Chair - but Oh how I did Suffer from the Morphine - I Fought it with all my Will power but it nearly got the best Of me. One day after I was able to Walk around a little, I met Dr Day at the Drug Store - he questioned me About the After effects of Morphine on A Person. I told him it was far Worse or harder to get over, Then the Cravings for Liquor after A long Debauch. he then told me I would never get over it as He never Knew of any one that did, that had so much of it as I had. I was then yet Suffering from it fearfully and Fighting it as hard as I could. I told him I would quit or Die - I never took any more of it, but it was the hardest Struggle of my Life, and for several Years I had a hard Time to fight the Liquor Fiend a desire for wich the Morphine Created, but by the Grace of God - I conquered both. Well I finaly Recoverd - and on the 1st day of April Went to the Store again. This ended 3 Terrible Years For us - Terrible in Suffering and Cost and how my dear Wife ever Stood it, I could never understand, only that God sustained her and Mother and Wifes Love Helped her Bear Up under it all, - We sent Clare down to represent us at Fathers Funeral as neither Mama or me could go-through all these Years of Trial our Noble Boy, John Aided us with Money and also We Know with his Prayers - without him it would have been hard For us to get along - The other Boys were Good and Faithfull and did all they could - Viv had taken Clares place at the Law Office and gave us all he earned - little as it was it Helped - Chet and Charlie
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were going to School - they were to small to work as yet. Clare in his Crippeld Condition was A help and Comfort to his Mother, Saving her many Steps up and down Starrs to wait on me - we Know they felt all these Troubles Keenly & were full of Sympathie. Few Parents have been Blessed with such Noble Children - We had to Borrow Money #10.00 to send down Clare - she asked Mr Mahler for it, and to our great Surprised Refused to do it, as we Owed them #30.00 for A Coat we had Bought for Mama intending to Pay for it - I never forgot it, but Mama got it from Mr Converse - when Clare came back he brought #75.00 That John sent us. Mama at once took #20.00 of it down to the Store to pay on that Coat - she refused to accept a Bottle of Wine Mr Mahler wanted her to take to me. I Know they felt Cheap. When Fathers affairs were Settled they sent us our Share. it was a little over #500.00 with this we Settled Dr Amoss Bill of #175.00 still due for #100.00 wich he accepted in full for it. we Paid the Druggist - the Grocer and all other Bills and Were Square with the World once more - but it took it All, and we were as Poor as ever. We were very Busy at the Store, when I got back I found things badly Mixed - I soon got Rid of 2 of the Men, it was more then I wanted- but we were Kept very Busy - it was the best Year we ever had Or ever had after it. I was still Suffering with the Asthma. in 1896 the last day of it - Mr Mahler Sold out his Intrest. His going out Hurt the Buisness as he was very Popular and From that day on Buisness Kept decreasing day by day, although The Store had been Enlarged - The Firm now Was Field Schlick & Co. On the 1st day of May 1897 - we Moved into the Frame House Cor 5th and Bates Ave Paying #18 for Month. we hoped there to Escape the Sickness bad Health we had on 4th St. we did- all but Myself - my Trouble seemed to get Worse - so bad that Several tims They sent me Home in A Hack. I had all these Years been using Schiffmanes Cure, and it now was fast using me up. I found a Remedy in the Fall of 1897 - Dr N Tuckers Asthma Cure. it is A Liquid - it is more Gentle and Relieves Quicker but will not Cure, in all these Years John & Mae have come up to see Us at least once A Year and at Christmas Times John Sends us A Check for #25.00 and Mae sends Mama A Box of Usefull Articles and me and the Boys each One Years Subscription to A Magazine - This Year Viv got A Situation with Field Schlick as Office Boy at #4 pr Week, in the Summer of 1898, I invented A Pattent Bias Board to Cut Trim-
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mings in Velvet or Silk we find it very usefull. - I Applied for A Pattent for it through Mr Cady of Dubuque Who by the way greatly Overcharged us for his Services - I was greatly Encouraged and thought we had now something That would make us Confortable in our Age - for as soon As we got it in the right Shape A Mrs Blauvalt was so Much taken with it (she was A DressMaker) That she at Once Orderd us to Send her 50 of them at #2.00 A Piece to New York where she was Moving to, and she Paid us for Them at once #100.00 but allas that was the first and only Order we received from her - She said she could not Sell Any of them. The Robinson Family Ed, Mamie & Baby Rhea Moved up here from Chicago in Sept 1896 and Lived With us until Next Spring! I took him Partnirsh and He and Clare Made them at his House - but he soon got Tired of it - but to Pay us for his Board - He made me one Hundred of them - Well we Sold 40 or 50 of them around this Vicinity, Shipped about 60 or so more around they Country and to New York Chicago Indianna & Several other Points. Even my Old Capt Chs Nott Orderd one for his Wife - Then A Mr Cook undertook the Agency, his Wife being A very Good Dress Maker (but he was an Old Blowhard) I thought He would Surly Succeed - He Orderd a lott of Material Had a Carpentor make about a dozen - but never Sold One. I sold 4 or 5 of them - Then I took the Material of his Hands and since then have not Sold more than 2 or 3 - But as it is A usefull Article for the purpose intended I am still in hopes of its yet comming in use, I received A Patent on it dated April 1st 1900 - good until 1907, - it is good for 8 more Years. Of cource John Footed this bill also - in Feb (the 20th) Mr C R Mahler Died - the Store closed out Of Respect for his Memory during the Funeral Hours - This Year (I think it was 1900) Chet first went out on A Suveying Tripp to Montanna for the Gt Northern R. R. at #50 pr Month with Board & Shelter. he has been out evry Year Since up to this day and is now out July 22/09, he is gone from 6 to 9 Month at each time and sends us a good Share of his Wages - One Winter day in 1897 or 1898 - He Fell on the Ice While Skating Hurting the back of his - for Severall Years After it Pained him Terribly at Times, we wonderd how he Work, one day now 3 Years ago he on the Advice of A Doctor went to St Lukes Hospital for Treatment and Perhaps for an Operation after staying there 2 Weeks and Getting no Bennifit he came Home, Since then allthough it Pains him once in A while he seems to be getting Rid of
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the Trouble - I must not forget, that last Winter he took a Cource of Treatment from a Christian Science Hearler - Staying with Ed & Mamie during the Time, and it must be Admitted, for he says so it did him more good then any Thing else. I think it was about this Time Charlie went To Work in the Office of the Great Northern - He has Since Taken up Short Hand any Type Writing - he has been in a Position evry day since. Improving in his Work and Getting better Wages as he improved. His now at this date A First Class Stenographer - A Notary Public and attending a Law School from wich he Hopes to Graduate as a Fullfledged Lawyer in a few Years - hes present Employer Told me the other day, that he was the Best Boy he ever Saw, and as we Know he is, We fully Agree with him Last Spring he met with a Mishap that nearly Cost him His Life - He was not feeling well and one early Moring going into the BathRoom, it was yet Dark in trying To Light the Gass he fell over in a Faint befor it was Lit - the Gass poured out and as Door and Window was Closed he was nearly gone, when fortunatly Mama heard Him Groan, she quickly called us - We carried him into the Bed Room and Chet rushed for A Doctor, who at once Went to Work over him and in about 30 Minuets had Him Safe - But how Sick he was All day - it was a very Close Call - 15 Minuets more in that Room then our Charlie Would have been gone - A few days after his Boss seeing him Still feeling badly, he Advised him to go to Chicago, he Was then Working C St P. M - & O, so he got a Pass and left. His intention was to Swing around A Small Circle taking Chicago Milwaukee and Omaha, but he was taken Sick Befor reaching Chicago - when he got there He took a Cab and Went to Burks Hotel on Madison St. and there Spent his Vacation Week in Bed, not hearing from him in all that Time we got Quite Uneasey about him when on Morning He were Glad to see him come Walking in the Door, he Felt the Effect of his Experience for some time, but since then He has been real Well - Gaining Flesh evry day until now July 21/04 (?) he Weighs 170 Lbs. about this Time too (1900) Our Clare Started in to Learn Telegraphy - He went to School 6 Months When his Teacher told him he was Through and could Operate A Machine But when he tried it he found he was not yet Competant and he tried Hard to. He finaly went into the Office of a Broker to get some Experience and was there quite A while but did not Catch on so he gave this up - He then Went to a Buisness College to Learn Short Hand &
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Type Writing He Graduated from there, and is now A Competent Stenographer Fit to Hold most any Position - He has not been able to get A Steady Job - but has had Several Temporary Positions, the longest one was 4 Months with the N. P. Dining Car Dept. He has had 2 or 3 others, but they were only for as A Substitute A Kind of a Vacation Job. he is now at one of that Kind for Two Weeks, but as he is Competent and Faithfull and well Liked by all he Works for, the day is not distent when he will Get a good Permemant Position, on June 1903 Mama & me Went to Dubuque on A Visit of One Week for me. The Iowa G A R Met there. I saw a goodly Number of the Boys of Co E in the Grand Parade I was in Command, of the 5th Iowa Cavalry, then I returned Home having had The best Visit to Dubuque I ever had - Mama stayed Two Weeks longer the most of wich she spent in her Old Home - Plattville Wis. - where she allways has a good Time - in October 1903. We Moved to 767 East 6th St in A Large Modern House Rent #27.50 pr Month. Here I had several Bad Asthma Spells the 1st & Worst was in 1904 when I had to have the Doctor Several Times, and to see what a Change Would do - Mama & me went to Mamies out to Lester Praire Where they now Lived, but it did me no good so we came Back in 3 or 4 days, in October of the Year Our Viv went To Dubuque Iowa to Marry Miss Edith Corrance A Sister Of Johns Wife- A Handsome Refined Christian Young Lady The had a beautifull Wedding and a Big Lot of Handsome Valuable Presents - They Lived withus until April 1906 When the Went to HousKeeping in A Cosey Cottage No 282 Maple St - where they still Reside, in 1905 Mr Harm and his Wife came to Board with - they asked as A Favor, but they soon Overdid it by Bringing up his Old Father to stay and his Sisters and Brothers made themselves to free to Suit us - so we Were glad when they left us. Buisness at the Store now was so Poor that half the time I had no Help or only the Poorest Kind - Young Boys with no Experience, I was pretty hard for me in my State of Health and it laid me up Several Times - from that on nothing of Note happend to me or mine up to 1905 when We had a Visit from My Brother Jacob, who stopped over Sunday withus on his Way to Visit Mrs George his Daughter. Mr Geo was with him, in May 1906 - I was taken very Sick - We had A Nurse for a Week - it was feared for a Time that I would not Recover, but the Lord had still some use for me here So I recoverd and July 1st I was at Work again - but it began To be hard for me I now felt that I would soon have
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to give up, So Time passed by until Oct 1907 when they gave me A Young Lady Miss Johnson as A Helper and my Work was Lightend - in 1908 October I had another Bad Spell of Asthma and Hiccoughs laying me up for 2 Months - I now had Miss Dahl As a Helper Miss Johnson was sent to another Dept - now Comes 1909 - after our Invoice Jan 1st I felt that my Working Time was nearly up - I was getting to Weak for all days Work - On the 6th of March I was taken very Sick again. it was Then decided that I should Retire from Work and I Realey was Compelled to do so, so Monday of the following Week I went down to the Store told them of it and Bid them Goodby. it did not Surprise them or anyone there Knowing my Condition they expected it any day and were Only Surprised that I Held out so long - they were all Very Sorry Hoped I would Regain my Health & c & c - So after A Sirvice of 18« Years with them and all togather 51 Years behind A Counter, I was at last laid on the Shelf, at my Age it is Hardly possible for me to hope to ever Again do any Hard Work, - I have been in and still am Week and in Ill Health - I would be glad To Work only to glad - but I Must Submit to Gods Will and Humbly exept what he sends me.
I will on this Page, Write down some Happnings that I should Have put in thier proper Place and Date, but they slipped My mind at the Time, So Will put them down here -
in August 1890, I went to Chicago to attend the Natl Encampment of the G. A. R. Largley - because Mrs - The Widow of Lieut Van Vredenberg the Battalion Quarter Master of the 5th Iowa Cavalry, who was Captured on The 5th of May 1862 in the Fight on the Obion River Tennsee, wanted my Assistince to get A Pension for Her on Account of her Son by him - She sent me the Money to Pay all my Expences. I did all I could for Her. I rememberd him Well, and all the facts connected With his Capture, But she had waited to long - Her Son Was now A full grown Man - the Pension was not Granted.
On the 10 day of February 1896, Mr T C Field Died He had been in Bad Health and had been Nearly Retired only Coming to the Store Once in A while He died Sudenly Early in the Morning of that day -
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Here then Closes these Memmoirs - Biography or whatever They may be called - These I leave behind, will now have to Take them up, if they Think them of Intrest or Value Sufficient to Continue them on, and so Transmit them to the Farther Generations.
In writing these Memmoirs, I have bee actuated Soley by the disire of letting my Children Know Who and What thier Progenitors were, and where they came from As far back as could be Traced, How they Lived, How They prosperd or Sufferd and the reason of it & c This I Think they will be able to do by these Writings - - - - -
I am fully aware of my Limitations. And realize the Errors and Mistake, in Gramer, Spelling, Punctuation and c & c. (I am an Uneducated Man) These They will have to correct themselves.
I have herin told - Only the Truth, nothing is here said but what I have Partiscipated in, or Wittnessed, in Mentioning Persons - I admit I have Been Harsh, and to those not aware of the Facts, it will No doubt seem Unescessarly So, but it is the Solemn Truth, Every Word written - , and the Persons or People so Refered To - They and thier Actions and Work were in a large Measure the cause of my Failure in Life. I am aware That I am to blame for being so Weak - and so Trusting and willingly bear the Fruits of it - but to write a true Account of my Life, I had or wanted to show all the Reasons - the Cause - the why and the Wherefor, of A Life - that Might and Should have been a Success But turned out to be a Miserable Failure, if I have Been Harsh and seemingly Unjust with others - I have not Spared myself - as these Papers will Testify - if I have Blamed I have been willing to Share the Blame, but Censured only where Censure was due, So I leave it To be Judged By those Reading it - And I can only Hope they Will take A Lesson from and Proftit by it for thier Good in this World and the World to Come.
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These Lines are Written to be seen By Our Children or those of our imediate Family, Not to be seen Or Read or Heard Read by even my Brothers or Sister or any of Thiers it is Strictly A Family Paper and I ask them to Respect it as Such !
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Memoirs of my Wife and Her Ancesters
Of my Wifes Nellie Marguirette, (Born VanderBie) Ancesters farther back then her Grand Parents, nothing is on Record, even of her Grand Parents we only Know That they were all of Holland Birth - Staunch Protestants, Of the Calvinistic Faith or Doctorine, her Mothers Maiden Name was Hitye (?) Oudyn, Born Godsward (?), Holland in 1822. Her, Father, Engel Vander Bie - was Born in Godward, Holland January 3rd 1821. There they Grew up to Man and Womanhood Received there thier Edjucation wich in both cases was good as thier Parents were evidently well Educated, and realized, the Value of it for thier Children. Her Father (my Wifes) Was by Proffession A Cabinet Maker and Architect, in Both of wich he was good. His greatest mistake was his Ambition. He was never Content to Stick to on thing and So make it A Sucess, But allways had Two or Three other Specutations on, and in Undertaking to do too much, and so Did little, and Made a Failure in all, until the last few Years of his Life. He then took up Insurance and A Sewing Machine Agency, wich he made A final Succes of, and Had he Lived a few Years more, would have been Able To Retrieve his Losses brought on by the Panic of 1857 and The mistakes of his Younger days and Inexperinece, but For all his Troubles and Trials, He was An Honest Upright Sineer Christian. An Elder of his Church up to his Death A Staunch Republican, and an Ernest supporter of all it Policies during the Civil War, As a Citizen (of Plattville Wis) He was Loved Respected and Trusted, and for Years Held Or filled its Highest and most Responisible Offices, such as Treasurer & Trustee andand no Breath of Scandel ever tainted his Name or Honor. His trust in his Friends and fellow Citizens Was such as often caused him considerable Loss - He died Of Cancer of the Stomach January 1880 - leaving quite A Large Famili by his Second Wife. My Wife Nellie M - is the Only Child by his First Wife - 7 or 8 of thier Children Died in thier Infancy in Plattville where they were Born. Nellie M Was the Oldest, thier First Born and the Last of the Old Line. He died as He Lived, in Resignation to the Will of the Lord His God whom he, all his Life Tried an did as Well as Sinfull Man can to Serve Faithyfull, and so Trusting to His infinite Mercy He Enterd into his Rest -
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I should have stated in its proper Place, That Mr VanderBie Married his Second Wife 6 or 7 Months After the Death of his first One. This so to speak, Hasty Marriage so Soon after the Death of his First, was in A great Measure Caused by the now Motherless Condition of His 6 Year Old Daughter & Only Child, - At this Time his Buisness demanded all his time and Attention, and so could pay but little Attention To His Motherless Mourning Child, - And then to as A Young Woman A Miss Mary Kolb, had been strongly Recomended to him as A good Christian & c By Mr John Bantley the Minister of thier Curch at that Time - He was told that she wouldmake him A Good Wife and his Daughter A good Mother, so he Married her - And that was we Think the one great Mistake of His Life. That she was A good Christian We Hope and Believe, but there here usefullness to him Ends, expting the Bearing of twelve Children for him, and these to Rear Educate and Care for Kept him Poor and Consequently discouraged for in Rearing Or Caring for them she was little Help - she was intirly Uneducated Could not Write a Word - she could manage To Read her Bible - as she could not Sew at all - all Her own and the Childrens Cloths had to be Hired Made until Nellie (grew up and she was put to Work) very Young.) She then Made all thier Cothes up to her Marriage (and Lots of them for Years after & Gave them too) Tenanded and Cared for them all as a Mother, (as the Mother could not) Then to, she was Unkind and very Cruel to Nellie hardly allowed her any Clothers & c & c in fact her Cruelty to Her caused one of the Neibhors To write my to hasten our Marriage - wich it did By 5 or 6 Months, I am Sorry to have to put this on Record - But it is the Actual and Unpleasent Truth, and that she was aware of it, we Know, as the Morning after our Marriage she fell on her Knees befor us, Weeping Bitterly and Begging Her Parden for her Treatment of her. But we can to some extent Overlook it, as she had allways as a Girl been a Household Druge, and had never seen any of the Outside World - let us Hope she Now is Happy. it is Just to put this in Record - for The Sake of both Mr VanderBie and His Daughter - My Wife! Born in Godsward, Holland, February 18th 1845 - My Sweatheart and myself got Acquainted - or Know each other in our Teens. She was 10 Years Old and I was 13 Years Old, it happend in this way. She came over from Plattville to Visit Rev A Von Vliet, the Pastor of our Church and an Old Friend of her Father and Mother.
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The Young People of the Church Met evry Saturday Evening at out House (on Iowa St) to Sing - A regular Singing Society, she came up With them, and then and there, we formed an Attachment That has never Waverd or Grown Dim all these 44 Years. it Was a case of Love at first Sight. She and Sister Mary Became fast Friends, and that Friendsh has endured With nothing to Mar it up to this Time (1909) She remained in Dubuque for A Year or Two going to School, she went over Home after that time, But came over to Visit us and the Rev Van Vliet from Time to Time up to 1859 - or 60- after That I did not see her any more until after the War - for Seven long Years, but we Corosponded regularly until 1862 - I was then in the Army - Stationd at Fort Heimann Kentucky. Then by some Medling Person and A Misunderstanding Between us, the Corrospondence was broken of. I think We were both at fault in this - I did not Hear from her Again until in February 1865, while we were Stationed at Gravely Springs Ala. There one day to my great delight I received a Letter from her once more, it seems she Was on A Visit to my Sister a little befor that time - and My Mother persuaded her to Write to me. Mother as well As all my Folks Loved her and wanted to see us make Up again. Well I lost no time in Answering that Letter, as well as one from her Father. We Kept it up until we Left Gravly Spings in March 1865, to go on the Famous Wilson Raid during that time of 30 days we were on The March Constantly and outside of all Communication With the North, so could not reach her by any letter Until we arived at Macon Ga - about April 20th I Wrote her at once from there, and once or twice More befor I went Home on Furlough in July 1865, while At Gravely Springs, she sent me her Photo wich I Carried through the rest of the War between the Leaves of my Mem Book - in the Left Pocket of my Cavalry Jacket, we finaly reached Nashville Tenn The last part of June to be Discharged - but we layed Around there so long, I got disgusted and Tired out, So Applied for and got A Furlough to go Home and Arived there about the 10th of July. I at once got me A Citizens Suit of Clothes and in a day or two then Went over by Stage on my first Visit to Plattville and To Meet my Dear Nell - this Visit I have spoken of in these Memoirs befor, so will not repeat them here, and also related all about my future Visit - and the Consequences resulting from them - So will end these Memoirs in a few more Lines -
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After finding out by seeing And from Personal Observation, and hearing from her friends As Well as a strong Letter from Mrs Hammond The Life she was leading at Home, and the Cruel Treatment And Abuse of her Step Mother we changed the date Of our Wedding from May 1st 1866 to Oct 19 1865, When on that Evening we were Married at her Home, By the Rev J Vanderlass, we had quite A large Party at the Wedding and all passed of in fine Style, next Morning - we left for our Future Home in Dubuque by The Stage - ariving there about 3 PM of same day - our Departure from Plattvill and Reception by my Folks - I have Related befor -so will not repeat, neither was ***pleasent -*** (pleasent underlined) Well, we have Lived togather all these 44 Years - sharing Each others Burdens - Troubles and Sorrows - and hers has Been the lot to Bear the Heaviest Burdens, and the Bitterest Sorrows and Pains, And mine the reason of the Worst of them. But she has proved the Loyal Paitient Wife - the Loving True and Faithfull Mother. God sustained her through all These Trying - Troubled and Bitter Painfull Years - she has We Hope now reached the end of her Sever Trials and I Feel sure that the Noble Children God has given her will See to it - that the Evening of her Life shall be passed in Happiness Peace and Contentment for myself I can only say That to me she has been all in All and I shall allways and Ever Thank God for giving me so True Faithfull - Loving and Paitent Wife The Years up to her 50th Birthday She Sufferd from Stomach Troubles - Head Aches &c once she was very Ill - seriously so, I think it was in 1885 - The Years since then, she has been fairly Well, and now Thank God- she is Injoying good Health.
My Wifes Mothers Maiden Name was Heltje Odyn - She came of Godfearing Honest and very Well to do Parents. She had several Brothers one of whom Emigrated to America and All Trace of him has been lost. the Other one Came to Plattvi Wis Lived and Died there - Her Mother (my Wifes) Was A Handsome Woman as all told me that Knew her, and she was of ununusual Buissness Ability often taking Her Husband Place in his Furniture Store in his Absence and They do say She was a better Salesman than he was - Had she Lived even to his Age All agree that thier Success in Buisness Would have been Certain. She was A Faithful and Capable Help to Him all her Short Life. She was of Well to do
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Parents, in Fact so Well had her Parents Endowed her on her Wedding Day the she was Able to Pay the Passage across The Ocean With her Spare Jewelry. She was Married to her Sweatheart On the 19th of October in her Native Town. A Year or Two after the Birth of her Child in the Year 1849 She Emirgrated to America and after remaing in St Louis Mo Two Years they arived in Plattville Wis in 1849 where both Herself Husband and 7 Infants are now Resting she Died in the Golden Age of her Prime at the Age of Twenty Nine Years - Leving A disconsolate Husband and a Loving Bereaved Six Year Old Daughter to Mourn As she Lived so she Died - A Sincere Pius Christian Woma A Faithfull Loving Wife and Mother - She Died at her Home in Plattvill Wisconsin On 1851 - And Rest in the Cemetary there.
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If you have
any questions or comments, please e-mail me at
larry@conzett.org. Thank you.