Introduction 1861-62 1863 1864A 1864B 1865A 1865B 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870-72 1873 1874-80 Epilogue Legacies
LEASE dated January 31, 1874 is an agreement by Rowland H. Macy to rent to Abiel T. LaForge "the house over the store known as No. Sixty West Fourteenth Street, New YOrk City. All alterations or improvements during said term to be made by the party of the second part at his own cost and expense." The lease was for 2 years & 4 months at a "yearly rent or sum of one thousand dollars".
LETTER
April 28" 74
My Dear Suse
Yours recd, and instead of answering at once as requested I have been waiting an answer to a letter I sent to Hornellsville. however it was not of much importance about the only question I asked was when do you want our butter tub? can we get it filled by May 15" If not we should hardly want it this Spring as Margaret, the children and our girl go into the country June first and mother and I would not use a tub of butter in a month of Sundays.
The sirup was a delightful relish and a surprise for as you were away in sugar times I supposed you would have none. You ought to see Laurie take to that sirup. it is meat and drink to him, and to me it brings back old sugar-bush times most vividly. we all thank you most heartily.
Give Perry our best thanks for those apples, every peel of them is appreciated and it happened to be a most tho'tful thing in him to send them as good apples are now almost without price in New York.
Aint you glad to get back home again. of course town life could not possibly seem like home to you. Margaret & I last night were wishing you had some place within a hundred miles of the city then we could spend our summer months with you, and I had rather pay you the five hundred dollars it costs me than pay it to any one else I know of.
Margaret send regards and when we L. sirup he says he loves Uncle Joe & Aunt Suse.
Mother left us yesterday for a two weeks visit to Nantucket.
Much love to all.
Your Brother & Sister
Maj & Marg.
Adrian is the best fellow ever born for behaving. we had but lit-tle trouble with Laurie when an infant but Adrian beats him. All well.
New York. Thurs. Nov 5" 74
My Dear Suse
Dont be scart at the size of this paper, I am not sure that it will all be full when I am done.
In the first place yours of Oct 1" was duly rec'd and ought to have been answered, but owing to some difficulty of deciding whe-ther or not the lady I call Miss Hall would be considered an an-swer, it was neglected. You need never excuse your writing, bad writing runs in the family. The first apples came all right and the barrel of Potatoes, but the second apples are not yet here. Margaret thinks we lose by acknowledging we have re'cd any, for if we kept mum you probably would send once a month for the balance of the year.
When you go to church you must do as the church does, and let Brother Crandall alone. I think he is a pretty good sort of a fellow.
I have not heard from father in six or more months.
We will try to have our mouths fixed for proper Thanksgiving devotions, and probably those chickens will never be heard from after that eventful day.
If you want to see how my family looks in a group you must come and use your own eyes, and by the way that brings me to the principal subject of this letter. would you like to pay us a long visit this Fall and winter under the following circumstances My family now consists of Wife, Laurence, Adrian, myself, chambermaid and cook; Mother has gone to Nantucket to live, and we do not have any lodgers, but lots of room and plenty to eat. Now on the other hand Margaret expects to be confined between the 20" of Nov. & the 20" of Dec. (this was a large miscalculation because the twins were not born until March 16th) so she could not run around much if any with you and my entertainment excepting our home entertainment would be improbable, that is to any great extent. Now I know you used to be called upon a great deal in cases of sickness out there, but dont know if you ever helped any at births. have you any ex-perience that way, and if you have, could you under our family phy-sicians directions take the proper care of mother and child during the two or three weeks from confinement to safety.
Margaret is usually an angel and has a comparatively easy con-finement but I suppose you know that it might happen this time that she would be very sick and troublesome. all this I tell you so that you can see the field of operations and not make a mistake from ignorance. Our chambermaid is also nurse and takes care of the children, like all servants however she has to be watched and kept to her duties. It would be a comfort to Margaret and myself to know during her sickness that our house was in good hands, but there must be some disagreable and trying things about confinements and we would not feel justified in asking you to come here unless you feel that you can come without detriment to your family and that you are fully equal to the occasion. Under the circumstances it would not be wise for any one to come with you this time and how Joe and Oscar would get along without your general superintendance is a matter entirely beyond my poor wisdom. if mother and Jane are with you you might give one to each and hold them responsible for good behavior; Joe may kick over the traces on this proposition however. Tell him I'll send him a curry comb if he behaves. that will make him good. we won't blame him however if he does object.
You would have to be here over a month and during or after that time could do some visiting up the river.
Now the matter is before you, decide for your self, always remembering that if you understand the requirements of the case that I have stated we should rather have you than any other living female. You would simply have to let me know what train you left Hornellsville on and I would meet you at the Depot unless prevented by some event not to be foreseen. In which case you could find your own way.
About your clothes, wear the best you have and we will attend to getting better if necessary. As soon as you decide let us know <this week if possible> and if you want to come I will send you a check for your passage by return mail.
Margaret just received a box of Autumn leaves from Joe Fuller so I suppose the folks up there are still alive. Havent been up there since you were here.
We have been having a round of colds thro' our family since our return from the country. otherwise are well and happy.
An immediate answer will greatly oblige
Yours Very Truly
R.H. Macy & Co.
A. T. LaForge.
I sign the firm name from habit to about half of my private letters. L.
LETTER from A.T. LaForge and Susan LaForge Potter to Joseph Potter
(first part written by Susan)
N. Y. Jan. 26 1875
My Dear Josie
Tomorrow is your birthday & if I was only there how I could whip you couldent I. but fortuneately for you I am not there. but wish very much that I was. I think so much about home that I dream every night about being there. I hope none of you are sick. I dream things are all topsy turvy most every time. hope they are not though, you recieved my card last Wednesday & sent me one in return which I recieved thurSday. I sent you a letter & Oscar two shirts & Sally Ann two Samples of Alpaca last Wed-day the 20". I hope you recieved them all safe. I thought you Should get them Friday if there was any one down to town
it snowed here all the forenoon Sunday then in the afternoon it rained till dark & was very sloppy & bad but it froze in the course of the night so it was very Slipery. & the Store roof leaked some just at night & Maj went out on the roof & worked in the snow some cleaning out the drains so the water could run in the proper place. & it made him feel pretty sore & lame. I told him it was something like diging the ditch over to N.R. Crandalls
(next part written by Maj)
Suse is in a fix what more to write. I tell her all she has to do is to look out of the window and write about everything she sees. The neighbors driving by with their horses, the droves of cattle sheep & pigs, the turkeys and geese in the barnyard across the way, the trees, snow, shugaring and all of those things which are entirely new to a person like her raised far away from the cen-tres of civilization; when she returns to you she ought to be able to enumerate all of the families in a space certainly as large as from Andover to Bassetts, and from the East road to "over in west". she knows already about all of the births that have taken place, but she knows very little about one that has not taken place.
Suse is getting fat, fatter than you, Oscar, Mother & Jane all put together. we have had to enlarge our chairs for her and are now letting our biggest boy sleep in her bed on the far side to keep her from tilting it over every night. she dont know this so dont you ever tell her.
I am sorry to say however that she is going to be grey. yes its a fact, she worries so much about the pain in your shoulder and the fit of Oscars boots that we have come to have serious fears of her hair. we take a careful count of them every night and will re-port of there is any searious loss of numbers. Her mind too is a little unsettled she wishes you were here, that we were there, that she was some where else. we are making strenuous endeavors to keep her balanced, but if you find her an uncommon good curry comb when she gets home <if she ever does> dont lay it to us.
Suse says it will be your birth day tomorrow. accept my congratulations, also Margarets and the childrens. we all wish you very many happy returns. do it till you are tired of it yourself. so may we all of us.
(written around the edges by Susan)
there Maj took this away from me & wrote you lots of nonsense. by his talk you will think I am fat as Mr. S So ever as for cattle pigs or sheep or poultry I have seen none only what were killed & in the market--- we are all well here at present and I supose you are sorry to hear it, but we cant help it.
Maj says bring this down in his office in the morning & he will put in a new dollar bill for a pleasant reminder of your birthday. Jo-sie, you write again too I shall not excuse now you have commenced. the kiss was sweet you sent me in your letter. Oscar, please write again all of you.
I sent those shirts by mail. if you have got them you will please send a card or letter that is if you have not already written--
Oh dear when will I ever get home again. I dont see but the pro-spect is that I will have to stay till first of March. but if I was not here they would have some one else & Margie says it would drive her distracted to have a stranger here, for she would have to watch her & me she dont worry about at all & Maj says it takes a great care off his mind especialy when he goes down town. lots of love to all of you, from your wife S Potter
Oscar- I have not said a word about your boots since I have been here so what Uncle Maj says about it is only fun. but I have often wished you were all here & that we were there so he wrote what he was in mind to about it lots of love from ma
On March 16, 1875 twin daughters were born in New York City. Lily Suse LaForge was born at 8:00 A.M. and Rose Margaret LaForge at 8:05 A.M.
Mar. 25" 75
Dear Joe.
Wife has been dangerously sick, so sick that the chances were greatly against her recovering. this morning her pulse is down to 115 from 150, and her temperature is down 8 degrees, so we consider her past the point of greatest danger with good chances of recovery providing we use great care with her.
Suse was almost sick last night. If she had been home she would have been sending for a doctor, but after a good nights rest she feels very much better, is all right now. we have had no let-ter from you in ten days and she feels worried about you - please write. Now Joe, it is extremely unlikely that Margaret will be able to leave her bed in less than two or three weeks. Do you need Suse so bad that I must let her go home before Margaret is about? She has done perfectly splendid all thro' the sickness and it would be impossible for me to get anybody that could be so com-pletely a friend and nurse.
Awaiting your commands
We all send love to you, Oscar and family
Yours
LaF.
Babies doing very well.
Mar 31" 75
Dear Joe
Wife is slowly improving. cant speak aloud yet but is better. Babies doing well. Suse is better also. she has not been home-sick, no time for that, but she has wanted to see you all till her teeth ached.
Butter rec'd. tell Jane it does her credit. Suse thinks it aint salt enough, but Jane remembers what I wrote once about that and has done it just right.
Now Joe I know just how you are fixed without Suse to help in your very busy time. as I have taken her away from you I must supply as far as possible her place. Therefore use the enclosed check to hire man, woman or boy as you may require until I return your loan of a woman.
I should have gone long before this if Suse had not been here to leave my family in charge of while I run the business.
No time for any more.
All send love.
Yours Truly
Maj.
(added by Susan)
Dear Josie
Maj knew you all needed so bad & that I could not leave yet. so he sends you 25 dollars to hire someone to help you in the bush. dont you think it is good in him to do it. now hire some one who can get at least thier breakfast & supper at home so Jane wont have to much to do & she must not do only that which must be done & there will be plenty of that. of course you are much more than paid for the butter so I shall say nothing about it. & he wont take anything for the Machine. did you get those needles if you did have Alice pick out such a one as she broke & send it up to lene has the Machine come. yet let Oscar have 25 cts & get him a pattern for a pair of pants & I will make them here. dont send the old pattern for I could not cut by that without him to measure them by. fold it up & send in an Andover Advertiser be sure & glue it fast good to the wrapper so it cant be opened. Margaret is very thin she don't look like herself. I shall be so glad when she can speak loud & feed herself, but she is gaining Slowly for which we are very thankfull. the Doctor told me this morning that she has stood a very narrow chance. day before yesterday he was afraid she was going to have an Abcess just above her right hip, but the pain & soreness is all gone to day so we are less anxious about that.
I dont feel any more afraid of this Doctor than I do of Barney or Crandall.
Margaret thought the butter looked beautiful & you ought to see Maj eat it. he says he is not afraid to eat this
Maj says if he could spare me for four days he would let me come up & see you & then come right back, but I tell him I dont want to do that much as I want to see you. I had rather wait a while longer then stay when I get there. I dont feel so awful lonesome as I did Margaret was the worst, Maj said some thing to you about my being sick but it was nothing only a cold & being up nights which I am all over now & feel wel gain. we dont have to sit up now we take turns & one sleeps in the room with her one night & the other the next & get up twice in the night & wait on her & when it is my night to stay with her I sleep pretty good for I drop to sleep the minute I get back in bed but Maj cant do it he lies awake a long time. therefore I would sleep there every night but wont let me. well this is about full so I will close by sending it & lots of love to all & a kiss to Oscar 0
from Suse
Sept 2" 75
My Dear Suse
Yours of the 1" just received and I hasten to reply. Now dont fool any more about Rose but if she is coming let her come at once. Margaret calculated she would be here yesterday as you said Sept 1". she has weaned one baby and discharged one cow and is at work on the other two. She is of course short handed and will be dis-appointed when she finds she will have no help until next week. Let her come Saturday night or Sunday night if possible. let her telegraph me what train she leaves Hornellsville on and if it gets here in business hours I will try to meet her. If I am not there or should not meet her if there <which is quite as likely> she must have her trunk checked to the store and on landing in the city ask the first Policeman for the 6" Av. cars to 14" St. arriving there she must come right into the store and to the office.
I dont see what good my going over to meet her can do. I should not know her & she would not know me. I will try however but she must come right along herself if we dont meet.
Now stop this humbug of writing and let the girl get started. she ain't going to China nor to a country where English is not spoken
If she cant come telegraph me at once "cant come" and I will know what to do.
Family is all well. Laurence speaks of you once every day sure - in his prayers, - wants to know if when you come down here again and stay awhile there will be some more little sisters?
Am about driven to death with business.
Glad you are having a good lonely time.
Regards to all
Your Bro LaF
Stir your Stumps
Sept 9" 75
Dear Suse
Your letter and girl arrived all right and both I hope will prove all right. looks so now.
I was afraid to ship those Peaches after Wednesday least they would be on the road over Sunday. will send them Monday by Ex. but very much fear they will be in bad condition when they get there as they are poor travellers; Will also send our butter tub which you may open a subscription to fill and return to us by Oct 1".
Have not furnished that big parlor yet, and as it would cost at least $1000.ΕΕ and be something of which we have no need dont think I will till we get rich.
Margaret has had her head shaved and is wearing a wig of short curley hair, which I tell her so much improves her appearance that it will be a great misfortune if her hair ever grows again; she will have to go under bare (?) poles for about three months.
All send love.
Your Brother
Maj.
Oh, tell Joe that I dont think live chickens would be a success sent here, nor dead ones either for that matter until the weather gets a little cooler many thanks however. L.
Sept 16" 75
Dear Suse
Sent those peaches by Ex. Tuesday. you will find them a dear luxury by the time you get them probably. They cost 1.75 a basket, 3.50 a crate, 7.00 for the lot. Probably one half of them will be rotten or stolen by the time you get them. then add to the above the Expressage and you find peaches quite costly eating. which pro-bably accounts for so few being bro't to Andover.
Two weeks ago we could have got that lot of fruit for 2.99.
Family well. babies getting along without nurses quite com-fortably. Rose is a good help. business brisk. Georgia has writ-ten to come back and everything is lovely.
Your Bro
LaF.
Oct . 6" 75
Dear Suse
Your favor rec'd and wife has mislaid it somehow but if my memory serves me you said 27 lbs butter at 30 cts.
I call it 27 @ 35 = 9.45
Less Freight .70
Peaches 3.50 4.20
Leaves due you 5.25
for which amount please find check inclosed. If this is not correct please let me know.
Now about potatoes. The first time you are at Andover please find out what the freight will be on three barrels, and if it is not over 1.50 for the three send them along and I will send you a check on rect of the articles. You have got some chickens to spare I hope for we rater look to you for our November chicks & Turkeys. how are you off for them?
All well and lively; Beautiful weather for a week. looks like rain to day. Georgia is back. Love to all. Your Bro in Hurry. fellow waiting. Margie writes soon. LaForge
Nov 16" 75
Dear Suse
Yours of yesterday just received. glad to hear from you. Mar-gie said she would answer your last and I believe she has.
I remembered the Evergreens in time but we wanted so much <some 4000 yards> that I knew it would not do to depend on you for them however make up 200 yards and send in as soon as possible and we will report whether your labors are satisfactory or not. coil it up in 20 yard peices in a barrel or box. send by Ex addressed to the firm.
We are going to send our tub out to you again to be filled with butter. will notify you when it is started. send on your chicks ours dont amount to a row of eggs.
Family well. twins dont dream wicked swearing dreams like some people we hear about.
Rose will soon be with you I suppose. she expects to leave here this week or next. we suppose from what the servants say she is going to attend her husbands trial. She has never said anything to us about the matter and refuses to say why she leaves. probably she has got more ready money than she knows how to spend.
She is good and I hate to have her go. if it was not for the fact that she goes about in a continual fit of abstraction which interferes with her memory and the care she ought to bestow on her imployment, she would be invaluable. Probably her troubles, what-ever they are, continually haunt her.
The children are lively as kittens and seem to be really glad to be able to play and take their rations.
The weather since Sept 1" has been superb. Clear & cool just right to enjoy exercise. So the Sunday wanderings Margie & I take are most delightful. we have had no snow yet <we dont reckon 102 flakes we saw on the 7"> but two nights there was a skim of ice on still puddles. heavy white fros in plenty. yet I killed a musketo last night.
Will show Margie your letter tonight. she & the childer would send love if they had a chance.
Your Brother
Maj.
Chickens - address here care of firm.
Dec 14" 75
Dear Suse
What is the matter with your spinal column. your last letter sounded as if your back was up about something. Margaret has the letter at home and if it was not there I could write more definite-ly. your greens most of them did not have body enough I will send you a sample by mail and if we decide to use them next year we will commence earlier to give you a chance. you must write me about it by Oct 15" sure. put it down.
Rose <poor child> paid for the Peaches all right; by the way that reminds me dont I owe you for some butter or something let me know right away.
Every thing is lively here now hardly time to eat there is such a constant rush. we are having a larger trade than ever be-fore. I sleep at the store and take my meals in town for this month only going out home on Wed. & Sat. nights. what jolly times I have with the little ones on Sunday however. The way we carry on is breaking the Sabbath according to strict notions but bless me we feel better for the romp.
Enough snow fell last night to whiten the ground and to-day is quite cold but altho' this is our second cold snap we there has not been enough snow for a slip yet.
Margaret is in town at the Dentists to day. reports all well.
(newspaper clipping labeled "Sun" of Dec 14" 75)
Pilot Swartz's Sudden Death
Sand Hook Pilot Richard Swartz and his wife
visited Mr. Robert Vreeland, of 875 Eighth avenue,
last evening. Ten minutes after entering the house,
and while talking about piloting, Pilot Swartz fell dead.
This is our old playfellow of childhood. (step-brother Ri-chard Swart) Mariah came in to see me this forenoon and said that Mrs Swart was on a visit to Mrs Vreeland and Richard and his wife came in to see her. the greetings were hardly over when he fell dead. poor fellow. Mariah went up also to call on her mother not knowing that Richard was expected and was greatly shocked to find him stretched on the floor, dead.
She wanted wanted some money to get the body to New Burgh and have it buried. I gave it to her and this P.M. sent an Anchor of flowers to be placed on the bier. They take the body up the river tonight. This is the first death I know of that has taken place in the big family you an I formed part of thirty years ago. John Wil-liam was not at home and is not counted. it will hardly be thirty years longer before another, will it?
Must close abruptly.
Your Brother
Maj.
On January 20, 1876 Abiel, Margaret and Laurence left on a three-month trip to Florida, taking two weeks to reach Palatka with stops along the way at Washington,DC, Weldon, NC, Aiken, SC and Jackson-ville,FL. Abiel was suffering from tuberculosis and they hoped his health would improve. The following letter was written on letter-head stationery from Sanford House in Sanford, Orange County, Florida. J. B. Wistar, Manager.
Sanford Mar 2" 1876
Dear Brother & Sister
Yours of the 22" recd on the 29" "so you see &c". On Sat. we go to Putnam House. Palatka again so you must address us there until further orders.
That sweet smelling flower was an Orange blossom and Margie has had a good joke on me, for I told her to put it in & not give its name as I was perfectly sure you knew what it was, as you used to see them growing in the Beaming Room of the Cotton Mill.
I was well enough last week to go out & help capture & kill a 7 foot Alligator. Margie has three of the toe nails and will send you one. if she should forget it remind her of it. we have taken short drives of 7 or 8 miles all around here and find it a country of no attractions save its fine winter climate; endless sand flats & swamps both filled with a growth of large pines Palms and live oaks. the trees are very scattering compared to a Northern forest however. The Stereoscopic picture we sent you gives a good idea of a live oak and Magnoted grove. those two kinds of trees and a few others shed their leaves like a Northern forest, but as the ever-green trees are largely in the majority the country the year round presents a verdant clad appearance; where the land is cleared the top sand bleaches out almost as white as snow and if it were not for the woods you would from a distance think there had been a slight fall of that article, which had drifted uneavenly as it shows dark patterns of muck & Palmetto roots. There is plenty of government land here in somewhat out of the way places - which can be had for the living on, also state land for $1.25 per acre both unimproved of course and both long distances from market. in fact there is no market for anything but oranges and other half tropical fruit excepting near the winter hotels where vegetables can be sold. No hay corn nor grain, rice excepted, can be raised here. potatoes dont do very well Cattle and horses look puny and have to depend on the North for their feed. hogs do fairly in the woods, but other domestic animals can scarcely get a living on the few wild plants which it is possible for them to eat. Have not had a good cut of beef or mutton since leaving Jacksonville & what we got there was good because it came from the north. Poor people here live on hog and hominy, the last made from their meagre crops of corn. the only sod we have seen in the state is a half acre at Palatka where for years and years mules wer corralled and fed on Northern hay. the ground there finally became <mixed with these excreta> solid enough to let the grass seed take root, and when the Corrall was broken up a fine lawn was left.
About all the inhabitable land along the river has been bot up by speculaters who sell it unimproved for $5ΕΕ to $200ΕΕ pr acre according to location.
Orange land cleared and with a 4 years old grove on it in good condition is worth from $500ΕΕ to $1000ΕΕ pr acre. and a good bear-ing grove is seldom for sale. value would be from $1500ΕΕ to $5000ΕΕ pr acre according to age of trees.
Every body depends on oranges here it is the great crop but it takes from seven to fifteen years to get one in good bearing <the difference being so great in the land> but after that one is rich for life and so are his heirs. Banannas grow fairly and will eventually be exported largely, so will early vegetables & berries; garden stuff and strawberries are ready for market as early as Jan-uary. Snakes do not abound to the extent you would suppose. they are very plenty in some places butdon't show in others. we shall never come here to live unless we find ourselves obliged to.
Still every body we have seen who have come here to live for their health speak in the highest terms of the love they have formed for the state. they go so far as to say they much prefer it to the North. we have not got that feeling yet. and we pray that it may never be necessary.
The Lord has been so good as to spare me till I have a fine loving, healthy family arround me and altho I can leave them fairly well provided for now I hope for an extension of his mercy and fur-ther ability to labor.
I have improved slowly right along but hardly expect complete recovery. very small things fatigue me out of all proportion to the effort. we shall know the result of this trip by summer not before. Thanks to Mrs Crandall for her kind wishes also all of the good old neighbors.
To night we are promised a touch of your weather. the wind has suddenly changed to the N.E. and brot the temperature down 25 degrees from 85 to 60Ε so you see we have changes.
You must lay this letter to heart for it is hardly probable your humble servant will write you another so long. Your questions are all answered. send along another batch.
We three are well and send our love to you three also to mo-ther Jane Perrys folks and Andover and Independence generally.
Maj, Margie & Laurie.
Margaret's diary speaks of a short side trip in March to near-by San Mateo. It is likely that her brother-in-law Henry Lyle and his two children were living there. The family left Florida in early April. Abiel remained at Aiken, South Carolina for a while, but Margaret and Laurence returned home in mid-April.
The previous letter and the following two documents are the last items written by Abiel that are in this collection. Abiel evidently made two more trips to Florida for his health, during the winters of 1877 and 1878. He died in Palatka in 1878.
NEWSPAPER CLIPPING - June 27, 1877 (name includes the word Register - seems to be a New York paper)
R.H. MACY & CO.- Whereas the copartnership heretofore existing by and between Rowland H. Macy, Abiel T. Laforge and Robert M. Valen-tine, under the firm name of R. H. Macy & Co., has been dissolved by the death of said Rowland H. Macy, but the business is to be continued by the subscribers, who were copartners in said firm;
And whereas the said copartnership had business relations with foreign countries;
And whereas the undersigned are desirous of continuing the use of said copartnership name in said business, in pursuance of the act of the Legislature of the State of New York, entitled "An act allowing the continued use of copartnership names in certain ca-ses," and the acts amending the same;
Now, therefore, we, Abiel T. Laforge, whose place of business is at No. 200-8 Sixth avenue, in the City of New York, and whose place of abode is at No. 106 West Fifty-second street, in the City of New York, and Robert M. Valentine, whose place of business is at No. 200-8 Sixth avenue in the City of New York, and whose place of abode is at No. 60 West Fourteenth street, in the City of New York, do hereby certify and declare, pursuant to the said statute, that we, the said Abiel T. Laforge and Robert M. Valentine, are the only persons now and hereafter dealing under the said firm and name of R.H. Macy & Co., and that our respective places of business and abode are as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated June 21st, 1877.
A. T. LA FORGE
ROBT. M. VALENTINE
City, County and State of New York, ss.;
On this twenty-first day of June, 1877, personally before me came Abiel T. La Forge and Robert M. Valentine, to me known, and known by me to be the individuals described in and who made the foregoing certificate, who severally acknowledged to me that they executed the same.
J. J. LYONS,
ju27-1aw4wW Notary Public (30), New York City.
NEWSPAPER CLIPPING from unidentified paper, possibly "Trade Journal"
The Dry and Fancy Goods Trade.
Among our many trade institutions to which we can point with pride, the dry goods and fancy goods trades, in many instances rank foremost in extent and inmportance, and in this city, we have co-lossal establishments of the existence of a quarter of a century, or less, that compete in every respect with the oldest and most eminent foreign houses, notably so is this the case with the house of R. H. Macy & Co., Sixth avenue and Fourteenth street, New York, to which we lately paid a visit of inspection and enquiry. This house was established by Mr. R. H. Macy, in 1858, in quite a small way, and by the exercise of enterprise, economy, energy and execu-tive business ability, he built up a business second to none in the country, and by his death, which occured last March, New York has lost one of her most estimable business men.
The business has now passed into the hands of Messrs. A. T. La Forge & R. M. Valentine, who for years were connected with the house as buyers and who for the past ten years have been the manag-ing partners, and to whose skill and ability it owes much of its reputation and prosperity. In evidence of the personal popularity and business ability of these gentlemen we may remark that not withstanding the large influx of visitors last year, in consequence of the Centennial Exhibition, a much larger trade has been done during the present year. The house makes a specialty in the manu-facture of ladies suits, cloaks, lace goods, underwear, boys cloth-ing, etc., which in style, design and quality, compete with any house in the city, indeed in extent and diversity of asortment, it is the most complete of any establishment. The styles of ladies underwear are especially elegant and movel, and offer inducements this season over any preceding. In children's and boys' clothing a better quality of goods can be purchased of this house at a less cost than at any regular clothing establishment in the city, the result of extraordinary facilities in buying and manufacture. The assortment of laces, ribbons, gloves, flowers, feathers, hats, etc., are almost bewildering in their diversity, and offer every scope for taste and pecuniary ability. In toys, French and English china, glassware etc., the stock is also as varied as it is im-mense, and not only can everything be purchased here that can be found at any special establishment, but at considerably lower prices.
The building is four stories in height, and covers an area of 50,000 square feet, over 700 hands are employed on the premises, and a large number outside, but everything is conducted with the system of clock work. The salesmen, salesladies, etc., are tho-roughly posted in their various departments and notwithstanding the immense throng of visitor daily assembling, there is not the slightest confusion or disorder. Each department comes under the personal supervision of the members of the firm who control the vast machinery of the business, with an ease and facility, that makes the establishment a model in all respects. In point of light and ventilation it is superior to any house in the city, and having several avenues of ingress and egress, all crowding and other an-noyances are avoided, thus making it the favorite resort of creme de la creme of society. Every courtesy and attention is accorded to visitors and the most refined accommodations are afforded. We congratulate Messrs. La Forge & Valentine, upon the great success which has followed their management, and trust that a patronage so thoroughly deserved will steadily increase.
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LETTER written by Susan LaForge Potter 106 N.Y. Sep 23" 77
Dear Husband & Son
And Peggy how are you all this fine weather. we are all well here & moved & nearly settled which is doing things up pretty lively I think. but the carpets were all down & that makes a great difference. Friday the new furniture came five chairs & a Sofa. cost five hundred dollars. it is beautiful the cloth figurd & the colour a yelowish brown it is heavy silk made on purpose for such things. the wood is Ebony & gilt. two new pictures cost 40 dol-lars a piece & four others altogether cost between 40 & 50 dollars & he offerd them $125 dollars if they would make a center table to to match but they wouldent do it short of a hundred & fifty. next week they are going to have the new curtains for the Parlors & have the old ones hung then we shall be in good shape. Maj says seems as if they never got moved & settled so nicely & quickly before. to day is Sunday you see. but he went down to the store & Laurie & I went with him. I enjoyd it finely for I could look at what I had a mind to & as long as I wanted to. I look'd a Steroscopic views for about an hour & a half. then wanderd about the Store. Mr Doon the Sunday watchman took me down in the crockery department & showd me various novelties in crockery ware. they had clocks there that were about as large around as the top of a teacup. pretty small you'll think yet they say they keep good time it seems to me they keep about every thing but groceries. & Maj says it seems as if they never had so much to do at this time of year as they have now. it is just like a beehive there only there is no chance for drones. now about Minnie Miss Goulding has no dress-making at all at here home. but she had bought a peice of Silk to make herself a dress, & Minnie boarded there & had access to all the rooms as she had been there for some time. Margaret says she thinks it is all a humbug about her husband making her steal havent seen Maggie yet so I dont know what she has to say about it.
if you have not sent the butter dont send it till it gets a little cooler. it is quite warm here yet they pay 35 cts per lb for butter & 27 cts a dozen for eggs & beef is very dear. for din-ner we had roast beef & sweet & white potatoes lima beans onions cookd & caulflwer ((but that not the way to spell it)) bread & but-ter & pickled cherries. by the way those pickl'd cherries are to be eaten like any other pickles they are not for sauce for desert we had cake & cheese. ice cream, peaches, grapes & wine. I am full as a tick. yesterday I had all the ripe water-melon I dared eat but not as much as I wanted to eat. we will have more to night. have you heard from Cind's baby. & how are you getting on with the well. you will probably get this tuesday I will send a card wed- night so you will get it Friday. seems as if I had been gone a month & Marg- says it seems as if they had been moved a week. it is quite dark so will close by sending love to every body in general & yourselves in Particular
so by by for this time from Ma
Maj is going to send Father a lot of his clothing this fall so he will be nice & comfortable.
Leon LaForge was born at 106 W. 52nd Street, New York City on October 27, 1877 at 7:00 P.M.
LETTERS written by Margaret Getchell LaForge
Palatka
January 27th 1878
Dear Sister,
I telegraphed you twice- We arrived last night at 8 o clock. Maj. got along the first two days as well as I expected he would but at Wilmington he gave out entirely. He came out of a hot car into the chill night air and I think his lungs congested slightly. I got him into a carriage but he had to be lifted out and carried up stairs. I was very much frightened and in great doubt whether to return or go on. I was afraid to call a doctor for I knew he would say he was very ill, and keep him there. I knew if I went back home it would kill him, so I kept on. He has not walked since then. I have had him lifted by men in and out of cars and boats and he was brought all the way up to the hotel in an armchair last night. They could not get him into a carriage without hurting him. Last night the Dr. staid with me the whole night. He thinks now he is out of danger but it will be two or three weeks before he gets up out of bed. I shall write to you as often as I can. He looks very badly and suffers greatly with shortness of breath. Last night the Dr. cupped him all over his back and today we have a bandage all round him soaked with turpentine. It has already made him breathe easier.
The children behaved very well. also the girls (children's nurses) except Anna and she is a thorn in my side. She is selfish, mean and deceitful. On the journey down she ate a sandwich that I gave her to feed Adrian with and I found the poor little thing cry-ing with hunger because she would not give him a mouthful. She pretended she thought it would make him sick. The baby cried a good deal one day but was very good generally. How Maj. ever held out his strength to get here I dont know. I fed him on whiskey all day yesterday. He kept counting the hours and the last half hour seemed an age to him. You dont know how thankful he was to get here. They had every thing in perfect order. the piazza made ex-actly as he wanted it and every thing just as neat as a pin. Write me how you got along with shutting up the house and give my love to all. Yours Margaret.
(note at top of letter) Maj. is better when I mail this.
Palatka Jan 29"
Dear Sister,
Maj. passed a very comfortable night last night. Was able to lie down all night, and today you could see considerable improve-ment, but tonight he is short breathed and distressed again. The Dr. says it is owing to the wind getting around in the east a lit-tle raw and that it is only temporary. Both Dr's say he will get over this and be round in two weeks or so. I have telegraphed for his air bed. Will write again in two days.
Yours Margaret.
Jan'y 31 1878.
Dear Sister,
Maj. seems a little better tonight but last night he had a bad night so that I called the Dr. in the night and this morning we were anxious, but he has gained slowly today and now seems comfor-table & quiet. I have two physicians Dr. Leute and Dr. Hallock. Both say that his lung trouble is overcome for the present but the great difficulty is to rally his strength. That is just what Dr. Flint told me. We have every thing comfortable and they make beef tea, granum & every thing that I want just as if I was at home. The cottage is very pleasant. Maj is in a very large corner room with the sun in it all day. The Dr. comes in every two or three hours. I tend him all day and I have hired a night nurse who gives him his beef tea &c through the night and wakes me if he wants any-thing. They say he is likely to to be some time before he gathers strength so that we can see any change for the better. Children all well. Anna is fearful. She frightened Adrian by telling him that I said I was going to throw him into the river if he didn't mind her. He came crying to me and begged to know if I told her so. When he found that she had lied he lost confidence in her so that she cannot do anything with him at all. He will not stay with her or have anything to do with her if he can help it and I have had to give her the twins and give Adrian to Fanny. I will write again Sunday. Love to all Margaret.
Baby is fat and hearty.
Sunday Eve Feb 3
Dear Sister
Yesterday Maj was quite comfortable. a lovely warm day therm. 76, and he improved perceptibly but, it rains today and he seems to have lost it all. Tonight he feels quite miserable. He suffers greatly after each coughing spell. It exhausts him so that he can scarcely breathe or move. He sat up five hours yesterday but only one today. I cannot read him any letters.
After we were on the cars the day we left he said he was going right out of the house without saying goodbye to you for he thought you were going with us and he didn't know what you meant when you asked him if he wasn't going to say good bye to you. He hasn't been two steps away from the bed since the night he was brought here and he has seen no one but the physicians and the nurse. He cant bear me to leave him and I have eaten about half of my meals in the room. The nurse wakes me if he wants the least thing in the night. He is patient as a saint and never complains tho' he suf-fers so. Children all well but the baby who has a cold. Will write again Tues. Yours Margaret.
Your letter rec'd. I am real sorry to hear Joe has sciatica. It is a troublesome and painful thing and hard to get at it to relieve
Palatka Feb'y 5th 1878.
Dear Sister,
Maj has improved for the last 24 hours considerably and we have strnger hopes than we have had at all. We now think that he took cold the day he went to the store and the congestion commenced then and he added to it on the journey. It has nothing to do with the hemorrhage. It is in the other lung, but coming right after his illness it took every bit of his strength and he has hung in the balance several days. The children are kept entirely away from him. He hasn't not seen any person yet but the Dr & nurse & me. He sat up a little yesterday and today. You have no conception how much sicker he is than he was in N. York. We talk but little to him and say nothing yet of letters for the least excitement brings on shortness of breath. He commenced to eat a little solid food today. All this week we kept him mostly on whiskey, beef tea & milk. Hope Joe is better. I will fix that furniture man some day Will write again Thursday Yours Margaret.
Thursday Eve.
Dear Sister,
Maj is not so well today and I am very anxious about him. He does not suffer only from shortness of breath, but he is wasting away. His muscles are softening and he is little more than skin and bone. He is very weak and wandered in his mind a little today but was perfectly conscious when I talked with him. He has every thing possible done for him and he seems to desire nothing. He speaks but little and is very patient and uncomplaining.
We put all the nourishment in him that we dare to.
He seems content if he can open his eyes and see me but he frets if I am out of sight. I will write every day now for a few days. Send Adrians drawers soon
Margaret.
Palatka, Feby 8th, 78
Dear Sister, Maj is a little better tonight. It has been a lovely day. 76Ε in the shade and he has benefitted by it. He asked today for news from you for the first time. He sat up in his steamer chair and took a few steps. I am glad to hear Joe is better. Will write again on Sunday- Margaret
Palatka Feby 10th
Dear Sister,
Maj. was much worse last night but today has rallied a little. Our hopes are growing small however. He was so thin before his illness that he has had nothing to fall back upon and he is wasted almost to a shadow. He knows that he is seriously ill and he bears everything with angelic patience. He asked for news from you yes-terday for the first time. He was out of his head all last night and went way back to days of Mother Shwartz, and Aunt Sophy- I will write again tonmorrow. Adrians drawers came
Yours Margaret.
Abiel Teple LaForge died of tuberculosis in Palatka, Florida on February 11, 1878 at 6:00 P.M.
Palatka Feby 12th 1878.
Dear Sister,
I know that you will be most anxious to hear from me and I write to you first as soon as I am able. Maj. died last night at 6 o'clock with the going down of the sun. I telegraphed you. He knew Sunday afternoon that he could not live and although he had been wandering in his mind, he roused himself and talked rationally with me for some time. He was quiet and brave and so gentle and tender. I never can tell you how precious that afternoon is to me. He felt too weak to live but yet he hoped that if he could only get out into the sunshine once that he would begin to gain. We pro-mised him that if it was fair on Monday morning that we would sit him on the piazza in the bright sunshine that he so longed for, but on Monday morning at three o'clock the change came. He was uncon-scious but every hour or so he would rouse a little so that he would press my hand and open his eyes when I spoke. He only asked one question "Is it fair." I told him it was a beautiful day and the sun was shining brightly for him. He smiled and said "my sweetheart" and put up his mouth to kiss me. He never spoke so that we could understand after that. Through the day he tried to speak but could not. He suffered very little save once or twice then the Dr. gave him something that eased his pain. He died qui-etly and peacefully at the last. They staid within call but merci-fully left me alone with him. To the last he never regretted com-ing here and in his wanderings he talked of it and once when he seemed to be laboring heavily I asked him what troubled him and he said he was trying to get away from Wilmington. He was in great fear when there that he would be so ill that he could not go fur-ther on. I send you a heartsease that he held in his hand on Sunday afternoon.
I shall have Mr. Lyle (her brother-in-law) or some one else go with him as far as Charleston and then put him on the Charleston steamer where he will not be moved till he reaches New York and then Rob will have him placed in a receiving vault till my return. He will be embalmed here. I shall stay till March unless I become too restless, but I do not think it wise to return immediately.
Yours Margaret.
Palatka, Feb.. 17th 1878.
Dear Sister,
I do not feel much like writing to anyone but I have not heard from you since I telegraphed and as some time must elapse before you receive my last letter and reply to it I think perhaps you may be anxious to hear from us.
Since I have been able to get my natural rest I have recovered my strength and am feeling quite well. Laurence is in fair health but I do not consider him strong by any means. Adrian is doing finely. I never saw him looking so well. Lily has kept well save a slight cold in the head. Rosy I think is just beginning to get over that long cold she had in New York. She still coughs nights but less than before. The baby has just recovered from his cold. At one time his voice was entirely stopped and he could not cry a note. Fannie has a cold and has not been well since she has been here. The other two girls keep well. I think the baby does just as well on Lizzie's milk as he did on Jennies. As yet I have made no plans for returning. I have written to New York that they shall let me know if Mr Knox (the lawyer) thinks it necesary for me to return immediately. If not I shall stay until some time in March if I am not too restless. I need a quiet spell to get my thougts together for as soon as I return to New York everything will come all together. I had Maj's body embalmed the day after his death. On Thursday Henry Lyle kindly consented to go to Charleston with it and see it safely on the Charleston steamer bound for New York. Mr. Valentine will be telegraphed from Charleston and will be ready to receive it on arrival of the steamer and will have it conveyed to a receiving vault where it will remain until my return. I tele-graphed to Mr. Valentine to close the store on receipt of the news and it was done. He offered very kindly to send any one to meet me &c but if I need any one Henry will assist me and the Dr. and the people of the Hotel have done everything in the world for me. Af-ter Maj. was embalmed his features became perfectly natural and his face wears a most beautiful expression as though he had just fallen asleep and was dreaming a pleasant dream. The Dr. assures me that his face will certainly not change for a month and perhaps a much longer time. He thinks it ought to look just the same for a very long time. There is a large glass in the lid of the casket and he can be seen very distinctly. I shall let you know as soon as I de-cide to come home so you will have ample time to get ready to come down. If you desire to come earlier do so and stop at the house with the Ways. But if you cannot spare much time you'd better wait for if I do not take the house six months longer I shall need you very much on the first of May, but if I take it for six months then there will be no need for you stay any longer than to the funeral unless you desire to. It will depend upon how much of my attention the business is going to claim and whether it will require me to be in or near New York for six months or so and also whether the house is not already let to some other party. These things I shall learn gradually and govern myself accordingly- If you come to New York before I do and want any help about anything call upon Uncle if he is idle- Address at 777 Tenth Avenue. If you need any money call upon Mr. Valentine for it until my return. Mr. Valentine will take entire charge of Maj's remains and see that they are properly cared for until my return and will probably attend to the details of the funeral after I come back. I feel as though I couldnt write ano-ther word. Goodnight Margaret.
OBITUARY NOTICE - New York paper
ABIEL T. LA FORGE
News was received yesterday of the death of Mr. Abiel T. La Forge, the senior partner of the house of R. H. Macy & Co. Mr. La Forge was about 36 years of age, and was born in Wisconsin (wrong). He served through the war of the rebellion with credit, leaving the Army with the rank of Major. For a time he was connected with the importing house of Mills & Gibb, on Broadway, which he left to be-come a buyer in the establishment of R. H. Macy. Three years after his first connection with the house he was admitted to partnership, and had been a partner in the firm at the time of his death for about nine years. His service in the Army impaired his health, and for three Winters he spent a month or two in Florida, seeking re-lief for a pulmonary difficulty which was becoming more deeply seated year by year. He left this City during the first week in January, in his usual health, and no alarm was felt about him by his friends. His partner, Mr. Valentine, heard nothing of him un-til yesterday, when the dispatch announcing his death was received. He was a man of excellent business capacity, and had a large ac-quaintance. He leaves a widow and five children.
LETTER from Robert Valentine to Margaret.
New York Feb. 18/78
My Dear Mrs. LaForge-
Your two letters of 12- & one of 14- are at hand, also a note for Mr. Pannenter which I will see delivered. also doctors certi-ficate which I have put into the hands of Mr. Quigg the undertaker. You did not specify whether you wished anyone in particular to be the undertaker, and as Mr. Quigg conducted Mr. Macys funeral right-ly, I put this matter right into his hands. He will receive the body on its arrival Tuesday <dispatch from Mr. Lyle says it is on City of Atlanta due Tuesday> and place it in the same vault that Mr. Macy was kept in, until you wish the services; he is sexton of Dr Lyng Jr. Church, but you can have services wherever you wish. He will call at the store as soon as he has it deposited there safely & then I will go over with him & see that everything is right. Your uncle was at the house yesterday & will go over with me tomorrow. Everything will be all right about it & you have nothing to worry about. I am glad he suffered so little pain; it removes half the pain to those one leaves; but I regret very much that he could not have lived to enjoy life that had just begun to be so enjoyable. Everything here runs on in the normal course - and there is nothing to hurry you back at all - in fact for the sake of your family I should not think it advisable to leave there at once; you will probably consult your own wishes in this however. Mrs. Bowyer is attending to your orders. The checks came to hand & were sent over to me & were fixed all right. Draw, if you need money - only advise me a day or two beforehand so if not prepared for it I can prepare.
There have been no questions asked at all, this time; everyone knows that Mr. Macys Estate was paid off without any trouble - and seem to regard everything as all right; there has not been the slightest check in any way. My previous experience of course, proving very valuable now though it is an experience that I would much rather not have had to go through; and as far as the business goes there has been no worry at all; of course there is no more work than there was before this happened. Everything was arranged so thoroughly with just such occurrences in view that the store would almost run itself for the next five years. Consult your own wishes in remaining or returning, entirely - and let us know at once if there is anything we can do for you. A number of friends have left condolences for you I have cut out the paragraphs that appered in the papers, & kept them. Weather here has been very damp, but to day it is very cold. I will telegraph you on the arrival of the casket.
Trusting this will find you as well as the circumstances permit I am Very truly yours R. M. Valentine
LETTER
Palatka, Feby 25, 1878.
Dear Sister,
I have not heard from you for three weeks and I begin to be somewhat alarmed particularly as two packages came, one of night-gowns a week ago and the other of drawers on Saturday. I tele-graphed you of Maj's death on the 12th and wrote to you the same day and have written you again since but have not heard a word from you since the week before he died although there has been ample time for me to have received an answer to both of my last. If I do not hear from you in three days more I shall telegraph to find out if any thing has happened to you.
We are all pretty well, except Rosy. You will remember she had a bad cold before we left. She has never got rid of it and now it is worse again and she is all choked up. The baby is fretting with his teeth.
If the spring is forward, and we are all well I shall start home in two or three weeks, but if the weather is very bad in N. Y. and the children are not well I shall wait until April 1st if pos-sible. I received a telegram from Mr. Valentine saying that the case containing Maj's body had arrived in New York and every thing was in perfect order. The undertaker took charge of it and will keep it in a receiving vault until my return when I shall have fu-neral ceremonies as soon as I decide where to have him interred. Write as soon as you receive this that I may know something about you. Yours Margaret.
Palatka, March 1st 1878.
Dear Sister,
I received your letter a few moments ago and reply to it imme-diately. I had become alarmed for I had not heard a word from you since Maj's death. I am very sorry to hear of your illness and Joe's, more so of his than yours, for his may confine him to the house for some time, while yours tho' very painful and hard to bear will not end in anything serious. We are well except Rosy and Lau-rie. I shall try to make myself stay here until Apl 1st. if I can. If I return then, I shall have the funeral services held early in April and I should feel very badly if you could not be present. So far as your staying over the 1st of May with me is concerned that is a secondary consideration entirely. that would be according to whether you feel like it, and whether you could be spared, but if you could get some one to stay with Joe if he was not very serious-ly ill you could come down to the funeral one night and go back the next. I am in hopes he will be better when you get this.
So far as Majs will is concerned if you and I are executors, it will not be necessary for you to have to do any thing except in case of my death. At the proper time I shall let you know all the particulars, and if you come down I shall arrange to have it read while you are there. I have made my will since Maj died and shall forward it to Mr. Valentine to keep until my return, so that if any thing should happen to me everything will be found in perfect or-der. Now in regard to your going out to work at the sugar bush I dont like it at all. If you are sick you are not able to go. If Joe is sick he needs you to take care of him and Oscar is not able to do a man's work yet. therefore if you can hire a man to do Joe's work for a couple of months till you tide over this trouble I wish you would do so and I will pay him. Let me know how much it will cost for a man for two months and how much I owe you for the sewing and I will send you a postal order from here for the whole when I answer your next. Rosy's cold is improving. Laurie is still delicate. Mr. Valentine says that Dr. Gay is going to write me not to come North for some time yet. I shall be careful and come slowly- I received a telegram from Mr. Valentine saying that Majs remains had arrived. Today I received his letter. Uncle and the undertaker went to the steamer. They were taken to the receiv-ing vault corner of 2d Ave and Third St. and the case opened. Ev-erything was all right and Mr. Valentine said he looked perfectly natural as though he had just fallen asleep. I wish you could see him. I shall feel very badly if you cannot come to the funeral. The children do not realize their loss at all. Laurence will never forget him, and I talk to Adrian often to keep him fresh in his me-mory, but it seems to them as though he is only gone for a little while. I wish you would answer this as soon as you get it if only a few lines. Yours Margaret.
Palatka March 15th 1878.
Dear Sister,
I have just received your letter and answer it immediately, and if you write as soon as you get this I shall get yours just before I leave. I now intend to leave here on Thursday March 28th and arrive in N. Y. Some time the following week. I am glad you are all better. I send in another letter at the same time with this a P.O. order for $60. The address sent to is Mrs. Susan Pot-ter Andover. Allegany Co. N.Y. and the address sent from is Mrs. A. T. LaForge. Palatka Florida. I send $40. for you to hire a man for two months, till Joe gets round again. Eight dollars is to pay for the 16 pr of drawers and the other $12- is to buy your ticket down to N.Y. I have forgotten what a ticket costs but if it is not enough you can let me know. An order can not be drawn for over $50- at a time so I send two one for 50 and one for 10 dollars.
In regard to the funeral services, I intend to have them held in Dr. Ewer's Church at 40th St. between 5 & 6 Ave. He married us and Maj. had been planning for more than a year to take a pew in his church. I wanted to see you before I decided where to have him buried. I thought I would go up to Fishkill and see the place where your mother is buried and if it is possible to have a family lot around it or next it I should have one but if not there I should purchase a plot in some cemetery near New York. In his will he desires me to have Louis taken up and buried beside him. Now if you think can remember about the cemetery at Fishkill and think I can have a nice plot there I wish you could be down to N. Y. when I arrive and I would go up the next day with you to Fishkill and see about it. In that case I would have services just the same in N. York and have him taken up the next morning to Fishkill and then all the friends there who desired could go to to the cemetery. I wish you could get to N.Y. the day before I come so as to let the Ways get out say Apl 2d or Apl 3d. I should then have the funeral as soon as the undertaker could arrange for it, probably Apl 8th or 9th. Anything you send me here must be mailed by March 21st not after. My next address will be Charleston Hotel, Charleston South Carolina, where I will probably stop Sunday March 31st. These are my plans at present, but if the weather should turn very bad again at the North and be frozen up or thawing I might delay a little. In that case I should telegraph you so that you could know when to come. I have sent word to mother to come on from California but I doubt if it is possible for her to arrive in time for the funeral. The Pacific R.R. is snowed up now. I have made Mr. Bluin an offer for the house for six months. If he accepts I shall take the chil-dren away for a summer trip and get the Ways to stay there and in the fall I will have time to look about and see where I want to settle. If he doesnt accept then I shall take a house in or near N.Y. for a year or two for it will take two years to settle the es-tate. We are all well now and I shall make the journey home slowly and carefully- Don't forget to answer right away
Yours Margaret.
Palatka, M'ch 24th 1878.
Dear Sister,
I received your letter yesterday and the aprons. I do not think you had got my letter yet for you say nothing about it so I look for another from you tomorrow or next day. If you have deci-ded that you can come down to the city so as to be at the house when I come if you come down on the night train on Tuesday Ap'l 2d it will be about right for me. That will bring you into N.Y. on Wednesday morning. I shall leave here next Thursday M'ch 28th and shall travel by day only so as to avoid the children taking cold. I may get home on Wednesday or certainly by Thursday- We are all now in fair health and if we can keep so shall get home all right.. I have written a letter to father (Susan's father), and inclose it. You can read it and I wish you would forward it to him. Now in regard to his coming on to N.Y. I would not say or do anything to wound his feelings, but I really do not think it would be best, and when I say that, I am thinking of how Maj himself would have felt about it, and you know what his feeling would be in regard to it as well as I do. It is a difficult matter to write about but when I see you we can talk it over. Can you not advise him when you write not to undertake so long and expensive a journey at his age. I can understand his feeling in wanting to come, but it would be produc-tive of very little satisfaction and be an expense that he could ill afford. Some time in the future when we are more settled we will try to arrange it so that either he shall come and make us a visit or you go out and make them a visit. I have received an an-swer from Mr. Bluin and he does not accept my offer for the house so I shall have to move May 1st. I shall write to you again Tues-day or Wednesday also from Charleston. I shall telegraph you at the house in New York when I am in Richmond or Washington. Do not get a bonnet before you come. Your black suit and dolman are all right if you take the fringe off.
Yours Margaret.
If any other of your people would like to come down to the funeral I should be glad to have any one present who knew him and loved him.
Abiel T. LaForge was buried in the northwest corner of the "Spring Lake" section in Woodlawn Cemetery. The cemetery is located at 233rd Street and Webster Avenue in the Bronx, New York City. Others buried in the same plot include baby Louis, Abiel's wife Margaret and his daughter Lily Suse La Forge Prentice.
N.Y. April 10/78
Mrss. RH Macy & Co
Please pay me Twelve Hundred Dollars and charge same to the Estate of A T LaForge, and this shall be your receipt for same, I being Executrix of the last will and testament of A. T. LaForge and when I receive testamentary papers, I will receipt for Above amount as Executrix.
$1200ΕΕ Margaret LaForge
NOTE: Rowland Hussey Macy, Jr. died in August of 1878 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Nantucket September 8th, 1878
Dear Sister,
When I received your letter I had already mailed father his money in a registered letter. As soon as I received his first let-ter saying the money had not come I wrote to the bank to see if the check had been presented. It had not. I did not write them not to pay it from fear father might get it later on but when I hear from him once more then I shall send word to the bank to refuse payment for I wrote father in my last that if he ever got the check to send it right back to me and not use it. I sent a P.O. order the last
time but it has to go to Menomonie and he complained that it was too far for him to go and get it. A registered letter is not safe for if the money is stolen the P.O. does not guarantee it to you it only tries to help you find it. A check is the safest way- I can-not think what has become of it. It is the only letter lost that I have sent away but one that Mrs. Valentine sent me was lost. Fa-ther need never be afraid. He will get his money right straight along whether I am alive or dead.
My sister Rebecca has come back from California with Ida & Re-ginald. She says she has only come to stay a year. She sold out her furniture at a sacrifice. I scarcely think she would have come here but for the change in my circumstances. When she first wrote that she was coming this way I told Mother to advise her not to for it would be such an expensive trip that she could ill afford it. She was very angry and said she knew her own business best so she came. I do not know if I told you that she wrote me a letter when I returned from Florida detailing her plans in life for Ida & Reg-gie and saying that she could carry them out if she only had money. I answered her kindly but said nothing about money. She is stop-ping now with friends here. I did not invite her to come here or to the cottage that I bought for mother for there was room in nei-ther. When she reached New York she took rooms on 19th St. and boarded a week. She went to the store and found Maggie Polion and went up to the house and saw Uncle and Uncle wrote me that she talked awfully about me. She told him she heard that some strange man was round with me day and night while I was in N.Y. in July. Uncle told her that he guessed he knew something about that for I was only there four days and it was so awful hot that I only went out when I was forced to go to the Banks & Treasury I was so afraid of getting sunstruck. Now think what a nice sister that was. She was mad because I did not write and invite her and her children to spend a year with me and offer them all the money they wanted to spend and she retaliates by trying to injure me. I wrote instantly to Maggie Polion and asked her if she had said anything to Mrs. Pitts. She answered that she told her that Annie Rogers told her that she saw me in the store one day speaking with a gentleman. Now just think of the malice that could distort that. When she arrived here I immediately called on her and met her pleasantly. She was astonished for she felt guilty but when she found that I had none but pleasant words for her she was like soft soap and every thing has gone along swimmingly. I do not think I will say anything to her about her ugly speeches for I hate to quarrel. She has not improved during her residence in California. I have spoken to you of her before and I write this to you that you may know enough of her and be forewarned if ever you are brought in contact. I read to Mr. Knox the letter she wrote from California that he might know that she cared nothing for me or my children but for money, so that he might understand why I chose you to be my successor instead of my own sister. I told him all about her and just how I thought she would act in event of my death. She is attractive and fascinating to most men and on first acquaintance
would impress anyone with the idea that she was a generous good hearted woman. He understands it thoroughly and she won't move him an inch and I know she won't you. He says that I have fixed my will so that she couldn't break it if she tried. You'd better tear this up for I wouldn't like to leave anything in writing about my own sister lying around. The children are all well. The baby is very cunning. His disposition is going to be like Laurie's only a good deal more so. He creeps and stands up by chairs. He is weaned. Her milk ran down after her baby died. Adrian is so brown and fat that you wouldn't know him. I hope we will have a pleasant visit. How is Joe and you never say anything about Oscar. Mother sends regards. I have got her comfortably settled here in a little cunning house and she will probably stay here the rest of her days. I shall leave here soon after the 25th. Georgie is waiting to take this to the office so good bye Margaret.
New York Oct. 10th 1878.
Dear Sister,
Notwithstanding I am extremely tried I will scrawl a few lines that you may know that we are alive. We arrived home a week ago Sunday. The twins and Georgie (nursemaid) were seasick. This last week the children have all taken slight colds, snuffles, but they are all much better for their summer trip. I have been househunt-ing ever since I returned but have not yet succeeded in getting a good house at a low rent. My house is let so I must get out Nov. 1st whether or no. Mrs. Knox (wife of Henry E. Knox, the lawyer who witnessed Margaret's will) went round one day with me and we saw one house that I almost thought I would take but the man has sold it. I am now waiting to hear from another man who is to let me know by Monday. Mrs. Knox says when I move that I must send the children to her to stay all day. She is very kind and pleasant. She has had nine children, seven now living, the oldest 21 and the youngest a little girl one day younger then the twins, but she is much larger than they are.
Father received the check and money both. I am going to let him keep the check over and use it for the next pay ment. I had sent the check to Colfax. When I sit down to write to you or fa-ther I almost always commence thinking of Maj and I must have been thinking of him that time. He once told me that father lived in Colfax and it is written so in his memorandum book and in his will and although I knew very well that the address was Sand Creek yet I must have been thinking of what Maj told me. I have never missed him so much as I have since my return. It is harder now to bear than ever and it seems as though I cannot go out of this house and break up all the old ties and begin all alone in a different house. I will write again as soon as I know where I shall go which will surely be in two weeks
Love to all Good night
Margaret
New York Jan'y 28th -79-
Dear Sister,
I received your letter quite a long time ago. The baby has been cutting double teeth and Laurie's second teeth have begun to come. We are all fairly well. I had a spell of neuralgia that pulled me down a little but I am in pretty good health when I can keep in decent spirits. I shall not come down on you without warn-ing and shall probably wait until your house is done. I think when the weather gets a little warmer I shall take a short run off some-where.
The monumental work is en-
tirely done but I cannot get out
to the cemetery to see it until
the Snow is melted from the paths.
I am going to send you a drawing
of it that you may see how it looks
and you must return it to me. I
have already drawn from the firm
and invested in goverment bonds as
much money as would be the childrens
share so that their money at present
is as safe as it can be according to
the instructions of the will. I
doubt very much however if I can get
along on the interest which is only
4 per cent and expect to have to use
a portion of the principal every year.
When Maj. and I talked it over we
knew it would be difficult and that
is why he worded it so that I could
use the principal if necessary. It
is a great relief to my mind to know
that I have their money all secure
in bonds and I write it to you so that
you may feel as easy in the matter as
I do. I sent Oscar's book and will
send the change in my next letter when
I can find out what I paid for it.
Scarlet fever is very prevalent here
and I hover the children very carefully.
Love to all-
Yours Margaret
The New York City "Trow's Directory"
for the year ending May 1, 1880 included
the listing "Laforge Margaret S. wid
Abial T. h 69 E 77th".
New York, May 29th 1879.
Dear Sister,
Yours received. I was off on a weeks trip with Mr. & Mrs. Knox and Hol. We went to Albany and to Blandford their country place. We had a first rate time except that I had another of those spells at Albany but I have been all right ever since. That bleed-ing kept up till I left albany and I have not seen it since. The children were very good while I was gone. I was down to see Uncle yesterday with the twins and Georgie and he seems better. Tomorrow I am going to Woodlawn with some flowers to put on the monument. If Joe dont feel any better get some spanish fly and cut a piece about one inch square and draw a blister as near over the spot as you can. Just as soon as the water is all out of that blister draw another about an inch away, and so keep at it making a ring of lit-tle blisters around the tender spot. That will steadily pull the inflammation to the surface and keep it from making a serious at-tack on his internal organs. You know you couln't keep mustard on like that, but you can do it with spanish fly in perhaps chloro-form. I wrote to father. Do not say anything about going out there yet. I hope you will save your colt. The things have come. You must keep a list of what you send. You must go to Wellsville some time and let me know what your parvenue would cost.
Knoxs all well. Tom and Annie are in trouble. It seems they have decided to be married June 24th whether or no and the parents ob-ject. I do not know how it will end but there will be trouble ei-ther way. Georgie will be married the day that I go in the coun-try. Haven't decided that yet. children all well. Baby has all his teeth, and begins to talk. I have Maggie's cousin Katie Murphy as nurse now. Mother is well Write soon M-
Long Branch July 5th/79
Dear Sister,
I have a batch of letters here to answer but I have picked out yours first for I remember you wrote in a dolorous strain and per-haps you need a little comforting. Now don't you lay awake nights fretting about nothing. If the hoppers want to come they will come, and if they eat you out of house and home you need never trouble yourselves but what there will be a roof for you to sleep under and plenty to eat. Georgie is married and the mother-in-law didn't know just when it would come off. There will be a long string to tell you some time about it. The Knoxes were busy dress-making and only Devie came. The children and myself gave her a plated pitcher cake basket and castor. Will Knox gave her a butter dish. Devie & Joe some perfume bottles, Uncle an embroidered mot-to. Everything went off in good style and I guess its all right. Uncle was there and some of Henry's friends and James our old coachman at F. Wash.
You can make up the rest of the calico for Leon's slips and make Laurie three more nightdrawers and keep any thing that is left after that.
Now sister, don't you be afraid of my getting caught by a for-tune hunter. I don't say that I never will be married again, for I am that kind of a woman who does not like to live alone, and I had such a good husband that it is much harder for me to live with-out any that it is for many women whose married life was not happy and who are glad to be alone. I could marry now if I chose, but in my present frame of mind I should weigh many things before I put my little children in the power of a strange man. That thing is far from me yet and even if it ever should be in prospect I should let you know long before and advise with you seriously concerning it. We are situated in a very pleasant cottage about 300 yds from the surf and the children fairly live on the shore. There is a nice lawn each side of the cottage and we have croquet and they play all over the grass when they choose. There are not many other people in the cottage and as yet I have not got acquainted. In my next letter I will tell you about the Knoxes. There was serious trouble about Annie's marriage.
15 N. Draw 40 6.00
15 Linen 20 3.00
6 aprons 25 1.50
4 " 20 80
9 dresses 40 3.60
2 dresses 75 1.50
16.40
postage 1.60 for these and the rest
18.00
Ive' forgotten what I paid you before but if this isn't right let me know. Yours Margaret.
New York Sept. 8th 1879.
Dear Sister,
I was in hopes to have received your letter before I went out to Mrs Knox's but it came about an hour after I left. I am afraid it would be too late for me to venture on such a trip. It will be cool nights and hard travelling the latter part of the journey and my health does not improve any. I thought if we could make this journey in Sept by slow stages that I could pull through it. Sup-pose we let it go over now until spring. (Possibly they were con-sidering a trip to see Abiel's father in Wisconsin.) Henry's mo-ther talks one minute of living with them and the next of going away. They have bought all the things of her and now Georgie says she won't have her with her for if she does she will claim all the things again. I thought I wrote you that Annie Knox was married Oct. June 18th They went on a trip to Canada and Lake George and are now settled in a little house in Brooklyn. I dined with them last Friday. There was a great deal of feeling about their mar-riage. at first Mr & Mrs Knox both objected. I said I would say nothing at all until the matter was positively settled beyond ques-tion and then I should certainly be friendly with them. Annie told them she was positively going to be married, with their consent if possible, but if they prevented in any way she should put on her things and walk out. Mr. Knox yielded so far, that although he ne-ver openly consented yet he quietly accepted the situation and made the best of it. Mrs. Knox bitterly opposed it and all Annies pre-parations were made out of the house. She was married at church. Her mother refused to go. She bade Annie goodbye but has not spo-ken to Tom. She says she will never go to their house or have any-thing to do with them unless Annie is sick and sends for her. There was a great deal of feeling all round and we came near having a break. At one time she would scarcely speak to me and I left for Long Branch without her bidding me goodbye but she has written me since such an urgent letter to come to the farm that I went for three days and now everything seems all right. When I go down town I will see if I can get some furniture catalogues and send you and you can judge for yourself. What was the freight on that other lot of furniture? I don't know whether Rebecca (Margaret's sister) is in Nant. or not. Mother never mentions her. Ida (Rebecca's daugh-ter) is there. I have not seen Uncle yet. Georgie took him down a corn pudding this summer. I was out to Woodlawn yesterday. The white lilies are in bloom. The children are well and the baby is awful cunning. Georgie leaves Oct 1st. Louise leaves Oct 2 to be married and I doubt if I keep Katy so I may have a handful with all new help this fall. I hope you'll get your plastering done before cold weather. Write soon
Yours Margaret.
September 29th 1879.
Dear Sister,
I think we must all be "poor critters". I received your let-ter telling me of your sickness for which I was very sorry. In the meantime I had been flat on my back ever since two weeks ago last Friday. I did not send for you for I thought you were very busy and as it proved you could not have come if you were ill yourself. Mrs. Knox came up a couple of days through the worst of it and Georgie pulled me through the rest. Now the Dr. says if I want to get well I must travel right away. I am nothing but skin and bone and weigh only 113 lbs. and I look very badly. My food does not seem to nourish me and she says she don't know what will keep me from running down now unless I have entire change or air and diet. I am very weak and the least thing uses me right up. It was trou-ble with my insides. She wanted me to go to Europe or California but I couldn't make my mind up & start right off and go so far, so I told her of the trip we had planned to Wisconsin and she advises me to go right away but some one must take care of me. I will only travel a little each day and probably stop every night. Now I shall leave here on Monday Oct 6th and stop at Hornellsville Monday night and if you want to go on to Wisconsin to see father with me you want to be in Hornellsville Monday night or Tuesday morning early. I dont think it will be best for me to come down to Andover for I am not equal to doing any visiting. Now if you are over your own illness sufficiently to know that you would be able to take care of me in this trip, then turn your back on your house and go. You probably need a change as well as myself. The men can finish the plastering, painting &c and you can hire a woman to clean and cook for Joe and Oscar and it will be a great deal better for the house to stand and become thoroughly dry before you moved in and caught your deaths of cold. We may be gone three weeks. Now I don't know when you may get another chance to see father and if I were you I shouldn't hesitate an instant but would rather let the house stand perfectly still for three weeks sooner than miss the chance of seeing him. Laurence will go with me. Georgie will stay another month and take care of the children. Now I can't put this journey off. It is of vital importance to my health that some change should be made or in a few weeks I shall be a shadow. I would leave this week if you were not going. Now if when you re-ceive this letter you must telegraph me as soon as you can right away if possible. If you are going say "I will be in Hornells-ville Tuesday morning". If you are not going, say that any way you choose. In either case write to me right away. If you go you want to take clothes as though it was winter. Take a small trunk, your bag and woolen shawl. If you want me to buy anything particular to take to father write in the letter.
If you do not go, I shall give up entirely going to Wisconsin and shall take some friend or hire some person to travel round any where for three or four weeks. You won't have to by any clothes to wear. all your things are all right for such a trip. Today I was out for the third time since I got up Georgie has had Henry do all the marketing. Don't forget to telegraph and write immediately. I cannot know which way I am going to turn until your telegram comes. I will stop at the best Hotel in Hornellsville (remainder of letter is missing)
Oct. 2d. 1879.
Dear Sister,
Your telegram just received. I am getting along very well and have had no return of my trouble yet. I will leave N.Y. at 9 o'clock Monday morning by the Erie Road. It will be too much for me to go through to Hornellsville in one day, so I shall probably stop at Binghamton over night and on Tuesday take the same train and arrive at Hornellsville Tuesday evening at 8.35. If you are in Hornellsville at that time meet me at the train, if not, then meet me at the Hotel as we would leave on Wednesday morning at 7.50- I hope you are feeling all right again. We will make the trip as pleasant as possible and see every thing that is to be seen between here and St. Paul. I shall probably stop a day or two at Niagara Falls, then perhaps a day or night at Buffalo, Dunkirk or Erie, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit at some of them perhaps two days and at Chicago several days, then at Madison and St Paul. We stop off to see father at this side of St. Paul. I doubt if I get out to his place out in the wilderness. He writes me that the railroad ends at Chippewa Falls, then a stage goes twenty five miles and stops five miles away from his house. I probably shall get as far as the railroad goes and then if there is a respectable place for me to stay, I will let you go off in this stage if it is safe for you to go alone and find father and bring him down to Chippewa falls to see us. If it isn't safe for you to go I will hire a team to go after him and bring him to us. We'll fix it somehow. Last night Mary took a notion she was afraid to stay while I was gone and she went off home and staid all night. I was in a terrible fix for I would not dare to go away and leave an entirely new girl alone with Georgie, but I guess her mother scolded her for this morning she came back and said she was willing to stay. Laurie is so pleased with the idea of going that it makes me begin to feel interested and hope the journey will do me good. I expect your letter tomor-row so if there is any thing you want me to get for father I can get it. Of course we can get everything in Chicago but it is nicer if it comes from York. All your letters may be sent to Chicago. I will drop a line tomorrow and give you the exact address. The weather is very fine here. I wish it would keep so through our journey- Some time through the day on Monday I will telegraph you my movements. I inclose $20. for you to pay a girl while you are gone and your fare up to Hornellsville and any little expenses. I don't do but little every day for I don't want to break down again before I get started. Fix Joe and Oscar comfortably while you are gone. Aunt Ann will keep an eye out for them and the trip will do you much good.
Your Margaret
Although it is very doubtful that Margaret made the trip she planned, an account book exists with entries from October 7th to February 25th and a notation on December 19th says, "Expenses of House during Mrs. LaForges Absence". The note was signed by "H. Martin", who was evidently the husband of Georgiana "Georgie" and the Henry that she asked to do the marketing. The accounts were evidently kept by Georgie or Henry and audited by George F. Pinkham (Margaret's uncle) and the lawyer Henry E. Knox. Knox's address at "7 Nassau or 51 Chamber St" is inside the cover as well as that of a Rev. Dr. Ormiston at 17 W. 32d St.
It is not clear how long Margaret was away or where she went, but Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi claimed on Margaret's death certificate that she had cared for Margaret from November 1, 1879 until her death at 5:00 P.M. on January 25, 1880. The immediate cause of death was listed as a collapse from acute non-puerperal (not con-nected with childbirth) peritonitis. It had lasted two days. Con-tributing causes were chronic ovaritis (probably five months dura-tion) and fatty heart (probably four years duration).
Susan Potter was later paid from the estate for care of Marga-ret during her last six weeks. The account book includes entries of telegraph messages to the doctor on January 24th and messages on the next day to Brooklyn, Russel, MA, Nantucket, Andover, Bridge-water, New Brighton, and to place notices in the New York "Herald" and "Times".
Shortly after Margaret's death Susan Potter evidently went home to Andover and the household and children were cared for by a variety of people, including Margaret's sister and mother and by Mrs. Jane P. Chester, who had been named in the codicil to Mar-garet's will as the children's guardian in case of Susan's death.
LETTER edged in black; written to Susan LaForge Potter by Marga-ret's mother.
New York Feb. 5th/80
Dear Aunt Susie
I was very much afraid that you would worry about us here and so I have ventured to write a few lines. I do not want you to think me very wicked, but there is a woman and her daughter here who pretend to assume the the power to rule here, but there is no one here that seems to care particularly; we get along very com-fortably and wish you were here but do not want you to come till you feel perfectly able. When you do come I will do all that I can to help you, for there is a great deal to be done.
I was advised to send Georgie home, but said that I would have nothing to do with it. Georgie told me that you and Mr Knox wanted her to stay here till you came back. I am very sorry that my daughter Mrs (Rebecca) Pitts should come and not conduct herself as she ought. the girls dont mind her, and go right along as usual. I dont think Molly will go away but she loves to tease dearly. Georgie wants to see the letter that Mrs Pitts sent to you, but I tell her not to fret. every thing will come all right and when you come she will have lots to tell you. My brother is not feeling very well, but thinks he will stay to see you if he can. the chil-dren are quite well. Adrian and the twins seemed to know me and were glad to see me. Adrian likes to talk with me about Nantucket and seems to remember about being there. I think Baby is very cun-ning and is busy all the time. We have had a cold spell and I had a good storm to come here in. good night and God be with you.
Yours P. A. G. (Phebe Ann Getchell)
LETTER to Susan Potter from Jane Chester
Feby 10th 1880
Dear Mrs Potter -
I rec'd your letter this evening & am sorry to hear you are still so unwell. I am afraid while your mind is so worried it will be some time before you regain your usual health - I feel so much for you too - & have been asking my husband what I can say to com-fort you a little - He seems to think perhaps it would be well for you to take the executorship & the children for the present & let the family in New York get fairly broken up & then when Mrs Get-chell & Mrs Pitts have gone to their homes & things have quieted down a little if you find the care is too much you can then think what it will be best to do. You can give up the charge better then, than now - I think that as Mrs La Forge had so much confi-dence in you she must have felt that whatever you did in reference to the children would be what you considered for their future good - I don't understand that the Will compels you to take care of all the children yourself - I can't think Mrs La Forge ever really de-sired Mrs Getchell to have them - she is too old & if anything hap-pened to her they might eventually be under Mrs Pitts control - I should I think talk the matter over with Mr Knox & get some views from him - It might seem best to separate them the children - Mrs. Knox talked to me as if she would be glad to take Adrian & Leon & you know Georgie said Mrs Sutton (very likely this was Mrs. James F. Sutton, the daughter of Rowland H. Macy) took a great fancy to the twins. It seems almost cruel at first to be thinking or even hinting such a change but you know in case of your health giving out or some unforseen thing happening to you some change would then have to be made & in planning for them now - their future good must be kept in sight as well as their present - If I can manage to have the children get over to New York & see their Grandmother this week I shall be glad to & shall also go myself if I can. Laurie seems quite well & is in school again. has been promoted & has brought home a very good Monthly report - he seems quite ambitious & I think improves every day - You must drop me a line when you expect to be in New York - tho' I think you should take a good rest at home before you come back to your cares here - Mr Chester joins me in kind regards to yourself & family & please remember You are to let us know if we can assist you in any way - I'm afraid my long letter will tire you out.
Ever your sincere friend
Jane P. Chester
Susan Potter returned to New York City to settle Margaret's final affairs. Checks and receipts for more than $6000. were writ-ten to distribute legacies to relatives and to pay expenses. Among the latter were reimbursement to Jane P. Chester for incidental expenses on Laurence's behalf, wages for Georgiana Martin, Mary J. Mooney and Mary A. Runian, and reimbursement to Henry Martin for expenses of packing the LaForge furniture and putting it on the train for Andover.
LETTER from Chandler and Emily Green to Susan Potter.
Alfred Center Mar 26th 1880
Mrs. Joseph Potter
Dear Madam
Having heard of the loss of your Brother and his wife and both myself & Mrs Green remembering him when a boy with a great deal of interest we asure you, you have our sympathy and sincerely hope the charge you have left upon your responsibility will prove to be a source of great happiness to you and your husband. For we feel that nothing which our lives can be engaged in is so important as to care for, teach guide and protect our little children, and so direct them that they when called upon to fill the duties and sta-tions of life may do it well and thus honor their parents and guar-dians and fulfil the design of their Heavenly Father and secure to themselves a happy hereafter.
To accomplish this we think that a very great deal depends up-on the surroundings and influences that are brought to bear upon them in early life. We desire after having the experience of eight years here in Alfred to recommend to you our little village as be-ing the most commendable of any place in our country.
A person who has a large family of children & has lived in se-veral places both East & West said to us the other day that this place was the best of all to bring up a family of young children. One great advantage, you can have your children at home all through their education People do not know what influences their children are under when sent away from home to school. Hear after they pass from the graded school can enter into the academic & from that to the university and thus graduate with a full course and all the time at home our Publick libraries & Lyceums are of great benefit and every thing that can be seemingly is brought to bear upon the young mind to make men and women that are worthy of the name
We would be glad to receive you & your family as members of our society and think if you could make up your mind to come here to make it your home you would never regret the step
There is a house and lot just come for sale here that can be bought very reasonable Elder A. H. Lewis has had a call to preach at Plainfield New Jersey and offers his residence for sale It is beautifully situated on the hill near the university 3 acres of land well watered with spring & well house nicely finished well arranged for a family of children furnished with a first class range in the kitchen a double heating Parlor furnace that heats the rooms above & below a large dining extention table and other fur-niture small barn convenient for a cow & a horse all can be bought for four thousand Dollars We beleive you can not do better
Come out before long and make us a visit & look around and see if you do not think it will be best to accept our invitation Come out before you deside the question, any way it can not do any harm to look about a little please drop us a line next Monday if it is convenent & let us know whether you look favorably upon the matter or not. We remain Yours Truly
Chandler & Emily
Introduction 1861-62 1863 1864A 1864B 1865A 1865B 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870-72 1873 1874-80 Epilogue Legacies