Oakland.
Aug. 2nd 1881 Tuesday Morning.
[1881/08/02]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
The receipts & drafts came this morning, many thanks. I did not expect you to send me draft for the balance (after bills & drafts named) but to let it stand in your name and send me or pay out as I might ask you.
Also, I thought you would send me a foreign draft for Rachel as I told you it was for her. But it all turns out very well for I have concluded to enlarge my order and shall have to send ($100-) one hundred dollars. Can you get a draft for that amount in francs and send to me here as I wish to enclose it myself to her at the same time I write directions. I would like to send it to her as soon as possible. You can charge it against me next month or I will return the $177. draft to you to pay for it. I shall send Minnie the $40 draft but shall not ask Cumpy to come to me for he & Minnie both object to it. Shall I send the B. & O. pass to you in hopes of seeing you here for Sunday?
I have not desired to have you rent the Patrick Place before Spring if that soon. But I still think that you & Cumpy would both be happier there than at the Garrison Ave: place or in Washington should you retire. As long as you are at the head of the Army you will like W. well enought but should you persist in retiring you will not find it pleasant to live there but the reverse. And if you leave there a surburban place near Minnie would suit you better than any other. And as long as you are at the head of the Army (a place you should never abandon) it will be pleasanter for you & me & Cump to have a place near Minnie which we can live in during the times that we would be out of W. either on account of Summer or when we would otherwise be visiting Minnie - In short - let the home be close to Minnie & let the whole family spend the winter in W. & the Summer there. As it is, we have the home in W. and spend the Summer roaming & much time with Minnie. You see how Cumpy prefers being there to any other place now. Could the Garrison Ave. house be comfortable or like a surburban home I would say keep it as the home now & take apartments in Washington. I would not care to have you rent the Patrick place before next Spring when you could give up the 15th St. house. When you take that long trip do you expect to take Cumpy? He would join you when Lizzie does I suppose should he go with you. You do not mention him - I wish you would come down for Sunday but I do not wish you to take the trip if it fatigues you. It is very cold here of mornings. Lizzie sends love - As ever yours,
Ellen -
[EES]
Oakland, Md.
Aug. 5th 1881.
[1881/08/05]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
I am shocked by the news of poor dear Mrs. McCook's death. Her condition having been so bad and a serious insanity hereditary in her family I fear she may have taken her own life but of course we do not even whisper such a suspicion here where there are many who know her. I am now convinced that she has been in a bad state of mind for some time & Mrs. Potter told me she had been insane before.
Can you not come here, before going to Paschal? Our month will be out here Wednesday morning & I propose to leave here by Thursday p.m. at the latest. I have engaged quarters at the Logan House Altoona from the 16th inst for we can be much better accomodated there than here at the same price. I want to stop & see Elly & the baby a few days & then go to Altoona for a few weeks. I wrote to Altoona to enquire about rooms & found that they were anxious for an answer as soon as possible & so wrote - you may remember that you said to us to come here & stay as long as we pleased & then go somewhere else. I want to go early to see Elly but I do not care about staying at Paschall long - and Lizzie and I both like Altoona exceedingly well -
On my way to Philadelphia I want to stop over a day at the Relay House & run up and see dear Tom if he has returned to Woodstock of which I am not yet informed. I prefer to stop in Phila (at a boarding house) and go out to see Elly in the morning - spending the day with her, as I fear they cannot take me for only a few days at a time.
Cumpy has such a preference for the Garrison Ave. house that I should hesitate about selling it - Lizzie sends love - Thanks for "Ben Hur" -
As ever yours
Ellen -
[EES]
P.S. I do not like to ask you to advance any more money & I will send the draft back to you if you wish it, but I must ask you to pay these bills and to give James money for the wash woman which you can also charge to me. Also, I made a mistake regarding James' wages - it is $20 and $15 for his board - he should have had $35 instead of $25 - but he may prefer to wait until the next time he is paid to correct it - Ellen.
Logan House, Altoona, Pa.
Aug. 17th 1881. Wednesday
[1881/08/17]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
We arrived at 8. o'clock last evening and were immediately shewn to two elegant rooms (better than we had last year and on the same floor) which we have at the same price which we paid for the one little noisy room at Oakland. This place is far more agreeable to both Lizzie & me than any other. Elly brought into Mr. Thackara's to me the Sunday papers which you kindly sent and now I have from you the bulletin of yesterday with papers & your notice of Carlisle Patterson's funeral. I had feared that we would have the President's death announched this morning but from what I can tell there seems to be a little hope. I rather expect+ Sis here to spend a week or two but I am not certain of her coming - I did not think it prudent to take much on myself regarding the house for Elly & her husband. The Thackaras have their own ideas & they must not have occasion to feel unpleasantly towards me. We have met some old acquaintances here. With love from Lizzie & myself,
As ever yours,
Ellen
[EES]
Altoona.
August 19th 1881 Friday Morning
[1881/08/19]
[WTS]
Dearest Cump, I was laid up yesterday from over exertion (you will smile) but this morning Lizzie and I feel well and happy; particularly happy because the President is not dead and while there is life there is hope. Poor man how he has suffered!
I hope you will keep well & I am very glad James keeps the house in good order for you. The letter on which he was laboring enclosed a wash bill of $6.25 for your clothes & the bed linen towels &c. Please give him the money & charge to my account. By the bye when sending my money please send in drafts, not one but several and before sending give James $25. more (or keep it out to give him) and please keep a mem: of all you give him. I pay him $35. a month but I will let the surplus stand over until my return. If you will be absent during September will not be in any haste to return. I invited Mrs. Bingham to make us a visit before she returns to Fort Leavenworth which she is anxious to do. Poor General McCook! I will write to him soon. His good little wife is better off & it must on the whole, be a releif to him to have her at rest.
Minnie writes that Casey had called to say that I can get the Carpenter place (old house beyond Minnie's on opposite side of the road) at $7000- & the Lightner place at $14000. - I would prefer the Situation of the Lightner place & I think that either that or the Post house would suit us - Which do you think the better? I want to spend next Summer in my own home there where Cump & I can be independent and see nature & entertain you & the girls. I will write Mr. Fitch to make the best bargain he can as I am sure one of them would trade for my lots on Lucas Ave.
If agreeable please send me some 3 & 5 ct. stamps. Love to the Blaines & tell Mrs. Blaine that I have sent Alice "Boston Counters" from Phila and she can imagine the family graduated in Boston by the time she returns to Maine. Kind regards to all the Staff. Can Pat send me paper & envelopes like this?
As ever yours,
Ellen.
[EES]
Altoona, Pa.
Aug: 21st 1881. Sunday Noon.
[1881/08/21]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
Yours of 20th is just received. I am glad you really think the President is mending.
About the St. Louis property I think we can arrange a trade without boot for the Garrison Ave. house. I do not like to worry you but I do feel as if I must have some quiet uninvaded humble little place to go to, where I can be in a way independent & where I can keep all my papers & everything I value and where I can spend my time that is necessarily spent out of Washington and the time I would any how spend with Minnie. I must make the Lucas Ave. lots build me a little place in the corner of Minnie's if we cannot trade 912. for a good place. If I cannot do better I would really like to keep 912. as the home & after a year or so take only apartments in Washington. 912. would be an extravagant place for that purpose. I do not want you to spend any money there especially as you have lost faith in the prosperity of St. Louis but rather expects it rapid decline.
I could even stay at Minnie's if her house were much larger but the better way would be to sell the lots & build me a small place (which wd do later for a back building in case you should ever care to enlarge it) in a corner of Minnie's property. I want it by another Spring - My time is not very long now and ever since the war began I have lived so in a crowd that I feel as if I must have a quiet chimney corner for myself no matter how humble, and I had better be near Minnie & then I would not need the others except Cumpy - The Audenried place would not have suited me for it is out of sight of Minnie's place & on another street & I could not have walked over. I simply cannot walk much & there I would have felt helpless & cut off.
Minnie expects to be confined again this fall - perhaps next month & I am going out (to be called by telegraph) in order to see to the children as long as she may be in bed. Please send me the B. & O. pass as if I let it pass now I shall forget it & not have time to wait for it when called out. With love.
As ever yours,
Ellen.
[EES]
P.S. My object is not to isolate myself or withdraw from the rest of the family, but to have a small quiet place where I can keep all my little possessions & valuable papers & the like within easy access and where I can spend the time I would otherwise spend at Altoona Oakland & the like & where I can stay - you & I when either or both of us may at any time visit Minnie, where we can retire to (enlarging then if necessary) in case you should suddenly any time decide to leave W-. If you whould later choose some other quiet retreat and prefer that we should all go to it, why then if we have gotten this by exchange, we will be losing nothing to give it up - Such a quiet chimney corner I cannot have in W? your rank & acquaintance and habits of visiting & the customs of the place preclude it. Ellen -
Altoona
Aug. 22nd 1881 Monday Evening.
[1881/08/22]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
I received your Sunday letter this morning & would have answered at once but I have been out on the porch all day believing it to be rather necessary for me to be out doors a little more than I have been. I am glad to have your plans & arrangements which may be interfered with by the President's death; which now seems inevitable. Many thanks for the stamps.
I think we had better settle down to an exchange (even or at least no boot on our side) for some kind of a place by Minnie - that will be better for us than those lots. If we can do nothing more the lots could be sold to build a very small house in a corner of Minnie's place. That would be for my Summer resort and for retreat at any odd time and you could then put up your house on 14th St. which you will inevitably want to sell and retire from should you (as you say you will) give up your position. I feel as if I could not be happy or in any way satisfied to have no resting place out, of Washington - No matter how poor the place may be elsewhere, i[?]t if is quiet, free from invasion of thousands of callers (all most excellent people, many in whom I feel a heart interest, but whom I cannot give up my life to) and if I am near some of the children & can see something growing & blooming & the birds flying about. Let us settle it that way - John Sherman's house would not do. When I once spoke of it the children remonstrated & on going over the place in conversation with them we decided most emphatically that it would not suit us - If our Landlord should raise the rent you can stand it for a year & if not - you & Lizzie will be gone & the rest of us could board from the 1st of Jan. until your return & then until the new house would be finished. I must make one stipulation; namely that I shall see the plan of the house before you have agreed upon it & early enough to have it changed if I see great objection to it.
I will write again tomorrow. Poor Garfield! -
Lizzie was indisposed yesterday but she is better today. She sends love.
As ever yours,
Ellen
[EES]
Altoona
Aug. 23rd 1881. Tuesday Morning.
[1881/08/23]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
Lizzie has gone up to Cresson to see the new house and hear the music which is the same that we had here last Summer & better than we have now.
I have no skill in drawing dear Cump but I send you an idea of a house built in the plainest style I would like to have put up on a corner of the "Sherman Place" - This is drawn supposing it is built south of Minnie's but should you build in the orchard it would have to be reversed - the porch to face Minnie's - A frame cottage - for moderate weather & not for winter (unless we should later care to move to it) with little or no carpeting - the least furniture, light beds - plain chairs &c - but room and seclusion & quiet, with the children to come & go - If you cd build on 14th St. for $6,000, my Lucas Ave. lots ought to build this - On the whole this would suit me better than a place farther from Minnie's for I would not be afraid there and I want it only for a summer residence and for a place to keep my things (ladies always say "things") which encumber any other place & which we will not have room for at the 14th St. house I know. I will feel much happier at a house on 14th Street if I can feel that I have this place of our own to which I can go whenever and as often as there comes a time "for disappearing" - I know you will like it & approve of it when you find you can make those lots pay for it. I will not ask you for a cent for it if you will only do it for me. We will have the horses & carriages in Washington & I will keep everything pretty there. I know you will do it.
As ever yours,
Ellen -
[EES]
I never would have opposed the 14th St. house if I had thought I could have a Summer cottage near Minnie.
Altoona.
Aug. 26th 1881 Friday Morning
[1881/08/26]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
I have yours of yesterday and the telegraph brings me still later and sadder news of the poor President. Most cruel the manner of his taking off, indeed. Poor good man.
Now that they can do nothing else could they not be induced to cut out the ball. It is in the groin 'I think they say & the trouble in the throat shews the sympathy which exists between the parts as in mumps &c. It might save him yet to cut out the ball. Can you not persuade them to do it?
You will not get away on Monday. I trust in the goodness of God that you may keep well -
The plans for the 14th Street house have not yet come but they will be here today I suppose. Excuse that blot the paper crumpled as I drew my pen to cross the T.
Mr. Fitch has written me that he will do all he can in the matter of the house. Minnie is suffering from prolonged severe head ache - Lizzie is better today & is going on another excursion.
As ever yours,
Ellen -
[EES]
I think that hog on the Sherman Place is a dangerous animal. I am afraid it will injure or even kill one of the children -
Altoona
Aug. 27th, 1881. Saturday Morning
[1881/08/27]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
The plans came yesterday & I like them very much. I cannot tell whether you wish me to look at this with a view to a plan for Sherman Place or 14th St. Also you say in your letter that I had better do nothing until the Lucas Ave. lots are sold & at the same time say that the contractor may take one - You had better see to it for me as you will be out there in time. You can perhaps stay longer than you had intended.
We have no mail this morning & you have not sent me any telegram about the poor President. The bulletins which come in your letters we first see or hear of through others from the Pittsburgh & Altoona morning papers. There is a wreck of freight in the road east and also west so we are today without mails which will doubtless come late. Lizzie has not been very well but she is now better & joins me in love.
As ever yours,
Ellen
[EES]
Altoona
Aug: 29th 1881 Monday Morning.
[1881/08/29]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
I received the drafts & the plans and now I have read and forward your letter to Casey.
I do not want a place out there which will interfere with your 14th St. house - I wish it for a Summer resort and a quiet retreat and will not ask you to spend a cent on it but to do the best you can for me with my Lucas Ave. lots. If they will not build the kind I drew then we can put up what would answer later for the rear building of a larger house.
I really think now that the President will recover. Lizzie is quite well again. I shall expect to hear that you have started for your engagements soon -
As ever yours,
Ellen
[EES]
Many thanks for the volumes of Ruskin's works which came safely - I think you were right not to telegraph about the President.
Paschall.
[Aug. 10, 1881] Sunday afternoon
[1881/08/10]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
I have Minnie's letter before me now & find that I have made some mistake. I will copy verbatim from her letter in my hand. "The place where the Posts lived, the house facing on King's High Way, but, the property extending through to Carolina Ave: is for sale, 12 arp[?]ens twice as large as our place for $14,000. a real bargain. It is south of us which is a better direction than the Patrick place. Cump says I have been mistaken about his attachment to the Garrison Ave. house, he would twice rather live out here in the country - he only likes the old Place. You could not rent the place but I think Papa will be willing to buy it for the speculation."
Lizzie & I go in to night to stay at Mr. Thackara's (1836 Race St. until Tuesday p.m. when we will go to Altoona. I hope you will send me the Sunday papers there. - All the good people here are charmed with you. I like the place very well but I cannot walk nor could I go to the City & go about any. I am totally incapacitated for that kind of fatigue.
The poor President is doomed - The Doctors are repeating the Audenried care and indeed all their serious cases now a days - The world will be shocked some day very soon to hear that the Presidnet is dead & that they have known from the first he would die - evidently they can do nothing for him. It is sad -
All sorts of kind messages are sent you & Lizzie & Elly send love -
As ever yours,
Ellen -
[EES]
Shelbourne House Atlantic City.
Sep. 15th 1881 Thursday Morning
[1881/09/15]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
We are very comfortably established here and feel that two weeks will pass delightfully. I hope I shall not be called to St. Louis earlier than the 1st of Oct. I hope you enjoyed the dinner on Wednesday & that you are now feeling well and strong for your Southern trip.
You may send me, if you please $150.00 of my next money - I have paid for our dresses but I would like to pay the dress makers when they are finished and I must keep enough to take me to St. Louis should I be called out and to pay here and Lizzie's expenses home &c.
Lizzie will write this p.m. Sis is here - I do not know that I told you she had joined us at Altoona & spent Sunday in Philadelphia coming here Monday. Nor have I mentioned to you that she lost a child a few months old just before she left home to come east.
Please tell Pat to send on the papers as usual adding the Cina Commerical.
As ever yours,
Ellen
[EES]
P.S. Do not give James any more money for the wash woman as I will pay when I get home.
Atlantic City.
Sep. 20th 1881. Tuesday Morning
[1881/09/20]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
At last the poor dear President is gone! How terribly sad! I have your letter of yesterday & now that you are to be at home & you indicate a preference I must send out the B. & O. pass for Cumpy. As it was on his account & Lizzie's that I thought you wished me to avoid a return to W- until Oct: I had concluded to let him stay there but now I shall send the pass at once and he will get home by Sunday morning. Minnie writes me that she has had such frequent recurrence of pain that she thinks I may be telegraphed for any day and I am holding myself in readiness to start & thought I had better keep the pass, but since you think Cumpy had better be home I will run the risk of sending it to him. Should I be telegraphed in the meantime I will go out via Pa. Road. I have written Minnie that as Oct. 1st is her limit I will (if not called out earlier start from W- Thursday night 29th and reach St. Louis Saturday morning 1st of Oct. I will send the pass back to you from Col- the B & O pass & the other from the St. Louis depot.
The letters from Rachel were not enclosed. - perhaps they will come later. Thanks for the stamps. The draft & tax receipts I was glad to get. I hope to hear from you in the morning again. I suppose poor Garfield will be taken to Menton for interment.
As ever yours,
Ellen
[EES]
Baltimore Superintendent's Office Pa. & Potomac R, R, Office
[Sept. 23rd 1881] Friday 515 p.m.
[1881/09/23]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
We stopped over here in order to see the Corteje pass. Had we gone on to W. we could not have secured a good place in time & we could not have seen you. We go over at 7. o'clock. We have good windows up stairs in this office & no one here but Mr. Shoemaker who will send this on the car to you. I am sorry I could not get home in time to see you. Poor dear President! Poor Mrs. Garfield! Lizzie & Aunt Sissy desire their love to you.
As ever yours,
Ellen
[EES]
St. Louis.
Oct. 5th 1881.
[1881/10/05]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
Minnie is getting on so nicely & the baby is so healthy & strong, that I shall not find it necessary to remain here long, but shall hope to leave Monday night, possibly Monday morning. As soon after the 9th day as I can, for I am anxious to go with you to New York to meet Rachey.
I do not feel sufficiently satisfied as to the progress of St. Louis, or of Fitch's ultimate success in the business here, to be longer anxious to spend any money for a residence. So for the present at least we will let that drop. I would rather sell my lots for cash and let it be bringing me a little interest, for spending money outside household affiars.
We have this morning a blessed change of weather. It has been exceedingly warm and damper than I ever experienced since I arrived Friday morning.
With love to all as ever,
Your affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
Minnie's baby Maria Fitch was born Sept 31st It is possible I shall come home earlier if I find Minnie continues so well.
St. Louis
Oct. 8th 1881. Saturday
[1881/10/08]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
I forgot to answer you about the horses and carriage. If you prefer, I will of course give $50. towards expenses in keeping a carriage but who is to pay for repairs harness blankets shoeing and the hundred other incidentals? Fifty dollars is more than I have averaged for carriage hire and I know I cannot do more. Nor am I willing to board the coachman or have him in any way on my hands. I have trouble now to keep possession of my soul in patience and have come to the decline of life when quiet & peace are necessary. If you will manage all - taking $50 from me I am willing. Minnie says she could not use the carriage and I like it better than the other except for the intensely cold weather.
By the time you fit up a carriage, buy horses & pay the thousand other expenses Grant & Conkling will tramp you out and the whole thing will be gone again.
If you object to hiring where I hire I will hire of another man & releive you of embarrassment. I think it throwing away money to start carriage & horses now - but as I said I am willing to give $50- a month if you insist upon it. It will cost you $50 in cash every month for incidentals & half the time the horse will be lame. I hope to be home on Wednesday morning - Minnie sends her love - she is getting on splendidly.
As ever your affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
St. Louis.
Oct. 9th 1881. Sunday Morning.
[1881/10/09]
Dearest Cump,
[WTS]
I saw Major Turner & had a long talk with him & Mrs. Turner yesterday. I was on my way to see them when I received your letter asking me to go and sending messages which I delivered. He is very feeble, very much reduced in flesh and Mrs. Turner says he is a very ill man. He lies dressed on the bed takes a special delicate diet goes for a short drive every afternoon and is kind and cheerful: he was full of affectionate interest for you understands why you cannot come out now but hopes you may come in Nov: he is greatly excited at any possibility of your retiring and says you could not live in St. Louis - "More anon".
I am surprised by your letter of Thursday saying I had not written you since I left Washington. I wrote you from Columbus on Thursday. I wrote you from here Saturday morning & I have written several times since. The morning after the baby's birth I wrote first to you & a day or two later to Lizzie -
All is going on splendidly here & I shall get off tomorrow evening via O. & M. and B. & O. road taking Willy Fitch & Susie Turner - the latter for Georgetown. Minnie sends best love to you.
As ever your affectionate
Ellen
[EES]