1933 1 15 George Shutts to Olive Schnack

Spelling and grammar may change as I transcribe.  This letter originates in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.

'Geo', George Liberty Shutts, wrote this letter to his cousin, my grandmother, 'Olive' Letha Rose Schnack.  'Harriet' More Burgett was  the daughter of 'Aunt Alice', Alice Estelle Clayton More.  'Seward' Hager Burgett was Harriet's husband.  'Uncle Owen' Wickes More was Olive's grand uncle.  'J.P. More', I believe, was John Person More, my 3rd great grandfather, and father of Owen Wickes More, and grandfather of George Liberty Shutts, the author of this letter.  'Lucy' Cook Shutts was George's wife. 

The 'Strauss Co.' that George writes about, I believe, is S.W. Straus & Co, which was a well known and respected real estate bond broker.  The financing of large construction projects by these means was fairly new and not regulated.  By the late 1920s these means were being scrutinized.  And, by the mid-1930s, S.W. Straus & Co. had defaulted on $214 million in bonds. An estimated 60,000 people lost their investments.  http://nexus.som.yale.edu/qn/content/what-used-be-new-capital  Perhaps George and his potential heirs were among those unfortunate investors.

Owen Wickes More died 15 November 1931.
Seward Hager Burgett died 17 January 1932.
Lucy A. Cook Shutts died 21 September 1932.
Alice Estelle Clayton More died 16 December 1932.

31 Newhall St.
Springfield, mass.

Jan. 15, 1933

Dear Cousin Olive,

Thanks for your good letter containing receipt for the Irish quilt bequeathed you by our dear departed Uncle.  How fortunate for him that he did not live to know that the years of saving he enjoyed so much with the Strauss Co. was a colossal failure.  There doesn't seem to be anything that can be done to settle the estate, for many of the bonds are valueless and no one wants to purchase any Strauss Bonds at any price.  There is too much risk.

 How the ranks of our dear ones who were together at Harriet's home in 1931 have decreased.  Uncle Owen, Seward, Lucy, and Aunt Alice have all joined the ranks of the departed.  Such is life.  I attended the funeral of the husband of one of Lucy's dear friends here in Springfield today.  Two weeks after Lucy's going, her only living sister passed on, so that all her family are gone.  Aunt Alice was the last of that generation of the J.P. More family.  So, we are all going

on to the journey's end.

I am well and very comfortably located in my own house, which is occupied by a family who rent the house and care for me.  I hear from Amanda and Mary Miller frequently, and a goodly number of relatives and friends.  I appreciate your expression of sympathy and very kind invitation to visit you.  I might get out in that part of the world again some time, but can't make any promises.  I am glad to be employed and able to do my daily stint.

I hope you and your growing, active, and interesting family keep in good health and have a comfortable degree of prosperity.

As ever yours,
Geo L Shutts

P.S.
Dear Cousin Harriet has my heartfelt sympathy.

1932 1 4 Mary Miller to Olive Schnack

I may change some spelling and some grammar as I transcribe.  This letter originates in Durham, Greene County, New York.

'Mary Miller' wrote this letter to my grandmother, 'Olive' Letha Rose Schnack.  'Uncle Owen' was her maternal grand uncle, Owen Wickes More, whom I believe she was particularly fond of.  'Aunt Mary More' was Owen's sister, Mary Elizabeth More.  'Uncle George' was a brother-in-law to Owen, having married his sister, Deborah Permelia More Shutts.  'Grandmother' was the girls' maternal grandmother, Alice Estelle Clayton More.  'Aunt Hattie' was Alice's daughter, Harriet More Burgett. 

'Amanda' is a name I am not familiar with.  Should any of my readers have a suggestion, please leave it in the comment field at the end of this post.

Durham, N.Y.
Jan. 4, 1932

Dear Olive and family,

I was glad to get your letter.

We are both well here.  Amanda goes all around the street to call on her friends.  She is remarkable for a woman of her age, I think.  I could tell you a lot more about her if I could see you but cannot write as it would make a book.

I will try and mail the package to you tomorrow as we only have one mail a day out of here.  I will put it in the

office tonight so it will go out of here Thursday morning on the stage.

Now, if I remember right, Aunt Mary More, Uncle Owen's sister, your Great Aunt, pieced and gave the quilt to Uncle Owen when he came home from the war.  I hope you will receive it all safe.  I will have it insured and please let me know that it arrives all safe.

Then, if you would please, send a receipt to Uncle George as he is the one that has that part of the business to look after.  Just write, Received of the O.W. More Estate, one Irish chain quilt, and sign your name; that is all.
 

There is a great many colds and some flu around here.  I hope we escape them.

I hope you and your family keep well all winter.

Yes, I heard of your Grandmother's death, poor soul.  She is better off but I feel so sorry for your Aunt Hattie.  I have not written her since, for I don't know how to comfort her in words.  She is alone but for you girls and I know you will all be kind and good to her as you always have been.  I would love to go and see her but it is out of the question just now, as I cannot get away very well in cold weather.  Give her my love when you see her and tell her I think about her often and will write her soon.

I am glad to do this for you and do not take it as an imposition.  Love to you all.  Remember me to the girls when you see them.

Cousin Mary _____

Here is Uncle George's address:

Mr. G.L. Shutts
31 Newhall St.
Springfield, Mass.

1925 9 25 Olive Rose to Elbert Rose

I might change some spelling and some grammar as I transcribe.  This letter is written from Albany, Albany County, New York.

My grandmother, 'Olive' Letha Rose Schnack wrote this letter when she was 17-years old to her 'Dad', Elbert Rose.  'Florence' Alice Rose Lawler was her sister.  'Uncle Owen' is her maternal uncle, Owen Wickes More.  'Clif' was her brother, Clifton More Rose, and his wife was 'Lena' Mae Carrington Rose.  'Charlotte Grace' is their daughter.  I believe the second photograph was made about the time that Olive writes this letter, or not much later. 

Lena Mae Carrington and Clifton More Rose married in Oneonta, New York on 16 June 1924.

 Charlotte, Lena, and Clifton Rose with Olive Rose on far right.   

 68 North Lake Ave.
Albany, New York
Sept. 25, 1925

Dear Dad,

I am all settled here now and like it very much.  The place where I am is about three minutes walk from school.  We have an elderly woman, old maid, for a landlady.  There are three other girls here.  One is a Senior and the other two are Freshmen.  The board and room is $10.50.  I couldn't get it any cheaper.  We have the privilege

or pressing out a few things and of washing handkerchiefs and stockings.  The rest I will either have to send home or get someone to do.

I went down to see Dr. Worth, the eye doctor.  He said he would have to test my eyes again so I am going tomorrow to have drops put in.  Florence put the money Uncle Owen gave me in the bank and I paid for my first week's board.  I will have to put another

dollar with it to pay next week's board.  Don't forget to put money in for me on payday.

How's Charlotte Grace?  And Clif and Lena?  Tell them all to write and I want you to answer this too.  You have lots of time on Sunday.

I haven't made up my exams yet.  The school doctor said I could have ample time to make them up.  So I will pass them all anyway.

Well, I must close now and go to school.

Be sure to write and tell me how you are, and how your job is.

Lots of love
Olive

1919 3 4 Olive Rose to Florence Rose

I will correct some spelling and some grammar as I transcribe.  The locations mentioned are Kingston, Ulster County, New York; Durham, Greene County, New York; and Pine Hill, Ulster County, New York.

Although this letter is not signed, I believe it was written by my grandmother, Olive Letha Rose Schnack when she was 10-years old, to her sister, 'Florence' Alice Rose Lawler.  'Papa' is their father, Elbert Rose.  'Aunt Addie' is Elbert's sister, Ada Rose Woolheater.  Their maternal Grand 'Uncle Owen' was Owen Wickes More.   Their maternal Aunt 'Hattie' is Harriet More Burgett. 

I don't know who 'Julia' is or how she is related to the sisters.  If you have any thoughts about her, please leave a comment.

72 Clinton Ave.
Kingston, N.Y.
Mar. 4, 1919

Dear Florence,

We received your letter today.  Now Florence, I will tell you why I didn't write Sunday.  I went over to Carter's (almost) and when I came home, I sat down and was going to write.  And, I had a lot of trash written.  Then, I asked Beatrice to finish.  She said I had told all the news she would have written.  Now, that is the reason.

I have a plan.  It is that I write some on a letter every day and send it to you on Friday.  Now, isn't that a good plan?  I received a letter from Uncle Owen Saturday.  He wants us to come out to Durham next summer and hire one (1) of his houses, but I like your plan best.  Papa says if he can get all the the wages he wants, that is just some more, he will stay to Carter's.  But, I don't see how that would hinder us.  I don't know whether we are going to stay here all summer or not.  I am going to Pine Hill for my Easter vacation.  We had a fire drill this after-

noon and this afternoon I got a hundred percent (100%) in arithmetic, too.  A girl asked us to join the Girl Scouts but Papa said we couldn't.  Papa is going to send you some money.

They say here that Beatrice is getting fat so she was going to stop eating.  But, when dinner time came, we had such a good dinner, she ate.

Mar. 5, 1919

I got up before Aunt Addie did and studied my history lesson and geography.  I am getting along fine in school.  Uncle Owen said about my watch and being a teacher.

Mar. 6 & 7, 1919

When I go up to Pine Hill in April, I am going to get Hattie & Julia (the rag dolls).  Well, I will have to close for now.  I have to help with the dishes.