Berlin Family :: Index to Posts

An Index Post is how I keep track of all of the blog posts that have been written on a family line. It helps keep me organized and allows visitors to easily find information on that family. This post will be updated as new blog posts are written on the family. Please contact me at kinexxions@gmail.com if you are researching this family or have additional information on them.

Johann Jacob Berlin (aka Jacob Berlin) is my 6th great-grandfather and is one of my Immigrant Ancestors. Born December 17, 1716 in what is now Niederbronn, France Jacob arrived in Philadelphia on November 9, 1738 on-board the Charming Nancy with two younger brothers, Frederick and Abraham. Jacob died April 7, 1790 in York County, Pennsylvania. He was the father of five children, one of which was John Frederick Berlin (1742-1836). Frederick and his wife (reportedly Susan Wagner) were the parents of four children. Their son, John Frederick (1771-1843) and his wife (reportedly Juliana Dietzler) were the parents of nine children, the eldest being John D. Berlin.

• There were three brothers who immigrated... Yeah, Right! - June 11, 2012 - Yes, there really were three brothers who came together in 1738 on the Charming Nancy.
• Jacob Berlin :: The Voyage Across the Ocean - June 13, 2012 - The year 1738 became known as "The Year of the Destroying Angels" with an extraordinary number of deaths and illness among the German immigrants and the 'Charming Nancy' was not exempt.
• Tombstone Tuesday :: Jacob Berlien (1716-1790) - June 12, 2012 - Jacob is buried in St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery, Abbottstown, Adams County, Pennsylvania. A photo of his tombstone was obtained from an online "genealogy angel" who gave permission for its use.

John D. Berlin (my 3rd great-grandfather) was the eldest of nine children of John Frederick Berlin whose wife was reportedly Juliana Dietzler. He was born on December 8th, 1792 near Abbottstown in York (now Adams) County, Pennsylvania. He was married to Susannah Hoffman on February 16th, 1826. She was born March 9, 1804 in Columbiana County, Ohio and was the second of eleven children of John and Catherine (Coy) Hoffman.

John D. and Susan would become the parents of ten children. They would move to Portage County, Ohio in 1846 and 18 years later to Elkhart County, Indiana where they would live for the remainder of their lives.

• John D. and Susannah Berlin - January 22, 2011 - Biography and photo of the family.

• Bible Records - January 23, 2011 - Transcription and images of pages from the family bible giving dates of births, marriages, and deaths.

• Introduction to The Letters – January 24, 2011 - Information on a group of 35 family letters discovered at the Nappanee Public Library. Photograph of John and Susan Berlin.

• The Cast of Characters – January 25, 2011 - A list of the people mentioned in the letters as well as information regarding the people who wrote the letters and those who received them.

• List of The Letters – January 26, 2011 - Includes the date of the letter, the location where it was written, who wrote the letter and to whom it was sent as well as a link to the individual blog post for each letter.

Originally Posted on July 04, 2011 - Last Updated: June 13, 2012 

Post date adjusted December 29, 2012 so that when a search for the surname is done on the blog the post will appear first the search list.

Jacob Berlin :: The Voyage Across the Ocean

As shown in There were three brothers who immigrated... Yeah, Right! Jacob Berlin arrived in Philadelphia on November 9, 1738 on the Charming Nancy with his two brothers, Frederick and Abraham. Jacob is my 6th great-grandfather.

List 65 A in "Pennsylvania German Pioneers" (Strassburger/Hinke, 1934) not only gave the names of the men over the age of fifteen years, but also gave their ages. Among the 65 men listed were: Hans Jacob Barlin, 22; Geo. Fredk. Barlin, 18; and Abraham Barlin, 16.

The Harbor of Philadelphia seen from New Jersey Shore, based on Scull's Map of 1754 (From Etching in The Historical Society of Pennsylvania) published in "Pennsylvania German Pioneers" (Strassburger/Hinke, 1934)

Since there is apparently (I haven't seen it) a record of their father, George, requesting permission to leave their home in Niederbronn and given the fact that he is not on any of the passenger lists for the Charming Nancy, it is presumed that George and his wife perished on the voyage on their way to a new life. Reading about the conditions on the ships and the crowded conditions, it is not surprising that they could be among those who died.

The year 1738 became known as "The Year of the Destroying Angels" due to a higher than average number of passenger deaths and illness on ships coming from England. Also that year there were a higher number of immigrants leaving their homeland, nearly 6000. The number of German immigrants arriving in Philadelphia had more than doubled each year beginning in 1735 with 268, 736 in 1736, and 1528 in 1737. Ships were overcrowded and heavily laden.

Part one of the article by Klaus Wust "The Emigration Season of 1738 – Year of the Destroying Angels" was published online in 1998, with his permission. I've picked out a few passages that mentioned either the Stedman Brothers or the Charming Nancy.

"In Rotterdam, additional merchant ships were fitted for the overflow of emigrants. Even the departures of John Stedman's St. Andrew and Charles Stedman's Charming Nancy were delayed by these transformations. Passengers said the two Stedmans had deliberately picked the healthiest and sturdiest people."

"Captain Walter Goodman of the Robert & Alice sent a letter back to Germany on October 19th. Excerpts were published in the Rotterdamse Courant two months later:

"On the 4th of July last I sailed out of Dover in England and arrived here on this river on the 9th of September with crew and passengers in good health but on the way I had many sick people, yet, since not more than 18 died, we lost by far the least of all the ships arrived to-date. We were the third ship to arrive. I sailed in company with four of the skippers who together had 425 deaths, one had 140, one 115, one 90, and one 80. The two captains Stedman have not yet arrived and I do not doubt that I shall be cleared for departure before they arrive since I begin loading tomorrow. I have disposed of all my passengers except for 20 families."

"On November 20th another letter from the people in Germantown to the people in Wittgenstein was sent. The letter concludes with an upward assessment of the total number of victims: "There has been a cruel, destroying angel among the travelers this year for the number of those who died so far on the voyage and here has reached about 2000."

"The ship Davy qualified in the port of Philadelphia on October 25th. The next day the Gazette revealed the horrible story of this voyage. The captain, both mates and 160 passengers died at sea. It was the ship's carpenter, William Patton, who brought the ravaged vessel up the Delaware. Patton listed 74 men, 47 women and no children as the remaining passengers but only 40 of the men were well enough to come to the courthouse."

"Next appeared the long overdue St. Andrew, commanded by the favorite ship captain of the Germans, John Stedman. Several letters of passengers on some of his previous five runs between Rotterdam and Philadelphia were full of praise for him. This time, on a voyage that lasted twelve weeks, almost 120 passengers had died before reaching port on October 29th. The same day, Lloyd Zachary and Thomas Bond, two physicians recruited by the authorities to tighten the inspection of the incoming Palatine ships, presented this report to the colonial council:

"We have carefully examined the State of Health of the Mariners and Passengers on board the Ship St. Andrew, Captain Steadman, from Rotterdam, and found a great number labouring under a malignant, eruptive fever, and are of the opinion, they cannot, for some time, be landed in town without the danger of infecting the inhabitants."

"It was the last emigrant transport that John Stedman ever commanded. After his return to Europe, he settled down in Rotterdam in the shipping business. There was disbelief in the German community that such fate could have befallen a ship led by a Stedman. The Send-Schreiben expressed the reaction as follows:

"The two Stedmans, who had so far been renowned for the transfer of Germans and wanted to keep this reputation, also had to suffer the plight this time, one of them lost near 120 before landfall, although he had a party of the Hope's roughest and sturdiest folks, who had to succumb to sickness and fear of death. And the other one lost probably five-sixths, of 300 hardly 60 were left. His mates and some of his sailors he lost and he himself lay near death."

The online article ends at this point, I haven't yet obtained a copy of the entire article (it's on my To Do list). But after reading the above article, I think it is a wonder that the three Berlin brothers survived the journey. They were young and most certainly of strong stock. The conditions on board the ship must have been terrible. I can imagine the boys trying to help the other passengers and wonder what they must have thought of the situation. Obviously, I am delighted that they survived!

Published under a Creative Commons License.
Becky Wiseman, "Jacob Berlin :: The Voyage Across the Ocean," Kinexxions, posted June 13, 2012 (http://kinexxions.blogspot.com/2012/06/jacob-berlin-voyage-across-ocean.html : accessed [access date])

Tombstone Tuesday :: Jacob Berlien (1716-1790)

On page 14 of volume 2 of the The Berlin Family by Reginald Berlin, published in 1992, the author writes:

Jacob Berlin is buried at Abbottstown, Pennsylvania in the Lutheran Cemetery, in the old section, across the street from St. John's Lutheran Church. On his tombstone, which is still readable, is the following inscription: "Here rests the body of Jacob Berlin. Born the 6th of December 1716, Died the 7th of April 1790. Aged 73 years 3 months, 3 weeks. Now has my struggle in life ended. My work in life is finished. I go forth to my Jesus and say to all a good night."

The transcription of Jacob's baptismal record (from the Zahn Collection, Historical Society of York County) shows that Johann Jacob was born to Johann Georg Berlin and Anna Elisabetha on the 17th of December of 1716 and baptized on the 19th. Godparents were Mister Johann Jacob Arbogast; Anna Barbara, Mr. Johann Philips Pfaltzgraff citizen here and married housewife; Mister John Martin Gross, citizen and a miller at the lower mill.

According to the baptismal record Jacob was born on December 17th while his tombstone states that he was born on December 6th. But the two dates actually refer to the same day.

In 1582, there was an adjustment to the calendar year known as the "Gregorian reform" in which ten days were omitted from the calendar. It was decreed that the day following (Thursday) October 4, 1582 would be known as (Friday) October 15, 1582. However, by the time the British were ready to go along with the rest of Europe, the old calendar had drifted off by one more day, requiring a correction of eleven days, rather than ten. The Gregorian Calendar was adopted in Britain (and in the British colonies) in 1752, with (Wednesday) September 2, 1752, being followed immediately by (Thursday) September 14, 1752. Do a search for "Julian Calendar" or "Gregorian Calendar" and you'll find tons of info out there and some explanations that strain the mind.

Anyway, after writing yesterday's post There were three brothers who immigrated... Yeah, Right! I went out on the Internet to see if there was a photo of Jacob's tombstone available.

A quick search of Find A Grave for Jacob Berlin, died 1790, came up empty. I scrolled through the list of cemeteries for Adams County Pennsylvania looking for any Lutheran Church cemetery in Abbotstown and found it listed as Saint John's Lutheran Cemetery. He is listed there as Jacob Berlien, which is the name on his tombstone. Imagine that!

The photo on Find A Grave wasn't the best so I did a search for "saint john's lutheran church cemetery abbottstown pa" the second result in the list said there were tombstone photos of "St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery, Abbottstown, Adams County, PA." Ya gotta watch those "saints" since sometimes they are abbreviated and other times they're not!

I was in luck because there was a rather nice photo of Jacob's tombstone. I contacted the submitters of the photo (Margaret Gagliardi and Ken Schultz) and obtained their permission to use the photo. Thank you very much Margaret and Ken!

Photo courtesy of Margaret Gagliardi and Ken Schultz and the Adams County, Pennsylvania US GenWeb Archives, used with permission. Tombstone of Jacob Berlien in St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery, Abbottstown, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

I played around a bit with the photo in Picasa and came up with the version below.

The lowest part of the inscription is still not readable, but the rest of the stone is a little more legible. Using one of the online translation websites I came up with a literal translation of the words, shown below in square brackets.

Hier Ruher der Leib

[Hier = Here; ruhe = reposes or rests; der = of; Leib = body]

JACOB BERLIEN

Gebohrenden 6 December

[geboren = born; den = the]

1716

Gestorben den 7 April

[gestorben = departed, gone, dead; den = the]

1790

Alt 73 Jahr 3 Monat 3 Woch

[Alt = Alter = Age; Jahr = Years; Monat = Months; Woch = Woche = Weeks]

The inscription as shown in volume 2 of "The Berlin Family"

Here rests the body of

Jacob Berlin

Born the 6th of December 1716

Died the 7th of April 1790

Aged 73 years 3 months 3 weeks

Now has my struggle in life ended.

My work in life is finished.

I go forth to my Jesus and say to all a good night.

The translation of the inscription from Find A Grave Memorial# 41797876

Here lies the beloved

Jacob Berlien

born the 6th of December

1716

died the 7th of April

1790

Age 73 years 6 months and 3 weeks

Now that my struggle has ended

My journey is complete

I go to my Jesus

and say to all a good night

Regarding his age at death... Using the calendar in Legacy and inputting the dates 06 Dec 1716 and 07 Apr 1790 his age calculates to 73 years 4 months 1 day. Inputting 17 Dec 1716 as his date of birth, his age then comes out to 73 years 3 months 3 weeks.

Published under a Creative Commons License.
Becky Wiseman, "Tombstone Tuesday :: Jacob Berlien (1716-1790)," Kinexxions, posted June 12, 2012 (http://kinexxions.blogspot.com/2012/06/tombstone-tuesday-jacob-berlien-1716.html : accessed [access date])

There were three brothers who immigrated... Yeah, Right!

Yesterday, I was reading James Tanner's post Fact or Fiction? in which he discusses several recurring genealogy myths including 'The Three Brothers' myth. James links to two articles. One by Dick Eastman states "Genealogy newcomers often trip over the 'three brothers' story. It has been repeated thousands of times. I have yet to see one instance in which it is accurate." The other article, by Kimberly Powell said "While the 'three brothers' myth is very rarely true, there are documented cases of three brothers immigrating together." She goes on to say "While such a story in your family tree is more likely to be a myth than not, it is always worth checking out with good genealogy research."

It was back in 1986, just a few years after starting genealogy research, that I got my introduction to the 'Three Brothers' myth when I came across a small booklet titled simply "Berlin Family" which was written in 1911 by A. F. Berlin of Allentown, Pennsylvania. As it turns out, that little booklet was full of information, some of which has been proven to be true but much of it is full of errors and misinformation.

The first paragraph on the second page stated:

"I am informed that sometime before the Revolutionary War three Berlins (brothers), Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob came to America from Prussia." He goes on to say "One of the three original brothers, Isaac, settled in Philadelphia."

On page three he states:

"Another of the three original brothers, Jacob, settled ultimately near Lord Fairfax Manor in Clarke County, Virginia."

And in the next paragraph:

"Another of the three original brothers, Abraham, settled on the line of York and Adams County, Pennsylvania, where the town of Berlin now stands."

During the summer of 1986, Mom and I took a trip to Pennsylvania to research the Berlin and Yarian ancestors of her 'Grandma Phend' (Susie Lula Yarian Phend). Susie's parents were Eli and Lovina (Berlin) Yarian and Lovina's parents were John D. and Susannah (Hoffman) Berlin.

From the obituaries of John D. Berlin, we learned that he had been born in Adams County, Pennsylvania. There we found Orphan's Court records from 1843 which linked Susie's grandfather, John D. Berlin, to his father, Frederick Berlin.

Since the area in Adams County (near Abbottstown) where Frederick Berlin lived had been a part of York County prior to 1800, we also visited the Historical Society of York County. That stop proved to be monumental. There we found the records providing links to Frederick's father (Frederick) and to his grandfather (Jacob - our 1738 immigrant ancestor). But the big bonanza was in the collection of Dr. Charles T. Zahn who had spent many, many, many years gathering information on the Berlin family.

It was a huge collection but we had only half a day left before we had to return home. We did make copies of selected items, hoping we were getting the all-important "good stuff" but I'm sure we must have missed a few of the important documents and information as we didn't get through the entire collection. I had always hoped to return there but haven't made it yet!

Below is a portion of a letter dated July 31, 1970 that Dr. Zahn wrote to another Berlin researcher telling of the immigration of the presumed brothers while also adding an important research tip!

"The story of the Berlin family in America begins in 1738 with the arrival at Philadelphia, on the ship Charming Nancy from Rotterdam but last from Cowes, England - - of three young men or boys (presumably brothers.)

"Hans Jacob Barlin, age 22

"George Fredk Barlin, age 18

"Abraham Barlin, age 16

"On the three lists for the ship the name was variously spelt as Barlin, Barling, or Barly. They, themselves did not sign, but just gave their mark. I have a considerable amount of information on what happened to these three boys, all obtained from existing documents and gravestones, as well as from published histories. The latter, however must always be subject to verification, since much incorrect information has been published in local histories."

Sometime after the above letter was written, Dr. Zahn apparently discovered information that led him to write to the Strasbourg Archives where he obtained confirmation that the three young Berlin men were indeed brothers.

Above is a portion of a letter written September 30, 1977 by Charles T. Zahn, in the files of the Historical Society of York County, Pennsylvania.

"They came from a spa in northwestern Alsace, France (formerly Germany); namely Niederbronn or Niederbronn-les-Bains. From the Strassbourg Archives I have obtained Xerox copies of the baptisms in German script of the three brothers who came on the ship Charming Nancy in 1738. They were the sons of George and Elisabeth Berlin, whose marriage record was not available because of a gap in the marriage records at the time in question."

I don't recall whether the documents written in German script were in the collection or not but I did get copies of the hand-written transcriptions.

Dr. Zahn's information confirmed that there were indeed three brothers who came to America together, but their names were Jacob, Frederick, and Abraham - not Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as stated by A. F. Berlin. Although two of the names he gave were the same as the immigrants, Jacob and Abraham, their places of residence show that they were actually sons of the immigrant Abraham. So, in this case the myth turned out to be true, just not quite the way A. F. Berlin thought.

The immigrants Jacob and Frederick (22 and 20 years old, respectively, in 1738) both settled in York County prior to 1752 while Abraham (16 years old in 1738) remained in eastern Pennsylvania, settling near Reading in Berks County, and later in Easton, Northampton County.

In a letter dated October 25, 1977 Dr. Zahn stated that "For some 55 years" he had been collecting material "on the descendants of the three Berlin immigrants in 1738. Now 79 years old I am beginning a genealogy of the early members of this interesting family."

Sadly, Dr. Zahn passed away on May 17, 1979 and so never fulfilled his dream of publishing a book on the Berlin family. I thought perhaps someday I would compile a book on that family but I got side-tracked working on the Phend family and wrote a book about them instead.

However, two other researchers did take up the challenge. Among the letters in the Zahn Collection were several from Terry L. Johnson-Cooney and Reginald L. Berlin. In 1992, utilizing their own research as well as that of Dr. Zahn, and others, they published the first of five books on 'The Three Brothers' and their descendants. I think Dr. Zahn would be pleased. I know I was!

The Three Brothers - Jacob, Frederick, and Abraham.

Pennsylvania German Pioneers : A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals In the Port of Philadelphia From 1727 to 1808 (Volume II Facsimile Signatures 1727-1775) by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, edited by William John Hinke published by the Pennsylvania German Society Norristown, Pennsylvania, 1934. Photographed at the Allen County Public Library April 5, 2012.

Published under a Creative Commons License.
Becky Wiseman, "There were three brothers who immigrated... Yeah, Right!," Kinexxions, posted June 11, 2012 (http://kinexxions.blogspot.com/2012/06/there-were-three-brothers-who.html : accessed [access date])

Update from Salt Lake City :: Week Two

In the “early years” of on-site research (back in the 1980s) I usually just abstracted deeds and estate records. Very seldom did I get copies of an entire estate file. The few copies that I did make back then have faded over the years and many of them are no longer legible. In addition, there are estate and other records that I “know” are there – from information obtained from published indexes or other researchers. So, I've been concentrating on obtaining digital copies of those records as well.

It's not super exciting or anything but it's nice to know that I'll be filling in some of the blanks – at least as far as some records are concerned - those that are available here at the Family History Library! As a result of that strategy (gathering records, so to speak), there still haven't been any big breakthroughs although I have found some rather interesting things – some that have generated additional questions, as so often happens.

So far I've scanned deed records for 15 ancestors as well as the complete estate files for the following ancestors, amounting to several hundred pages:

• James Ball 1830, Owen County, Kentucky
• John D. Berlin, 1879, Elkhart County, Indiana
• Susan Berlin, 1880, Elkhart County, Indiana
• Henry Bray, 1798, Nelson County, Kentucky
• Christian Schuder (Sr), 1842, Montgomery County, Ohio
• Casper Stiver (Casper Stoever III), 1821, Montgomery County, Ohio
• Eli Yarian, 1895, Elkhart County, Indiana

As Randy Seaver says, these will provide plenty of “blog fodder” in the future!

Receipt slip signed by my 2nd great-grandparents Lovina Yarian and Eli Yarian.

Elkhart County, Indiana Estate file D25. Microfilm No. 1711412.

Estate of John D. and Susan Berlin.

Susan died before John's estate was settled and her estate was combined with his.

Delving into the Deeds

In addition to the Yarians, Ruperts, and Switzers I have Berlin, Coy and Hoffman ancestors who lived in Columbiana County, Ohio. All of them in the 1803-1860 time period and all in the northeastern tier of townships: Unity, Fairfield, and Salem, and Green (which would become part of Mahoning County when it was formed in 1846).

By the beginning of my second week in Salt Lake City, I had pretty much gotten through my original, rather short, “to do” list except for one item that I knew would consume a huge amount of time. It simply said “Land Records – Columbiana County.” I've had good luck before with land records naming heirs of an ancestor and was hoping for some more luck, especially in the Rupert and Switzer lines.

If you have never done any work with deed records, be forewarned that it can be tedious and confusing. But it can also be extremely rewarding. First you have to search for the desired name in the General Index to Deeds. There are generally separate books for those purchasing land (grantee) and those selling land (grantor). The index will provide the name of the grantor and grantee, the date the transaction was recorded (could be just the year, and the recorded date could be many years after the date of the transaction), the location of the land (in the case of Ohio it is by Range, Township, and Section), the type of deed, and the volume and page number of the deed book in which the transaction is recorded.

This nice tutorial Taking The Mystery Out of Land Records is helpful as a reminder or as an introduction to working with deeds as is this list of Terms used by the Register of Deeds. (There are many others “out there” on the internet, these are two that I've used in the past.)

There were four rolls of microfilm with the grantee index and five rolls with the grantor index covering the years 1798-1897. It would take nearly two full days, but I transcribed each entry in the index books for my known or presumed ancestors John D. Berlin, Henry Coy, Detrick Hoffman, John Hoffman, John Rupert, Jacob Switzer, and Conrad Yarian along with a few entries for others with the surname Rupert and Switzer..

The first day I made it through the grantee index, writing them out by hand. Then, that night back at the campground I typed each entry into a spreadsheet. Duh! Duplicate work. The next day I arranged the netbook so I could type directly into the spreadsheet. A little awkward, but it worked quite well.

After getting the entries from the grantor index entered I sorted the spreadsheet several different ways to review the data. One was attempting to match up the sale of a piece of land to its corresponding purchase, another sort was by township, and yet another by surname.

All of that was done so that I could determine which deeds should actually be looked at. There were too many of them to review them all. Top priority was given to those that were sold by “so and so, etal” (etal means “and others” which could indicate a sale by heirs of the owner of the land) and to those that were sold with a “Quit Claim” deed (sometimes indicating a sale to another family member). I then went to the Library Catalog to get the film numbers and added that information to the spreadsheet.

A small portion of my list of deeds.

I actually looked at about 1/3 of the entries on my list. I had highlighted the records that I really wanted to look at and had sorted the list by film number so I could see what else was on the same roll of microfilm. Even then, I didn't always look at everything from my list on the same roll of film – sometimes I got distracted by what I found in certain deeds and went off on another tangent looking for something else! That's the beauty of being at The Library where a wide variety of sources are available.

As I looked at the deed records I abstracted information from those that were “of interest” to me, adding that information to the spreadsheet. Some documents were scanned while others were just abstracted. There simply wasn't enough time (or even a need) to scan them all.

The spreadsheet with data added after reviewing the deed.

Was it worth the time it took to make that extensive list of land transactions? Yes, indeed! (Pun intended.) It was definitely worth it. What I found in those deed books was cause for more than one Happy Dance and in future posts, I'll summarize a few of the things I found and the discoveries which followed.

June 5th 1892 :: Sarah Greene to Lydia & Henry Woodruff

Ravenna June 5th 1892

Dear Sister and Brother

We received your letter few days ago and thought that I would answer it to night. I have been thinking this long time that I must write to you but I have had so much to do. In the first place we made rag carpet. Enough for the boys room and Winnies room and of course after they were woven they had to be made. besides I had to make one over for the hall upstairs and rip and fix the siting room carpet. besides cleaning the house myself with Jim to take up the carpets and put them down. but we have got it done and it looks clean and good. if it isent as grand as some others.

Harry has got a bedroom set for his room which makes it look real pleasant. we have put the bed that was in their room in Winnie’s room and her bedstead we put in the hall for Eddie to sleep in and it maks a comfortable place for him. we have taken down Jims big table and the old trunk and so on. of course I have not told you that Jim cut and sewed all the rags for the carpets because he dont want any one to know it, but I dont feel ashamed of it.

Well Jim has at last got a place, for a while anyway. he went to Salem three weeks ago last thursday and I think he likes it better than he did before. he boards and sleeps at one place and has a pleasant room and that suit him better. Cameron gives him 5 dollars a week and he has to pay four dollars a week for board and of course has to get his washing done but that leaves a little besides. The other Architect there in salem got Jim four days and left him get a piece of work done and he gave him four dollars and a half for his work. When Cameron sent for Jim to come he said that he did not know how long he might want him but it might be a month or two.

Susie was at home week before last and stayed a few days. Winnie went home with her and is their yet. she likes to stay with Susie. I think Winnie is feeling better than she did but yet she soon gives out.

You wanted to know if it rained here. well it rains all the time. we have not got any thing planted in the garden. only think of it, June, and the farmers have not got their corn and oats in the ground, a few have, and it is so wet it cant grow. We had our garden plowed yesterday and are going to plant it tomorrow. it rained as hard as it could in last night and has been showering all day to day but we are going to plant the garden. George says that we will plant it if we have to carry an umbrella.

Clarence Whitting was here friday. he has sold his mothers place for nine hundred dollars to Deb Lumly. Harry says tell you he thinks of you often and will write soon. he says he is a poor hand to write letters because he dont know what to write about. he is still at Chapmans. gets one dollar per day with a promise of a raise. Eddie says tell you he had two dollars and ten cents in his bank but took it and got him some shoes. well I dont know as I have any thing more to write this time. if I could see you I could talk a great deal more.

All send kind regards to you and Henry. write soon.

Sarah Greene

We were glad to hear of Lovina’s happy surprise. Jim does not get much time to write. they are very busy. would send you his letter but sent it to susie.

==+==+==+==+==+==+==+==+==+==+==

Lydia was married to Henry Woodruff on September 18, 1874 in Portage County, Ohio. Following their marriage they moved to Lacygne, Linn County, Kansas where they resided until Henry's death in 1898. Lydia then moved to Nappanee where she lived until her death in 1913.

At the time this letter was written Sarah had five children living: Susie was 27, Jim was 22, Harry was 18, Winnie was 16, and Eddie (Clarence Edgar) was 10 years old. Susie was married with four young children of her own, the oldest being 7 years of age, and Jim was beginning his career as an architect. Sarah had two children who died young: Arthur (1867-1873) and George Frederick “Freddie (1868-1878).

Lovina’s happy surprise may have been the engagement of her daughter Susie Yarian to Henry Phend. They were married September 4, 1892 and their first child Rolland Victor Phend (my grandfather) was born on June 19th, 1893.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.

May 1895 :: Lydia Woodruff to Lizzie

La Cygne May 1895

Dear Sister

I have been thinking of you all this lovely morning. I cannot describe to you how beautifull every thing looks and Seems. We have had nice rains that has freshened things up and the birds are Cherping and Singing as if all the wourld was happy and Prosperous, but alass not Sow. Sad hearts are throbbing every where.

Well I suppose these are buisy times with you as with every one. Spring always is welcome but with it comes lots of work. I am all through house cleaning and I feel quite relieved as it is getting quite warm. I just came in from the garden with drops of Perspiration dropping from my brow. it wont be very long now untill we will have new Potoatoes and Peas. I have brought from the garden asparagus, Lettuce, radishes, Onions. goab Bheries are large enough but havent picked any yet. picked a few Strawberries. the prospect is favourable for an abudant crop of every thing this year.

I guess I shall have to Stay here to eat Peaches for that is my favourite fruit. wonder if I am to see aney of you out this way this year. we recd a Nappanee paper yesterday with the account of the big fire. could not quite decide but Suppose it must be Henry Stouffers old place and the house where uncle Jakes once lived. the inshurance is good but cant cover everything that goes in a fire like that.

Now how is Lovinna getting along. I think of her So often. I am doing her a lette and will write Soon. Now it is time to get dinner. a lady called and prevented my writing a longer letter but will Send you Jims letter to read. I dont See how he can keep up in Such good Spirit but I hope he will find the right place Sometime yet.

After dinner and will hasten to finish my letter. I do So wish you could see my lovely flowers. Roses and Pinks and many other things in bloom. Now I Suppose you are all beginning to worrie thinking you will have soon to be anoyed with sis again but we have not Got aney time to go. I intend to Stay here just as long as I can endure the heat and Chigers. Lots of People coming in this Spring from Iowa and we are going to try and Sell out. We are both quite well. trust this may find you all the Same. H. joins in Sending kind wishes and love to all. write Soon. your Sister Lydia

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Lydia Berlin Collins married Henry Woodruff in 1875 and they settled in Lacygne, Linn County, Kansas where they remained until Henry’s death on the last day of 1898. Lydia then moved to the Nappanee area where she lived until her death in 1913.

Jacob Stauffer ( 1804-1884) was married to Elizabeth Coy (1805-1883), a sister of Lydia's mother, and they had moved with their family to Elkhart County in 1852. Henry Stauffer (1826-1908) was their son.

Lovina’s husband, Eli Yarian had been killed in an accident while cutting down a tree on January 28, 1895. Eli and Lovina (Berlin) Yarian are my Great, Great Grandparents.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.

May 4th 1871 :: Lydia to Lizzie

Rootstown May 4th – no year but probably 1871

Dear Sister

This is Such a cold dreary day. we had quite a hard frost last night. I am afraid it has ingured the fruit as it was So far ward. we have had such pleasant warm weather for the last two months. hase had but very little raign yet every thing looks beautiful. Georges have got peas that are up four or five inches high. lettes large enough to use and potatoes that are looking very nise. covered them up last night. I presume your [?????] are full as early as ours are. this year has been an exception. we had a very mild winter.

The first thing I will tell you is that Sister mary is here or rather in Ravenna. two weeaks a go last friday She came in uppon us quite unexpected. dident know that she even thought of coming. She was looking very bad. I Saw her last weeak. I think She is loking Some better. She has got back to Mrs hortons. Mrs H has been very sick. had got better, has gone to Detroit to Stay with her Sister. Mary is taking care of her children. She has foure, the youngest one year old. I think She will hase her hands full but She seemed very happy when I Saw her. Mary went to visit Mr Deloes people in michigan. came from there. Down here the friends were all usualy well when she had left there.

I had Such a good letter from Francis. he wrot a bout his dear little Sister. how lonely they feel without her. I know this is hard but it is for Some good and wise purpose. it is drawing there hearts heaven wards. these ties cannot be Severed. we long to meet the lone dearest that have gone. I feel that I have more friends in heaven than I have here, yes, true friends. Jesus is a friend that Sticketh closer than a brother. he is unchangable, in him do I trust.

I recd a letter from Lovina. She wrote a great deal about the revival and Said the good work was still going on. She has been convinced that she has more to live for than mearly the things of this wourld. She is trying to live to gaine a home in heaven. Mary says it Seems very Strange to go to Elys and hear Ely ask a blessing at the table and many others. I am So glad they are building a church there this Summer.

[????] writes that all is harmony and peace and Says it Seems good to live that way. I do like to heare him express himself. I rejoise and hope they may longe live in peace and enjoy each other Sosiety for that is the way that friends and neighbors should live. There was ten united with our church the first of may. amongst the number was Steve Parsons. none other that you was aquainted with. Stevie Parsons health is quite poor. he is not able to do much work. the doctors think he is very badly off. has worked too hard probaly. Mr Parsons is about as usuel.

last weeak there was a young man by the name Adelpo died here. he was only fifteen years old. had consumption but only Sick a very Short time. it is quite healthy here. dont think of any one that is Sick. old Mr Rike had died lately. Mr Polem is dead. died very Suden only the desease was EreSipll [??]

the catholecks had a fair down in the church where we used to live. I went once. every thing different. think it was much but they enjoyed it I guess.

I went over where we used to live. it is very pleasant. they have built a new cithen and repared the place so much that it is a very nice plase. it is so cleared up through there that the country looks very nise. I will stop for to night. good night. Lydia.

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Francis is the 13 year old son of Solomon and Fianna Berlin. His little sister, Ellen Irene die on January 23, 1871. She was seven years old.

Ely and Lovina are my 2nd Great Grandparents: Lovina Berlin married Eli Yarian on September 22, 1866 in Elkhart County.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.

April 27th 1871 :: Francis Berlin to his aunt Lizzie Coppes

April 27th 1871

Dear Aunt

I take my pen in hand to let you know that we are all well and hope that you are enjoying the same. the folks around here are about all well as common. Grand Pass are all well as far as I know. the farmers around here have their oats sowed and are a making ready to plant their corn. there has not been very nice weather here these few days. it was a raining yesterday afternoon and has been raining about all day.

father and mother were to Goshen day before yesterday. they were in the new court house. I supposed that you know they built one. tell uncle Sam that we have sold those big oxen for five cents a pound. you know I told you that they weighed 3510 pounds but they lossed about 160 from the time we had them weighed and kept them four weeks besides and then drove them to South Bend. we have three fresh milck cows now. tell Minnie that cow we got of you kicked me head over heels to night. we have had in the stable ever since she had a calf and now we milk her out of doors and she dont like the operation very well.

there is a going to be a rail road here inside of eight or nine months. they have run a course throught about a half a mile north of us. and they are a coming through again south of us. I guess after we get our rail road through here you can jump on out there and come right here.

I suppose I told you that we were a building a house this summer. we have the cellar dug now. the mason are a coming next week. we will be ready about the last of next week to raise. cousin Sarah Ann Slabaugh works here this summer. I and her have great times once and a while.

our school is to commence a week from a Monday but I am not a going to school this summer. I suppose Minnie is about big enought to go to school and Mary is out in Ohio now. I guess you have about all your garden made. we have not made very much yet. I would like to come out there and see you all. well I must stop writing. write soon.

Francis Berlin to his aunt Lizzie Coppes

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Francis Berlin was the eldest son of Solomon and Fianna (Slabaugh) Berlin. Born on May 15, 1858 he was not quite 13 years old when this letter was written.

In 1869 Sam & Lizzie (Berlin) Coppes moved to Marysville, Nodaway County, Missouri and stayed there four years. My records show that their daughter Minnie died sometime in 1871 when only three years of age. Sam and Lizzie returned to the Nappanee area in 1873 and lived there the remainder of their lives.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.

March 8th 1871 :: Virgil Young to Sam Coppes

Elkhart. March 8th /71
Mr. S.D. Coppes
Dear Sir,

I recd your letter some days since, but was very unwell and have delayed answering until now. Am feeling some better. Now, in regards to that land. I will sell it for twelve dollars per acre, one fourth down, and the remainder to be paid in from 2 to 4 or 5 yrs, at ten per cent interest. Please let me know how they would like to make their payments, how much money down etc. etc.

There was a gentleman here this morning. In a Griffin of Cass County, Mich. to see about that land, he is going to visit his family, to Missouri next month, and expects to find him a home there somewhere. Will be there to look at that land.

If the men of whom you spoke do not conclude to buy, you can work the forty acres, on the terms you propose, that is I am to receive one third in the crib or granary and to pay for taking care of & marketing the same.

I would like to have twenty five acres to corn, Do not give yourself any uneasiness about being thrown out of the use of the land. I have agreed to pay Alcorn 148 dollars for fencing, this I should expect to receive if I sold, in addition to the 12 dollars per acre.

Hoping to hear from you soon. Yours Resp
Virgil Young

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In 1869 Sam & Lizzie (Berlin) Coppes moved to Marysville, Nodaway County, Missouri and stayed there four years. Virgil Young apparently owned land there and it sounds like Sam may have found a buyer for it.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.

January 1871 :: Lydia to Lizzie

No date, probably written in January 1871

Monday afternoon. the weather is horible. it is Snowing and blowing. it is almost impossible to be out yet people are Stirring Some. I have not had my dinner yet and dont know how to go out after it. I board to Sarahs now. I have been verry buisy all fall and winter So far. I have got me a Sewing mashien and I have more work than I want to do. I can hardly get time to do any thing for my Self. I Sometimes take the work home and Some times go to peoples houses.

I went down to Mr Parsons to make Phebes weding dress. her dress was irish Poplin, drab collar, very hansome. She made as great perade as though She had been Some young girl. her dress and trimming and hat and collar and gloves cost over fifty dollars. I was at her weding. it was a very Sad weding. there were about thirty persons there. mostly relatives. they were married at Mr Parsons Stand in the Same plase they Stand when they were married before. after they wer married they went down to his home to Stay over night. was married at Seven in the evening. they Seem very happy. hope they may allways be so.

Layey Hallock was married last weeak to William Ealmyer. his wife died about one year ago. he had five children and She had two. a pretty good family to start with. Frankie Sanford is married to a Gentle Man from Washington. has gone there to live. he was a widower with two children but She does not have them to take care of. Belle Hinkly is married to a Mr Bogue. done real well. Silvie Jones is married to one of the Sevly boys. well it has Slacked Snowing so I think I had better have Some dinner and will finish this Evening if nothing prevents.

Eight oclock. I am Seated to finish my letter if I can think of anything to write about. I just came from Sarahs. they are all well. how I do wish you could See Sarah children. they are real pretty and I guess as good as children in general though they make a good deal of noise Sometimes. Susie and Freddie look alike. both have light hair and curly as it can be. Arthur & Jimmie have black eyes and dark hair. Susie learnt very early. has never been to School but can Spell all the comon little words. She goes to Sunday School every Sunday. has one or two verses comited to memory every time. She has learned one chapter and nearly another, all bye heart and remembers it all.

we had a christmas Tree here in the church for the Sabbath School. it was a pleasant time to all. each teacher provided preasants for their Schollars and Schollars for their teachers. Susie got a nise little mug and a bag of candy and nuts from her teacher. I got her a doll. she thinks it is the nisest thing she ever had. She has got the little doll Minnie Sent her. it is dressed so that it looks ever so pretty. She calls it Minne.

I got for my preasant a very nise Fruit dish and a collar, the collar from Mime Austin the fruit dish from Sarah Greene. the dish stands here by me with apples in it. wish I could just do them up in that and Send them to you. I often think of you when I am cuting apples and wish I could divide with you. my paper is begining to grow short. there is many things that I could write about yet but I believe this will be as much as you can read at one time. now Lizzie I would like to have you write to me some time. I have waited so long I Seem as though you are So far away. tell me all the news you can think of. a kiss for the children. good night. your Sister, Lydia C.

One thing more I recd from Sam Leatherman Some time ago he was then in Madina he Said he would come out this way and See me but I have not seen him yet.

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Lydia was working as a seamstress and boarding (taking meals) with her sister Sarah and brother-in-law George Greene.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.

December 4th 1870 :: Sarah Greene to Sam & Lizzie

Rootstown December 4th 1870

Dear Brother and Sister

I thought that I would commence a letter to you this evening but do not think that I will get it finished as it is now allmost ten o’clock but will send it as soon as I get it done. I suppose that you have some idea what it is to take care of little children and whear there is four little children to take care of as I have got. it keeps me busy all the time and then never get through.

The baby seems to be real good but he has got to be taken care of some times. he is a nice looking baby and we think as much of him as though he was the only one we have had. he begins to laugh and notices and is quite interesting. the children all are very much pleased with him. he was nine weeks old this morning. was born the 2nd day of October, we call him James William.

I have got along real well. am not very strong. have to keep on my feet so much that I use up my strength as fast as I get it. You spoke of Mary Ray in your letter. Well it was a sad thing when she died. she had spasms all the time she was being sick. her baby was born dead and she lived about two hours after the baby was born, but did not seem to be concious of any thing. she was sick just two weeks before I was. the family felt dreadful. they could hardly give her up. the baby was a little girl. it was laid in the coffin with her on her arm. they had two doctors when she was sick but they could do nothing to save her life. Caroline Staffer was buried a short time before that. died with consumtion. she has been married two or three years.

Well I commenced this letter one week ago to night and have not finished it since but hope that I will get it done this time. It has been raining all afternoon as hard as it could rain and I presume that it will Snow before it will get through. we have had very pleasant weather all fall. I often think of you and think that it must be pretty cold out there by this time but then I think that you will get along very well and in a short time it will seem like home to you and you will feel attacht to the place. I often wish that I could see you and have a talk with you. I dont get home sick but then it would seem nice to have a visit with some of our folks.

Aunt Betsy Stauffer came and made me a short visit while she was in Ohio. she came very unexpected but I was glad to see her. she was here just two days before I was sick. Lydia is bording with us now. Mrs spellman did not care about having boarders this winter. she has her room down there first the same as she did only gets her meals here. She talks some of paking up her things and leave them set in our shop and go west. she hardly knows what she will do. she has not said any thing for some days.

Pheby Parsons is going to be married to Jim Ray in a short time. I suppose you will think that he is in a hurry but it is all right with Mr. Parsons folks and the Ray family. Sylvia Jones is married to Poe Luly. John Luly is marrie to Mary Basel. Laurie Barlow is married to a fellow by the name of Joe Bradshaw. Wesley Wirt is married to Ellen Beans, one of Noah Beans granddaughters.

Well Lizzie I dont know as I have any thing more to write this time. it seems like a short letter to go so far. I wish you would write right away and I will answer it soon. I would like to hear from you often. it would be easier for us to write often and not so much at a time. the children are all well and full of mischief. I have got a girl to help me this winter. it is Martin Miller’s Katie. she does very well. often speeks of you. Lena Himes has got a little girl. Lydia got a letter from Mary last week. she had just got back to Mrs. Bissells the week before that. she wrot that our folks were all well as usual. There is going to be a Christmas tree over here in the church for the sabbath school. I suppose it will be a nice thing. Well I must stop writing. keep the children for me. Our love to you all. write soon.

Sarah Greene

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At this time, Sarah and George Greene were the parents of four children: Susie, 5 years old; Arthur, 3 years; George Frederick "Freddie", aged 2 years; and the baby James William who was born October 2, 1870.

Elizabeth and Sam Coppes had moved to Nodaway county, Missouri in 1869. They had 2 children at this time: Minnie was about 2 years old and Harvey was a little more than a year old.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.

Oct 19th 1870 :: Solomon Berlin to Sam & Elizabeth

Locke Ind Oct 19th 1870

Dear Brother and Sister

I received your letter last Saturday and was glad to hear from you that you are all well and in good spirits. that is more then we can say, we have been Sick all of us but Warren he has not been sick yet. we have had the Billious fever and chill fever, Francis has it now. there is more sickness here this fall than has been since I have been in the State but not many deaths. Father and Mother keeps up middling well. better than can be expected. the rest of the friends & neighbours are some of them sick but not dangerous.

we have had a very good summer here. good crops. of all grain kind the best that we have had Since I have been here. fruit is not very plenty Except peaches, there was a good many and we had also plenty of potatoe bugs. they wore here by the thousands but still we got a good many potatoes.

the wether has been nice all fall untill about a week ago. it sett in raining and now it puts in good time. it is raining now and has been all day. Mary was here last week at our house sewing, this week to Lavinas, she talks some of going to Michigan, Three Rivers to Delows, to set up Dress Making.

I should like to come out there and see you but that cannot be this fall and I feir that there will be a poor chance next summer. if I build a house, I cannot get away but you must not think that I will not come for I shall if I live and keep well. I want you to Excuse me for not writing to you an answer to that letter last spring. I neglect to write and I thought there was so many writing that they wrote all the news and I would wait untill they got through.

now Sam, I have got them Cattle yet. I had a good lot of trouble with that Big Ox. he would go just where he pleased and I had to tie his head down then he would stay where I would put him. I have them almost fat. I have been feeding them for some time. I want to sell them if I can this fall. I paid that sale note last Saturday. I did not know where the note was and I found it to Prats in Elkhart.

now I must tell you some about the times. money is hard to get. it seems very scarce yet wheat is $1.00 per bu, corn 30 cts, Oats 25, potatoes $1.00, Butter 28, Egg 15. we have had a meeting hat time about our Election. Billy Williams was nominated and Haskell went Independant and then the Democreats did not nominate an man and went for Haskell and then some of the Democrats got mad and then Elson he came out Independant and Billy Williams was Elected with a good majority over both. there was a good many Republicans went for Haskell. I will here send you an assortment of the tickets. I will have to come to a close for this time.

yours respt S Berlin
write again

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Elizabeth and Sam Coppes were living in Nodaway County, Missouri.

Warren, age 8, and Francis, age 12, are the sons of Solomon and Fianna Berlin.

Mary and Lavina are two of Solomon's sisters.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.

August 14th 1870 :: Sarah Greene to Sam and Elizabeth

Rootstown August 14, 1870

Dear Brother and Sister

I received your letter some time ago and am sory to think that I have not answered it yet but I hope that you will forgive me when I tell you that I have been very busy. have had some thing or other to do that would keep me to work all day and when night came it was impossible for me to keep awake. I have not hired any thing done this summer excepting the sewing and that Lydia done for me, and I feel as though I have done quite a summers work.

in the first place last spring I made a carpet and then cleaned the house and boiled all most two barrels of soap and thought that I had got about through with my big work when the children took the whooping cough and that keept me busy six or eight weeks longer. but they have all got over it now. Arthur had it real hard. Susie and Freddie did not seem to mind it so much. Freddie has growed so that he does not seen like a baby any more. he has the most go ahead in him of the three. he talks to every body that comes along. he takes care of himself and dont care for nobody. Susie has got to be quite a girl. she goes to Sunday school every Sunday and repeats a verse. she went to meeting alone last Sunday. Arthur and Susie wanted to go alone to day. they thought that they could go alone as well as to have papa go with them.

I have not been to a meeting this summer but a few times and do not expect to go untill after September. I thought I would tell you but hope that you would not cry and feell low spirited about it. I try to make the best of it as it makes me tougher every time. perhaps there will be an end to it some time. George is going to get me a girl tomorrow.

Seymour Reed’s wife had a baby in July. she had one just a day before I had Freddie. she is so much a head of me. Mary Roy is going to be sick in September. Lucy Parsons Seymour had one in June. there was only sixteen months difference in her children’s ages and there is a lot more but I cant stop to tell them all.

We have been having very hot weather here this summer and a great deal of rain but every thing seems to have done well. the crops have all been very good. have fruit of all kinds. peaches are not going to be quite as plenty as they were last year. we have had a few on our trees of the early kind and will have some that are later. we have a very good garden. we have our living allmost out of our garden as we are all fond of every thing that grows in it.

It has been very healthy here this summer. have not heard of much sickness any where. How do you like your new home by this time. I suppose you have got you new house done and got settled down and are to work fixing things on your own farm which must seem nice to you. I hope you are contented and and will get along well. your letter has all most given Georg the fever to go on a farm. he thinks that he would like it so much better than the store. I do not incourge him as I dont think that he understands farming well enough to be a farmer but I dont know what we may do.

how does your children do. do they feel contented or are they home sick. how I wish I could see them. when you write tell us all about them and your home and about the improvements of the place. I have not seen any of our old neighbors latly excepting Mary Jones was in here a few weeks ago. she is the same old thing that she used to be. she inquired about you. they are having trouble about there property. John is in a hurry to get his share. John Heisler was in Akron jail some time ago for forging a note and steeling a horse and carriage. his folks are building a new frame house this summer. Well I dont know as I have any thing more to write this time. besides I am very tired. excuse my poor writing as my pen would not make a mark half of the time or I suppose I am out of practice. write soon if it is but a few lines. perhaps I can write sooner next time.

Good bye, Sarah Greene

Our love to you and Sam and children

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Sam and Elizabeth were living in Nodaway county, Missouri at this time. They had two children, Minnie was about 2 years old and Harvey was not yet a year old.

Sarah was still living in Rootstown, Ohio. She was expecting her fourth child in October. Susie was 4 1/2, Arthur was about 3, and Freddie was not quite 2 years old.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.

January 11th 1869 :: Sarah Greene to Sam & Elizabeth

Rootstown Jan. 11th, 1869

Dear Brother and Sister,

After a few weeks delay I take the opertunity of writing to you. I received your letter and was very glad to hear from you for it had been a long time since I had had a letter from you. but I know that you as well as myself have a great deal to do and cannot write when we would like to and it is as much as ever that I have got at it to night and now it is after nine o’clock.

could not get the children to Sleep untill a short time ago. they wer so full of the old sixty that they could not shut their eyes. I general put them to bed about six o’clock and some times it takes a long time to get them to sleep. Oh dear how tired I get some times but after they are here we do not like to part with them. Susie and Arthur as mischieveous as they can be. they are almost of a size and Arthur is a great deal fater than Susie. the baby grows real fast and is good natured.

we have been having real pleasant wether for the last week or two but it commenced to snow this morning and has been snowing ever since so the snow is quite deep. well the holidays are past. how did you enjoy yourself and what did you get for a preasant. these people here had a Christmas tree in the Congregational church which looked very nice and yeilded bountifuly. for my chase I got six napkins from Lydia. and a spice box with a lot of little boxes inside of it for all kinds of spices from George, and a vace from Gideon Seymour. I was one of his cholars in the sunday school, we (his class) gave him a gold pen and holder. the tree was for the sunday school.

when I got home George gave me a black alapaca dress and a pare of gaiters and lydia gave me yarn enough for a pair of stockings. there was a bag of lace filled with pop corn and candy and nuts and a buff neck tie for Susie from Lydia. I gave George a pair of slippers.

Jim does not live with us. this winter he is staying up to Captain Whippies. he has not been able to go out but a few times. he is failing real fast and if he does not get help soon he can not stand it very long. I suppose you have heard that Rastus Taylor’s wife is dead. she had typhoid fever. Barbra Goodyear and John Kissel were married last thursday. Mary Jones was here few weeks ago. inquired of you. she lived with me when I was sick. she was a real good girl and the same thing she use to be.

Well this is tuesday evening could not quite finish my letter last night. sleighing is quite good to day. Mary Ray and Phebe Parsons were here this evening. well I dont know as I have any thing more to write this time so I will bring my letter to a close by biding you all good night. write soon.

Keep little Mary for me

Sarah Greene

Mrs Heisler has got little twin boys they are two weeks old. Katie has got a little boy about six months old.

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At the time the letter was written, Sarah had three children: Susie was about 3 1/2 years old, Arthur about 2 years, and the baby, Freddie, was about 3 months old. George is Sarah’s husband.

Elizabeth had married Sam Coppes on March 12, 1867. Their first child “Little Mary” was born on February 3, 1868.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.

April 19th 1868 :: Sarah to Lizzie

Rootstown April 19th 1868

Dear Sister

This is sunday evening and I thought that I would answer your letter that I received last night. We have been having real cold and winterish weather and had conciderable snow this month but it has cleared off and is warmer now. snowed and blowed all last sunday. we have not moved yet. expect to move this week, thursday. Converse are going to move tomorrow and then I am going to have Mary clean the house and put down the carpet and have it all ready to put the things in.

I want to buy that hit or miss Carpet of you to put down in the kitchen as I dont know as I ever will get time to make one. will pay you what you asked for it a year ago. will pay you when you come back. I thought that I would put it down without waiting for an answer as I thought that you would want to sel so it but if you dont want to tel me have it let me know and I will take it up. we have sold our calf for 28 dollars and George said that I might have it to put in the house. have got sixteen yards of sale carpeting for the sitting room. I think that it is real good. it as a remnance and he got it cheeper.

we have not sold our place yet but I think that Charlie Holden will buy it. he is after it. Troy Honeyrock has bought his place. I am glad that Mary has got a place. hope that she will like it. was going to write to her this evening but did not know how to direct. thought I would wait until after we get moved and then would direct to Locke and our folks could send it to her. I have not found her shoes yet.

Susies cough is better. we kept doctoring her for the croupe and nothing seemed to help her and we finly sent for the doctor and he said she had worms and gave her some medicine and she is getting better. dont cough hardly any. well I must stop writing as it is late and must get up early. George is going to Cleveland tomorrow. I wish when you come you would bring me some early beans to plant and some parsnips seed and some cucumber seed. I must close. Give my love to all the folks. Good Night.

Sarah

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Susie is Sarah's 2 1 /2 year old daughter and George is Sarah's husband.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.

March 10th 1867 :: Sarah Greene to Lizzie

Rootstown March 10th 1867

Dear Sister

I received your letter yesterday and was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was not any worse. I think when warm weather comes they will all feel better. I think that our cold weather is about over. people here have commenced to make sugar and have had one good run. I suppose people out their are all busy in their camps making sugar.

Well I dont know what to say to interest you I dont know of anything that is going on around here but I thought I must write and let you know that we are all in the land of the living and able to take care of ourselves.

Lydia is in Randolph now. she had to go to Cleveland last week to see about her money. she has finly got her papers in shape so she can draw her money. she was up here week before last. our girl had to go home so she came up and stayed one week and I got along one week alone. the girl has come back now. her father was sick with the spotted fever and she had to go home. I dont know how long she will stay. Lydia says when she comes she dont want any girl around. she wants to do the work herself but she wont take any pay so I dont know as we will let the girl go. I dont want to have it said she done my work for nothing. she was real good the last time that she was here. if she is always like that I can get along with her very well. well I shall have to stop for to night and finish this in the morning.

George is lying on the floor and Susie is playing with him. she is throwing her clothes over him and having a good time so I must stop and put her to bed.

Monday Morning
I dont know as I have anything to say this morning and what I have said isent worth sending. I think your dress is real pretty and think your clothes must all be pretty. You have my best wishes and I hope you wont be so unfortunate as I have been. I think you might have told me what day you was going to be married.

I suppose you know that Vira Beans is married. she has moved to Ft Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Rose have united with the Methodist church. Walter Chiltendon was married last week to a Carris girl. he is not in the store any more. they have got Agor now. he dont seem to have any offer for his place. I hope he will have. I shall have to stop for this time. I hope to hear from you soon and tell us all the news.

Jim is off to Whippies now. He is not as well now as he was. I will send that money to Sol for that picture. I think that man had ought to pay us for spoiling those pictures so I will send it in this letter and you will please give in to him. Give our love to all the folks.

Good bye
Sarah Greene

I will send you some pieces of susies aprons. it is 18 cents a yard.

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On March 12, 1867 (two days after this letter is dated) Lizzie Berlin was married to Samuel Coppes in Elkhart County, Indiana.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.

January 14th 1867 :: Sarah Greene to Lizzie

Rootstown, Jan 14th 1867

Dear Lizzie

I received a letter from you and one from Mary last Saturday and we were glad to hear from you. we had not recived but just one letter from home since we left their. Lydia and I wrote you a long letter about four weeks ago and had not heard from you since. but I suppose you did not get it. I was sorry to hear that you have all been sick but hope you have got well by this time. how long has father and mother been sick and is it any thing more than a hard cold. people around here have all been having hard colds but are getting better now. we have been having very coald weather and real good sleighing for the last two or three weeks. we do not have much snow at a time but what we do have stays.

You wanted to know if my health was any better than it was. it has been a great deal better. it has been far more than a year since I have got home from the west untill within a week or so. I do not feeal as well as I think I have over done but if I keep more quiet I will get over it soon. Lydia has been gone three weeks and was not able to do much. last week she went to Mr. Gorleys to sew a few weeks and was taken sick with a cold but has got better now. she washed to day. George has been doing the washing and ironing for the last three weeks. Mrs. Barlow does not take in washing any more and there isnt any girl around here that we could get to stay a few weeks. tell Mother that she need not worry about me for I am getting along well enough. I have done more work since I have got home than I have done in a long while by doing a little at a time.

Susie is well and is as full of mischief as she can be. she can walk any where she wants to go and can say a number of words. she can say grandmama and Aunt Lydie and Ant Mazma. the other words seem to be two hard to say. she tryes real hard to talk. some times she will come to me and say ma, ma, and look around and tell a great long mess of stuff no body knows what it is. I suppose she thinks she is telling us something. she can say ho, horse, and boy and chair and a good many other words. the first time she got up alone in the midle of the flore she tried to walk and did not give up untill she had walked three or four steps and in a fever she went all over the floor. We went to the concert Christmass eve and took Susie with us and she behaved real well and when Fletcher got up to speak she knew who it was and yealed at him. when we talk to her about you folks out there she looks around and seems to wonder where you are.

I have not been any where since we got home but up to Cap’ Whippies place. Georges Mother has not been able to go out any cince I have got home. she has had an awful sore leg. it has been so sore that she had to sew two stockings together so as to make it big enough for her foot. I think that she is a real good woman. Jim is here. he thinks that he is getting better. he is real good an is full of fun.

You told where you was New Years and Christmas. I was at home all day alone. How are those pictures coming on. have they been finished or if they have not been did Sol have to pay any thing and if he did let me know much and I will send him the money. Mrs Converse had been down to see me. she has got well. they have named there baby Edward Henry after Mr Lamby and one of Nells brothers. we have got our pig kill and have got our work all done. we butchered the day after Christmas.

tell Mary that her pillow caces are twenty-nine inches long and twenty one inches wide. I wrote it in my other letter but you did not tell her. I will write to her soon. Lydia is writing to her now. tell her that some of us will get that money for her. George said that Bankcraft spoke to him about it last friday and told him that if any one was atherized they could draw it. George said that he would get it for her but Lydia has got the note now and says she can collect it. so I suppose she must have her own way. you know she is so terrible abused any way and has not got any home. I shall have to stop as it is late and I will write soon again and tell what I do not think of now.

I suppose you know Lydia Beans and Mike Leach is married. my regards to Ben and Leyde and wish them much joy. tell Ely and Lovin to write and all the rest of the folks. I can not write all the names. George and I send our best wishes to all the family and some of you write sooner and let us know how you are. give my best wishes to Sam and remember me to all the friends.

Good Night Sarah Greene

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Sarah's daughter, Susie Greene was born in October 1865 so she would be about fifteen months old at the time this letter was written. Evidently, Sarah and her family made a recent trip to Indiana to visit the family.

It sounds like Mary, Sarah's sister, may have gone to live in Indiana.

Ben and Leyde might be Benjamin Yarian and Eliza Coppes who were married December 25, 1866. Eliza was a sister of Samuel Coppes.

Ely and Lovin is a reference to Eli and Lovina (Berlin) Yarian who were married September 22, 1866. Eli was a brother of Benjamin Yarian.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.

December 6th 1866 :: Lydia to Lizzie

Rootstown Monday Eve Dec 6th

Dear Sister Lizzie

Home at last. am beded in this quiet spot that I call home. The day I left you so sad. after a tedious ride I arived at Elkhart. I was abbout as cold as I could be but knowing that all things can be endured I did not stop long to wonder what I should do but started for the printing office. met Mr Delo there. he seemed very much surprised to see me. invited me to go home with him. did not see Mrs D as She had gone out to spend the afternoon. saw Mary and the children. staid about one hour then went to Mr Posts. they seemed glad to see me. I Staid to supper. had a good supper.

when Mr P started back to his business he said he would be back in time to go to the depot with me. after he had gone Mrs P proposed going down town. went in to their store. they sent some very nise presents to her Sister in Edinberg and made me a nise present of two pictures. one George Washington family, the other the Grant family. I feel greatly in debt to them for their kindness. they both went to the depo with me. waited there nearly one hour before the train came. I beged to have them go home but they would not go and leave me alone. they went in to the car and got me a good seat then bid me good by. may the lord ever prosper them through the journey of life and at last receive them in to his kingdom is my hearts prayer.

I arrived in Cleveland at seven the next morning. it was very cold and I did not feel very well so I came right on home. got of at Rootstown Station but no one there to meet me but I got a way to go over by paying. got to Sarahs at about eleven oclock. the children nearly went wild. Sarah said they would ask ever so many times a day if she dident think I would soon come. George went to the depo twise the day before Thanksgiving after me. Minnies preasant to Susie was a little doll. it is real pretty. Susie says aint it kute. Minnie Austin thinks ever so much of her preasant. says she will send you something.

Lizzie I have thought of you so much to day was afraid you were at the wash tub. I told Sarah that you made some pies the day I came away. she was perfectly astonished. said she never heard of the like. is afraid you will regret it some day. Sarah is doing her own work now. gets along real well. her house seems in perfect order. they have been building on to their house. built a woodhouse and made some other repares. Sarah health is better that it has been for a long time.

Lizzie how I do wish you could see my bountifull plants. they have had the best of care. my rose bush is all in blossom and like a wise vine it nearly covers the window. it makes my room look so cheerful. I found my room in perfect order. every thing well taken care of. the family are just as good and kind as ever. all seemed glad to see me.

last friday I was invited up to the ministers. there were thirteen of us and among the number was Lucy Parsons. her baby is just as handsome as it can be. yesterday I tended church twise. today Mr P called for me to go over to Lucys. I went. tomorrow am going to ravenna. there is considerable snow on the ground but not enough for Sleighing. answer this soon as you can.

your Sister, Lydia.

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This letter would likely have been written in December 1866 as the letter was addressed to "Miss Lizzie Berlin", Locke P.O., Elkhart Co. Ind. Lizzie was married in March 1867.

See The Berlin Family :: List of The Letters for a complete listing of all of the family letters.