Person:Clarissa Bishop (2)

California Death Index, 1940-1997 California Death Index, 1940-1997 Name: Clara Maria Mills [Clara Maria Bishop] Social Security #: 0 Sex: FEMALE Birth Date: 10 Nov 1844 Birthplace: New York Death Date: 19 Feb 1942 Death Place: Los Angeles Mother's Maiden Name: Spier FATHER'S SURNAME: Bishop

Source Citation: Place: Los Angeles; Date: 19 Feb 1942; Social Securit

[Board.FBC.FBK.FTW]

Mrs. Clara Maria Mills

    Funeral services will be held Monday at 11:30 a.m. in the Wee Kirk of the Heather for Mrs. Clara Maria Mills, 97, of 1429 N. Genesse St. who died Thursday at her home.  Mrs. Mills was born in Sara toga, N.Y., had lived here 2 years and is survived by four daughters, Myrtle B. Mills, Leanor M. Mills, Charlotte E. Mills and Mrs. Alice M. Cavender of Illinois.  Cremation will take place under the direction of Forest Lawn Crematory.

Citizen News (Hollywood, Los Angeles, California) Saturday, 21 February 1942, page 12 (Deaths-Funerals).

Peoria Aug. 23, 1863 Dear Cousin Josie

    I received your letter last evening and have seated myself this pleasant Sunday afternoon to answer it.  It has been extremely warm here for the past two weeks but last evening it turned cooler and it is quite comfortable today.  I went to church this morning.  I attend the Methodist Church, and sing in the Choir.  We are all as well as usual.  Charley is teething this summer and is very troublesome as all children are at such times.  We had a long drought here the fore part of the summer and the vegetation was nearly all dried up but lately we have had plenty of rain and things are growing nicely.  There seems to be abundance of fruits of all kinds.  There are going to be a great many peaches this season, that is a fruit that has been very scarce for a few years back, the trees were all killed by the severity of the winter and the young trees are just commencing to bear.  I am very much obliged for Aunt Sara's pictures.  She has changed a great deal I think.  I believe I told you in my last letter that Cousin Mary was keeping house.  They have broke up and are boarding.  Mary's health was so poor that they thought it would be best, she has had a very sever fit of sickness.  She is taking lessons on the piano, and now she has plenty of time to practice.
    Cousin Josie I wish you would come and see us, you must coax your father to let you come.  I should like to have you come very much indeed, it would be a pleasant journey.  Tell Spire to write to me soon.  Did he get my last letter with my photograph.  What is Uncle Joseph doing over the summertime, is Spire still in the mill.  My photograph album only holds twenty-four pictures and I have got it nearly filled.  I have Tom Thumb and Lady in it.  Give my love to Uncle and Aunt and all the little cousins, also to Spire, and reserve a good share for yourself.

Your aff------ Cousin, Clara M. Bishop Write again Cousin Josie will you not.

Envelope addressed to : Miss Josie Spier, Columbia, Tuolumne Co., California

Peoria Jan. 31st, 1864 Dear Cousin Josie,

    As it is raining today and I cannot go to church, I thought I would answer your letter which I received last Tuesday evening.  We are all as well as usual, excepting bad colds, and I believe everybody is troubled with that.  The weather has been so changeable.  I think I never experienced such cold weather as we had one week.  Christmas was a beautiful day, the sun was as warm and pleasant as a day in May.  But New Years eve it commenced to snow and such a snow storm I never saw, it snowed very fast, and the wind blew a perfect hurricane, making drifts that were impossible.  It snowed all day Friday (New Years day) and was the coldest day known in this section of the country for many a year.  A great many people were frozen to death.  One man was frozen just going from the barn to the house where he had been to feed his stock.  Another case of a young lady, her brother and a friend, a Miss Paine, and Mr. and Miss Lovejoy.  They had been to town shopping.  They started for home on Thursday afternoon, and got within three miles of home when they lost their road and soon became enveloped in a snow drift from which in the darkness they found it impossible to extricate themselves.  Young Lovejoy got out of the sleigh and after floundering about in the snow for some time succeeded with the aid of Miss Paine in unhitching the horses and getting them turned around to the sleigh.  The three then sealed themselves in the sleigh, wrapped whatever they had of blankets or robes about them, and there in the "wast (?) wilderness" with the snow, cold and darkness they resolved to pass that wild winter night.  How they survived the rigors of that long and perilous night, their feelings and sufferings, I leave to your imagination.  The elder of the girls says that she did not permit herself to go to sleep, and frequently aroused the others.  As soon as it was light in the morning Young Lovejoy left the girls in the sleigh to endeavor to find some house and procure assistance.  After walking two miles he came to a house, in the most pitiable condition, his hands both frozen like two balls of ice, and his feet and legs frozen nearly to his knees, and so benumbed and exhausted that it was with difficulty that he related his story.  The gentleman immediately hitched up his team and went for the girls, who he brought to his house as soon as possible.  Miss Lovejoy was found to be the greater sufferer and all efforts to bring her to consciousness proved fruitless.  She died on the next Tuesday.  Young Lovejoy is alive, but suffered the amputation of both his hands and his feet.  In this sad condition it is said he will recover.  I could recount many more instances of equal suffering but I have not time nor room.  The cold seemed to extend all over the country.  Orange trees at New Orleans were frozen, 63 Negroes were frozen in the barracks at Memphis, Tenn. but enough of this.  Tell Spire that he is mistaken about my wearing twelve or thirteen shoes.  I wear 2 1/2.  Tell him if he does not write to me soon I will give him a scolding.  I have not heard from him for four months.  I will send the childrens photographs in this letter but I do not know when you will get Fathers and Mothers.  They have never had theirs taken but they will send theirs when they do.  Tell your Father that Uncle James is a going to build him a distillery in the spring.  He is not in business at present.  Give my love to Uncle and Aunt and little cousins, and Spire, and excuse this very poor writing.  Write soon again.

Your aff------ Cousin Clara Envelope addressed to: Miss Josie Spier, Columbia, Tuolumne County, California

Peoria Sep 24th, 1865 Dear Cousin Josie

    I received your kind letter in due time and was very glad to hear from you and to know that you were all well.  We are all quite well, my health has been very good this summer.  We have been very busy this summer peacing and quilting quilts.  We have peaced and quilted five quilts and two comforters, and Mother has not had any help.  We generally keep a girl in summer, but we could not get a good one, but we are expecting one on Monday.  We have eight in a family all of the time, so you may know that it keeps us pretty busy most of the time.  I am still boarding with mother and shall probably remain so this winter.  It is very warm weather here now, we have had some as warm weather this as we have had any time in July and August.  There has been a great deal of rain this season.  Cousin Mary does not live here now, she went away last spring.  I do not know where she is now.  I have not heard from her in some time.  Mr. Mills has been giving gift concerts around the country and she travels with him.  From you description I think you have enjoyed yourself hugely this summer, has there been a great deal of fruit there this season?  There has been considerable here.
    How is Spire.  I have not heard from him since I was married.  I have written to him and sent mine and my husbands pictures but have never received any answer.  Will you tell him that I am almost a mind to be angry at him and I shall have to scold him real hard if he does not write to me.  How did your Father succeed in his enterprise across the mountain.  You had quite and adventure in horseback riding.  I have rode considerable but was never thrown yet.  I have not rode any for two years.  I like to ride very much.  My husband has been to Chicago and brought me home a large picture of himself.  It has been retouched with India ink and colors until it looks as nice as an oil painting.  Has Uncle Joseph ever had any photographs taken.  If he has I wish you would send me one.  When it gets a little cooler weather Father and Mother area going to have their taken and I will send you one of each.  I will send you four different patterns of tatting.  I think them very pretty.  I have nothing more of interest to write and will close by sending my love to Uncle, Aunt and children, Spire and yourself.  Mother sends her love to all.  My Husband also wishes to be remembered.  Tell Spire I am looking anxiously for a letter from him.
    I remain your true friend and cousin,  Clara Mills

Envelop addressed to: Miss Josie Spier, Columbia, Tuolumne County, California

The three above letters were copied and sent to me by Thelma Landon, a descendant of Josie Spire.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Board.FBC.FBK.FTW.

   Date of Import: 14 May 2004

2. ↑ Los Angeles County, California Death Certificate.