Person:Celestia Fuller (1)

Letter from Celestia Sedora Fuller (1853-1938), daughter of Oliver & Elizabeth Hicks Fuller, to her cousin Lizzie Owen, probably Elizabeth Owen, daughter of William & Nancy Hicks Owen. Written at Mahaska County, Iowa. Elizabeth & Nancy Hicks were daughters of William Christopher & Winna Alford Hicks. Transcribed by Barbara Bennington Hogberg January, 28, 1999.

February 26th 1872

Dear cousin

I am now seated to answer your letter that I received long since. Will you excuse me for not writing sooner? Yes? I have been so busy that I have not written but one or two letters this winter, but it is not because I did not want to hear from you that I did not write. We are all well and hope these few lines will find you well. We received your Ma’s letter week before last, And I received one from aunt Dell [Adella Priscilla Clogston Hicks] about the same time. Uncle Jim [James Madison Hicks] had gone to Kansas to look at the country perhaps he will go by your house. I have written 2 or 3 letters to you but never got to send them until they wee too old. Ma said when she got your Ma’s letter she thought she would sit down and write to her some night, but she could not get the children to sleep in time. she said that while your Ma had spent such a lonely winter, she had enjoyed the company of four little ones [Minnie Ethel, John Mattias, Arvilla Grace, & James L. Fuller] that did not go to school. Minnie can not go to school. I fear she never will she seems to not have memory enough to learn, and we can not force her to learn. A strange schoolteacher could not do any thing with her I think. It seems that she speaks every thing that she thinks. I can not tell you what kind of a child she is; at times she is just as quick to learn and notice things as any child of her age. And then again she does not seem to try or have any control of her thoughts. She knows some of the letters at times. I few could get her mind fixed on any one thing long enough I think she could learn. Ollie [Oliver Perry Fuller, Jr.] Reads in the third Reader and can write some. Willie [William Gabriel Fuller] reads in the Fourth reader, and studies arithmetic he has got to "Reduction of Compound Numbers." This is the first time he ever studied Arithmetic. Lew [Arthur Lewis Fuller] is almost through the arithmetic & studies Grammar Geography Reading and Spelling. My school was out yesterday. Taught 3 months at $30.00 per month. Had 27 names enrolled. Average Daily attendance 17 & 57/60. I had a pleasant school. No. of visitors during the term about 90. Had over 40 the last day, some of which were the adjoining school and Teacher. My school spelled against it. Mine out spelled once theirs twice. Spelled in Sargent’s Spelling books. What Books do you use there. We have McGruff Readers and Spellers Green’s and Einnea’s Grammar, Warren’s Guyot’s and Monteith’s Geography and Ray’s Arithmetic and Algebra. You wanted to know how many scholars I whipped. I did not whip any. I do not whip as long as any thing else will do but I can whip if necessary. I do not tell my scholars that I wont whip. Got along real well with my scholars. Had one boy come to me that was 23 years old, another 19, and another 18, and on down to 5 and six. Oldest girls were 15 yrs. old Had one Class got over half way through the arithmetic would have gotten almost through had he not taken sick, and another got to "division of Compound numbers" and 2 Mental Arithmetic Classes one Grammar Class, Two Geography Classes and Reading and spelling Classes. Had speaking and spelling yesterday afternoon. Lew and Willie went to bring me home and several of the Neighbor boys with them. Lew is going to work for one of our neighbors this year is to commence after school is out. Is to get $18.00 per month. tell Wilt we all Join in sending our love to him and would be glad to see him. tell him to write to us. Pa has come from his day’s work he is Carpentering yet he has plenty of it to do. Thinks he will build a house of his own next summer We were sorry to hear of the death of Emma[?]. Not much sickness here now, tis very muddy here think it will thaw out now. I will tell you what new things I got this winter one waterproof dress one delain dress this is a piece of it trimmed in black velvet Some new aprons and shoes. Lew Says tell Wilt that he wrote last and is waiting for an answer and thinks he is very slow about it. I went to an Oyster supper on Christmas evening and had a nice time Will not tell you my feller’s name. Nine in Company went with me over to my boarding place about 4 miles from home Twas tolerably good sleighing Lew has got to be large enough to step along with the girls I would Smile to see him going with one. Have never seen him going with one. Have never seen him yet, but presume he looks small enough. Jonnie [John Mattias Fuller] Knows some of his letters and is going to school next summer. Pa says to tell you that he has the prettiest little boy in the United States none excepted. Born the 14th of Oct, 1871. Call him Jimmie [James L. Fuller]. Guess Part of his name will be James have not Registered his name yet. We can not all agree on the same name (he has blue eyes and Red hair of Course) I will now close by asking you to write soon and do not neglect as I have done. Florence is getting along well. Her little girls Elma and Adda [Sarah Elma & Selma Adelaide Wymore] are sweet and pretty little girls can begin to climb up to a chair and crawl. Have not seen them for some time. If uncle Jim comes by there tell him to be sure and come and see us if nothing more than to see his name sake.

From Dora Fuller

To Lizzie Owen

There’s a home for little children,
Above the bright blue sky,
Where Jesus reigns in glory;
A home of Peace and Joy.
No home on earth is like it.
Or with it can compare;
For every one is happy,
Nor could be happier there.

___________________________________________________________

Kingman County, Kansas, 1895 state census:^[2]

Bolles, Dora 41 yrs b. Indiana Came from Iowa County Supt.

Fuller, Manny [f] 17 yrs b. Iowa Came from Iowa

      Della 19 yrs b. Iowa Came from Iowa

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Find A Grave.

   Dora B. Mitchell

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Kansas State Board of Agriculture. Decennial census of Kansas 1895: Kingman County, Kansas. (Topeka: Kansas State Historical Society, 1957)
   p. 31, Line 11.