Frank Tucker Letter 2

NOTE: The following letter was apparently started on September 7, 1930, and completed or. October 3, 1930. It contained forty pages of handwriting on tablet paper. For clarification purposes, I have put correct punctuation in where possible, for occassionally the thought is not completed. I have also put correct spellings in parenthesis, for Uncle Frank sometimes spe_ls phonetically. The same word may be spelled three different ways. It should be noted here that the letter starts out as if someone else is writing, although the penmanship is that of Uncle Frank. Here, then, is the letter: Willow Brook, Cal. Sept. 7---1930 By request to my Uncle Frank Just a few lines that was glened (gleaned) from the days of the long ago. To me it seems a ferry dream as my dear old Uncle (Uncle) F.W. Tucker, whose hair is white as snow and is now entering his 75 years. He writes the fowling (following) lines for me of my grand poarants (parents) and aunts and uncles (uncles), of which I never saw. To me they seem as dear as my life. While a child, my pearents left the home of my bearth (birth). Like money others started for the unknown far West. For weeks and months they traveled West toard (toward) the sitting sun. As time roaled (rolled) on, like the distant roaling thunder. And the dark lines of the shaddo was of night, and shifting about until I find myself sitting hear, and wandering what it is all about. 0 well, so it was just what my Grand Pearents done. We will take a glance back wards to the 50. When old Wisconsin was the extream wilds of the West. There the Indian was the wild man of that part of the world. My grand parents moved there from the fair (far) East. Working their way up the Wisconsin River until they came to a ferry crossing the Wisconsin River at what is known as Kilborn City. Then turnin North about 50 miles until they came to the Lemon Ware River, and a branch known as Barr Creek. And at the junction of this stream and the Lemon Ware River they built a home of logs. Placing poles over head and gathered hay and built a hay stack on the poses over head, and the stack of hay kept the storms out, and also the cold. Chinted (chinked) the cracks with sticks and mud. Your Grandfather was a good rifel (rifle) shot, and by this way they was sure of their meat, as the country was full of deer, bear, fish, ottor (otter) mink, coon, muskrats, and in season, plenty of black berries, and the blue bearies, huckley bearies, and in the fall of the year, thousands of bushels of cranberries. All of them came in their turn in the year. So you may understand that they had all those to live on. There was 3 familys all told, 3 women, 3 men. They was of the beat tipe (type) of men and women that God ever created. It is this tips of man and woman that pushed their way into undiscovered countaries (countrys). Tha (they) blazed the trail, and brought joy and laughter and hapgyness, and to day we should hold in memory the greatest respects and call up on out God to bless their resting places. It required strenght and nerve to face the storms of life in this manner. But 0 how few there is that even respects the few that is left to tell the story. So these 3 men settled on land joining, so they was always close neighbors. They always were to gather, living in calling distance. Your Grand fathers name was Jabos Raynolds, and Grand Mother was Aliza Myir (Myer). Note: This would have been Maternal grandparents of Elva Tucker Sciple. After living there close to 3 years in the wilds as it was, game was easy to be had. They had deer skins for carpets, black bear skins for rugs, fox and coon, mink and bever (beaver). Pelts for coats and caps. They took 2 large deer hides and soed (sewed) them to geather and stretched them while green, and with 4 poles, made a bed to sleep on. It would sag in the middle. They placed dry hay in the middle, shred (spread) a bear skin on top for a sneat. With more skins sewed to gather for covers, and by this wa y they started life. And each day would work clearing a little strip of land, that they could commence planting the tolling (following) year. There was an old Indian trading post 12 miles from where they lived, called New Lisbon (Wis.), and to this post they would go to get their munition and trade furs for traps, and such things as they realy had to have. Such as salt at 2 lbs. 25e, 1 lb. .15e, and sometimes no salt could be had at any price. The men would take turns going to the post to trade. The other 2 would stay with the women, although the women was to be respected when it come to a rifle shot as they was well trained. There was money great patches of very tall grap (grape) bushes. Nothing like the grape that you know. Each one has a little potato like on the root. They would pull this up and eat it. It was vary rich, with a test something like a filburt nut. In time they Joined with others and sent and a bag of potatoes and some corn for seed. Then planting begain. (began) So in time there was a child born, and it was named Dorkus (Dorcas), a little girl. At the age of 3 years, was taken sick with a fever and never did get well, leaving her demented and never could talk. And at the age of 30 she was taken sick with a fever and lost her mind. Leaving her bed one stormy night, wandered out in the feald (field) and feled (fell) in a mud and water and drowned, where she was found the next morning. And that was the fate of your first aunty. There was runners sent from each home to spread the sad news. People gathered from all parts of the wilds. With song and grayer, she was laid to rest in a unmarked grave. She sleeps alone there. God onely knows the spot. But still there was other aunties. One by the name of Emma, a girl of 17, the pride of the land who was loved by every one that knew her. She was a moddel arid-very pretty. She married a young man by the name of Hance Larson, of which no one in the neighborhod a proved of. The young people was much put out, because of this marrage. We missed her at all of our parties. We hadent long to wait. In side of 1 year we carried out last tribute to her funeral. With our last farewell to one that was loved by all. She died in child berth. She to (too) is buried in a unmarked grave, but the child still lives--a girl. There was 3 girls left. The names was Annie, your Mother. She also was a very pretty girl--blue eyes, rosy cheaks, ful brests, pretty form, and very lady likein her manners and gentle in her words. She was a loveable woman. She to is at rest in Filipsburg (WRONG* Long Island) Kansas. (Note: She, too, died in childbirth, and she and the baby are buried together). There is 2 more. One by the name of Nestor, married a nice young man by the name of Charley Wood. They lived at Oakdail, Monroe Co., Wis. They was working for the C.M. and S.T.P. Milwaukee and Saint Paul Railroad Co. The other girl (Dorinda) married a man by the name of Joash (Joshua) Wood, a fine man. I don't think either of them are living now. If so, they would be 85 or 90 years old. Her name was Drindy (Dorinda) Reynolds. They had 2 or 3 boys, and meby (maybe) some of them are living around there some where. If wo, a latter a ddressed to any Wood pt Stoal Station, Monroe Co., Wis. would find one of them, and you would get answer. Also, you had 4 uncles. There was Frank and Bill, and Montgomery, who was a preacher, and a mighty fine, onest (honest) man and a true soul. Montgommery moved to a town by the name of Trembelo, Trembelo Co., Wis. He also had 2 sons. He also moved there about the same time we started for the West. Gomery married a girl by the name of Aby (Abbey) Buzel. Her parents lived in Trumblo Valley, Trumbelo Co., Wis. And the uncle by the name of Calton Raynoalde lived on Shelrock River in Iowa. I have forgotten the Co. He lived in a big stone house. You slept in it for a week. You children would play each day in the water of the Shel Hiver, picking up pebbles. Prehaps you have forgotten it as you was a child. And another uncle by the name of Ike. I will leave Ike now until later. I have tried to think where your grand parents are buried. I have forgotten. They died after your Mother came West, but it is true your grandmother held you in her arms and kissed you money times, and your little baby eyes looked in hers. Also, your Grandmother Tucker arms held you. If I remember right, your Grand-mother Tucker was with your Mother at your birth. But how ever after your parents was married, they left the Bear Creek country and moved to Mauston, a little town 30 miles East of Bear Creek. The town had about 1600 inhabents (inhabitants). And they built a building and lived upstairs, with a picture galery below, and remained therefor a short time until the Western fever struck the country. While every body was going West that could get a way, our papers was ful of all kinds of stories, Indians and fights. More fights, the better, and it was come boys, lets go. And we went. Yes, I have been some scout. I have seen both aides of the mountains, the plains, and the oroad prayers, the howl of the wolf, and the crotch (screech) of the cougar. As I set alone, my heart sinks within my bres; as I long for those days that has gone in history. No matter how distasteful it is, we cannot change our distney. We bow our heads to conditions and old age. It is hard for the old frontier to quit, and listen to the ringing of the little village church bell, or a gossiping old woman at prayer. When we start in life on the long trail, with our hearts full of hopes end joy, we defy aney defeats. I have climbed tall trees (trees) to get the lay of the countery, and would draw maps and get the lay of the countery. And as I am today , I relize my race is near run. And to know that all of my dear loved ones have gone to the Home of Rest, I often foal as if I would love to join them. 0 why should the spiret of mortal be proud, like a fast flying motor (meteor), a slow moving cloud. It's a flash of lighten (lightening), A break of the wave. We pas (pass) from this life to our rest in our grave. Now we will return back to your youngest uncle, Ike (Reynolds). Well, this uncle, your Mothers brother, married a mighty fine lady. But this uncle stepped out of the lines of proprity (propriety) and married a half-bread (breed). Her Mother was a very hand some white womand, and her father is a neigro, or a negro. They had 2 prety (pretty) girls. How strange it'is, but it is true. My Mother, your Grand Mother (Tucker) knew this woman when she was a girl in Milwaque (itilwakee), Wis. When Mother and Father lived there, this woman washed for Mother there. The cause of her marring (marrying) this negro, her parents would not let her marrie (marry) the man of her hearts choice, so she married the colored jentleman (gentleman). And as that part of the countery was very remote and wild, they to went West to grow up with the countery along with the root of the white. folks. Half and half. And settled in the most thicket of pine and oak timber, and the devil could not find them. Although her people tried for years to find their kidnaped daughter. When I tell you that they lived in the wilds, there was a high role (knowl), heavy covered with great large oaks trees 2 and 3 feet through, and the lower lands was covered with heavy white pine With this spot being much higher the dear usto come on this oake ridge and paw the snow, and dig up acorns and eat them Winters. And in Autumn the bear was what we old timers called thick. There could be seen 3 and 6 at atime. This old colored man had one of those long Contucky (Kentucky) Rifels, and he could knock the hed (head) of from a squirl as far as he could see it. About a quarter of a mile was as pretty a stream as aney living man ever saw. Its banks was covered with the most butiful soft mapl that ever grew. Its banks was just one bed of green gras, an in sumner Pinks and those Tiger Lilies. It was ful of fish and fur and mink and some outter, muskrats, coon. And aney amount of Black Berries, and on the ridg plenty of wild strawbery. So much so they maid gather plenty for the year around. The neighboros did not bother those people, nor did they, for it was some years before other settlers come in to that neck of the woods. Then came hunters and trappers, then timber locaters. My Mother and Father went into that countery at the close of the Civil War. My uncle (Luis Claflin) and Anty had moved in there before the Civil War, shortly after your Grand Parents. Your people had lived there about 6 or 7 years before my Uncle moved into that part. Their name was Luise (Luis) Claflin. They went there from Milwaukee, Wis., the year I have forgotten. It was before my time. I have set and listened to those old timers beside the old fire place. As there was no stoves in the countery, all of the cooking was done over the fire place. As my memery goes back to those days, and the old men setting on a long bench, smoking and chewing their tobaco, spitting in the fire, telling how (to) skin a bear, and hcw to dry deer meat. Soak it in strong salt water, strip the meat all of (off) the bons (pones), hang it on poles over the fire place until dried. Bear meat is not so good because it is to sweet. Bear lived on acorns nostely and grubs from roten (rotten) wood and fish. You say how can a bear catch fish? Well, I will tell you. Meney year a go I was building a saw mil in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon, and the mill was on a branch that led from Snake River, and the hed of the branch was in the Blue Mountains. And the salmonds fish would run up this stream to lay their eggs. And Mr. Bear seemed to know this, so he goes to the stream, and will find a bend in the creek, an into the watter, setting up in the stream. The water will prehaps be about 16 inches or 2 feet deep. And there he wil sit all day until Mr. ish comes along. Nine times out of 10 the fish will swim close to the bear. An with one swop, Mr. Bear throws the fish slick and clean out on the bank, and Mr. Bear is on the bank just about the same time the fish is. Then he eats it, and then he will take up another watch, and so until the salmon quits running. And Mr. Bear sees every fish that goes up that creek, and if he has not caught the first one, he will change his place at once until the fish pases (passes) closely to him. One Sunday, I and a old timer went up the creek hunting, as it is not safe for one to hunt in those mountians (mountains) alone. Aspaciely (especially) at that time, for there is other animals that has claws also fishing. We had went up the stream about 2 miles, watching every bend an also the strates (straights}, very slow. Mr. Curn (probably "Rearm") was a head. Son (soon) he said, by the motion of his hand, to stop, then pointed. And sure, 0 boy, there set Mr. Black on his honchos (haunches), to busy fishing to notice us, although was well concealed. Mr. Curn said, now watch and we will see some fun. And we stood there for abot (about) one hour. We was a.fraid he might sent (scent) us. We did not want to shoot him because it was out of season. As we had good rifels with us, we wanted to see him catch a fish. Soon, quick as a flash, that big brute made one swoop in the water and threw a Salman fish slick and clean out on the bank. The fish hit the bank and bounded like a rubber bal (ball). At the same time Mr. Bear made a wonderful leap to the bank. For some reason he missed his footing. In the scramble Mr. Fis. got away. Mr. Bear roaled (rolled) over in the water, got up, shook his head, looked around for a minut. Just as if he had discovered his mistake, then moved up stream about 20 feet and took up his Position a gain. In about a half hour, he was sitting very still. As quick as a flash out went a nother fine fish, He also bounded like a rubber bal, but Mr. Black was there and struck that fish with his paw as you would slap a small play ball, and Mr. Fish was dead. It was all done so quickly. That Mr. Bear taught me a wonderful lesson of which I never shall forget. I think that fish would 3 or 5 lbs. a judgin from the distent where we stood. Aney how Mr. Bear fell to eating his fish and we went home and left him to catch more fish. The big bear is still living, I hope. Now we will return back to your uncle Ike. It was in October. I have forgoten the year. Ike went out for a days hunt, as it was the custom of us boys to try and find a new hunting ground. This day, Ike told us boys he was going to the North branch of the Lemon Ware River to see what signs of game that could be found. It was about 5 miles due North, ns we had been in that part of the countery the year before. So one morning about day break he started. 5 miles was no distence for us to go, but he went much farther up the branch, and found a little log house setting up on a little ridg, and a big curl of smok coming out of a chimney. It was going straight up and disappeared among the tops of the tall timber. He stood and watched the smoke for a little while. So he got anxious to know who lived there and what they looked like. So he made a big scircle (circle) around the house, until he got a good front view of the door, and he waited for some one to come out. After about 1 hour the door opened, and a woman came out. She stood for a few minutes and went a few steps farther, looked all around, then went little farther to a wood pile, and stoped and snifed the air as if she was very suspicous of something or she had a hunch that something was lurking about. Picking up her wood and went in the house. It would make you laugh to hear him tell it. Of cours in those days people was always on the lookout. But how little did he know in side set 2 maidens, sewing on their new fur coats, the furs that their father traped iron the waters of the North branch of the Lemon Ware River, as their Mother had her coat made. After satisfing (satisfying) his coursity (curiosity), and saw that it was a White woman, he started for home, keeping on the higher parts of the highlands, and saw meney good signs, then turned to the more lower part of the heavy timber. As the sun comenced to bow below the tops of the trees and the night shades would soon thicken. So he made good time, making notes of signs. Saw 2 dear, but no chance for a shot. There was plenty bear signs in the Oak timber. Ikie had to come by our home so he stoped in and had supper with us, and told of the signs, and gave the lay of his days jurney (Journey), and the little log cabbon on the ridg. There was good signs of Mink, Coon, and Oter, also signs of a trapper, of which was the man that lived in the cabben. We chated the even away, and all re-tired for the night. Ike promised to make a nother trip to the cabbon. We was told of a Black man living up there by a Indian that had seen him often. We asked where he lived and we was told way up on the North Branch. Ikie did not. see him, he onely was the white woman. The next year Ikie went hunting again, and went to the cabben. The smoke from the chimney was still going to the top of the tall treas. It is a rual (rule) in those days, when going to a back womans house or cabben, to fire a shot, and by so'doing it will notify them of your coming. If you should fire a shot aney distent (distance) they in return win fire a shot also in answer to the shot that you fired. If close, they will come out to meet you and ask you in. It was so in tris case. Also, you will stand your gun out side. leaning against the house by side the door, and go in. If it is aney near mealtime, you will be asked. Dont you go away until after dinner is served. If you do, you have insulted the whole tamely (famuly), and you will not be asked to call sgain. Not so in this case. Ikie, knowing those rules, fired his gun when he was about 2 or 300 fee (feet) from the house. It was about 10 or 11 A.M., and Good morning, Mr. Good morning was the reply. Ikie did not know what to say, being confronted with this big giant of a black man. They shook hands. The Negro asked, saying, "Good God,man. Where did you come from?" Then the white lady came to the door. Sure, he had to come in, and seated himself on a bench beside that dear old fire place that he watched the long curls of smoke claming to the top of those tall tress one year ago on that beautiful October day. His first visit to the cabbon or. the little hill, near the North Branch of the Lemon Ware R. And Ikie had to tell who he was and who his neighbors was. And when he spoke of the Tuckers and the Clatlins, the Misses quistoned (Questioned) him very clostly (closely). And when she told him that she worked for Mrs. Tucker in Milwaque, Wis., they knew Mrs. Tucker. These news made Ikie feel more at home. Then they felt like friends. So Ike told Mrs. Lee that he would stop and see Mrs. Tucker on his way home, and tell Mrs. Tucker that Mrs. Lee was living on the Marta Branch, and that she said she worked for her when she was living in Milwaukee, Wis. And Ike stopped and staid all night and told Mother about Mrs. Lee, and Mother was awful suprised. So your Uncle Ike was the go beteen (between) and carried notes. And one day here come Mrs. Lee to see Mother. And when Mrs. Lee walked in clad in a $1200.00 fur coat on of her own make, of Beaver skins and trimed with Black Mink skins, hanging to her shoe tots, with a wide belt made of Black Mink also. I am sure I never saw as pretty a tning in my life as that coat was. And her cap was made of Muskrat skin and and the part that foldec down over the ears, to keep them warm in Winter, also was made of Black Mink. I win truthful say, that cap new would bring in the market of today not less than $$0.00. I never can forget now Mother looked, she was so taken back, and could not find words to say. When Mother knew Miss Luscinda she was working for Mother as a house keeper, and Mother knew of all of her love affairs, and when she married the dark man and flew the city. And after money years that had gone by and forgotten, the 2 of them met in a log cabben in the wilds of Northern Wis. It was no wonder that those 2 woman was surprised. They had a crying spell and would laugh. Mother did not let her go home that night, and I think they set up all night talking over the early days of the city of Milwaukee, Wis. Mrs. Lee told Mother that it took her 2 years to make that coat and cap, and that black man traped the fur from the North Branch of the Lemon Ware River. At those days in that countery, women could have that kind of coat just as well as not. Onely trap the fur and tan it with oak bark. And me, just a boy, got stuck on that woman and that coat. This woman became your uncles (Ike) Mother-in-law, and she was a good true soal (soul). Mother and her became friends once more, and visited 2 and from until death parted them. So it foes in life. Ikie made meney visits to the cabon, and he and the madens (maidens) of the wilds became close friends. They would take long walks through the wilds of the forests. She would pin the wild rose on his coat. He would brads (braid) tie wild lillies and pinks in reaths (wreathes) for her hair. They would catch fish from the waters of the peaceful stream, of which seamed to them as if it bad (bade) them welcome to its banks. They would under the Maples shades. She would take him to meney pretty spots along its green shores that she knw long before she knew him. Thwy often would visit this pretty stream, a nd strol (stroll) along its green shores. While they stood one day on one of those pretty spots under those shady of Maple trees and all nature never seemed so grand. Gazing in tho waters, watching the sands roaling (rolling) with the current of time, he asked her if she would love to become his wife. She did not answer. Her had fell on his breast. As there was no reply, he raised her head and looked those dark eyes, and they was blinded with tears. Of Joy---with meney thants (thanks) to the pretty green spots on the banks of the North B. So life is like a mighty river roling on from day to day. Men and women launched up on it, oftimes reeked (wrecked) and caste away. So lets us do the best for one a nother, making life a plesent (pleasant) dream, and help a porr and weary brother, piling (pulling) hard against the stream. But how little did they think of, or how long was that little trail that led from the log cabin to that pretty spot on the bank of the pretty stream where all nature seemed so grand. This trail was winding through the wild woods to the lands of their dreams, and that glorious lamp of Heaven sent its bright rays through those branches to light their path as they wandered to the banks of that pretty strew. The timber has gone. The banks and the stream has faded a way. The log cabben is no more. The waters of the stream has dried up. Nothing is left to mark the spot, nor the stream, onely the old creek bed. All has faded a way. Fathers and Mothers have answered to that call of the Master, beyond the shores of time. I do teal thankful that I never did feel any indifferent (indiference) tord (toward) those people, nor against the marriage. If he was white and she dark, there was 2 true soals (soles). And I will truly say I did believe that they was the happiest people I ever saw. And if they are living today, they are very old people. Not less than 65 years old. I called on them in their little new home of 2 rooms, and there was a bright light mid the gloom, and that light was true love. It sure was funny to hear them tell about their courtship. Their P.O. was Oak Dale, Monroe County, Wis. It must be that they had a child or 2. If so a letter would reach some 1 of the family, if they did not get that bee in their bunnet of go West. He had a milk rout the last time I saw him, and then he was delivering his milk out to Cake Dale. I can see him now. It was a very cold day in December, and he told me that he was damn near frozen---and me sitting heare, the 3 day of Oct. with door and window open at 10:30 P.M., and the little crickets churping their seetist (sweetest) songs. Can it be possible that I am the onely one that is left to tell the stone of old? If so, how lonely I must be. It would be the greatest pleasure in the world if onely I could make a visit to the old place and take you with me, and hunt up those old places and the old homstead of your Grand Parents. 2 years ago I found an old timer and he was living in Susparta, Wis., and he was 88 years old. He was arested one time for killing an Indian, and I saw him do it, but he was found "not guilty". I swore he did not do it, so he got free. But he did. He is dead also. His name was Charley Carter, one of our neighbors. He married a girl by the name of Genie Write (probably Wright). There was 3 sisters in the Tamely. And they lived in the heavy wooded parts in among the heavy Oaks, big trees, in a log house. There was 1 brother by the name of Bill. He and his father was not home this day, and the girls saw a big bear coming up the path to the house, and they made a hasty retreat in to the house, shut and put the bar acrost (acrossed) the door. And the Mother stood on guard with a double bearl (barrel) shot gun. 1'nd 2 of the girls got on the bed, and Genie crald (crawled) under the bed. And ever once in a while, Genie would poke her head out and ask if he was coming. And we would often ask her to tell us the bear stories. Meney things like that, of which is very funney. Yes, Dear Elva, I could write money funney stories like that . Like my cousin and his dog and a very large wild cat in the top of a fallen tree, in a hand to hand fight. And of a deer jumping over a big log, and the bear and Uncle in the river, and the haunted hous that I lived in during the World War, and meney more of which is funny. So I will bring this story to a close. Wishing you to excuse this poor letter as my hand is not steady, and I am forgetting to spel, and I don't place my words in the proper places. I am just about to the end of my writing or trying to scribe (scrible) at a tall, as I find I am sliping each day by day. I notice it more now than I used to. With love and best wishes to you both and all of your dear loved ones. I remain as always your loving Uncle F.W. Tucker PO Box 435 Willow Brook, Cal. Oct. the 3, 1930