Christie Gymer is Margaret's sister, who moved 'far away' to Illinois. I have an 1889 letter where she complains that no one back home, except Grandpa Gymer, ever writes her. She asks for news of the Donald Morrison affair, saying 'although I am far, I am still very interested.' In a letter below, from 1905, she describes how another sister, Sarah Wood, comes to visit her (with an idea to perhaps moving to US). Christy is still lonely, it seems, for family. She says Sarah leads a miserable life, with a miserable husband and uncaring daughters. Margaret must have felt lucky. I have a number of letters over the years (until the 30's) from sisters Sarah (in Sarnia Ontario and Christie in Evansville, Illinois). Christie lives until  late in her nineties, but she loses a beloved son in WW1, and I have that sad sad letter as well. (He is a doctor who dies of pneumonia on the front.) I have an interesting letter from the 30's from Sarah, saying "she never thought she'd live to see the day grown men are begging for food on the street." The Depression! Many of these Lewis women were sad, its seemed (although they probably wrote letters to vent). Margaret was not. Despite her difficult life, she was joyful to the end, say her grandchildren. As one granddaughter put it: "Lots of women  Granny's age were dour, walking around dressed in black, toting Bibles, but not Margaret." The most dramatic letters are from preacher relatives, see below. They could write well (it was a pre-requisite for the job) and they were full of vivid descriptions of human suffering (another pre-requisite?).


This is the country Mr. Nicholson ought to be in. He could get bark delivered at the depot in Airlie for 1.25 per cord. We got some to burn. I like it for baking or ironing. It keeps such a steady fire. The bark here is so thick on the trees and they are so big, there are plenty of them 300 feet high. They are from five to nine feet through. They call them fir but I cannot tell them from the hemlock at home. There is a great deal of oak.It is so  cheap, but it don't make much difference for we don't need much of it. Ain't cold. There are miles of land covered with oak. This is a great place to raise hogs. The hills are full of wild ones. Archie has been at one boar hunt. They ride after them on horseback. They are very fine meat. It is great sport.

E. M Kirkland to Marg Nicholson 1889…Airlie, Oregon.

Dear Sister Maggie,

Well, Maggie, I imagine I see you going into the church just now for it is just seven o'clock on Sunday evening and I wish I could go to church. To think what a fellow has to do to make a living. It has snowed all day and is still snowing. It is snowing and blowing something fearful here today. The worse I saw this time of the year. Our car is rocking with the winds that I can hardly write.  I don't think we can work tomorrow but I don't care very much for my pay. But I am getting on alright. I have nine men now plenty to eat and to wear. The master carpenter wrote to me to put on more men but men are hard to get here.  So long as a man has his health, no reason to complain. You should see the fine cattle that is shipped here every day. I am thinking of going into raising cattle next spring. I think it is the best thing a man can do out here. No risk to run
Your loving brother, Dan.

Williston, North Dakota, October 1898.

Dear Cousin,

We had a delightful winter, all our snow came in March and now just a little to be seen. Little Evelyn has been quite sick. She had inflammation of the lungs and pneumonia. She was pretty bad for a while.Now she is better. Going around again, although not strong yet. Lizzie is always busy with housework, sewing for herself and the children, helping the neighbours, taking painting lessons, painting pictures, doing church work and a little of everything. I have not seen Mr. Watters since he moved to Newton. Annie called one day. How are all the girls?  I think you might let Edith come to see us in the spring. Lizzie met John D. McNaughton in the car last week in Boston. He is well and boasting of a little girl in the house.

Yours truly
A J McLeod
Somerville Mass. March 30, 1906

Well, I am coming along about as usual, gradually increasing in my business. Of course, I am doing some poor families, from which the profits will be small, if any, but in time I think I can get into a good paying practice with comparatively easy work. We have had very pleasant weather about two weeks ago, since then very changeable and cold. Politics is now taking a back seat to business in this commonwealth and business is again coming forward. The shoe business has made qutie a start of late and will do more and more in January and February.  Next page