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Read the old family letters

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FROM: John Outman of Missouri
TO: His brother Stephen Outman in Pennsylvania

May 22, 1853 Dear Brother: I now take my pen in hand with a sorrowful heart to inform you of the death of brother JONAH. I have just had a nice letter from ORRIN OUTMAN stating that his father was taken sick on the 30th day of March, 1853 with a violent cold which settled on his lungs and inflamation set in together with the typhus fever and he died on the 13th day and was buried on the 14th day of April A.D. 1853. He also states that ALBERT was at the DARIUS STOFFARDS about two years ago, they was all well except his AUNT ABIGAIL. She had been ailing two or three years. She was barely alive. He states that JONAH went to Michigan about 3 years ago and bought 240 acres of land in the town of Athens, Calhoun County where they now live. I am living in the same place that I was when I last wrote to you. I wrote the last letter to you, although you promised me in your letter that you would write as often as I would and now if you are still alive and get this letter, I want you to write to me and let me know how you all do. I am now forty-eight years old the 18th day July next, we have got 7 children, three girls and four boys, their names are as follows: ELIZA PHILENA born Mar. 7, 1839; died Oct. 9, 1845 at age 6y7m2d UNITY CAROLINE born 14 Sept. 1841 MARY ANGELINE born 14 Oct. 1843 ARAMITY ANN born 7 July 1845 JOHN JACOB born 14 May 1847 STEPHEN S. born 13 April 1849 WILLIAM H. born 13 Feb. 1851 ROBERT C. born 3 Mar. 1853 I went to Illinois last December to see brother JACOB and his family. I found them all that is left of them. Two of the family have died since they moved there. ELMINA and WILLIAM are both dead. ELMINA got married to a very good Dutchman by the name of DEDRICK MYERS. Soon after they got to Illinois, but did not last but about a year. She died with the consumption. WILLIAM H. OUTMAN, JACOB's youngest son died a year ago with the typhus fever. ELSINA was married last New Year's Day to DEDRICK MYERS, the same man that was ELMINA's husband. I want to see you very much, but if we never more are permitted to meet in the flesh, my desire and prayer to God is that we may live and prepare ourselves here on earth while we are here filling our probation that we will meet in Heaven and have a seat at God's right hand, where parting will be no more, where our troubles and trials and pain and sorrow will all be at an end. My health has been very delicate and poor for a good many years. Last Winter a year ago, I was sick well nigh until death with the winter fever, but through the mercy of God I was permitted to recover my usual health again. I want you to write all about your family and tell me how you get along and give my love to your wife and to MARIAH and JAMES and all the rest of the family. No more, at present, but remain your affectionate brother until death. John

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FROM: Henry Savage of Illinois
TO: His cousin Betsey Outman

Virginia, Illinois Cass County August 15, 1856 Dear Cousin: Your letter dated July 25th I received some 3 days ago and accordingly I hasten to reply. I was glad to hear that you were all in usual health, but indeed very sorry for the untimely Death of COUSIN ELIZA, but such is the course of things "While in life we are in the midst of Death". Rheumatism seems to be a family disease, it had always been troubling Father from my earliest recollection and I think it was the cause of Uncle HY's death. Uncle PETE also is troubled with it and so is the younger members of our family troubled with it, although I never have. I feel sorry to hear of Uncle STEPHEN'S bad health and tell him for me that in writing to you, I feel I am writing to all of you and I feel I am writing for all our folks here also. Father's condition remains very much as when I wrote you, he takes exercise every day and enjoys very good health. The relatives all are well as far as I know. It has been very healthy here this summer and is I believe as healthy here as anywhere you can go. My Wife has a set of twin boys about a month old, hale and hearty, they weighed 9# apiece when they were first dressed and you see that while we have the finest crops of wheat and everything else, that our crop of boys is not short. I had 60 acres of wheat this year and produced 145 bushels of wheat, which I have hauled to market and worth one dollar per bushel. It is very hard to get help here in the home. I have tried 5 or 6 days to get a girl to cook and keep house. It takes FRANCES all her time to nurse the twins. I have Sister EMILY'S girl, MARY, about 13 years old, one of the best girls in the world to live with us, but we have to have another girl all the time as we have 1 to 3 hands besides ourselves to do for. Folks say there are alot of girls in the East, sometimes I think I'll come back there and persuade some of them to come back to the country where the demand is unlimited and none to be had for love or money, especially money. Tell your brother that I never got his letter nor any from any of the family but you. I should have been glad to have gotten it and would have answered it immediately as I take pleasure in communicating with any of the relatives. I would be glad to see you out here and hope you will come soon. If I could leave home conveniently I believe I should come out to your county this Fall, but ---- keeps me pretty close at home. I have a farm of 45 acres in cultivation besides timber and have --- acres that I intend to fence soon in addition to this I have 15 head of cattle and 2 --- all of which have to be watered out of wells. The season is so dry, there having been no rain of consequence since Spring. The branches are so dry, but our corn is very good. I have 10 acres of corn I think will turn out 40 to 50 bushels to the acre, but potatoes and vegetables of all kins is a perfect failure. Tell all the relatives there that we would be glad to see any of them out in this country. Give them my best respects and tell your brother to write again. Tell Uncle that I would be glad to see hime, that his name has been sounded in my ears from my earliest recollection by those who held and now hold him high in esteem and affection. Hope to hear from you again soon. I will continue as often as you "Letter for Letter". Your affectionate cousin Henry S. Savage

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FROM: John Outman of Missouri
TO: His nephew James Outman (son of Stephen)

St. Francois County, MO May 14, 1857 Dear Nephew: Yours of the 30th of April is now before me, in which with pleasure I hasten to answer. I am truly glad to have and more so that you are all alive. You said that if you did not get an answer you would think me dead or moved away. I now inform you that through the mercy and goodness of God, I am still alive, altho my health has not been very good in general. Last March I had an attack of fever that I only escaped the grave against all expectation. The rest of my family are all about, though bad colds prevail. We have had a mild open Winter here, all crops in soil wet, backward Spring, very little chance for plowing or planting. Many Farmers not done, myself with the rest, tho it looked like a bad prospect to plant at this late date. You state that you never saw me. Let me tell you that you are a little mistaken that you do not remember me. I will admit you was two or three years old when I left your Father. He then lived in Locke, Cayuga County, NY. You request to know how I was getting along. My answer is, not very well. Bad health, not being able to do a great deal of work has been a source of hinderance to me is one reason. Another reason is at present a tolerable large and expensive family, ten children. The three oldest girls, two of which are grown. Seven youngest boys, none of which are large enough to help me much yet. Consequently it keeps me poor and hard run to get along as I would wish to do. I am not able to build good buildings as I would like to do, but I shall live in hope as I do in despair. You wish to hear what a country a poor man has to migrate to. In that I can't ---- you of anything very promising. Times are hard. Money hard to get, altho property of nearly all kinds is high, but very little surplus. More buyers than sellers. Pikes Peak has wages high here this Spring, it has taken many men and money out of this part of the county, so a work hand can get good wages. But you are not doing anything at present, now that is the very fix I wanted to catch you in, for I can do better for you then that if you will come out here. You write you want to work at School Teaching and I expect you're very qualified. The job of teaching pays $30 per month. We shall need a teacher here in our District about the first of August. I have already spoken to the trustees of you and I believe you would get the school if you were here. There are always changes in other districts looking for a good school teacher. Come, I want you to come and see us and the country for yourself. Now if you come I suppose you will come to St. Louis by rail. I live 50 miles from St. Louis. You then take the St. Louis & Iron Mountain R.R. to DeSoto, from DeSoto, 14 miles. I am known there to a good many. Come through Valles Mines Plain Road. No more at present for the want of space. My best love to you all. John Outman

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FROM: John Outman of Missouri
TO: His brother Stephen Outman in Troupsburg, NY

St. Francois County, MO September 17, 1860 Dear Brother: Your letter of Aug. 24th came duly to hand and it is now before me. It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to read and understand that you are still the survivor of the pale nations of the dead, in the enjoyment of health and strength of body and mind. Your long silence to me gave me many doubtful forebodings that you had gone to the spirit land. Glad to hear of the health welfare and prosperity of you and yours, except CHARLES and HENRY. Sorry to hear of their afflictions and bad health. These are therefore to clearify unto you that me and mine are all in the enjoyment of a reasonable portion of health at present. I have had a great deal of sickness, afflictions and bad health in years that have passed and gone by from us forever. Tho, the present summer I am thankful to say I have enjoyed better health than I have for many years past and have got along better with my farming business. Nothing perhaps in this world, my Dear Brother, would afford one more pleasure than to see you once in time, and was I in circumstances to go and see you all I would do so, but when you take into consideration the condition of my family, twelve in number, besides comers and goers, ten children, three oldest girls, seven youngest boys. Now if you will put on your specks and look closely into my family you will see that I am stronger handed at the table than I am in the field, though my oldest boys, JOHN and STEPHEN are beginning to be some help, but I live in hopes for in a few years more if I should be spared and my boys too, I shall have a team that will be able to leave their mark. The last I heard from JACOB and his; some time ago they were all well. We live but two days travel apart yet we don't see nor hear from one another very often, he is as little account about writing as your are; or me either. His eldest daughter, one of the twins, ELMINA soon after he moved to Illinois, married a Dutchman and lived about one year and died. Then ELSINA married that same Dutchman. The last I heard from you was a letter I received from JAMES S. OUTMAN nearly two years ago, in which he stated your health to be bad. He also stated that he was out of business in this country. Knowing him to be in the practice of School Teaching, I wrote him an answer encouraging him to come and see us and the country and stay awhile and teach school for us and I had a school ready for him to commence the 1st of Sept. a year ago, here in my own district at thirty dollars per month. I expected him. The old woman looked for him, the girls and all the children longed for him to come. Every stranger they would see passing they would think must be cousin JAMES, but lo and behold, to their sad disappointment no cousin JAMES came. He never answered my letter which caused me to think that he was coming. I thought strange of him not coming. I never once dreamt of the reason as I know it now. I thought he had forgotten all about marrying as he had put it off so long a time and passed the flower of age. You say you still live in the church below and expect when you go hence, join the Church Triumphant above. I rejoice to hear and know heat and burden of the day, may many stars be added to your crown in the Paradise of God. We too live; M.E. Church here below and have for the last eight years and I trust have a well grounded hope for eternal life. A little over a year ago we had a protracted meeting here, The Cumberland Presbyterian and Methodist together in which were a good many souls converted to God, in the number, my two eldest daughters were I trust happily converted to God and joined the C.P. Church. Times rather hard, money scarce, wheat crops nearly a failure, wet spring, dry summer, good deal hot weather, corn crops not good in general, tho mine is tolerable good. Political very much excited at present about President making split up and divided, uncertain who will be elected. Write to JACOB direct to Virgennes, Jackson County, ILL. Give my love to JAMES and his wife and accept the best love and respect from us all. No more at present. Yours until death. John Outman Mary Outman

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FROM: Stephen Samuel Outman of Missouri
TO: His Uncle Stephen Outman

Avoca, Missouri Jefferson County February 28, 1871 Dear Uncle: I embrace this opportunity of writing as it is my Father's request. He would like to hear from you. I am now at home for the first for near three years, I have been in Kansas. Father is in pretty good health at the present time. He went over to see Uncle JACOB last November, accompanied by two of my brothers and my youngest sister. They, the children, were on their way to Kansas. Uncle JACOB's family were all well at that time. Times are pretty dull in this part at present. We had a very hard winter here. I haven't much to write of interest. I would like to see you as I am your namesake. I think I will come some time to pay you a visit. I believe I have nothing to write at present. Excuse my short note. Please write soon and let us know how you are. We are all well at present, save my youngest sister, she has the whooping cough. I hope this will find you all well. Your Nephew S. S. Outman

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FROM: William H. Outman (son of Geo. Outman & Letitia Hunter)
TO: Secretary of the Outman Reunions

Westfield, PA October 4, 1912 Dear Cousin: I forgot to say a few things in my letter that I calculated to have said to you people had I been fortunate enough to attend the reunion in person. I have lots of questions that I wanted to ask and one is this. Did you ever hear any of your people say that our people had and was known by another name: UTTERMAN "My father (GEO. GARY) says that his father, STEPHEN, called him to his bed side about 2 weeks before his death and said that the name OUTMAN was not our right name -- that our correct name was UTTERMAN, as above. He said that he and his brothers got together one time and agreed to change the name to some name with two syllables and after a time decided on OTTMAN, but later selected the name OUTMAN, as we have it." Kindly tell us what you know about it. I also forgot to tell you why I had not prepared my letter before. It was simply for the reason that I thought my sister and her husband were going to attend and I knew if they did they could tell you the whole story, see? There was a traveler here yesterday who said that he knew a man in Michigan by the name, EDWARD OUTMAN, a druggist. He said he had recently settled in Detroit. What do you know about him? Say, but this a great time of year. The trees are taking on many colors and the hills are just beautiful. Say, but I don't want W. H. OUTMAN of Marseilles to get the big head so will say what I said in regard to his letters was that they were the best I ever received --- from a man: Ha Ha. Guess that is all. Lovingly Will

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FROM: Letitia (Hunter) Flewellyn of Pennsylvania
TO: William Henry Outman in Illinois

Harrison Valley, Pa. December 27, 1914 Mr. Will Outman Marseilles, Illinois Dear Cousin & Family: Received your card yesterday, which reminded me to write and send the letters I promised so long ago. Some of them are torn, but will send them all. Are having some steady cold weather with lots of snow. We don't usually have such cold weather so early. Have you heard that ARCHIE is married to the GRASS widow from Sugar Hill a short time ago? He is living upstairs in the house where you visited them last summer. There has been quite a number of houses burned this winter, and many old people passed away. There is not anything more to write this time. Will close with love and best wishes to all. Letitia p.s. There were not as many old letters as I supposed there was.

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