February 19, 1885
To: Harvey Keith
From: Addie Geeslin, Wyattville, MN
They had gone to school the first part of the term, but it has been so cold that they stopped going. Her teacher, Dora, wasn’t a very good teacher. Five of Mr. Buswell’s children had scarlet fever. Asks if he is feeling better than last spring and whether he will stay in Michigan next summer.
Wyattville Winona Minn
Feb 19 1885
Friend Harvey
After so long will answer your letter. We are all well a present and hope this finds you the same. It has been awful cold here this winter. We[1] dont go to school. We went the first part of the turn but it got so cold we stoped going. Our teachers name is Dora. She isn’t a good teacher at tall.
Five of Mr Buswell children have got the scalet fever. There is lots of it in Winona. Have you seen Charlie Stage yet. She is out there yet. Do you feel any better then you did last spring.[2] Do you think you will stay in Michigan next summer.
Well I guess I have told you all the news.
From Addie S Geeslin
Write soon
——-
[1] Presume she means herself and her two sisters, Jennie and Jessie Geeslin
[2] See letter of April 5, 1884 from Harvey to his mother
This letter is among several which were loaned to Jim & Ruth (Stankey) Keith, probably back in the 1980s, by Ella Nola (Curtis) Eaton, whose husband, Clifford Eaton, was the great-great-grandson of James “Oscar” & Mary Ann (Batey) Keith. This is a photocopy of Ruth’s handwritten copy of the letter. Note: Jim Keith is the great-grandson of Charles Luke Keith Jr., who was James “Oscar” Keith’s uncle.
Letters & Diary Entries From the 1860s through the 1890s 