Conversations with several people about hurtful memories prompted me to write this. I just needed to get some thoughts off my chest - shout at the void, so to speak - to clear my mind. Out of respect for readers, and my immediate family, I try to avoid such topics (and I will NOT go into specifics), but the issue comes up from time to time.
So...painful memories. We all have them, right? It certainly is worse when those memories are associated with family. I have older family members who are reluctant to share much if any stories about Streeter. They would probably be surprised to know that I know quite a bit about certain incidents that may or may not have influenced their opinions. Now, let me be clear, I understand that sometimes people are just not interested at all in family history. That is a different matter altogether.
When I was a child (about 8 years old) my grandmother was in her 80s. I was young, but pretty alert for a kid. Nothing escaped my attention, especially family dirt. Those stories got passed down from generation to generation. We all make mistakes. Some of us are just lucky that we kept them a secret. I certainly wouldn't want everyone to know the very stupid decisions I've made. I learned a long time ago to accept myself 100%. If you look for people to affirm your every decision, both past and present, you will be a very unhappy and bitter person.
I did not start this research before knowing a lot of these stories in the first place. I don't worship my ancestors, and I certainly understand they made decisions that for some people are unforgivable. I don't have any easy solutions for this (for the people who are still angry). Speaking from my own experience, I find forgiveness to be the ultimate antidote to some of the small-minded, petty, or outrageous things that people say and do. It certainly makes things more difficult when these people are "family" or related in some way. But, I have found growth from having the courage to love and forgive.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
Letter from Jonathan Calvin Harvey to Isaac N. Harvey (1888)
This is an item that is a part of a collection that Vernon Pack recently sent to me. He deserves many thanks for including these materials. The rest I am uploading soon into the photo and document archive on the blog (look for the tabs on the home page).
The letter, written June 24, 1888, was mailed from Vandalia, WV. Vandalia was the name for Streeter before the name change. Jonathan Calvin Harvey communicates the very hot temperatures, recent severe storm, and resulting crop damage to his father Isaac (coincidentally, there is a photo of both men in the archive via Vernon).
(my notes are in brackets and there are footnotes):
Vandalia Summers Co WVA
June The 24th 1888
In ancer [answer] to your letter dated the 12th of this inst [instance] I will Say That I was glad to hear from you and that you was well as common. I will Say that we have had some of the hotest weather for this time of year I think I ever felt. The mercury was up to 105 degrees and it has been dry weather up to a bout the 20th of this month. Sam Pack* had to grinde by hand**but on the evening of the 20th I went to the mill after a turn of meal and as I came back I had to take of my turn and Saddle and get under the clift and Stay Till near by night. It rained and hailed So and it has rained every day but once Since Same and Some places corn has been beat nearly in the ground with hail. John Basham+ Said that his crop was clear ruined he said that it washed his corn ground all of just leaving the marks of the plow and I guess that Adam's++ crop is hurt too. My corn looks very well I got over it the first time the 15th about ten o'clock on friday morning and I have been working in the backin [a back corner]] for Buck Wheat Since I got it fenste [fenced] and the logs on the part I have clear roled [rolled] but I have been near by past going with my back for over two weeks. The rest off [of] the family is in common health. Dow's^and Jim's^^ famileys is well and the people in general as far as I no [know] is well.
I got a letter from Putman [Putnam] yesterday and you can gess hoo [guess who] it is from he was as well as common and that was a good country crops range... it to waste [waist] high and that tobacco was same as large as a palm lief [leaf] hat on the hill. he did not say what he was doing but that he was in the Bird Settlement [Raleigh County community that no longer exists].
Basham+ has had a time with adline he had to take her with a war[a]nt of trespas and that did not do hardley any good. She is now gone to hinton with her cow and children So I will close for this time hoping those lines will find you well.
From J.C. Harvey To I.N. Harvey
*Samuel Pack, owner and operator of Streeter Mill.
** The water was not high enough for the water wheel to turn.
+ John Wesley Basham, my great grandfather.
++ V. Pack is not sure who he refers to here.
^ Lorenzo Dow Harvey, brother of Joshua Calvin.
^^James Harvey, Joshua Calvin's brother.
The letter, written June 24, 1888, was mailed from Vandalia, WV. Vandalia was the name for Streeter before the name change. Jonathan Calvin Harvey communicates the very hot temperatures, recent severe storm, and resulting crop damage to his father Isaac (coincidentally, there is a photo of both men in the archive via Vernon).
Vandalia Summers Co WVA
June The 24th 1888
In ancer [answer] to your letter dated the 12th of this inst [instance] I will Say That I was glad to hear from you and that you was well as common. I will Say that we have had some of the hotest weather for this time of year I think I ever felt. The mercury was up to 105 degrees and it has been dry weather up to a bout the 20th of this month. Sam Pack* had to grinde by hand**but on the evening of the 20th I went to the mill after a turn of meal and as I came back I had to take of my turn and Saddle and get under the clift and Stay Till near by night. It rained and hailed So and it has rained every day but once Since Same and Some places corn has been beat nearly in the ground with hail. John Basham+ Said that his crop was clear ruined he said that it washed his corn ground all of just leaving the marks of the plow and I guess that Adam's++ crop is hurt too. My corn looks very well I got over it the first time the 15th about ten o'clock on friday morning and I have been working in the backin [a back corner]] for Buck Wheat Since I got it fenste [fenced] and the logs on the part I have clear roled [rolled] but I have been near by past going with my back for over two weeks. The rest off [of] the family is in common health. Dow's^and Jim's^^ famileys is well and the people in general as far as I no [know] is well.
I got a letter from Putman [Putnam] yesterday and you can gess hoo [guess who] it is from he was as well as common and that was a good country crops range... it to waste [waist] high and that tobacco was same as large as a palm lief [leaf] hat on the hill. he did not say what he was doing but that he was in the Bird Settlement [Raleigh County community that no longer exists].
Basham+ has had a time with adline he had to take her with a war[a]nt of trespas and that did not do hardley any good. She is now gone to hinton with her cow and children So I will close for this time hoping those lines will find you well.
From J.C. Harvey To I.N. Harvey
*Samuel Pack, owner and operator of Streeter Mill.
** The water was not high enough for the water wheel to turn.
+ John Wesley Basham, my great grandfather.
++ V. Pack is not sure who he refers to here.
^ Lorenzo Dow Harvey, brother of Joshua Calvin.
^^James Harvey, Joshua Calvin's brother.
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