After a week off to promote some historical fiction, we're back to the real-life story of Ethel Nelson and Noah Draper and their courtship letters of 1911. For a record of all the courtship letters, see the Genealogy Posts Index.
In honour of Remembrance Day, I'm showing you a photo of Noah taken while he served in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve during 1916-1919.
I'm not sure when the photo was taken, so he could have been an Ordinary Seaman (OS), or an Able Seaman (AB) at the time, but it was in a batch of photos in Ethel's treasure box that Noah took while in England.
I'll post the letters and photos of those WW1 war years in chronological order after these.
I'm not sure when the photo was taken, so he could have been an Ordinary Seaman (OS), or an Able Seaman (AB) at the time, but it was in a batch of photos in Ethel's treasure box that Noah took while in England.
I'll post the letters and photos of those WW1 war years in chronological order after these.
Author of Letter: Ethel Isabell Nelson, age 21
Dated: Apr 2, 1911
Addressed to: My Dear Noah (This is the first time either of them has used their given name only, without surname or title. And a first for the endearment to start off the letter.)
Mailed from: Belhaven, Ontario
Relationship: Courting
Profession: Farmer's Daughter
Writing instrument: Fine point pen, Black ink
Written on: Slightly thick, textured, linen-like paper, 9 inches x 6.5 inches, folded in half. Ethel has written on the pages in order from 1 to 4, so it reads like a book.
People mentioned in this letter:
- Sadie - Sadie Nelson, Ethel's 16 yrs old sister
- Mr. Flint - James Nelson's hired man
- Bruel's - Maud *Bruel
- Ethel - Ethel Maud Rigler - Noah's older sister
- Hugh Sedore's Family - the Sedore's are related by marriage to Noah via his sister, Ethel Maud Rigler
- Della *Mahoney
- Uncle - whichever one lives en route or in Belhaven
*Look under the Categories/Labels in the right column for more on posts on this person.
Mentioned in this letter: Diphtheria - see Genealogy notes below
Dated: Apr 2, 1911
Addressed to: My Dear Noah (This is the first time either of them has used their given name only, without surname or title. And a first for the endearment to start off the letter.)
Mailed from: Belhaven, Ontario
Relationship: Courting
Profession: Farmer's Daughter
Writing instrument: Fine point pen, Black ink
Written on: Slightly thick, textured, linen-like paper, 9 inches x 6.5 inches, folded in half. Ethel has written on the pages in order from 1 to 4, so it reads like a book.
People mentioned in this letter:
- Sadie - Sadie Nelson, Ethel's 16 yrs old sister
- Mr. Flint - James Nelson's hired man
- Bruel's - Maud *Bruel
- Ethel - Ethel Maud Rigler - Noah's older sister
- Hugh Sedore's Family - the Sedore's are related by marriage to Noah via his sister, Ethel Maud Rigler
- Della *Mahoney
- Uncle - whichever one lives en route or in Belhaven
*Look under the Categories/Labels in the right column for more on posts on this person.
Mentioned in this letter: Diphtheria - see Genealogy notes below
| Belhaven, Apr 2, 1911, My Dear Noah, --- Well here I am to scratch you off another letter, but means this is my first one I guess this is not another. (Sadie Lib.) P.S. I forget to tell you that it wasn't me that wrote that just above the first paragraph. Hello! I guess Sadie thot she would write you a few lines, as you will see, I got my paper ready, and off to get my ink when I came back paper was gone, So I hunted up some more. and wandered again, came back I found a letter already written to you. So I guess you are going to get two this time. |
| 2. Our hired man, Mr Flint, is turning the organ up a little He certainly under stands music Studied it for nearly nine years. Is playing a piece. (Love will not let me go) now (Some blessed day) --- bye & bye, (eh, Two very fine pieces. Have been home all day so far, but think I will go up to church to-night. Sadie & I were to have gone to Bruel's for tea. Mr Hugh Sedore's have the Diptheria. We phoned six times for a Doctor for them before we could one to come. Sedore was here the day the Doctor came. |
| 3. I hope we escape with out it. Well Easter will soon be here.. Guess I will take a trip up to see you. (in my mind) How many eggs may I have if I come? I'll help you with all that work you have to - do. Say what is strawing, anyway. Now don't laugh at my ignorance. I guess you know simple me. Della Mahoney is down to Toronto. I wonder what for. I wish I could go tenting. It will be rather cool at present won't it. Do you stay with Ethel now? Our hired man ask Pa if it was oats he had sowed out here in this field by the house. |
| 4. What kind of a Farmer do you think he will be? Sadie is getting ready to go over to Uncle's, and she is going to post this, so guess I will have to close for this time. Hope this finds you able to be as busy as ever. Say the mistakes are in this letter are not to be counted Bye Bye. With Love from Ethel, xxxxxx xxx xx x P.S. Can you imagine how slow I be, Sadie has gone. and here is my letter, so I guess I will be in for a walk up to Belhaven to-morrow. It'll be worth the walk, "eh" if I get your letter. (it sure will) |
Genealogy Notes
Diphtheria: Since this is an infectious disease and I don't want to give erroneous information, I'm going to quote from the Public Health Agency of Canada website:
| Diphtheria is disease that affects primarily the upper respiratory system and is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The bacterium is most commonly spread through person-to-person contact. Diphtheria can be prevented by a vaccine. Canada has included diphtheria in its infant immunization schedule since the 1930's. The success of this program led to a dramatic decline in the number of cases, with very few occurring in Canada since the early 1950s. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends immunization against diphtheria. Some persons infected with diphtheria do not look or feel sick; others develop a sore throat, fever and chills and have difficulty swallowing within 2 to 5 days of becoming infected. This is followed by the formation of a gray, thick membrane at the back of their nose, mouth and/or throat. Complications of the disease include suffocation, paralysis, heart failure, coma and death. One in 10 people with diphtheria die. |
Ethel is right to be worried about the disease as it is spread in the same way as the common cold. I can't tell you how many people died - especially children - from diphtheria before a vaccine was discovered. Here are some facts:
- 1924 was the worst year in Canada with 9,000 cases of diphtheria recorded
- diphtheria was one of the most common causes of death in children from 1 to 5 years old
- and again from the Public Health Agency of Canada website: "The number of diphtheria cases is highest during the colder months in temperate zones. In the tropics, seasonal trends are less distinct. In North America, vaccination has greatly reduced the incidence of diphtheria; however, diphtheria was a major problem in countries of the former Soviet Union during the 1990s, with over 150,000 cases and 4500 deaths reported during 1990-1995."
So yes, Ethel should be worried, and yet it's scary how casual she states the fact.
- 1924 was the worst year in Canada with 9,000 cases of diphtheria recorded
- diphtheria was one of the most common causes of death in children from 1 to 5 years old
- and again from the Public Health Agency of Canada website: "The number of diphtheria cases is highest during the colder months in temperate zones. In the tropics, seasonal trends are less distinct. In North America, vaccination has greatly reduced the incidence of diphtheria; however, diphtheria was a major problem in countries of the former Soviet Union during the 1990s, with over 150,000 cases and 4500 deaths reported during 1990-1995."
So yes, Ethel should be worried, and yet it's scary how casual she states the fact.
