Map showing migration of Henry Nelson and Eliza Crouch Nelson and their family from York County in Ontario to Atkins, Iowa. (brown line)
The Courtship Letter Special: July 20 From Ma & Sadie mentions this Iowa letter from Ethel's paternal grandma, Eliza Crouch...
| Author of Letter: Eliza Crouch Nelson Dated: July 14th, 19011 (1911) Addressed to: My Dear Son Mailed from: Atkins, Iowa (on last page after signature) Relationship: Ethel's paternal grandma Profession: Farmer Laborer's Widow Writing instrument: Fine Black Ink Written on: Off-white and yellowed with age, lined note paper, 5 1/2 inches by 9 inches. Note: This letter is easy to read if you sound out the words as they are written and ignore the spelling. People/places mentioned in this letter: |  Eliza Crouch Nelson ca. 1890 (1840-1919) |
| - Son and doter - Jimmey Ethel's parents: *James Henry Nelson and *Ida Amelia Glover |  James Henry Nelson (1864-1953) ca. 1905 |  Ida Amelia Glover (1874-1953) ca. 1905 |
| - George - **George Caleb Nelson, James's brother - Alice - Eliza Alice Nelson Wer, James's sister in California - Annie - Eliza Ann Nelson, James's sister |  Eliza Alice Nelson Wear (1869-1946) |
| - Mammey - Mamie E Fritz, wife of Emanuel - Emanuell - Emanuel Francis Nelson, James's brother |  Mamie E Fritz Nelson (1881-1916) ca. 1905 |  Emanuel Francis Nelson (1876 - unk ) ca. 1905 |
| - Annie - Eliza Ann Nelson, James's sister - Willes - Willis A Crouch, son of Eliza Crouch's brother, Alfred |  Eliza Ann Nelson (1872-1946) ca. 1917 |  Willis A Crouch (1862-1946) ca. 1917 |
- Mode - *Victoria Maud - Ida Amelia's sister with the newborn Ethel mentioned
- John - John Rogers - *Victoria Maud's husband
- Ida's mother - *Sarah Elizabeth Greenwood (Ethel's maternal grandma)
- Cristey - *Christy Maud, Ethel's 11 yr old sister
- 2 boys - Ethel's brothers, 6 yr old *Emanuel Henry and 3 yr old James A.
- Rose - Rosetta Nelson Cozad, James's sister
- Jim and hunkle from Canada - Unknown as the family tree is foggy at this level
- John - John Rogers - *Victoria Maud's husband
- Ida's mother - *Sarah Elizabeth Greenwood (Ethel's maternal grandma)
- Cristey - *Christy Maud, Ethel's 11 yr old sister
- 2 boys - Ethel's brothers, 6 yr old *Emanuel Henry and 3 yr old James A.
- Rose - Rosetta Nelson Cozad, James's sister
- Jim and hunkle from Canada - Unknown as the family tree is foggy at this level
Places mentioned:
- Caleforna - California
- **4th of July holiday
Phrase/Cliche: "prettey sick"
Legend:
* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this
person/place/thing. If you don't see a label, use the search box at the top of page.
** see Genealogy Notes below
| Julie 14 19011 Well my Dear son and doter and famley all as i got a letter and more from you i Was much saprised as i thoght you Was like gorge you ad for got that you ad a mother on the earth eney more but i Wos very glad to hear you Was well but sorey to hear of youre lose i Wos very glad to hear that you got youre in surence that Will help quite a bit o Gimmey i think you a very ondutifull son as you sertnley right oftener to your pore old mother how is skarce able to be a round i ave ad quite a sick spell |
| 2 a gain but i do thank god that i ame able to be up a gain We ave ad som of the hotest Wether i ever can rember of it Was 100 and 10 in the shade and we ave a dredfull storm the other nite it Was fearfull all nite long but i thank god that our lives Was spared. i got a letter from Caleforna and tha Was all Well but Alice and she wos prettey sick The folks hear is all rite so far i did not get eney card or eney thing about youre barn but mamey said tha did Emanuell is bisey harvisting his Wife and young |
| 3 ones Was down 2 days doing the Baking as i cod not and annie Went out and help to shok oats Well we ave lots of frout this year and the Cosn loks good now i ad a good time Wen i Was in Caleforna and i wood ave stade longer but the peapil that i went With tha got home sick and i did not like to Com back a lone i saw som Wonderfull sites Willes is a talking of seling is plase and if he do it may be posable we ma go out there a gain ari ave no one to stop With me so i must do som thing |
| 4 (across the top) did you get your pictor that mamey sent you i hope saday Will be able to teach Willes and anney as gone up to my garden to pick chereys and curents the treas Was so loded i sold 3 dolars Worth and there is lots yet so i told them tha cod ave them if tha ad a mint to pick them as i cod not now you give my love to mode and John and all so to Idas mother how is Cristey and tehm to boys Rose and her famley and Emanuell and his famley Was all down hear on the 4 asit is quite a holoday and tha made hyse Cream and ad a good time in general now as I ave told you turn over |
| 5 all i can think an i want you to be sure and ancer quick and dont for get and tell me how you are getting a long i was very much disapointed in not sean Jim and hunkle for i sure thoght if tha com to the states tha wood com and see me now as i cant think of eney more i Will say good by trusting god Will bles us all and gather us all in to is kindomn Wase parting Will be no more this is from youre loving mother mrs JH nelson Atkins Iowa |
Genealogy Notes
Genealogy Note #1 - Henry Nelson and Eliza Crouch
I've mentioned the Iowa branch of Ethel's family a time or two before in passing, but this is the first post detailing the Henry and Eliza Nelson family. (Hubby Nelson's 2 great-grandfather)
The Nelson family has been a mystery trying to figure out because one branch emigrated to Ohio in the United States after immigrating to Canada from England. And if it hadn't been for Eliza Crouch Nelson's letter posted above then I wouldn't have known anything about them. But when I added the basic information to the family tree on ancestry.com a nice lady named Sharon who happens to be the 2 x granddaughter of Eliza Crouch contacted me and said some of my information was wrong and/or missing. Between Sharon and ancestry.com I was able to fill in so many leaves on our tree it looks quite coloringful and interesting now. Thank you, Sharon for sharing your tree info and photos with us - like the one below which is the only one we have of Ethel's grandfather and grandmother. (For the full photo, see 1911 Courtship: May 7 Dear Noah)
I've mentioned the Iowa branch of Ethel's family a time or two before in passing, but this is the first post detailing the Henry and Eliza Nelson family. (Hubby Nelson's 2 great-grandfather)
The Nelson family has been a mystery trying to figure out because one branch emigrated to Ohio in the United States after immigrating to Canada from England. And if it hadn't been for Eliza Crouch Nelson's letter posted above then I wouldn't have known anything about them. But when I added the basic information to the family tree on ancestry.com a nice lady named Sharon who happens to be the 2 x granddaughter of Eliza Crouch contacted me and said some of my information was wrong and/or missing. Between Sharon and ancestry.com I was able to fill in so many leaves on our tree it looks quite coloringful and interesting now. Thank you, Sharon for sharing your tree info and photos with us - like the one below which is the only one we have of Ethel's grandfather and grandmother. (For the full photo, see 1911 Courtship: May 7 Dear Noah)
Henry Nelson (1835-1900) and Eliza Crouch (1840-1919). Photo taken about 1890, Iowa, USA.
Henry Nelson - b 3 Mar 1835 in England married Eliza Crouch - b 16 Apr 1840 in England on 5 Oct 1857 in Ontario, Canada
I have the following census records for Henry and Eliza after their marriage:
- 1861 Canada Census: living in East Gwillimbury Township of York County, Ontario
- 1871 Canada Census: (same as above)
- 1881 Canada Census: (same as above)
- 1895 Iowa State Census: living in Benton, Iowa
- 7 Oct 1900: Henry Nelson died and was buried in Benton Co, Iowa
- 1900 US Census: Eliza living in Atkins, Benton, Iowa
- 1910 US Census: (same as above)
- 28 Oct 1919: Eliza Crouch Nelson died and was buried in Benton, Iowa
We've been above to correlate that Henry and Eliza had the following children born in East Gwillimbury, York County, Ontario, although several of them died here:
I have the following census records for Henry and Eliza after their marriage:
- 1861 Canada Census: living in East Gwillimbury Township of York County, Ontario
- 1871 Canada Census: (same as above)
- 1881 Canada Census: (same as above)
- 1895 Iowa State Census: living in Benton, Iowa
- 7 Oct 1900: Henry Nelson died and was buried in Benton Co, Iowa
- 1900 US Census: Eliza living in Atkins, Benton, Iowa
- 1910 US Census: (same as above)
- 28 Oct 1919: Eliza Crouch Nelson died and was buried in Benton, Iowa
We've been above to correlate that Henry and Eliza had the following children born in East Gwillimbury, York County, Ontario, although several of them died here:
| Born in Canada - George Caleb b 1857 - John Thomas b 1860 - Mary Pricilla b 1863 - James Henry b 1864 - Ethel's father - Elizabeth Jane b 1866 - Unnamed Nelson b 1868 - Eliza Alice b 1869 - Eliza Ann (twin of Edwin) b 1872 - Edwin (twin of Eliza Ann) b 1872 - Jemima Isabelle b 1874 - Emanuel (Manuel) Francis b 1876 - Rosetta b 1878 - Mariah Victoria b 1880 - Fannie Louisa b 1882 | Died in Canada - born and died in Oct 1868 - died in 1872 - 19 days days - died in 1882 - 8 yrs old - died in 1891 - 10 yrs old - died 1884 - 17 months old |
Eliza's brother, Alfred Crouch, had emigrated to Ontario with the family, but in 1860 moved to Fremont, Iowa. Eliza's other siblings followed. Henry and Eliza decided to emigrate to the US as well which they did in the early 1880's taking most of the family with them. Eliza's brother, Francis Croutch, was the only sibling to stay in Ontario. He is also the only member of the family who uses a 'T' in the Croutch name.
When Eliza and Henry left Canada, only 2 of their children stayed behind and they are the 2 marked in red in the above list, namely, George Caleb and James Henry.
Eliza's parents, George Crouch and Percilla, are listed on the 1852 census and then they moved down to Iowa. But George shows up on the 1861 Canada census with a wife named Mary. Percilla died in 1876 and is buried in Mound Cemetery, Benton, Iowa. But not George. Family rumour says George broke up with Percilla and came back to Canada, however no one can find a record of him dying and being buried in Ontario, either.
Genealogy Note #2 - George Caleb Nelson
In Eliza's letter, she says, "i Was much saprised as i thoght you Was like gorge you ad for got that you ad a mother on the earth eney more"
Eliza is talking about her son, George Caleb Nelson, who - along with Ethel's dad, James Henry, didn't emigrate to the US once they'd settled in Ontario. I checked the family tree to see what could have prevented George Caleb from writing to his mother and at the first glance, saw the problem...
1857 - George is born. He is 17 yr old Eliza's 1st child.
1880 - 23 yr old George marries 18 yr old Hannah Victoria Latham
1894 - Hannah dies of consumption leaving George with 4 children aged 4-12 yrs***
1895 - George marries Hannah's sister, 22 yr old Emma Latham
1896 - Emma dies, childless
1897 - George marries 25 yr old widow, Mary Tryphena Smith
1913 - Mary dies of heart failure leaving an additional 11 yr old and 1 month old baby
1914 - 57 yr old George marries 55 yr old Mary Ellen Travis
By the time 1911 rolled around and Eliza wrote her letter, George was on his 3rd wife with a 9 yr old and 3 yr old still at home. And then Mary dies a month after giving birth in 1913. So yes, George is busy with children and wives, but that shouldn't stop him from writing to his mother.
When Eliza and Henry left Canada, only 2 of their children stayed behind and they are the 2 marked in red in the above list, namely, George Caleb and James Henry.
Eliza's parents, George Crouch and Percilla, are listed on the 1852 census and then they moved down to Iowa. But George shows up on the 1861 Canada census with a wife named Mary. Percilla died in 1876 and is buried in Mound Cemetery, Benton, Iowa. But not George. Family rumour says George broke up with Percilla and came back to Canada, however no one can find a record of him dying and being buried in Ontario, either.
Genealogy Note #2 - George Caleb Nelson
In Eliza's letter, she says, "i Was much saprised as i thoght you Was like gorge you ad for got that you ad a mother on the earth eney more"
Eliza is talking about her son, George Caleb Nelson, who - along with Ethel's dad, James Henry, didn't emigrate to the US once they'd settled in Ontario. I checked the family tree to see what could have prevented George Caleb from writing to his mother and at the first glance, saw the problem...
1857 - George is born. He is 17 yr old Eliza's 1st child.
1880 - 23 yr old George marries 18 yr old Hannah Victoria Latham
1894 - Hannah dies of consumption leaving George with 4 children aged 4-12 yrs***
1895 - George marries Hannah's sister, 22 yr old Emma Latham
1896 - Emma dies, childless
1897 - George marries 25 yr old widow, Mary Tryphena Smith
1913 - Mary dies of heart failure leaving an additional 11 yr old and 1 month old baby
1914 - 57 yr old George marries 55 yr old Mary Ellen Travis
By the time 1911 rolled around and Eliza wrote her letter, George was on his 3rd wife with a 9 yr old and 3 yr old still at home. And then Mary dies a month after giving birth in 1913. So yes, George is busy with children and wives, but that shouldn't stop him from writing to his mother.
| But perhaps this is the reason... when George marries Mary Ellen Traviss, he makes an X in place of his signature. In other words, he can't sign his name. |  Mark of X for George Nelson |
Wife #3, Mary, could have written Eliza in 1911, but perhaps she didn't want to or perhaps she was too sick. She signed the marriage certificate, so we know she was able to write, but I guess we'll never know why she didn't.
*** You've met 2 of George Caleb's children before in Ethel's letters:
- Elva Jane married Will Mitchell and is working for Stewart Draper in Indian Head
- Leslie is the missing cousin who is 'somewhere out west'
*** You've met 2 of George Caleb's children before in Ethel's letters:
- Elva Jane married Will Mitchell and is working for Stewart Draper in Indian Head
- Leslie is the missing cousin who is 'somewhere out west'
