Home Dec. 12th 1898
Luella, Your Mother was born in
the township of Pamelia either in Jefferson or St. Lawrence county, New York,
I forget which it was near the line of the two counties. I know little or
nothing about her Father's family further than both his and your Grandmothers
families were originally from New England, the Bellow's your Grandmothers
maiden name were among its first settlers. She was left an orphan when quite
young, was adopted into the family of General Brown, a General in the war
of 1812, and brought up as one of his own children, fulfilling a promise
he made to her father - who was an intimate friend - before his death. After
marrying Wm. Dillin they lived in New York State some twenty years where
several children was born to them. The eldest named Pamelia after Mrs. General
Brown. They moved to Henry County Illinois in the dead of winter with horse
teams a great undertaking in those days, you know the rest; what a house
full we had in Minnesota, school ma'ams and a minester? included how we lived
the first part of the time almost among the Indians, were there during the
Souix (sic) outbreak. Know about your trip to Montana by Omaha to avoid hostile
Indians takeing five months to a day. How we lived in the Prickly Pear Valley
when the Indians were hostile killing a man near the gate of the mountains,
how we moved to the old Clark place not long after the Indians killed Clark,
how she came down here and lived where where (sic) she did not see a white
woman for three months. How her door was always open to the weary travellar
and down here always with out pay. Three things your Mother was noted for
courage, kindnes to the unfortunate and doing everything well. If there is
any thing else you want to know I will tell you if I can, as regards the
courage I recollect her being sent for by the doctor at Little Falls to help
do up a mans hand where the men fainted, and when Mrs. Geo. Stephens had
a baby she had to take care of both her and the doctor who fainted and her
butter and table in the carry on was proof of her doing things well. Hope
you and Collins will be able to do justice to your Mothers memory for I cant
now. James Fergus
Deliver your paper to Mrs. Howey but I would like to see despite? if there
is time.
Handwritten letter in one paragraph, good copy but still difficult to
make out all the letters or words.
James R. Dangel
1504 Sawmill Creek Road
Sitka, Alaska 99835 USA
Phone: 907-747-3348
Email:
