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
P.O. Box 219
Sitka, Alaska 99835 USA
Phone: 907-747-3348
Email:
