1937 Letter from Charles Thatcher about 1880 Van Buren Co.

THATCHER, PETERSON, BLACKLEDGE, BARNETT, DAVIS, HILLIS, OSGOOD, QUIGLEY, PHILLIPS

Posted By: Martin Q. Peterson (email)
Date: 11/5/2006 at 20:20:05

Comments added in square brackets and Surnames in Capital and Bold by Martin Q. Peterson. Original given to me by my Grandfather Will Peterson.

Charlie E. Thatcher
2643 Stuart Street
Berkeley, California
August 14, 1937

Dear Will [PETERSON] and Family:

Don [PETERSON] sent me your letter wherein you described your trip to Van Buren Co. and what you saw. Enjoyed it thoroughly and re-read it, also had my Sec’y copy it. Brought back so many pleasant memories and for the last week have not thought of much else except reviewing the happenings over that period from the time [1880’s] I was 3 1/2 yrs old to the age of 16 when we migrated to Dakota Territory. {Northville, South Dakota]

Strange as it may seem, I do remember an incident that occurred between when I was 3 and 3 1/2 yrs. old. When the home was built, that Curt BLACKLEDGE told you had been torn down, my father [Issac B. THATCHER] took my hand and guided me past the big opening in the floor which was to be the inside entrance to the cellar. That awful “bottomless” hole frightened me and to the day when looking into any sort of an opening and I can’t see the bottom or the end that fear comes over me. ‘Tis hard to explain.

Well for about 13 years after that my boyhood days were crowded with activities and I remember most everything. Your father appeared on the scene and was a partner with father for a number of years.

The firm was THATCHER, PETERSON and BARNETT. They operated a grain house and lumberyard at Keosauqua, the grain elevator at Farmington and the lay out at Mt. Sterling. They also handled farm machinery, bought grain and live stock and shipped it to market in car load lots.

There were eight brothers in father’s family (The Mark C. and Hannah THATCHER union.) and one sister, Rebecca, who married Pugh HILLIS. Pugh operated a store at Vernon for Ed. MANNING.
The [THATCHER] brothers were then located as follows: Ezekiel in Shasta County, Calif., Thomas, the youngest, Somerset, KY. (died May 13, 1937), Richard, Mt. Sterling, later lived on the old place where you were born, Amos, between Keosauqua and Mt. Sterling near the PETERSON farm (your father’s boyhood home), Aron, Mt. Sterling, Jonathan (your grandfather) at Pleasant Hill, across from Keosauqua, William, Cantril, Mg. for another one of Manning’s stores, and my father whom you know all about.

Last week, Fred THATCHER, son of Uncle Amos, and wife dropped in on us for dinner. They are on a gypsy jaunt over the country living in a trailer. Everything they have in the way of physical property is in that trailer. They plan to visit the same places you did in Iowa. You may remember that Uncle Amos lived just half way between Mt. Sterling and Keosauqua on what was known as the PHILLIPS farm. The land on which he lived ran east to the PETERSON farm, about 1 1/2 miles. You did not mention in your letter to Don [PETERSON] of having been to the farm. Fred built the trailer. Took him 5 months. ‘Tis a work of art.

And now. Poor old Mt. Sterling. You say it is dilapidated. I imagine it will gradually decay and disappear. There is really no need for the place. Highways and the auto have destroyed all such places. You will remember that it took two hours to drive to Keosauqua from Mt. Sterling. Those Indian brick clay road hills were hard to negotiate and when a little muddy, poor Pony and Jack, our carriage team, would strain so hard to get u a hill. Today I imagine one can easily drive it in 20 minutes, 8 miles. Perhaps quicker.

Surprised that you did not know about the State Park. Iowa has 16. There is a large one at Farmington called Anderson Park. Some of the magazines have carried pictures showing the rustic bridge over “Thatcher’s Hollow”. Your aunt Stella played many times in that creek and hollow. When [Great] Grandmother Hannah THATCHER died, there was a house on Thatcher’s Point in which Hugh HILLIS then lived. Someone held me on their lap in that house and we looked across the river and saw the funeral procession trailing along in the dusty road to the cemetery which you visited. Later Thad OSGOOD lived in that house.

Thad and our Grandfather [Jonathan THATCHER] operated a nursery, perhaps where that dense underbrush is now growing to which you referred. Your Grandfather was rated as an horticulturalist. He had quite a reputation and it was the cause of his election to the State Legislature. He did much while in the Legislature for the fruit tree and berry vine industry. His hobby was astronomy and gathering Indian relics. That beautiful bend in the river that you saw from the point, also had another name, “Ely’s Ford”. The river was crossed there before that wonderful and durable bridge was built at Keosauqua. You know that bridge has withstood every flood. Never has been damaged or rebuilt. It is about 65 years old.

I have been a subscriber to the Keosauqua Republican (The pioneers call it the “Old Reliable”) for 30 years. Curt BLACKLEDGE married Minnie DAVIS, your Uncle Nat DAVIS’ sister. I did not know Curt was living nor did I know they were living apart. Last I heard Minnie was living in Bloomfield. Curt was always in the mercantile business.

I loaded Don [PETERSON] up with all the data necessary regarding the Old Thatcher Homestead, 75 miles west of Washington, D.C.

It is close to the pike over which Gen. Sheridan made his famous ride, Civil War Times. Also wrote to The Old Homestead Crowd and gave them the history of Don and his wife [Catherine QUIGLEY] and asked them to show Don where the house stood in which your Grandfather Jonathan THATCHER was born. There is nothing there now but the depression (cellar).

This old place, the homestead, has never been out of the name of Thatcher since it was deeded to one THATCHER by Lord FAIRFAX in Seventeen Hundred and Something. We know they will enjoy the THATCHERS when they meet them.

Elizabeth and our grandson, Bob, drove over to the Army Transport dock to bid Don [PETERSON], Wife [Catherine QUIGLEY] and The Baby [Martin PETERSON] Bon Voyage when they sailed July 7th. They were on board the boat and saw the stateroom, etc. The baby was cooing and kicking, and Catherine quite happy and thrilled. Don is rather quiet. Imagine tho’ studious and thorough in what he does. [M.D., Lt., US Army Medical Corp.]

Hope your business is good. Love to all from all.

Sincerely your cousin
Charlie E. THATCHER

P.S. The old log house on the Thatcher place, Martinsburg, W. Virginia in which my [Great] Grandfather, Mark C. [THATCHER ], was born still stands.

It was built in 1779 or 1797, forget which. They use it to house the hired help. Wooden pins hold the logs together. What few nails that were used were hand wrought, iron, and look like small horse shoe nails. I’ll send you a photo of it. Have several.