1864 letter from Edna, possibly Edna Pope (1849-1865), a Student or Student/Teacher at Washington Academy in East Machias, Maine, to Miss Fannie E. Wilson, Teaching in Columbia Falls, Maine

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

February 13, 1864 letter from Edna, presumably student or student/teacher, at Washington Academy in East Machias, Maine, to Miss Fannie Emily Wilson, who was teaching at Columbia Falls, Maine, and who had also attended or taught at Washington Academy.  

A lively letter, full of school gossip and goings-on.  A transcription appears at the end of this post.

Mentioned in the letter - Teachers and Students.  If you can identify people, correct mistakes and/or share information on any of the people below, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers

• Edna, a student, or possibly student/teacher, at, presumably, Washington Academy in East Machias, Maine; letter writer.  Perhaps Edna Pope (1849-1865) of East Machias, Maine, who possessed a finely balanced nature, and gave great promise of unusual attainments*, and would die of typhoid the following year in Boston, Massachusetts. Presumably the same Edna Pope who attended Abbott Female Academy in Andover, Massachusetts in 1864-1865 and Comer's Commercial Collage in Boston, Massachusetts. Her epitaph appears on the her record in the Faylene Hutton Cemetery Collection: "Not dead, not sleeping, not even gone. But with us still. These were her days of springtime bloom. Her summer lies beyond the tomb."

* In the event that Edna was actually Edna Pope (1849-1865)), read more about her parents Samuel Ward Pope and Betsey (Jones) Pope and their family in A History of the Dorchester Pope Family. 1634-1888, pages 243-247

• Miss Fannie Emily Wilson, "Fan", at Columbia Falls, Maine; letter recipient - perhaps music teacher Frances E. Wilson (abt 1848-1921) of Columbia Falls, Maine; had presumably also attended or taught at Washington Academy

• Lowell Talbot - possibly Capt. Lowell Talbot (1840-1907) of Trescott, Maine

• Mattie Campbell - possibly Matilda Jane Campbell (1846-1943), who became a teacher in Minnesota, married George F. Wilkin; her older brother Lewis William Campbell was also a student at Washington Academy - see a letter he wrote in 1861

• Alfred - Alfred Laws (1831-1904), a New Hampshire native, who moved from East Machias to Massachusetts to become principal at North Bridgewater High School and later engaged in insurance at Brockton

• Rhoda Townsend - perhaps teacher Rhoda Townsend (1835-unk)

• Sarah Church - perhaps teacher Sarah Church (abt 1841-unk) of Cherryfield, Maine

• Frank Sanborn - possibly Francis A. Sanborn (1843-1931)

• Joe Bacheller - perhaps Joseph Allen Bacheller (1845-1915)

• Mr. Laws - presumably Alfred Laws (1831-1904), a New Hampshire native, who moved from East Machias to Massachusetts to take the principalship at North Bridgewater High School and later engaged in insurance at Brockton.

• Rhoda - perhaps Rhoda Townsend (1835-unk)

• Miss Church - perhaps teacher Sarah Church (abt 1841-unk) of Cherryfield, Maine

• Herbert and Lot, presumably Lottie/Charlotte - "having a great flirtation".  Hopefully a reader can identify these two - a great story!

• ___ [Liz or Lin ?] Burrall and Seth G. - perhaps Elizabeth Turner Burrall (1848-1932), who would marry James Rich Talbot.  Seth G. might have been Seth Green (1844-1915)

• Selina - perhaps Selina Huntington Davison (1845-1928), a Nova Scotia native, who came to Maine, then to Minnesota where she was teaching school when she met her future husband, Salisbury Rowell (1835-1898), also a Maine native.

• ___ [Ellen or Abbie ?] Sanborn 

• Em Chaloner - Emma Chaloner (1847-1925); would marry 1) Thomas Hovey Gage Marston II; 2) Dr. Edward M. Harding

• Fred Foster - presumably Frederick Augustus Foster (1846-1944) of East Machias, Maine; would marry Abbie Mary Weston (1846-1888)

• Abbie Weston - presumably Abbie Mary Weston (1846-1888) of East Machias, Maine; would marry Frederick Augustus Foster (1846-1944)

For some reason, Edna felt it necessary to write sideways on the front and interior panes but left the back pane blank.

Transcription - please leave a comment if you spot errors and/or can fill in the blanks:

Ea. Machias Feb 13/64

Dear Fan

A week has passed since I left Columbia Falls, with the promise of writing immediately, but you have been here and know how it is and only a week has passed since I promised to write to you, while you promised to write when you went home and I have no heard yet. We had a splendid ride home. I got home at half past one, and was as warm as could be when I arrived. We were the first home. Lowell Talbot got home at two and the rest at half past. 

I was awful sleepy before I got home and just before I came into town I took a nap about two minutes long. The next morning I found a letter from Mattie Campbell. I guess she concluded that she would have to write if she wished to hear from school. All your friends inquire for you at school. Poor Alfred has been greatly tried this week, indeed for the whole term. He has been obliged to give us a long "lecture" for "boistrus" [sic] conduct, such as not coming to order when the second bell rung, rattling slates, etc. Yesterday was "composition" day & did you ever see such a day? We had great time. Rhoda Townsend, Sarah Church, Frank Sanborn and several others were in. We were up in the hall. When he asked Joe Bacheller to declaim he said he ____ [was, had ?] not prepared. Mr. Laws told him he knew he was, and he must speak. Mr. Laws fussed with him for about quarter an hour and Joe would not give up. And Mr. L. asked what reason he could give, Joe said that there was so much _____ [company ?] he thought he would not speak. Then Rhoda & Miss Church got up to go, but Mr. Laws would not let them. Oh, Fan ! it was a great time I can tell you. I could not help laughing, tho I felt bad for both of them. Mr. L. told him he should report him to the ___ [Trustees ?]. I don't know whether they will turn  him out or not. Alfred could hardly keep from crying.

Herbert and Lot are having a great flirtation, and Lin Burrall and "Seth G.". She has cut Selina out. They practice with the "dramatic" club, and ____ [Ellen or Abbie ?] Sanborn and Em Chaloner & Fred Foster and Abbie Weston. They all go to the "club" and this is the order in which they go away from it. The dramatic give an entertainment a week from Tuesday and your school will be done by that time, and I want you to come over and and make me a visit and be ___ to it. I don't have a great deal of time out of school, but I think you know so many here that you need not be homesick and I will do all I can to make you have a good time.

The entertainment is on the 23d and you will have to come the day before so as to be rested. I hope you will excuse this dull letter for as I told you over there I should tell you all there was to tell. I suppose you perceive that I have not improved much in writing since the time when we could ___ write on the board instead of dangerous examples.

Write soon & ___ me you will come & see me. Yours in haste,

Edna

1861 Letter from Lewis W. Campbell, Student at Washington Academy in East Machias, Maine, to Friend James in Company C, 6th Maine Infantry

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog.

June 2, 1861 letter from Lewis W. Campbell (1841-1926), a student at Washington Academy in East Machias, Maine, to his friend James, serving with the 6th Maine Infantry in the Civil War.  

Like untold other Mainers, Lewis would move to Minneapolis and become an influential citizen there.

The letter mentions:

• James, the recipient of the letter - there were several men named James in the area who enlisted in Company C, 6th Maine Infantry
• Machias, the next town over, where I believe Lewis W. Campbell's family lived
• Isaac - is he married yet or not - could not find a record; perhaps Isaac is a middle name or he married later on
• the Captain of the 6th, looking for more men
• Washington Academy in East Machias, Maine
• Eastport, Maine - perhaps the recruits shipped out of there
• Henry Leighton - also presumably serving with the 6th - perhaps Henry Hudson Leighton (1840-1916), who enlisted into Company C, 6th Maine Infantry
• a young lady who sends her regards
• Clark Hughs - perhaps Clark Perry Hughes (1839-1862), who enlisted on 15 July 1861 into Company C, 6th Maine Infantry. He was discharged for disease in September of 1861 and died in January 1862. 
• Mr. Coffin, sick with the measles
• Mr. Sanborn preached - perhaps New Hampshire native John L. Sanborn (1813-1895), Baptist clergyman, who was living in East Machias, Maine, at the time of the enumeration of the 1860 Federal Census.

A transcription appears at the end of this post.

Lewis himself would enlist, on 11 August 1862, into Company B, 11th Regiment, Infantry, as a private and was eventually promoted to sergeant. He was wounded in 1864 at Deep Bottom Run in Virginia, but he survived the war, rising to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant at Appomatox.

See a CDV of Lewis W. Campbell, in uniform, taken about 1864 - on the Maine Memory Network.  Read a letter Campbell wrote in 1864.

Lewis W. Campbell moved to Minneapolis and became a miller and a citizen of note, such that his biography is included on page 267 in A Half Century of Minneapolis, published by Horace Bushnell Hudson in 1908.

From this biography, which includes an engraving of Campbell, we learn that he was born in Harrington, Maine, the son of Dennison Campbell. Lewis' grandfather was a signer to the Constitution of Maine, and his great grandfather a colonel in the 6th Massachusetts during the American Revolution.  Lewis' mother was (Martha Wakefield) Campbell, according to his Minnesota death record.

Lewis married New Hampshire native Sarah G. Fisk in Minnesota in 1871. They had at least two children, both daughters.

Transcription

East Machias, June 2d, 61

Friend James

I receive your letter of May the 29 last Wednesday & I was glad to hear from you to hear that you were well & in good spirites. I should have written before but I wanted to go to Machias first to see what was going on over there. I was over yesterday. I am well and hope that these few lines will find you the same. I think judging from your letter that you are truly Patriotic and I hope that you will ever feel so until the glorious Flag of our Union shall wave again over ever nook and corner of the 34 states. You do not know how bad I feel to think I am not with you but you know the reason that I did not go and so all I can do is to bid you success. Bear in mind that you are engaged in a good cause - engaged in a cause which every true Son of America should be engage in and is it not expected that you will prevail over your foes. Of course you will for I believe that the right will always prevail. I told you I was over to Machias yesterday but I do not know of any news there. Now probably you here of all that is transpiring there before I do because there are so many writing there so often. Whether Isaac is married yet or not I do not know. I heard last week that he was & then I heard that he was to be married tonight. It appears to me as if he is in a ____ but then he might as well enjoy himself while he can. I did not see anyone to inquire how the Division is a getting along. Bye the way do you have a chance to go out evenings & do you go to the Division there. I hope that you all do who belong to this Division. I saw your Capt. here the other day. I heard that he was after more men. I am getting along quite well with my studies and have quite a good time. I am not so lonesome since I got acquainted with some of the folks. The School went to walk last Thursday afternoon about 25 or so with our Preceptor to lead us. We we went about 6 miles & back & had a good time as our Precepter approved of that and so does the scholars. I can not think of any more news to write you this time although I am assured by what I have heard the people here say that your company ____ there. Best wishes & your company got some good compliment the day that you past through here on our way to Eastport.  Give my best respects to all of the boys. I can not mention any in particular for it would take me to long to name them all. Tell Henry Leighton that I should be glad to here from him as soon as he can find time to write. & also all of the rest of the boys. There is a young ladie here in town that that I told I was writing to you today & she sends you her love & best wishes for your success. Chark Hughs told me to send you & all the rest of the boys his best respects & wanted me to tell you & them to write as soon as they could. By the way, I forgot to tell you that Mr. Coffin has been sick with the measels. He has got better so he has been out 2 or 3 days. I have been to Church all day. Mr. Sanborn preached over here today. I do not think of any thing more at present. You must excuse bad writing & spelling for I have been in an awful hurry for I did not have much time.

Write to me as often as you can & tell me all about the boys & what your prospects are. I must close by saying good bye.

Yours truly

From your friend

Lewis W. Campbell

Washington Academy

East Machias

Maine

If you have corrections and/or information to share on any of the people mentioned, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.