Old Betsy
Betsy has apparently been in our family for over 200 years. At least according to this letter. My Dad gave her to me after I had helped him with my Great Aunt's estate 20 some years ago.
I am starting back up organizing all of the photos and letters we found and put them out on our website. A lot of work, which is why I stopped two years ago. Any how, here is a picture of Theodore with Old Betsy back in the day. www.familyhistoria.com/Ethelred%20Delk/John%20Delk/Joseph...
I apologize for the big watermark, but people were taking my photos and claiming them as their own out on Ancestry.com, which is another story. Enjoy, B.
At Home, March 16, 28
My Dearest Niece
I rec. your most of all kind and welcome letter I ever rec from you. Don't think dear I don't apprciate them all for I surely do. But dear when I see poor old Betsy arived to you all right it lifted a big load of of my mind for I have ben afraid I would drop off before you recievd it. You picture is following close to her. Now I can rest lots better. I read your kind and loving 4 times when I recieved it last eavning with lot tears blind my eyes. I was so glad to hear you were pleased with it. Oh child to hear a good player take hold of it. I can hear her speak to profsor Green in his church work. The most lovely player I ever heard play. He used to tell me many times I could beat any man handling the bow he ever seen in his life. He taught piano & violin in the Boston conservatory of music 5 years 10 dollars per day. Poor man lived with me an my wife at Hood River nearly a year. I gave his board and a nice room. Dear just to hear him play the violin while I played the acompayment on the piano. But it is all pased and gone forever. Your brother must have taken after me a little. I only took lessons in vocal but never took a lesson on an instrument in my life. Well I hope you all well and to from you again soon. I am getting better slow. with love to all. Your Uncle Joe Delk
Mary Dear coppy this side in ink so it will keep.
Now Mary Dear for the reccord and age of Old Betsy. In J.T. Delk's hands traded one 200 Dollar Orgon & one 35.00 violin 15.00 in money to my oldest brother Solimon Bennett Delk in Oceola Iowa. 250.00. kept it 54 years. He got it of Uncle Bill Kerns your Grand Ma's brother. Solimon kept it 35 years. Uncle Bill Kerns got it of his uncle Dave Kerns. Uncle kept it 27 years. He got it of his uncle William Kerns who bought it in Bublin Ireland of a french Italian by the name of Delonzo. William kept it 34 years. He paid for it 42 English Pounds. Thats why I would not sell it. Dear you will laugh when I tell you the truth about what I have been offered for it in Kansas. Pof. Hi Jones one 200 Dol horse one 75 Dol violin one 30 Dol Brood sow and 9 fine 80 and 90 pound pigs. Some trade but no trade. 300 Dollars cash too years ago last August. One violin 300 Dol and 250 Dol in money and from 100 to 150 dollars more than 20 times. That is why I sent it to you Dear for I was aftraid of temtation. But now I am safe. It is yours thank Providence and good luck. By By let me starve Old Betsy is safe.
Your Loving Uncle Joe Delk
Old Betsy
Betsy has apparently been in our family for over 200 years. At least according to this letter. My Dad gave her to me after I had helped him with my Great Aunt's estate 20 some years ago.
I am starting back up organizing all of the photos and letters we found and put them out on our website. A lot of work, which is why I stopped two years ago. Any how, here is a picture of Theodore with Old Betsy back in the day. www.familyhistoria.com/Ethelred%20Delk/John%20Delk/Joseph...
I apologize for the big watermark, but people were taking my photos and claiming them as their own out on Ancestry.com, which is another story. Enjoy, B.
At Home, March 16, 28
My Dearest Niece
I rec. your most of all kind and welcome letter I ever rec from you. Don't think dear I don't apprciate them all for I surely do. But dear when I see poor old Betsy arived to you all right it lifted a big load of of my mind for I have ben afraid I would drop off before you recievd it. You picture is following close to her. Now I can rest lots better. I read your kind and loving 4 times when I recieved it last eavning with lot tears blind my eyes. I was so glad to hear you were pleased with it. Oh child to hear a good player take hold of it. I can hear her speak to profsor Green in his church work. The most lovely player I ever heard play. He used to tell me many times I could beat any man handling the bow he ever seen in his life. He taught piano & violin in the Boston conservatory of music 5 years 10 dollars per day. Poor man lived with me an my wife at Hood River nearly a year. I gave his board and a nice room. Dear just to hear him play the violin while I played the acompayment on the piano. But it is all pased and gone forever. Your brother must have taken after me a little. I only took lessons in vocal but never took a lesson on an instrument in my life. Well I hope you all well and to from you again soon. I am getting better slow. with love to all. Your Uncle Joe Delk
Mary Dear coppy this side in ink so it will keep.
Now Mary Dear for the reccord and age of Old Betsy. In J.T. Delk's hands traded one 200 Dollar Orgon & one 35.00 violin 15.00 in money to my oldest brother Solimon Bennett Delk in Oceola Iowa. 250.00. kept it 54 years. He got it of Uncle Bill Kerns your Grand Ma's brother. Solimon kept it 35 years. Uncle Bill Kerns got it of his uncle Dave Kerns. Uncle kept it 27 years. He got it of his uncle William Kerns who bought it in Bublin Ireland of a french Italian by the name of Delonzo. William kept it 34 years. He paid for it 42 English Pounds. Thats why I would not sell it. Dear you will laugh when I tell you the truth about what I have been offered for it in Kansas. Pof. Hi Jones one 200 Dol horse one 75 Dol violin one 30 Dol Brood sow and 9 fine 80 and 90 pound pigs. Some trade but no trade. 300 Dollars cash too years ago last August. One violin 300 Dol and 250 Dol in money and from 100 to 150 dollars more than 20 times. That is why I sent it to you Dear for I was aftraid of temtation. But now I am safe. It is yours thank Providence and good luck. By By let me starve Old Betsy is safe.
Your Loving Uncle Joe Delk