Jim Touches Base

It would seem by the content of Margaret Sander's letter and this one, that Uncle 'Babe' had been a hit with Belle's kid's.

(transcribed below)

Sounds like baby Ginny was special to her big brother.

Love the part about the airplane. 

And it seems the Circus continued 

to be a big draw for the Barnetts.

Butler, Pa.

R.D. #7

Februrary 27, 1930

Dear Uncle Babe

How are you I am well and hope you are the same. We sent you a Christmas card and you never got it. It came back and they said it wasn't known in Walla Walla Washington but we sent it to Walla Walla Oregon and it came back so we looked on the map and we had it spelled wrong. 

I have a little sister her name is Virginia May Barnett. She is three years old and she is very cute. When are you coming to out place? 

We still live in the same place as we lived when you were here last time and my oldest brother William is married. His wife's name was Marion E. Watt. I just wanted to write a few lines to see i you still were living. The next time you come you will see the difference we made in our farm. 

Do you ever here from the Barnetts in Virginia. We never here. We don't know if they are all Dead or what. We sent Aunt Molly and Aunt Cora a Christmas card and it never came back and they never answered. We don't know if they got it or not. 

Every time we see an air plane we think it is you because you said you would come in an airplane. There is an airport where we went across to go to the circus when you were here so you can come in an airplane.

I don't have much to say so I will close with love to you and love from all.                                                      James A. Barnett

Who Was A.B. Turner?

Some background on the characters in these letters:
Albert Burnett Turner - 'Babe's 1st cousin on his mother's side
Hattie Bernice Turner - Albert's wife
Edna Turner - Albert & Bernice's daughter

Cora  (Akers) Barnett - widow of Joseph Barnett, a brother who also homesteaded to Oregon.
Sadie Barnett - Joseph and Cora's daughter

Pete ? - was not referring to my Dad.

There are three letters from A.B. Turner to 'Babe'. One is undated and does not say where it's sent from. Reading between the lines I think it may have been the first one written.

The second is sent from Union, OR. on March 17, 1921. The third is written from LaGrande, OR. on April 9, 1921.

In 1913 A.B. and Bernice are living in Roanoke, Virginia. 
In the 1920 census they are living in Wallowa, OR. with 'Babe' and they now have a daughter.
In 1930 A.B. and his family are in LaGrande, OR. and 1940 as well.
'Babe' remains in Wallowa.

The Letters:

(letters transcribed below)

reading between the lines

Were these letters written to 'Babe' during his trip back East?

Did Bernice and Edna return to Virginia and A.B. is now attempting to get them back to Oregon?

We may never know.

 

not sure what A.B. means by 'married to Butler'

but it does fall in with the timeline 

of 'Babe's visit to Will and Belle.

A. B. did not return to Virginia and died in Oregon.

From what my Dad told me as the years went by, times got rough for the clan in Oregon and their timberland and houses became heavily mortgaged. 

Dear Babe
Am sending deposit slip for $104.35 and will write as soon as I hear from Bernice. I guess she has asked yu for the money so if she has I have sent her some and it will be returned to me if she is gone so I won't have to wait very long to pay you.
I can't see my future in VA for a while yet but some day I will want to live back there. i would be willing to go now if I had a little money but I can't see my way clear yet.

Your Friend and Pal

A.B. Turner

March 17 1921

Union Ore

Dear Babe

I am sending you a Deposit slip showing a credit of one hundred and three dollars & 50 cents to your account at LaGrande National Bank and I want you to draw it out and get Bernice and Edna and bring them back to me as I am not able to send enough to get them here. I can't live this way any longer. They are wanting to come back and I will go any place with you and settle down for life and that won't be long with me and I want them here. I can send you $50.00 and let you have all of the next payment on the Land notes. I don't think the John McDonald note will be worth a Damn when they come due so this is my last chance to get them back here. I hope you can do something right away or tell me what you are going to do. I am working now but don't know how long I will hold out. I have pretty good prospects for a good summer. You write to me soon.

Your Friend

A.B. Turner

April 9, 1921
LaGrande, Ore 
Dear Babe
Bernice arrived last night and I am working for ______ Paint Shop. I will send $50.00 at this writing so you will be on easy street again. I thank you for the money and will see to the balance of $60.00 soon as possible. I don't think I will see the East for several years yet. But I feel that I will go some time. I guess you will be married to Butler soon and can't get away. Well I will write sometime again and tell you more. Pete went to Wallowa for three weeks work will be back next week. He is bunking in your shack. Cora and Sadie went with him. I was up there to see Johny Mac and could not get a dollar out of him.
I don't know anything of interest to write so I will close for this time. I get 80 cents per hour and everything furnished.

With love to All

A.B. Turner

Aunt Mollie Checks In

Aunt Mollie was Belle's sister-in-law; the wife of Robert Edward 'Ed' Barnett, Will and 'Babe's older brother.

I'm beginning to pick up a theme of admonition in these letters on all sides to the tune of 'we haven't heard from you in forever and we never hear from anybody else either'. I guess they needed e-mail or Face Book.

The following is a letter Mollie wrote to 'Babe' in July of 1921 after he had returned to Oregon from Butler.

(transcribed below)

'hot enough to roast an olive'---is a new one for me.

The Burnett's wife she refers to is Bernice Turner, wife of Albert Burnett Turner.

The next letter will shed some light on Mollie's reference to Burnett's wife.

July 13--1921

Dear Babe

            Your card rec- and we all were glad to hear from you. It was only a few words but not one of us was surprised to hear of you going back to Oregon. Did you not like Butler. How did you leave Will & Belle. We never hear anything from any of them but I often think of them. Well Babe I started this letter some time ago but as usual I never have any time very much that I can call my own so this afternoon all are gone and while I have an opportunity I will try and answer some letters. Well Babe it is hot enough here to roast an olive. guess it is not quite so hot there.

My Sister from Radford has just left. Her and her children were up for a few days.

Ed taken them home and Edward and Mary went with them for the Circus tomorrow. Well Riner is not married yet. He is still in Richmond. Marion is married four weeks ago last Saturday night but didn't marry the Girl in N.J.  I heard from Walter a few days ago. he wants to come home and wanted me to send him some money to square up a little board Bill so he could come. Ed is fixing to build two more rooms to the house hall where the porch is now and a front porch. They are all well at Cora's but I never see her unless I go down. Our curiosity Box is still across the road. Did Burnett's wife go back to Oregon and are they going to stay there and are you going to stay there. Give my love to Mag and tell her to write to us. Erney is still living in the same way. I will close with much love to you both from all of us.

Your Sis Mollie

Miss Margaret Writes a Letter

Miss Margaret Sanders was a close friend of  Belle and Will. I don't know how they came to be acquainted but when they ventured into managing a restaurant on Main St. in Butler, she took on the role of cook. She made her way into the hearts of their family and was a part of their lives for many years. 

Apparently Uncle 'Babe' traveled to Butler from Oregon in the late teens or early twenties and the following letter written in 1922 was a result of that visit.

Note the formality - Mr. Barnett, Dear Sir:

Note on this page she uses my dad Ralph's nickname. I had forgotten the second half 'Petey Dink' :)  

And that hint of hope that the letter would not be tossed; and oh the romance in the phrase - 'yours until the Eskimo's wear B.V.D.s'---too funny.

Pittsburgh PA

Aug 29-22

Mr. Barnett,

            Dear Sit:

                        Just a line to see what on earth has happened to you. Was up in Butler for three weeks and was out to Bell's for near one week and Bell said I ought to drop you a card to see if you were really living yet or not.

The youngsters were all well when I was up and they still watch for Uncle Babe to come back. The twins are just fine and Ruth said she stilled loved you five bushel. Pete Dink was in possession of the spoon when I was up there. Every time I set the table I would get their things a little mixed but it did not take them long to let me know about it.

Will was working steady when I was up there. He just got through with a job up in North Washington at Mrs. Barr's brother's.

They made $97 in their berries this year. I think that is fine. Will would like to sell and move back to town again on account of the children's schooling. William wants to go to work but Bell wants him to get a little more schooling.

Bob is my pick. He is as funny as a crutch. Poor Bob if I would say I was going to bake anything Bob would give me no peace until I made it. I made 12 pies & cakes, biscuits and goodness knows what not when I was up there. The kids said they were getting good eats when I was there.

Well Mr. Barnett I hope you won't think I am bold or forward but Will said he wished I would write to you.  Maybe you would answer and they would hear how you were. Hoping that this does not find the waist basket I am yours until the Eskimoes wear B.V.Ds

Margaret Sanders,

973 Deely St

Squirrel Hill Station

Pittsburgh Pa

Who Was 'Babe'?

This is my second post on the contents of the package I received containing some of uncle 'Babe''s belongings. The first post can be found HERE 

It occurred to me that in my haste to begin sharing what was in the box, I didn't really give a background on uncle 'Babe' for any of you who don't know his story.

His given name was James Authur McCorcle Barnett when he was born in Riner, Montgomery Co., Virginia, on March 16, 1879. He was the 'Babe' of Robert Francis and Mary Elizabeth (Turner) Barnett and younger brother of Will Barnett. (which makes him Belle's brother-in-law)

Family researchers quickly learn that first and middle names were often flip flopped for unknown reasons and in 'Babe's case he had an additional middle name that got tossed around.

Here are samples of his signatures:

The first two were in his Bible

 The third is from his WWII draft registration card

Sometime between 1900 and 1910, 'Babe', his brother Joseph and family, and their sister Maggie boarded a homesteader's train bound for Oregon. Several other adventurous relatives did the same. Historic maps indicate that he owned 80 acres in 1910.

In the early days of the last century, many Americans came West in search of a better life. Encouraged by the American government, settlers pushed the frontier further and further west, fulfilling what some saw as America's "manifest destiny."

From what records that have been found, for the next 40+ years 'Babe' appears to have made his living as a house painter and paper hanger.

This book of paint samples was in the box which he may have used with his customers.

There is no record that 'Babe' ever married but a future post will include a glimpse that there was one lady who may have been interested and whose letter 'Babe' chose to keep. Hmm.

Just When You Least Expect It . . .

you receive a Treasure Trove.

Back in July I received an e-mail sent by a complete stranger from Oregon. She had found me on Ancestry.

Jul 30, 2017

Hi, I am __________ from Pendleton Oregon. I have a Bible that belonged to Mr. Barnett. It was given to him by his friend and my great grandfather Ance Wilson. I would like to pass it along to the proper descendant. In his handwriting is states his name and date and place of birth and his parents names.

 Aug 02, 2017

My grandfather lived with Babe for a time in Wallowa, but he and my great grandfather were friends of Babe for a long time. I never knew my great grandfather, Ance Wilson, but I think he was a religious man and gave the Bible to Babe. Inscription inside says by A Wilson. The rest of the info is in Babes handwriting.

I think he passed away while my grandfather Fonzy Wilson was living with him, and having no relation, grandpa sort of inherited his stuff. When my grandpa died, my Mom and I went to Wallowa (we lived in Elgin) and cleaned out the house. The Bible was among the things. 

She said one item was missing and I assured her that was not a problem. 
So when my Mom passed away last Aug. we were cleaning out her things and there was an old suitcase that belong to Babe I guess, it had a bunch of his stuff in it. The Bible among them. Mostly old checks and receipts and a pair of false teeth. My grandparents were carpenters, and one census record says Babe was a painter. I never met him, but I think my folds knew him.
We both had a laugh over that.

Fast forward to today and the arrival of the box. Not only does it include Uncle Babe's Bible but several letters, cards, and bank books to name a few of the other items.

I am especially thrilled to have received the personal letters and will be sharing the rest of the items over the next few days.

Sepia Saturday - 15 July 2017

This week's Sepia Saturday theme photo

Sports - Spectators - Fashion

Ping Pong

Class of 1942

Click HERE for more Sepia Saturday photos