.
The following letter was written by my Grandmother when she was between the ages of 4 and 10 when her sister Margaret was still alive. It was written in cursive, in broad pencil and I would assume she was in second grade at the time approx 7 - 8 years old.
To my dear mama. I will rite to you. I want to see you. is margaret having a good time.I wish i could see margaret and you grandma is riteing to ant melley wile I my rite to you There is going to be a picnic at the river neaxt weak.
grandma and i is going.
Grandma gave me a book.
I am going to church with grandma. I am havin a good time.
Mamme was here yesterday. we got three dusin eggs in tonights.
will you come down to grayvile or do you want me to come home
Mrs eadsnck come just to see me. and I giv herr the pictur. and she prested it on her heart. and said she was so to get it.
Was here to see me love to all and a kiss for margaret. right soon.
Mary Eliza
brian
The following letter was addressed to Carrie, which we think is Mary Caroline Arington
who ended up marring Howards brother Adrian, Feb 1913.
San Jose, Ill.,
Sept. 1910.
Dear Carrie,-We are in great trouble Carrie I'm afraid you will have to come to Havana
if you see me when you come home. I suppose Tot and Lillian gave you particulars but the boys
went to Havana today and Rosco was talking to Bev Rapp himself. If the boys don't compromise
we girls have got to go. The sheriff came yesterday and only had papers for three Kenneth, Mick
and Charlie Campbell. Howard, Jess Cunningham & Harress were not arrested. Ain't it awful?
Just imagine Carrie I am upright member of the M.E. church of SanJose, Ill. and expectant
teacher of the Mason County schools arrested for stealing water melons from Benjamin Rapps
corn field. Fred said if anybody but H.S. had been with me he would have payed my fine but as
it is I've got to lay it out. Oh lord, nobody knows it, but I'm scared green. No joking I'm afraid
we will be taken, old Bev won't have any mercy. Mr. Harry and every body knows it. What will
Joe say? I wrote to him yesterday morning and got an answer this our new principal to fine.
Makes the kids walk chalk. I had a date with a fellow in Mason City Sunday and it rained. He
was coming up in his dads auto and so didn't get here. Went to Red mens picnic last week down
south of M.C. last Tuesday. Never had such a rotten time in my life. Was going to stay to the
dance maybe & I with Houseworth & Gunther but Maymes aunt said not to and we didn't. They
were mad as blazes but have got a date with him down at the fair & unless I'm in jail I'm going
to keep it.
Ray and Mae are here. Henry is as onry as ever. took the taxs off of all four of Freds
buggy wheels yesterday.
Lillian and Mary are terribly on the outs. She is afraid Mary wants Mick. He took her
to steal watermelons two nights. We went to Rapps one night the night before you left. Didn't
get to tell you that morning. No it wasn't either it was the night of the K.P. picnic. We, had the
rottenest time at the picnic nothing doing at all. but Mayme Tot & I all went down to Marys for
supper. Then up to Hals and danced till 9 oclock then Kenneth Tot, Mayme & Oscar, mick &
Mary, Lillian & Paul all went up to Raps right up to the house back of the church and got
watermelons. Then we ate them and tore around every peace will tell you details when you get
home. Maye & I stayed all night at Tots and got in at 12:15.
I certainly would like to see Cad. From this letter I think I'll be wearing clothes like that
before long.
Oscar and Mary came down Sat afternoon and wanted to know if I was making my stripes
Mary says she'll not wear them if they're not becoming. Club meets at our house next Sat. I
wish you were going to be here. I want to have golden rod for decoration, orange colored ice
cream, white cake with golden frosting and orangeade. Then I wanted a few salted almonds.
Maybe I'll get it all and maybe I won't. Mama is in a bad humor as you can well imagine. I've
been with Howard twice. You'll have to make this out the best you can. It takes every minute
of my time for study. I haven't been up town at all since Saturday. Tell every body hello for me.
Will write again but thought I'd hustle this in todays mail.
Love,
Birdie
Mary Eliza Brian Shankland was raised in a small rural town, at the turn of the Century, by a loving Mother, and Stepfather, surrounded by caring relatives, and life long friends. These influences shaped her life until the day she died.
She loved to tell stories of her days in San Jose and entertained us with the same. She saved old photographs, letters and important documents. She was involved in her church. She never missed a birthday or family function. She continued her relationships with her friends until the end both by letter writing, visiting, and reunions. She graduated from high school in a class of 9. At her 75th reunion 5 classmates attended.
OBITUARY
Margaret Brian was born in San Jose, July 10,1897 and died Oct. 12, 1903, aged 6 yrs.
3 mos 2 days, after a bsief illness of only four daye duration.
She entered the San Jose Public schools at the begining of the fall term proving herself an
exceptional bright child anb precocious child.
She leaves to mourn her loss her mother, step-father, an only sister and a host of other
relatives.
The funeral was conducted Tuesday from the M.E. church, Rev. J.L. Dickson officating.
LOVELY CHILD DIES.
Little Margaret Brian, the six-year-old daughter of Mrs. H.A. Stewart, died at her home
in San Jose at 1 o'clock Monday morning, death resulting from acute indigestion. She entered
the public schools at San Jose at the opening of the fall term and was remarkably bright and
precocious. She was a lovely blossom who endeared everyone to her and leaves a host to mourn
her untimely loss. She is mourned by a stricken mother and step-father and one sister, Mary
Eliza. Funeral occurred Tuesday at 2 p.m. Interment at Delavan. Rev. McCarty of this place
went up Monday to console the sorrowing parents.
MRS. NORA STEWART DIES AT HER RESIDENCE
Mrs. Nora Brian Stewart, 93, 6204 24th Ave., died at her home Sunday morning following
a long illness. Her husband, Henry Stewart, had preceded her in death on February, 1930.
Mrs. Stewart was born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Charles on April 14, 1867 in
Grayville, Ill. She moved to Kenosha in 1916. On Nov. 6, 1892, she was united in marriage to
John M. Brian, who preceded her in death Oct. 27, 1897. She married Henry Stewart June 21,
1899. She was a member of the First Methodist Church. Survivors include: One daughter, Mrs.
Mary Shankland, Kenosha; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one niece, Miss
Charlotte Meyers, Kenosha. She was preceded in death by one son and one daughter.
Mary was born on 17 August 1893 at Grayville IL. She was the daughter of
John Milligan Brian and
Norah Eliza Charles. She married
Howard Andrew Shankland on 21 April 1917 at Petersburg IL. PEKIN TEACHER BECOMES BRIDE OF SAN JOSE MAN
The marriage of Howard Andrew Shankland and Miss Mary Eliza Brian was a complete
surprise to their friends of San Jose. On Saturday they motored to Petersburg in the afternoon
and were married by the Rev. W.S. Hunter at the M.E. parsonage. They tipped the clerk to keep
the marriage a secret, but when they got home they kept the secret only over night and Sunday
informed their friends and relatives of their marriage. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
H.H. Stewart and was born in Grayville. She came to this city when five years old and graduated
from the San Jose high school. The past six years she taught in the schools of Mason and
Tazewell counties. At present she is teaching in Third grade in the Lincoln school in this city and
will finish her year's work. The groom is the youngest son of Mrs. Lydia Shankland and was
born near Chandlerville. He is a graduate of the San Jose high school. He taught school three
years and resigned to accept Route No. 2 out of San Jose. They will reside with the groom's
mother.. Mary died on 15 September 1987 at Dupage Co IL at age 94. Her body was interred in 1987 at Kenosha Kenosha Co WI.