Category Archives: Amanuensis Monday

Amanuensis-Monday Letter from James R. Kaye to his great nephew and name sake James R. McCartney and the rest of the family.

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. From The National Standard Encyclopedia Amanuensis Monday was started on the Transylvanian Dutch Blog. This link will take you to the page concerning Amanuensis and why one should transcribe the records ! 

The letter below was written to my Grandparents and my Dad on the occasion of a visit from their Uncle and Great Uncle, James R. Kaye, the son of Byron and Ellen Smith Kaye of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. This and a few more letters were found in a scrapbook that my grandmother started for my Dad. I have been sorting through them and getting them put away in protective coverings. As time allows I will post more.

Enjoy!

 Oak Park, Ill. April 30, 1938

babyjames
James Ross McCartney aka Jimmie

 

Dear Ruth, Mac. and Jimmie:

I had such a mighty fine time with you all that I have been lonesome all week, not with standing the fact that I have been swamped with work.

You cannot know what a good time you gave me, and I want you to know how deeply I appreciate it.

I have been seeing You, Mac, out in the strawberry patch. I do hope you have had our good weather and got in all the plants. I am sure the frost danger is past, and trust everything will conspire to give you a bumper crop.

I have been telling the folks that you have everything that could be desired in your little home. It is ideal. I will always be able to picture you in it, and visualize all your movements. There you are Ruth playing with Jimmie, he chewing up the bus and Mac smoking his pipe, and your mother getting the greatest happiness out of the baby. That is what I call ideal.

You will never know little Jimmie how much happiness I got out of being with you those days. It will have an enduring place in memory. You are a darling baby, and no baby ever had finer, more ideal parents and grandma than you, and no one every had a sweeter baby.

I have been telling the folks all about you, Betty, Jimmie and little Jean wanted me to tell them more, and Jean was just as much interested as the other two. She said “Jean see baby-Mimi baby,”

 

-2-

 

by which she meant she wanted to see Jimmie baby. She calls her brother “Mimi.” They would all love to see your Jimmie.

Now, Jimmie, as I told you on the Columbus picture card, You and I , little pal, will get together some time for a joint birthday party. Won’t we have a good time! The folks will be invited, and will have the privilege of doing all the cooking and baking and join in the eating.

What a happiness it will be to watch your growing life. What a joy you are and are going to be to your Mamma and daddy, because it will be impossible to find a finer boy and a finer, noble man in a week’s ride.

I have given your mother the facts regarding the state of things here, Ruth, and my talk with Winnie.

Kiss little Jimmie for me often.

I am wishing for you all every good thing and every Divine blessing, remembering you all at the Throne of Grace, and that the Good Shepperd will keep you, protect and pasture the little in your home and keeping.

Marjorie and all join in love to you all.

Your loving Uncle,
Jim

 

 

 

 

 

Amanuensis Monday-A Letter From David Smith to Wm. Smith 18th April 1857

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. From The National Standard Encyclopedia Amanuensis Monday was started on the Transylvanian Dutch Blog. This link will take you to the page concerning Amanuensis and why one should transcribe the records ! Letter to Mr. Wm. Smith Bell Street Care Mr. Alec Smith At 3 Union Street Dundee

S.S. “Celt” Plymouth 18th April 1857

My Dear Uncle

According to your request I drop you a few lines after the completion or nearly so of our first voyage to the Brazils. You will have heard no doubt of my removal to this vesell[sic] rather suddenly it was but I have got reconciled to it now. We had a very tedious fine passage outwards but a rather tedious one homewards on account of the N.E. Trade winds being very strong and as we call at the Cape Verde Islands we had to stream right up in the “Teeth” of it, but this is all mere “Log Book” and hover entertaining it may be to a Sailor it must be nothing short of Boring to the Eyes & Ears of a Landsman. My first impression of a sea life were however different, but the romance has got the chill taken off it not, but what I am content with it for I can not see what possible use I could ever have been ashore with my romantic propensities? Our first place of call outwards was Pernambuco there is very little importance as fas I know attached to it, The Governors palace was formely a Jesuits convent, and the principal squares have a gay & lively appearance we were there two days only and were only too glad to get to sea out of the incepaint rain. After a passage of 3 days we arrived in Bahia, the district round is very ?-? [I can not read]cultivated & producees Sugar[,]Coffee[,]Cotton[,]& Tobacco it is next to Rio in importance our stay here outwards is only 2 days but we had to wait 6 coming home as we filled up here there is not much to interest a stranger in except the Churches which are papistic buildings, as all Roman Catholic are, I beleive the country round is very fertile but no opportunity for a reconitre[?]. We come to Rio’Janerio[sic] the most beautiful Harbor ever I saw I had no idea there was reserved for my eyes such a treat, I have visited several parts of the world & seen a few

end page 1

specimens of romantic scenery but none have come up to the neighborhood of Rio Janerio [sic], nothing can be finer than the [?] to the waterfalls round Gavia and back to the city by the botanical gardens. The ride along side the aqueduct,which conveys water to the city from the Corcovada ,particularly if commenced previous to sunset affords a view or sereies[sic] of views the most magnificent that can be conceived, every variety of scenery is seen, the city is spread out before & underneath you as in a plain on one side every variety of hill & dale, mountain & valley is perceived covered with the most luxuriant vegetation, and studded at intervals with the beautiful country residences of the merchants, with the range of the mountains behind towering to the sky on the peaks of the Corcovada and Gavia, all these objects illulminated by the glowing tints of the setting sun amidst the fragrant odor inhaled from exotics peculiar only to the Tropics. The various sail boats, the entrance of the harbour disinctly marked by the Sugar Loaf Hill, the white fortifications perched on the heights around the men of war fleet hauling down their colours their bands saluting the departing day with their music its strains wafted toward you by the last faint puffs of the sea breeze and softened by the distance from part of a picture which ( as the novelists say) “is better imagined than described” but here we must stop “Oh my soul come not thou into their assembly. We enter the city, on one hand you contemplate the palace of a voluptious prince surrounded by courtiers & wallowing in luxury, on the other slavery in its most refined and horrible state. The streets are good in generall [sic] bit exceedingly filthy, the people seem to be idolaters to filth and pollution and not less slaves to them than superstition. The murder of a lay subject is seldom

end page 2

punished. The last insult to the church most rigourisly. The harbour [sic] is spacious and were the heat less oppressive it might be esteemed the most serviceable in the world of late years the Yellow Fever has been an anual visitant and appears to be severest upon the natives of Britain & the North of Eurpope. There were severall [sic] cases among the shipping while we were there and one slight attach on board of us glad I am in being able to say that some of us felt that we had been saved from the worisome[?sic] pestilence , would that there were light afflictions whom are but for a moment work out for those to whom shall be satisfied with the mercy of Jehovah then shall we rejoice I’ll be glad all our days, although Strangers & Sojourners.

” A pilgrim, through the earth I roam of nothing long possessed And all must part when I go home For this is not my rest”

We expected to be able to leave Southampton about the middle of May. I shall be very happy to have a note from you in the intervall[sic] Hoping that this will be the harbinger of many epistles between us,with Kind love to Aunt & all my cousins

I am dear Uncle Your Affectionate Nephew David Smith

Amanuensis Monday-Revolutionary War Pension Application for Daniel Jackson

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. From The National Standard Encyclopedia

Amanuensis Monday was started on the Transylvanian Dutch Blog. This link will take you to the page concerning Amanuensis and why one should transcribe the records !

State of Ohio Knox County

on this twenty fifth day of September in the year of our lord one thousand eighty hundred and thirty two Personally appeared in the open court before Judges of the court of common pleas for said County now setting Danial [sic] Jackson a resident of Franklin Township, in the County of Knox and State of Ohio aged Seventy nine years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in orders to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7th 1832
That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as here in stated that is to say he the said Danial [sic] Jackson doth declare that he was born according to the best information he has been able to procure on the subject in Morris County in the State of New Jersey on the 26th day of December AD 1753-entered the Service as a volunteer in June AD 1776 under Col Jacob Forde [,] Capt Josiah Hall [,] Lieutenant David Broadwall resided when he entered the Service in Hanover Township, Morris County and State of New Jersey marched to Newark New Jersey and from there was detached from the army and ordered to assist in making a Cheveux de freeze* [sic] to place across the Hudson River at which he continued for until the first of October same year at which time he was marched into the line again and continued to serve until the last of January 1777- and then by a publick [sic] arrangement requiring every able bodied man militia man to serve half the time, he served to the best of his recollection through months of March, May, and July, as a guard on the Jersey Shore between Newark and Brunswick and then on arrangement was made forming what was called minute men in which capacity he served repeated short tours of duty the first three tours when the enemy made attempts to destroy the stores at Morristown and was in the Battle of Springfield.  The 4th tour marches on through Pumpton**  plains [sic] to Smith Clove*** [sic] in the State of New York in pursuit of Tories and robbers on the 5th tour marched to assist the army at the Battle of Monmouth on the 6th tour pursued a party of the enemy near to a place on Hackinsac  [sic] river in Bergen County- averaging two weeks in each tour making three months in short tours- making in all thirteen months- was under the command of [,] Colonels Wm Winds [,] Benoni Hathaway [,] John Munson [,] Jacob Drake and Spencer at different times- and captains [,]Josiah Hall [,] James Ward [,] Moses Munson [,] Job Allan, Stephen Jackson, Ezekial [last name unreadable] Commanded at different times- was acquainted with Genls Washington and Wayne-He also states he has no documentary evidence of his service and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except Benjamin Jackson

He hereby relinquished every claim expect the present to a pension or an annuity and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any staff.

[signature]
Daniel  Jackson
Sworn to and subscribes this day and year aforesaid
[signature]
Alex. Elliott Clk

We Thomas Regdon a clergyman residing in the County of Knox and State of Ohio and Benjamin Stackhouse residing in the county and state aforesaid. hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Danial  [sic] Jackson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age, that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood whare  [sic]  he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn  to subscribed this day and year aforesaid

[signatures]
Alex Elliot Clk
Thomas Regdon
Benjamin Stackhous

Daniel Jackson is my 5th great grandfather, on the paternal side of my tree. Daniel is my husbands 5th and 6th great granduncle. Small, small world ! File part of the documentation on Daniel Jackson found at the National Archives.

*cheveux de frise
**perhaps Pompton Plains NJ
***perhaps Smith Cove NY

Amanuensis Monday-Letter posted March 25, 1928 from David Ogilvie to his daughter Ruth

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. From The National Standard Encyclopedia

Amanuensis Monday was started on the Transylvanian Dutch Blog. This link will take you to the page concerning Amanuensis and why one should transcribe the records !

Dresden March 25, 1928

My Dear Daughter-

     It has only been Campbell’s soup once so far, but there is plenty of opportunity yet.  I take supper at Grace’s, that being their big meal.  The other two do not cause me any trouble.  I get just what I want and all of it that I want.

    By this time you will know something about teaching in College, its honors and the troubles.  Doubtless it will be a helpful experience.  You didn’t say how much of a vacation you were to have. Does it last over Easter week, or only over Easter Sunday?  Mother was rather counting on your having an opportunity to go to Kinsman, which would hardly be possible if you have only three or four days vacation.

     You might drop a card  and let me know so that I may plan for it if it ‘s be so that we can drive up there on the 9th or there abouts.

     Florence writes that she thinks that possibly she can go along with us if we go there, or later.

     The last letter I had from Mother was written last Sunday. She was then taking milk & broth alternately and was getting along somewhat  better. Friday had been her worst day.

      It looks as if Spring had really come.  If it keeps on I may try to get a few seeds planted this week.  The furnace has been completely shut off for the last two days and the house is abundantly warm.

     Ward bought a baby cab from Bob Frazier and has given it a coat of paint. It looks just like new and Marilyn Ruth had her first ride in it yesterday. She is still doing finely and making very little trouble.

     Barbara Ellen and Junior were in an Operetta Friday evening that was very pretty and went off exceedingly well.

     I hear the Wheeling train tooting. So I think I had better close and got to bed.

     In the expectation of seeing you soon.

           Your Loving Father

dmo33

David M. Ogilvie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amanuensis Monday-History of Dresden Presbyterian Church History 1819-1919 /Part 5/

Amanuensis Monday – An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. 

The following History will be presented in 6 parts each one being posted on Monday.  This is a History of the Presbyterian Church in Dresden Ohio as of 1919, that is in my possession.  My Great Grandfather was the Pastor of the Church when this piece was commissioned. I have pulled it from a earlier posting on my rootsweb family website. I hope that it brings information you can use or maybe an interesting read. Enjoy! There is more to Dresden then baskets 😀

1819- Dresden Presbyterian Church History -1919
written by Mrs. T.M. (Mary Louise Cresap) Stevenson

Chronology Continued

Thirteenth Pastor-Rev. F.B. Shumaker
(1903-1907)

In the fall after the resignation of Dr. Barnes, September 6th, Rev. F.B. Shumaker took charge of this field, with his young wife. Their son, John Calvin, was the first child born in the Manse, and was consequently very dear to the congregation. It was with sorrowful tidings to us when he passed away. When Rev. Shumaker was ready and willing to go, after four years’ stay, it seemed almost wrong to this congregation. God’s blessing had rested upon his labors and those of Mrs. Shumaker. Her sweet voice lingers with us yet, and her gentle presence. But after a season of Church prosperity and blessing they went, regretted by all.

Fourteenth Pastor-Rev. Dr. D. W. Macleod
(April 12, 1908-November 30, 1912)

The following spring after Rev. Shumaker accepted another call, we were very fortunate in securing the services of Dr. and Mrs. Macleod. Mrs. Macleod seemed on of us, from the very beginning. Little Martha added greatly to the life of the manse, which was still the house of the people. The Sabbath School Teachers meetings were power with Dr. Macleod as leader. The Prayer Meetings were programs on which every member on the Church roll had a place at least once a year, thus insuring their presence-three or four on duty each meeting, to sing, recite, read a paper on Church history and heroes. One who serves is always more interested. Dr. Macleod gave us many doctrinal sermons, making deep things plain. This fed the flock and rejoiced the hearts of the thinkers. Again the Church was blessed with many new additions.

Little Martha was not long alone in the manse. Wee Christina and Donald Jr., came along to add to the joy of the home and the congregation. The children of our beloved pastors are our very won and we shall always keep in touch with them all, from the Lehmans, on and on.

But other fields were white to the harvest, and like our other pastors, Dr. Macleod thought he must go where he could reach the greatest numbers. Mrs. Macleod, besides all her family cares, was always ready for service, ministering to the sick, answering calls for aid and the many demands on heart and hands. After a short four and a half years they went to East Liverpool, where they are doing a wonderful work. Instead of murmuring we should be thankful for the blessings we received through these anointed ones and be willing to share with these others-(but we are not very).

Fifteenth Pastor-Rev. S.V. Bergen
(March 30, 1913-April 28, 1915)

Rev. Bergen came of a ministerial family. His father, Rev. S.L. Bergen, was at Frazeysburg at the same time, and his brother, Rev. H. Bergen, was at Dennison. Rev. Bergen took charge of this Church at the time of the flood of 1913. He endeared himself greatly to the working men by laboring with them , night and day, in those strenuous times, evincing through his labors, his kindly humanity, aiding them untiringly, all these days to save the lives and the property of the poor and the stranded. One working man remarked, when the worst was over, to a Presbyterian, “That preacher of yours is every inch a man; he never quits till we all quit.” Mrs. Bergen assisted in the choir and did what she could, being an invalid. To them and to us, came another child to the manse. Rev. Bergen was a good sermonizer and full of energy. One sermon on “John Huss, the Martyr,” was greatly appreciated by all. To Rev. Bergen we owe the Tabernacle and a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and an uplift to the whole community. Many were added to the various church ” of such as shall be saved.”

After two years service Rev. Bergen resigned. His last message to us was a sad one; “Our little William has passed to the Heavenly Father’s care.” This message came from a Y.M.C.A. Army Camp, where Rev. Bergen was serving God and his country.

Sixteenth Pastor-Rev. D.M. Ogilvie
(April 28, 1915-1934*)

It is a great blessing to a Church to have only a short interim between pastors. Piety is at a low ebb when the people are indifferent. Few Churches have been as fortunate in its pastors as the Dresden Presbyterian Church. We are thankful to God for our “Apostolic Succession.”

For their eminent Christian character, their high intellectual agility, their great efficiency and the universal charm and grace of manner in all these pastors, and their wives have been elect, self-sacrificing ladies, who combined the spirit of Mary and the capability of Martha; and who the Lord has blessed us, and through our Church, advanced His own Kingdom these one hundred years. Truly, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”

We believe in long pastorates. We hope this one may round out a quarter of a century at least. Shall we review this Apostolic Succession to whom we owe so much, first adding our testimony to generous hospitality, the pleasant companionship and great efficiency of the present Mistress of the Manse? They, too have passed through the deep waters, their son Kaye dying for his country in the fields of France, just when we expected danger was over.

* date added to booklet by Adela Ruth Oglivie Mccartney (daughter of David M. and Barbara J. Ogilvie)

This was not in original text,
so forgive me of my pride!! Picture of David M. Ogilvie,
I believe to be taken in front of his beloved Presbyterian Church in Dresden.
David M. and Barbara J. Ogilvie are my Great-Grandparents.
David O. and Barbra J. Kaye Ogilvie circa 1933
 Part 4  Part 6