Here`s my 2cents worth - I read the word as Coalkilns. If you check out the letter "n" in the word ranch at the top, it is written just like the 2nd last letter in the mystery word etc. Thanks for posting such a wonderful letter about a budding courtship . It is interesting that though Miss Nelson didn't marry James Mitchell, she kept his letter! Maybe there is more to this story? Lori ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Elbrecht" <Elbrecht@email.com> To: <nysarato@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 2:53 AM Subject: [NYSARATO] 1884 ranches, inns, or entertainment? > I'm transcribing a box of ephemera from my wife's family. It includes > letters from England & Germany and lots of the US and Canada- > Letters & ephemera to, from, and about BAKERs, WHETMATHs, LYONs, > MOSHERs, and a bunch of others- including a single letter to "Miss > Nelson" from James Mitchell - from June 5 1884. > > I presume the "Miss Nelson" was Maria NELSON b.1862, who would become > Mrs. Alfred LYON in a few years [ my wife's gr-grandmother.] Maria > was born in Peru, Clinton Co-- as was Alfred LYON. Alfred's father > was killed in the Civil War & his mother remarried a COOLIDGE. They > lived in Jay, Essex County in the 1880s. In 1900 I find a widowed > Maria living back in Peru with her 6 children. > > James Mitchell headed his letter with "Willow Ranch" - and signed off > with Malta. - Here's the letter; > Willow Ranch > June 3d /84 > Miss Nelson > I presume you will be rather surprised at receiving an > epistle from me but since I had the pleasure of an introduction to you > I have been anxious to improve our acquaintance but it seems our > chances of meeting are few and far between- So I have had recourse to > the pen. Being rather devoid of any definite information as to where > you are staying I thought a note addressed to you at the > [??FoubKilus??] Would find you sometime. I should be very happy to > call on you there if you kindly give me the desired information- wit: > When you will be there and if my asking your acquaintance is not too > presumptive. I am unacquainted with your friends there but if I have > your permit perhaps they won't turn me out. Well, I should add no > more at present. Perhaps I have already said too much. But all is > fair in Love and War you know & if this is disagreeable to you just > burn the missive & think no more about it-Well burn it anyhow- but > just think a little about it & kindly let me have an answer soon like > a good girl. In the event of you not remembering such a name as mine > I will give you the particulars. I had the pleasure of seeing you > home Saturday May 31st. This makes you stare don't it but it is true > all the same. I did see you home but I missed the pleasure of taking > you home- now perhaps you remember. > Awaiting a reply > Respectfully Yours > James Mitchell > Malta > > I'm glad Maria didn't "burn the missive" - even if things didn't turn > out as James had hoped. My curiosity is piqued, though, about > where it was that they apparently met. It is the only word I couldn't > make out in the letter. Does it ring a bell with anyone? > > How about "Willow Ranch"- was that a vacation spot or a local farm? > > Here's the letter- the mystery word is on the first page > http://home.nycap.rr.com/elbrecht/gen/Jm_Maria18840503a.jpg > p2 > http://home.nycap.rr.com/elbrecht/gen/Jm_Maria18840503b.jpg > > Thanks, > Jim Elbrecht > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NYSARATO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. >