Kokomo Indiana Love Letters

Up for auction on Ebay is a group of 40 handwritten vintage love letters to a woman by the name of Daisy B. Smith who lived in Kokomo Indiana at the time these letters were written. The letters are written by her soon to be husband, Howard Spitzer who owns his own business in Mount Vernon Ohio called “Spitzer’s Shoe Parlors.” The earliest letter is dated March 21st, 1912 and the last letter September 1st, 1913 only 9 days before the couple gets married.

“Tampa Fla. March 21st, 1912

My Dear Friend,

…..I sure wish I lived close enough to you so we could take a moonlight ride. I am fond of them aren’t you. Well we will keep getting acquainted better every day and I am going to reveal a secret to you right here and I trust you will forgive me for not telling you sooner. Now hold your breath. Do you remember one time I wrote you and told you that I did not like the southern girls, however I was foolish enough one time to marry one and I am what some people call a grass widow. Now what do you think of that. We could not get along together so we called it quits. I know this will be quite a surprise to you and I have wanted to tell you for some time but have just put it off……I don’t believe you would be satisfied away from your people….I remain as ever, C. S. McCalister. Sunlight Mfg. Co.”

This group of letters would be a fantastic find for someone working on a Spitzer genealogy.

W. L. Huffman, Indiana to James Dixon, Indiana, 1837

This stampless letter has a circular date stamp for PERU, Ind., a handwritten 5 cent rate, and is addressed to James P. Dixon, Esq., Attica, Ind., and is a one page letter written by W.L. Huffman.

The headline is Peru, Ind. April 25, 1837.

Some abstracts:

"We are all well at this moment, and the object of writing this short letter is to inform ou that I now have an opportunity of selling one lot of your land near Huntington, the man offers three dollars pr. acre, for the fractional eighty, cash all paid down in hand."

"The man that wants this lot will wait until I get an answer from you and then I will get on a horse and go up to Huntington and see the land, and give him a final answer."

Henry Howes, Indiana to Joseph Howes, Vermont, 1847

This stampless letter has a circular date stamp for PERU Ind., a match PAID, a handwritten 10 cent rate, and is addressed to Joseph Howes, Montpelier, Vermont, and is a one paragraph letter written by Henry Howes.

The headline is Monday Nov 8, 1847.

The letter reads: "Dear Brother, I now inform you that I have received your kind letter containing A draught of Six hundred dollars and feel very thankful for the same and I think that if my life is spared I shal make you a visit next season. My self and famaly are all well, give my respects your famaly and all enquiring friends, please to write as often as you think proper, so Adieu for the present."

Civil War: Steamer John Raine, 1869

Name: JAN BETTENCOURT
E- mail: JANNPAUL@WMCONNECT.COM

CAIRO
US STEAMER JOHN RAINE
MARCH 26, 1869

Cousen lydia ann b.

I take my pen to write thee a few lines. I met with an accident yesterday we get orders to out and drill our horses some i saddle up a fool horse that no one can ride i left my horse in the stable he was sick. Well i got on this one at the edge of the river he got to rearing up and ran in to the river i got him out and raired and throughed me off and fell on me and smashed mu ankle up he layed on me untill some to the boys pulled him off they carried me on the boat and put me to bed i am going on a crutch this morning.

Will got his finger shot off day before yesterday so you see we are both crippled he got it done accidently putting his revolver in the scabbard our boat is at cairo the rest of the boats are a vicksburg and we will go down the river before long. I expect will will get a furlong till his finger gets well or the place where his finger ought to be but i can;t get one without the bone was broken

i want you to write to me and let me know if you get the money i sent and if bev has got tht receipt for expressing them boots to me put it in a letter and send it to me and when i get to memphis i will make them pay for it send quick before i leave cairo direct to cairo us steamer john raine a.j. fraizer co d 1st car mmb

give my love to all inquiring friends write soon ashley j. Fraizer i will send you john will photographs. Keep it until i get home for i woulod not take a arm for it. He's going to send mine to his folks look out for my picture to it is is a case so so

Notes: the letter writer is ashley j. Frazier, cousin of lydia ann burgess parker. He was born in 1840 in indianna and died in ohio

Civil War: Ashley Fraizer, Fort Pickering 1862

Name: JAN BETTENCOURT
E- mail: JANNPAUL@WMCONNECT.COM

FORT PICKERING DECEMBER 10TH 1862

cousen lidia a. Burgess

i got your letter the other day and with it one from louisa leonard. I was very glad to hear from you. My health is very good. I thought sometime ago that i would have to give up and go to the hospital but did not go and i expect it was best for i have got better my old cough came back again. Well there is no news of importance to write.

I think the war is about over if our troops will stand right up to them. They are completely whiped hear. They say that theyare readuy to give up now . If some of our home cowards would come and help us a little them fellows that have come from virginia to silas george they are nothing but cowards that wont fight for ther homes and ought not to be countinanced at all.. They ought to be drove out of highland county, they shirk out of the war and run from there homes when they might voluntered in some regiment and fight when we must do there fighting for them.

There john barrett and bill barrett such as them and the homes. We must suffer. It makes me mad to think of it. I ever get back they must hope ther gab to ther selves or ther will be somebody hurt.

Well my boots has no come yet but it is likely they will come before long. I am wanting them very bad as the weather is getting very disagreeable. If the expressage is payed i can get them as quick as the get here. If not i can't tell when they will be delivered for money is very scarce hear now we have not got our pay yet. I am still working at the fort yet but we may go away from hear before long.

Write soon give my love to everbody but home cowards
ash fraizer

Notes: ashley j. Frazier was a cousin of lydia burgess parker he was born in 1840 in indianna and was related through the leonard connection.