Jeannie Out of the Bottle - Barbara Eden [5]
At the same time, fishing on Fisherman’s Wharf with my father (although the sight of fishermen gutting their fish put me off fish for life—to this day I never eat it), roller-skating along the wharf, and bicyling in Golden Gate Park with him all contributed to making me a bit of a tomboy (which, by the way, I always thought Jeannie was as well).
I’ve always considered myself a California girl and have been proud of it, but in reality I was born in Tuscon, Arizona. And I always relished looking back at my mother’s family history and reconstructing exactly how I ended up being born there.
I still have a remarkable letter she gave to me, which was originally bequeathed to her by her mother. It was written in 1856 by my great-great-great-grandfather, John A. Bills, to my great-great-grandparents, Bilista and William Long, after they were forced to leave New York State and go west because William, a housepainter, was dying of lead poisoning. If I could have, I would have framed it, but it is too old and too fragile, so I keep it in an acid-free envelope. All in all, I think it’s a fascinating historical document (but if you don’t, just skip it).
Ramsey, Illinois 28 Nov. 1856
Dear Daughter,
We rec’d your letter a few days ago and hasten to answer. We were sorry to hear that William was so feeble although it was not all together unexpected. He has been so long sick that we sometimes almost believed that thought he might at last recover—but we feel that even this letter may find you a widow and the children orphans—I sometimes feel as though you would be doubly afflicted situated as you are a stranger almost in a far off country—but it seem you are not discouraged or cast down entirely. We really hope a way will be provided for you and the little ones. Do you still feel that you had rather stay there or would you like to come back and live among your old acquaintances and friends once more.
We have sold out all our things in Troy and moved to the west. We are on a farm in a town called Ramsey it is on the Illinois South Central Railroad. As far south nearly as St. Louis. We have a very nice farm of 1110 acres and so far like it much. Gardner and George are here with us and John in Vandalia 13 miles south of us to work at his trade (dentist). Uncle Loren is out in the northern part of this state with all of his family and they seem and write that they like first rate. Uncle Alanson is still in New York. Alonzo has gone to sea again this time to Calcutta. I suppose he is bound to be a sailor. Iarne and Abner are in stores. Claryou is at home. Samuel and Sarah live in Williamsburg opposite New York. Daniel is a carman, Uncle Luis and Nathan are in (?) on their old places all well. Allen and Ester lived in Albany when we came away—have not heard from them since.
I had a letter from Mrs. Harlow sometime since they live in Oroville and she seems to think that they are getting rich again—I hope they may. I suppose Mrs. Alfred Smith is out there as she has sold all her furniture and was calculating to go in a few days when we left Troy the first of July—is she there and what are they about. I wish we could run in and see you and help you in your time of need—but we are a great way apart and it is not likely that I shall ever go to California again—if we had Mary & Willie home we could give them a good chance for school and bread and milk—We have two good cows and make plenty of butter and have lots of cream and milk to eat and use—I suppose they are great children now and hope they are and always will be good children and do all they can to help their mother through life.
Now Bilista I should like to know how you are situated to get a living—can you earn enough to make yourself and children comfortable—do you intend to stay there and work and do all you can to make a living or do you sometimes wish you was back again—I wish you would write me as to