Grandma Arnold corresponded with many family members in her genealogical searches. This letter is from Angelina (Bishop) Gordon. It looks like Angelina sent this letter to Halsey Robbins when he and Stella were living in Watseka. I can't make out some of the wording . . . this will be in bold in the transcription. If you can figure it out, let me know; and I'll update the info.
The Bishop line enters with Edwin Dwight Robbins' marriage to Louisa Bishop, the daughter of Thomas Bishop and Lydia Olin. Grandma did a lot of research on the Bishop/Olin line. A snip from Ancestry page:
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North Liberty Iowa, Feb. 13. 1948.
H. D. Robbins
Watseka, Ill.
226 Park Ave.
Dear Cousins
I presume you are a relative of mine and happy indeed to contact you after many years. A few years ago my cousin met a man by name of Mitchell, he asked if he know any Bishops & as it happened was my cousin's mother's name, Fidelia or Esther Bishop. He said his folks asked him in his travels to inquire about Bishop's but we failed to contact him so I'm looking over old letters I came across this letter I have referred to signed Alice Robbins. Years ago when I was growing up the letters were numerous from Onarga. I have pages of a manuscript which contain 23 pages of pedigrees of Biship's written by my father Francis Marion Bishop who was Thomas Olin Bishop's son. Olin was the name which seemed to be a duty made almost sacred to have one child in every family named Olin. & I have a cousin named Olin and an Uncle so when I read in your daughter's letter that you have a brother named Olin Bishop Robbins it made an impression on my mind and ties there relationship together. I got out the pedigree of Bishop's & read it no = T. O. Biship family never lived in Wisc. but would have if sickness had not been
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I am interested in relatives & seems nice now to hear from you. I have so few of my own people (The Bishop's here came from Cazanovia, N.Y. in 1854 & settled near Marticle, Ia. from that place all the letters were written to the Robbins. Louisa Robbins visited us long years and years ago. I do remember her, she had red hair & I have 4 children & always wished they would have hair like hers.
I live in North Liberty, Ia, alone my children are married and husband dead. and I am 78 years old. I remember one time we rec'd a letter from Uncle Dwight Robbins from Fla. where he said he would send oranges but we never heard more from him. I don't know if he died there or not.
My Grandfather, Thomas Olin Biship & Louisa Robbins his sister wrote so often to each other, and seemed always to be so close.
I think the Bishop's came from Williamstown Mass. where Thomas Olin and Louisa were born.
I notice there was an Aunt Patience who was a wonderfully good woman. I had 2 sisters, but one died recently. They were Lydia, & Louisa & Aunt Louisa sent my sister Louisa who was named for her a lovely braided red dress. We have a piece of it yet.
I had four children 2 girls & 2 boys, but my eldest daughter died this summer with that terrible disease cancer. All live on farms near here. This is a very fertile part of Ia. last yr was such a strange year. I hope this year if better. We are related to the Dewey's. I wonder if Thos, Dewey will be Pres? I think not.
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In Alice Robbins letter she wrote they had been to visit in Greene Co. Ia. & planned to stop & see all of us but sickness presented. Do you ever go to see them? & what place in Greene Co. do they live?
It would be grand and lovely if you could visit us some time. with autos for transportation is easy. so many in our community are in Fla and Texas this winter.
I spent one winter in Fla. but I do not care to go again. climate was nice but the water was too frightening. I never lived near water.
I am real well only twinges of rheumatism. We had a reunion of Bishops years ago but so few of us left now. one by one we go. We live near Ia. City where the University is located.
I have thought of you folks so many times and wondered how I could contact you when I just found the letters among old papers. How strange.
Do you hear much of the Bishop's? some men do not care to hunt up relationships. I hope you will write me if you will.
Do you live on a farm? I am a lover of flowers. I was so happy to greet you.
Angelina Bishop Gordon.
Angelina,Louise & Lydia who named for who. These are my sisters names & mine.