As I have mentioned before, my Grandmother, Margaret Millikan McKinley (1917-2007), kept many family papers and photographs. Some of what she saved were letters from various family members. I wonder why some letters were saved and many more were discarded. But I am grateful for those letters that give a glimpse of family life & maybe even a little more insight into family relationships. Here is one such letter:

The envelope indicates this letter was sent to Martha E. Millikan, Sheridan, Ind. (Hamilton Co.)

It was sent from Moffits Mills, NC with the postmark of Oct 1, ’90.

Note the 2¢ stamp! Things have really changed!

Martha E. Millikan was Martha Ellen (Barker) Millikan. She was born May 25, 1858 in Randolph County, North Carolina. She moved to Hamilton County, Indiana in 1866, with her parents, Elihu Barker (1822-1910) and Hannah Jane (Allen) Barker (1825-1899); and siblings, Amelia Ann (1855-1890), John Gurney (1860-1942) & William Capres (1865-1880). She married Lewis Elwood Millikan (1855-1949) in 1882. Lewis and Martha or “Elwood” and “Mattie” as they were commonly known, were my Great-Great Grandparents. Mattie died Feb. 27, 1932.

As for the letter in the envelope, the handwriting is beautiful! I’ve heard that cursive isn’t taught much anymore in school, so I wonder if young people can even read this. 

On the top right of the first page, it says “Kemps Mills, NC” while the postmark said “Moffit’s Mills, NC.” I found only one map online that shows the location of these two places. The map is dated to 1873 and hand-drawn by J.W. Bean & can be found in the digital archive of the University of North Carolina.(https://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ncmaps/id/223) Essentially these communities were centered around family-owned grist mills on Richland Creek about 10 miles southeast of Asheboro, NC. My guess is that the Post Office was at Moffit’s Mill at the time the letter was written. 

The transcribed letter:

Kemp’s Mills, N.C.

9 mo. 29th 1890 

Dear Cousin Mattie:–

Thy interesting letter of 8 mo. was duly received. Were truly glad to hear from so many of our relations. We are in usual health:–all able to help in the common cares of life. Our relations are mostly well so far as we know except Simeon Barker, we hear is quite sick. I was at Uncle Seth’s in last month:–They seemed lively enough considering their age & were able to get out to Quarterly Meeting at Marlboro. Suppose you have heard of their son, Benjamin’s death.

It was brother Jno’s right arm that was taken off. There was a tumor on it near the shoulder which was thought to have been caused by a severe bump he received from the plow handle while 

[pg 2] plowing several years ago. During the past year or so, the tumor increased so rapidly in size, and hurt so much, that it became evident something had to be done more than outward appliances, so he went to what is said to be the best Surgical Hospital in Phila. to have it removed. When they commensed the operation all the doctors agreed that in order to save his life the arm would have to be severed, which they did by unjointing at the shoulder. In thirty days he was able to leave the Hospital. Has got well and enjoys good health but has not been home:–Writes that he hopes to visit us sometime at least. He is employed by Rhoads & Co. 229 Market St. Phila. to keep books and help clerk in a Rubber & Belting store. Has learned to write tolerably well with his left hand, also can operate the typewriter. We miss him much but are 

[pg 3] glad to know he is doing well where he can enjoy life perhaps better than here considering his condition.

The Teacher’s Institute at Asheboro commences today but I am not expecting to teach this winter so have not gone, much as I enjoy attending. Brother Jno. and I both attended last fall. We have an abundance of rain. Wheat was very light last year and if the rain continues, it will be difficult to get any sowed soon. People here have good corn. No peaches the past summer worth relating and only a moderate apple crop. Late ones are rotting; we have been canning and preserving some of ours. Cotton fields are looking white and ready to pick; have ours partly picked out. There is a fine crop of persimmons beginning to ripen but we make little use of them except that the pigs eat them.

How is Cousin Amelia and family? 

[pg 4] I believe thee did not write anything in thy last letter about them. I would be pleased to visit thee and others but do not know that I can do so soon. Mother often talks of writing to relations in Ind. Aunt H. Hockett in particular, knowing her lonely condition but can not see and write so well as when younger. 

Aunt Catharine Barker was here not long ago on a visit; seems and looks real cheerful but cannot hear very well.

Gideon and Asenath Cox staied with us two nights. I believe they honestly think Texas the place to live. Thee may let thy father’s folks read this if they wish to hear about brother’s arm.

It is nearly bedtime so no more at present. Write soon. Thy cousin, H.J. Littler

Jno’s address is 229 Market St. as I have written, but he says so many letters come to the store that he prefers having letters directed to his lodgings which is at 480 N. 5th St. Phila. Penn. I think he would be pleased to hear from any of you. H.J.L.

The letter was written by Mattie’s cousin, H.J. Littler on September 29, 1890. It was written in response to Mattie’s letter a month earlier. Note the use of “Thee” & “Thy” which were commonly used by Quakers in speaking to their close relatives. 

H.J. Littler turns out to be Hannah Jane Littler (1863-1945). Her Mother was Tamar (Barker) Littler (1827-1919) who was the sister of Mattie’s father Elihu Barker. Hannah was a teacher, which may explain her beautiful handwriting. 

Hannah mentions several family members in her letter, many of them Barker cousins. I had some notes regarding this family, but had to verify some information so I used Ancestry.com, Findagrave.com and Newspapers.com to clarify the details of the relationships. 

Enoch Barker was the patriarch of this family. He was born in 1776 in Guilford Co, NC & he married Elizabeth Davis November 23, 1800 in the Holly Spring meeting house in Randolph County, NC. Elizabeth was born in 1782 in Chatham Co, NC. She died in 1834 and Enoch died in 1848. From what I know, they were both lifelong residents of North Carolina. They lived and raised their family in the community near the Holly Spring Friends (Quaker) meeting house. Their children were: Sarah (1801-1846), Daniel (1803-1892), Nicholas (1805-1886), John (1807-1890), Isaac (1810-1820), Seth (1812-1894), Mary (1815-?), Hannah (1818-1899), Elihu (1822-1910), and Tamar (1827-1919). 

Starting at the beginning of the letter, Hannah mentions Simeon Barker, who was probably her cousin. He was born in 1835 to Nicholas Barker (1805-1886) and Catharine Cox (1806-1896). I expect this Catharine was the “Aunt Catharine Barker” mentioned later in the letter. She would have been 84 years old when she visited Hannah. 

She then mentions “Uncle Seth” and his son, Benjamin. Uncle Seth Barker (1812-1894) was married to Margaret Cox (1812-1891). Seth and Margaret would have been in their late 70’s at the time Hannah wrote this letter. The “Quarterly Meeting” was a regional meeting of Quakers held at the Marlboro Meeting House in Sophia, NC. Their son, Benjamin, was born in 1850 and died June 6, 1890. He was 40 years old and left a wife, Esther and family.

Hannah’s brother, John Oxley (“Jno” is an abbreviation for John), was having a rough time with the surgical amputation of his right arm at the shoulder. He spent 30 days in the hospital. But as Hannah wrote, it seems he had recovered well after the surgery and was adjusting to his disability and was working as a clerk & bookkeeper. John Littler was born July 2, 1859. He is listed in the 1880 census as being a student at the Westtown boarding school in Westchester, PA. The school was founded by Philadelphia Quakers. This explains how he ended up in the Philadelphia area. He died September 8, 1891.

Hannah then mentions the status of farming in the region. Sounds like they were having a good year for some crops while others were hampered by the weather. 

Hannah asks about “Cousin Amelia.” This would be Mattie’s sister, Amelia Ann Barker. She was born in Randolph County, NC September 24, 1855. She married Simeon Fesmire (1852-1925) in 1889 but as Simeon’s obituary stated, “she only lived 11 months” after they were married. She died November 29, 1890, only 2 months after Hannah’s letter was written. 

Then there is “Aunt H. Hockett” who lived in Indiana. Hannah Barker Hockett (1818-1899) was married to Mahlon Hockett (1808-1885) in Holly Spring MH in 1858. He was a widower with 4 children. From what I can tell, they had no additional children. They moved to Rush County, IN sometime before the 1880 US Census was taken. He died there in 1885. According to my Grandmother’s notes, Hannah later lived with her brother, Elihu near Sheridan in Hamilton County, IN, not far from where Mattie and Elwood lived.  

At the end of the letter, Hannah mentions Gideon and Asenath Cox, from Texas. Asenath was Hannah’s cousin, daughter of Daniel Barker (1803-1892). She was born in 1829 and married Gideon Cox (1822-1892) in 1858. She was his second wife. They moved to Estacado, TX in 1881, following his son, Paris Cox who had a vision of establishing a Quaker community there. Gideon & Asenath would have been in their 60’s when they visited the folks back home. Gideon died in Texas & Asenath died in Whittier, California, where she had been living with their son, Manley. One more family relationship: Gideon’s half-brother, Thomas was the husband of Sarah Barker Cox (1801-1846), Hannah’s aunt. The Cox and Barker families had many branches and intermarried through many generations so these relationships are somewhat difficult to decipher. 

So again, I wonder why this letter was kept through the years, but I’m glad it was. It shows how over 130 years ago the family was able to stay connected while living so far apart from each other. 

© MJM 2024