Caroline Mae (McClellan) Glass (1879 - 1936)

Born 15 May 1879 in Saginaw, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Wife of James Wesley Glass — married 22 Nov 1905 in Farwell, Michigan

Descendants

Died 9 Aug 1936 at age 57 in Clare County Michigan

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Genny Glass [send private message]

Biography

Carrie was brought up by her maternal Aunt Elizabeth ( aka Libby) Brucker and her husband Charles from infancy. She graduated from Lansing High School. Family stories say she was adopted by the Bruckers but there is no evidence except the 1900 US Census . In the late 1890's she was reunited with her father Wm McClellan.

She died of uterine cancer.

These letters were written by Carrie Glass(1879-1935), living in Clare Michigan to her Aunt Libbie(1855 -1940) and Uncle Charles Brucker(1849-1929) living in Lansing Michigan. They had reared Carrie since the age of one to adulthood. I chose these letters that give a glimpse into a widowed woman’s life just before and during the Great Depression.

The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downturn between 1929 and about 1935. Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, triggered the Depression. On that day the stock market crashed and lost 90% of its value. This caused more than 4,000 banks to fail, especially those heavily invested in the market. There were “runs” on the banks. People rushed to the remaining banks to withdraw their money causing even more banks to fail. The common person lost any savings he/she might have had. Currency was in short supply, unlike today money wasn’t just printed because at that time all currency was backed by gold (gold standard). Between 1929 and 1934 the economy was down 50% and unemployment was up to 25%. The price of real estate fell causing many to default on their mortgages causing some to become homeless. Poor houses popped up in many communities. The Dust Bowl, a 10 year drought in the Midwest during this time, also caused additional hardships and food shortages. The effects of the Depression affected that generation for decades that followed. This gives you the setting for Carrie’s letters. I have edited the letters for clarity, changing or adding some punctuation and paragraphing. I also added in parentheses names and or relationships if needed. _______ indicates inability to read writing.

This letter was written about 1925

Sunday Eve. Dear Aunt Libby and Uncle Chas I wonder what you must think of me to not thank you before this for the nice Christmas box you sent. Everything was so practical and useful. The apron was a dandy fit, I have it on today. Today is Sunday. I washed my hair and am sitting by the stove drying it. I am still on the job (Bicknell’s Department Store). I have a________ department ___ all price goods ginghams etc. I like it fine. They let five girls go this month. So I am taking 2 girls places. Did I write you about losing my car? It burned in the garage. I also learned that Wess(husband,1872 -1924 deceased) had a $1,000 note against a store in Loomis about 20 miles from here. It isn’t due for three years and my lawyer says he’s afraid I never can get a cent from it. That fellow is no good. (Evidently Wess was a trusting soul and co-signed or signed some loans for others) You know Wess had ____ invested in the Wright Battery of Flint. I wrote letter after letter to them and they never answered one. So I consulted my lawyer to see what could be done. He said you can’t get a cent from it. He says several have lost hundreds into it. Isn’t it hard luck for me? I am selling that north 80 this week. (Wess and Carrie bought a 99 acre farm for$4500) The fellow who owned it will give me the deed for a $100 and Mr. K____ will pay me it ___________________________________ I think it will be as good as I can get Don’t you? That will give me ____ in the bank. And I am here to tell you no one will get any of it either. I won’t lend a cent to anyone. Wess had also signed fellow’s note for $100 and I lost $75 of that. I have to pay that this week. Hard luck I am having. The fellow was the one that worked for us all last summer. Wess had signed it in good faith, but I think Wess would have got it allright had he lived, but this fellow took advantage and he is single and owns nothing, These losses have made me about white headed but it’s a lesson to me. Of course it’s nothing compared to losing Wess. I simply can’t get over it. Every night I cry for hours and think just how he looked in the casket. How terrible that is. I think it affected my nerves. Aunt Libby you simply can’t imagine what a terrible thing that is. He was a good Christian man. He did everything he thought best and tried to do what he thought was best for his family. I feel he was stung like lots of others have been. Aunt Libbie since writing the above, I had a caller, a Dr. who doctored Wess when he was sick and he gave me some advice. He says I don’t have to pay the $100 note. He says Wess is gone and his money has fallen to me as it is jointly. He says they can’t collect a cent from me. He says let them whistle. What do you think? He also says to pay a certain party here to go to Flint and look after the Wright Battery stock and see what they intended to do. If they won’t fork over the money they start suit. What do you think about it? I also learned to night that my banker is trying to skim ___. He said for me to sell my own property and not trust the bank to do it. He said he is probably getting a wad of it too. He also told me maybe my lawyer had paper I knew nothing about. You can’t trust anyone can you? He also told me not to leave money in this bank but put part of it in the other bank. I hate to do this as I am working in his (Bicknell) brother’s store but they are looking out for themselves and I should look out for myself. Sometimes I don’t know what to do. He says this bank won’t last long. They fired a good cashier and now the whole family is running the bank. The lawyer I consulted was Wess’s best friend and he has done a great deal for him and always transacted our business, but the Dr. says “don’t trust him” he is going to skim you. Write me soon and give me your council on the above things. The Prosecuting Attorney came here the other day and demanded the money for that note. I told him I would pay it when I had to but maybe I can slide out. I am going to make them try hard first. I am willing to pay for my honest debts but that seems like paying for a dead horse. Well Aunt Libbie I must quit it is very late and you will excuse this old paper. I forgot to get a tablet last night. I got a lovely letter from Miss Burdock last week. Will answer it soon. I received such nice presents for Christmas. Wess’ sisters all sent me a present. A lovely string of jet beads from one, a silk shirt from another and silk hose from the rest. Well I will look for a letter soon and hope I am not burdening you too much. Thanking you again for the Christmas box. Everything was nice and good for. Russell (her son 1914 – 1992) needed the stockings and so did I. Give our very best to Uncle Chas and write soon. Affectionately Carrie and Kiddies Another consideration if one started suit against that Co. and couldn’t collect anything would that be that much more out. He said to send a business man, I couldn’t do anything.

Post dated: January 27,1931 Dear Aunt Libbie, I know you will think me very rude to not even acknowledge the receipt of your lovely gifts at Christmas time. I have thought each day I would write you but I got so behind when Russell was in the hospital that I couldn’t get my work done and I was so worried too. Russell was taken sick in the eve, and I thought it was nothing serious until morning when I called the Dr. and in an hour we were on the road to Bay City Samaritan Hospital. I stayed there three days and then had a special nurse for him. It was a puss case, he got along fine and is going to school again. It cost me $275 all together. I had to take 200 out of my principle. I hated to do it but was not prepared for any such thing. He is fine now. The purse was just beautiful and was glad you sent black as my coat, hat and gloves were black. Albert (son-in-law) and Lucille(1908-1992) took us to Bay City. I should have loved to come to Wilbur’s (her cousin elected governor of Michigan) inauguration and ball but Russell was not well enough to come or leave alone so gave it up. We were so busy at the store at that time too. Russell’s slippers were a good fit and he sure is proud of them. He is keeping them for best. I had to buy him bath robe, pajamas and I don’t know what all to go to Bay City with. He had these things not good enough to take away. I received the money you sent, many thanks. It came in just at the right time as I had my taxes to meet $77.00 and bought 8 tons of coal at $7.50. Is coal high there? How is the house coming? Maybe someone will rent it now it soon will be time for business to pick up. (She may be referring to a home she, Carrie, invested in for a rental located in Lansing, the money may have been related to that house ) Russell has a radio and we get lots of pleasure out of it. He is paying $2.00 per week. It was $45.00. He is saving every dime he gets toward it. He has it half paid for now. Russell liked his sox too and Lucille and Albert were very pleased over theirs. Weren’t their photos good (assuming wedding). They had one enlarged in colors for me. They are so happy and have a lovely home. Everything electric. She doesn’t even have to wash and they board out mostly (eat out) when they are home. She doesn’t have to work like I do but I am happy to know she has such a splendid husband. Well I guess I have written you all the news. Lucille and I worked hard for Wilbur Brucker. Bicknells were for Grosbeck but I spoke a good word for him every chance I got, nearly all Clare was for him although Grosbeck was here and made a speech. Mr. Bicknell said he would never get it but they had Brucker’s picture in their window. Mrs. Haley (Albert’s mother) sent me a box containing powder, perfume- cream (best of quality). It was nice. I received so many nice things. Didn’t expect any thing. How is business there? It is very dull here. They laid off 4 clerks last week. I expected to be laid off but guess I won’t as there are only 4 of us now. I like clerking first rate. I am the oldest one here. The rest are just girls. Well I hope you will forgive me for not writing sooner and I just hate letter writing any way. We are having an epidemic of small pox and scarlet fever here. Russell was vaccinated and sick two days with it. There have been no deaths. Mostly among children. How are Karl and Ione (Libbie’s son and daughter-in-law)? Now write soon as you can and tell me all the news and how you are etc. I didn’t think I sent you any thing to what you sent us. Write soon. With love Carrie

Thursday @1932

Dear Aunt Libbie, I received the bond alright and sent the receipt to Central Trust Co. yesterday. They will get it today. We got home 6:30 after leaving you and everything was alright. We enjoyed our visit so much, wish we could come again, but can’t this year as we get our vacation only 1 day at a time. We are laid off 1 day out of each week instead of our annual vacation, so we don’t get a chance to go anyplace. I went to Saginaw last Tuesday and got a permanent. Everybody likes it. We made the trip back in the day. It took all the afternoon for the permanent. I put the money in the Postal Savings as you said until December then I will have to have it for taxes. That was a lot of work for you to look after my house. It worries me how you have it on your mind. I hope I can sell it sometime. I can’t hardly live on my wages as they are only $8.33 per week since laid off one day a week there isn’t anything to do, no work here at all. Do you Dr. Roe from Lansing? He is a dentist there and used to live here. I sold him some blankets for his cottage up here. He says he is going to vote for Wilbur. He is real nice. (Carrie made blankets to sell. Several of those blankets remain in the family. She got materials from either an automobile upholstery business; those would be made of scraps of a sturdy horsehair velvet; or from a men’s suit manufacturer and those would be made of scraps of wool suiting. Sometime she embroidered with family names and dates. They would be classified as crazy quilts.) Today is Carl’s birthday, He must be about 45. Am I right. Uncle Chas, was Auguat 1, am I right about them? Poor Uncle Chas, he was such a good man. You and Uncle Chas. were the only parents I ever knew. I am mindfull of the worries and anxieties I have caused you, but we don’t understand those things until we raise our own, then we understand too well. Today is my day off and I have a lot to do. Russell is going to clean the porches if it doesn’t rain. It sure looks like rain now. If my day came on Monday I could come up again I will see if I can arrange it next month sometime. Mrs. Haley wants us to come up there to Flint but I guess we can’t get there this year. School will soon start. Russell will graduate I guess, I hope so. He has a lot to make up as he lost nearly 2 months when he had his operation. They won’t let you have any money out of the bank unless you buy what you want and then take the order to the bank. So I don’t know how things are. Lots think they are on their last legs. I would hate to lose any more. If I do, I am afraid I will have to go to the poor house. I put the bond and receipt in my safety deposit box, so it is OK. Can you come up here this summer? Have Carl bring you. We can take you back or Russell can. Well I must get to work. I have a lot to do. Ironing, etc. etc. Write soon as you can. I guess I have written all the news. Lucille plays golf most of the time, so I don’t see her much. Thanks for all the bother about the house and if you need any money for repairs or anything, I can send you some. When the next vacation day comes on Monday maybe we can come on Sunday. Will let you know. There are just three girls working in dry goods part now instead of 7. Well write soon. Lovingly Carrie

Sources

1880 US Census Name: Carrie Mc Lellen Event Type: Census Event Date: 1880 Event Place: Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States District: ED 223 Gender: Female Age: 1 Marital Status: Single Race: White Race (Original): W Occupation: Relationship to Head of Household: Niece Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Niece Birth Year (Estimated): 1879 Birthplace: Michigan, United States Father's Birthplace: Canada Mother's Birthplace: Michigan, United States Note: Sheet Letter: A Sheet Number: 29 Sheet Number and Letter: 29A Household ID: 7631067 Person Number: 2 Volume: 2 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T9 Affiliate Film Number: 0608 GS Film Number: 1254608 Digital Folder Number: 005161039 Image Number: 00374

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace Charles Brucker Self M 30 Michigan, United States Elizabeth E Brucker Wife F 23 Michigan, United States Carrie Mc Lellen Niece F 1 Michigan, United States Caroline Brucker Sister F 26 Michigan, United States Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW3V-F7W : 10 August 2016), Carrie Mc Lellen in household of Charles Brucker, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district ED 223, sheet 29A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0608; FHL microfilm 1,254,608.

1900 US Census Name: Coddie Brucker Titles and Terms: Event Type: Census Event Year: 1900 Event Place: Precinct 2 Lansing city Ward 2, Ingham, Michigan, United States District: 37 Gender: Female Age: 21 Marital Status: Single Race: White Race (Original): W Relationship to Head of Household: Adopted daughter Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Daughter (A*) Number of Living Children: Years Married: Birth Date: May 1879 Birthplace: Michigan Marriage Year (Estimated): Immigration Year: Father's Birthplace: MIchigan Mother's Birthplace: MIchigan Mother of how many children: Sheet Number and Letter: 1A Household ID: 2 Line Number: 7 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T623 GS Film Number: 1240716 Digital Folder Number: 004120228 Image Number: 00199 Household Role Sex Age Birthplace Charles H Brucker Head M 51 Michigan Elizabeth E Brucker Wife F 54 Michigan Carl B Brucker Son M 14 Michigan Coddie Brucker Adopted daughter F 21 Michigan Jennie E Bennett Boarder F 35 Michigan Geo A Childs Boarder M 30 Michigan Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSMF-Q5Z : accessed 12 July 2017), Coddie Brucker in household of Charles H Brucker, Precinct 2 Lansing city Ward 2, Ingham, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 37, sheet 1A, family 2, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,716.

Michigan Marriages Name: James Wesley Glass Birth Date: Birthplace: Age: Spouse's Name: Carrie Mcclellan Spouse's Birth Date: Spouse's Birthplace: Spouse's Age: Event Date: 22 Nov 1905 Event Place: Farwell, Clare, Michigan Father's Name: James Glass Mother's Name: Elizabeth Hart Spouse's Father's Name: William Mcclellan Spouse's Mother's Name: Race: Marital Status: Previous Wife's Name: Spouse's Race: Spouse's Marital Status: Spouse's Previous Husband's Name: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M01731-4 System Origin: Michigan-ODM GS Film number: 2342672 Reference ID: Citing this Record: "Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCPF-MLW : 4 December 2014), James Wesley Glass and Carrie Mcclellan, 22 Nov 1905; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 2,342,672.

1910 US Census Name: Carrie M Glass Titles and Terms: Event Type: Census Event Date: 1910 Event Place: Grant, Clare, Michigan, United States District: ED 32 Gender: Female Age: 29 Marital Status: Married Race: White Race (Original): White Relationship to Head of Household: Wife Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Wife Birth Year (Estimated): 1881 Birthplace: Michigan Immigration Year: Father's Birthplace: Canada Mother's Birthplace: Michigan Sheet Letter: A Sheet Number: 2 Sheet Number and Letter: 2A Household ID: 27 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T624 Affiliate Film Number: 642 GS Film Number: 1374655 Digital Folder Number: 004972473 Image Number: 00118 Household Role Sex Age Birthplace Janes W Glass Head M 39 Canada Carrie M Glass Wife F 29 Michigan Lucille G Glass Daughter F 1 Michigan Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLP5-M2F : accessed 23 June 2017), Carrie M Glass in household of Janes W Glass, Grant, Clare, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 32, sheet 2A, family 27, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 642; FHL microfilm 1,374,655.

1920 US Census Name: Carrie Glass Titles and Terms: Event Type: Census Event Date: 1920 Event Place: Grant, Clare, Michigan, United States District: ED 140 Gender: Female Age: 38 Marital Status: Married Race: White Race (Original): White Can Read: Yes Can Write: Yes Relationship to Head of Household: Wife Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Wife Own or Rent: Birth Year (Estimated): 1882 Birthplace: Michigan Immigration Year: Father's Birthplace: Canada Mother's Birthplace: Michigan Sheet Letter: A Sheet Number: 1 Sheet Number and Letter: 1A Household ID: 7 Line Number: 21 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T625 Affiliate Film Number: 760 GS Film Number: 1820760 Digital Folder Number: 004966138 Image Number: 00927 Household Role Sex Age Birthplace James W Glass Head M 48 Canada Carrie Glass Wife F 38 Michigan Lucille Glass Daughter F 11 Michigan Russell Glass Son M 5 Michigan Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZSV-6RD : accessed 23 June 2017), Carrie Glass in household of James W Glass, Grant, Clare, Michigan, United States; citing ED 140, sheet 1A, line 21, family 7, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 760; FHL microfilm 1,820,760.

1930 US Census Name: Carrie Glass Titles and Terms: Event Type: Census Event Date: 1930 Event Place: Clare, Clare, Michigan, United States District: ED 2 Gender: Female Age: 48 Marital Status: Widowed Race: White Race (Original): White Relationship to Head of Household: Head Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head Birth Year (Estimated): 1882 Birthplace: Michigan Immigration Year: Father's Birthplace: Michigan Mother's Birthplace: Michigan Sheet Letter: B Sheet Number: 7 Sheet Number and Letter: 7B Household ID: 194 Line Number: 76 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T626 Affiliate Film Number: 975 GS Film Number: 2340710 Digital Folder Number: 004950065 Image Number: 00962 Household Role Sex Age Birthplace Carrie Glass Head F 48 Michigan Russell Glass Son M 15 Michigan Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQTR-449 : accessed 23 June 2017), Carrie Glass, Clare, Clare, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2, sheet 7B, line 76, family 194, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 975; FHL microfilm 2,340,710.

Michigan Deaths Name: Carrie Mae Glass Event Type: Death Event Date: 09 Aug 1935 Event Place: Clare, Clare, Michigan, United States Gender: Female Age: 52 Marital Status: Widowed Birth Date: 15 May 1882 Birthplace: Saginaw, Michigan Birth Year (Estimated): 1883 Father's Name: Wm Mcclelland Mother's Name: GS Film number: 001973219 Digital Folder Number: 005363679 Image Number: 00176 Citing this Record: "Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFHZ-XV4 : 12 December 2014), Carrie Mae Glass, 09 Aug 1935; citing Clare, Clare, Michigan, United States, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing; FHL microfilm 1,973,219.