Asenath (Wylie) Crawford (1850-1938) Letters to Robert White Wylie (1839-1927)
Asenath and Robert exchanged letters in 1925 and 1926. These letters are those from Asenath to Robert that were saved by family members and remain in the possession of DC McCown as of 2024. Some of these letters detail family history notes between these individuals.
3 Feb 1925 Crawford to Wylie
245 Wilson Ave, Beaver Pa,
Feb 3, 1925
Mr. Robert W. Wylie: -
My dear Cousin,
The letter you sent to my sister Ella Maxwell was sent to me as my sister has not been well for a long time. I remember you very well and was delighted to hear from you. Cousin Mary Wylie of Wellsburg told me the last we heard of you, but that was several years before her death. So your letter came as "good news from a far country." I am sorry our families have not kept in touch as we have lost much of interest and pleasure by our silence. I do not know just what you would like to know so will give you an outline of your and my ancestors as far as I know. If what I am able to tell is in past at least ancient history please excuse it. This you will find on another paper. So far as I am able to learn only four of the 65 first cousins are living. There may be more as Uncle Daniel went to Ypsilante, Mich. and we never heard from him except that cousin John Wylie Forbes met two of his sons in the army in the Civil War. Aunt Martha Bell, the youngest of grandfather Wylie's family moved to Iowa and since we have not heard from them for many years. Some of them may be living. Cousin Newton Wylie, cousin Mary's half brother died recently the last of Uncle David's family. I am the youngest of our family and almost the youngest grandchild and am 75 years old. My husband, Wm. Leddie Crawford died 34 years ago. I have 2 children, Andrew Wylie Crawford who is married and is in business in N. York and Janet Monroe Crawford who is an English teacher in a Pittsburg High School. The cousin "Carroline" you mentioned was Adaline, not Carroline. I remember your mother Aunt Betsey. Your Uncle Richard Brown and wife visited at our home when I was small and said I should have been named Kitty as I looked so much like your sister. I remember Cousin Anne who was in Steubenville when I was there at school, also cousin Harriet Hunter and Preston. Did you have a sister, Mary? I have always remembered her or I think I do - as being with you at our home. I also knew cousin Oliver. Cousin Amanda M'Kibben, Cousin Polly Millers youngest child a few years ago, she was born when her mother was 50 years old Father lived to be 83, was born and died in the house his father built and where my brother's widow lives. Now cousin Robert will you please send me the names of your father's family and your own family. I think cousin Mary told me you have a daughter named Janet, named, I suppose for our great-grandmother Janet Monroe as my daughter is. Will you excuse pencil as I have a defective hand and cannot write with a pen. Hoping to hear from you. sincerely your cousin.
18 Feb 1925 Crawford to Wylie
245 Wilson Ave, Beaver Pa,
Feb 18, 1925
My dear Cousin,
I want you to know what a pleasure it is to me that you have written me so fully of our mutual relations. I never knew you had a sister Jane, nor Elizabeth, nor a brother Richard. Don't you think that being Scotch we were partial to family names. For instance, there were four Jane Wylies and Jane Bell. There was an Elizabeth in nearly every family. But when it came to my name I'm happy to say there were but two of us. Tirza Wylie's sister for whom I was named died when she was fifteen, and she, of course was named for the wife of Joseph. I have known several Asenaths but it never made me like it.
I knew Jim Brown very well. I suppose they were living in a log house when he made the party for you. He was one of 12 children, 6 sons & 6 daughters. Jim courted his wife for 14 years and wore a path through the woods going to see her. His wife's mother selfishly refused her consent while she was living. Jim died several years ago.
I never saw, but one of father's brothers and only two of his sisters. But I do remember Aunt Polly Miller very well. One time she was at our home on a visit & she & mother went over to Uncle Johns. Later I went over and was in my bare feet and carried a parasol. Aunt Polly told me never carry a parasol when I was in my bare feet. She said a woman went to their place to get cherries and wore gloves & was in her bare feet. Shocking!
Another interesting thing about of (sic) family was the twins. As you know father and Uncle John were twins. Tirzah Guy had twin daughters. Maria Forbes had twins. William Wylie had twins and two of his sons have twins. When Wm. had 13 grandchildren they were all girls. He was the father of 7 children all born in April but one & he was born the last day of March.
I note that your sister Elizabeth and I had the same date, May 10th. I was 15 the day Jeff Davis was captured. I knew Irene Freeman well. She was a beautiful girl. She died years ago.
Cousin Robert you are a beautiful writer and I have no trouble reading it. So write with a pencil if you wish. I can only write with pencil on account of my hand.
You are to be congratulated on your nice family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. My son Andrew Wylie Crawford, has one son 6 yrs old. Andrew Wylie Crawford, Jr. His father is in business in N. York and they live in Englewood, N.J.
I will be very much pleased to get a picture of your wife and yours, too if you have one. It was so kind of you to write and I still hope you will be able to come & see us when summer comes. There is very much more I would like to write in reply to your interesting letters but think you will be tired of reading so much. I am glad to hear from you and will look for the picture.
With love to all my new-found relatives, "Senie" W. Crawford.
10 April 1925 Crawford to Wylie
245 Wilson Ave, Beaver Pa,
April 10, 1925
My dear Cousin Robert,
Your letter containing a copy of your wife's obituary should have been answered before this. Please do not feel that it was from any lack of interest that I failed to write. Not in years have I enjoyed anything so much as hearing from you. The obituary which I am enclosing was read with much interest and it was kind of you to send it. Let me say again that I ahve never seen a sweeter face and I well know how mcuh joy and light went from your life with her going for you, I am sure are gentle, kind, and living. Whittier has written:
I'm sure you and I both are assured that we will see and know those we held so dear. You have not told me of your church connection, but I suppose you are a Presbyterian. I, too, am a United Presbyterian. It is a notable fact that our church paper has never been out of our home for 78 years. Grandfather Wylie was an elder in the Three Springs Congregation. I suppose your father was buried in the Three Springs Cemetery, as our people are. I am sorry you didn't come to see us when you were so near, only three miles from my home & 8 miles from my old home. I still hope you may be able to come to Toronto this summer & I will go down to see you. I would write a long letter but the carrier is due in a few minutes. With love to all - Senie Crawford.
25 May 1925 Crawford to Wylie
245 Wilson Ave, Beaver Pa,
May 25, 1925
My dear Cousin Robert,
When you wrote me last you were not at all well, and since it was several weekes since I hearc from you I fear you are not feeling any better. I hope you atleast are no worse. I was sorry to hear of your loss by death of one so dear to you for your tender heard feels the loss so keenly.
Since I wrote you last I have had my seventy-fifth birthday and was most kindly remembered by as shower of cards from friends in McKeesport where we had lived for six years when Janet was head of the German Department in the High School. It was a complete surprise as I didn't know that anyone there know my date - May 10, 1850.
Janet has been teaching English in Pittsburg High School for the last four years. She graduated from Beaver College took two years at Cornell, one year at Harvard summer school & expects to attend Columbia this summer. Last year we went to the Blue Ridge Mountains and found it delightful; But this year I expect to stay home.
I'm wondering if it is cold at Athalia? Saturday was hot, today is cold as winter. Dear cousin, I cannot tell you how glad I am that you wrote to my sister & that I have had the pleasure of hearing from you. I still have the hope of seeing you . If you come to Toronto I will go down & bring you to our home if you can stand the travel. I would be delighted to have you a guest in our home. If you are not able to write, will you have someone send me word how you are? With love to all Senie W. Crawford.
18 Sep 1925 Crawford to Wylie
245 Wilson Ave, Beaver Pa,
Sep 18, 1925
My dear Cousin Robert,
Do you remember when we were young how long the years were? What a long time it was between Christmas day and our birthdays were just as far apart. Well that has been reversed and now the time goes so fast that it is gone before we realize its flight. I was very glad to know of your pleasant visit in South Bend, and of your safe return to your home. I have never stopped at S. Bend but have been thru it a number of times in going to Chicago. I had hoped you would be able to come to Toronto & Beaver this summer.
I thot (sic) of you often in August as it was your birth month. Tho I could not recall the day. However, I hope you were pleasantly remembered & were able to enjoy it. With so many dear relatives & with you own tender loving disposition you must have been happy. It would give me much pleasure to accept your kind invitation to visit you but it does not seem possible to leave home without Janet & as you know she teaches schools in Pittsburg and needs me as much as I need her. Pittsburg has daylight savings time and she has to leave home very early to get to her school in time.
We get quite a number of cards from my nephew, Rev J. C. Fulton who is spending three months in foreign travel. He is a son of sister Jand and is pastor of a United Presbyterian congregation in Akron, O.
I have been writing our family record for Robert Ruttes (or Pultes?) son who is a cashier of the Fort McIntosh Bank of Beaver. He is a son of Maria Forbes & gets the name Robert, as I suppose you got yours from yours from your father, his great uncle. You ahve a great many 2nd cousins here who would be glad to see you for sure. Cousin Amanda (Miller) M'Kibbens family & cousin Maria (Forbes) Patterson's family live here, tho she & cousins have passed away. You and I & sister Ella Maxwell are of the few who are left. I wish you could meet them all.
Janet had a delightful summer at Columbia University, N.Y. I was more than content to stay at home as summer is not a season that suits me on account of the heat. We can keep warm in the winter but we can't keep cool in the summer. We are trying to get my sister to come to live with us as she should not be alone any longer. She is in her 81st year & her mental condition is not as we wish.
I hope you sick ones have all recovered from their operations. My grandson Andrew Wylie Crawford, Jr. had his tonsils taken out and is much better for having it done. Perhaps I told you that my right hand is defective which accounts for my poor writing in part . Also I was never the fine penman that you are. However, it doesn't hurt me to write so I promise you that I will not be so long about writing as this time.
With love to you and all my relatives for I claim them all.
Sincerely your cousin, Senie.
26 Oct 1925 Crawford to Wylie
245 Wilson Ave, Beaver Pa,
Oct 26, 1925
My dear Cousin Robert,
Several weeks ago I wrote to you have have expected a reply but have been disappointed. Now I am concerned you are ill or I would have heard from you.
When at first I looked for word and none came, I hoped you might have decided to come to Toronto & then to Beaver but now I fear you are not able to write or to visit. Certainly not the kind of weather we have now, snow and rain, high winds, and cold. The melancholy days seem to come before they are due but perhaps we should agree with the poet who says, "Whatever kind of weather we have is the kind I like the best. That is a very good way to be, but I must confess that I have not attained his philosophic height that enables me to accept his optimistic view except in theory.
Janet has been teaching in Pittsburg since the last day of Aug and will finish 2 months today. This is her 4th year in the city. She is taking a course at the University of Penn and had a very pleasant time at Columbia University. She had 2 years at Cornell, 1 year at Harvard, several years at Chanlagna & graduated at Beaver College.
Andrew as in from N.Y. to see us and looked very well. He likes N.Y. very much. The loss of my husband was a severe trial in my life, but I have so much to be thankful for. Now my dear cousin will you have some one of your family write if you are not able to & let me know how you are?
There is much I would like to write but you know my hand is defective & I can blame the weather if it is even worse than usual. With love to you all, Senie Crawford.
2 Dec 1925 Crawford to Wylie
Wed, Dec 2, '25
My dear Cousin Robert,
I am always glad to hear from you, glad to know that you are still able to write. Your last letter giving an account of cousin Oliver's family was very interesting as I remember him better than any of my cousins of your family except cousin Harriet.
I remember a visit from cousin Oliver and his wife when they had but two children, Frank and a little daughter. Cousin Rebekah, his wife was a very sweet, gentle woman and very pretty. One of her sisters - I think - was the second wife of a Mr. Hibbits who lived at or near Wellsville, Ohio. HIs first wife was Isabel Wylie your cousin and mine & a half sister of cousin Mary Wylie of Wellsburg. Mr. Hibbets married a third wife, Rachel Purdy of Holiday's Cove. I was also very much interested in the church calendar you sent - so glad to know that my relatives are so much interested in church activities. And while we do not have quite the same name, we do have one Lord, one faith and I hope the day may soon come when we will all be one in name.
Janet and I have been away since I wrote you last. My step-son and his wife invited us to their home for Thanksgiving and we had a very pleasant visit. They live in Follansbee, and new town below Stuebenville on the W. Virgina side of the river. We went down Thanksgiving morning on street cars which run between here and Steubenville. We stayed overnight with my sister Ellie & the next day went to a dentist at E. Liverpool where I was in his chair for two hours. Janet not quite so long. Ellie is in her 82 year and physically is very well, but mentally she is failing rapidly. She is a widow and her two sons died years ago.
She has plenty to live on, but it is not well for her to live alone. We have exhausted every argument to have her come & live with us but to no avail. "It is hard to transplant and old tree" so, I suppose she is happier where she is.
I suppose you have had much the kind of weather we have had here. Have you ever know two months of such cold and rain so early in the fall?
Hellen and Evaline Patterson of Beaver have retured from Florida where they were the guests of Daisy M'Clung who is one of Lirzah Guy's twin daughters. The Patterson girls are daughters of Maria Forbes Patterson, All related to you & me.
Cousin Robert you write so well, and I am such a poor writer. You know my right hand is very defective and that accouts for my poor writing in part, I'm sure you will excuse all defects.
I hope to hear that you are feeling better than when you wrote last.
Wylie Beal of Wellsburg is not related to us. Aunt Martha Bell had a son, Wylie who was.
With love to all our relative and much to you, Senie
5 Mar 1926 Crawford to Wylie
245 Wilson Ave, Beaver Pa,
Mar 5, 1926
My dear Cousin,
Had I needed proof that "blood is thicker than water" the pleasure you last letter gave me would have been sufficient. When I remember that it is sixty-nine years since I have seen you and never but once, I might be forgiven if I would not be specifically interested in you. But let me assure you that this is not the case; I am so glad to hear from you, and only regret that we have never seen more of you and your family.
It was so kind of you to send me the pictures. Little Betty is a very pleasing little girl I'm sure. Your home or house is very comfortable in appearance and cousin Nellies has such a wholesome appearance that she mus be a great comfort to you.
I was sory to know of your distressing physical condition, and sincerely hope you are better or at least more comfortable. This has been such a long cold winter and there has been much sickness in town, the school almost broken up with measles. This is a bright sunny morning, but last night it was only a few degrees above zero.
I have not been from home since Thanksgiving, having had an attack of gripe and a broken vein in my ankle. It has been very painful and very slow to heal. I have had two doctors but the first Dr. was not much good. I think very few doctors are of much use.
Janet has almost decided to go to Seatle next summer for her vacation. Sister Mary Archer's two sons, Sister Jane Fultons one son, and Sister Belle Campbell's only son all live in or near there. She may go on to California where her sister - half - lives. It is a very great pleasure that my children are so very fond of the half brothers and sisters and they have been so kind to me & my children.
Our United Pres. church in Steubenville has just dedicated a new $200,000 church. The congregation was organized in 1811. The Pastor, Rev. George Buchanan, also preached at Paris, Pa where we were members. Mr. Buchanan began his ministry when mother was one year old and lived to marry my parents and baptize their eight children. His ministry lasting 55 years for 30 years he rod the same horse, old "Punch" and I have no doubt your mother often saw them go thru the Cove.
Cousin Robert, I never cease to regret that you never came to see us. NOt that I blame you in the least, but I am so fond of my relatives that I love them to the last degree.
Did you know that Monroe's wife died Dec 21st. I think that she was 83 years old.
With love from Janet & myself. Senie W. Crawford.
20 July 1926 Crawford to Wylie
245 Wilson Ave, Beaver Pa,
July 20, 1926
My dear Cousin,
You cannot know just how very glad I am to get your letter of resent date which has just arrived. I have thot (sic) so much about you and only for a very good reason have not written to you long ago.
I cannot tell you how sorry I am to know of your serious illness and of how much you have suffered. I do hope the painful remedy used to control the hernia will be successful and give you much relief.
Now I will tell you why I have not written. Early in the fall I had an attak of flu from which I have never fully recovered. In addition my limbs were very much swollen and a broken vericose vein in my ankle gave me much trouble. Two doctors failing to give me relief. I went to a third who discovered that my great trouble was caused by high blood pressure (235 mm) I was but to bed for weeks and the pressure was slowly reduced but cannot be cured, as my age is against me. 76 years
I'm almost ashamed to mention my troubles for they are so light in comparison to yours.
Dear cousin Robert isn't it tru that "blood is thicker than water"? It must be so for here I am jsut as found of you as tho I had know you all our lives. Perhaps it is our Scotch blood that makes me, at least, so clannish. But be that as it may I claim everyone who is even distantly related, & would like to meet them all.
I would be glad to go to Athalia but am not able. My daughter, Janet, in company with two other young women teachers is on a trip to California via Yellowstone and Glacier Parks, Seattle where four of my nephews are located. Then on to California where she will visit her half-sister. Janet refused to go & leave me alone so I have a woman staying with me.
Andrew, my son, is in New York a meber of an Advertizing Company.
Hoping to hear from you again when you are able to write. With much love, Senie.
12 Aug 1926 Crawford to Wylie
245 Wilson Ave, Beaver Pa,
JAug 12, 1926
My dear Cousin Robert,
Your good letter was rec'd some time ago. I was glad you were able to write and so glad to know that your foot had healed for it must have been very painful.
Your accout of the wedding was very interesting. Give the bride my best wishes for a long and happy life. I'm glad she is going to live so near that you can see her often. I remember cousin Oliver very well and his wife too. She was a very sweet pretty woman. I also remember the son, Frank, I would be glad to see them all.
Janet has not returned from her summer trip. She has had a wonderful visit. They drove through Black Hills to Yellowstone Park. They they went north to Glacier Park and up into British Columbia where there baggage was examined for contraband booze. Forest fires were raging in Glacier Park, the air being thick with smoke, but dangerous roads were guarded, and they got thru without mishap. While at Yellowstone they saw many Indians belonging to the Blackfeet tribe; among them was Chief Two Guns Whit Calf whose face appears on our Nickel. They have been at Seattle where four of my nephews live. Two are sons of sister Mary. One is a son of sister Jane and one is sister Belle's only son.
If it were possible after Janet returns we would accept your kind invitation to visit you but I am not able to go from home except for a very short distance. I never told you but I was victim of a broken vein in my ankle. I had two doctors who failed to heal it but the third one succeeded. My limbs, my face, and indeed my entire body was swollen. A test disclosed the presence of high bloodpressure 235 mms. This has been reduced but H.B. Pressure cannot be cured but can be controlled by rest and diet. I am better and will be so glad to hear from you. With much love, Senie