Letter from Victoria Bailey to Etta Bailey — July 22, 1881 · Greer Heritage Museum collection

Title

Letter from Victoria Bailey to Etta Bailey — July 22, 1881

Accession Number

2022.1.2.1

Accession Date

February 4, 2023

Accession Creator

David Lovegrove

Depositor

Shuman B. Gerald, III

Description

At the time her mother sent her this letter, Etta is 14 years old; Victoria is 39. Etta’s sister Estelle died five years earlier; her father will die one year later. Her twin brothers are now 9 years old, sister Fannie is 6, and sister Bettie is 3.

The letter refers to "Aunt Eliza." Eliza Bailey was a resident of Greenville, S.C. and attended Greenville Womens College. She received a degree in 1865; she is also on a census in 1880. Etta is in Greenville at a school.

Date

July 22, 1881

Storage Location

General Archive Box #7 Folder #6

Text

Greers 22d July ./81.
Dear Etta
Your very welcome letter was recieved and I now make an effort to respond to it. I am glad to be able to say this leaves us all up but not very well. I am almost worded down, Edwin & Edgar has started to Pleasant Grove to school they are very much pleased, Fannie is spending the week with her Grand Ma so I have no one with me during the day but Bettie she has had several very bad biles on her head & face, and might bad, Emma & her Georgia is doing fine Emma is up helping me all I will let her is now doing the milking, her baby never has been any trouble. Mary is now at Bob Morgans his wife has a baby have not heard the partickulars Ida has declined going up to Greenville suppose cant leave Dr. S__ Mammie is coming home next week have not seen any of them since you left
Mr Craig is boarding at Mr. Dicksons has rented a room from [Gill?] in his Hall. Malissa is sick again with Diptheria, she went to see all of her people and came home sick your Pa did not get off to the mountain, he sais he will send you the money the very first one that is passing Thinks some one will be going tomorrow, I think now if Mary gets back from Bobs I may slip up on you all some time next week cant say [today?] I have not seen your Grand Ma since you left but hear from her she is well, Florence Green is at her Pa’s came up to stay a while Mr. Pollard says there is now a Registered letter in the P. O. for you but he will keep it until you come Davis Cannon is having his house painted, hurrah for Tina; the Dicksons is just sewing & making you never saw such work Mr. Pennington is very bad off has not been on his bed for two weeks, has Asthma, he suffers a great deal
I will have to close give my love to your Aunt Eliza and receive a large portion from your loving Mother V.E.B.
I received a letter from Miss Nina lately she send a heap of love to you