back to the Low(e) main page

January 1^st, 1885 letter from

Theodore and Phebe (Low) Smith and Family

to James⁸ Low III

of Newburg Township, Pike County, Illinois.

The letter was found in the trunk of James⁸ Low III and transcribed Dec 1997 by his great-great grandson, Bingham James Forrest¹² Lowe of Phoenix, Arizona.

Phebe Margaret⁹ Low (James^8-6, Nathan⁵, Caleb⁴, David³, Thomas^2-1), was the third child of James Low III and Margaret (Huston) [Sister of Bingham James⁹ Low(e)]. She was born Oct 2, 1851 in Newburg Township, Pike County, Illinois and died May 25, 1917 in Newburg Township, Pike County, Illinois.

Phebe Margaret⁹ married Theodore Webb Smith on Aug 4, 1869 in Pike County, Illinois. “Theo” or “T.W.” was the son of Jesse B. and Lucinda (Bogan) Smith. Theo’s sister, Serafina, married Phebe Margaret⁹‘s cousin, Joseph Francis⁹ Low (William⁸, James^7-6, Nathan⁵, Caleb⁴, David³, Thomas^2-1).

Phebe Margaret⁹ (Low) and Theo Smith had 7 children:

1) Emmett Oliver¹⁰ Smith, b. June 19, 1870, Newburg, Pike County, Illinois; d. April 23, 1950, in Pittsfield, Illinois.; married Emma N. Carroll, August 26, 1891, Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois.

2) Nellie “Effie” V.¹⁰ Smith, b. Sept 4, 1872, Newburg, Pike County, Illinois; d. Dec 4, 1873, Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Illinois.

3) Sylvia Arabella¹⁰ Smith, b. July 31, 1877, Newburg, Pike County, Illinois. d. after 1950, Covina, Los Angeles County, California.

4) Jennie Florence¹⁰ Smith, b. June 5, 1880, Newburg, Pike County, Illinois; d. May 3, 1972, Covina ,California; married Frank Joseph Carroll on Dec 27, 1927, in California. Frank was the brother of Emma Carroll, wife of Jennie’s brother, Emmett.

5) Gracie Olive¹⁰ Smith, b. Jan 10, 1882, Newburg, Pike County, IL; d. Aug 20, 1883, Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Newburg, Pike County, Illinois.

6) Daisy Darling¹⁰ Smith, b. April 12, 1886, Newburg, Pike County, IL; d. July 1886.

7) Bessie Clara¹⁰ Smith, b. Aug 21, 1890, Newburg, Pike County, IL; married 1st to Edward Gracey (June 23, 1882- Nov 29, 1925) ; married 2^nd to B.F. Swartz. d: June 1982, Covina, Los Angeles County, California.

Phebe⁹ and her family wrote a group letter to her father which was found in his trunk:

Genealogical position of James⁸ Low III:

10th generation: Frank, Forrest, Lenna, Arthur, Edward, Paul, Leland, Charles Doss, Pearl, Henry, James, George

Bingham James⁹ Low(e)   Aug 27, 1853 - Feb 10, 1923           (wife: Mary D. Culver)                    of Pittsfield, IL

James⁸ Low III                  Apr 27-1816 - Sep 2, 1889               (wife: Margaret Huston Montgomery) of Clinton & Brighton, ME / Pittsfield, IL

James⁷ Low Jr                   1796 - Mar 20, 1824                        (wife: Mary Wyman)                       of Clinton, ME (fought in War of 1812)

James⁶ Low Sr                   Jul 17, 1770 - bef 1830                    (wife: Elizabeth "Betsy" Chase)      of Boxford, MA / Clinton, ME

Nathan⁵ Low                     Oct 1, 1742 - Jul 24, 1804                (wife: Lucy Lord)                            of Ipswich, MA / Boxford, MA

Caleb⁴ Low                        1707 - Jul 17, 1777                          (wife: Abigail Varney)                     of Ipswich, MA

David³ Low                       Aug 14, 1667 - Jun 2, 1746              (wife: Mary Lamb)                          of Ipswich, MA

Thomas² Low                    May 8, 1631 - Apr 12, 1712             (wife: Martha Boreman)    of Groton & Boxford, Suffolk, England / Ipswich, MA

Thomas¹ Low                    1605 - Sep 8, 1677                           (wife: Margaret Todd)       of Groton & Boxford, Suffolk, England / Ipswich, MA

Giles⁰ Low                        unknown (Wife: Syseley Wall, marr 3/5/1601/02)     of Brancepeth, Durham, England; Groton & Boxford, Suffolk, England

Farber Adrain Co, [IL] Jan 1st 1885

Dear father we received your card yesterday and was glad to hear from you we are all well hope you will be better when you get this Jennie was so glad when we read your card she jumped up and down and said she was going right back to night when I was undressing her for bed she asked me who would unbutton her dress if she was over there I asked her who would wash her clothes she says couldent I Emmett told her old mrs collens was over there she says aunt Mary is to and she could wash for aunt mary now cuase Ide is gone dadie and gene was coming up yesterday but it was so cold they could not Austins was coming here to day but maggie this morning was not able to come she has been complaining two or three days but went to school until today. Thee was down to farber after a load of cobs this afternoon austin told him she was feeling a little better We had our fruit packed in a box in the kitchen it froze and bursted 4 of my jars and then we moved it in the front room butter is 15cts a pound eggs 20cts a dozen I was supprised at Bessie giving that much milk a day thee said you was the one to have her for you would feed her so good father when you feel well enough go around and you will feel better than to set at home all alone and when you fare well enough come over here I cant think of any more this time write soon

Phebe Smith

Well I though I would write a few lines but I don't know any thing of important to write Ther has bin some very cold wether and the roads has bin ruff but they are smooth and icy I bought 100 bushels of corn for 20 cts per bushel and shuck it my self and 29 bushel for 23 cts and as much as I want at 20 and shuck it my self the elevator at lidona burnt a week before last I herd that they was 5000 bushels of corn in it I hope you are well by this time Write soon

 T.W. Smith

Well grandpa I would like to come back and see you and the rest of the folks nig comes to the door evry morning when pa gets up to make a fire and scratches for the door to be opend he came to me this morning before I was out of bed for some candy I gave him some candy and cake for his new years gift me and him has lots of fun we go a rabbit huntin g I guess I will have to close Sylvia wants to write a few lines write soon

Emmet Smith

dear grandpaw i thought i would write you a few lines to let you know that we are all well and hope you are the same me and Jennie got a new dress dress christmas i am a commin back and stay with you and keep house for you write soon good bye

Sylvia Smith

I don't know wheather you can read Sylvias writing or not but she wanted to write [Added by Phebe]

The "Aunt Mary" referred to by Phebe⁹ is her sister-in-law, Mary D. (Culver) Low(e), wife of Phebe's brother, Bingham James⁹ Low(e) of Pittsfield, Pike County, IL.

 

For the rest of their lives, Theodore and Phebe⁹ lived on the land that she had inherited from her father. Theo, who had never enjoyed good health since the Civil War, died on July 10, 1901 from chronic bronchitis and heart disease and Phebe Margaret⁹ (Low) Smith followed him on May 25, 1917.

Both Phoebe Margaret⁹ (Low) and Theodore Webb Smith are buried at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Pike County, Illinois. Theo's stone reads: "Theodore W. Smith Co. E. 31st Ohio Reg. July 16, 1840 - July 10, 1901" and Phebe⁹‘s reads: " Phebe M. (Low) Smith 10/2/1851-5/25/1917". Nellie "Effie"¹⁰'s stone is nearby: "Effie V. Smith 12/4/1873."