Read about this series of posts, regarding items in a box originally owned by Belle (Lamunion) Fellows Tinker here. The cast of characters is located here. And, there is an accounting of people about whom I have little information here.

The numbering of these posts had been modified to signify that I am posting items from my archival book three, a three precedes the item number.

Here is a proud couple on their farm.

This is not Belle and Charlie, so I believe that the photo is of Belle’s sister Elizabeth and her husband Franklin Bisard. Elizabeth passed away in April, 1930, so the photo pre-dates that.

Read about this series of posts, regarding items in a box originally owned by Belle (Lamunion) Fellows Tinker here. The cast of characters is located here. And, there is an accounting of people about whom I have little information here.

The numbering of these posts had been modified to signify that I am posting items from my archival book two, hence the 2-xx numbering. The posts from this book will contain more thumbnails, you will find that the pages with signatures, text and other important details will enlarge upon clicking.

There is no envelope with this letter, which is dated Nov 11/1925

Bisard, Elizabeth Lamunion (Newaygo, MI) to “Sister and Brother” [Belle Lamunion Fellows Tinker husband Charles Tinker]. Letter. 11 November 1925. Digital Images 2-2a and 2-2b. Privately held by GrannyPam, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Troy, MI 2009.

Newaygo Nov 11/1925
Dear Sister and Brother
yours received last night
it is one of the loveliest spring
morning that you ever see
warm and the sun shines so
bright- Lew and Jane came up
Sunday it snowed awful
Saturday and so they did (o?d)
come until Sunday Nelson
Wheets folks came Sunday
the roads are impassable
up to the corner the mail
man comes around

[page 2 A very cute drawing of a chicken, turkey or some bird at the top.]

and then walks to our
Box Lew got stuck Sunday
Jane got out and pushed
so they got through
Now here is Janes address
325 E Fulton St
Grand Rapids
Mich

With Love to all
Write soon your Sister
tell George to write

E Bisard

It is interesting that Elizabeth mentions a “spring” day at the beginning of the letter, when the calendar is obviously in the fall months. Perhaps having the sun shining felt like spring, or perhaps she meant to say fall and made a slip.

Elizabeth was certainly a conscientious older sister; there are many letters and cards to Belle from her. I have no information on “Jane”, who was obviously young and fit enough to push a car in 1925. Lewis F. Bisard, 1874-1940, outlived his mother by only 10 years; he died in Akron, OH. I have added a item to my growing to-do list to investigate who lived at “Jane’s” address in the Grand Rapids City Directories. I have no census listing for Lewis beyond 1900, when he lived with his parents in Ashland Township, Newaygo County. More to does. This entire box is fueling a quickly growing “to do” list!

Read about this series of posts, regarding items in a box originally owned by Belle (Lamunion) Fellows Tinker here. The cast of characters is located here. And, there is an accounting of people about whom I have little information here.

Easter Greetings

Postmarked Mich, 1909. The rest is illegible.

Mrs Belle Fellows
Manton
Wexford Co
Mich
Route

1- 6th ???
Dear sister your
_____ received
write and let me
know you are
getting along we
are all well ___
____ I wish you
could come
down for Easter
write. Your
Sister E. Bisard

This one was a real challenge to read, and I can’t really get the whole message. It seems the same as many of the cards sent by Elizabeth Lamunion Bisard to Belle, “love you, miss you.” The world is so small now, car travel so routine, communication so instant, it is hard to imagine not seeing or talking to loved ones for weeks or months. But that was the reality of the lives of early 20th century rural Michigan families.

Read about this series of posts, regarding items in a box originally owned by Belle (Lamunion) Fellows Tinker here. The cast of characters is located here. And, there is an accounting of people about whom I have little information here.

A spring summer scene

“Easter Greetings”

Mrs. Charles Tinker
Manton, Mich
RFD

The stamp is ripped off, and the postmark damaged. The card was sent from Michigan, that much of the postmark can be read.

3 24 19/10

Hello How are you
we are having nice
wether here some are
plowing the roads are
nice and dry the snow
went off without any rain
your Friend Mrs
Bisard

Asahel and Emily (Salisbury) Bisard were the parents of Franklin Bisard, who married Elizabeth L. Lamunion. There is a biography of the family in a history of Newaygo County, which can be found on Google Books.

It seems more likely that this card was sent by a daughter-in-law of Asehel and Emily. In 1910 the census reveals there were two married sons of Asahel and Emily in Ashland Township in addition to Elizabeth and Franklin, Orson “Oss” and Maggie, and Charles and Emma. Asahel and Emily are not found, they probably died before 1910. There are also several other Bisard/Bizard/Bizzard families in the area which could have contained the “Mrs. Bisard” who sent this greeting.

Or it may have been a  “Mrs Bisard” from another Bisard family in the area.

Read about this series of posts, regarding items in a box originally owned by Belle (Lamunion) Fellows Tinker here. The cast of characters is located here. And, there is an accounting of people about whom I have little information here.

“Just a
Greeting
From
Moline”

Postmarked
Moline, Mich
Feb 29, 1912
Addressed to:
Mr. Charly Tinker
Manton Mich

Feb ?

We got here all
right at 7 o clock
foneral(?) at 10
clock it is all
fall roads i
am going to
arons to day
Bell

Belle apparently traveled to Moline for a funeral in February of 1912, and wrote to let Charlie know all was well.  I cannot determine who died at that time; it could have been any relative, friend or neighbor of her sister, Elizabeth Bisard.

Read about this series of posts, regarding items in a box originally owned by Belle (Lamunion) Fellows Tinker here. The cast of characters is located here. And, there is an accounting of people about whom I have little information here.

Flower on the front of the card, no message, nothing is written on the label of the card.

postmarked Newaygo, Mich Oct 11, 1909 9 p.m.
Addressed to:
Mrs Belle Fellows
Manton PO
Wexford Co
Route Mich

At the top left:
Write soon
Your sister
E Bisard

Ashland Oct 11th/09
Dear Sister We are well
We had a short visit from
George he said you was
Coming Xmas are you I
Was at Casnovia last
Monday first time since
Xmas Frank is picking
apples has not got half done
yet all the Junes has been
here this fall George and
wife and daughter from
Texas and Aaron and Elt?

George is probably Elizabeth and Belle’s brother, George Lamunion, who often lived with family members and traveled seeking work. Frank (Bisard), who is picking apples, is Elizabeth’s husband.