Letters - My Cousin, In the midst of darkness without a ray of light or hope. Leon Gould

 Dear Reader,
      The next scores or so of posts will be not my own writings, but correspondences of my Great-Grandfather Leon Gould. This letter is to his cousin, Alice, whom he later married! Great-Grandpa Leon had a large family (of 11 children), and journeyed as secretary to Presiding Patriarch Alexander Smith (son of Joseph & Emma) in the RLDS church before eventually joining the Church of Christ (TL) and becoming an Apostle. His descendants have been blessed with a rich spiritual heritage and many true family accounts of  what can only be called miracles. If you read these letters and are interested in reading more of the Gould family history, look for a book titled "Trek of Faith" by Peggy Tucker. These letters contain the original spelling mistakes and have not been corrected. Feel free to print and keep these letters in your own family history files if you so wish. In the future, a book of Leon's writings will be made available. Enjoy!

                                                                                                      Battle Lake, Minn.
                                                                                                        July 30, 1899
My Cousin:-
     Amongst loved ones and surrounded by the familiar scenes of the old home yet my joy is marred, all the brightness is turned into darkness, which even the present of pretended friends increases. I ought not to say “pretended” perhaps; but I am beginning to doubt almost every, at times.

     What I said in my last letter in regards to your personal appearance was written with sincerity, other may not think as I do; if they do not I should retain the priveledge of forming my opinion in reguard to their judgement. It matters little what the other “girls I have seen” think or say. I have a right to my own opinion, if based upon facts.

     I don’t know that I have any news to write in particular, about any of the “folks”. Perhaps others have written you all the gossip etc. so it will be useless for me to do so.

     So you are in trouble, as to whether you should allow me to write to you?
Alice if my correspondence is distasteful to you and you wish it discontinued you have only to say the word. If it will relieve you of any anxiety and help to banish the ‘blues’ then perhaps it will be best to stop. It cannot hurt me much more.

     And perhaps you would desire that our acquaintance should cease and let me henceforth be a stranger. Well, I guess it could not hurt me much more. You may have your wish.
I once had a great desire to amount to something in the world and make myself useful if possible, but, now I am devoid of ambition and bowed under such a load that I can make no effort. Some have urged me to leave that country, saying that I might have better opportunities elsewhere. But it seem to me that the few troubled years remaining to me may as well be passed there as anywhere. As for happiness, I doubt there being any such thing in this world.

      I thank you for desiring to help me out of difficulties, but I fear there is no way for you to do so. There seems to be no help for me. A few more words before I close for fear I may not be permitted to address you again.

     I have seen a few instances, even amongst relatives, where sorrow and regrets have followed them through their after-life from such cause that I feel like asking “Is it not a serious matter to throw away a man’s love?”

     Hoping that heaven’s choicest blessing may rest upon your head and that sorrow may always be a seldom visitor I am your cousin.

                                In the midst of darkness without a ray of light or hope. 
                                                            Leon Gould

Letters - Dear Alice, love to all, Your freckled cos, Maude

Dear Reader, we interrupt the correspondence between Alice and Leon to bring you a letter to Alice on the subject of Leon's interest in her - enjoy!


                                                                                                                       Battle Lake, Minn.
                                                                                                                          July 6th, 1899
Dear Alice –
    Your letter received to day, found me home, just recovering from a plague inherited of Mother Eve. I left Aunt Rose’s the morning of the 4th. went to Clitherall to the celebration, Where they picked on Abbie and I once, to ride in the great calathumpion paridde, with beautiful ladies.

     We went through town once had turned around and were just stating back, and a young fellow from Otter Tail, Ray Austin, and his sweetheart Eleanor Hunter were coming to town. His horse became frieghtened at the make belief Indians in the paraide and ran away, he ran up around Albert Taylors old house, we were stopped in front of the house when the horse rushed around in front of the house, they would have run into us, but the buggy struck an old washing machine and turned bottom side up, the boy and girl both under it, the horse dragged the buggy off from them broke loose and away he went, I saw the girl raise her head, groan and then she fell back fainting, they carried her to the Hotel.
I heard afterward she was not hurt bad, the boy was all right, but the buggy was smashed up pretty bad. I never had anything make me feel so sick for a little while as that did.

     Bro. Roberts and Kelly were there so I got to see them after all, Aunt Rosa wanted me longer but I knew I couldn’t work this week, so came home.

     We just heard Winnie had killed a deer, good for him. Will look for them home in a couple of weeks. Wish you could come with them. Well Alice now for your question, my you are enough to set me crazy, did you read your letter over after you wrote it. Why, it would me all up in knots to keep track of it. But I think I understand your trouble.
     Of course you cant refuse a man until he asks you
    But just look here, you thought Leon a gentleman you liked to get letters from him and all that. But the way it turned out was it all right?

     Leon don’t think so. His future looks as dark as night. For he thought his prize was sure. And he says he can’t give up as long as you are single and as poor as Mr. John. T. He seemed to take a fancy to you when you were in MO. and now after so many years he finds out where you are and wrote to you. If he is a gentleman as you say he is, do you think he would have written if he had not cared something for you. I don’t think he would. So would it not be easier to give an excuse for not writing now than to have to make excuses for writing and encouraging him. If he don’t care anything for you he wont care if you don’t write, and if he does, and it will never him any good, so you better not write unless you want another broken hearted lover on your hands.

     Alice I am in sympathy with the poor old cast-offs. And I have been there. And it is worse then death, to have to endure. And I don’t believe anyone can ever get over it.

     I think it best to keep on the safe side as much as possible. I would not know what excuse to make if I were in your place, I guess you have got you foot in it all ready. But better not wait till you get in all over before you try to get out.

There is a good piece in the Autumn Leaves on this very subject I wish you had it, it is in the July No. the woman writing that piece says it is useless to ----(chewed writing, cannot be deciphered) ------ -- never marry out of the church, and then go with anyone you please. Well there is no use writing any more you know better to do that anything I could tell you.

    How I wish some one could tell me what to do. I think I feel some as you do, lonesome love sick, heartsick and sinsick, there I didn’t mean to call you sin-sick, that is just for me. But there is no one that can help me out of my trouble and I cannot help myself, so I will try to be cheerful as I can with a heart as heavy as lead. I must close and write to the boys, I shall ---(chewed)--- to see them come home. Birch went out after Aunt Lois to work and he didn’t know it. They told him she would go with him, and after she went to Lon’s she didn’t know he would do—so she went up town with Ralph and in a little while she saw Birch drive down by to Lon’s after her. Of course she did not smile, Well I think a good deal of Abbie and Birch, I hardly know which one I do think the most of. But I guess it is Birche’s cousin.

Well I am going to stop writing to you for once or the paper factory will bust.
Write soon ask some more questions if you want to. I will tell just what I think about them that is all I can do., different people have different thoughts so if mine don’t suit you, think up some that will-
by by.

                                                                                                                       love to all,
                                                                                                                 Your freckled cos,
                                                                                                                         Maude

Letters - Dear Cousin - Shall I send this or shall I burn it up? Alice E. Anderson

 Dear Reader,
      The next scores or so of posts will be not my own writings, but correspondences of my Great-Grandfather Leon Gould. This letter is to his cousin, Alice, whom he later married! Great-Grandpa Leon had a large family (of 11 children), and journeyed as secretary to Alexander Smith in the RLDS church before eventually joining the Church of Christ (TL) and becoming an Apostle. His descendants have been blessed with a rich spiritual heritage and many true family accounts of  what can only be called miracles. If you read these letters and are interested in reading more of the Gould family history, look for a book titled "Trek of Faith" by Peggy Tucker. These letters contain the original spelling mistakes and have not been corrected. Feel free to print and keep these letters in your own family history files if you so wish. In the future, a book of Leon's writings will be made available. Enjoy!



                                                                                                                           Moose Beltrami Co.
                                                                                                                           Minn. July 23, 99
Mr. L.A. Gould
Battle Lake, Minn.

Dear Cousin;-
“Now don’t”. “Its too rediculas. Not another person in the wide world would have said such a thing about me, and I am quite sure you wouldn’t if you had have been in your right mind. “The idea that I am the most beautiful”-------; dear me, where have you kept your eyes? What would some of the other girls you have seen say or think if you classed them below me in beauty?

     You are a queer boy, as I have told you before. I should think you would have been afraid to tell me how beautiful I am for fear of making me conscious of the fact, and then it would all be spoiled.
No you cannot make me believe that, for I know better. Well I believe I will drop the subject.

      I really wouldn’t have answered your letter until I had had more time to decide what kind of an answer to send, if it hadn’t have been that I do not know when again I can get off by myself to write and I never can write any thing of importance when anybody is around.

     Did I make you think that I have the blues only on Sunday? Well I did not intend to do that for I have the blues sometimes besides Sundays, but I confess Sunday is the worst day for such attack for then I do not have so much to do to keep my mind off from my perplexities, as I do other days; and Sunday you know is naturally a long lonesome day, if a person can not go to church.

     Any attempt of mine to have confidence in myself, when taking an examination, would turn out just like that affair of Dell’s when she got up enough confidence to make Arthur a coat. When it comes to taking an examination, my confidence fails me entirely, that’s the reason I nearly always have such luck, I guess.

     May has been staying up at Aldridges for over a week. She says Mr. Aldridge is very, very sorry that he kept his children away from the entertainment. They are going to have only five months of school next year in this district. Two and a half this fall and the same next spring. I suppose you knew the new school house at Moose was- is going up.

     You wanted to know why I had taken to having the “Blues”, also what it is that troubles me. I think I shall tell you some things that trouble me. One thing that troubles me is because I am of so much trouble to other people. As for having the blues; the mosquitoes, the wet road to school, the little school, being so far away from home and relatives, being among people who think of religion only when they can not think of any thing else to think of and other things combind are enough to make me have the blues, if they wouldn’t anybody else.

     I find it so much easier to do wrong than right; so much easier to let myself be led into foolishness than to keep out of it and so hard for me to decide how to do right when I do want to do right; that it is a very easy matter to have something to be “blue” over. Now another thing that troubles me a great deal is whether it is a good plan to allow this correspondence between us two, or not. I do not know how to find out what is best, so am going to tell you about it and see what you think ‘is best’. How to be plainer, I had just as live correspond with you as anybody I know of, but that is the way I felt last fall and of course I can not tell how long I will feel that way. But it seems that my corresponding; last fall led you to hope things of me that I could not fulfill and it also led other parties to believe that I encouraged you to believe things that I knew all the time there was no hope of, and if my corresponding with you now is going to make one of the bet girls and one of the best boys on earth think that I am hard hearted and a flirt, and that I take especial delight in trying to win somebodies heart just for the sake of casting it off afterward and a whole lot of other bad things about me, why I guess we had better not correspond, for I am guilty of enough wickedness anyway with people thinking that of me.

     I really do not know as I am to blame because I never set my heart on any particular person or because my fancy is always changing from one person to another. I suppose, unless I am to be numbered among the old maids, that when the right time comes I will know, who I really care for most. I should like to help you out of you trouble, someway but I tried that once and it seems I did not better affairs very much for you, so guess I better not try it again.
WELL I do not know what you will think of this letter, I’m sure but I had better quit befor I make it any worse.

                                                                         With best wishes for you I am your Friend
                                                                                           and “coz.”
                                                                                       Alice E. Anderson
                                                                                        (Bemidji Minn.)
                                                          Shall I send this or shall I burn it up is the question now?

Letters - Dear Teacher? In the Slough of Despond, L.A. Gould

Dear Reader,
      The next scores or so of posts will be not my own writings, but correspondences of my Great-Grandfather Leon Gould. This letter is to his cousin, Alice, whom he later married! Great-Grandpa Leon had a large family (of 11 children), and journeyed as secretary to Alexander Smith in the RLDS church before eventually joining the Church of Christ (TL) and becoming an Apostle. His descendants have been blessed with a rich spiritual heritage and many true family accounts of  what can only be called miracles. If you read these letters and are interested in reading more of the Gould family history, look for a book titled "Trek of Faith" by Peggy Tucker. These letters contain the original spelling mistakes and have not been corrected. Feel free to print and keep these letters in your own family history files if you so wish. In the future, a book of Leon's writings will be made available. Enjoy!



                                                                                                                  Bemidji, Minn. 7/ 16, 1899
Miss Alice Anderson

Moose, Minn.

Dear Teacher?—Well there, this is the worst typewriter to make breaks I ever saw. As I “happen” to want to hear from you again I will take advantage of your permit and write. The family is tolerably well except Winnie. He is suffering from a combined attack of homesickness and blues. Can hardly get him to wait until we get what hay stacked he have cut before he starts.

     Byron is at Vick’s as perhaps you know- having arrived here the fourth. Freem and I spent the fourth cutting houselogs for a barn.

     Why have you taken to having “Blues”? I thought you were the girl that never had such things. You are not worring over the coming examination are you? That can’t be, for if you were the attacks would come sometimes besides Sundays. You must not let the examination worry you at all. Just go there with all the confidence in the world that you are going to pass and everything will come out all right. That is all I have had at the last two examinations. Went there without the least bit of ability, preparation, or ambition to carry me through. Well I might have had enough ambition but that was all.

     No, Bert Paul was single.

    Freem says $50 worth of berries could be picked on his place.

     You stubborn? Well I should smile yes. But perhaps it would not do for me to say so.

     Why, I don’t suppose it would matter who a man got for a wife if he had but two conditions to choose. Either take a woman he did not love or be a batchelor like Carley Pierce, Charley Taylor, etc. I have seen examples of both conditions. As for opposition of relatives I guess they wouldn’t care much, and they ought to stand it if I could. I don’t intend to make any more rash engagements. If I can’t make a good one I’ll get married with any engagement.

     I think that Norsky preacher must have been a real rascal. He must be smart to think you look like a Norwegian. I have come near saying something a hundred times, more or less, and checked myself because it might sound a little like flattery. But, honestly, Alice, I think you are the most beautiful woman I ever saw. And one thing that has doubled its value is because you have always appeared as if you were entirely unconscious that you were beautiful.

     Thanks for the poem, though I confess I am at a loss at to where you intended me to apply them or it. You call yourself a silly girl and say you don’t know what would be best for yourself and others. What is it that troubles you, Alice? Well I might go on writing all day and not get half I want to said nor said in the right way so perhaps I may as well close. I’ll try not to let your letter encourage me too much. If you fulfill your threat to let me hear from you again direct your letter to Battle Lake.

                                                                                              In the Slough of Despond
                                                                                                         L.A. Gould

Letters - Dear Sir, your old Kussin, Alice E. Anderson

 Dear Reader,
      The next scores or so of posts will be not my own writings, but correspondences of my Great-Grandfather Leon Gould. This letter is to his cousin, Alice, whom he later married! Great-Grandpa Leon had a large family (of 11 children), and journeyed as secretary to Alexander Smith in the RLDS church before eventually joining the Church of Christ (TL) and becoming an Apostle. His descendants have been blessed with a rich spiritual heritage and many true family accounts of  what can only be called miracles. If you read these letters and are interested in reading more of the Gould family history, look for a book titled "Trek of Faith" by Peggy Tucker. These letters contain the original spelling mistakes and have not been corrected. Feel free to print and keep these letters in your own family history files if you so wish. In the future, a book of Leon's writings will be made available. Enjoy!


                                                                                                                          Moose, Beltrami Co.
                                                                                                                         Minnesota July 9-99
Mr. Leon Gould
Bemidji, Minn.

Dear Sir:- Yours of the fourth inst. received and if the mosquitoes don’t bother me too much I shall try to answer it. It is raining this morning for a change. It has rained nearly every day last week, so it was almost impossible to get to school and back either night or morning without getting wet. I spent the fourth at home croqueting and trying to sleep.

     May and Raltzor Whitter went to Solway. They tried to get me to go but I thought it too much of a pleasure exertion altogether, to ride over these roads so far and back and then not get to see anybody I cared anything about, either.

     They stayed to the dance at night. Did not get home until four o’clock the next day. They were to a dance again last night, and yet home about five this morning. It is only about eight now and I have written a letter home already this morning. You see we get up early.

    Mrs. LaFever expected company to-day. Mr. Billy Morrison and some friends of his, I never have met them but I am afraid they wont come on accout of the rain.

     Last Sunday was another ‘blue’ Sunday for me. I am glad I only have three more weeks left to teach for I don’t know what would become of me if I had to stay in this country much longer and have the kinds of spells very often that I have had quite often the last five weeks.

     But enough of this I got a letter from home yesterday; they told of the great celebration at Clitherall the fourth. Have received one letter from Maude since you left Moose but it was not near long enough.
I got a letter from Myrtle Andis. She sent her baby’s picture, taken when he was a year old. That just makes seven different pictures she has sent of him.

     I have been studying some for the examination that is to be before many weeks I suppose. I do wish I could manage to get out of taking it, someway. That sounds as though I was lazy doesn’t it. Well to tell the truth about it, I am. Anybody can soon tell that, I guess.
I guess I will change that wish and say that ‘I do wish I knew that I would pass’.

Was Bert Paul a married man?

     I am glad Freem likes his place so well. I hope May and the girl will like it and that my folks will like the country if they come up, too. They are so anxious that I should go home after school is out, I do not hardly think I will go, cannot tell for sure yet. It will depend on circumstances and on what kind of notion strikes me when the time comes, I suppose.

     Did you know that I am “as stubborn as a mule” when I get my head set? Well, I am, I am sorry to say and yet I am not sorry enough to break myself of it.

So you have some vension at last, have you?

     We girls got over that trip remarkably well. I think if I should live down there a year or so longer I would get so I would think no more of taking a ten or twelve mile trip afoot than I used to of taking a mile or so trip.

     So you think that if you cannot get for a wife the one you love, that it doesn’t matter who you get, then. Well I do not agree with you on that point. I think it does matter. You queer boy, don’t you know that your relations would be just as much opposed to your taking up with Mary Jane as they were opposed to your match in that other case. Can it be possible that it is so necessary for you to get married that you must take anybody, just because you have not succeded in getting the one you think you want. Well I do not intend to give you another lecture for never having been in a position like yours of course I can not tell you what would be best, but please do not make any more “rash” engagements. Well I have written a great deal more than you did, but that is the way with me when I get started I do not know when to stop. Your letter was altogether too short, I thought.

     If you should happen to want to hear from me ever again, you know all that you have to do is to write to me. I got a scolding over once for encouraging a certain party by writing to him and keeping company with him, so let me warn you not to let my letter encourage you too much for I am this time a very silly girl and don’t know hardly what I want to do or what would be best for me self and others.
Well I guess I had better stop, I was going to say, while my credit is good, but for fear it isn’t as good as it was before I commenced I guess I wont say it. When you reach the “Sunny south” or in other words Silver Lake, please say “Hello” for me.
                                                                                          From your old Kussin
                                                                                          Alice E. Anderson.

Letters - Dear Madam, Hurrah for the fourth! L. Gould

Dear Reader,
      The next scores or so of posts will be not my own writings, but correspondences of my Great-Grandfather Leon Gould. This letter is to his cousin, Alice, whom he later married! Great-Grandpa Leon had a large family (of 11 children), and journeyed as secretary to Alexander Smith in the RLDS church before eventually joining the Church of Christ (TL) and becoming an Apostle. His descendants have been blessed with a rich spiritual heritage and many true family accounts of  what can only be called miracles. If you read these letters and are interested in reading more of the Gould family history, look for a book titled "Trek of Faith" by Peggy Tucker. These letters contain the original spelling mistakes and have not been corrected. Feel free to print and keep these letters in your own family history files if you so wish. In the future, a book of Leon's writings will be made available. Enjoy!

                                                                                                                         Bemidji, Minn
                                                                                                                        Jul. 4, 1899
Miss Alice Anderson,
Moose, Minn.

Dear Madam;- Hurrah for the fourth!, if it is rainy. Vick and Myron’s boys went up to Major’s to see the Fourth; he heard they had one up there. My host brought me home last Thursday. No opportunity offer to take the accordion down to your how so it accompanied the Prof.

    Winnie caught a piece of vension so we have some jerked vension with which to tickle our palates. One of our neighbors, Bert Paul, was drowned in Lake Bemidji last Thursday morning. His body was taken to Iowa for burial. Freem likes his place better than he did, say he wouldn’t trade it for all of ours.

     He has been talking to me, and giving all sorts of advice about Mary Jane T. Says she wants to come up here pretty bad. He thinks there is an opportunity for me, and I don’t know but it would be a good investment. As the prospects are that I can’t marry for love, why it doesn’t make a particular difference, as I know of.

The boys expect to start home about the twentieth inst.
I hope you GIRLS didn’t feel any worse for that tramp. I should think you would feel tired yet.

                                                                                                                    Your truly
                                                                                                                     L. Gould
(transcribed by Samii S. Gould)

Letter - Dear Cousin Leon, it is with pain that I take my pen, Alice E. Anderson

Dear Reader,
      The next scores or so of posts will be not my own writings, but correspondences of my Great-Grandfather Leon Gould. This letter is to his cousin, Alice, whom he later married! Great-Grandpa Leon had a large family (of 11 children), and journeyed as secretary to Alexander Smith in the RLDS church before eventually joining the Church of Christ (TL) and becoming an Apostle. His descendants have been blessed with a rich spiritual heritage and many true family accounts of  what can only be called miracles. If you read these letters and are interested in reading more of the Gould family history, look for a book titled "Trek of Faith" by Peggy Tucker. These letters contain the original spelling mistakes and have not been corrected. Feel free to print and keep these letters in your own family history files if you so wish. In the future, a book of Leon's writings will be made available. Enjoy!



                                                                                                                    Bemidji, Minn.
                                                                                                                                                  Jan. 29, 1899
Dear Cousin Leon;-
It is with pain that I take my pen to answer your letter. I hardly know what I want to say or how to say it. I should like to say what I have to say it in such a manner so that it will cause you as little pain as possible. If I know my own heart, and if I do not who does, I shall have to tell you that I do not love you as you wish me to. I will admit that there have been times when I thought I loved you but my heart is fickle, I guess. One week or month or even a few days I will like one person and if some one new comes along why he is all there is for a few days or weeks and so it goes; but I have never thought enough yet of any man I have ever seen yet to consent to give up my liberty for him.
I am sorry for you but that is not much consolation. I am in hopes that some time in the future all things will turn out satisfactorily to all.

                                                                                     deceive
                                                                         deceive sympathetic
                                                                                     deceive

                                                                                                                                               Bemidji, Minn
                                                                                                                                              Jan. 29, 1899
Dear Cousin Leon;-
It is with pain that I take my pen to answer your letter.
I hardly know what I want to say or how to say it. I should like to say it in such a manner that it will cause you as little pain as possible.
If I know my own heart, and if I have to tell you that I do not love you as you wish me to. I will admit that there have been times when I thought I loved you but my heart is fickle I guess. One week or month or even a few days I will like one person and if someone new comes along why he is all there is for a few days or weeks and so it goes, but I have never thought enough yet of any man I have ever seen to consent to give up my liberty for him. I am sorry for you but that is not much consolation. I have read some where that cousins are the same relation as half-brothers or sisters. And it went on to prove the assertion. That is a thought that had never occurred to me. My prayer is that if your heart has been playing you false all this time that you may be able to see the mistake as soon as the Lord wills anyway. If we trust in the Lord it will certainly turn out all right in the end.

                                                                                                              As ever
                                                                                                      Your Sympathic Cousin
                                                                                                       Alice E. Anderson.

Letters - Alice, In love, sincerely Leon A. Gould

 Dear Reader,
      The next scores or so of posts will be not my own writings, but correspondences of my Great-Grandfather Leon Gould. This letter is to his cousin, Alice, whom he later married! Great-Grandpa Leon had a large family (of 11 children), and journeyed as secretary to Alexander Smith in the RLDS church before eventually joining the Church of Christ (TL) and becoming an Apostle. His descendants have been blessed with a rich spiritual heritage and many true family accounts of  what can only be called miracles. If you read these letters and are interested in reading more of the Gould family history, look for a book titled "Trek of Faith" by Peggy Tucker. These letters contain the original spelling mistakes and have not been corrected. Feel free to print and keep these letters in your own family history files if you so wish. In the future, a book of Leon's writings will be made available. Enjoy!

PRIVATE
                                                                                                                     Bemidji Minn.
                                                                                                                     Jan. 23, 1899

Alice---
     As there seems to be no likelyhood of having an opportunity to talk with you alone, as I would wish I must write. I am getting desparate Alice, and have been in suspense so long that the burden is getting to be more than I can bear silently. I love you, Alice, and yearn for your love in return. Do you remember the first time you came to our place after your return from Missouri? We walked from Mr. Oak’s around the lake after meetings. I began to love you then, and it has been growing ever since until it fills my whole life.

     Since I last talked with you on the subject I have not been very happy. The only consolation I have had is the thought if it is God’s will that we should walk life’s path together, every thing will work around all right, and if it is not his will I shall try to endure. When I have been able to keep that thought in my mind I have been contented but sometimes I loose sight of that and sometimes I doubt whether I can endure or not, and at such times the load has seemed too heavy.

     I want to say a few plain words on our relationship. I am not going to say whether that old fable about the children of cousins is or is not true; but, in reading some works on marriage, I found the statement that some of the smartest people were the children of cousins. It stated also, that if cousins loved each other it was a pretty sure sign that they were adapted to each other.

     If you can love me Alice, tell me so. I can not help believing that you do. I have seen a look in your eyes at times that made me feel that you do love me, and even that has brought me happiness. If through the providence of God I have possession of your love—the love of such a good and noble woman—I shall be the happiest of men; but I shudder to think of the other side.
Alice, I ask you to consult your heart and tell me what it tells you.

                                                                                   In love, sincerely
                                                                                    Leon A. Gould

Letters - Dear Alice, Remember me in your prayers (and dreams), Your cousin, L.A. Gould, Bemidji, Minn.

 Dear Reader,
      The next scores or so of posts will be not my own writings, but correspondences of my Great-Grandfather Leon Gould. This letter is to his cousin, Alice, whom he later married! Great-Grandpa Leon had a large family (of 11 children), and journeyed as secretary to Alexander Smith in the RLDS church before eventually joining the Church of Christ (TL) and becoming an Apostle. His descendants have been blessed with a rich spiritual heritage and many true family accounts of  what can only be called miracles. If you read these letters and are interested in reading more of the Gould family history, look for a book titled "Trek of Faith" by Peggy Tucker. These letters contain the original spelling mistakes and have not been corrected. Feel free to print and keep these letters in your own family history files if you so wish. In the future, a book of Leon's writings will be made available. Enjoy!

                                                                                          Bemidji, Minn. Dec. 15, 1898
Miss Alice Anderson,
Moose, Minn.
Dear Alice:- I will now answer your letter—which I have not received yet.

      I have emigrated from my native country since last writing to you and am now a wanderer in a strange land. I left home the 5th inst. From Park Rapids I took a tie pass and at night found myself ten miles from Lake George with no house near so I built a fire on the warm side of a friendly pine and stayed until morning—no charge for bed or board either. 

     Have taken me a homestead and intend to build me a home if I can in the wilderness. I like the country better than I expected I would and have not been homesick at all. It was my intention to come down to Moose and surprise you but don’t see how I can now.
Victor says you want to take a homestead if you are old enough. We found out the other day that a woman can take a homestead before she is twenty-on,- if she has been married once. So if you have been married you can get a home. But you must have been married at least once. A man can take a homestead before he is of age if he is married. So if I had known that I could have been married a long time ago—maybe.

     Yesterday Oron and I saw a deer and we didn’t do much but shoot. O. shoot twice and I shot five times. The deer went on.

     This morning I went out and in a little while saw six, did not shoot at any of them. Five of them were all together, in a herd, I mean. We are making calculations on having vension for supper tomorrow.

    Earnest hunted deer with me this forenoon. Kilo went to town this afternoon. We are having all kinds of times batching it and really a bactchelor’s life would not suit me very well anyway.

    I will close now wishing you health and happiness, and asking you to remember me in your prayers (and dreams).

                                                                                Your cousin,
                                                                                 L. A. Gould
                                                                                 Bemidji, Minn

Letters - Dear Cousin, do not think that I do not want you to answer this, Yours truly, Alice E. Anderson

Dear Reader,
      The next scores or so of posts will be not my own writings, but correspondences of my Great-Grandfather Leon Gould. This letter is to his cousin, Alice, whom he later married! Great-Grandpa Leon had a large family (of 11 children), and journeyed as secretary to Alexander Smith in the RLDS church before eventually joining the Church of Christ (TL) and becoming an Apostle. His descendants have been blessed with a rich spiritual heritage and many true family accounts of  what can only be called miracles. If you read these letters and are interested in reading more of the Gould family history, look for a book titled "Trek of Faith" by Peggy Tucker. These letters contain the original spelling mistakes and have not been corrected. Feel free to print and keep these letters in your own family history files if you so wish. In the future, a book of Leon's writings will be made available. Enjoy!



A Merry Christmas
and a
Happy New Year to you.                                                                 Moose, Beltrami Co.
                                                                                                      Minnesota, Dec 15, 1898
Mr. Leon Gould,
Battle Lake Minn.

Dear Cousin;- It is getting about time that I answered your letter I guess. Well school will soon be out and I’m not sorry, a bit, I do not believe. Would not feel very sorry if I thought I could be at home Christmas. Vick says for me not to go home at all between the time my school is out and the time the spring term commences, that is if I intend to teach up here in the spring, but I have not decided yet what I shall do.

     I feel today just like I would if I had have been up to a dance last night until about four o’clock this morning. Mrs. Near had a bee yesterday to get up some wood and of course she must give a dance or nobody would come, so she had the dance last night and it was four o’clock this morning before I got to bed. I slept until seven.
That makes two dances I have been to this winter and probably I shall be to another one before I leave for they are thinking of having another one in the neighborhood and if all of my folks here go I shall not want to stay at home alone, shall I?

     Well my school has increased to twelve. Three American scholars. I have heard it said that Scandinavian scholars will learn easier and are not so hard to get along with as American children and I believe it now for I never had the least bit of trouble when only the Norskeys were going.
I have not tried to get up anything for the last day as my school was so small.

     Well I started your letter yesterday but it is now Friday. About two o’clock this afternoon I got so sleepy that for about half an hour I could hardly keep my eyes open.

Where are you thinking of going, pray tell?

     No I did not come any where near freezing those cold mornings or nights during the cold spell or spells. I believe there has not been a cold morning since cold weather set in that I have not been sweating by the time I would get to school.

     I should not like to have the blues for years right along I am sure. It is bad enough for a little while at a time.

     I really do not know which would be better to say, a better man than he or a better man than him. If than is used as a conjunction there, then it would be better to say he.
If all schools is like---, would be correct at all, I do not know about the word “Kilo’, it would sound so odd.

     The best of people make mistakes but I wouldn’t make one on purpose I do not believe.

                                                                                       Yours truly
                                                                                    Alice E. Anderson

Do not think that I do not want you to answer this just because I forgot to say so. My address will be Bemidji, Minn c/o Ern A. until further notice.

Letters - Dear Alice:- Your welcome letter received...Sincerely yours. Leon A. Gould, Battle Lake, Minn.

Dear Reader,
      The next scores or so of posts will be not my own writings, but correspondences of my Great-Grandfather Leon Gould. This letter is to his cousin, Alice, whom he later married! Great-Grandpa Leon had a large family (of 11 children), and journeyed as secretary to Alexander Smith in the RLDS church before eventually joining the Church of Christ (TL) and becoming an Apostle. His descendants have been blessed with a rich spiritual heritage and many true family accounts of  what can only be called miracles. If you read these letters and are interested in reading more of the Gould family history, look for a book titled "Trek of Faith" by Peggy Tucker. These letters contain the original spelling mistakes and have not been corrected. Feel free to print and keep these letters in your own family history files if you so wish. In the future, a book of Leon's writings will be made available. Enjoy!


                                                                                                               Battle Lake, Minn.
                                                                                                                Nov. 28, 1898
Miss Alice Anderson.
Moose Minn.

Dear Alice:- Your welcome letter received Saterday, and you may be sure I was glad to get it. Do you know, Alice, that your letters surprise me a little,(just a kind of Glad Surprise)? When I wrote my first letter from Henning it was with the feeling that perhaps I would not get an answer, but I did for a wonder, and I am going to write as long as I get such good letters.

     My school was out Friday. Had a young exhibition, the most of it was about a yearling, I guess. The teacher spoke one piece and had another one learned, but when the time came to speak it he didn’t have grit enough. The audience did not know that he had one learned though, so they do not realize what they missed. The hardest thing in the world for me to do is to speak before a crowd. I don’t believe I would feel much worse if I were going to be hanged. The teacher received a nice gift from the pupils, in the shape of a collar and cuff box. They want me to take the school next spring. I told them I would let them know about the first of March, as I was thinking of leaving and might not get back in time to teach it.

    My! What a cold spell we have had! Didn’t you almost freeze going to school? I suffered the most at night as the bedroom was not very warm. Too cold to sleep all I could do was to lay and shiver, and build air-castles, and then an extra gust of wind would come along and blow them all to pieces and I would have to begin over again. (I always build the air-castles large enough for two.)

    Well, yes, this is dreary sometimes when a person has the blues. How would it be to have the blues for years without a ray of light? But how bright the world is when the sun begins to shine and the blues begin to scatter.

     I am so sorry your eyes trouble you. If those boys are not benefited by receiving a lecture from you they must be queer boys. But the way, I have one saved as a sacred relic and I have had reason to be thankful for that lecture.

     I am not prepared to say whether a “house on fire” is correct or not but I have seen it used that way so much and it is so familiar that it seems right. Now let me ask you a question. Would it be better to say a better man than him, or a better man than he? And is it right to say “If all schools is like---“?

     Why yes I can get up a word to be used for either male or female if I really thought it was necessary, but I am not sure that it is. Nevertheless how would the word “Kilo” do? Pronounce i and o long with the accent on the first syllable. It is about time I was doing something to get my name up.

     I can’t bear the thought of doing nothing all winter but what is a fellow to do? They say it is better to make a mistake than never to try to do anything and I have about decided to make a mistake anyway. If I do nothing more.

  I will close now with the highest regard and best wishes
                                                                                            Sincerely yours.
                                                                                             Leon A. Gould
                                                                                            Battle lake, Minn.

(Transcribed by Samii S. Gould)

Letters - Dear Cousin Leon, Please Write, Your affectionate Coz, Alice E. Anderson

 Dear Reader,
      The next scores or so of posts will be not my own writings, but correspondences of my Great-Grandfather Leon Gould. This letter is to his cousin, Alice, whom he later married! Great-Grandpa Leon had a large family (of 11 children), and journeyed as secretary to Alexander Smith in the RLDS church before eventually joining the Church of Christ (TL) and becoming an Apostle. His descendants have been blessed with a rich spiritual heritage and many true family accounts of  what can only be called miracles. If you read these letters and are interested in reading more of the Gould family history, look for a book titled "Trek of Faith" by Peggy Tucker. These letters contain the original spelling mistakes and have not been corrected. Feel free to print and keep these letters in your own family history files if you so wish. In the future, a book of Leon's writings will be made available. Enjoy!

                                                                                                                Moose, Beltrami Co.
                                                                                                             Minnesota, Nov. 19, 98

Mr. Leon Gould,
Henning, Minn.

Dear Cousin Leon, 
    Your letter reached me just a week frm the day your wrote it. Shall I say I was glad to get it.? Well if I should say anything about it, that is what I would say. The whole week has been dark, lonesome, and dreary and to cap the climax I got a letter from home last night that made me feel so much more lonesome and heart sick that I do not know what I would have hardly done if I had not have got your letter at the same time which had the effect of cheering me up some what. What a dreary world this is sometimes when a person has the blues.

     I am well and hope you are enjoying a similar blessing. I sent a long letter to Maude this week. You asked me in another letter if I intend to teach up here in the spring.
I have not decided for sure but do not know but what I had better if I can get a school.

     I have been having quite a bit of trouble with my eyes for two or three weeks. If they keep on the way they have been I shall have to get glasses just as soon as I can.

    I have written a long letter to my “boys” at Bemidji. You would probably laugh if you should read it and so will they I suppose. I told them,(as is my habit, once in a while) just about what I thought of the “My brothers life they are leading,” or in other words, I gave them a lecture. Whether it will do any good I can not say.

     I was greatly surprised and very glad to see Winnie and the rest of the fellows that morning, and I was almost as surprised an hour or so afterward to see two deer. They were not more than a quarter of a mile from the school house. They looked so pretty it seems a shame to kill them.

     Mr. Nye was here to visit me last Monday. He came a little before two and stayed until school was out. I had five scholars that day. So Mr. Fritz is elected Superintendant is he?
I wonder if they could not find a better man than him.

     If a house was a-fire would it be proper to say; the house is on fire? I was asked the question whether it would be right to say’ the house is a-fire or one fight?’ I think the first would be right but am not quite sure about the last.

    I believe if I could have my say so I would say we would have no more cold weather. But as I am not so wise as our Maker it would probably be an unwise say so. And that is about the way it is with John Lind I believe.

     Yes, you will have time to come and visit my school I suppose, but maybe it would not be wise to do so for I think if you ask Winne or Uncle Freem they will tell you that you would not be sure of getting out of here alive. The roads are so bad.

     May and I have had some quite lengthy religious talks, but as we are neither very well posted on the Bible it does not amount to much.

     I got a note from the clerk of the district last Monday. He said for me to put in every day I can so as to have school out before Christmas, so I have school to day if it is Saterday. If all school are like mine today there would be scarcely be need for teachers at all much less two for one school. There is only one little boy here today. Your idea would probably work successfully- that is if the teacher could get along together without quarrelling.

    I suppose I just got used to saying whould have been, etc. and never stopped to think whether it was right or not. If any one had have asked me which would be right, would have been or would have been, I should have said that would have been is right of course.
I have looked up legend in ‘Webster’s International Dictionary’ and find that it is either pronounced legend or legend, so I can pronounce it my way and you yours and we will both be right.

    I will be wise enough another time not to trade knives with you and let you beat yourself the way you did last time.

     Now Leon you know that his is used when we want a pronoun that will stand for either male or female. I wish someone could get up a new word that could be used when either male or female are meant. Can not you do that? If you can why you will get your name up.

    Mr. Nye said that teachers have to average over sixty to get a Thi-rd Grade and over seventy to get a Second Grade Certficate in this county.

Yes, I am in hopes that well will have a last day of school up here.

An accident happened to me the other day, too. A cat scratched me on the forehead. May says I look like I had been in a scrap with some one.

     I see from what Ma says that Uncle Hen Anderson’s folks are in pretty straightened circumstances. Dear me, do I not wish I was worth a million dollars. I would not keep some of it very long if I was, I tell you.

Well I do not believe I have anything to quarrel with you about this time.
There is a fellow up here some one I have not seen who asked May yesterday if she thought I would like to have him go to school.
I told her he might change his mind when he sees me.
He is Lillie’s old fellow up here.
Well I guess it is about time for me to begin to quit, so good by.

                                                                                       Please answer
                                                                                    Your affectionate Coz,
                                                                                      Alice E. Anderson

(Transcribed by Samii S. Gould)

Letters - Dear Cousin Leon - Yours truly, Alice E. Anderson

Dear Reader,
      The next scores or so of posts will be not my own writings, but correspondences of my Great-Grandfather Leon Gould. This letter is to his cousin, Alice, whom he later married! Great-Grandpa Leon had a large family (of 11 children), and journeyed as secretary to Alexander Smith in the RLDS church before eventually joining the Church of Christ (TL) and becoming an Apostle. His descendants have been blessed with a rich spiritual heritage and many true family accounts of  what can only be called miracles. If you read these letters and are interested in reading more of the Gould family history, look for a book titled "Trek of Faith" by Peggy Tucker. These letters contain the original spelling mistakes and have not been corrected. Feel free to print and keep these letters in your own family history files if you so wish. In the future, a book of Leon's writings will be made available. Enjoy!



                                                                                                               Moose, Beltrami Co.
                                                                                                                  Minnesota
                                                                                                                 Nov. 6, 1898
Mr. Leon Gould,
Henning, Minn.

Dear Cousin Leon:- Your welcome letter reached me Friday the fourth. Was glad to get it you may be sure. I got a letter from Bertha Hunter the same day. I have also taken pity on Lute and wrote him a long letter. Poor boy. I had not written too him before since right away after we got home from Reunion.
A great sister am I not?

     I am enjoying good health. My school is one third out. The remainder of your term will soon fly. I have wondering what you could have been thinking of to have asked me such a question as you did. Where do they have two teachers in the same room? I do not see the need of two because they could not both hear a class recite at the same time, could they? Of course never tried teaching in such a place I can not say how I would like it. I think I would like the nine months part of it alright.

     How about that 4 and 5 question, I do not believe it would right to say 4’s and 5’s are 9’s, because there are no limited about of 4’s and 5’s expressed. We might say six 4’s and 5’s and that would not make an equal number of 9’s at all. Do you see what I am trying to get at?

    You see I do not think that expression, any of it would be right at all. I still cling to the idea that 4 and 5 are 9. Let me give you another proof. Would you, in speaking of a married couple supposing their names were Fred and Fanny, say; Fred and Fanny is one. You see.

My scholars are all in the first ready but two. There are eight enrolled now.

     I will acknowledge that I was mistaken in that point in law but I was not the only one for I heard ma say not long ago that she had always thought the same way that I did and that grandpa Whiting had thought that way too until he looked the matter up. But still if you have any evidence to prove that you were right I would be willing to hear it.

   If I should take a claim up here I would not have to live on it all the time for five years. A day and night or two every six months would not be so bad.

I believe I like the italic type for writing letters better than the other.
You letter head is all right I suppo-se if you really feel that way. Do you head all your letters that way?

    Well it is colder this morning that it has been at all before. We have no snow yet and I am not sorry at all you may be sure, as I do not fancy wading around in the snow. I have been thinking
of taking a trip this afternoon. Up to Moose a foot. I haven’t been there since I came and we have so much trouble about getting our mail that I thought I would like to go myself once. They will keep our mail laying around a week or so and some of the folks here up every two or three days.
Last Sunday I got two books, one was “The Life of Washington” the other “The Life of Lincoln”. I have read some on the last and find it as interesting as a story. There were sent from Springfield, Ohio. I do not see who could have had them sent to me but they are very nice presents and I am very much obliged who ever did it.

    I will send you a piece of poetry that I think is very pretty. I do not know who the author is but would like to,.

    Say you remember I corrected you on the pronunciation of legend one day at the reunion. Well I looked that up, that word up in Webster’s Dictionary, it is the improved or something that way I believe, I do not remember the name for sure but anyway it is pronounced the way I said, legend.
Say, I wish you would pick out the mistakes I make in grammer, writing, and spelling in my letter and tell me of them. If you will I believe it would be a great benefit to me. Now I am going to commence on you by asking you why you put a period after Miss. Is it an abbreviation, if so of what?

    Mrs. Near has been gone nearly all this week so May and I have had to bach, it. We were quite badly freightened one night, it was last Thursday night. There was a large red streak in the sky in the west and another in the north west. We could not imagine what would cause them unless it was big fires way off somewhere, but there were no signs of a fire the next day so do know know what caused it.
If you are not careful you will loose that knight some day for it most always turns out that if a person thinks more if anything that it is worth something will happen to it.

    Maude says that P.S. intends to winder in California. Poor girl I sometimes wonder if she is really reconciled to her fate. I never yet thanked you for taking so much interest in me as to try to get the Supt. to give me a permit, but I do so now. So the Supt. finally sent me a bond for Cetificate after all she did. Say I do not think it quite right for a person to go and find out how another stands in his examinations when he doesn’t want any one to find out.

Well I have run out of anything to write so I shall have to close hoping to hear from you again in the near future.
May is just now making the cats have a fight for amusement.

I still remain---, I was going to say, the same old Alice, but that is a mistake for I am not exactly the same, a person will change as he grows older. So now I will subscribe myself as:
                                                                   
                                                                         Yours truly, Alice E. Anderson.

Letters - Dear Alice - Goodnight, Yours Truly, Leon.

Dear Reader,
      The next scores or so of posts will be not my own writings, but correspondences of my Great-Grandfather Leon Gould. This letter is to his cousin, Alice, whom he later married! Great-Grandpa Leon had a large family (of 11 children), and journeyed as secretary to Alexander Smith in the RLDS church before eventually joining the Church of Christ (TL) and becoming an Apostle. His descendants have been blessed with a rich spiritual heritage and many true family accounts of  what can only be called miracles. If you read these letters and are interested in reading more of the Gould family history, look for a book titled "Trek of Faith" by Peggy Tucker. These letters contain the original spelling mistakes and have not been corrected. Feel free to print and keep these letters in your own family history files if you so wish. In the future, a book of Leon's writings will be made available. Enjoy!


Office of L.A.Gould: Work neatly done
Stenography & Typewriting, Penshading: At all hours.
Music & Art: Send in your orders.
(Wife wanted): Charges reasonable.


…………………………………………………………………….
                                                                                                 Henning,Minn. Oct. 29, 1898
Dear Alice:-
    I received your welcome letter to-day. To say I was glad to get it would be putting it mildly. I did not know whether you would get my letter or not as I guess at the address. I sent a letter to Lute to-day. It will probably be about a month or two before he gets it.

     I am teach about two miles northeast of the place where the old Latter Day Saints church used to be. I am boarding with J.S.Edwards. Perhaps you have heard of them before. The number of the district is 205. Have 16 scholars enrolled. The majority of them are in the First Reader.

     Well I will give up, again that you are right about that bit of grammer. But when it comes to points of law I think you will have to concede that I am a little ahead. What do you think of it? If you are not satisfied about the matter, perhaps some evidence could be gotten to prove my position.
     If you get lonesome so quick what do you expect will become of you when you take your homestead and have to live on it for five years? By the way, how would you like to teach in a school where there were two teachers in the same room, providing it was about a nine months term?

You see this letter is being written with italic type. How do you like the style,( of the type, I mean?) How do you like my letter head? Oct. 31st.:- I was unable to finish this letter Saturday on account there being so many around that wanted to see how my typewriter worked.
It made me nervous. So I put in another piece of paper and showed them how the writing looked. 

     Do you intend to teach up there next Spring?

You must be careful not to let another bear get after you. I expect there will not be much danger from bears though, because you know when the weather turns cold they will den up and go to sucking their thumbs. Like some of the monkeys of South America. There is one specie about as large as a gray squirrel that stand around and suck their thumbs like a bashful child.

    So your boarding place is Near, is it? It seems to me that it is “so near and yet so far”.

I went to Sunday School yesterday and of course got into a talk with the Superintendant afterwards,- just like a Mormon anyway.

Well if you can’t read all day Sunday, write letters. If you can’t find anyone better to write to, write to me. You might write every Sunday (week-day too if you want to).

     I guess I will have to tell how I went to Conference. After school on Friday night, I went to Grandma Whitings, staid there that night, started for Clitherall about five o’clock the next morning, and rode with Alonzo to Barnhards getting there just as the business meeting began. Conference Adjourned about 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon and I rode home with our folks and had supper, after supper I went to Battle lake afoot; took the train to Clitherall; walked from Clitherall to Grandma’s where I stated until after breakfast the next morning then walked to my school in an hour and twenty minutes. About seven miles, I guess.

     I am glad you explained what you meant by saying you were writing on your knees, because I might have thought you were on your knees while writing. I know how it seems to WRITE ON YOUR KNEES because have held the writing material that way several times. My school was only a two months term. No I am not lonesome because J.W. is married. In fact I have not been lonesome since I heard of it to speak of. Walter Crane has gone to Iowa. He may be back by this time though, do not know.

    You say it would not be right to say that 4 and 5 is figures. Of course not, but you see that figures is plural in form while nine is singular in form. You might say 4’s and 5’s are 9’s if you want to but 4 and 5 is nine. See!

    One of those girls that asked me to write to them was Coral Albertson, and the other was your cousin Net.

I don’t know about being in the depths of despair; more like the slough of Despond. No I don’t know what is before me, but I can judge by what is past, they say that is always a safe standard to judge by. As for Cheering up, I guess I had better wait until I have something to cheer me up.

     There is a 19 year old girl here where I board. Yesterday I was amused at a break she made. She had her fellows knife and wanted to trade knives with me. I showed her the knife you used to have and told her I would not trade it for all her bright prospects. She says “I bet you would trade it for me.” I politely assured her that she was mistaken, that I would not begin to trade it for her.
Well I guess I had better not write any more this time of you will not be so kind as to ask me to write again.
                                                        Good night, Yours Truly, Leon.

(transcribed by Samii S. Gould)