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Alvin Fielding and Amelia Smith Letters, Nov 1902 MSS 7952 [notes by transcriber are in brackets; preprinted text is in bold] [ltr. 1, p.1] Montpelier Ida Nov 17th 02 My Dear Millie I went to Bed as soon as the train left salt Lake and of course I slep fine I listened to the dream song of some man in the next Bunk to me – which sounded very much like a big Bull frog Croaking – Fred seemed to sleep from the time he crawled in to bed and was in that condition when I left him at McCammon – at 410 am the porter poked his black face through the curtain and said next station is McCammon so I crawled out. we arrived at the junction at 430 am changed cars or at least we changed as soon as our train arrived I had to wait I n the station about 25 minutes – It was quiet diferent to what it was last time – they had a nice warm fire which was very welconly received [ltr. 1, p. 2: blank page] [ltr. 1, p. 3] becaus the wind was howling and the ground is covered with snow and it looks very wintery in this part of the country. it was just 730 when I arrived and I had to walk about one block to the Companys office – I introduced myself to the boys – and begged this scrap of paper so I could advise you that I had arrived safely. I will write you to night and let you know what arrangements I have made – Mgr Miller has just arrived and I am young to breakfast with him I don’t feel very much like eating but will no doubt feel better after I have eaten – hoping to hear from you soon I remain as ever yours with lots of love Alvin [ltr. 1, p. 4: blank page] [ltr. 2, p. 1] [preprinted letterhead text is in bold font and is noted as “Consolidated Wagon letterhead” on following pages] JOSEPH F. SMITH W. S. McCORNICK MELVIN D. WELLS FRANK R. SNOW President Vice President Secretary Treasurer DIRECTORY JOSEPH F SMITH W. S. MCCORNICK GEORGE ROMNEY GEO. A. SNOW GEO. T. ODELL H. S. PROUT HEBER J. GRANT F. R. SNOW G. G. WRIGHT JOHN HENRY SMITH L. S. HILLS C. S. BURTON J.H. HOYLE Consolidated Wagon & Machine Company OUR ABREVIATED NAME C W & M CO. Geo. T. Odell GENERAL MANAGER. Successors to Co-operative Wagon & Machine Co. Consolidated Implement Co. Montpelier Idaho., Nov 17th 1902 My Dear Millie It is now 735 P.M. I have just had supper and am just getting thawed out talk about your cold countries this is cold enough for anybody, these fellows up here console me by telling me that the weather they are now having is like summer compar ed with what they will have later on- there has been a cold wind blowing all day but my work to day has been mostly indoors and I kept wrapped up and in this way have managed fairly well- talk about work- they have plenty, more as plenty, more as I can use but I think, if I continued as well as I have to day - we can get through in about 4 weeks, and less if a little extra work will do it. The stock is scattered all over Montpelier - they have it tumbled around in three large buildings and the one we have been working in to day is one mile from where I am at the present time. I am located in the Hotel Burgoyne Ihave the best room that was left when I arrived It is pretty good but I expect to change it for something better as soon as there is a chance ; but the best to be had in this town isn’t very good I am sorry now that I didnt bring my Kodack - probably then I could have brought you something to show you just what a beastly place this is - Mr Miller seems [ltr. 2, p. 2: blank page] [ltr. 2, p. 3] [Consolidated Wagon letterhead] to thinks it is a fine place - but maby he has good reason for thinking so - but the sooner I I can get through and back home the better - I guess they will want me to work night shift in the office becaus it is impossible for us to work after dark, to any advantage- out side becaus we would - have to carry a lantern and I am not much in favor of working like this - the fact is I dont like to work well enough but I will try and do enough in the day time to make up for what time we are unable to work at night, say Millie did you get home safely last night I thought about it all the way up last night. I did[-]nt sleep more than half the night and the other half I was thinking about one thing and another and this was one of the things- I hope you found time to write me a few lines yesterday– if you did I should get it about ten oclock in the morning- and I will be looking for It – Miller gave me a good man to work with and I think we will get along very well together– He made the remark to one of the other men that I was very quiet well maby I am, but I can’t see any use of talking when you have nothing to talk about– the men working around here seem to be a sociable crowd but from what Miller says about them they are to much this way there is one of them now in the office working with Mr Miller he just came in a few minutes ago– and should have been here about an hour and a half ago if you could see him you would not wonder at him being late- in fact you would be surprised to think that he got here at all he is one of the men that I will have to work with about half the time - and if he comes to work in the condition he is now in when we do have to work together one other of us will have to quit or some changes made becaus I didn’t come up hear for my health well Millie take good care of your self and write to me as often as you can find time even if you cant find any thing to say - remember me to Bertha and and your Father and Mother and dont forget your self - I remain yours with lots of love Alvin [ltr. 2, p. 4: blank page] [ltr. 3, p. 1] [Consolidated Wagon letterhead] Montpelier Idaho., Nov 19th 1902 My Dear Millie Three days have gone since I left home and this has been the worst one of the bunch I have been working in the office all day to day the Man I have been working with didn’t show up, they sent word that he was sick so all that I have done was to help some one else - and dont count on my work have been working on prices all day and I will be glad when quiting time comes It has been snowing all day and is still hard at it. I received a letter from Mamma this morning she said you phoned Her that you got home alright - I expected to receive a letter from you but none came, I hope one comes tomorrow. I cant exactly tell how long this job will last, Miller said He was going off on several trips while I was here but I think He is trying to bluff Me. I told him I expected to get through in two weeks at the out side and He almost dropped dead - you see I thought I would run a small bluff my self. He also asked Me if I wouldnt like to come up here [ltr. 3, p. 2: blank page] [ltr. 3, p. 3] [Consolidated Wagon letterhead] to work - I told him that I thought I could get about all I wanted in the two weeks which I expected to remain with them well Millie I am ok so far only a little home sick and if I dont get that letter tomorrow. Ill beat you to death when I get home so remember and write - often - I remain yours as ever with lots of love Alvin [ltr. 3, p. 4: blank page ] [ltr. 4, p. 1] [preprinted letterhead is in bold font and is noted as “Hotel Burgoyne letterhead” on following pages] Hotel Burgoyne J. N. DOWNING, Proprietor. HEADQUARTERS for STOCKMEN and COMMERCIAL MEN.________________ Telephone 10. Free Bus. . . . Montpelier, Idaho, 11/19 1902 My Dear Millie I have just had breakfast and thought it a good time to say hello to you. It is now snowing and looks very much as though it would continue all day - I am progressing very well with my work so much so that the Mgr says he wishes I had put off my coming for two weeks I am going to finish in three weeks if possible - I will write you all about my intentions this evening as they are waiting for me to go to work I put in a night shift last night - for the first time. It seems an age since I left home - I havent had a letter yet but expect one this morning - hoping it will be one from [ltr. 4, p. 2] I remain as ever yours with lots of love Alvin [ltr. 5, p. 1] [Hotel Burgoyne letterhead] Montpelier, Idaho, Nov 20 1902 My Dear Millie When I came down to the office this afternoon I found one letter, it was’nt exactly what I expected becaus it was from My Brother Hyrum, this letter had been forwarded to me from the Salt Lake office He was not aware of My departure to this northern country becaus there was several things He wanted me to do for him - it will now be necessary for me to send his letter to Mamma and ask Her to take care of his wants, I read this letter twice and was wondering why your letter had not come to hand becaus I knew that you must have written to me befor this, so I got up [ltr. 5, p. 2: blank page] [ltr. 5, p. 3] [Hotel Burgoyne letterhead] (2 Montpelier, Idaho, 190 and was just starting for the Post Office to enquire whether or not there were any letters there for me, as I was going out of the office one of the Lady stenographers stopped me and handed me two letters from You one dated Nov 17th the other dated Nov 19 - both of which reached Montpelier this morning well you can imagine how much better this made me feel It was such a happy surprise that even she noticed the change in me and made the remark that she guessed those were the letters I was looking for I thanked Her and assured Her that they were - and went back in the Mgrs office and [ltr. 5, p. 4: blank page] [ltr. 5, p. 5] [Hotel Burgoyne letterhead] (3 Montpelier, Idaho, 190 read them and I have read them twice since, and I feel like a diferent fellow now - by the way there are two Ladies working for the Comp- any - ones name is Miss Mitchell, I cant think of the ones name that handed me the letters - I’ll first go in the other room and ask one of the men what Her name is - It is Miss Bayce - they are both Salt Lake Girls so I am told and probably you may know them - well Millie I was pleased to hear that you went to see the Bostonian[-]s I would like to have been with you. I am glad you enjoyed the play, was it as good as where you saw it befor- I was also glad you [ltr. 5, p. 6: blank page] [ltr. 5, p. 7] [Hotel Burgoyne letterhead] (4 Montpelier, Idaho, 190 got home safely Sunday night - so they have started to tare down the Dunford Mansion have they, who is doing it the city council or Mrs Dunford, but thank heaven it will be moved befor I get home - not but what I would like to get back pretty quick - but becaus it has been a nuisance, I am glad my folks dont miss me I am also glad that there is some body else that don’t miss me I hav’nt missed any body from home either- that is if you dont mind a person [-]—ing a little bit - It seems an age since last sunday might – this town is full of the most indeferent sort of fellows, the [ltr. 5, p. 8: blank page] [ltr. 5, p. 9] [Hotel Burgoyne letterhead] (5 5 Montpelier, Idaho, 190 Hotel whare I am stopping is the best in the town and all the Drummers make it their head quarters and maby You think I dont run across a bunch of toughs, talk about your times they are the fellows who have it, there hasnt been a Lady guest at the Hotel since I landed but it has been crowded with Drummers, they set around in bunches, smoke swear and tell yarns – and play cards, all of which dos’nt interest me - I dont know what they think of me becaus I hav’nt heard them say but I guess they think I am a tender foot - well I think I had better answer your letters and not trouble you so much with so many of my troubles [ltr. 5, p. 10: blank page] [ltr. 5, p. 11] [Hotel Burgoyne letterhead] (6 Montpelier, Idaho, 190 You ask if I did’nt feel like throwing a shoe at the man in the next bunk to me at first I did but I thought how easy it was for some fellows to sleep and how hard for others maby He was a Drummer who can tell, those fellows are at home anyplace no matter whare - yes I have managed to get thawed out so you are having some winter weather in Salt Lake, well I dont care how much it snows down thare, if it will only let up here - I expected there would be sleighing here to day but there was hardly enough snow for that, - no that fellow I told you about don’t work in the office He is a yard man - and starts to work with [ltr. 5, p. 12: blank page] [ltr. 5, p. 13] [Hotel Burgoyne letterhead] (7) Montpelier, Idaho, 190 me in the morning oh He is pretty decent with me and if he minds his business and attends to business we will get along alright - The Hotel is only about one block from the office but the building in which I have been working is one mile from the office dont warry about me I am not going to catch cold if I can help it and I am goeing to help it all I can well Millie If I dont stop you will begin to think It would have been a good thing if my mind had been a blank I hope you will be able to read this - becaus it was written with a Hotel pen hoping to hear from you soon I remain yours with lots of love Alvin [ltr. 5, p. 14: blank page] [ltr. 6, p. 1] [preprinted letterhead in in bole and noted as “Consolidated Implement letterhead” on following pages] [seal with horseshoe and letters C I Co with following text wrapped around] CONSOLIDATED IMPLEMENT CO. FARM MACHINERY AND VEHICLES [letterhead contains images of buildings labeled CONSOLIDATED IMPLEMENT CO. in the following cities: SALT LAKE CITY, OGDEN, UTAH, LOGAN, UTAH, MONTPELIER, IDAHO, IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO, BLACKFOOT IDAHO,] [letterhead also contains following text] GEO. A. SNOW. A. A. COOPER, JR. F. R. SNOW, PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY & TREASURER CONSOLIDATED IMPLEMENT COMPANY GEO. A. SNOW, GENERAL MANAGER MONTPELIER, IDAHO, Nov 23rd 1902 My Dear Millie One week ago tonight since I left Salt Lake and if all goes well I expect to be home about a week from Thanksgiving - Day of course we have lots of work yet to do, but at the outside I expect to be home in two weeks - from to day, Mr Miller is going down to Salt Lake - Wednesday of next week, He only intends to be in the city one day - of course he cant affford to be away from here very long at a time, not only on accou- nt of business but he has other reasons -and what the other reasons are I will leave for You to guess, I also have reasons, other than business which makes ancious to get home [ltr. 6, p. 2: blank page] [ltr. 6, p. 3] [Consolidated Implement letterhead] (2 MONTPELIER, IDAHO, 190_ I will also leave You to guess what they are - I have just returned from a trip in the mountains - Mr Miller invited me to accompany him, with a few others - to visit a mining prospect which he is inter - ested in, this mine is located about <7-> seven miles from town over a very rough road, on our way up the canyon we tried to cross a small washout, and in doing so our horses became detached from the wagon, and instead of stopping where they got on the opposite side of the gulley they continued back down the canyon the other team - k – then Ill take a picture for you He is calling me names [ltr. 7, p. 2: blank page] [ltr. 7, p. 3] [Consolidated Implement letterhead] MONTPELIER, IDAHO, 190_ so I will have to quit and pummel him a little – My mind is a blank since this Man Miller arrived – He says He has been having a hot time and I suppose he has – becaus he can have them when he feels right however he hasn’t been feeling very good all day – when I saw him to night after work I asked him what was the matter with him – It would’nt do to repeat the exact words he used but he told me when he went in the Store this morning he found that man I told you about fast asleep sitting by the stove – and of course this did’nt make Miller feel very good – however Miller arroused him from his slumbers and the fellow went to his work as best he could [ltr. 7, p. 4] well Miller is bound and determined we will work alittle so Ill say good bye for this time – as ever yours with lots of Love Alvin [ltr. 8, p. 1] [Consolidated Implement letterhead] MONTPELIER, IDAHO, Nov 25 1902 My Dear Millie I recieved two letters from you yesterday and this is the first chance I have had to answer them it is now noon and I have twenty minutes left of my hour – the reason I did’nt answer your letters last night was becaus I was working in the office until eleven P.M. I also received - the letter you said Mamma was going to write, and also one from Zina I havn’t answered them yet but will try and do so this evening I was glad to hear that Melissa had quit Her job, the folks had’nt said anything about it, so you are having regular summer weather are you so were we until about [ltr. 8, p. 2: blank] [ltr. 8, p. 3] [Consolidated Implement letterhead] (2 MONTPELIER, IDAHO, 190_ Seven oclock last night, It commenced snowing about this time and the wind howled, and when I got up this morning there was about six inches of snow, and It has been as cold as “Blazes” all day - almost everybody in this part of the country wear large fur overcoats, and it was so chilly this morning that I just crawled into my sweater and if this kind of weather keeps on - so will my sweater, So you tried to beat your Mail carrier out of a job and go for your own mail did you, I am sorry there wasnt a letter for you, and so you had to go home and milk the cow Sunday night I wish I had been there to do it for you [ltr. 8, p. 4: blank page] [ltr. 8, p. 5] [Consolidated Implement letterhead] (3 MONTPELIER, IDAHO, 190_ but I wasn’t - however I was sitting right where I am at this time writing to you and wondering what you were doeing - I to was kind of lonesome but this condition with me has gotten to be a very common thing– You ask what kind of Girls those are that work in the office they seem to be very nice ladies but I am not able to judge - very well becaus I have only seen them as they, are, at their work – You dont mean to say that Mrs Dunford only got $10000 Dollars for that house – well realy, it was worth more than that, at least it would have been providing it had been any other place than on a public street corner how did the contractor come out who [ltr. 8, p. 6: blank page] [ltr. 8, p. 7] [Consolidated Implement letterhead] 4 MONTPELIER, IDAHO, 190_ had the job to move it – did He get any of his money – He didnt deserve any no I havent written to Melissa yet but I am going to – some day – next time you see Her just tell her that now she is out of work and has nothing to do I think She might write to me – Well Millie my time for lunch has expired and I still have one mile to walk – you know the street car sistem in this town isnt much better than ours at home, hopeing to receive lots more letters from you each day I remain as ever yours with lots of love Alvin [ltr. 8, p. 8: blank page]