(1) DESCRIPTION: LETTERS written by Catharine Coons or "Aunt Dady" (June 8, 1861- May 20, 1935) to her nephew William C. Tompkins, who she raised after his mother Harriet Coons died in 1887. She is daughter of John P. Coons (born October 12, 1814 in Ancram, NY, died Aug 28, 1882) and Catharine Piester (born June 11, 1819 in NY, died Nov 13, 1901). She is granddaughter of Philip A. Coons (b. abt 1784) and Ruamy Washburn (died June 16, 1878 at 84 years, 10 months, 28 days), his wife. (These articles were found in with the possessions of Marion Tompkins, Will C. Tompkins' daughter, after her death in Oct 1995.)

Envelope addressed to:

Postmarked: Salt Point N.Y Jan 2, 1935. 3 cent stamp.

Salt Point N.Y November 4th

Dear Will & family, Abbie and I certainly enjoyed your very interesting letter of your trip through this wonderful country and I can imagine how much you all enjoyed. I was so pleased to hear from you that it deserved a more prompt reply, but as you know time has a way of slipping away so quickly especially when one is busy. Fall always brings extra work, getting the house in order for winter the yard cleaned up. Trees are wonderful, only in the Fall when they begin to shed their leaves, I wish there weren't so many. I am very happy that you all were able to take the trip and see so many of the wonders & beauties of our country. I can fully appreciate how much you must have enjoyed every minute and returned all in good health which is a great blessing. I was in hopes you might make another trip up here before the winter set in and hear, if there are adjectives anough to express your feeling of the wonders you saw, but I guess you must have had traveling enough to last you for some time. There is no special news for me to write the summer has passed us in the same quiet way but short, Fall came along before I was ready for it. Abbie is holding her own fairly well, she is in a measure taking care of herself; she is able to get her meals and do the lighter things and what she cant do, I do, which is considerable. It is hard for her that her eyes are so bad she can read very little and sew not at all and consequently time hangs heavy - and she has never been able to take adversities with a smile. I read to her alot which she enjoys, it is very confining for me but as you know I was never much of a gadder. I was disappointed that I was unable to visit the DuBois's again this fall. I have to take it out in thinking of the good times I had last Fall. Frank and Eleanor visited me a few days in August on Frank's vacation. Eleanor seems fully recovered from her illness, let us hope she will stay well this winter for a change. You spoke of expecting Frank to ring you up. He was wondering why you hadn't called him up when you returned. You knew none of us knew just when you would get home. I thank you for all the many beautiful postals you sent me. It seemed to keep us in touch with your journeying. We have had many nice rains so our part of the country is looking fine. No severe killing frost so far. I suppose May was along with you on the trip. We have heard not a word about her how she stood the trip and was she benefited with the change. I have just received a letter from Mr. Johnson. He feels that he is growing old. I think I wrote you that Mrs. Johnson had fallen and broken her leg, in March, and with assistance she can just begin to walk. He wished to be remembered to you all and Mrs. Mars, would like to see you all, and he didn't mention macaroni! May, I have mailed a card on the back of my cabinet with your name on it, to be given to you, so you can be sure of that. We are having a regular [? Nor-Easter ], it has been beating on the house and Abbie's kitchen roof has leaked some, but not so bad as it has sometimes due to the holes after each rain. Abbie sends her love to you all as do I and especially to the "wonderful driver", if he hasn't anything to do but go to the movies, he might write to his Aunt Dady. Love to Mrs. Mars.

Salt Point, NY New Years Day 1935

Dear folks, Thank you all most heartily for your very generous Christmas gift. I shall spend it very wisely for things that I need and would otherwise go without. We had a very quiet Christmas. Abbie and I were invited over to Charles & Florences for dinner, a very nice turkey dinner. It was the first Abbie had been out for a meal in over a year. I was fearful it might be too much excitement for her but she stood it fine, ate a big dinner (for her) and chatted with Florences mother all after-noon, and came home quite happy. I guess it was effect of mind over manner, she just made up her mind it wouldn't hurt her to go and it didn't - got her out of the old rut and gave her something to think of. We had a little snow storm on Christmas day which made it seem more Christmasy but it didn't last only the day. Last night we had our first real snow storm and the country looks beautiful with its white covering. I love snow in the country but one hears many complaints from people that have to travel out. I know, you all, must have had a happy Christmas as always and now we are entering on another year. The country is in such a muddle and I wonder if President Roosevelt is going, with his schemes and new deals get us out of the muddle. I received a letter & card from Jennie Sherman Woodin. She spoke of you boys and wished to be remembered to you. She lives on a farm north of Clinton Corners her husband isn't well and I guess they have hard times to make ends meet. She said she had an old lady boarder which I imagine keeps the pot boiling. Paul is having one of his attacks of stomach trouble he looks miserable. I guess it was to much Christmas. Mason is home, I haven't seen him but once, he finishes his medical course this spring and then he will serve as an intern in some hospital, don't know where he will go. Abbie sends love and thanks for the pretty Christmas cards as do I for all gifts. I am going to answer Willies very interesting letter soon just keep up hope. With a Happy New Year to you all with lots of love, Aunt Dady

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(2) DESCRIPTION: LETTERS written by Catharine Coons or "Aunt Dady" (June 8, 1861- May 20, 1935) to her nephew Frank W. Tompkins, who she raised after his mother Harriet Coons died in 1887. She is daughter of John P. Coons (born October 12, 1814 in Ancram, NY, died Aug 28, 1882) and Catharine Piester (born June 11, 1819 in NY, died Nov 13, 1901). She is granddaughter of Philip A. Coons (b. abt 1784) and Ruamy Washburn (died June 16, 1878 at 84 years, 10 months, 28 days), his wife. (These articles were found in with the possessions of Winifred Tompkins, Frank W. Tompkins' niece, after her death in Nov 1999.)

Envelope addressed to: Mr. Frank W. Tompkins Deer Island Granite Co Grand Central Terminal New York City

Postmarked: Salt Point, NY Sept 10, 1934

Salt Point, N.Y. Sept 8th.

Dear Frank, Thanks for the pictures. I think they are very good, especially mine, I usually look so catty. Abbie showes her age. She forgot to put in her lower teeth so her mouth looks shrunken. I enjoyed your visit too, the only fault was its shortness. After I left the station I didn't spend all afternoon in the 5 + 10 but visited them all in quest of a small sauce pan for Abbie. Finally had to go to a hard-ware store. Called on Hellen's sister in Wallaces. She had just returned from her vacation, spent in camp in the Adirondacks, had a wonderful time. Had a bumpy ride home on the bus, didn't make 20 miles an hour as we did in the morning, would have landed in the fence I guess if we had, had a seat to myself until we got to Gus Howels when a big colored woman got on, and I had her for a seat companion, found she lived in part of Buck's house, a very pleasant spoken woman. The nuthatches had been busy while I was away. The peanut dish was empty, as the cooler weather comes on their appetites grow more keen. I hope my sunflower seeds will turn out better than they did last year. The tall one you measured I think has grown a foot since, has a great big blossom on. Had a present of 17 strawberry plants. I have set them out in the bed by the rambler rose. They look real perky on account of the two days rain we are having. It is raining hard now I hope it will raise the water in the pond. I have been thinking why don't you lease a little spot of ground of Mr. Horsfield and put up a little cabin in the side hill by our pond that wouldn't be such a bad place and there is fish in the pond for I had a present of two messes of fish, bullheads & sunfish, this week, and with a car you could visit Uptons whenever you wished.

Sunday Eve

Had a rip snorter of a storm Saturday night, the wind blew a gale and the rain beat in the roof and on my corner of the house. I surely thought every thing in the yard would be blown to pieces. About twelve o'clock Abbie called up to me to come down as there was water dripping in the kitchen. So we padder around in the wet and set pans to catch the water. The kitchen room has a habit of springing a leak. The only thing I could see that was any ways damaged by the storm was my sunflowers. They lie with their heads flat on the ground and the two big ones in the corn patch are resting their heads on the roof of the toilet. Tomorrow I will try and pull them up. The water is pouring over the dam, looks quite different than when you were here. Abbie sends love and thanks you for the picture. Received a letter from Mr. Johnson, his wife broke her leg near the hip joint and has been in bed since March. He always asks after you and Eleanor. Says they have had a very pleasant cool summer. Eleanor had some trip down with her father, no wonder he was all in after a twelve hour ride, when 3 or 4 hours knocks you out. With lots & lots of love Aunt Dady Tell Eleanor I am enjoying the candies.

Monday afternoon.

This morning when I went in to mail my letter to you I found your letter so I held it over to add another bit. I remembered about the new roll of film you started on for the pictures that you were in so am prepared to wait a spell. Wasn't that a terrible thing about the Morro Castle disaster. I think the storm we had Saturday night was just the edge of that storm that caused the disaster. This forenoon I got the sunflowers braced up with strings so I hipe the seeds will have a chance to ripen. You must have a wonderful growth of marigolds, but they can't compete with my two sunflowers. I wish I could measure the flowers, they are immense. Well you can keep busy on the plans of the Post Office and if you don't land the job you will at least done your best, wish you success. It certainly seems that the country is in an awful state, how we will pull out is a question. I guess things are getting out of hand with the President and the strikes, those that have work won't work and those that want to work? can't get it. My policy would be to starve the strikers untill they would be glad to go to work. Again with love and best wishes Aunt Dady Haven't seen a thing of Eleanors coat.

(3) DESCRIPTION: LETTERS from Mr. Meridith DeLaVergne to his cousin Winifred Tompkins, daughter of Harry Lavergne Tompkins (born April 5, 1879 in Salt Point, NY, died March 12, 1937 in Ecuador) and Harriette Woods Baker (born November 25, 1874 in Rochester, NY, died March 3, 1943 in NJ). (These articles were found in with the possessions of Winifred Tompkins after her death in Nov 1999.)

Envelope addressed to:

Return Address [may have been typed later by Winifred]: Mr. Meredith DeLaVergne Salt Point, N.Y. 12578

Typed on envelope under the return address [may have been typed later by Winifred]: 'Aunt Abby's grandson. Aunt Abby was our grandmother's sister.'

Postmarked: Salt Point NY Dec 20, 1976. 13 cent stamp.

Salt Point, N.Y. 12578 12/20/76

Dear Winifred -, Your letter this morning was one of the nicest Christmas presents anyone could have given us. We stopped by to see him this summer and did not know til then that Cousin Eleanor was in a home. He was of course concerned about her, his finances and living there alone. We felt so helpless in not knowing what we could do for him. He did say you were looking after them but not about the Masonic Home. We are so pleased that you were able to have them together with somone to look after them both. Cousin Frank said he was eating but with all the rolaids + digel around I wondered. I am your Aunt Abby's grandson and Charlie's son. I am the only DeLaVergne left around these parts. Mason, Paul's son, died a couple of years ago and his sons are in Penna. + Calif. I sold the store a couple of years ago and am retired here in Salt Point. We have to daughters and 3 grandsons, one lives in Columbia, Md and the other in Elk Creek, Va - way down in the S.W. corner - where we are going for Christmas. We will try and stop by Cousin Frank's as we are up and down 295 or the N.J. Tpike, quite often. Do stop by and see us whenever you are up this way 914-266-3610. Thank you again for letting us know about Cousin Frank and Eleanor and for looking after them so well. Love, Meredith P.S. Do have a Merry Christmas!

2/3/77

Dear Winifed- Thankyou for your letter telling of Cousin Eleanor's passing. We have stopped by the Masonic Home twice, once after New Year and again this week on our way home from you Daughter in Columbia, Md. Frank seemed real good. He had on his good suit as he said his other pants kept falling down. We spoke of Eleanor and he said it was just as well as she was real sick and had lived a ling time. He said he was ready to go anytime also but he was not depressed or feeling bad. He said something about loosing his liscense for running in a police car but thought it had happened when he was 75. The home seems like a wonderful place and are so happy that he is there. It has been cold around here but guess we can't complain after looking at Buffalo and other places. We leave Monday for South America. We fly to Ascension Paraguay, visit Argentine friends who is Governor at Pasadar Argentina and then visit American friends who live in Sao Poula Brazil. We will be home March 8th. It is supposed to be hot in that area and we are looking forward to that. Frank had us read him 2 letters, one from their old preacher and the other from a lady in another Masonic Home. Will probably check him again in March. Love Meredith _________________________________________________________________________

Envelope addressed to:

No return address. Postmarked Salt Point, NY, 12578. November 10 am 1979. 15 cent stamp. On the front bottom left of the envelope is handwritten: 'Cousin Meredith De La Vergne, Salt Point, NY., 12578'.

11/9/79 Dear Winifred- Thankyou for letting us know about your uncle Frank. He was indeed a fine man and we always enjoyed seeing him. My birthday was on the 25th and we went to our daughter Anne in Columbia, Md for the weekend. When we passed Burlington I said the next time we will stop and see Cousin Frank. We did not stop that time as we had a 85 year old friend with us who we were taking to Kent Island, Md to be with his sister for the weekend. We stopped several times to see him and he sure didn't complain except for his knees and the fact he could not have a cocktail before supper. After the first mention of cocktails we always took him a bottle of ready made whiskey sours. We often wondered if they ever caught him with the bottle. I think we had one of those invitations too and am not sure whether we gave it to him or is around here some place. My mother saved everything in that line. Rode my bicycle to see a friend this summer and stopped by the cemetery where Aunt Kitty is buried, for a rest. We would love to have you stop by sometime when you are out for a drive. Thanks again for keeping us informed and we both hope Frank found his construction job in the sky. Love Meredith.