Willden Family History

Pages 1 and 4 and pages 2 and 3 - This is a scanned copy of the letter Eleanor wrote to William Burt, widower of her daughter Louisa. Eleanor took care of Willie, (William Wynder Burt) who was 8 months old when his mother died. Louisa was Eleanor and Charles's youngest daughter. She and William Burt were the parents of six children. Eleanor took him into her home until he was three at which time his father William was able to take care of him himself. Eleanor had very little schooling and so you have to study the letter out to be able to understand what she is saying.

Below is the same letter transcribed in her spelling:

Beaver City, May 30 1884

Dear bro burt

I receved you welcom leter I woud ave answered it by return male but Willy was taken very ill with croop I ave ben up with him two night but he is lots beter today don't be alarmed if he does not get over it wil be because I ave lost my faith not boasting wile I went to draw the money violet took him out without any thout for he took could she left me yesterday I am now alone again her mother wanted her to take care of her baby I was very thankful to John tho she was very litel good to me she got homesick in two days after she came I miss Louy very much
& feels under condemnation for I ought to obaed father Willdens councel he said not to part with the children only wen you sent for them I ave had a to be... to that efect I did here William asked ellott to fetch the children as he did not want them I was sory to here your son had taken your big job out of your hands I had heard he was going to before you asked him for the lone of money nancy burt tould me she said will would not ave done such a thing Then another thing that you was not going to ave your father to be with you I thought I woul put you on your gard I also herd that your once wife went to Cedar City to fetch Jimy because you wanted him to help to rais your little children bro burt be a man & let them see you can raise my daughters children without thare help if they are basterds my blood boiled when I herd it I sais nancy I cant beleve bro burt ever inted such a thing to jimy but your once wife took him down to salt lake so you should not get him & some people is shocked at such a thing hapening between Louisa and you poor Louisa it is a year yesterday since she died I agree with you about her doing a work behind the vail she wil shine beter than those who acuse her

Cheer up bro burt if I did not be in debt woul not ask another cent of you but then I know you are wiling to pay for the children it is hard for me this year but I think it wil be beter for me another season having all to pay for fathers funeral expences but if you new wot I now you would say I have done right we will talk things over some day Willy his trying to talk & say every thing when I undress him for bed he says tite gan meaning nightgoun he calls Louy he feels in my poket for caney meaning candy & everything I ever...... he trys to call there names uncle john was here wedensday he sais unk jon jon How you would be pleased to see him he is a very sencebel child bles him I wish you had his picture as he his prating to me now & in all the mishcheif he can get into I wish Louy was here to look after him as to myself I am beter to day than I ave been for some time if you can convenanley let Lauy come I wish I had never parted with her fathers words hants me all the time so has he prayed for me to be abel to take care of Louisa's children. I feel that he is waching over me every night one year & eleven months before he died he was praying in the feeld and a voise spoke to him and said it wil not be long before you get your resurected body he looked all round but could see no one and bro burt he remembered it to his dieng day wen he could remember nothing elce. Kiss th children for me & accept of any warmest wishes for your self I remain your true frend and mother in law in the gospel

Eleanor Willden