Sarah Short Letter – August 23, 1896

Sarah E McCulloh Short

This letter is from Sarah Elizabeth McCulloh Short to her mother Hannah McCulloh Wise. Sarah married a man named Abraham Short and they lived in Mount Alto, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Hannah Wise lived in Whiteside County, Illinois. The letter is dated August 23 but the year is not given. Based on the references to her daughter Annie’s baby boy who has begun to walk (Annie’s first boy was born in July of 1895) and grandmother Short (I assume “grandmother” Short was actually her mother-in-law, Ellen Short, who died September 20, 1896) we can assume the letter was probably written August 23, 1896. This letter was found between the pages of the William Edgar McCulloh Bible. William was one of Sarah’s brothers. A transcription of the letter as well as additional family photos are provided following the letter photos below.

(To view larger images click the image.)

Back row – l to r: Annie, Mary Ellen. Emma (holding Ruth)
Middle row: Abraham & Sarah Elizabeth McCulloh Short
Front row – l to r: Lenora, Lula, Minnie, & Arthur

Standing: Mary Ellen Short, Clarence Joseph Rook, Samuel Newton Rook
Sitting: Sara Elizabeth McCulloh Short, Melvin Rook, Susan Oyler–1915

Special thanks to Shawn Bozarth, grandson of Mary Ellen Short, for contributing these family photos