Mary Ingels De Guibert & Family

Mary Ingels De Guibert [1862-1932] is my great grand aunt (great grandmother's sister). I never heard anyone talk about her, but apparently she was quite well known to my grandmother, and I've only slowly become aware that she is one of the most interesting of our ancestors.

In 1998 and 2001, I received eight reminiscences ("My Memories of the Ingels Family") written about 1970 by Mary's neice Golda Pauline Ingels Osterberg [1891-1986]. On July 6, 1998, I obtained two of my grandmother's photo albums from step-cousins in Minneapolis. Sometime in 2011, I became aware of a clutch of papers ("Treasures of the Little Cabin" abbreviated TOTLC) discovered in Free Acres, New Jersey, and published by Laurel Hessing. And in November 2012, my first cousins Jim and CJ Auer visited Public Landing and Snow Hill, Maryland. From these sources, I was able to piece together three web pages (the "Story of Louis DE GUIBERT [1860-1929] & Mary INGELS De Guibert [1862-1932]"). Click here to see one of the pages and links to the other two.

Then, in March 2014, I "found" in my own files an envelope postmarked May 9, 1977, containing seven (7) letters -- one dated May 8, 1977, written to my mother by her brother (my uncle) Robert A. Campbell and six (6) letters in original envelopes (with 2 cent stamps) which Mary Ingels De Guibert wrote to my grandmother Luna May Jameson Campbell from Public Landing, Maryland, in 1925-1929. These letters cover a five year period when Mary and her husband Louis Charles de Guibert [1860-1929] have come into some money (from selling lots) but are feeling the effects of their advancing age and must still work hard to grow their own food. Mary (age 67) reports on Louis' death in the last two letters.

And, on March 30, 2014, I rediscoverd another letter written by Mary which I'd had since 2000. This 135-year old letter was among a dozen or so letters which Laurie Rumage Vogt mailed to me on November 30, 2000, from her home in Akron, PA, after finding them in the Kinney house on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, IA, following the death of her grandmother -- the house's last occupant -- Edith Alberta Wallis Kinney (age 101) on April 23, 2000. Exactly why Mary's 1879 letter survived in the Kinney house, I don't know, but it must have been saved by Golda Gertrude Jameson Kinney [1873-1958] whose mother Rosa Melinda Ingels Jameson [1848-1908] was Mary's older sister and quite possibly one of the letter's addresees in 1879. In this letter, Mary (age 17) excitedly tells about meeting Louis (and almost immediately falling in love with him) at her college boarding house in Eureka, Illinois.

Portions of all eight (8) letters are quoted below (and colored in red). The remainder of this web page is an attempt to put Mary's seven (7) letters in context and to round out the life of Mary Ingels de Guibert (who sometimes called herself Dan or Danny), her husband Louis (Louie or Pap), and their two daughters Undena (Un) and Davida (Dove). First, here is Golda Osterberg's reminiscence (written about 1970). You can see the original text here. I have rearanged sentences and otherwise made Golda's words a little more readable here:

Boy! was she a character - She had lived in the big city of Sioux City, Iowa, her husband Uncle Louis [1860-1929] (always pronounced Louie) practised law. When I knew her she came to LaFayette to live in part of Grandmothers house, in the village of LaFayette. She and dad [Irvin Ingels] would razz each other-much the way [my brother] Sherman and [my sister] Ada do now. When they first got electric lights in grandmothers house Aunt Mary turned them off and lit a lamp to take a bath.

Aunt Mary [1862-1932] always ate her meals seated in a rocking chair. She would rock up take a few bites and rock back and tell a funny story. When she came to our house, one of us kids had to go across the porch for a rocking chair. (Grandmother had built our house too.)

Without going much out of our way we could stop at her house on the way home from school. One day I got there just in time. She had three big loaves of bread on the door sill and she "hauled off" and kicked them just as far as she could. She said "I always wanted to do that when I had bad luck with the bread."

The Methodist preacher lived next door. He had a kid who true to form was a little hellion - - One day he threw mud on her clean sheets hanging on the line. She told the father and the kid denied it. She grabbed him and gave him a good "lickin" and said, "There's once you got a lickin' for lying."

Aunt Mary painted some very pretty pictures and gave lessons in LaFayette. [She] worked hard all her life trying to be an artist -- [she] had had lessons in Sioux City -- and in trying to learn to speak French. Uncle Louis, being a Fenchman, was some help, but she never did learn to converse in French.

Aunt Mary had the bluest eyes of anyone in the world. (Mary Ingels has much the same.) All the Ingelses had blue eyes, but Uncle Louis gave his daughters brown ones.- - - [They] had two daughters, Undena, and a raving beauty, Davida. [Mary's] ambition in life was to get them out of LaFayette and to New York, which she finally did.

Undena [1881-1937] became a very good actress. She came back to LaFayette with her first baby, Elspeth [Undena Lisbeth (Betty) EBERLEIN, b.1905]. She put on a play, and I had a part. But [she] died in poverty and insanity.

Undena's husband [Ernest August EBERLEIN, 1876-1931] was a lithograph artist. At the first, moving picture shows displayed lithograph of the attractions out in front and he made a mint of money, but that all changed [with] the use of photographs and he went broke and stayed broke. To be broke in New York isn't funny. Undena used to make costumes for show people.

But [their four] daughters were successful. Roxanne [Eberlein] was private secretary to Adlai Stevenson and travelled everywhere with him [circa 1954-1965]. Janie [Eberlein], an actress, taught in Evanston for awhile.

Davida [1885-1947] was an artists' model - not a nude - but when people had their portrait painted she would sit for the hands and gown. She once sat for Harrison Fisher. Uncle Louis' people [around] Chillicothe, Ill., promoted a marriage [in 1910] between Davida and a distant cousin or friend of the family [John Eiben]. She came home the next day after the wedding -- No one ever knew why -- but there was plenty of wondering.

Aunt Mary and Uncle Louis moved to Maryland to a place called Public Landing. The house was an old colonial with enormous rooms (lighted by kerosene lamps when we visited there in about 1923-4). The ceilings were very high, and when Undena came down then from New York, to have her first baby, Uncle Louis went out in the woods, cut down a blooming tree, and the mother and child lie [sic] under its branches. They ended up by parceling out their land and selling it at a fine profit, but not soon enough to enjoy it for long. [Uncle Louis died in September 1929, and] Aunt Mary died of cancer of the breast [in December 1932].

When dad [Irvin Ingels] met his death in his auto [on May 16, 1932], he was on his way to see her. He was to have picked up one of the girls in Baltimore. The accident occurred in Columbus, Ohio.

Right click image to enlarge.

July 21, 1860 - Birth of Louis Charles De Guibert in Partridge Township, Woodford County, IL. Partridge is 20.8 road miles from Eureka, IL.

January 26, 1862 - Birth of Mary Ingels, pesumably in or near LaFayette, IL. LaFayette is 58.0 road miles from Eureka, IL.

1866 - Construction of residence by James Ingels [1821-1883], LaFayette, Stark County, IL. His son Irwin [1859-1932] will open the LaFayette Home nursery here in 1887. This house was torn down and replaced in 1949.

April 13, 1867 - Wedding of Rosa Melinda Ingels (18) & Robert Bruce Jameson (age 26) in LaFayette, Stark County, IL. Image shows their home, both of them near the front door, their four daughters in foreground, and six others in three groups near Abingdon, IL. (Image is from my grandmother's album. Note dirt road, hitching post, thorn hedge, painted gate, turning windmill, pump with handle, horse & buggy, etc.) The family will move to Des Moines, IA, in order for the four daughters (the oldest of thom is my grandmother) to live at home while attending Drake University.

November 21, 1872 - Wedding of Eliza Dale (Liza) Ingels (age 18) & Simeon Edward (Sim) Callison (age 27). They will have one child, Jessie Eloise Callison [1876-1960]. Liza will die on August 12, 1880, and Sim will remarry.

About 1875 - Here is a photo from my grandmother's album
showing Mary & her siblings in LaFayette, Illinois [with computed ages]:
Standing: Irvin Ingels [age 16] & Mary Ingels [age 13]
Seated: Rosa Melinda Ingels [age 26, already married to Robert Bruce Jameson], Sherman Ingels [age 12] ,
John B. Ingels [age 23] & Eliza Dale Ingels [age 21, already married to Sim Callison]

February 28, 1879 - Report card of May Ingels, Eureka College, Eureka, IL. For 1878 academic year. Found in January 2014 by Jessica Staines, "a 20 year old college student" in New Jersey, who offered to mail the card but never did. Unfortuately, the scan she sent has been lost.

August 9, 1879 - Mary's diary entry: "Saturday Eve Beautiful day. Arrived at Eureka [College]. at 8:15 o'clock. Found board at Mrs. Brooks." [TOTLC p. 13] Mary's daily diary entries are more or less continuous from this date until December 6 [TOTLC pp. 13-19]. First mention of Mr. Guibert is on August 11.

August 18, 1879 - Mary's diary entry: "Pleasant day. Went to Chapel as usual took a music lesson. We all studied our botany lesson together. Mrs. Brook and Ella went to Stanford [29 road miles south of Eureka]. We all were out on the front porch in the swing, chatting, playing ball, eating grapes and so forth. Holland tried to make up but did not aopologize. He did not play croquet. Ella being gone and Miss Chatham sick, studied till 11 o'clock." [TOTLC p. 14] NB: This is the date of Mary's 8-page letter to her brother & sister.

Boarding house Eureka College

August 18, 1879 - 8-page letter to family from Mary Ingels (age 17) in Eureka, IL: "Dear Brother [Irvin? age 20] and Sister [Liza? age 25]: We arrived here just on time. I am boarding in one of the largest houses in Eureka. I tell you it is boss. There are 8 of us boarding two girls (with my self and 6 boys or gentlemen I should say. Well to begin with one is a millionaire (age 19). He is French can talk the English as well as I can and french as well as English. He is just boss. His name is L. C. de Guibert (pronounced Gybier). I never saw a better scholar. He has been here [at Eureka College] two or three years and he never noticed girls before they say. I used to know him but never payed any attention to him [before] I came here this term and he was here and one day we got to talking and played two or three games of croquette as partners against another couple and he just braged me up and said he never played with a lady that played better than I did and we got so we could whitewash the others and now he brings his Botany down and helps us get our lessons we sit on the front porch the fine days and there are two girls that live here and the girl that boards here declares that he is in love with me... ...There is a fellow boarding here by the name of Holland an old student and rich I tell you his income or interest off from his money is $3.50 a day how is that!... Mr. Darnell...grabed hold of my hands in the hall and wanted me to go back in the parlor with him and I wouldnt do it and he wanted me to go out doors and walk with him and I wouldent do that and he tried to pull me in the room I just slaped his ears...and he threw a kiss at me and went off up stairs I didnt speak to him all day when we were talking he tried to get so close I says you must be sick he says I am in love and I says I hope your bad and he dont know what to dow his room mate and talked some of writing me a note... It is half past 10 now and no thought of going to bed..."

September 15, 1879 - Mary's diary entry: "Monday rained some in the morning. Took a music lesson. Played Croquet. Studied in the parlor with Louie." This is Mary's first use of Louis' first name. [TOTLC p. 14]

October 5, 1879 - Letter to Mary from her sister Eliza Dale Ingels Callison [age 25]: "I know you must have jolly time with your fellow if Father and Mother knew it woudent they tremble[?] Dont let her get hold of any of my leters. Hide them or burn them as you please. What are you going to do about letting them know. I suppse you are making Irvin [age 20] keep mute about it as I notice in his last letter to our folks he never whimpered. How does Irvin like [Louie] and does he mistrust anything. I am so in hope you will persuade [Louie] to join the [Disciples] church... That is the main thing Mary, for future happiness... You must not be to devoted to your lover or he may become sick of you. Remember there is many a slip betwixt cup and lip and just take a little sisterly advise about sparking. Never let him do more than kiss you and put his arm around you. Dont sit on his lap, although he may ask you sometime, but it is not ladylike... You know as a general rule we fall in love with a person that we think we could live happy with no matter whether they are slim or fat ha ha ha. Tell me all the stuff you want to about G[uibert] -- I will not tire of it. It makes me think about how Sim and I used to be be when we first fell in love with each other. That is the right kind of love to make one happy isent it..." [TOTLC pp. 16-7]

October 19, 1879 - Mary's diary entry: "Sunday Pleasant. Irvin and mother and I went to church together in the morning. Louis went forward [to join the church]. Went to church in the eve and he was immersed [baptised]." [TOTLC p. 17]

July 16, 1880 - Letter to Mary from Louis: "My beloved and loving May, the days of our courtship are past. They have been the happiest days of our short lives... Hereafter no rules of society, no college canons can separate us but in each others arms we can taste the sweet pleasures of married life..." [TOTLC pp. 19-20]

July 17, 1880 - Letter from Mary to Louis: "LaFayette Ill. My dearest Louie I was so glad to get my darlings letter. I supose this is the last letter I will write to you till you call me yours... I can soon call you Hus. From your May." [TOTLC p. 20]

July 21, 1880 - Wedding of Mary Ingels (age 18) & Louis Charles De Guibert (age 20) in LaFayette, IL. He will attend Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and they will live in Sioux City, IA, and with her family in LaFayette, IL, before moving to Public Landing, MD, c.1906.

August 12, 1880 - Death of Eliza Dale (Liza) Ingels Callison (age 26) leaving a 4-year old child, Jessie Eloise Callison. [TOTLC page 19 says "Lida Callison died of breast cancer...in the winter of 1882..."]

November 25, 1881 - Birth of Undena LaVergne Elizabeth De Guibert in Sioux City, IA. /// September 6, 1885 - Birth of Davida Rosa Gwendoline De Guibert in unknown location. /// Image is page from photo album of Luna May Jameson Campbell [1869-1940] with photos of the two sisters, likely dresssed & posed by their mother Mary.

February 5, 1895 - Birth of Louis Milton (Milton) De Guibert. Mary is not Milton's biological mother, but she raises him, and he is frequently mentioned in diary entries Mary writes in Public Landing, MD.

Undena De Guibert & May Tully

May 21, 1903 - Undena LaVergne Elizabeth De Guibert (age 22) arrives (by train from Illinois) in New York City to study acting. [TOTLC p. 63]

May 30, 1904 - Wedding of actress Undena LaVergne Elizabeth De Guibert (age 23) & artist Ernest August Eberlein (age 28) in New York City, NY. [TOTLC p. 77]

March 14, 1905 - Birth of Undena Lisbeth (Betty) Eberlein in New York City, NY. First of Undena's & Ernest's four daughters. Taken to a women's suffrage meeting in Harlem (according to newspaper accounts). Also taken to LaFayette, IL (according to Golda Osterberg's reminiscence).

May 16, 1906 - Letter from Register of Wills, Snow Hill, MD, to Mr. L. C deGuibert [sic]: "I congratulate you. Such a beautiful & healthy home at a low figure." [Document from Laurel Hessing 20Oct12] Which family moved first to Worcester County, Maryland -- the De Guiberts (ages 46 & 44 in 1906 ) to Public Landing (near Snow Hill) or the Carters (ages 37 & 36 in 1906) to a farm near Berlin -- is not known. I'd guess that it was the Carters -- Otis Carter was an editor and moved several times from one newspaper to another -- and that the De Guiberts (then living with her family in LaFayette, IL) learned about Tidewater Maryland from their Carter cousins, but this is just my guess (TL). Portions of the diary Mary kept in Maryland in 1907-1913 are published in "Treasures of the Little Cabin," pages 90-94, 103-128, 132-135 & 148.

January 7, 1907 - Death of Mary's mother, Mary Carver Ingels (age ) in LaFayette, IL. I imagine that this - more than anything else - frees her to move away from home.

March 16, 1907 - While vaudeville actress Undena De Guibert Eberlein (age 26) is working in San Francisco, her husband Ernest Eberline (age 31), her baby Undena Lisbeth Eberlein (age 2) & her sister Davida Rose Gwendoline De Guibert (age 22) survive a mysterious fire which destroys Upton Sinclair's Helicon Hall in New Jersey. Ernest wrote to Undena that Davida was turning many heads at Helicon Hall. Click here for the story of this utopian colony.

October 1907 - After attending a church convention in Norfolk, VA, George Alexander Campbel (age 38) of Chicago, IL, visits Eva Lena Jameson Carter (age 37) at her home near Berlin, Maryland. [TOTLC page 94]

1910 - Wedding of Davida Rose Gwendoline De Guibert (age 25) & John Eiben in Illinois (date unknown). According to Golda Pauline Ingels Osterberg (c.1970): "Uncle Louis' people came from Chillicothe, Ill. They promoted a marriage between Davida and a distant cousin or friend of the family. She came home the next day after the wedding - No one ever knew why - - but there was plenty of wondering." In 1913 John married Davida's cousin Rosalie De Guibert [1878-1947].

Davida

November 22, 1910 - Letter to Ethel E. Adams in Mobile, IL, from Davida Rose Gwendoline DeGuibert (age 25) in Snow Hill, MD: "I thot I loved John [Eiben], we were married kept house one week and he gave me the money with which to leave him and come home. He was as good and kind as he could be. I did not love him could not stand it any longer and left... Oh! Ethel it is awful. I do not know what to do with the remains of my broken life. I feel ashamed to look any one in the face..."

November 22, 1910 - From Mary's diary: "46 degrees. Got up late. Davida took Pap [Louis] to work just in time. I baked bread, cake, pies and biscuit and worked with my plants. Milton and I set out 41 Box cuttings. I do hope they will grow. We have decided we do not want to sell this lovely home and will go right on fixing up the palce. I read some in Crossways such a good book." [TOTLC page 129]

Eva

December 20, 1910 - From Mary's diary (while visiting Eva & Otis Carter at their home Wincheser 4 miles east of Berlin, MD): "Pap [Louis] ate first and went to work. Otis came in from milking mad and commenced to raise Cain before the washer woman and Eva held him off with a dose of his own medicine which upset him so he flew up stairs and packed his trunk. He backed down and did not go but I much fear if Eva ever has peace of mind and gets along she will have to send him off..." [TOTLC page 131]

Eva

October 12, 1914 - Letter from Eva Lena Jameson Carter (age 44) in Winchester, MD, to Louis De Guibert: "The war is so terrible... Lowell is working... In ending her letter [Undena] said 'am sendng love to you all, except Otis': Mental gymnastics over my wash tub I know a small lady called Roxy, When Otis came home was so foxy She'd turn up her nose, at wearing old clothes and would kiss him only by proxy. So you see we have fun if we have to make it out of whole cloth... I wonder, if we do sell, if you can be depended upon to be my head packer at the care and crating bookcases etc... " [TOTLC pp. 155-156]

October 31, 1917 - Wedding of Charles Otis Carter (age 48) & Nettie C. Dean (age 40) at her mother's home in Denton, Carloine County, MD. His second marriage - after separating from Eva Lena Jameson Carter [1870-1936].

January 29, 1919 - Letter from to his mother Eva Jameson Carter (age 49) from Lowell Carter (age 24) at Lying-In Hospital in Chicago, IL, about loss of his wife Mildred's first baby. Click here for full text.

Charles

November 27, 1920 - Wedding of Davida Rose Gwendoline De Guibert Eiben (age 35) & Charles Fitch Lester (age 52). Note 17 years difference in their ages. This is her second mariage - after VERY brief marriage in Illinois in 1910 with John Eiben who then married her cousin Rosalie De Guibert in 1913.

October 21, 1921 - Death of Louis Milton De Guibert (age 26) 2 miles north of Pisgah, Iowa. Extramarital son of Louis De Guibert but raised by his wife Mary as the younger brother of Undena & Davida. Served in World War I, married Gladys Hadden soon thereafter, worked as a salesman & was then suddenly killed in an auto accident.

May Mary

December 1, 1925 - 8-page letter to Luna May Jameson Campbell (age 56) in St. Louis, MO, from Mary Ingels De Guibert (age 63) in Public Landing, MD: "We have three baby pigs... They are building the stone road down to our resort... We sold the first business lot. Going to have a regular store. There is an ice cream & soft-drink place for the summer season and dance hall and merry go round... Yes it is funny how [Uncle Irvin Ingels, b.1859] and [his 3rd wife, b.1883] Annie [Carmack from Glasgow, Scotland] get along. He would like her to be more like real folks, but I think he cares for her lots more than his second one [Rose Garner, b.1867]... I understand the foreign view point: I have lived among so many different kinds... We are to have a town down here. The stone road is on the way and people are gettting interested. Several have bought lots. We sold the first business lot, will have a regular store. Others are trying to buy lots of us but we wont sell a bit more until the road is here. We have been in land booms and know all the wrinkles altho there are many wrinkles to learn. We have had our lean years we can appreciate some fat years. Cannot expect many at our age. It is nice not to worry over money matters. I think it would be well for Golda [Jameson Kinney] to worry a bit if it would make her realize a woman might be a good nice lady even if she has to earn a living. I wonder how Pauline [Jameson] is getting along. I wish a nice man could fall in love with Eva and she could love again and have a real home... When Uncle Louie went to Washington University in St Louis we roomed at 15th st between Olive and Pine st. A nice place 44 years ago. I went to see it during the Exposition [in 1904] and it was not a resident district any more. We enjoyed the Veiled Prophets. They went down Pine st. Just think Undena will soon be 44 years old..."

Charles Irvin

March 17, 1927 - 6-page letter to LMJC in St. Louis, MO, from Mary Ingels De Guibert (age 65) in Public Landing, MD: "Davida [age 42] has been with me since Jan. She and husb [Charles Fitch Lester, age 59] came for my birth day [on January 26]... So many little stiches needed taking before spring... Louie is very busy with his brooder of chickens and another batch in the incubator... I have been looking over my photographs. I found some lettters I had received over 50 years ago. One from Uncle John B. Ingels [1852-1895] when he was at the Centennial in 1876. Several from him and your Aunt Eliza when they were at Abingdon College [in Illinois]. Some from Grand mother [Rosa] Gaar Ingels [1803-1877] my fathers mother that had the cancer. She wrote such a beautiful hand. When Ada [Ingels Rhudie, nurse age 39] was here from Minilla [Manila, Philippines] last spring she enjoyed the pictures and I gave her one I had of her mother [Eliza Bickett Ryder Ingels, 1859-1902]... When Annie and Irvin was here I gave Annie one of Irvin She wanted... I was glad to have word of Pauline [Jameson, age 45]. Eva and Golda both wrote for my birthday but they did not give any news of Pauline. I wonder if she and Golda [Pauline Ingels] Osterberg [age 36] visit... Golda is only 10 miles from Chi [in Riverside, IL]. Clothes are the bane of my life. I cannot wear ready made... I have not heard from Uncle Shermans [Ingels, 1863-1936] since they had a sale and quit. They rented their farm and were going on a visit to Utah to see the children [Theodore, Ruby & Nina Pearl]... We dont live any more in the big house. We rent it in summer to house parties, clubs, and outings. Some times there are over 50 there one time. The little house of 11 rooms is better for us... I wish you and Eva could plan to come and make us a visit..."

Lowell, Elledge & Merlin Carter Bungalow left Big house right From LMJC's photo album

October 9, 1927 - 7-page letter to LMJC in St. Louis, MO, from Mary Ingels De Guibert (age 65) in Public Landing, MD: "Too much excitement in Ocean City. I came home all in... Annie was in Europe, but [Irvin] would not come alone. He wanted Meg her sister to come with him and she did not want to. I didn't care for that... The summer places and eating and amusement places are all closed for the season... Lowell [age 32] and Eledge [age 26] called with Otis [Carter, age 58] one day... They wanted to surprise me and see if I would know them. I knew Lowel the minute he stepped out of the car... They wanted to see their play places when they were boys. Janie Eberlein [age 16] was here (Undena's 3 girl) but she was in bathing... Otis told us [Eva] had invested all her money in some 'wild cat' stuff through [C.N.] Kinney. It is a shame if true. He tried to get hold of Uncle John B.'s boys money, but Uncle Irvin saved them, and he found out where to get off. I wondered why Eva was so hard up, she would not tell a word. Here was not a word said about Eledge having a new babe [Joan Carter, born July 15, 1927, in Des Moines, IA] I was so surprised when you wrote after there being here. I ask[ed] Otis if they were all ashamed of it. Eledge gave the impression he left his wife [Vera Alma Price Carter] with her folks... We rent the big house to parties and clubs and families. 'Commers and goers it makes a power of work' (a la Maryland talk). We could get help until July then. I gave Uncle Louie bedding to make up beds. He would go over and do it alone. We had little of that to do. He soon rented rooms a bit cleaper, and they furnish their own linens bedding and towels. I am not on the job at all any more. When he had all the washing to do and hire the ironing done he concluded the money was too hard earned. People come in trucks and cars, and rather bring all their needs and save a bit. The store is open right near and every one does love to come and plan to come again... I am enclosing the pictures and some too of your Grand mother Ingels... Irvin wrote what a good time one of the Ingels girls [Shirley age 5?] gave him out in [Steilacoom, near] Takoma Wash. when he visited his Sherman [1893-1977]... I suppose you think it strange I have not mentioned the [79-fatality] tonado your city had [on September 29, 1927].... We had a hurricane the 3rd of Oct. at night. It was terrible..."

Lt Brahmas

Thanksgiving Day 1928 - 6-page letter to LMJC in St. Louis, MO, from Mary Ingels De Guibert (age 66) in Public Landing, MD (enclosing sample of thin black silk): "I am getting ready to go to Florida... Uncle Louis is having a time with sores... The hotel across the road are staging a big turkey dinner to the public $1.25 a plate and an oyster bake at night! I managed to roast one of our Light-Brahmas with oyster dressing and had mince pies from a can I had put up a year or so ago, and a few other things that make up a dinner. We had a honey dew melon and lettice from our garden. Some melons yet in the celler... I had a letter from Aunt Marne... The care of the 5 cottages at their resort has nearly used her up. They expect to winter with her sister Bert in Sioux City where they liked it so well last winter... They go shares on the eats... If I don't forget I will enclose a piece of Grand mother [Mulinda Nelson] Carvers [1810-1885] plaid silk black dress. You must remember it. She wore it when we were children... I have taken care of it since 1907 [when my mother Mary Carver Ingels died]... I don't want to live after I cannot wait on my self... I got a letter from Undena [age 47] and one from Janie today. Roxanne [age 19] was assistant editor on the [Mount Holyoke] College paper this her Junior year. Was to be Editor in chief next year. They have put her in charge now and she sent Undena the first paper she got out... Good thing we can be proud of our children in the days of their youth for some times when they are nearly as old as we are, 'I ain't saying nothin' as the colored people say around her, and it means just what you need to say, and hit 'the' mark... Louie found the piano pieces I played my last year in music at Eureka [College in Illinois]. I often wondered what ever became of them... I guess you know that I am some fern grower. Last week I sold 18 for 6 dollars... Jamie, Undenas 3rd girl, will be 17 this Dec. [20]. She was born while I was visited Eva on her farm near Berlin [Maryland]... Davida celebrated her 8th wedding anniversary the other day. Ernest [Eberlein, age 53] is out of work again. They do that with the lithigraphers. Give then over time work, then lay them off. We hear of the terrible floods near you again..."

September 26, 1929 - Death of Louis Charles (Louie) De Guibert (age 69) in Public Landing, MD. Buried in Christian Church Cemetery, Snow Hill, MD. Jim & CJ Auer visited his grave on Nov. 3-4, 2012.

October 8, 1929 - 3-page letter to LMJC in St. Louis, MO, from Mary Ingels De Guibert (age 67) in Public Landing, MD: "I suppose by now that you have heard of Uncle Louies death. he died the 26 of Sept.... I thought of you all away from home in the heat... Uncle Louie seemed to have too many things the matter with him... He grew weaker all summer... The doctors don't say, and the symtoms were Cancer of the Liver. He did not suffer so acute, and he often remarked he was thankful for that. Tuesday we still had hopes, but by Thursday morning he got short of breath, and soon passed away. Uncle Irvin couldn't come or any of Louies folks. Otis and Nettie [Carter] came and did all in their power. I never saw Otis so up set - He thought so much of Uncle Louie... The preacher...made a nice speach... Otis added some words of praise in behalf of Uncle Louie... Davidas husband [Charles Fitch Lester, age 61] got here Friday night and stayed with us until the 3rd of Oct.... Davida [age 44] is not at all well and she over did all the time. So many friends coming in and so late at night... Davida kept on getting worse until we sent for our doctor yesterday late after noon. He did not get here until this fore noon... Davida has her car here... Pauline [Jameson] never writes, and Golda [Jameson Kinney] only when she is bursting with pride and wants me to know how rich she is... I was sorry to hear about Grant Carver. I visited them [at LasPalrias court] in 1918 and I never met a nicer gentleman than he seemed to be. [His wife] Helen [Bateman Carver] was so nice and they were all so happy. [His mother] Aunt Nancy [Buskirk Carver] died two or three years later. He sent me the notice. Too much money in ones hands will ruin some people. They get to going with a richer set, and there is no limit to what some times happens. Helen was a Methodist and taught in the Sunday School. Grant did not believe one had to belong to church to be a Christian. We had some long talks about it... Uncle Louie had made a wish that he be buried in Snow Hill. Our church is finishing a lovely new upto-date Parsonage and a new Cemetery. All the churches have their own cemetery. Louies is the third grave in the new..."

Otis Carter

November 10, 1929 - 2-page letter to LMJC in St. Louis, MO, from Mary Ingels De Guibert (age 67) in Public Landing, MD: "I have such a responsibility just when I am so grieved, and in no conditon to decide anything. Davida is still with me and will stay until I get redy to leave for Fla. We have to rent the big house. Have an asbestos covering put on the roof of the Bungalow... I get lots of free advice, and have to decide what to do soon... Davida is getting better, but has to be so careful. We can get no woman help all are in the field. My faithful woman has been ill, and lost her babe and not able to come yet... I sent a notice to the Eureka Alumni, and a letter came (of sympathy) from Mexico Mo. from the first beau I ever had when I first went to Eureka [College] in 1878. Yes Otis was very kind and Nettie too. He has in late years poo pooed religion, and pretended to believe nothing. I never saw him so up set as he was about Uncle Louies passing. I had not thot much of him in late years. When he cried at the grave I thought more of him. They are carrying such a heavy debt - and worried all the time, he is not leading a natural life."

Public Landing

November 18, 1929 - Letter to Undena Liabeth De Guibert Brown (age 24) from Mary Ingels De Guibert (age 67) in Public Landing, MD: "Dear Betty: You think your old Dan a great one not to answer your nice letter. You will never know what I have been through. I am not so well these cold days... Dove [Davida] and I are back straining every nerve to get things sorted over and packed away so we can leave. Se has had a man several days with her over at the big house, gathering up Grand Pa's tools and a thousand things and isn't near done... We have 10 hens to feed sold all the others except what we eat. Have caught over 50 mice in the traps. Purnell keeps the store open now and sells all kinds of canned goods, oysters, clams, and ice cream. He has oyster bakes, dances and bowling going on yet. Building three more alleys. And a stage for the theatre... your Danny deGuibert." [TOTLC, page 207] Note that Mary uses familiar names in this letter to her granddaughter.

About 1930 - According to Robert A. Campbell [1904-1986] writing on May 8, 1977: "When living in New York I did go out not too far into New Jersey [probably Free Acres] to visit some cousins... I have no memory of what the family connection was now. As I recall I was invited out for the week end and took Walker Buckner with me. As I remember there was an older woman, might have been Davida [19 years older than Robert] and maybe a daughter or maybe two [Undena's daughters were one, six, seven & 12 years younger than Robert]. More or less my age. The place was very plain and run down & the meals terrible. We did stay all night. The following morning one of the women appeared looking thru a window over my head as I was awakening. Scared me to death. We hurriedly arranged to return to New York. After that I was very careful about invitations for great week ends in the country etc. There was no man on the scene so I just can't identify the conneciton..."

January 27, 1931 - Death of Ernest Eberlein (age 55) in Free Acres, NJ. Was a lithograph artist.

January 26-March 25, 1931 - Widow Mary Ingels De Guibert (age 69) in her diary: "Jan. 26 Eva [Jameson Carter] had Golda [Jameson Kinney] and Pauline [Jameson] invited to dinner. Pauline couldn't come. Golda, Eva and I went to movies. Pauline took me to see Will Rogers in a play. Fine. In Reno Eva and I went to see Marie Dressler. I went to a dandy show at the Orpheum one afternoon. Jan. 28 Golda and Charles [Noyes Kinney] came and took me to see [Vesper] La Verne [Kinney Clark] at the apple farm [in Mitchellville, IA]. Came back in the eve. I packed my grip and went home with them. 29 Golda fixed me up and took me to the photographers and I had my photo taken. 1 doz. for present. She took some Kodaks too of me in the yard. In the eve. we went to Church to see the life of Christ in movies. Came home the 30th. Feb.1 Golda had us out to dinner. I called on Pauline before coming home. Eva went to her shop. Am getting ready to leave for NY. Sat. the 7th Feb Left Des Moines 7th of Feb. on a Pullman. Got into Chicago 7:35. Golda [Pauline Ingels] Osterberg [age 40] met me as I pulled in. We breakfasted together and visited and I left 11:00 for Summit NJ. Got there Monday 9th at 2:58. Dove and Ernestine met me in snow and rain. We were at her house 25 minutes of 4. I could hardly keep up but have been bed fast ever since... 21st Feb. I am better but Dove is still very ill. Stayed with Dove until the 3 of March and she took me in to New York to Undenas. The 3rd Charles, Dove and I were invited to the [Dora] Huntingtons & [Gladys] Bevans to a lovely dinner... Was operated on by Dr. Lee the 11th. Took a small cancer out from under my arm. Was up and dressed the 13th... Dove brot me home the 24th. Stayed at Pernell Hotel all night and he brot us out to [Public] Landing the most warm beautiful day this spring. We went into the big house and made ourselves at home. Georgie is cleaning the little house and when it is cleaned we will move over there." [TOTLC pp. 220-221] Mary never wrote again in her diary.

May 16, 1932 - Death of Irwin Ingels (age 73) at Mount Carmel Hospital, Ohio, after car wreck en route to visit his sister Mary Ingels De Guibert in Public Landing, MD. He was to have picked up "one of the girls" in Baltimore.

December 3, 1932 - Death of Mary Ingels De Guibert (age 70) in Public Landing, MD. Buried beside Louie in Christian Church Cemetery, Snow Hill, MD. Jim & CJ Auer visited their graves on Nov. 3-4, 2012.

Snow Hill Christian Church

December 3, 1932 - Note by Undena de Guibert Eberlein (age 51): "Danny's House [Public Landing, MD] Saturday. Precious Danny was called home this afternoon and now we think of her singing in the Choir as we used to see her fill the church with her soprano and wear her big beautiful hats standing up where all could see. Here are the letters. I forgot to put them in this morning. We were so anxious with doctors here and consultation. More later. I long to see you dear. Undena" [TOTLC page 223]

January 8, 1937 - Death of Undena De Guibert Eberlein (age 56) in Philadelphia General Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Left four daughters: Lisbeth (Betty), Roxane (Roxy), Rosalle (Janey) & Ernestine (Gretchen).

October 15, 1938 - Death of Charles Fitch Lester (age 70) in Free Acres, NJ

Otis

March 4, 1942 - Letter from Charles Otis Carter [1869-1943] in Daytona Beach, Florida, a year before his death, to the oldest of his three sons, Lowell Jameson Carter [1895-1952]: "We have been trying to sell the hotel [Carter Hall] now for two years and have not up to now had a ghost of a chance - - not a prospect at present. We face foreclosure at any time, and when the HOLC [unknown creditor] makes the next move it is good bye to hope for even a little pity. The interest now due and unpaid will likely exceed any equity in the sale. As things are now I shall be glad when the end is in sight. I suppose my next move will be to set a pension for old age... I had a birthday [my 73rd] yesterday, but the only person who celebrated it with me was a lady guest and her husband who gave me a beautiful knife, and another who gave me a kiss and an expression of sympathy for my unhappiness. Two years ago she gave me an offer of assistance financially if I decided to go again to Miami and take a lease on an apartment house. That has not seemed a good prospect, but rents are going down and it may be I can find something this spring. I find my agitans [sic] interferes seriously at times when I cannot write legibly. However, my general condition is improving, aside from my nerves; so I think I could attend to an apartment house business with little difficulty. I walk an average of a mile a day but rest before I get back. My appetite is good and I sleep well. I am usually in bed about ten hours. We are not making expenses at Carter Hall, and this, if ever, is the time when we can expect a little profit. So we are not making any more payments to HOLC. Nettie [my second wife] is getting to be more of a she devil every day. So I am now resolved to split with her finally this spring. I am confident I cannot recover while living in her hell, but I do not know how I am going to get along in case I have another set-back—possibly paralysis. I think I had a slight stroke a year ago and another would be serious. I dread being totally dependant..." Click here for full text.

1947 - Death of Davida De Guibert Lester (age 62). Was a "raving beauty."

February 20, 1950 - Death of Nettie C. Dean [1877-1950], second wife of Charles Otis Carter. Buried in Denton Cenetery, Denton, Caroline County, MD.

December 13, 1964 - Letter from Roxane Eberlein (age 54) in New York City to Golda Ingels Osterberg (age 73): "I recently joined the Boone Family Assn." & "Here is some of what I have discovered on the Longwell line..."

About 1970 - "My Memories of the Ingels Family," eight reminiscences (circa 1883-1935) by Golda Pauline Ingels Osterberg [1891-1986]. Apparently written about 1970 (when Golda was 79). Typewritten texts received from two sources: From Gaar Austin Ingels [1922-2013] of Beverton, OR, on April 10, 1998, and from Nora Lee Campbell (age 57) of Indianapolis, IN, on January 16, 2001. Click here for full text (on-line courtesy of Barb Elwood Tunistra).

May 8, 1977 - Letter to Georgia May Campbell Lollis (age 76) from her brother Robert Alexander Campbell (age 73) in Barrington, IL, enclosing "six letters I found written [to LMJC] by Aunt Mary [Ingels] DeGuibert [1862-1932] dated from 2-1-25 to 11-10-29 [posted in Snow Hill, MD]...& encloses a piece of grandmother Carver's plaid silk black dress... [Mary] refers a lot about her daughter Davida [Rosa DeGuibert Lester, 1885-1947]. When living in New York [about 1930?] I did go out not too far into New Jersey [probably Free Acres] to visit some cousins... there was an older woman & maybe a daughter...more or less my age [b. 1904]. The place was very plain & run down & the meals terrible..." [This is the source of the six letters from Mary quoted above.] Click here for Ted's web pages on the De Guibert family.

January 16, 2001 - Letter to Ted Lollis from Nora Lee Campbell (age 57) in Indianapolis, IN: "I have artwork which Mary Ingels DeGuibert gave her neice Golda in 1930 & all of Ada Ingels Rhudie's correspondence to Gram during her WW-II internment in the Philippines." Nora encloses "My Memories of the Ingels Family" by Golda Pauline Ingels Osterberg [1891-1986]. Click here for text of a version received from Gaar Austin Ingels on April 10, 1998.

September 1982 - Auto accident in Maryland kills two sisters (Betty & Jane) & injures a third (Roxane) after their visit to Public Landing from Free Acres, NJ. Click here for memorial poems by Laurel Hessing of Free Acres.

July 6, 1998 - Ted Lollis & Schera Chadwick spend hot evening with Susan Karen Kamman Carlson (age 57) & her husband in Minneapolis, MN; she gives us 2 photo albums kept by LMJC & sent by GMCL to her sister Rosabelle Campbell McCartney c.1943. This is the source of my photos of Mary Campbell & her houses & family in Public Landing, MD - Ted.

Kinney House Des Moines, IA

November 30, 2000 - Laurie Ann Rumage Vogt (age 40) of Akron, PA, ships to Ted Lollis a box of papers rescued from home of her grandmother Edith Alberta Wallis Kinney [1899-2000] in Des Moines, IA. This box contains the letter written by Mary Ingels on August 18, 1879.

January 16, 2001 - Letter to Ted Lollis from Nora Lee Campbell (age 57) in Indianapolis, IN: "I have artwork which Mary Ingels DeGuibert gave her neice Golda in 1930 & all of Ada Ingels Rhudie's correspondence to Gram during her WW-II internment in the Philippines." Nora encloses "My Memories of the Ingels Family" by Golda Pauline Ingels Osterberg [1891-1986]. Click here for text of a version received from Gaar Austin Ingels on April 10, 1998.

July 21, 2012 - Ted compiles on-line history of Ingels/DeGuibert families (based on papers found in Free Acres, NJ). Click here for 3 web pages.