Charles and Fannie photos

Charles H.P. Nick

Charles Nick moved with his family from Salem, MA where he was born to Hastings, MN when just a boy. They are recorded in Hastings on the 1857 state census.

Special schedule 1890 Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, and Widows, Etc.

Charles H.P. Nick is listed as living in Wolf Creek, Polk Co. WI and having a disability incurred - contracted Inflamatory Rheumatisus.

Enrolled into Co. D Hatch's Battalion in St. Paul, MN. Was detached at Old Crossing since Nov. 1st, 1865. April 2nd of 1866 was at Fort Wadsworth and mustered out at Fort Snelling June 11th, 1866. Pension papers say he contracted inflamatory rheumatism at Fort Snelling, MN on March 1864. According to his pension application Charles had a farming accident in about 1871 in which he caught his arm in a threshing machine. In the accident he suffered a broken right arm "and mashed up on right arm near above elbow" "almost totally disabling said arm."

Charles H.P. Nick war record as follows:

To all whom it may concern know ye that Charles H. P. Nick (Grandpa Nick)

Enlisted from St. Paul, Minn. Feb. 25, 1864 and mustered into united States services at Fort Snelling, St. Paul, Minn. March 3, 1864 as a Private of company "D" Hatch Batalion Minn. Vol. Cav. under Capt. W. F. Ross and Co. C. Powell Adams to serve 3 years or during the war. The regiment built Fort Pembima and took part in Gen'l Sibleys expedition against the Sioux Indians, often meeting the enemy in skirmishes in which the Regiment always was victorious. They captured the Indian Chiefs "Little Six" and "Medicine Bottle" who were taken to Fort Pembima and later to Fort Snelling. The said C.H.P. Nick was in the squad of ninety five, who captured one hundred and twenty-five Sioux Indians at Devil Lake, taking them to Fort Abercrombia. Also escorted mails through hostile country. He was Honorably Discharged June 11, 1866 at St. Paul, Minn. a the close of the war. Presented by C.H.P. Nick to his wife Fannie Oct. 15, 1897.

Fannie Barrett Nick
Mother of 14 children, 13 were living in 1900.

In Pension papers after the death of Charles Fannie states she was born on Sept. 23, 1853 and born in Williamsport, PA.

Witnesses at her wedding were Elen M. Lancaster, Isabelle A. Moon, Mary A. Mason. William H. Mason, Police Justice officiated.

Obit
Fannie A. Nick was born at Lockhaven, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, Sept. 24, 1853, and passed away at her home in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, April 21, 1926 at the age of 71 years, 6 months and 27 days. She was united in marriage to Charles H. P. Nick.

To this union was born 14 children, two of which and husband proceeded her to their eternal home. She is survived by 12 children all of whom where at her bedside at the time of her death.

They are; Jesse and Charles Nick and Mrs. Hattie Nick - Iverson of Cushing; Henry and Percy Nick and Mrs. George (Susie) Nesbitt of Duluth, Minn; Mrs. John (Clara) Morehouse of Warroad, Minn.; Mrs. Warren (Mae) Doty of Wadena, Minn; Mrs. Frank (Jennie) Doty of Ellsworth, Wisconsin; Miss Nellie Nick of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin; Mrs. Vern (Mina) Fassett of Taylors Falls, Minn; and Vernard Nick of Danbury, Wisconsin.

Funeral services were conducted on friday afternoon by reverand G.W. Emerson of Cushing. A short service was rendered at the home after which the Methodist choir of St. Croix Falls sang a hymn. The lady was taken to the Wolf Creek M. E. Church with burial in the Wolf Creek Cemetery.

The following letters were generously shared by Mawalla Lesney.

Letter written April 29, 1881 by Mrs. Fannie Nick to her sister Virginia Medora Barrett Thing

Dear brother and sister and all of the little ones,

What are you doing and what are your happy thoughts? I hope you are all well. We are in Joying good health.

Charles is almost done seeding. Will finish the wheat today. Will then have his oats to put in. I have been looking for a letter from you ever since I came home. Suppose you thought me mad when you went away. To tell the truth I was mad, or felt bad for poor forsaken Abner. Not a friend in the world. You might say, and still it is his own fault.

But I always go with the weakest side perhaps I am wrong, but I can not help it. I hope you are happy in your new home with all of your little chickens around you. Has George got home yet?

Mother wrote to me and said if I would let you have the clock you didn't care for the bed. I will give you the clock, bed, a pig, 12 chickens, a place for a garden. You can buy that place where the old house is, 80 acres and buy it very cheap as it is the last farm Mr. Kranz has and he wants to get rid of it.

He says George can have all the time he wants on it. if George will come over and see it and see what he can do. Jennie you have him come soon for it is a splendid chance for you.

The children can go to school every day. Charlie is going to buy another team. Mrs. Merriman lives in Davis house. Lizzie is married, you can have them things if you come over here to live, if you don't you can't, hahaha.

Excuse this writing paper for I am hard up for paper.

Give my love to all, Charles sends love to all.

Fannie

Write soon. Have you seen Maggie since I --

Oct. 8, 1882 from Hastings, Minnesota to brother

Dear Brother

We are all well. Rec. the organ last night. Come over. I have 27 water melons and musk mellon. 1 1/2 bu tomatoes, 2 squash, and you will halfto excuse the straw pile for my man always told me not to play with them.

Fannie

July 2nd, 1903 letter to Susie Nesbitt

Dear Children, Rec. your letter last night Pa, Henry & baby went to Taylors Falls yesterday. have not come home yet. I had a dreadful time with Nellie last night. She commensed to have fits last night about 6 o'clock and then every half hour till this morning...and now she is sleeping. And I and Mina all a lone with her. I thought I would go crazy before morning. I don't think you can get that recespi fill out up there.

Your Uncle John was up. Come Saturday went back Monday. He is quite febble, he feels so bad about our little Fannie. Say it wont be long before he will be with her. and I don't think it will be long before some of us join him.

Mina is so lonesome with out her, poor child it makes my heartache.

I am all alone again. Jennie went to the dam again. It is all right I have not got long to stay here. So will do the best I can. When I am gone then they will see there mistakes, to late.

Don't worry about sending me eney money. We will get a long someway- I would like to have Mina and Nellie a jacket for winter and something for there heads.

We had a chance to sell for 1500 but don't know for shure weather we will take it up. I don't feel contented eney where.

Write soon.

Ma

Sept. 20, 1903 From Fannie Nick to George Nesbitt

Dear George Nephew & son-in-law

Rec. your Saucy letter and if I could of reached you at that precious moment I would have lathed your pants. I did not call you a dog, but said your Uncle was no more thought of than one take it, if you want to desant- when you do eney that is not right you go against Gods laws and when you do that you commit sin and sin is nothing more than disgrace. You sought, asked the opinion of others. there are a good many people, that ike to see one hang himself or drown. Most people look out for number one, (let no) & look out for himself. no it was not shame- but do you remember Gillick at Big River he married his cousin, look at his children what shape they are in- that is why cousins should not marry.

Nature tell us not to and nature is as good and adviser as we can get- Why do we change hogs, chickens, sheep, cattle, and everything else-

You suffer in mind. Your children in body and if your wife does not have children. she never was a Nick- let by gones be by gones, when you speak to me and say I can't hold my head up and look eney one in the face. What do you mean. George, tell me I always tryed to be Respectable. And have my children So, if I have missed in eney one thing I want to know what that one is.

Your pictures are all right and can have them when you come after them. I am afraid if I send them they will get broken. I don't want eney thing that belongs to someone else. When they are in need of it, but they are all marked- now don't think I am mad or eney thing of the kind. You are Just as near and Dear to me as eney of my children. I wish you well, would like to make you and yours a nice present, but can't now, but you have my best wishes and write soon, and don't get to gay, or I might come up and settle your account.

Ma

George and Susie write soon.

Part of a letter from Fannie Barrett Nick to dau. Susie Nesbitt in Duluth date unknown probably 1907

Lady. What do you call yourself? Well, she says, "I am no bitch". Well I says, " When a young lady sleeps with a man 3 or 4 weeks before she is married to him, is a bitch." She knew I told her the truth.

Jess stepped up to slap me, and said "You are no mother to your children. You never sent them to school." I said "I never had eney thing but fools, and they wouldn't go to school". He said "What will you do with the dirty bitch when you get her home?" I said "You took a dirty bitch to raise can't I?" And I came home.

Now Susie, I have done all I could for my children and I don't feel I am to blame if they don't do right.

Mina was dreadful sassy to me for two or three months back, would not do eney thing. I suppose she was studing how to get away, but I don't think she intended to go that day. But she is gone never to come back again, for we will never leave her or him in the house again. Yes. Jen made the wedding dress. She wrote home to me and said she didn't "_ _ _."

May 1907

Dear Susie,

I suppose you are hot because you have not heard from home for so long, but never mine. My big daughter is here and I have all I can do to tend to her.

? here had two or three fights, but they are going home in a little while inside of three months, thanks. O but she is a doz spell right.

Pa and Mina have been to Taylors Falls a week and I had to take sass from the rest (Grandling). Pa came home last night-was to Minneapolis to the fair. Fair here this week.

Charlie has built us a barn while ? and Annie helped shingle it. they are going. Otis came up and staid until this morning.

don't ask me to write anymore, make so many mistakes and tell so many lies. so write as often as you will.

Ma

Best regards to sister Jesie, brother George and cousin Charls

Date unknown - part of letter from Fannie Nick to Susie Nesbitt

so pleased with it, she told me all about her letter, but she thought some of the girls sent it to her.

Had a letter from Percy he is doing fine. Well I must close and go to bed it is 10 o'clock and I have bread to set. Henry wants us to go down to his place for Thanksgiving but don't know yet, weather we will or not depends on the weather. Pa can't stand the cold. Well write.

Love to all

Ma

Sept. 25th -Year unknown- letter from Fannie Nick to Susie Nesbitt

Well the doc was here today this morning and fixed Nells head and said she was all right. If she would only work for herself she must help maters, or She would be here the rest of her life.

I had him list my heart he said how old are you. I told him, he said my heart was bad, but no wonder, with this case on your hands, asked were you was I said home. When is she coming down. I said I didn't know but I think you had better come down and see the Red Cross and see if Nell cannot be sent some where for I am all in.

I told the Doc I was trying to grow wings so I could fly away. He said I don't blame you. I didn't finish my letter last night as Vernie came and stayed a while then I went to bed today. Vernie came in and I went out to Johnsons with him and seen Mary and kids. Say she told me that I could get 20 dollars a month from the county for Nell, that is for keeping her.

she said go to the Red Cross and see doc. Eather one could tell how to go about it if I could then I could get someone to help me in her worse times, but I don't want her to no eny thing about it and would like for you to come down and see about it, if it is not to much to ask of you. You have done wonders as it is.

Ma

Friday 29th - letter from Fannie Nick to Susie Nesbitt

Dear Susie and all,

Just a line today for I don't feel very good. Nell had her spell 8 days and I never undressed all that time, stayed on the lounge day and night. She is better in a way come around yesterday. so she won't have eney more spells till last of next month, then hurrah again. She seems as strong as she was before she had them, but won't try to get up, eats good and sleeps same.

Mina has not showed up yet. I am so all in. I won't write much. You see I have something on my hands worse than ever.

Good by

Ma

Unknown date- Fannie Nick to Susie Nesbitt

Yesterday Anna sent me a chicken. So I rosted it had mashed potatoes and apple pie. Sarah fetched over rolls pumpkin pie cranberry sauce blueberrys cream puf? cookies and cake and pickles.

So you see we had quite a dinner and then Sarah came back for ten and spent the evening. Tomorrow I am going to the Ladys and up to Mrs. Woods No luck but to Sew for a sale sometime next month. Tell Percy I can see his eyes sticking out when he killed that moose. did he do it with Pa old Army musket.

Good for him, he was always a good shot the little devil. give him and his girl my best wishes or greet them and take a bite out of his cheek for me.

Nell is fine don't have eney more fits since I got medicine from the old indian woman. some days she don't feel so well as others but she sleeps good and eats better.

Give my love to Henry and family hope they pull through the winter all right. It is going to be a hard one on some people in town.

Will write again and don't let Marys-

Jan. 28, 1912 - letter from ? to Fannie Nick

Dear Ma,

We are all well Dear. Something is the matter with Annie. Dr. Brown wrote down to the hosebitle to see what he could do for her. Pa caught a prickel? today. I have 13 rabbits. You can get me a girl if you don't get me a parrot. They had the show and they took in $20.10.

Pa said he was worrying about that woman. he wants you to ship her down on the next train. Warren and May went have went down to Iowa. We got a dunning letter from a company for a paper and we have never saw one paper. the name of it is the Wisconsin Anti Saloon League.

Pa said he is sorrow you have to work so hard. he thought you went up to get out of work. Nell said she would send Susie a kiss for the aprons.

Feb. 29, 1912 - letter Fannie to Nesbitts

Dear Susie, Geo & little Dora,

I sit down to write you a few lines, but do not feel much like it. Chas came after me Sat. evening to go over and stay with Anna until he went to St. Paul to see if he could get the Doc that performed the operation on her fannie? as he would not come when he phoned. he has been over once to see her and I don't think he has eney hopes of her getting better.

She suffers something dreadful. I came home last night at midnight and Chas had not got back yet. but I thought I must come home for Nellie. is very misibale complains all the time and she looks so bad. Chas has only enough wood to last last night, and I borrowed that and cut it up to put in the stove before I left. Pa and Henry went over to Lusmosons and bought him a lead and took it over today. She gets no sleep day or night and he don't know what he is doing half of the time. No work coming in.

I wanted to go over again today but I could do nothing for her and so many there. I hate to go and sat but she wants me all the time like a little baby. I will no tonight when Pa gets back, weather the Doc comes or not and if he does not come. Chas was going to Sue him for not taking care of her after the operation.

I have not heard from the organ yet. Pa was down town Friday and it had not come and said they would phone us when it did. Seems like a long time on the road. My hand is better but I don't mind it for I have other things to think of. those pictures are very nice. Will write more when Pa comes back. Pa got back and today is Tuesday, and Annie has another operation tonight.

Mrs. Ageson was home last night and her and I were going over.

May 18th, 1912- Part of a letter from Fannie Nick to dau. Susie and family

Dear Susie, George, Dora for herself and did she get my letter. We are all well, no not me, for myself is sick. I have been sick for a week not hardley able to drag a round. to much hard work I guess but I guess I'll pull through. Say we had good news last night clear from Washington, D.C.

Pa will get 30 dollars per month from now on when he was only getting 10. I guess I won't get a divorce right away. I was thinking about it, for he goes fishing with Mamie Rainey every day and they go right after dinner and don't get back until dark. Would you kick or not. O Well it is all right for she does not seem to hurt him, so.

Say after me having to work so hard for my chickens the rats are taking them every night. One night they took 10. That was the first I knew they was taking them last night they took one. Still I have 183.

Sept. 27, 1917 - Letter from Fannie Nick to Susie and George Nesbitt

At home

Dear Susie and George,

I am writing to you this morning telling you that you can have the house. We are selling all our stock. Vernie will not stay to home goes back to Ellsworth today. So come down as soon as posible and fix up for pa is not going to last very much longer. He shurley all in. I thought last night that we would halfto go for a doc for him. If you cannot come down let me know right away. Tell you the rest when I see you be shure and let me know by return mail for it is getting late and cold.

Ma

Oct. 18, 1917 - Letter from Fannie Nick to dau. Susie Nesbitt and family At home

Dear Susie and all,

Rec your letter. Went over to Cushing this afternoon. Seen about thies eggs Tom Hansen, said he was not getting very many eggs and Mrs. Faseburg said her hens were not doing very well and Willis wife, has gone to the city and Mrs. Henry Nick has a big girl 7 1/2 pou total last wens morning amen. Was out yesterday to see it mother and babe doing well.

Say Susie I will send you some money to give to my Doc. it is the best I can do now tell him not to be afraid he will get every penny I owe him.

Say Hank Worth is shure dead now. Will be buried tomorrow at 2 oclock. Bertha Day lost her baby was buried today. had aletter from Percy today. He is doing well also one from Clara poor girl she has a hard time of it. John has been sick and the baby and her and Charlie to dig her potatoes and she said they had 3 acres. Hattie came up Friday after you went home. I don't know weather I told you that in my last letter or not.

Pa is waiting for me to go to bed. he is afraid he will freeze for the windo is up. I am sweating like a steer in the cornfield. Have written 5 letters tonight would like to tell you about my trip to Amery but have not got space.

Well pa is trying on his new suit of underware. I paid out 375 dollars on debts and never got a penny worth for myself. I go without to keep peace. Well good night and buy yourself some ice cream this time.