Part 2 of Helen Fisher’s family scrapbook. Part 1 is here.
This next page contains “more notes found pertaining to my maternal family history.”
The main item on the page is this “Letter written to (?) Auntie Mae by her mother – my grandmother Allen. No date — about 1899 or 98 probably.” Auntie Mae is Helen’s aunt, Mae Allen, the oldest daughter of Giles and Mary Ermina. Grandmother Allen is Mary Ermina (Kellogg) Allen who was married to Giles Allen.
The way the letter was stapled made it hard to take photos, plus the first page is missing. I’ve tried to transcribe the remaining pages of the letter.
(page 2)
…familiar that the hous and road by Grandpa Pope. You cant know what all these old places mean to one who has spent years riding around the country in their childhood. Emily’s home is so comfortable in every way and very restful. She and I drove up to Lodi Cemetery and went to Aunt Jens grave and mothers & Auntie Glovers. Mother Lee & Aunt Polly all lie in that quiet spot. We also went to the old Cook (?) Cemetery near Grandpa Kellogg where Pa’s first wife and boy lay. She was Eliza Cook. I am going to send you a short record of your ancestors. This time its our mother’s record. In Washington Irvings works you will find one vol(ume) entitled “Wolferts Roost and other papers”. Its (area?) old New York then called “New Amsterdam”. The “Roost” is very old but our ancestor “Wolfert Acker” came from Holland. He bought it. He was one of old Peter Stuyvesant’s (Gov. of N.Y. at that time) “counselors”. He was a man of strong opinions and determined character. Consequently he had constant opposition to his ideas. He became enraged at the constant contentions. He said he would find someplace where he could find rest and peace so he bought there and placed [with his teeth clench at the time??] over the door his family Dutch motto “Lust in Rust” meaning Pleasure and Quiet.
Page 3
But others not understanding Dutch called it “Wolferts Rust”. It finally became “Wolferts Roost” probably from its quaint cock-loft. Looks it – having weather cocks perched on every gable. It was built of stone and built as only such building of the kind [??] at that time for it was built far back in what is commonly called the Fabulous Age. I have given this as “Washington Irving” has in his book. This place is near Pleasant Valley on or near [??] on the Hudson since it is still there. Here is where our ancestors begin.
Deborah Acker, Wolfert’s daughter, married Dr. John Pinckney (of Philadelphia I think or else N.Y.) he was brother of Charles and Thomas Pinckney who was closely associated in Gov(ernment) affairs with Washington, Jefferson and others at that period.
Dr. John Pinckney’s daughter Harriet Pinckney married my grandfather Owen T. Ward. Their daughter Jane Eliza Ward was my mother. So you see, I and others are only the 4th generation removed from old Wolfert Acker. Here is the Ward genealogy or just a little of it. Daniel Ward came from England about 1700 and located in Virginia. From there he went to Long Island then to White Plains there on to Pleasant Valley, N.Y. (near to “Wolferts Roost” and “Sleepy Hollow” where the story of Ihcabod Crane was located, written by Washington Irving) where he built
Page 4
his home. Joshua Ward, my Great Grandfather, his son was married to Mary Forman. These are his children
Jonathan Ward
Pamela Ward afterward Mrs Gabberdon
Jane Ward afterward Mrs. Isaac Flagler
Eliza Ward afterward Mrs. James Ostram
Catherine Ward afterward Mrs. Kniffin
Owen T. Ward (my Grandfather)
He was born in 1796 (?) in Pleasant Valley, Dutchess County N.Y. and raised there. Was married to Harriet Pinckney in 1820 daughter of Dr. John Pinckney. Their children were
Pamela Ward
Lavinia Ward
Jane Eliza Ward my mother
all born in Pleasant Valley.
Josie you remember had a picture of the old Ward homestead & so has Aunt Pamela in a-a [Ann Arbor] I wish I had one to for its all more or less historical. Auntie told me all this while I was at their house this time. There are many other points when I see you I can tell & come. I may not have got quite straight but the main part I have given you are all right and you (?) are need not be ashamed of our ancestry. Both (side?) entitled to be daughters of Revolution. Maybe you don’t care for this. One of the Pinckneys lived for many years in Charleston, S.C. and I read a letter written while he was in Key West to Aunt Pamela early in 1800. It was a fine letter, such choice language and all through it was the greatest desire for her (?) a fine intellectual woman he was our [unintelligible]. Aunt Pamela says if Mae ever has a boy tell her to give him the name Pinckney for it must be carried on down in our family. Sometime I’ll write you about the Kellogg [unintelligible] in their origin and for this day they are said to be “cocks of the walk” in Wales. I got this from the Kellogg genealogy. Auntie Pope has it.
[torn page]
and Auntie never told me when she was [??] visiting one last Spring but I was told he is just as smart & bright as a dollar. They got theirs in N.Y. [??] what do you think of that. Auntie and I had a good visit with [?? and a few more lines I can’t decipher]
My quick takeaways from this letter include (a) it’s clear that family histories were important to these folks and meant to be passed down (b) though it’s from 1899 or so, it’s written very clearly and with much better penmanship that I could muster (c) it’s the clearest connection to the Pinckney side and from there to Wolfert Acker and his Roost…except it doesn’t quite jibe with other lineages I see for Wolfert (it skips a couple of generations) (d) the outsize role that Washington Irving’s stories had in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
For a (presumably) more accurate lineage, see this geni.com tree for Deborah Ecker (Acker), Harriet Pinckney Ward’s mother. Deborah was married to Dr. John Pinckney as stated in the letter, but her father was Wolvert Ecker, the grandson of Wolfert Acker via Abraham. Got it?
As for the Pinckney side of things (and, boy, is that a deep well), Dr. John Pinckney was actually married twice, to Deborah Ecker and later to Susan Young (though it would have been a good trick because Susan according to this tree she was born in 1836, four years after John died…maybe I shouldn’t believe everything I find on the Internet). His parents were Gilbert Pinckney and Sybil Mary Pinckney. This is a different branch of the Pinckney line than the South Carolina line active in the Revolution, though Gilbert did have a brother Charles so maybe that was the source of some confusion. Still, it’s an illustrious name and he was connected…just quite a bit distant, as best I can tell.
Here is a photo of “Aunt Pamela Ward – 87 years, Ann Arbor, Mich. Mother’s [Great] Aunt, Pamela Ward, daughter of Owen Ward (Joshua’s granddaughter).”
“Aunt Pamela Ward, 87 yrs. Ann Arbor, Michigan.” 
“Mother’s [Great] Aunt, Pamela Ward, daughter of Owen Ward (Joshua’s granddaughter).”
Also on this page is the partial obituary for Wealthy Ellis (Kellogg) Pope of Saline, Michigan from May, 1922. She was born in 1828, one of nine children of Erastus and Elizabeth Kellogg. Born in Geneseo, N.Y., she moved to Michigan near Saline, “a region just emerging from the Southern Michigan wilderness,” with her family when she was seven (1835). She married Charles Edward Pope in April 1849 and died in an automobile crash at age 94. I can’t quite figure her connection to Helen at this point, but maybe a great aunt (or great, great aunt…see next post) from the Kellogg side.
There’s a note at the bottom of the page: “Emily Pope Davenport (dau[ghter]) Saline Mich(igan). Beverly her husb(and).” I’m guessing Emily might be the daughter of Wealthy and Charles Pope, mentioned in the obituary as Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Davenport, or maybe one of their daughters. I defer to someone who wants to take more time to figure it out.
The next page has more about the Ward side of the family. It contains two articles and used to have two photos (presumably of paintings/drawings), one of Col. Joshua Ward of Pleasant Valley, N.Y. and the other of Mary Forman Ward, his wife. They were Helen’s great, great, great grandparents (maternal).
This article is a memorium to Mrs. Lyman S. Wood, aka Pamela Ward (1821-1909), the same Aunt Pamela mentioned in the letter and photo on the previous page. Her father was Owen Ward. That makes her Helen’s great, great aunt. This article contains much of the family lore about Owen’s parents, Joshua and Mary Forman and their times in Pleasant Valley, N.Y. in Revolutionary times. It name drops George III, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Admiral Farragut, Henry Flagler, Wolfert Acker, Peter Stuyvesant, and Washington Irving. It also documents Owen’s “financial disaster” and subsequent move to Michigan. The article was written by Mrs. M. M. Martin, Pamela’s neighbor. No doubt most of the information came from Pamela; it directly echoes the tales told in Mary Ermina Allen’s letter on the previous page. Mary Ermina was Pamela’s niece.
Here is the 1939 obituary of Dr. Walter E. Ward. His sister was Mrs. G.B. Wade, “Cousin Josie” whose name has popped up in a couple of places but I’m not sure who she is or how they’re connected.
The next page is a further stretch but let’s see what we can figure out.
The photo appears to be of “Harriett Taylor Gray, my 3rd cousin, now living in” (unknown…Monroe, Mich, maybe).
“Lt. Col. Howell is her grandpa.” Colonel Howell served in the same Company F, 6th Michigan as Giles Allen, apparently in some of the same campaigns. His wife was Eliza Kellogg Howell which means they were aunt and uncle to Giles and Mary Ermina, great, great aunt and uncle to Helen.
We finally come to the page of “Grandfather Allen (my maternal grandparent).”
The page has two pictures (and one missing) of Giles B. Allen, one in younger days and the more formal one with the sword.
Giles B. Allen 
Giles B. Allen
Interestingly, and without explanation, this appears to be the same sword, gloves and hat worn by Helen’s Grandfather DeLamater. I’d appreciate if anyone who knows military (or, very possibly, Masonic) regalia can tell me why.
Helen’s Grandfather DeLamater Giles Allen
Letter to Helen from Alice transmitting a pack of Giles’ Civil War letters which were with “some of my mother’s”. Alice is Helen’s cousin, Alice Gibbs Loud. I think it’s legible (nice handwriting!) and innocuous enough that I don’t need to transcribe it.
The envelope the letters came in. Inside are five letters. I’ve included each one below and took a crack at transcribing them.
The first letter was written from “Away down in Dixie” on November 7th, 1861 (just about seven months after the first shots at Fort Sumter, April 12). Giles at that point was an 18-year old private in the Army.
Giles was born and raised in Washtenaw County, Michigan, in and near the town of Saline. When Giles was just six years old, his father died and his older brother, James, became head of the family that included Giles, his mother and sisters. Giles worked on the family farm and went to school. He took classes at a high school in Ann Arbor and graduated from Lodi Academy. Saline, Lodi and Ann Arbor are all within a few miles of each other. Two months after graduating and presumably soon after the first shots in South Carolina, Giles enlisted in the Army, assigned to Company F of the 6th Michigan Army, very likely with a number of his classmates and neighbors from the county.
Away down in Dixie November 7th, 1861
Dear Mother,
I thought when I last wrote that I should have a chance to write often: but we have had such a wild goose chase I have had no opportunity to write or mail the letters after they were written. We have to depend on the boats that bring our provisions to us to send the mail. It is over three weeks since we left Baltimore and I have only got mail once. I am not very well. I was sick when we left Baltimore and the surgeon thought I had better not go but I wanted to go and so I went and got my pay. I haven’t been able to march with the others one day yet. There is a good many sick ones in our detachment. We have lost four since we started. I suppose you would like to know what we have been doing since we left. Well I will try and give you an idea. We took a boat and left Baltimore in the night and sailed down the Bay. We landed next day on the eastern shore of Maryland. We were then in the enemies country. Our picket guards could see those of the other side. A fight was expected at first but in a day or two our minds changed. They are such cowards they wont fight only when they have heavy odds. They run off leaving what they called their fort. The next day we went there and took possession. It was built in the center of the road and looked more like childs play than anything else. We found a large quantity of arms which they had hid. We have taken three such places in all. You must remember though that we are in Virginia now. We crossed the line the first day we advanced. There has been a large quantity of cannon and ammunition taken from the rebbels but it has nearly all been returned to them again by order of Gen. Lockwood, the commander of the expedition. I believe he is as great a traitor as Jeff Davis. We haven’t done any good by coming here as I can see. We cant take them prisoners or their arms. They talk as much secessh as they are a mind to. We cant do anything to prevent it. I guess a few more such expeditions would spoil the whole cause. The people here are very ignorant. They are more to be pitied than blamed. We have plenty of chickens. We have a peculiar way of cleaning them. It is very easy to do it if you only know how. The oysters are plenty here. I wish you could cook a mess of them for me once. I think it would be an improvement. You can go down to the beach and pack a bushel in a few minutes. It has been a good while since this was written but I guess I will send it as it was written down in Virginia.
The letter describes a campaign early in the war in the Delmarva (Eastern shore of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia) under Gen. Henry Hayes Lockwood:
After the disastrous First Battle of Bull Run (in which Lockwood’s unit did not participate), President Lincoln feared that further trouble from Confederate sympathizers on the Delmarva Peninsula, where Lockwood had grown up and where his family remained prominent. He received a commission as brigadier general of volunteers on August 8, 1861, and was assigned to defend the lower Potomac River. On November 13, 1861 Major General John A. Dix entrusted Lockwood with capturing the Eastern Shore of Virginia, that is Accomack and Northampton Counties at the Delmarva Peninsula’s southern tip. By massing troops at Pocomoke City, Maryland and promising Virginia residents that if they provided no resistance, their trade would resume, their lighthouses would once again be lit, and their property protected, Lockwood caused the local Confederate forces to retreat and disperse without a fight. Allowing the rebels time to retreat proved another key to Lockwood’s pacification strategy.
From “Henry Hayes Lockwood” article, Wikipedia
It’s fair to say that young Private Giles Allen did not agree with Gen. Lockwood’s pacification strategy.
The next letter was written March 29th, 1862 from Ship Island, Mississippi in Mobile Bay. Giles was by then attached to Gen. Benjamin Butler who directed the Union expedition to Ship Island beginning in December 1861.
Ship Island, Mississippi Sound
March 29th, 1862Dear Mother,
I have an opportunity of sending a few lines home in a direct way: as Charley Smith one of our corporals has been discharged on account of deafness; he is going right home in the morning and I have only a short time to write so this must be very short. I am well as usual as are all the rest from Saline. Today we received marching orders and will move from this horrible place tomorrow. Our destination is I suppose Fort Declam (?) between New Orleans and the mouth of the river. I suppose we shall see some hot work before a week has pressed away. All the sick are either left behind or else are discharged. Smith has been very deaf for months and is glad I suppose to go home as he can not be of any possible use in the army.What has transpired on earth since we came here as we have had no mail yet and hear no news at all. It is nearly a month since we left and the [??] seems a blank which has been lost except that we have had some hard drill which is to fit us for the field. I hope we may be successful in our undertaking as this is one of the most important undertakings undertaken. If we are victorious we shall be in New Orleans before a month which if all other things have gone right in the seat of war this will [??] be one of the last battles fought.This is generally believed here now. There is no news to write. All is so dull now if we can only get on the main land we shall be all right. It is awful sandy and such hard work to get around and I presume we shall fare a great deal better
I must stop for it is getting late and I am so tired. Give my love to all. When you write again direct to Gen. Butler’s expedition Mississippi. Write soon. You will allow for all mistakes as I have been awful hurried. No more to night. I shall write as soon as we have made a [stand?] and so till then good bye.
Giles B Allen
Just five weeks after this letter was written, and as Giles predicted, Butler’s troops occupied New Orleans. I don’t have direct evidence that Giles was part of the New Orleans occupation, but it’s very likely.
This next letter is undated but written from Camp Parapet, Louisiana, about a mile from New Orleans. The fortification was in Union hands after September 1862. I believe this letter was written between December 1892 (when Gen. Nathaniel Banks arrived to replace Gen. Butler) and the spring of 1863 (at some point when the weather was “splendid”).
Camp Parapet, La.
My Dear Sisters,
I expect I am your debtor as I have received several letters from your vicinity and have not yet answered any of them. We have been pretty busy in the last week in consequence of moving our camp. We are now encamped about ten miles from the city, near where we were encamped last fall. It seemed hard to leave good and comfortable quarters to go into the swamps and live in the mud but then this I suppose is one of the misfortunes of war and of course we should always resign ourselves to our fate.Libs last letter which I received yesterday must have been written just when she felt decidedly blue: that she feels so always I can hardly believe: at least I hope so: no one should allow themselves to feel in that way; the more such feelings are indulged in the stronger will their slavish influences become and it is the worst kind of slavery too: it makes one hate their friends and everything around them and even themselves. I tell you and I know it by observation that a contented mind and the feeling that all is for the best will make a person feel better satisfied with themselves and contented in the circumstances in which they are placed: now when you have an attack of the blue devils just look at the bright side of your circumstances and how much better you are than thousands of others: and I think all foolish complaints would disappear instanter. I know of cases here in the army of strong and healthy men who getting discouraged at affairs just give up to their feelings and finally die just because the hadnt the resolution to shake off those blues.
Well quite a sermon aint it and I [??] moreover that you will profit by it. I would write you something that would interest you, if I knew anything new it is just the same old story: Gen. Banks is in the city yet he has a large force at Baton Rouge which are idle yet or rather have not accomplished anything as yet: we are encamped with a lot of nine month men they are a green set of beings and our boys have lots of fun with them they know about as much about military as young [Pelog?] and whatever we veterans tell them they take as gospel truth.
The weather is splendid at present although we sometimes have an awful cold rain but it generally dont last long. I have just been getting a new suit of clothes and as they are quite a novelty I will (tell) you what it consists of in the first place sky blue pants and then a dark blue coat trimmed with blue tape and brass buttons and then a dark blue Dutch cap it is something new and in the very latest style here if not in N. York.
I had a letter from Walter McCallum the other day he says they are all well and fine spirits where they are. I also received a letter from Lodi they are all well there: I expect things move on in the same old style: and I am glad if war does not effect them: it is making a desolate country here sure and many a nice and comfortable home will be made desolate and [??]: but it nothing more than right and they have no right to complain.
If you cant read this send it back and I will try and do better: this was written on a board held in my lap sitting on the ground so you must make some allowances but I shall ask no excuses. Please write soon: you are all good about writing please continue so.
Now good bye
Giles
The next letter is from April 29th, 1864, Port Hudson, Louisiana. The 6th Michigan participated in the Siege of Port Hudson under Gen. Banks from May 22 – July 9, 1863, a crucial fight for control of the Mississippi River concurrent with Grant’s campaign at Vicksburg. The 48-day siege was the longest in US military history up to that point and was something of a Union blunder until Grant took Vicksburg and Confederate Gen. Franklin Gardner surrendered Port Hudson. The siege was notable as one of the first deployments of black soldiers in battle for the Union. Again, I don’t have direct evidence of Giles’ role in the siege but he very likely was there.
This letter was written nearly a year later as Giles’ company was still stationed at Port Hudson. The letter mentions the Red River Campaign which was another failed Union initiative under Gen. Banks from March – May, 1864. This letter was evidently written at a time of low morale for Giles and contains descriptions of the “colored troops” that are deeply disturbing from our vantage point 150+ years later. Clearly and unfortunately, ugly racism was not solely a Confederate trait.
Port Hudson, La. April 29th, 1964
Dear Mother & Sisters,
I have waited a long time to hear from your part of the world and to know how you are getting along. I received a letter from (??) Lake the other day which gave me the information required and to which I will answer. As for myself, I am well and am getting along finely. The weather is very warm at present. We have had splendid weather just about right for comfort until a few days ago when it began to get warmer and now the shade is the most agreeable place to be found.Nothing new has happened lately in this vicinity and consequently no news to write from here. I presume before this time you have seen newspaper accounts of the fight up the Red River between Gen. Banks and the rebels. I expect our men were very roughly handled there notwithstanding what the newspapers say of the affair. I think some men were very good politicians and in giving them positions of trust in the army you destroy their usefulness in their proper place and makes some very poor Generals. A great many thought the fighting over in this department but I wont think it very strange if we see some hard blows before our time is out.
I suppose you havent seen many of the [veterans?] of the Sixth in your part of the country. They will be back again next week. I think they will have some pretty large stories to tell about home and the folks. I suppose well I hope they have nice times there for they will be deprived of all such comforts when they get back again in this part of the world.
Port Hudson is one of the most lonesome places I believe I was ever in nothing going on to pass the time. All the troops are colored with the exception of another regiment beside our own and they are miserable creatures. I can assure you they are dreadful lazy and filthy and when a little sick are sure to die. I believe before the season is over the Corps [“1”?] I figure will be about exterminated. I presume you have seen it puffed a great deal in the papers but after being with them about a year I think it is a great humbug. Now perhaps this is not very entertaining to you but there is nothing to write about that will interest you so I dont know but I shall have to stop and rest and see if there is anything new to be picked up.
Saturday morning
Nothing new has happened yet there is to be mustering inspection today which will wear some of the time off. Our mail arrangements are none of the best sometimes it stays in New Orleans a week after arriving there it is hardly ever sent on a government boat because some friend of some one in authority has a boat which gets a good price for carrying it which of course comes from Uncle Sams own pocket. There are a great many screws loose in the machinery of our government which ought to be attended to or it will finally collapse.As a general thing it has been quite healthy here among the white soldiers, but the colored soldiers are dying about as fast as they can put them under the ground. There has been some cases of small pox here but confined mostly to the darkeys. I havent heard of a white soldier having it. It was brought from the north here by a Missouri regiment and from all accounts there has been a great many cases of it North.
When the veterans went home it was thought they would never come back again to this Department and I was in hopes we should be delivered from this miserable place but the chances are poor for going any farther north now as they all expect to come back here. It is only for a short time and I guess that it will soon pass away and if my health only continues good it will be all I ask or expect.
I have received a letter from old Lodi a short time since. Matters remain about as usual there I should judge no great changes have taken place.
Sunday morning
We had a nice rain last night which cooled the air nicely. Everything is growing finally: blackberries are ripe but not very plenty inside the fortifications.Last evening received orders to consolidate our different detachments and get them together in one camp which indicates a move somewhere. I hope our services will be needed no longer at this Post as they are not very well appreciated. The Officers of the colored troops are all down on us and every chance they get abuse us as much as possible. The other evening they arrested about twenty of our men just outside our camp where they went to purchase papers. There were a large number of darkeys there but they were not molested all but three of our men escaped however and the three are now confined in the guard house. What will be done with them I dont know. Your humble servant was taken there the other night by the congos while carrying orders but they couldent read and the consequence was I was marched to the guard house but after seeing the officer of the guard and showing my papers I asked him what he proposed to do he concluded to drop me like a hot potato.
Well that is the way things go in Port Hudson and the sooner we get away from here the better.
I guess I have spun this out longer than will be interesting and without saying much so will stop. Please write soon.
Giles “B”
Two months later, on June 27th, 1864, Giles wrote this next letter from Vicksburg, Mississippi where he was assigned to a brigade of engineers working to repair railroads. His mood was brighter and he looked forward to the end of his Army contract, though his obituary notes that he re-enlisted in August, 1864 and was promoted to sergeant-major of the regiment.
Vicksburg, Miss. June 27th, 64
My Dear Mother,
Since I last wrote we have changed our locality Northward. We have been assigned to a Brigade of Engineers and are at present stationed about three miles out from the city of Vicksburg on the Jackson Rail Road in a nice shady place where everything can be procured necessary for comfort. I think the change a good one for if we had remained at Morganzia (?) we were sure of being kept into the Infantry branch of the service. But now we shall have plenty of work to do but it will not be so hard as to be continually on the march.
Rumor says that yellow fever has made its appearance in New Orleans and that the inhabitants are leaving very fast. I presume this is true that some cases has made its appearance for the season has been very wet and hot so far.
Fruit and vegetables are in great plenty, but if they were three times as plenty I should fear to touch any of it.
I have been pretty well so far and hope that I may continue well for a few weeks when my contract with Uncle Sam will be fulfilled when I can live in a different climate where the health is not in continual danger.
I havent received any letters in a long time guess the folks want to cut acquaintance now for the reason that they expect to see me up to their locality. Well that is all right but I should like to have something to help pass the time.
I presume we shall not move away from this place until our time is out which will soon come around. Time passes away so quickly. I presume before I hardly know it I shall be up in Michigan that is if the yellow fever dont carry me off or some other disease for I dont apprehend much danger from the enemy’s bullets.
There is no news of any importance from this point there is no move I think from this way contemplated yet but dont know how soon there may be. We have nothing to do now days but in a few days I expect a part will go to work on the Rail Road to repair the part not in running order.
Henry Harris who enlisted in the Regiment and went into Company F was found dead in his tent the other morning, He was sick for a long time but no one thought he would drop off so suddenly. All the rest of our acquaintances in the Regiment are well I believe but I guess I have written enough to tire you so will close. Please give my best respects to all.
Yours Affectionately,
Giles
Taken together, the letters shed some light on the tedium and isolation of war, especially when posted for years to one of the backwaters of the effort. I wish we had a fuller accounting of Giles’ time, actions and thoughts of the war. But they give us a glimpse of the man and a closer connection to his life. I rather doubt they are of great historical value, but I will make an effort to contact the University of Michigan to see if they are of interest.
The next page features Giles’ brother, James Allen, Helen’s maternal grand uncle.
There are three photos on these two pages. The first two are of James Allen, Giles’ brother and effectively his surrogate father since Giles was six. The third is of Giles Allen, presumably after he graduated from the University of Michigan as a doctor in 1867, the same year he married Mary Ermina Kellogg. Giles enrolled in the university two weeks after getting out of the Army. He practiced medicine in Charlotte, Michigan, for 42 years where he also became a Mason, head of the Charlotte Commandery and eventually a Probate Judge. He was a state legislator, representing his county from 1895-1897, as well as serving on the board of aldermen of Charlotte, president and treasurer of the Charlotte school board, and a member of the library board.
James Allen, younger 
James Allen, older 
Giles Allen, probably after becoming Dr. Allen
Letter from Uncle James to Louisa Josie, written from Ypsilanti, Michigan, on August 17, 1910, about six months before Giles passed away from heart troubles.
Ypsilanti, Aug. 17, 1910
My Dear Josephine:
Sometimes punishment may be long delayed; and hang over our heads a long while; and we all the while hoping they will “pass on” and we escape — as you, no doubt, have been hoping in this case.I have been in a very kindly frame of mind, you see, for some time, and very much disinclined to annoy or disturb my friends. but now, this hot spell has developed some kind of a germ that is making me quite ferocious; And I am out on the war path! Sorry for you; but I must “obey the impulse” dont you know.
The “lid” seems screwed down awful tight here.
It’s the same way in Eaton county — and I guess it’s the fad universal.
I found the Allens all feeling pretty well — think your Uncle Giles looks better than when I saw him last, and I believe he is better.
Your Aunt Minnie is quite crippled up by rheumatism; but otherwise I guess she is pretty well.
Mae; and William; were there; and Fred — but Helen stayed with her father. I thought that they might come over Sunday, perhaps; but Claude thought he couldn’t very well do so.
Max, and his family came Sat. P.M., and went home Sunday evening.
I had, you see, the opportunity of seeing that most wonderful of all wonderful babies Allene Elizabeth! the dearest, the sweetest, most precious piece of goods the stork ever handled! Even little Moses in the bulrushes couldn’t have been any “properer” child.
Oh well, as babies go, she is a very pretty, and bright looking child. Some folks say that all babies — like all coons — look alike to them; but I think “there’s a difference”.
Max and his father spent most of the time, I thought, in talking politics — something I didn’t feel quite as much interested in as they appeared to be — it seemed to be mostly Chase Osborn; with some comparisons of Taft with Roosevelt.
I had thought of Taft as being quite a large man; bit I thought they pared him down until there didn’t seem to be much left of him — and he didn’t look at all natural.
Giles pitched onto the new president of the U. of M. Hutchins — this was before Max came — and called him some pretty hard names; and seemed a little surprised, I thought, that I didn’t fall in line with his ideas.
I said that as far as I knew, he was held in high esteem by everybody in this part of the state; except it might by a certain few of the students.
But he claimed to know better than that, and I let the subject drop flat.
His man for the position was Woodrow Wilson — a good man, I think but just at the present time I think “Hutch” is the better, for the place.
Did you know Uncle Giles his home as a site for the new Post Office building?
I would not be at all surprised if the Department accepted it — though I think the lot will be rather narrow for its requirements; but I think that is the case with the other sites that have been offered.
We were all sorry your mother couldnt have been there. I hope she is feeling all right again by this time.
Say, I dont see why you and Dr. hadnt ought to auto down to Ipsey some day — its just a nice little ride, I should think.
Try it, and see if it isnt. I am expecting Mark tomorrow for a day and a half visit, hope he wont disappoint me. I have not heard from Alice in a good while.
Well, Josie, now that this long-delayed letter is written — after a fashion — I am feeling better natured; and will forgive you if you will “answer soon”.
Love to all, Uncle James
The next page contain clippings from Dr. Giles Allen’s later life.
Giles ran for the office Judge of Probate at some point after 1897 (I’m not sure of the years) and won. Here is is a newspaper biography and campaign card. The bio notes that his father died when Giles was six years old and Giles was “transferred to an elder brother,” James, from the previous page. It also notes that “In 1985-97 he represented the southern portion of the county in the state legislature and became so disgusted with legislative rottenness that it is doubtful he would have taken a second term had second terms been the custom.”
This 1903 article chronicles Judge Allen’s driving trip “Down South.” He and his wife traveled from Charlotte, Michigan to Atlanta by train, then seem to have procured a car to rattle around Georgia for a bit.
Next, a partial article from perhaps a few years later (1905?) extolling the many monuments in the south dedicated to Confederate soldiers.
The next page contains the obituary of Dr. Giles B. Allen, died February 5, 1911 at the age of 67.
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