Isabel Sherman was a sister to my great grandfather, Charles Ormston Ralph. She married and moved to Cape Cod Massachusetts. My father, Bill Ralph, began a penpal relationship with her in the 60's. These are some of those letters.
Isabel’s Letters
April 6, 1968
Dear Bill,
Just received your letter with its good good news. We will be delighted to see you and are just sorry your girls cannot come too. We are 80 miles from Boston. I am sure that sounds like no distance at all to a western boy. Dad is drawing a map which should bring you straight in with no trouble.
It sounds like a wonderful trip, you surely will be covering a lot of territory. According to your itinerary it does not look as if you will have much time but I do hope you call as you come off mid cape highway (#6). You will be on Willow St. Turn RIGHT. When you reach dead end marked 6A, turn RIGHT for (1) Shark Beach. Turn LEFT here (sign on st marked Wharf Ln) keep going toward bay and marsh to large tree on St. This Is It!!
At least stay overnight. I imagine you will be flying home from Logan Airport in Boston. It is only a 2 hour run from us and easy to find.
Now bill – don’t get lost and watch out for those wicked cities after dark.
We will be looking forward to seeing you.
Take Care
Aunt Isabel
P.S. Forget the great Aunt – It makes me feel a hundred and 10
April 20, 1968
Dear Bill,
Received your letter today -We will be expecting you. Don’t dare mention convenience – we are looking forward to your visit and will be simple delighted to see you. I’ll put my order in now for a sunshiny day with no fog. So here’s wishing you a safe and pleasant trip. Pop wants to add to his directions. So here he is –
You will leave Portland on 95. This will come into Rt 4 above DANVERS at SAUGUS. You will come to a ROTARY (circle) take the road to your left (the one that would go straight if the circle was not there). Keep to your left all the way down on the expressway, cross the Mystic River Bridge (toll 25¢) You will go through Boston on the expressway. When you go past So. Boston, you will see rt 3 on your left as Braintree. Take it and it will take you to Plymouth and Sagamore bridge – cross the canal, pick up #6 (right in front of you) and get off at WILLOW St.
We are going to Penna this coming week and Our best to you.
Isabel n Edgar
February 20,1977
Dear Bill,
It was great to hear from you and to hear that you and your dear family are all fine. My Michael, Richards son, is the same age as your Michael. He was born when I was in California. I expect they are 2nd or 3rd cousins or something. I thought it might be fun to send you his picture. I often think of my visit and all the wonderful hospitality I received. I am getting very very old but still struggling along. Your letter came on my 82nd birthday an extra pleasant surprise. How about that?
I am afraid I don’t know too much past history but will tell you all I know. The Ralphs go back to England. My grandfather came from England. I have a letter written to him from England during the Civil War. It was a lovely letter from his mother – a letter only a very high class lovely lady would write. He was supposed to have been a drummer boy in the war but this may only be hearsay and not fact. I never saw her. His picture showed a good looking man with a twinkle in his eye and a beard (all the Bill Ralphs are good looking) His name was William Ralph. I do not know his wifes name. His children-
my father Wm Henry Ralph
Tom – who retired in Boston -not married
Annie - Annie married a man named Ottey and had 3 boys; Raymond, Ralph, Harold
William Henry married Ann Isabel Ormston and had 2 boys.
Will – never married
Charles – (your grandfather) 2 girls – Carrie, Isabel
Charles married Florence Reber, 1 boy – Bill Ralph – your dad
Carrie married Walter Hays – 2 girls 1 boy – Miriam, Hazel, George
Isabel – M Wm Edgar Sherman – 2 boys Bill, Richard, 1 girl Mary
Mary – M - John Elmes – 3 girls Linda, Debby, Sandra
Bill - M – Martha Shuster part German descent – 4 girls Elizabeth, robin, Kate, Krista
Richard – M – Jean Fischer (German parents) – 3 boys – Richard Tecumseh, Jesse, Michael, 2 girls Tina, Jody
Richard got interested in the family tree when he was with the CIA in Washington. He kind of lost his head and named his first son Tecumseh after the famous or infamous Indian chief. He came home with the family crest. I can see it is a lot of mish mash but I hang it on my wall. It makes me feel very American. Jesse and Michael are just great and he has 2 really beautiful girls. Excuse the bragging after all I am only a natural grandmom. They live in a big old farm house in New Hampshire – beautiful country, beautiful home but very hard to heat. He is administrator at Hope Memorial in Danvers Mass. Where I visit for a week or so I always take plenty of sweaters and shiver and shake some but it is worth it just to be in a house full of people.
I will now get back to the subject.
Ann Isabel Ormston’s mother, Ann Ormston came from Scotland. Her father Richard Ormston England. He was a sea captain. Quite a respectable job in those days. Tho I have heard he was a lusty fellow with a loud voice. Aunt Emma would run and hide in the closet when he came home. He must have been in port often as they had 10 children. 5 girls 5 boys
Edward, Ida, Jesse, Emma, George, Mary, Charles, Laura, Harry Isabel.
It is fun to think about Richard Ormston – I like to think one colorful ancestor.
That brings us to the Shermans.
Edgars father – another Bill, married Lucina Bower (Brower?) – who was born and raised on a farm in New Jersey. I know little of her people. Her mother was a fine artist. Her father had a stable and used to run ponies at the amusement parks in Summer. William Sherman, Edgars grandfather, owned a mill in New Jersey turning out small wooden objects. Like cloth pins I suppose. There was only 1 boy Bill and 2 girls, Mary, Josephine.
Lucina Bower – M – Bill Sherman 3 boys, Edgar, Clarence, Charles, 1 girl Alice
Charles had 3 boys John, Charles, J??? 1 girl Nancy
Alice 1 boy Charles Alfred. Married Alfred Hopkins – a farm boy from New York.
Clarence became a Doctor of Chemistry and married and had 2 girls, Barbara, Joanne
William Edgar – married Mary Isabel Ralph (me) 1 girl Mary, 2 boys Bill, Richard
With this background it never ceases to amaze me that 3 boys pulled themselves up by their bootstraps as the saying goes and by hook or crook, managed 3 doctor degrees. Charles became a doctor too.
I’m afraid this information hasn’t been much help. One thing I do know these people were all highly respectable (upper middle class I would say) and I have always felt proud of my heritage. If I’d had my druthers I would have preferred to come from purely American stock.
Cape Cod is a wonderful place to live but has turned our back on us this winter. You wouldn’t believe the snow and ice. It is frightening and surely has brought on my old arthritis. I blame it on that but the truth is mostly old age. You try but there is no way you can avoid that. I am not complaining. I have learned that is a no no for old mothers. I can still see with one eye, hear with one ear - isn’t it lucky the good lord gave us 2 of most things. Bill has decided to sell my past house and build me a (illegible) apartment on his place. I hate to admit it but I guess it makes sense. I can’t afford it here. I have had Linda, Mary’s oldest girl, with me for 9 years – she is now 20 and will graduate from 4 &o (sp?) this spring. My Mary passed away last spring after a long illness.
Well I guess you wanted past history, not present so I will stop meandering.
I wish I knew more facts but this is the best I can do. Edgar and I were too busy living to take much note of the past. There never seemed to be enough time. He was such a busy dedicated man. I have always felt sorry he never had a chance to relax and do some of the fun things he always dreamed of.
I do wish I knew I could be of some help. I am glad to hear your dad is going to retire soon. I have read about his career from clippings Lonnie reads me. I am sure you are very proud of him. I hope he has a long happy retirement. I know he will always keep busy. The Ralph men are all creative and clever with their hands and have many hobbies.
I do not hear from your dear mother anymore – this is understandable. The distance is so far it is hard to keep in touch. I think she is a lovely lady and think often of the good time we had together in California. Give her my love.
With warm regards to you and all the California Ralphs. Aunt Isabel
April 12, 1977
Bill Ralph the 5th__
Well this is not quite so nice. Charles did not get to be another Bill. So let’s say a near miss. Speaking of your grandfather Charles I would like to say what a dear brother he was to me. It is true my Bill does remind me of him not only in looks but in disposition with a heart as big as all outdoors.
Was six years younger and probably a pain in the neck to him tagging around after him – but he was wonderful. He started me on my reading hobby. He was a reader and brought home good love stories not like the ones they publish today. I still remember the thrill of getting acquainted with Grauestark. Beverly of Graustark and the lovely princes and princesses and many other ones. There was no such thing as TV or radio in those days. I can still feel the feel of curling up by my mothers beautiful big iron stove on a cold Sunday afternoon with a bag of pretzels and my new book from the Sunday school library. I remember the sad day Dad and I saw him off on a train to the land of sunshine in search of his much loved son and dad saying “I will never see him again”, and he never did.
Such a distance was unsurmountable in those days – no airplanes no autos.
Well I did not intend to get into all this past history but I do think it is too bad when we lose someone like your grandfather – people forget too soon.
Well to answer your questions. My sister Carrie’s birthday was November 25 1880. Will was 3 years younger – but as stupid as it sounds I cannot remember the exact moth or date. Carrie would have known of course. It is too bad of me as he was the one who was interested in history and had kept my grandmothers letter, and now I cannot find it. I have searched and searched. I am sure I will come across it one day when I least expect it. I know I was careful not to destroy it. I am so sorry it was the one thing I had with any substance. A real clue.
The clock your dad mentioned is ticking away on my wall right now. It is a very valuable clock. All wooden works- brought over from England and by my great grandmother Campbell. That must be the one it has been to all our homes and now Bill is expecting to own it – he is great for antiques.
Philadelphia has been the home of all the Ralphs in America except Tom whom I told you settled in Boston. The Ormstons all lived in Philadelphia – downtown – our family lived in West Philadelphia across the Schuylkill River.
Uncle George was the proverbial bachelor uncle who in my youth always appeared on Sunday dressed to the teeth in blue ?? suit a frosted silk tie and a box of candy under his arm for Sunday dinner. Always took the young children to pick flowers in the spring time – no home should be without one. I guess you have heard the old saying “It is a poor family who cannot afford one lady” well Uncle George comes under this category. A perfectly turned out English gentleman. Your dad remembers him because in later years he was living with Charles as a part of gentleman handy man.
I guess that about answers the questions. Bill I know you have had fun doing this and the result should be interesting. It is a fine thing you are doing. It is too bad more families do not help records. I have gotten very interested in the research (illegible) and history and are going way back way back and finding so many things about past civilizations. I never realized how large and serious this work was. I was reading up on some things geologists have been bringing up - how the mountains were formed and New England was once covered with a shallow sea, of course this was many millions of years ago. But they seem to believe in this theory of “plate tectonics”. It is all very interesting and frightening too.
You are wrong about one thing Bill. The beautiful life you and Diane and the children live in California is Very interesting. I love hearing about it. It is just the greatest, raising children and getting involved in all their activities. I had it once – now I am just an onlooker.
I have been listening to the weather reports and a warm moist spring seems to be in the cards -so that may mean rain for you. Your drought must be terrible. But you can thank your lucky stars your dad did not have 200 in of snow as we did in New England. Many people here were without heat and schools had to close. The cape was not so bad – we did have 2 or 3 real bad storms. The wind blew down huge old pine trees – 2 right here in my yard – but now spring is here – so all is forgiven.
I guess no matter where you live whoever runs the show – has decided no one is going to have it easy.
I cannot think of California as anything but beautiful- even where the hills tun brown.
I remember Charles telling me how thrilled he was when he arrived in the middle of winter and found the geraniums all in bloom.
Your vacation plans sound wonderful to me. I entirely hope it all turns out well and you all have a wonderful time – this summer and always.
My love to you and all the California Ralphs, Isabel
I don’t like to (illegible) “aunt”. Makes me feel old
PS - Just for fun I am enclosing a picture of another Ralph only this one is named Michael Sherman. Your Michaels 2nd or 3rd cousin or something.
March 8 – 1978
Bill dear;
You will never know how glad I was to have your letter. It has been such a long time since I have heard from the west coast I thought you had all give up on me or had been washed away by the rain and floods I have been seeing on t.v. but your letter sounds reassuring so it seems to me that in spite of the terrific upset the weatherman gave us all, things will settle down to normal come spring. It is still very cold here but I heard the birds this morning and that is a good sign/ We do seem to be blessed here on cape we had more snow than usual but nothing we could’nt handle.. But Boston – that is another story. They were completely demobilized for two weeks. The trouble with Boston is they think they are the smartest people. And always have if you look back in history; but this time they were caught up short. They did not heed the snow warnings and it comes out now their snow equipment was not in top condition. I won’t bore you with the details but it really was a sad state of affairs. So many lost their homes along the coast and quite a few lives too. I am enclosing a picture of Linda, my “live in” granddaughter, on our Yarmouth Port town beach. A later storm washed the boardwalk away. The kids are all upset they love to go out to the end and dive into the bay.
It is good to hear you are all well and enjoying your young life. It sounds very interesting and exciting. I am sure you enjoy your work in your chosen field and hope nothing does happen to change things for you. The world moves so fast today nothing seems so solid or secure as it was in my young days. Dad often said he felt he had lived in much better times.
It is great Diane can find time to do her own thing. It is wonderful how young wives can manage a home and children and do something on their own too. I’m sure I never could have. I excuse myself by thinking I was a help to my husband in his very busy life.
As for me today – nothing interesting to report.. I tuned the calendar to 83 this February and feel thankful to be on my own two feet. That is to say I still manage my small house and tho’ my eyes are not so good, I do manage to read a great deal and braid rugs. There is always someone ready to grab one. Then I take care of Linda who has been with me for 8 years. She should be taking care of me but it doesn’t work that way. She had 2 years in 4C’s in medical secretary and now is working for a plastic surgeon. Well she will be 21 soon and of on her own I expect. I’ll give you a little tip. I find girls leave the nest faster and sooner than boys these days. Richards two girls both have apartments of their own and he walks around with a shocked look on his face and his big country house getting empty and asking why and missing them. But his three boys are still home and probably will be there as long as mom hands out the hamburgers and clean clothes. I still have a license but Bill took my car away he was afraid I would kill myself or somebody else on the road.
My 12 grandchildren are pretty well grown up now going their different ways. Liz in Germany with her captain husband for 3 years. Robin got herself married last month and now is a stewardess on Air New England. Girls don’t settle for just getting married anymore. She says she can get me half fare anywhere I want to fly but I’m afraid I’ve done my flying unless I get some wings someday. (a joke) Our Michael the same age as your Michael has grown into a nice boy who believe it or not looks very much like the Ralphs. His trouble is he has 2 older brothers 2 older sisters, so has turned into a spoiled brat. When I visit we do not get along too well.
Richard is still administrator with Hunt Memorial. Bill is still building houses but tells me he is going to retire any minute and do his many hobbies. I expect he will always keep busy. He still has 2 girls to put through college. His one lucrative hobby is doing over antique cars and selling them. You would be surprised how easy they are to sell to rich car buffs. A man came clear from California to buy his Ford woody. He claims when Ford built these they were sold on the east coast and none got as far as the west. Then he sold his Lincoln Continental to a man from Canada.
Speaking of retirement how is your dad getting along these days. The last time I wrote to him I suggested he get something to do if he wasn’t content witting around. I guess he thought I was pretty fresh but I am a big believer in having a good reason for getting out of bed in the morning and have a reason to something to do. Since I have reached 80 I find myself saying whatever come into my head and it gets me in a lot of hot water – especially with my daughters in law.
I do think it is great your sister Debra got her degree. I was so proud that she thought to send me her graduation notice and want to send her something but so far have not taken care of it. Time flies so fast I never seem to get the things done I plan, but I have not forgotten and will surprise her someday soon.
By the way I have a new person to add to your roots project. A beautiful baby girl named Sarah Philbrook. Liz came this summer to have her baby. She was here for six months. It was such fun, the young aunts, Kate and Krista got such a kick out of it and enjoyed the baby so much. Liz is my first granddaughter and we spent a lot of time together when she was a little girl.
Sometimes Bill, its fun to grow old and then sometimes it’s not. However I plan to stick around a while. There are lots of things I want to see. I was listening to your governor Reagan the other afternoon on t.v. and decided I want to be around to see him get Jimmy Carter out of the White House and take over. That I want to see and a lot of other things too numerous to mention.
I am writing this on Linda’s electric typewriter and as you probably noticed by now I am not very good but I tried, so give me an A for effort.
I will end this tale now just remember if I have bored you have only yourself to blame, your letter started me off. Give my best to your dad and mom when you see them and Bill thanks for writing to me.
Take care now
My love to you and your family
Mary Ralph Sherman