Austin & MITCHELSON
Have just recieved a copy of a LETTER ON SILVER DOLLAR SPOONS as written by Susan Jane (Austin) Pickrell to her daughter Susan Ester (Pickrell) Hite. Both of these women died in sw KS but lived in Logan & Delaware Cos., OH before travelling westward. Can anyone shed some light on this info? Found possible estate record listed in Lake Co., OH for brother Norton. And possible marriage of Syrena in Ashtabula Co., OH.
"Those spoons were given to your grandma Austin when she was 18 years old, by her oldest brother Norton Mitchelson.Her father died and left a family of eight children.Her mother was so prostrated that she could not take care of the children so they were placed among the acquaintances but mother found her place very uncomfortable and wanted to make a change when she got older but Uncle Norton wanted her to stay there where he could see her often.So he told her if she would stay until she was eighteen he would make her a present.
In that time he entered a plowing contest near Hartford, Conn in which he took the prize of six silver dollars which he took to the silversmiths and had them made into teaspoons with the initials S. M. for Susan Mitchelson, her maiden name.She was not married for some time after that, after she had moved to Ohio she was married in Geneva, Ohio, and those spoons were all the
teaspoons she ever had to use in bringing up her family of eight children.She wanted me to have them when she was through with them as I was named for her.Right after her death father told Aunt Sirena to take them home and take care of them.She said she remembered mother saying that I was to have them when she was through with them.
As you was named for her I thought they belonged to you, and if they do as well as they have done they will dofor a family or two yet.If there is anything left of them when you are through with them, I hope Nettie will think enough of them to care for them for my sake and her great grandma."