Edwin Warfield, Governor of Maryland, wrote this set of letters, to his cousin Thaddeus Crapster. Mr. Warfield and Mr. Crapster descended from several of the Colonial Families of Maryland. All of these letters were on letterhead from the "Fidelity and Deposit Co. of Maryland", whose President was Edwin Warfield at the time these letters were written. The originals are located the Howard County Historic Society in Ellicott City, Maryland. Mr. Richard Warfield Faber Jr found them in April 2000 in the Society's "vault" in four boxes labeled "Crapster Family Papers."
Letter No.1
Baltimore, December 24th, 1890.
Mr. Thaddeus Crapster,
Glenwood, Howard Co., Md.
My Dear Cousin.
I enclose you the old note which I have settled for you at the Patapsco National Bank. As I came down the street this morning, I was thinking of you and if and I could spend some days with you during my trip but I fear that I will not be able to get there.
I am more closely confined now, then I have ever been, and find it impossible to get away for a full day. The details of our rapidly growing business revolves upon me, and are very exacting.
I wish you all very Merry and Happy Christmas, and many returns,
With love to all, I am sincerely yours,
Affectionate cousin, Edwin Warfield
Letter No. 2
Author's Note: On the outside of the envelope is written "Thad Crapster letter, Feb. 1895." This was the only letter that was handwritten by Gov. Warfield. All of the others were typed with Gov. Warfield signing each letter.
My dear Cousin,
It gives me pleasure to inform you that I succeeded in getting Governor Brown to appoint you weigher of the hay for the Western Scales in place of Robt. Sellman who resigned this morning to take a place under Vaudinen. Sellman was in my office early this morning to get his bond for his new place & told me that he would hand Governor Brown his resignation today as weigher of the hay. I at once decided to urge the Gov. to give you the place, as I thought it would suit you. I saw him at once and had a long talk with him & he promised to think over the matter. I saw him again about 6 o'clock & he told me that he would appoint you as he told the newspapers reporters out front. The place pays between $900 & $1000. You can arrange to run it at your home a greater portion of the time. You'll receive official notification from the Gov. You can arrange your bond which is two thousands dollars. I'm going up to Oakdale Saturday on midday training and if you would like to see me there you can come early Sunday morning. We can then talk over matters. With love to Cousin Nellie, and Carrie & I leave you with best wishes.
Yr. relative and friend
Edwin Warfield
Letter No. 3
Baltimore, Jany. 16th, 1897
Mr. Thaddeus Crapster
Glenwood, Md.
My Dear Thad;
Yours of the 13th inst. received contents noted. I have been so busy I had overlooked the fact of the note and knew very well you had some good reason for not returning it. The statement as made up includes simply the amount I paid from time to time when the old notes were taken on. If you remember before you were Weigher of Hay that notes would mature and I would make a payment on account of same, also the interest, which I charged to you so that the items charged in your account were advanced for that purpose. The only reason why I wish to get it in the form of a note at this time is to have the matter closed up so I can put it aside and not bother you with it any more.
Willie Kenly has been here but I have not felt like asking him about the balance due by his brother. The suit which Edward Kenly has against this company has been tried and a sealed verdict returned which will be opened on Monday. He may recover $5000 or $6000 from us for the accident which happened to him in the elevator. I think Willie Kenly should arrange to protect the amount due Aunt Carrie out of this judgment. I would advise you to write to Willie Kenly and asked him what he will do stating that Aunt Carrie owes you for board and is owing the Doctor certain amounts. He will then no doubt write you the position he intends to take in this manner. His address is W. W. Kenly, #289 Fourth Ave., New York, N.Y.
If I can arrange to get up to see you when I come up I will do so. I hope to be able to go to Oakdale one week from to-day and whilst I am up I want to get to see Tracy whom I understand has been sick. I will go up Saturday at mid-day and leave home Sunday in time to see Tracy on my way to the train. if you could drive over I would be glad to see you.
I am sorry to learn that Bracco is out of employment and would be glad to assist him in any way I could to secure him a position but have nothing here that I could offer him. As you are aware I am now taking care of 5 or 6 connections of the family.
Give my best to cousin Nell and my best regards to Ella and Bracco.
Sincerely your relative,
Edwin Warfield
Letter No. 4
Baltimore, June 10th, 1897
Mr. Thaddeus Crapster,
Glenwood, Md.
Dear Cousin Thad.
I have been able to collect from Edwin G. Kenly $8.50 due Mr. Alcock, $26 to Prof. Warfield, $35 due the doctor and $100 for burial expenses. I send herewith check payable to Mr. Alcock which you can hand to him, one for $35 in your name which you can endorse and hand to the doctor. If you hand to him in person you might be able to get him to make a reduction. I also send check for $25 and one for $75 for burial expenses. I understand that the undertaker's bill is about $75. I have made out the checks in this manner so that you can use them in paying the bills.
I regret that I could not get anything more from Ned. He promised, however, that he would write you and send you a check for something on account of what he owed Aunt Caroline. Owing to the fact that his creditors had laid attachments against the amount he recovered from our company the amount he received was barely enough to settle the mortgage that was on his wife's property. He seems anxious to settle the affairs of Aunt Caroline.
I am sorry that I will not be able to get to see you before I go West but when I return I will endeavor to do so. With best wishes, I am
Your relative,
Edwin Warfield
Letter No. 5
Baltimore, Dec. 16, 1898.
Mr. Thaddeus Crapster,
Glenwood, Md.
Dear Cousin Thad:
Your letter of the 15th inst. received.
I'm glad to learn that you are better. Give yourself no concern about the note. I will take care of it and you'd need not worry about it.
If there's anything in the way of medicine you deed, kindly let me know and I will send it to you by Gus. Warfield. Lithia water is said to be very good for your complaint. Ask the doctor if you need any water of that kind.
I'll write to Mr. Tucker at Oakdale and tell him to deliver to your man four pigs, whenever you send for them. It gives me great pleasure to present you with these.
I assure you that I often think of you, and that it is always a pleasure to comply with any request you may have. Do not hesitate to call me whenever I can serve you.
John is giving satisfaction and is very attentive to his duties. Tell Ella that I received her letter and that I sent for the furniture this week. I have not seen it, but will probably do so to-morrow, and will have to have it repaired nicely.
Tell Cousin Nellie that I have not forgotten her promise to give me the try and stand that she has. If I could get it to Baltimore I would have it nicely repaired. It would be so nice to use Oakdale to hand around tea on summer evenings. The last I saw it she had it in the kitchen, and I think it is too good to be used their. If she decides that she can spare it, and your wagon goes to Woodbine some time soon, you can put the enclosed tag on it and let it come down by express.
With best wishes, and love to Cousin Nellie, I am
Affectionately your relative,
Edwin Warfield
Letter No. 6
Baltimore, March 8, 1899.
Mr. Thaddeus Crapster,
Glenwood, Md.
My Dear Cousin Thad:
Your favor of the 7th inst. received, contents noted.
I can fully appreciate how much worried you are about little Nora. We were all very much grieved to know her condition, which was first reported to us on Sunday morning by John calling at our house. We are all very much exercised about her, and I have been keeping in touch with her condition through John.
I will be very glad to do anything I can to aid Ella in the matter, and will see that she is not embarrassed in the matter of money. I sent her some to-day, and will look into the matter of board when they leave the hospital. I feel from what John reports that the operation will be successful, and that she will be entirely relieved from her trouble.
I would go to see Ella, but have been under the weather myself recently. I got to my office Monday, the first time for about a week, and find that it is best to go directly home in the afternoon as soon as my days work is done. I have been going backward and forward each day in a carriage.
I have not been able to get up to Oakdale this winter. I understand that the roads are in awful condition, and really useless. Most likely, I will not be back to Oakdale until spring.
Your Affectionate Cousin,
Edwin Warfield
Letter No. 7
Baltimore, May 23rd, 1899
Mr. Thaddeus Crapster,
Glenwood, Md.
My Dear Cousin Thad:
As you have no doubt heard, I have arranged to give John R. Kenly a complimentary dinner at Oakdale on Saturday, June 10th.
I am going to have as his guests the surviving members of his old company (Company A, First Maryland Cavalry, C. S. A.), together with some of the other Ex Confederates who are within driving distance of my home.
I have received acceptances from forty of his old comrades, and looking forward with anticipations of great pleasure to the occasion.
As you were so closely identified with John's going south, having furnished him with the horse that he rode, and as you know so many of the old Confederates, I am anxious to have you present on that occasion. I, of course, will not extend invitations to anyone outside of the Confederate soldiers, except to you, Cousin E. A. Jones, Tracy and brother Josh. I sincerely hope that you will make it a point to be with us. Bracco will come up with you.
It has occurred to me that if it would be convenient and agreeable to cousin Nellie, I would like her to be there the day before, and be with my sister Alice on the day of the re-union. Of course, there will be no ladies present at the dinner table, but it would be very nice for us to have cousin Nellie with us on that occasion, especially as Emma will be at Atlantic City. I have insisted upon her going to Atlantic City, as she is not quite recovered from her recent illness, and the excitement will be too much for her. She will go down and take Carrie and the baby with her.
Tell cousin Nellie to let me here from her at once so that I can arrange with Alice about going up. I have been trying to get down to see you for some time, but have not been able to do so. I hope that you are improving.
With best wishes, I am
Affectionately your kinsman,
Edwin Warfield
Letter No. 8
Baltimore, December 20th, 1901
Mr. Thaddeus Crapster,
Glenwood, Howard Co., Md.
My dear Cousin Thaddeus:
Your favor of the 17th inst. received and noted.
I can understand fully how you feel in regard to your indebtedness to the estate of Richard Dorsey, deceased. If you remember, we talked this matter over when I last saw you; since then I have had a talk with Daniel Dorsey and stated fully to him the situation. Whilst you are properly anxious to pay in full your obligation to be Dorsey estate, I do not think that your affairs are in condition to justify your doing so. Nothing will give me more pleasure than to come to your aid in this matter, but I do not agree with the view you have taken that you should raise $300.00 to pay him off now.
I think the proper thing for you to do is to arrange some settlement with all of your creditors, and if you leave this matter to me I shall be very glad to bring about a satisfactory settlement. I want to put you in a position so you may be even with the world and make a proper adjustment of your liabilities, so if you will write to Mr. Daniel Dorsey and tell him you have referred this matter to me I think we shall have no difficulty in making satisfactory arrangements.
You may send me the $100.00 which I will hold to use in the settlement I shall make. You, of course, want to put all of your creditors on the same footing; the fact that you have not enough to pay them all now is unfortunate, but you are not the only one who has been placed in such a position. You can rely upon my standing by you and doing all that is right and honorable to protect your interests.
I hope to be able to get up to see you in the near future and will arrange to do so sometime in January.
I trust you may have a very pleasant Christmas, and that you will write and let me know what you think about the above proposition, at an early date.
With best wishes, I am
Sincerely at affectionately your kinsmen,
Edwin Warfield
Letter No. 9
Baltimore, January 27th, 1902
Mr. Thaddeus Crapster,
Glenwood, Md.
Dear Cousin Thaddeus,
Your letter of the 20th inst. just received.
You'll have no trouble in making settlement with Mr. Dorsey along the lines you indicate. I just returned yesterday from New York where I was compelled to remain a week. I hope soon to arrange for my long contemplated visit. I will be busy for the next two weeks, but after then the days will be getting longer and I will notify you when I can come.
Yours very truly, E. Warfield
Letter No. 10
Baltimore, Sept. 26, 1902
Mr. Thad. Crapster,
Glenwood, Md.
My dear Cousin Thad:
Your letter of the 20th inst. just received.
I enclose here with my check for $33.00 which you can hand over to Mr. Cashell in payment for the repairs on your dayton. I understand that the dayton is to be a present from you and myself to Cousin Nella. I think it well for you to make this statement to her so she can know that it belongs to her. I do not claim any title in it whatever. I assure you that I get much pleasure out of arranging this matter.
I saw Dan Dorsey several days ago and hold him that you could not make any further payments upon his claim. He stated that he would not give you any trouble in the matter. I think he realized that he had gotten more than his share. Later on I may be able to fix a definite settlement with him for a small amount.
I am sorry that you are not feeling very well. I hope to get down to see you in a few days.
With love to Cousin Nella, believe me,
Sincerely your friend and kinsman,
Edwin Warfield
Letter No. 11
Baltimore, October 23rd, 1902
Mr. Thaddeus Crapster,
Glenwood, Md.
My dear cousin Thad:
I will not be able to drive down to Walnut Grove on Saturday as I sent you word that I would do. I will be very much occupied at Oakdale and will have to postpone my visit until later on.
Can't you drive up to see me on Sunday. Is very hard for me to get away either on Saturday or Sunday because we have the children home with us. I may take a day off next week and drive down.
Sincerely yours, E. Warfield
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