The bulk of the letters were written to Lettie C. Hayes Grant by her family: parents Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Grant, her brother O.W. Hayes, and sister Belle Hayes. There are two letters written to Lettie’s husband, Col. Robert P. Grant and four letters written to Lettie’s father, Daniel Hayes, with one letter written to her brother O.W. Hayes. These seven letters, which are not written to Lettie, were also written by the same members of the Hayes family.

Lettie C. Hayes married Col. Grant in 1870, thus the letters mostly deal with the first four years of her marriage when she moved from her family home to live with her husband in Barbours Mills, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, and later in Sterling Run, Cameron Co., Pennsylvania, where she begins to set up her own home and family. Her parents and siblings wrote Lettie from their home in Hawkinsville, Oneida Co., New York, to fill her in on events and occurrences back home and the family news, her siblings, friends, family business, etc. Eventually, Lettie’s father and her husband founded a bank at Clayton, New York, and Lettie and her husband move from Pennsylvania to  Hawkinsville, New York.

Lettie C. Hayes

   Lettie C. Hayes was the daughter of Daniel Hayes (1819-1894) and his wife Isabella W. Love (1827-1899). Lettie’s mother was born in Maine. Her father was born in New York. Daniel Hayes was stated to be “of Hawkinsville,” New York, and well-known for his connection with the farming and business interests of the town. He was born in Oppenheim, Fulton Co., New York. He moved to Boonville, Oneida County, New York, about 1825, living there with his father Joseph Hayes, at their homestead on Hawkinsville Road. He occupied the Haney farm at the opening of the Civil War and later conducted a general store, assisted by his son Oscar Willis Hayes (1853-1934). Daniel Hayes spent some time in Pennsylvania engaged in the tanning business and helped to establish the first bank in Clayton and retained an interest in the bank for the remaining years of his life. The Hayes family had a family cemetery in Boonville, where the members of the family were buried.

    Lettie’s brother Oscar Willis Hayes is found living with parents in Boonville, Oneida Co., New York, in the 1870 Census. He worked as clerk in his father’s general store. He married Emma C. Jones (1856-1935) and had a son Ralph Daniel Hayes (1881-1935), who married Genevieve Dennen (1881-1968). Lettie had one sister, Elinor Belle Hayes (1862-1927), who never married.

     Lettie C. Hayes was born about 1855, lived with her parents and brother in Boonville according to the 1870 Census Records. She was married on September 14, 1870, to Col. Robert P. Grant. Col. Robert P. Grant (1844-1918) was one of the most prominent figures in the financial and industrial life of Jefferson County, New York. He was a founder and cashier for many years of the National Exchange Bank of Clayton, and he was also president of the State Dairy Board of Trade. Colonel Grant was born in Neversink, Sullivan County, New York, May 6, 1844. Together Lettie and her husband had one son, Robert D. Grant, who went on to become executive vice president of the First National Exchange Bank of Clayton.

    Lettie’s husband, Col. Robert P. Grant, namesake of his paternal grandfather, was a second cousin of President Ulysses S. Grant. After leaving school, Grant was employed as clerk in a store. Grant saved enough money to purchase some sheep, adding to his flock from time to time as his increase would permit, until at the end of five years he sold out and found himself in possession of a capital amounting to $500. He then learned the tanner’s trade in which he was employed in 1863, when he temporarily abandoned his work to respond to the call for troops during the Civil War. He enlisted in Company 6, 92^nd Regiment. When the Confederate forces moved up the Shenandoah Valley in the invasion of Pennsylvania in 1864, Capt. Grant participated with his regiment in a movement to the state line. He displayed fine soldierly qualities during his service, and in 1865 he was promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment, although he was its youngest commissioned officer. After his return from military service, Col. Grant, along with two others, purchased the tannery in which he had served his apprenticeship, but a year later he relinquished the business to engage in farming and storekeeping in Neversink.

     In 1869 he removed to Hawkinsville, N. Y., where he conducted a store. In 1871 he went to Cameron County, Pennsylvania, where he bought the bark on a 10,000-acre tract, and also erected a tannery which he operated until 1874. In that year he disposed of his holdings and with a capital of a few thousand dollars went to Fort Madison, Iowa, where in association with State Senator Kent, he founded the Farmers and Mechanics Bank in 1875. The business did not satisfy and he sold his bank stock and came the following year to Clayton, N. Y., where with A. F. Barker he established the Bank of Clayton, which four years later was reorganized under the same name and under the state banking system.

     In 1884 Colonel Grant bought the bank interest and with 50 others organized the Exchange Bank, an institution which under his direction gained success beyond all expectations and afforded opportunity for expansion. In 1897 he brought about its reorganization with 120 stockholders, and on January 1^st following, he placed the bank under the national banking system as The National Exchange Bank of Clayton, with a capital of $50,000 and a surplus at that time of $73,000.

     From the founding of the new bank until his death, Oct. 22, 1918, Col. Grant occupied the two-fold position of cashier and general manager of the institution and was also one of its largest stockholders. He was a member of the National Bankers Association. About 1893 he became interested in cheese manufacturing and was instrumental in the building of several factories in this section. As president of the Watertown Produce Exchange he procured the enactment of various constructive laws. In 1901 his long-continued efforts resulted in the formation of the State Dairy Board, of which he was elected President.

     Colonel Grant was elected supervisor in 1901 but refused the election in 1902 at an entertainment given at Thousand Island Park by Jefferson County to the State Board of Charities. Colonel Grant was chosen by the Board of Supervisors to deliver an address of welcome to the visitors. During his business career Colonel Grant also conducted a large and profitable insurance business at Clayton.

References:

Landon, Harry F. The North Country: A History, Embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin Counties, New York. Indianapolis, IN: Historical Publishing Company, 1932.

Watertown Daily, Watertown, NY, 22 Oct 1918.

Examples of Letters:

“Hawkinsville Sept 26^th ‘70

Dear Lettie,

I received your letter this evening with much pleasure was very glad to hear that you were pleased with the place and with the people. We are all well as usual but it sums very lonesome without you but I suppose we will have to get used to it. Belle misses you very much and says she is going to see you this winter and then stay with you if the Col. Is willing to keep her. Ma has not done anything at her quilt I think she has forgotten how to set herself to work at anything.

I am going to Utica to the State Fair tomorrow or day after Oscar is going Thursday and coming back Friday most of the men from this place are going. Lockwood has bought the Putnam Trotter for $190 most of the stock sold high, one cow sold for $80. I suppose you have not heard that Charley Shafer is dead. James Grindley is moving in the Anderson house. I understand that Mrs. Hulbert is to be the housekeeper and Grindley’s family and George B. Anderson to be boarders. I suppose you are enjoying the Honey Moon if you make as good a wife as I hope and think you will and the Col. Is the man we think him to be you may enjoy it through life.

You will see by my writing this letter at home that I have not started for New York as I intended. You know I was going with Mr. Cole and he cut his knee with an axe and is not able to go but thinks he will be able to go next Monday. We all send lots of love…Yours as ever, Daniel Hayes”

“Hawkinsville Oct 23 1870

My darling,

I am alone, your Father started for NY this morning, Bull is out to play and Oscar is in the store and I am thinking of you. How long it seems since you went away and how lonesome it is without you. I miss you all the time and everywhere and I do hope the time will come when we can go to see each other and not have to travel 300 miles. You did not tell me if the Col. Ever said something about coming home. Oscar is better he took cold and had a slow fever; he looks poor and pale. He got some shoulder brace and is trying to ware…Belle is well and still thinks she will go and see Lettie pretty soon. School commences next Monday Sarah Yerdon teaches. They pay her 8 dollars a week and make a fire every morning. Hiram’s folks are very mad about it you know Ella never liked her. Ezra Hilts has the school at Forest Port this winter. I called on Jen it seemed lonesome. Mrs. Delong lives where Phebe did. Geoff keeps the post office to his house. O. Porter clerks it for Smith’s. I guess he will have to flirt with Mrs. Delong, Helen has to nudge along with her head on a one side all alone. Nickols has hired the new church for one year for 12 dollars we haven’t had trouble enough with that church but they must try it again. I am making a white skirt for Bell are trying to use the small hemmer it bothers me terribly. I made 2 fine shorts didn’t have much trouble with them it is called one of the best. We bought it of Vira Smith cost 55 dollars. Mrs. Smith has been in the place most a week has been to my house most of the time. She looks as young and is a fixy as ever. Oscar likes her most as well as Irwin did. Mrs. Adams is to Hiram’s I expect them here tomorrow. Ed and Elma are round tighter I think it will make a match. Ingersols are going over the river to live on Jim Adams place. Adam has moved to the house where Clark used to live. I hear but very little from Andersons. They are very quiet. I think the girls have broke all the hearts they could find that were kind of cracked but I hope they did not use them up as dose C. Brown says they did Buckley’s. Oscar told you what Brown told him in the store one day and very one seems to know it but I hope it will not get to Louisa…your Mother…”

“Hawkinsville Nov 14^th 1870

My Dear Dear Lettie,

Your welcome letter of the 10^th just is at hand. & I hasten to answer it. I would write oftener but Ma, Oscar & Belle write so often that I cannot find anything that would interest you. We are all well as usual, except you mother her health I think is not as good as when you left although she is doing her own work. I have been to NY and have bought a large assortment of goods about $3000 worth. Tell the Col. I bought $300 of boots, shoes, & rubbers of Schoonmaker at fair prices. All kinds of goods are low except prints. Trade is very fair, I do not see as Smith’s Store makes much difference in my trade. Money seems easy I do not have much trouble in collecting as a general thing of course we have some debts that cannot be collected in the best of times. I bought Ma a paisley shall but she sent it back because it was to light colored and gay to suit her. You say that Mr. Crane is coming there to live and be boss. I do not know what to think of it. Mr. Clark tells me that they want him for boss and he thinks he will go he also said that the Col. Was to have an interest in the tannery. He said the Col. Wrote to him to that effect but the Col. Did not say anything about it when he wrote to me as for Mrs. Crane she was not much liked by her neighbors. I do not think you will like her. You want to know how election went at Hawkinsville, all quiet the Democrats got 20 majority in this district last fall 41 this county went to Republicans by large majority more than we expected. Roberts for Congress had over 1600 majority Capt. Clark 1400 majority and so down to 800 you ask if I ever think I would like to hear some music. I can’t tell you how I would like to h ear you play old or new. I would not care which if only you could play it as for Belle or the rest of us coming out there, I can tell you but little about it you are not in a situation to have us come ever if we could come.

Col. Wanted to know what I thought about the note against C.P. Hayes, why can’t he hold Jonas I think the note good again Charley but his business is rather dull and perhaps he had better collect it once can say he is going into business and needs the money the note is perfectly good now against Charley and I see no reason why it will not be hereafter but can not tell if he wants to collect he can send the note to me and I will get the money for him. Can pay my note at anytime he calls for it.

I want to know how you are enjoying yourself out there if you like it as well as at home give my best wished and regards to the Col. Tell him to write I send you my love as ever from your father Daniel Hayes.”

“Hawkinsville, N.Y., Apr 11^th, 1871

My own dear Col.

I am at home at last, just came. We did not get through as we expected to. The cars were detained first below Elmira 2 hours by another train being broke, which had to be got out of the way, it just made us late all around. We did not get to Binghamton till after 9 o’clock for we were in Elmira till 4; stayed in Bing overnight came to Syracuse this morning as we would have had to wait till 2 o’clock to come on the new R. Road, so we came to Syracuse in the 8 o’clock train when I came to Utica, Pa was on the train, so I did not have to come up alone. They were all very much surprised to see me. Clark stayed in Utica is going down to see Dr. R. tomorrow. Everyone seemed very glad to see me, or I suppose sought to be very happy, but Col. I shall never be satisfied till you come. I haven’t been very well since I cam away but will be alright after a bit, as the Penna people say. If I had got home a few days sooner I should have seen Len & Louise they have been here a day or so now but went back this morning. It has rained nearly all day today, made it very disagreeable. The snow is all gone and things look much better than I expected to find them. It is late & I am very tired, so I will stop scribbling, will write again soon, expect a letter from you Mon.

Yours with much love, Lettie”

“Hawkinsville Oct 22^nd ‘71

Col. R.P. Grant

Sterling Run, Pa

My Dear Son,

Your letter of the 18^th Inst rec’d and found us all well. The G.B. Anderson note all right, I sent it over by Oscar and had him sign it and took it to the bank and had them charge the bal to Andersons act. We all went to Mrs. Allegers wedding had a good time, the company was not as large as expected in consequence of the weather, which was very raw and cold. I suppose Mrs. Hayes gave Lettie all the particulars with regards to the present you wanted ma to give to Mrs. Alleger. She will do so if you think best but I think it unnecessary to give her anything. I do not think she expects it as you are so far away and we gave her enough for all she done for you and us at the wedding but if you prefer it write to that effect and we will get the present for her.

I am at work at the store but do not make much progress; do not think I shall be able to get it ready for my goods this fall. We find much more to do there. I expected and it is work we cannot hurry very much can only one or two work at a time.

I have not yet been to New York after goods but think I shall go some time this week. Today the weather is very fine and pleasant, warn as summer. I am writing in my shirt sleeves without fire in the house. Two weeks tomorrow morning Sterry Simonds rode a very fine sorrel horse into Hawkinsville, said he has bought him and his mate would be here in a few days. On Wednesday he drove him by the side of one of Jay’s, the next hand bills were sent from Rome describing the horse and offering $25 reward for the horse and the same for the thief, Thursday night Sheriff Davis and several others staid in my store till about 10 o’clock went from there to Jays barn found the horse and Jay sleeping in the barn watching the horse. Said he would shoot any man that took the horse but they took the horse went to Goudy’s found Sterry in bed with Goudy’s sister. Sent for Mr. Brainard who identified the horse. Sterry then swore out a warrant for one Snell back of Rome, said he bought the horse of him. Jay signed his bail bond for $1000 but instead of appearing against Snell he run away and on Snell being arrested that he had the buggy stolen from Sam Mybach of Forest Port and the horse of Henry Denslow in his possession, which Sterry stole sometime this summer and sold to Snell. They have got their property by paying about all they are worth and Jay will have to pay the $100.

Give my love to Lettie, your Father Daniel Hayes”

“Hawkinsville Apr the 7 ‘74

My dear children,

It is Mon evening and cold enough for Dec the snow was six inches deep this mor and very cold. Sleighs are running again. Mrs. Snyder staid with me all the evening.

Tuesday evening it was real pleasant all day and the snow is most gone. We received your letter today and how glad we would all be if Col. Could come and stay but we have learnt long ago that we can’t have everything as we would wish to. Why don’t they get a Tanner down there? Mr. Balls brother is here now to get a place at Moose River. Oscar tells me that place or the inhabitants have changed a good deal, says Col has perfect controls of eh men and every thing else. All of the leaders have left. I hope they never will return. Laurey Good was in the store today inquiring about the place. Went on to tell what he knew when he was there. He knows who was to blame for the actions as well as we do. They come very near killing Col. And if you hadn’t been tougher than I thought you was you never could have lived through it but you and Col. Have one comfort you done your duty.

Thursday your Pa and Oscar went to Charly Thorp to look at oxen and a horse they locked the store so that Oscar could see the horse they did not buy either one yet he has got to put an ox team on the farm. I cut Bell’s calico suit cut it redingote.

Fri it snowed over a foot last night. Delarmi and Smiths have moved the Drs. wanted the house by the store but Jen could not live so near a hotel she said and it was rented to Andrew Alexander and the other one to Ez Murry. They had a dance over to Bill Wheeler’s last night they were a rough set that went over. Your Pa told Bill that it must bee the last one George Wood takes Penny Wheeler to everything there is going on Will Hilts goes to Roots as much as Fred did.

Saturday and just as cold and stormy a day as we have had this winter. Mrs. G. Root came in early this morning wanted to know if I had heard anything from Utica. I had not, she said she had just been told that Kate Nugee had run away with a married man that is all I know about it but I am afraid there is some truth in it and if there is Ann will go crazy.

Miss Green has a concert at Forest Park tonight. Fred took Emma Jones, Rome Put took Busty. I don’t think there was any others went from here. Your Pa bought a pair of cattle today paid 182 dollars. Don’t worry about the coal stove it is all safe. Clarissa Bonfield was married this evening to Mr. Swallow, the conductor of a freight train between Albany and NY, the one that let Hiram and Bonfield go through for nothing. Lewis married them…

Sunday we all went to meeting. Wightman will preach once more this year; the minister has just been here we have paid him up for this year. We all went to church again in the evening, the president of the Protestant Church preached, Chaise helped him and such a roaring. Love to all…. Your Mother.”