Transcription:

Take this letter to my; mother. far across the deep blue; sea. it will fill her hard [heart]; with pleasure she will be; glad to hear from me.; how she wept when last; we parted. how her hard [heart]; was was fild [filled] with pain.; When she said. goodby; God bless you we may; never meet again............

take this letter to my mother; it will fill hard [her heart] with joy; tell her that her prayers; are answered. God protects; her little boy. tell her to; be glad and; cherful. pray for me
wherer i roam and ere; long ill turn my footsteps; back towards my dear old; home.

[?] month[?] $12; Mister Joseph Voisin; commenced to work the; 4 [?] of April [?] 1877; H. Otterb[?]; Hawksville Ont

Transcription:

Joseph Voisin is my; name and my pen; wriets the same the; grass is green and; the rose is red; and that is my; name if I am; dead Amen
* *
Joseph Voisin; Township of; Humberstone; Netherby PO; Ont 1875 19 November

Transcription:

first lade [lady] turn; the right left hand; partner turn once; round the lade [lady] in; the center on 7 hands; ladies all forward; in the center reties [retires]; gents forward in; the center retire; ladies forward in; the center goin home; circle to the left once; round gents goins home; on circle to the right; on the out side; the same time; Joins hands an form

baskied[basket?] Ballence [balance]; in baskied[?] prominade in; Baskied[?] Ballance [balance] to corners; turn corner grand right; an left half way take; your partner prominade; one an a half to places

Transcription:

Nottawa March
the 23th 1884

Dear friend Mary

I Will take the greatest Pleasure To Write you a few lines to let you know that i am Well yet At present and I Hope My few lines Will find you in The same state as it leaves Me. I promised you that I would Write you a letter.

But you Must excuse Me if I Make Mistakes. I am not used to Write Much and I Was up all Night and played to a indian Dance.

I played to three Dances since your gone.

I think that We Will Have a Big time again

[page 2]
After Easter John gebford He is Building a new Kitchen on his house. He says he is going to give us a good Dance he Will have lots of room. Dear Mary I Wish you would come up till that time.

I would like to have you here. I Can’t injoy my self unless I Can Be with you.

I didend injoy my self yet To Dances With you. I always got to play.

But the same time I think More of you then of anney other girl that I ever seen yet I think your farther he is going to Leave us. In about two weeks he is going to orogon.

[page 3]
But if he goes to Orogon and if He likes it there he Will Move out there and then i will Sell out here and go along. I told your farther that i was going to Marrey You till Next fall and if he goes away he wouldend Be to the wedding. He told me that we could Marrey anney time when we are redy if he is here or not he said that he will look for a place for Me two then i will Sell my place and then we will all go together. [I’m not] going to stay [here if] your folks Moves away. I Haven’t got anney friends Here except you.

I Know lots More yet But I Can tell it Better to you if you Come again.

[page 4]
So I Will Close my writing for this time.

And i will send my love And Best respects to you.

Please Answer me this letter So that i know Wether you got it or not. I Wouldend like it if Somebody else would [gited].

My [pen] is poor
And My ink is frail
And my love to you
Shall never fail

This letter Comes from your Beloved friend Joseph Voisin to my Beloved friend Mary Ann Yuncker

Good Bye

Transcription:

From the school records of District No. 4, Nottawa Township.

In 1883, it was voted to build privies to be 4 ft. by 6 ft., and 6 ft. high, of good lumber and No. 2 shingles, and built in good workmanlike manner.

In 1885, the fence was to be repaired: boards off to be replaced with good lumber, and nailed with ten-penny nails, nine in each board, short caps on each post, and nailed with 6 ten-penny nails in each cap. The job was let to Joseph Voisin at $4.00.

Transcription:

Irma Margareta Voisin Born; April 12 1886
Irma Margareta Voisin was Born; April 12 1886
Henrietta Caroline was Born; November 28th 1888
Edward Antony Was Born; March 15 1890
John Ernest Voisin was Born; February 15 1893
Louis E Voisin Born; November 7th 1894
Herman Samuel Voisin; was Born June 27th 1897
Ernest Joseph Born April 29 1900
Arthur Born May 11th 1902
George John was Born; September 12 1904
Willie Joseph Born April 19; 1906
Elvin John Joseph Voisin; Born May 8th 1910

Bitters is an alcoholic solution of bitter and aromatic plant extracts used as a tonic. On this page from his journal, Joseph Voisin listed two recipes for bitters.

Bitters in a 1/2 gallon
Whiskey 2 oz
Juneberberries
1 oz kalmus

In this recipe Juneberberries is likely a misspelling of juniper berries, which produce an acrid oil commonly used in gin and liqueurs. Kalmus is an old spelling of calamus, which is often used to stimulate appetite and digestion, although it is known today to be a carcinogen. So this is probably a recipe for a stomach tonic.

In the next entry we learn Joseph served on jury duty on September 8, 1891 at 9:00 am:

Jury 8th September 1891
9 clock forenoon

In 1892 there was substantial flooding and Joseph was not able to plant corn until June 13:

1892 flood year
Plantet corn 13 of June

The next entry appears to be a financial accounting. Joseph owed 50 cents on an order for $3.00 bed springs and 17 cents on a spectacle case. The left column summarizes his debts, 67 cents. On the right, a bottle of pain killer medicine cost 50 cents, to which he added the $0.67 due from the left column, for a total of $1.17.

due 50
speck case 15
[?] 2
67

[?]sslls
Paid January 30th 1896
A 3 Doller order for bed spring
there is due[?] 50¢
and 17 cts for speck[?] case
Bought in 1897 one Bottle
Pain killer ...... 50 cts
67
---
117

Finally Joseph gives another receipe for bitters. Kargon is an unknown ingredient. He may have meant tarragon, which is used as an appetite stimulant. Or, perhaps he meant carob, which is used for diarrhea, or indigestion and heartburn.

( Bitters )
Fluid Extract Dandelion
one Half ounce
Compound Kargon one ounce
Compound syrup sarsaparilla
3 oz
Shaking well in Bottle
take a tea spoon ful after
each meal and at Bed time

Transcription:

Last Will of Joseph Voisin of Nottawa Township, Isabella Co., state of Michigan

Know all men by these presents, that I Joseph Voisin of Nottowa [sic] township, Isabella County, state of Michigan, being now of sound mind and memory and mindful of the uncertainty of this life, do hereby make, publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following:

Article I

I direct that my just debts and funeral expenses be first paid.

Article II

All of my estate, real, personal and mixed, of which I shall die possessed, or to which I shall be entitled at my decease, and wherever the same may be situated, I do hereby give, devise and bequeth to my beloved wife Mary Voisin of Nottowa [sic] township, Isabella County, state of Michigan, to have and to hold the same to her and her heirs and assigns, absolutly [sic] and forever.

Article III

I hereby nominate and appoint as Executor of this my will A. F. Zugelder of Nottawa township, Isabella Co. Mich.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 29th day of May, in the year of our Lord, One thousand nine hundred and sixteen (1916)

/s/ Joseph Voisin (seal)

We hereby attest, that the foregoing instrument, consisting of two sheets of paper, was at the date thereof, in our presence signed, sealed and declared by Joseph Voisin, the above named testatrix, to be his last Will, and we have at his request and in his presence, where he could and did see us sign and in the presence of each other, signed our names as witnesses thereto this 29th day of May A.D. 1916.

Wittnesses:

/s/ A. F. Zugelder of Beal City, Mich.
/s/ Laura Yuncker of Beal City

[Fr. Zugelder was the parish priest at St. Philomena. Laura Yuncker was Joseph’s sister-in-law.]

Transcription:

<B>Beal City

</B>Joseph Voison, one of the first settlers at Beal City, died Friday, June 2d, after a long sickness. He leaves a wife, two daughters, both married, and nine sons. The oldest son is married and lives at Mt. Pleasant. The funeral was held Monday at 9 o'clock from St. Philomena's church.

John and Lue [Lou] Voison from Detroit came out to the funeral of their father Monday. Arthur Yuncker and wife and son from Grand Rapids came to attend the funeral; also L. W. Yuncker from Saginaw.

Transcription:

<B>Nottawa

</B>Joseph Voison died Friday noon after a long illness at the age of fifty-eight years. He leaves a wife and ten children. Funeral services were held from St. Philomena's church Monday morning at 9 o'clock. John and Louie Voison of Detroit, Louie Yuncker of Grand Rapids and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Yuncker of Saginaw were present at the funeral.

Transcription:

State of Michigan, The Probate Court for the County of Isabella In the Matter of the Estate of Joseph Voisin, Deceased. A true and perfect inventory of all the real estate, goods, chattels, rights and credits of said estate, to-wit:

W 1/2 of E ½ of SW 1/4 of Section 22 N.R. 15 W. [T15N R5W]: $4000
3 horses: $400
4 cows, 3 calves: $250
200 hens and chickens: $100
2 sheep: $10
2 wagons, 1 sleigh, 1 buggy: $75
1 scraper: $15
1 mower: $10
1 plough, 1 harrow and other small farm implements: $25
[initial inventory lists 1 rake]
harnesses: $40
12 pigs: $100
Saving deposit in Weidman, Mich.: $100
Total: $5,125

Auricular fibrillation is irregular and rapid contractions of the auricles of the heart working independently of the ventricles. Cardiac decompensation is failure of circulation.

Mrs. Mary Voisin

Beal City, Dec. 4—Relatives and the community of Beal City were shocked Thursday morning by the sudden death from a heart attack of Mrs. Mary Voisin.

Mrs. Voisin had walked about a half a mile to visit a neighbor and it was there she was stricken, her family was notified, and she was rushed to Mt. Pleasant by ambulance and taken to the home of a son where she died at 3:45 o’clock Thursday morning.

Mrs. Voisin was born in Westphalia, October 31, 1866, and was married in Mt. Pleasant by Rev. Father McCarthy, February 16, 1885. She lived at the homestead in Beal City for 65 years. She was the mother of nine boys and two girls, two of whom have preceded her in death John and Art of Detroit. Surviving are Edward, George, Herman, Ernest of Mt. Pleasant. Willard Voisin, Lansing. Elwin [Elvin], at home. Lewis, Detroit, two daughters, Henrietta and Irma, Beal City; 36 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Laura Keiffer of Beal City; and three brothers, John Yuncker, Los Angeles, Cal., Henry Yuncker, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Lewis Yuncker, Saginaw. Rosary will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at the farm home in Beal City.

Funeral services will be held Monday morning at 9 o’clock at the Saint [Philomena] church in Beal City, with Rev. Father Zugelder officiating at requiem mass. Burial will be in the Beal City cemetery. Joseph Rush in charge.

Transcription:

Elvin J. Voisin

Funeral services were held this morning at 10 a.m. from the Sacred Heart Catholic church for Elvin J. Voisin, 39, who died May 22 at his residence 512 East Broadway. Mr. Voisin was found dead in bed. Death was attributed to a heart disorder by county coroner Dr. C. M. Baskerville. Burial was in Calvary cemetery. J. J. Rush was in charge of arrangements.

Abstract:

Date of Record: February 17, 1885.
Joseph Voisin, 27, white, of Nottawa Township, born in Canada, occupation farmer.
Mary Ann Yuncker, 18, white, of Nottawa Township, born in Michigan, occupation ___.
Married: February 16, 1885 by Rev. James McCarthy, Catholic priest.
Witnesses: Henry Vogelsong and Rosa Yuncker, both of Nottawa Township.
--Marriage records, Isabella County, Michigan, Vol 2, 1867-1887, p. 77, #1146.

Transcription:

Joseph Voisin - Jan 10, 1858
Mary Yunker - Oct 1866
Married in Mt. Pleasant - St. Charles Church
by Rev. Father McGarty [McCarthy]
Feb 16th 1885