Like the first letter to his sister, Parthenia Parr Calhoon, William Albert Calhoon was writing from his hospital room in Cairo, IL. The second letter, addressed to his brother Joseph MC Calhoon was also dated 5 July 1889. Suffering from “consumption” William Albert Calhoon had been hospitalized in Cairo, IL after spending five months under medical care in St Louis.
Ltr from Wm Albert Calhoon to Joseph MC Calhoon 5 July 1889 (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)
According to the letter, William Albert had not heard from his brother Tom. He had received a letter from his brother George. In that letter from George, he learned that his sister Parthenia had been to Cincinnati on the Stockdale. The Stockdale was the steamer officially named the Katie Stockdale which was the signature boat of the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Packet Line, owned by Jackman T Stockdale and Thomas S Calhoon, and commanded by Thomas S Calhoon.
Another person from home named Dora was also in Cincinnati. Her trip was on the steamer Batchelor. I do not know Dora. According to the 1870 census, Isadora Winch who was the same age as Parthenia Parr Calhoon, lived with the Charles Calhoon family. Maybe she was Dora. The Batchelor was the steamer CW Batchelor which was piloted at that time by George WE Poe. George WE Poe, son of Jacob Poe, lived in The Poe House. The connection between Parthenia Parr Calhoon and George WE Poe was The Poe House. Parthenia Parr Calhoon also lived in The Poe House with the Jacob Poe family.
In this letter all five children of Joseph MC and Parthernia Parr Calhoon are mentioned:
(1) Thomas Franklin
(2) George Washington
(3) William Albert
(4) Joseph MC
(5) Parthenia Parr
These children had been orphaned after their father died in Alton, IL in 1855 and their mother died a few years afterward. George W Ebert was the court assigned guardian of the five children. Twins, Parthenia and Joseph MC, lived in The Poe House; the three older boys, George, Tom, and William Albert, lived in the Eberts home according to the 1870 Census..
William Albert Calhoon did recover in Cairo, IL so that he could travel to Georgetown, PA where he died on 25 Oct 1889.
Tags: georgetown, steamboat