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| Marion Eugene Tisdale (1871-1914) Cabinet Card c1900 |
Marion Eugene Tisdale wrote this letter to his sister, Lee Tisdale, on March 22, 1901. Marion was the seventh child of Benjamin and Eliza Tisdale. He was born March 21, 1871 when Lee was five years old.
He is listed on the 1900 U.S. Census as living at 403 Spring Hill Avenue in Mobile, Alabama. He was 28 years old, single, living with his older brother Robert Rafael Tisdale and Robert's wife Mary, Maria Theresa Maus (1869-1906), and their two year old son Robert Jr.
On August 15, 1903 Marion married Helen Sturtevant. She was the daughter of Alfred Henry Sturdevant and Harriet Morse of Illinois. In 1898 they bought a house in Whistler, Alabama, just north of Mobile that belonged to the Magee family. The two-story Gulf Coast Cottage was built in 1848 for Jacob Magee (1811-1883) and his wife Mary Eliza Tisdale (1810-1882), older sister of Benjamin Franklin Tisdale. Their daughter Helen met a young man named Marion Eugene Tisdale at a dance in Mobile and brought him home to meet her family. As the wagon pulled up the road to her house he exclaimed, "This is my Aunt's house!"
In 1910 Marion is listed at 43 Old Shell Road in Mobile, Alabama with wife Helen and daughters Hope and Margaret and son Bradford. In 1913 they had another son, Harry Lee.
Marion's grandson, also named Marion Tisdale, wrote in 2004:
"Marion (1) apparently had an early stage brain cancer..." His right eye was surgically removed in an attempt to cure his cancer. "My father, Marion Eugne Tisdale (2) was christened Harry Lee at the time of his birth. Just four and one half months later his father died on Jan 5, 1914 and his name was changed to Marion Eugene shortly thereafter. Since his father died bfore his name was changed he was not a junior." (From a manuscript titled "Some Memories of The Magee Farmhouse" published online but since removed.)
1901 03 22 Marion Tisdale to Lee Tisdale, Typed letter in the Belle Tisdale collection, on United States Engineer Office stationery. Transcribed by Vera Booksh Zimmerman 3 Jun 2013 from copy.
TRANSCRIPTION:
Page 1
United States Engineer Office,
No. 150 St. Francis Street [crossed out]
188 Government Street [typed in]
Mobile, Alabama, March 22, 1901.
Dear Lee:
Your nice little handkerchief case arrived at home yesterday, in good condition, and it was mighty nice of you to think of your old Mobile brother's birthday. The painting is real pretty and well done, but I did not know that was one of your talents. When I received your letter yesterday morning, saying you were sending me something by express, and that you painted it yourself, didn't know what was coming. Like the way it is trimmed up, with yellow, as I am partial to that color for such ornaments. Will fill it with handkerchiefs and let them take in some of that sachet, which is very sweet. After taking out my package, we started to throw the box and stuff away, but in pulling the cotton and paper out, they discovered Robert Jr's little glass. Put it at his place this morning for breakfast, telling who sent it to him, and he was much pleased with it and requested that his new glass be filled with cold milk.
Well, I am now wearing glasses, and the sight in my right eye is growing more dim and obscure instead of improving. The doctor has examined my eye and says he can find nothing apparently the matter beyond a slightly engorged condition of the blood vessels of the retina. Has given me some medicine in the shape of pills to take inwardly, and has placed glasses on me to do the external work, but no improvement has yet resulted. In the meantime
2.
my eye does not pain me. One thing pecul;iar about the business, and the doctor pronounces it an error of refraction, that is, an error in the way objects asre conveyed to my sight, or the reflector in the back of my eye----when I look at any objecvt with the affected eye, for instance a printed word, I can see the words all around it much better than the one looked at. Don't know what will be the final result of it all.
You said not one word about moving, though I specially inquired about this, and you said you would have to move by the 15th. Will send this letter too the old address, as I suppose it will be delivered even if you have secured another dwelling place.
Wrote Willie a long letter yesterday, sending hm one of my photographs, one of those I had taken in New Orleans February 22, 1900. Suppose he will fall in a help [heap] when he receives them, but surprises are in order and I suppose he will stand the shock.
Sorry to hear of May's illness, but it will be pleasant for her to spend a short time at Covington. Think I could enjoy anything of the kind at any time and any place, even at Bay St. John. Don't want to stay in any one place and vegetate and go to seed; going anywhere is better than always remaining in one place, seeing the same objects and people every day. Don't know where I will spend my vacation this summer, but I want to go North again if possible. The people I met last summer are counting on me, and say I must report at Buffalo for the next meeting of the National Shorthand Reporter's meeting.
The latest Mobile & Ohio R. R. news indicate that Cousin Frank, Jake and Steve will retain their positions. Hope this may prove correct, as Cousin Polly has been on the ragged edge ever since this railroad changed hands, fearing it meant a scattering of the family....A traveler of the Mormon faith, a missionary, called at the house today and left some literature pertaining to their faith, &c. Where is Edgar Tisdale living with his new wife, and when did you see or hear of Maud? Have you heard how Eva is?
With much affection to all, I am,
your brother, MARION.
To read more about the Magee Farm see my post of 10 Mar 2018 A Visit to the Magee Farm
