Amanuensis Monday: Emily Louise Norman Palmer

This postcard and letter were written by Emily Louise Norman Palmer.  Emily was born 1867 in Ohio, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Fenner Norman. Her mother died when she was about five. Her father remarried in 1873. Emily's family moved to Tennessee about 1887. She and her husband William Joseph Palmer moved to Washington in 1909, with their two daughters, Florence and Ruby.

Florence Palmer, age 13, 1903

A post card from Emma to Mr. Thos Norman from Wenatchee, Washington March 16, 1909:

Dear Father and Mother,
We had a fine trip out here.  It is a great fruit country.  So far we like it but haven’t got beautiful yet.  Just as quick as we get settled will write a long letter.
With love,
Emma

Emma wrote the following to her family after learning of the death of her father, Thomas Norman. Her stepmother Emily Buffington Skidmore Norman had died in 1915.
The postmark of this letter is December 23, 1918, Wenatchee, Washington
Addressed to Mr and Mrs William Norman,  Comfort, Tennessee
Wenatchee, Wa.
Dec-22-1918
My Dear Brothers and Sisters
I have delayed writing this letter all together too long but at first the disappointment was too great.  I just could not and have had to work very hard and then I got sick but am feeling better now.  I had always thought I could get to see the folks while they were here but it wasn’t to be.  I could have gone but for my husband being taken so sick with asthma and we had to come to a dry climate.  No one thought he would live to get here but he has got better all the time.  But just the same it means to stay here as he would be just a bad if we leave here. But that wasn’t all.  We lost all our money the first year we came here in a bad investment and had to start all over again and was just getting where I could think about it again but it was too late.  I have tried to find out where he was but all I ever heard was that he was at Will’s and do you know I did not know where you lived until Mame sent the telegram Lena sent.  Please write and tell me all about him.  I know he was contented with you.  Lena said he liked you so well.  I was looking at your fine family yesterday when it came over me that they must be young ladies.  Now please tell me all about them and Lillie the sister I have never seen.  Where is she and how much of a family has she .  Are you having the flue bad down there.  I hope not.  It is a bad thing.  It is quite bad here but we stay right at home.  We have snow on the ground.  I expect you have warm weather down there yet.  We have a fruit farm and raise apples.  We had three thousand boxes this year.  It cost us a thousand dollars just to harvest them.  Help was so scarce and high.  Mostly women now since the war started.  I worked all through it and worked too hard I guess.  Now please write and tell me all about yourselves and the rest of the family.  Where is Loren and how many children has he.  Did you see sister Mame when she was in Alabama.  Well I must close.  With love to you all from your sister.
Mrs. W. J. Palmer
Wenatchee
Fifth St.
Chelan Co.
Washington

Emily lived in Washington until her death December 20, 1950. Her husband passed away in 1949. I pray that she was able to see her family again.