Klock Letters

Rita Dinser who lives in Sterling Heights, Michigan, sold the letters to Dave Klock. She is not related to the Klock Family. She purchased these letters from the Mohawk Valley about four years ago from an antique dealer in Maine.

The letter below was written Jan. 19 ( unknown year ) but it was postmarked April 6, 1884. I can not be sure the right letters are in the right envelopes. (I have 18 letters) The letters were written to Iantha Klock, some before she was married and some after. She married Charles M. Zoller. The one you have now was written by a cousin Harriet. I do not know who this cousin Harriet is. She may be a cousin on the Bellinger side of the family which I do not have. Iantha's mother was Barbara Ann Bellinger.

Iantha's paternal line is as follows.

Reuben Klock who married Barbara Ann Bellinger
John Bellinger Klock who married Anna Eva Zimmerman
George G. Klock who married Catherine Bellinger
Johanguergh Klock who married Maria Catharine Walrath
Hendrick Klock

Rita was going to list the letters on e-bay and here is what she wrote about them.

Ebay listing: A wonderful set of 18 letters ~ 15 about Montgomery County, New York in the mid to late 1880's written to Iantha Klock Zoller by her cousin, Hattie. There are also three letters to Charles Zoller from his school acquaintances.

The letters to Iantha include informative narratives about the trials and tribulations of early New York Mohawk Valley residents ...such as: a father endeavoring to make his daughter a piano; a boy in town, who makes a swell cut riding his horse; quilting info; marriages and deaths; farming and farmers in the area and the detailed in and outs of The Klock family through the eyes of a cousin Hattie....who incidentally, has an excellent sense of humor and a delightful way of describing others...:

"skin filled to the brim with nick" ...or Hatties' term "matrimourner" used to describe a girl who didn't get married then tried to patch things up with her beau.
"You and Ella Baird can stop fighting over John Serviss he and Em Hubbs were married about three weeks ago."
"I don't have anything interesting to write about myself. It isn't likely anyone wants to know how often I change my shirt. They would be more interested if I were to say I didn't change it at all."

Hattie's ... is very much in favor of women's rights though she never comments directly on the subject.. Instead, she alludes to her independent thinking through her encouragement of Iantha not to have a husband, who would dominate her actions.

Hatties' scolding ... is tender for the most part....but after waiting for sometime for a response to a letter...her angst grows a bit stronger...but still tongue in cheek...."you are getting so particular, should think any body that had a gold pen and pearl holder would want to write everyday."

Hattie is such a delightful character...you can not help but love her.

Rita Dinser


Letter to Iantha Klock Zoller
Date unknown but letter says Jan, envelope says Apr 6, 1884,
mailed from Port Jackson (south side of the Mohawk across from Amsterdam).

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Letter to Iantha Klock
January 7, 1884, Amsterdam NY

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Letter to Mrs. C.M. Zoller, Iantha
Postmarked March 24, 1885

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Letter to Mrs. C. M. Zoller, Iantha
February 3, ????, Port Jackson

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Return to Klock Connections Opening Page.


Letter to Mrs. C. M. Zoller, Iantha
Stamped June 4, ????, Port Jackson

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Letter written April 25, 1887 to Mrs. Zoller. (Sorry, I posted this letter in the size Dave sent them. These are very small and hard to read.)

Envelope

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Letter to Charlie Zoller

Envelope

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Letter to Charles Zoller

Envelope

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Letter to Charles Zoller

Letter to Mrs. C.M. Zoller and is postmarked Nov 9, 1887

Letter to Miss Iantha Klock Written Dec. 20, 1882


Letter to Mrs. C.M. Zoller, Postmarked Port Jackson April 22, 1884

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Letter to Miss Iantha Klock, April 17th 1883

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Letter to Miss Iantha Klock, Feb. 23
Postmarked Feb. 25, 1882 from Port Jackson.

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Letter to Miss Iantha Klock, October 13, 1882 or 1883?


Return to Klock Connections Opening Page

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