Dear Sister and Brother.

Helen Augusta (WOOD) STAGE, my great-grandmother.
Albert Jackson "Bert" STAGE, Helen's husband, my great-grandfather.

  i will try and answer your kind and welcome letter.  was glad to hear from you.  was sorry to here

Nellie got hurt.

Nellie Avis (STAGE) RUPPEL, my maternal grandmother.
No idea the nature of the injury.

  hope she is all right now.  i would answered sooner but have been working at the factory.   just quit Saturday.  they have got to stealing to much for me.  they counted me out of 14.36 cans on pay day so now they can labill their cans their self for all of me.  they will be all this week yet.  we are all well now. 

Pa

John Albert STAGE.

have been real sick. 

Stella

Viola Estella "Stella" (STAGE) BARBEE.

is working for THORNTONs.  she was home from Saturday till Monday.  i am stouter than a mule this summer but i dont get fat.  i weigh 95 lbs.  i have got lots of sewing to do.  i have got a quilt to quilt for

Cora.

Cora (FUNK) STAGE, wife of John E. STAGE.

  a henrietta cloth for me.  i have made my old black over.  it is just lovely.  got 2 red waists  one blue and got my underwear to make.  are makeing a dress over for mollie POLLING.  have made 3 aprons.  Stella is going to Columbus next week and get her a black dress and a light dress.  then i will have mor sewing.
Crick DAVIS is dead.  Clint BELTRANDs Wife is dead.  so's Ola WHEELER & Mollie WINFOUGH   Clara WANDELL.  you had ought to see Stella.  she is the fattest thing you ever saw.  she cant hardly wear any of her dresses.  she was in misera a Sunday.  i would like to see you all.  i have lots of fun here.  i got to a dance about once a week.  last Saturday night i was at the hall.  i mad my black dress over for that.  i put a pink bosom and collar and lapells of black and edged with the pink.  then round the pink bosom and collar i put jet.  on the ruffle i put a narrow fold of pink.  i will send you some of what i have made.  and when i make the rest i will send you some of them.  i cant think of much to rite as i am looking for company this evening.  i am writing in such a hurry i dont know whether you can read it or not. 

Cora gave Johnie

Cora (FUNK) STAGE, wife of John E. STAGE.
John Emerson STAGE|WILLOUGHBY, nephew living with Andy and Clara WILLOUGHBY as adoptive son.
His birthday is October 21. If we assume Ida started this letter in August and finished it in November this works. He would have turned 5 in October 1894.

What we don't know is if this is a transcription error. "Cora" and "Clara" could look very similar.

a suit of clothes and a cap for his birthday.  he looks cute in pants. 

Clara and Andy

Clara Angeline (STAGE) WILLOUGHBY, Ida's sister.
Andrew Thomas WILLOUGHBY, Clara's husband.

Minnie came up here two weeks ago last Friday night and we all went to Columbus Saturday.  they got

finley

Finley Clark WILLOUGHBY.

a suit of cloths and a overcoat.  they got

the Childrens pictures taken.

At this point Andrew and Clara were parents to Finley, John and Cecil WILLOUGHBY.

It is unclear if John is living as a son or a nephew at this point.

 well i will close for this time hopeing to hear from you soon.  from Ida STAGE to her Sister Helen STAGE.  goodby.  love to you all.  tell

Tessie and Nellie

Tessie Viola (STAGE) DARCY.
Nellie Avis (STAGE) RUPPEL, my maternal grandmother.

i would like to see them.  P.S. this is Wednesday and i will finish my letter but i am sorry to tell you that Pa is sick in bed again.  

i am oneasy about him.

She may have been "uneasy" but he hangs on until 1914.

 he has such a pain in his side.  here is some of my five cent Calico.  the silk was 98 (or 68?)  cts a yd and the beads 38 cts a yd.