Trip to Mexico, Helen Hussey 1886

Hand written Memo transcribed by Duncan Rea Williams, Helen's grandson, 2007

    Our trip to Mexico and California left home Monday morning January 18, 1886 go to Chicago Tuesday morning had breakfast and spent most of the day at the office of the hub association friends and then went to Western Springs stayed all night left Chicago for Kansas City at noon on Wednesday arrived there Thursday morning about 9:00 and stayed until Friday afternoon about 4:00 then came to Topeka and slept in the car went to cousin Samuel Copes to breakfast saw several of our friends and left about 1:00 and arrived in Euphoria about 7:00.  Stayed all night and some went to the Friends Church on Sunday and met some folks that we were acquainted with.  Left there about half past 3:00 and got to Newton half past 6:00.  Went to the Methodist Church and met some folks from Belmont County.  Mr. Lehandler slept in the car and had our breakfast at the Depot Hotel free over 300 people blockaged here waiting for the road to be opened.  Left Newton about noon came right through got to San Juanita for dinner on Tuesday.  Crossed the mountains Tuesday night arrived at Las Vegas, New Mexico about 3:00 a.m.  Went to hot springs had breakfast and looked around got back around half past 10:00 and left at 11:00 for Albequerque.  Got to Glorieta about half past 1:00.  7432 feet high we now begin to descend.  Arrived at Albuquerque about 7:00 stayed long enough to have our train separated part for California and part for Mexico.  We arrived at El Paso about 3:00 in the morning and had our breakfast about 9:00.  Then went up to the hotel with the company looked over the city some crossed the Rio Grande Delnorte into Mexico and looked over the city.  Went back and got dinner stayed at the hotel until evening found out then that we were going to go about 6:00.  We hurried down to the train, got our baggage and went across the river and had it go through the custom house.  All our things were examined past on other _____ in the car.  Had breakfast at Chihauahua dinner at Jimmerrez supper at ______ and breakfast just before we arrived at Jacateras.  We got there about 9:00 and stayed until 1:00 went all over the city – to the Catholic Church, park – got to Aguas Caliertes about 6:00.  Stayed there all night and Sunday morning we went up to see the city.  Visited the park went to a Catholic Church and saw Theresa worship.  They have no seats, all kneel, we then went to the Chie Hot Springs some took baths – came back took dinner at the depot for $25 had a Mexican dinner soup rice duck chicken beef  left about 2:00 for Silao.  Got there about 6:00.  Some went to museum meeting had breakfast at depot an American lady kept the eating house and we had a good meal.  Left for Guanafundo about 8:00 went 14 miles on the cars and about 4:00 on the streetcar.  Visited the park College silver reduction works had dinner at the park went to the Mission school and over the city saw some very nice houses and lovely gardens of flowers.  Went through part of a private house came back and got to Silao in time for supper.  Stayed in the car all night and left the next morning about 8:00 for Mexico City.  Were on the way two weeks and one day before we arrived at Mexico City about 8:00.  Were met by the proprietor of the Humboldt Hotel.  It rained a little that night the next morning was very disagreeable and cold.  The proprietor had to buy and oil stove and kept it by our parlor for us to get warm by.  In the evening we were invited to go to the parlor and visit some of the members of the hotel – Spanish and American and also to see a Mexican dance which was grand so to speak.  Had lovely music met a good many people stayed in Mexico a month spent a week south of the City spent about two weeks at Topeka, Kansas at Copes and had a lovely time.  Then went to Lawrence for a week at woods and on to Chicago.  Walter and I came to Richmond, Indiana for a few days and on to Columbus.  Spent nearly a week there and arrived home on the first day of April, 1886.  Entered Earlham in September 1886 and staid there until the 4 part of March when I had to leave on account of mama’s health.  Stayed home until first of 1888 when I entered school at Providence, Rhode Island and stayed until the last of June.  Went back to Earlham in the fall, came home for vacation, took the measles and had to stay home.  Went to Tennessee and spent the month of March then to Earlham and stayed a week.  Came home again on account of mama’s health and have been here ever since and here I intend to reside 1890.  Still here 91 ditto 92 ditto 93 ditto 94 ditto 95 married October 22, 1895.