Martha Angel, aka M.A.

I believe the "M.A." who exchanges letters with Grace, is Martha Angel of Detroit.  I have some postcards that Martha sent to Grace so I have some proof that they did write each other. 

Martha is about the same age as Grace.  I am not sure how they met.  When I read in Grace's diary of something "confidential" relating to Martha, I immediately checked census records to see if Martha suddenly had a baby "sister".  But she didn't.  So I don't have a clue as to why Grace and Walter Hatch would have been talking about Martha.  It doesn't seem to have been anything too scandalous, because later when Grace marries Earl Derham on 9 August 1910, Martha Angel has traveled to Corunna from Detroit and acts as Grace's witness.   Two months later, Martha marries August Ostrowski in Detroit on 18 October 1910.  Her witness is a girl from Detroit - not Grace.

Wednesday, September 30, 1908

Walter up in evening to talk about Martha and see the pictures of us 4.

Friday, September 18, 1908

Mama took Meal downtown in a.m. and stayed all day.  Mertie came home with Mama and stayed all night.  Walter Hatch came up to talk about Martha.  Quite confidential.

Wednesday, September 9, 1908

Walked all over Flint to see the factories and asylum.  Toward evening we took the train for home.  Met Walter H. at Durand.  He had been visiting Martha for 4 days.  I went to Belle's while Earl got his horse to take me home.  Got in bed at 12 o'clock.

Sunday, August 9, 1908

Baked bread, 2 cakes, made ice cream and everything else in a.m.  Walter Hatch drove up before we had even combed our hair.  Earl rowed up.  We 4 went down to Chilt's woods and took our suppers.  "Martha's mouth."  "Slams."  "I've got an idea."  Ha! Ha!  Earl and I rowed downtown and the others drove.  Came home around by Hope's.  Earl and Martha kept us awake alright.

Friday, August 7, 1908

We all went downtown to "Homecoming" and took our dinner to the park.  Saw Walton and he hung around us all p.m.  "Darned fool."  We stung him good after supper.  Walter H. was with us all during the fireworks and helped us hitch up our horse.  "Rubber."  Went to the ball game in p.m.  St. Charles - 2 and Corunna - 14.  Ice cream, candy, and merry-go-round.  Ha! Ha!  Got home at 10:30.