In 1878, Thomas G. Moses and Ella Robbins were inseparable as they made plans for a fall wedding. Moses wrote that they spent all of their spare time together planning for the future. He continued to work as a scenic artist, starting the year with an advertising drop that led to some scenery for a “barn storming company.” Soon he was employed to decorate Sterling’s Academy of Music and paint all of the scenery.
During this time, his father actively worked against him to discourage clients from hiring him, especially the owner of the Academy of Music. His father even explained to the owner of the venue, Mr. Tracy, that Moses was “too young for such a big job.” Fortunately, Tracy responded that he had “full confidence” in his ability to do the work. In the end, Moses worked all summer at the Academy in addition to completing a small number of other painting projects.
It is one thing to disapprove of a child’s career course, but another entirely to try and undermine it. After having read the thoughtful and loving notes sent to Moses by his father after first moving to Chicago, I was confused. What had happened? Initially, he had the support from his family, receiving the trunk of clothes and his first diary. This goodwill seemed to have vanquished. Moses’ typed manuscript paints an entirely different picture of his father from the few handwritten notes contained at the Harry Ransom Center. Could it the increased hostilities between Moses and his family a result of his stepmother? Moses recalled when she first arrived, writing, “We figured a new Mother would not be so cross. When she arrived with the girls, and gave us a “once over,” I felt in my bones that we had got in a cinch.” Later he added, “When the new Mother took charge of affairs, there were many radical changes made. Many of them made my young life a burden, and had a strong influence on my whole life, and also kept my nose to the grindstone.” This situation would be made worse after viewing his birth mother’s sketchbook. He had lost a fellow artist before he even realized that he would become one himself. Despite any ill feelings, Moses returned to Sterling in 1878 and attempted to carve out a career as an artist in this small town.
That summer, Ella moved into town from Robbins Range, accepting work as a dressmaker with Mrs. Wilson. Meanwhile, Moses boarded at the family home of his good friend Will Tuller, eventually moving later to the Galt House after extending relations of the Tullers decided to visit.
Of this period, Moses wrote, “Ella and I spent all the spare time we had planning for the future. We had our little home all spoken for and a list made up for the furnishing. Those were indeed happy days. After all we had both gone through, for Ella had a hard time on the farm – nearly five years of hard work, cooking for a bunch of “hobos” that was composed of a dozen farm hands, if not more. We agreed to start housekeeping very quietly and not try to make a splurge. Mrs. Robbins assisted as much as she could. Our little cottage had plenty of ground to stand on an all kinds of fruit. We had everything that was necessary to make us comfortable and happy.”
The couple was married on Thursday, October 31st, 1878. Moses recalled the ceremony, writing, “I left town about noon, arrived at Robbins Range at 3 o’clock. We were married at 4 o’clock. After a fine dinner we left for town and our little home. We found a nice warm fire to welcome us. Everyone seemed pleased, except my Father.” After the wedding Moses had very little scenery to paint, but his work at the Academy put him “on the list.” He wrote, “Father heard so much praise of my work that he finally weakened and we called the old score off and ‘we lived happily ever after.’”
They managed to meet their expenses the first year of marriage, but it was a “hand to mouth existence.” During the spring of 1879 Moses secured painting work to decorate a church in Tampico, Illinois. He intensely disliked working for churches. His feelings did not stem from the artistic compositions or the denomination’s theological stance. It was the people. Moses wrote, “My experience with Church Committees, of all denominations, was such that I almost promised myself never to enter another Church. I found a lot of dishonest men that were pillars of the church and naturally I looked upon them as good Christians, and their word should have been as good as their bond.”
To be continued…
