This collection contains 7 letters that James Raymond wrote to his cousin, James Winch of Templeton, Massachusetts, about his life in Ridgefield and Monroeville, Ohio, in the early to mid-19th century. In his first 2 letters, Raymond shared information about the area of Ohio where his family had settled. He described prairies that were suited to grow crops such as corn and hemp, predators such as rattlesnakes and wolves, the economic effects of canals in New York and Ohio, and religious customs in Ridgefield (February 9, 1825, and May 14, 1826). His letters also provide news about family members, especially his siblings.
Raymond wrote 5 letters from August 6, 1854-December 5, 1858, informing his cousin about his life, his health, and his family members. Though poor health prevented him from performing heavy labor, he often wrote about farm work and his crops, which included wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes. Raymond also commented on political issues, particularly party politics in Ohio during the 1856 presidential election. He discussed the Locofocos, Whig Party, Know-Nothing Party, Democratic Party, and Republican Party, and mentioned issues such as the Kansas-Nebraska Act, tax increases, and slavery.
James Raymond was born in Shutesbury, Massachusetts, on December 25, 1796, the son of Thaddeus Raymond and Keziah Winch. His siblings were Simon (1794-1850), Olive (b. 1799), Silas (b. 1803), Nancy (b. 1806), Sally (b. 1810), and William (1812-1850). The Raymond family moved to Ridgefield, Ohio, in the early 19th century. James Raymond married Rachel Fletcher (d. 1844) in 1824 or 1825, and they had five children, including Lewis, William, and Mary. The two eldest sons moved to California in the early 1850s; the younger sons lived in Michigan and Wisconsin. In December 1844, following his wife's death, Raymond married Mary Ann Barry, a widow with three children from her previous marriage: Virginia, Josephine, and William. They had a son, who died young. James and Mary Ann Raymond later lived in Washington, Ohio.