Search

This collection is made up of 8 letters that Constance and Samuel C. Lewis wrote to his mother, Elizabeth Lewis of Springfield, Pennsylvania, about life in Iowa in the late 1850s. They commented on farm work, their sons, and their health.

This collection is made up of 8 letters that Constance and Samuel C. Lewis wrote to his mother Elizabeth Lewis, of Springfield, Pennsylvania, about their life in Iowa in the late 1850s. Constance wrote regularly to her mother-in-law from September 9, 1858-November 27, 1859, while living in Trenton, Iowa. Samuel contributed to 3 of his wife's letters. The Lewis family owned a farm that produced rye, wheat, and Hungarian grass, and the letters often concern farm labor, hired hands, livestock, agricultural production, and the cost of goods. Constance thanked her mother-in-law and acquaintances for gifts and discussed housekeeping issues, such as wallpapering, and her work on the farm. She often reported news of her sons, Johnny and William, and of her neighbors.

This collection contains 3 letters written by members of the Coon and Howard families in Lakeview, Michigan; Waukee, Iowa; and Orchard Park, New York, in the late 1800s. The women of the Howard family contributed to each of the letters, describing their farms and sharing aspects of their everyday lives.

This collection contains 3 letters written by members of the Coon and Howard families of Lakeview, Michigan; Waukee, Iowa; and Orchard Park, New York, in the late 1800s. Hiram Cornwell of Lakeview, Michigan, wrote the first letter to his sister-in-law, Jane Coon of Belleville, New York, noting the difficulties of earning a living in Michigan (November 11, 1877). Phebe Howard contributed to the letter, suggesting that Jane move to Michigan, where land was cheap and weaving work was available.

Ida H. Elliott wrote the second letter to her mother from Waukee, Iowa, on September 22, 1889. Elliott discussed her work tending the house and farm, her children's school, her sale of chickens, and the quantities of crops they had stored, including potatoes, sweet corn, and apples.

Lena B. of Orchard Park, New York, sent the final letter to her sister, Miss E. Blanche Coon of Sandy Creek, New York (postmarked March 24, 1890); she commented on the family and described a trip to Buffalo, New York, including the cost of velvet and a photographer's rates.

Elizabeth Musser of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, kept a diary about her daily activities throughout the year 1850. She attended religious meetings, visited and received family members and neighbors, and performed household chores.

Elizabeth Musser of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, kept a 106-page diary about her daily life throughout the year 1850. Musser's brief entries pertain to her social life and home life, and most end with her signature or calligraphic flourishes. She baked, churned butter, sewed frocks and pillowcases, purchased goods, and performed other tasks. On one occasion, she mentioned selling butter that was to be shipped via railroad (November 25). The diary records Musser's occasional trips to Lancaster; her attendance at religious meetings, funerals, burials, and a baptism (April 20); and her regular visits to and from family members and acquaintances. One camp meeting Musser attended was hosted by African Americans (August 17). Many of her acquaintances were members of the Musser family, Lapp family, Houser family, McKillips family, Buckwalter family, Delinger family, Meyers family, or Dunlap family.