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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterFinding Aid Authors: Gloria Oh.
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Will Family Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Purchase.
Collection was processed by Gloria Oh in January-March 2009.
Cornelia F. Will lived in Toms Brook of Shenandoah County, Virginia around 1857-1902. Her husband was Philip Will, and her children were Edward A. Will, W. B. Will ("Bill"), Sam Will, Joseph Will, and Emma E. Will.
She had two daughter-in-laws, Effa and Maggie. Her sister, S.C. Feller, was from Alexandria, Virginia.
Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: Cornelia F Will
Letters and papers of Cornelia F. Will and husband, Philip Will, of Toms Brook, Virginia. Toms Brook is a part of Shenandoah County. Correspondence takes place between 1857-1902.
Family members settled throughout West Virginia, Ohio, Wyoming, and California. Prominent correspondents are from children, Edward A. Will, W. B. Will ("Bill"), Sam Will, Joseph Will, and Emma E. Will. There are also letters from her daughter-in-laws, Effa and Maggie.
Locations of her children tend to shift as they move, but Cornelia remains in Toms Brook of Shenandoah County throughout all of the correspondence.
Subjects include family, sickness, courtship, moving/travel, settlement, farming, employment, weather, legal documents/contracts, and daily occurrences of life. Includes pamphlets, advertisements, accounts as well as a photograph and land transactions.
There are letters from sons, Frank Funkhouser and Luther M. Funkhouser, to their father, Nathaniel A. Funkhouser, of Mount Olive, Virginia.
Arranged chronologically.
One of the few letters written by Cornelia F. Williams. Another letter written by a young girl.
Eddy expects to come home next week. Eddy homesick. Could have bought house but will wait. Has house. Sad news of cousin Polly's death that morning. Does not know when she will be buried. Just received the news.
Written by a young girl to her aunt. Learning all she can at school. Mother is well. Bettie came back home with a new dress. Talks about her teacher. She is kind although not thought of as much as the former teacher. Personally believes that there is no difference between two teachers. Studies grammar, arithmetic, geography, spelling, and writing. Bettie and Billie/Ellie (sp?) send their love as well as mother. Talks of school matters, in particular a five dollar prize, an exhibit, and the last day of school.
These letters are written by family members who are all away from home. They are either sons or husbands working and looking for employment.
Wishes her well. He likes it tolerable well. Not the best place as there are too many negros. Five black to one white man. Black boy found dead during his travels. Man shot and killed a white man who was deaf and dumb. Not heard back from her yet. Wrote to Bell last Sunday and to grandmother. Aunt Cate is well. Saw Beck's baby and Emily. Had a good car ride. Kiss little Joe for him as well as everyone else.
Relationship: Husband to wife. Not heard from her in three weeks. Hopes she and children are well. Yet to visit Uncle James because of distance. Mailed letter to Uncle James. Uncle came down to visit. Uncle James asked him to come home with him but says he could not follow. John and the rest are well. Talks of a George learning the tanner trade in Lewisburg. Last time Uncle James heard of John and George was in Mississippi. Expects to see Uncle James soon. Very mountainous country where he is staying. People friendly. Building a railroad in the area. Mentions a Ben and Milton Crabill (?). Ben went home, and Philip asks that they send his linen coat back down with him. Jesse's baby died. Will try and get some money to send home. Not been paid yet.
Everyone is well with exception of himself. Cut his leg with hand ax. Does not stop him from working. Mentions the rain. Is seasonable out in West Virginia. Saw one of Uncle James' boys. Uncle James invites him. Did not go. He looked too shabby. Now raising the trestle for the bridge to go on. Making pins past few days. Send him his Christian harp (?) to Buckton through mail. Provided 75 cents in letter for postage. Keep left overs. Tell little Josy, Sammy (?), and Emma to be good children. Learn how to read until he comes back. Will bring something nice for them. Will little Joe help pick up chips. Will not forget Willy either. Yet to hear from Miss. E. F. Received letter from Aunt Cate Coil. Sends his love to all that his wife sees, especially a Mr. Frederick. Pleased to hear that both of the cows have calves. Gives permission to sell old Genny. He will be scarce this fall so write back without delay.
Check he sent is as good as money. If no one will cash it, take to Woodstock's Bank. Mentions rain and the good season. Hopes she has rain too. Heard that it is dry in the valley but hopes there will be rain. Request for his harp and reminds that it must have a wrapper around it.
Employment, acquaintances, Orkney Springs, wedding invitation, crops, selling home, land property/lots, Christmas, butchering hog.
Met Thomas and they journeyed home. Been ill with the cough, chill, and fever. Baby recognized her as soon as she saw her. Has Aunt Tresie (sp?) come. Direct her letter to Sperryville Baphannock Co, VA
Is Aunt Tresie and Ellie gone back to Ohio or not. Misses them. At Orkney Springs. Getting $1.00 a day; boarding by himself; food costs 33 cents a day, leaving him 66 cents a day. By first of December gets 87 cents a day until March. Then $1.12 or $1.23. Wants to go to Ohio in spring. Mr. Jones looking for work for Pap. Too many hands now. Will help them as much as possible. Get cash every month. Give love to Aunt and cousin. Breaks heart to think how they must live. Almost wishes he were dead sometimes. No pleasures there. Try to make family happy as possible. Little pleasures for young people. Nothing but hard work all day. Thinks of present and future. Send boys to school this winter. Pap to find trade for Willie who is big and old enough to work. Move in with grandma? Uncle Jessie persuade Ma to come. Aunt and grandma want her to come. Get off of Frederick's premises if possible. Fears they will starve there. Aunt Tresie and Cousin Ellie forgive him for absence. Could not go after Emma before grandma came home. Sees how things are going so please take his advice.
Relationship: Friend Tolerable well and hopes she is better than when she last talked to him. Meet Mr. Welsh at railroad. Write if coming sooner. Looking at mail everyday. Not written to Mr. Will yet. Come up with sister.
Relationship: Sister John mentioned land to Mr. Gorge Borden. Must come now. There are many after the lots. All want homes. Better hurry up. Come make bargain. Phillip to come also. Much to talk of. Do try to get it for there won't be another such bargain. Time to pay for it. Do try to come.
Only tolerable well. Nobody expected to get out some days ago. In hands of party of traitors. They must have documents or records from Harrisonburgh. Moses Walton sent up and got them. Sent them down. John F. Lucas to attend to it. Send for the papers again. The district attorney in Harrisonburgh wrote to Mr. Waltham (?). James said he should be out in 10 days from the 16th day of November which is 40 days ago and not much prospect now then that was then.
Relationship: Son to mother Still fighting the good fight for God. Likes the new preacher. Very kind and friendly. Awful that boys were so bad. Ought to take them to Woodstock, might do them some good. Come home at Easter. Fix black pants. Patch them good. Does not expect to stay long. Got letter from Henry. Had a great deal of sickness.
Relationship: Son to mother Aunt Cate's house sold. Got $345.68 and holds possession of garden and stable for six months. Aunt Cate and Dora tolerably well. Have not heard from Cousin Ellie. Saw Mr. Frederick.
Relationship: Cornelia is Bettie's aunt. Emma not well. Ma not started on box. Paid for freight. Pay when box is received. Ellie in Jamesville. Amie not well. She has not been very well herself but getting better. Ma is well. Trip to Virginia did her good. Willie and Annie got the muslin. Ma and she made two shirts for Willie and Eddie. Henry sent other two to Uncle Will and summer coat. Brown dress for Emma. Pieces for Cornelia and Aunt Catherine. Ma and Ellie talks about C (?) so much.
Good season now. Vegetation growing finely. This week will cook first mess of beans. Hope gardens are doing fine. Had fine rain. 4 o'clock and thundering. Hard rain passing through. Has she heard of death of Polly? Another sad burial of Daniel Stickly (?). Fell from his horse. Life is short. 5 o'clock pouring rain.
Did not get letter from Ed yet. Ed coming home. Last letter wished that she include price of Mr. L/F's lot. Forest Vile (?) lot at $450. Does Dan know about the lot at Srouds barge. Written to Mr. Joseph Crabill last week.
Last Tuesday the editors went to Orkney. There were stages and carriages and spring wagons. Never saw so many at a time. Charly got 10 cents. Jimmy and Emmy ought to write. Les' sister and father here yesterday. Ate mulberry's together.
Got an invitation to the wedding but impossible to come. Would like to see Lizzy once more before she gets married. Impossible to get off for 100 barrels of flour to make from now till Christmas.
Has not butchered anything yet. Does not plan on butchering until she comes. House keepers are extravagant. Do not attempt it. Cannot come down for it is too much work and the emigration too large. Also people in that neighborhood he does not wish to see. Give best wishes to Mr. Frederick's, Aunt Bettie's, and Fiagls' (?) family. But the young Ridgeway a scandalous shame. Looking for her on Saturday the 21st on train. Do not fail to come. Want to butcher before Christmas. Grandma's been here all the time. Come home for his sake. Time for Beckie Dellinger to get married as well as himself.
Letters from cousins, severe weather, death of family member, new home, mill, wedding, election
Relationship: Cousin Cornelia at Holtes Mill, closer to home. Could not stand the three dollar job. Severe weather where Cornelia is staying at. Mercury ran as low as 20 degrees below zero. Lem Brance and she bought a saw mill second hand. Does its sawing along the Ohio and Erie Canal. Going to build a boat to board on. Received letter from Anna Hanson, a widow who pursues Ed.
Relationship: cousin Sorry to hear death of Phillip's mother. Offers words of consolation. History of parents. They live with sister Rachael. Owns two small homes, one in Rocking Horn and the other in Zorkles Farm. Lived there for 22 years. Three children married, one son, two daughters. Noah has 116 acres of land. Daughters live in Tyslvania County and Culpepper Court. Has six single children, five boys and a girl. All living at home.
New home. Likes new home and people there treat him like family. At Winchester on sixth of June. Going to shut down on fourth of July and go to town. Is Ed and Fannie down. Ed doesn't want to write. Offered $2.00 a day to cut. Best place at mill, so he staid there. Otis Smith went out today. Running the mill today. Sam and Josey at mill yet?
Sammie's shirt came. Joe can come up again if he wants. Pap not to neglect the wall under house. Put the upper floors in. Will pay him for it.
Relationship: cousin Emma to receive invitation to the wedding. Charlie Long to marry Barbra Stick (?). Has been crying because she didn't receive a bid to wedding. Dr. Galt (?) Bowman from Woodstock speaking at the hall. Will not go because Emma won't be there. All well except Pap. Quarreling with George about Pap. Is mad because he has to give Pap a home. Others don't want to do anything for him. George came home drunk. Swore he would burn the house down. Ordered her out of the house. Is there a room at her house for her and Ada to stay in. Will go as soon as possible and would have sent Ada by train were it not for money.
In splendid health. Anxious to her the news of the election. Hopes Daniel will be next governor. Took trip to Frederick. Got back Sunday evening. Had the best time in his life. Has Joseph started school. Mandy walks most everywhere now. Emma should take up Ben and not have anything to do with that Tim (?). Ben is smart and will treat her well too. From a kind family. Worth a fortune to be treated well and well provided for. Tim is a poor fix, knows bad tricks, and is lazy. Is pap still fainting. Is aunt Cait Coil (?) living on the hill yet.
Just wrote to Aunt Catherine. Will send pictures. Where is Will this spring. Are other boys at home. Emma married. Where does she live. Edward sent family pictures. Ma not looking well this spring. Has a baby who is 13 months. Only has four teeth. Will get most her teeth during the summer season.
Valise sent to mother and father with shirts, shoes, pants, and coat. Undershirts useful for winter. Four yards for the little girl. Had long talk with brother Ed and they are all well. Mandy sick for a while but better now. At camp. Didn't see Josey or Emma. An Isaac back from Fort Collins. If out of a job would go back with him. Cannot make money where he is at unless it is a lot of it. He must go soon to make money with capital. Will soon be an old bachelor with no child and that must do. Has two gallons of first class Blackburry Wine. Laura helped make it. Card from Ben stating he'll be back at Tom's Brook between 15-20 of September.
*Postcard* Fannie, Mandie, Mrs. Robinson, and he coming down next Saturday morning. Making arrangements to build. Road is bad and long.
Relationship: Cousins Confined to bed since 1882. Wheat crops looks bad. Wheat only $1.23. Will she sell her four dozen of the blue turkey's eggs. Glad to hear that she is coming out this fall. Sorry that Uncle Dave has got no home. Would be glad to see Uncle Dave come out. Sends love to all.
Relationship: Cousin Writing by lamp light due to darkness. All well except Alice. Not gone to school due to sickness. Has been a lot of sicknesses and deaths. Only fourteen years old in April. Will send her cards. Write her back.
Relationship: Brother Why has he lost touch with him? Having good health extremely important. Worked up to 24 hours without closing his eyes. Is a common thing for them to work 20 hours. Only weighs 148 pounds but ought to weigh 160 pounds. Wants to get married to his sweet girl. Wants to bring her to their ma to see if she approves. Does he intend to farm for a livelihood? Brother Sam learning the milling business. Tried to get him into another good trade for this is a slavish business. Have not heard from home. Best regards to everyone.
Snow last night. Very cold. Got 16 eggs yesterday. Does not get less than 12/13 eggs every day. Only 10 cents per dozen. Have been selling for 13 cents per dozen to some negroes working on railroad. Thinks Mandee and others write real well. Nellie and Guy learning a little. Bad luck just now with ink spillage over her new apron. Talks farming matters about chickens and sowing tomato seeds. Will not have much to tend to this spring.
Expects to come home Saturday afternoon. Meet with him to pick him up. Might have a little load.
Lonesome ever since husband left. Hard time with children. Especially John who is sassy and disobedient. Cannot sleep or eat but must. Willie hard at work and comes home regularly. Attends to his duty. Will he send John a card? Ida playing on floor. Is her only comfort. Potatoes coming up nicely. Charley Spiker buried a child of his Sunday. Had a very bad sore throat. All other children doing well. Will make him a shirt and send it to him. Will he send back his dirty clothes for her to wash?
Wants to come home soon to introduce his lady. Wants her opinion. Pa introduced to her when he stayed over. Is as smart and good as she is pretty. Will she reprimand brother E.A. for being the slowest correspondent ever? Work hour shifts. Leaving his current job soon. Doesn't know what to do next. Wants to make money. Marriage in two or three years. Will be twenty-six soon. Sends his love. Keep his lady a secret from the family for now.
Gardening matters. Cucumbers up nicely. Beans doing fine. As soon as ground gets dry will plant corn. Joseph to tell Ed about what plants he used. Tom and Jo planting. Cow gives milk. Write soon.
Bargain about pants. Needs pants badly. Wants something light-colored. Pete and Robert Rinker came last night to see him. Pray for him. Will Ben write him back? Write soon.
Mr. Coats and Marshale Bowman. Settlement of money. $4.96.
Mrs. King's mother down with fever. Heard from brother E.A. recently. Guesses that the potatoes are dug up. Abundance of fruits where he is. Gained 20 pounds.
Heard from brother Ed and brother Sam. Jo should goto school. Do they have plenty of rainfall?
Gained about twenty pounds. Used to weigh 130. Now 150 pounds. Feels splendid. Sickness last week. Out at Lutheran service five miles from town. Dinner with pretty ladies by the name of Coiner. Too much to eat. Chicken, ham, veal, sweets on table. Ate too much. Got sick. People kind to him. Death of Mrs. King's mother. Left five children. Mrs. King to take two girls. Little boy to go to miller.
Relationship: Cornelia F. Will is aunt Not much time to come down because of steady work to pay off the saw mills bought that summer. Buying lumber, sawing it, and selling the lumber. Bettie moved since last letter. Still in New Concord. Annie's finished her house. Ella helping with the fixing up. Cold weather. Boarded in a shanty last week. Very crowded. Plenty of peaches. Sold for 40 cents to dollar a bushel. Story of Ella Switzer. Their little girl died. Attended theater with some men. Will working on railroad. Will lost his mind and took a knife and cut Tom pretty badly. Man sued Will. Reports must be taken with some allowance because of distance. Julie living in Hanover Licking County with house and lot.
In a hurry. Enclosed $2.00 for mother to buy sugar. Mrs. Wilson to come visit him. Is a lot of fun. Will come home for Christmas. Wrote to brother Ed and told him to come.
Primarily letters from C.F. Will's children and cousins. Begins introducing pamphlets and receipts from an insurance company as well as advertisements.
W.H. Lynn from New Concord, Ohio. Ella here at present. Sold interest in mill and thinking of moving to Newark. Been to Tennessee. Wrote to Will and her aunt. Cheap land because of so many darkeys. No sale for lumber. In Cincinnati when water was 66 feet high; it rose to 71 feet. Awful to see top of cars. Houses floating. Has she heard anything from Ella or Will Switzer(?). Heard that they divorced. Later heard they got back together again. Love to Fannie and the babies.
Books put in hands of collectors. Settlement of matter.
From Hawkins Town, VA. Correspondent unidentified. Alice not well. Leaves behind Will and her eight little children if she dies. Maggie here tonight. Doctor came yesterday and said Alice will not last but a few more days.
Special Offer. Advertisement for Parisian diamond earrings and teaspoons. Send $3.00.
Letter might come as surprise as she is not expected. Does not know what Cornelia has against her. She never mistreated her. Only answered late to her letters. Trying to reform her carelessness. Cornelia going to Florida. Feels quite alone in the world. Entire family buried. Sadness to think of last few years. William, George, herself together of what is left of their once large family. Church. Please forgive her for neglect. She had a sick family to tend to and neglected dear friends. Glad to hear how her sons are growing to be industrious men. Wrote to Cousin Lewis Frederick. Still single. Have had beaus, but they don't suit her. For Christmas gift, write her letter.
Part I (S.J. Williams): Weather is cold. Is Joseph going to school? Importance of education. Working for 50 cents a day is not a good plan. Brother and he are well. Enclosed picture of himself. Post script (Bill): Coldness. Ice is four inches. Sends love to all.
Check of $2.00 received from Burken (?) Bank. Need 40 more cents. Will write check of $2.40 and notify of this transaction.
Specific day in March unknown. Correspondent unidentified. Had a hard winter. How is Miss Bettie? To come up soon. Trying to find work. Robert teaching school in grant County, West Virginia. John preaching (?) in Ohio. Write back soon.
Circular letter. Has information about company policies and dealings. E.A. Will is a policy holder of The Staunton Life Association
Brother Ed wrote. Mrs. Williams got flower society (?). Hopes pap is well this winter. Changed boarding house. Could not get along with Effa. Told Will he would not board with him, and he got very angry. $11.00 a month to board. Leaving county. Will is head miller. Mother is only woman he loves in the world. Found no one to marry. Will visit them soon before he moves.
Receipt. Received $2.40 for account of assessment. Number 12. On policy number 199.
This folder, in addition to family correspondence, includes legal documents, advertisements, and pamphlets on businesses.
Statement of work done for all parties. W. Hockman. Work at sawmill. Individable work. Calculations.
Busy time. Flour business. Sam and he will come down to visit around May or June. Sold 19 dozen eggs at 17 cents per dozen. Butter bringing in 20 to 25 cents a day. Nellie (a cow?) growing fast and fat. Is Ed's baby still big? Terrible murders in New York. One man killed another man and cut him to pieces and shipped him to Baltimore. Will send the paper. Another murder by 16-year-old of two young children with an ax. Murder in Shenandoah County—will be hanged. Wishes that Joseph was in a roller (?) mill. If Mrs. Deitz still there, let her go. Can't afford to work. County helps her. Knows how Ma and Pa are when people ask for help. Can say no to people. As long as they have anything will give them supper. Plenty of rain. If Ed sells his home, move in with him. Tell Emma will answer her letter soon. Is very busy.
J.F. Zirkle is a dealer in agricultural implements from Quicksburg, VA Sell stone machines for $25.00. 60 through 90 days. Business letter.
How are the babies? Suppose they have all moved by this time. Went over to see Jessie Coabill (?) who looks mighty thin. Ed is working.
Hugh M. McIlhany is the Secretary of The Office of Staunton Life Association of Virginia. Receipt: Received $2.40 for payment of assessment number 15 on policy number 18. Enclosed are two pamphlets on health: "Guide to Health" and "The Successful Agent".
$22.80 due October 1, 1887 is now at the Shenandoah County Bank.
Did not go to fair. Ed. Walton at home. Ed done seeding.
Sent power of attorney for Davis Towns for three months. Purchase Stonewall Township for $50.00. Valley Comtus (?) very much in demand. Commission at $12.00. Rare offer.
Legal documents Power of Attorney: A.G. Hulbert and Jas. T. Fairburn; licenses or rights to use Letter patents of the U.S. for Improvement in Fence Machines. Davis Township, Shenandoah County, VA leased for three months starting December 10, 1887. Article of Agreement: Amount required to purchase $50.00. Fairburn Hulbert Fence Building Machines; Hulbert's Patent Wire Netting. Davis Township. 30% commission. Pamphlet on fences
Business letter. Sent 15 license blanks. Information on how to fill out the license. Fence building machine. Demand high. Farm purchasing matters. Commission.
Sent Pa a box by express. Sam owes $345.00 to aunt, money lent out by Bill. Brother Ed says not to lend. Effa and he has son, six weeks old. Nellie is chubby. In the flour business. Keeps him busy as it goes as fast as it is made. Sorry the clothes sent are not the greatest, but the best he could find. Wrote Joseph and Emma, never heard from them. Wishes his brothers and sisters to be more responsive. Will mother visit?
Postal card. Does not know what Strasbury Corporation is worth. Depends on amount of work that can be done.
Postal card. Cannot come down this week. Planning on stopping by 15th of March. Might sell house.
Hopes dream will come true. Effa has girl to help her. Weather is very cold. Don't know when garden will be made. Has Emma moved yet? Sam got a good place with good price. Sorry that brother Ed has hard time with debts. He has nothing against anyone. Forgive and forget. Sold Winchester Rifle and bought double barrel breech loader. Nellie's hair pretty; she talks and has fourteen teeth. How many does Vernon have? Great deal of building at Brook County.
Postal Card. Starts home tomorrow. Will stop few days in Staunton.
Family in bad fix. Hogs not butchered yet. What is paw doing? Have nothing but $2.00. Will send one dollar. Wants to help more.
Introduction of the Funkhouser letters. Correspondence focuses less on family matters and more on business. Receipts.
R.L. Campbell is a cashier at bank. Shenandoah County Bank $93.52
Thank you for order. Decided not to send the paints subject to approval. Might not make a favourable impression upon customers. Suggest that he send money for one ten gallon keg and see if he likes it before ordering for more.
Relationship: Frank (son) and Nathaniel (father) Plenty of work to do. Seen Paul. Have not had rain for six weeks. Lot of fever going around due to weather. Weighs 153 pounds. 25 acres to plow. Loves the country. Does not know when he is coming home.
Charles H. Conner is the Manufacturer of Roofing Material; Louisville, KY Receipt. Sold to E.A. Williams, Mt Olive VA. Heat the I.C. paint and stir thoroughly when using. $14.00 paid.
Working on farm. Getting $18.00 a month. Not much rain. Does plowing for wheat. Springfield.
Sangerman County Fair at Springfield. Over 16,000 people. Corn ready to husk. Lots of work. Money matters.
Relationship: Brothers; uncertain how they are connected to Frank and Luther Funkhouser Postal card. Went down to see the parties and not at home. Will see him between then and the first of the week.
Edmonson is a dealer in agricultural machinery, Middletown, VA Business matter. Starting trouble. Be a gentleman. Save all hard thought and pay cash (?).
Continuation of the Funkhouser correspondence and business and financial letters. Cornelia F. Will only mentioned because she forwards a business letter to her son, Edward.
His son for hire. What age is his son? Has he ever worked for a month? Is he trustworthy? Son wants $10-12 dollars per month. Being new, cannot promise over $10.00 per month, washing and mending included.
Mr. Swartz' wife had a stillborn child. Doctor there two days and two nights. One mile from Dayton, VA. Could not talk to brother because he is busy. Mr. Swartz had four runaways. One in the spring wagon, three in the single shovel plow. Uncle Jake going to Roanoke at end of week. Splendid cooking. Pies and cream, cookies. Through planting corn.
Was up in Augusta at Staunton Court. Through plowing corn. Goes to Dayton about three times a week. Likes it up there. How is Philly? Six girls on Sunday, took one singing. Uncle Jake still at Roanoke. Silas to write. Lawn party at Dayton. Miss Frankun and Mr. Kiter (?) married yesterday evening.
R.L. Campbell: Cashier of the Shenandoah County Bank Receipt. $13.00 received as stated.
Mr. Corman's daughter is in Staunton. Mr. W. drinking again. Cutting corn. Several good rains last week.
Job employment with farming, making brooms, painting houses. Was going to send pictures but did not wait. Busy all summer. Dry summer but last month rain came. Gathering corn now. Snow squall last Sunday. State election last Tuesday. County went Democratic. Uncle Jake heard from his son last week.
November 15 receipt: first payment on purchase of 10 shares of stock duce December 15th, 1890. Amount due, $25. Make check payable to Edawrd Zea, Treasurer. Next payment due January 15, 1891. November 20 letter: Stock fully placed and books closed. Send news if any friends want stock. If any more stock wanted, write promptly.
Ro. W. Crawford is Secretary; Office of Strasburg Land and Improvement Company Received two subscriptions for stock in company. Books have been closed. Placed on deferred list.
Great deal of sickness. Snowing nine inches. Deepest snow seen for eight years. Horses dying because of worm-infested corn feed. Corn price raised. General failure of corn and oats in this farm. But best pea crop. General failure in everything all through the west. Rosa to write a letter to him. Wrote Frank a letter today.
Relationship: Brothers Business letter. Send check. Tend to this at once. Sell for good price.
Part I: January 19, 1891 Notice of assessment on stock. Mail delayed because of snow. Snow did damage all through the country. How is real estate progressing? Will send second assessment once he hears from him. Some car shop boys going hunting if shops don't open soon. Part II: January 26, 1891 (attached as postscript from previous letter) From: Cornelia F. Will to her son, Edward A. Will Letter came to her. Thought it was of some importance so took privilege of opening it.
Who is to pay your board? Contractor will soon be through. Like to know at once. Not specified which Mr. Will this is, but possibly Ed A. Will, as he usually has correspondence dealing with financial matters.
Letters have big gaps of time between them. The grandchildren are mentioned as well as the weather and crops. Brief post card from daughter.
Everyone well at present. Tom's leg bad. Great many deaths out here. Big snow. Tell Lilie and Maudie to write. Tom will come when he can. The children would love to see her. Willie says he wants to go on train and go to grandma. Uncertain which son is writing to Cornelia F. Will.
Postal card. Got home safely. Busy cleaning up.
Mr. Kaggy for onions. He had sold them all. Asked John Myers about Sammy. To pap about business matters: Have not head from Woods yet. Hired help needed with Mr. Dingledine (?) Work at Rinkers (?). Better wages than Woods. Business with maps and pictures and getting subscribers for March Herald. Aunt Kate has been over. Planted her a peach orchard of 36 trees.
Please see Mr. Hottle to tell him to bring corn to mill. Harrison Lucas to bring two bushels of corn to the mill. Mr. Williams to grind the corn. Will satisfy him for his troubles. His mother saw Mr. Williams in her dream. His family wishes them well.
Cornelia's sister, S.C. Feller is introduced. There are receipts for Cornelia's purchases on books. Her daughter-in-law, Maggie, also writes to her. A collection agency warns Cornelia to pay what she owes for the medicine she bought.
Advertisement: Sole owner of Hawley's Corn Salve and Red clover pills One dollar to cut off subscriptions or future gifts.
Over 200 miles from Effa and the children. Came to take charge of a mill on trial for 60 days. Hopes to stay here. If he does well, he can stay. Painful accident the second day. Left-hand caught and tore most his thumb off. Is well now. Joe and Sam are well. Joe's wife been quite sick.
Publisher's Receipt: Book entitled Dr. Chase's New and Complete Receipt Book and Household Physician will be delivered on or soon after September 2, 1895. Pay at the publishing house.
Received Miss Betsey Harrison's. $47.25 medical. $6.00.
Everything fine except ten chickens gone. Send chickens in box by express. Come to visit. No money as of yet. Working on rails. Do not fail to come next Saturday. Raining now. Sends love to all and children. Mr. John L. Sheffer and her mother mentioned.
Claim made against them. Money due with National Medicine Co. Terms for settlement enclosed. Settle with them in thirty days. Otherwise, will collect the account. Pay one dollar for pills.
Remittance of September 30 has not reached our hands. Please look the matter up.
Advertisement for drug company. Three offers.
Effa is not so well. Everyone else alright. Hard frost that froze crops. Nights are cold. Fruit beginning to come in from New Mexico. Mexicans come in with wild plums, peaches, apples. Brother E.A. ought to have fine orchard.
Sister of Alexandria, VA. Living in new house. Pleased. John put in carpet and belongings. Pork to eat. Lily and she get along very well. Will she try to come up at Christmas? Do not overexert her strength. Nerves are weak.
Illegible. Talks about sousins and aunts.
Got in trouble going with Lily. Needs to borrow money. Elly Fincks (?) to send a little to help her. Tom is worse.
Tom has plenty of work. Killed a hog. Wishes Philip and children well.
Sent children's pictures. Joe and children have been sick. Not working yet. Typhoid fever. Cold weather. Had a letter from Emma. Emma' baby died. Paul will be a year old seventh of January. No teeth yet. Walks around by chairs. Such a good baby. Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Baby Paul still no teeth. Eva had a hard time with teething. Sewing machine. Eva helps take care of her little brother. Not as much work as when living on farm.
Cornelia's cousin from California writes to her. Children update her on their lives. Emma is busy with farming and also plans to visit during Easter. Pamphlet on machinery included. Matters outside the Will family: Mrs. Funkhouser is widowed and her aunt and uncle ask her to stay with them.
Relationship: Cousins Hanford Kings County, California Have not heard from anyone back there in a while. Out in California. Been there for five years and married for four years. Stepdaughter lives with her. Ada lies in California. Fine country. Health better here than in the east. Please write back to her.
Rinkerton Mills Mr. Lootz died at 85 years. He's well but has a bad cold. Pig was $4.00. Got pair of cotton socks and book. Gets lonesome. Pray for him at prayer meetings. Does not say which Will son it is.
Digging holes keeping her busy. Shucking corn. Planting seeds. Lettuce seeds doing nicely. Nice rain.
Relationship: Uncle and aunt to niece Wife sick all winter with heart trouble but up again. Saw in the newspaper that husband died last Sunday. Come and stay with them. Write back.
Postcard. Nice time during Easter. Send Aunt Kittie up. Buy her ticket and she will pay her back. Will down in a week or two.
Pamphlet on engines. From Maryland.
Got home safely. Have a lot to do. Tom got in town. Boy killed last week by train. Any news from Willie or Effie?
Emma leaves her children with her mother. Maggie writes from Wyoming saying that her husband, Joe, is tired from working nights. Pa Will seems to be in ill-health. There is also a brief letter between cousins, Martha and Mrs. Mary.
Post card: How is Elmer? If he gets home sick or if they tire of him, send a card and she'll send down a ticket so he can come back home. All very busy at the moment.
Postal card: Hopes father is well. Baby had spasms Monday. Burney taken sick Wednesday but better now. Want to come down soon as baby is old enough. Tell Willie to be a good boy. Look for Tom any time.
Cheyenne, Wyoming Joe working nights and tired. Sorry to hear that father is no better. Joe taking care of sick man with consumptions for $2.00 a night. Wishes Ed much joy. Has sore throat. Not been outside of house for nearly two weeks. Went to sister's place seven blocks away from her. Paul quite well. Stormy weather. Wishes they lived closer to each other so she can help out. Wishes their luck will change.
Relationship: Cousins Noticed she moved to new home. Please come and visit. Much to catch up on. She cannot go over because of her sickness.
Correspondence between her son, Joseph, and daughter, Emma. Emma busies herself with taking care of her large family. Daughter-in-law, Maggie, tells Cornelia that all is well at present. Fannie Replolge writes to Cornelia to come and visit her.
Cheyenne, Wyoming: Worked until eight straight. Does not feel like writing. Can probably notice through his neglect. Beautiful weather. Almost like spring now. Had Paul's pictures taken the day he was four years old. Will send one. He thinks he is a man now but is very small for his age.
Mr. Replogle said he would like to see her. Does not have a horse so she must come over. Loss of a dear companion. Heart aches. Does not like being alone. Come visit.
Too busy. Big family and no help. Wants to come down but does not have the time. Baby is teething. She has a bad cold. One child very ill. Family caught a mess of fish. Elmer caught one eighteen inches long.
Lost seven days of work on account of a stiff neck. Glad brother Ed could be with her. Quite a good deal of sickness and quite a few deaths. Man found dead in his office last night. Paul now five years old. Pictures taken. Maggie will write something in the morning.
Cheyenne, Wyoming All quite well at present. Fine winter. Father came down to visit. Lives 200 miles up north from them. Paul's picture as natural as life. Have not heard from Sam's folks since Christmas. Does not know when they can visit. Best wishes and love to all.