|
This collection (1867-1885,
n.d.) includes 16 letters written to the Taylor family from friends
and family in Iowa and West Virginia. The majority of these letters
are to Ellen (or Ella) Taylor of Masontown, Preston County, West
Virginia. The letters came from: Zachariah Taylor, her brother, who
moved to Iowa; Maria C. McKinney, her cousin; William H. McKinney,
possibly her cousin, who lived in Liberty Center, Iowa; Mary and
Seth Taylor, her cousins, of Masontown, West Virginia; and Mary
Graham, a friend.
Zachariah Taylor, Ellen's
brother, moved to Iowa in approximately 1869 and initially settled
near Monroe in Jasper County. Zachariah wrote about the trip to
Iowa, the farmers he worked for, the food in Iowa, and how he spent
his holidays. In 1869 he bought 40 acres of land in Warren County,
Iowa. Zachariah also wrote to his mother, Delilah Taylor, who lived
in Reedsville, Preston County, West Virginia.
Maria C. McKinney, Ellen's
cousin, mentioned several interesting events that took place in her
new community. She talked about a church revival that had been
going on for months and was taking place nearby. She described the
clothing styles that people wore at the time. In 1876, Maria and
her family were living near Liberty Center, Iowa, which is reported
to Ellen in a letter from William H. McKinney who was constable of
the township.
Other letters
include one from Vance Graham to Tom (Taylor?) telling him about
working on a farm outside of Marietta, Ohio. The letter from Mary
E. and Seth Taylor of Masontown, West Virginia, describes illnesses
they suffered and other family matters. Mary Graham wrote to Ellen
about her family. |
