Item Detail
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Bollinger, Mrs. William A.
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1837
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MSS SC 2417
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Letter
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No biographical information found.
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This 2 and a half-page, handwritten letter is addressed to Mrs. William A. Bollinger in Rushville, Illinois, where Mrs. Eliza Bollinger was apparently visiting her aunt. The letter is from her unnamed mother, and is dated 16 July 1837, from Marysville. The letter details family financial, medical, cultural, vital, and general news.
The writer starts with news of who is sick, and reports that her finger has been so sore the last while she has hardly been able to hold a pen. She mentions that Fred, Mrs. Williams, and Mrs. Calendennig or Clendenig (spelling unclear) are all sick and have been for some time. She also tells of how Mrs. C. injured her feet with an upturned pot of hot coffee, and so has not been able to help around the house as much as they both would like. The author also mentions a Jim and describes him as the only one in the family of 26 who is able to help. Still she enjoys Mrs. C.s company, and all are pulling through.
Unfortunately, the crops this year are only half of what was expected, so everyone is a little discouraged by that. William has turned 21 and has decided to no longer work on the farm. Instead he has gone to town to work in a wagon shop, making 60 dollars a month for a year.
The author has received a letter from John, who has had some bad luck and is asking for 300 dollars to close out where he is, so that he can cut his losses and come home. He is hoping to still have something to pay Mr. Bollinger. She also asks her daughter if she received a book from Charles, sent from San Francisco.
She closes with a post script reporting that a Mr. Lad, possibly, is dead, that a Mr. Taylor is low, and that Dr. Gray sends his respects to all.