Ware, Ellen

Ellen and Lauriston Ware were married in 1862 and lived in rural North Hadley, Massachusetts for their entire married life. Laruriston was born in Buckland, Massachusetts in 1827 and married his first wife, Sarah Culkins in 1854. She died shortly after giving birth to their two daughters.

Ellen, originally of Colraine, Massachusetts, had two known siblings, Charly and Sarah. Sarah and her husband, Frank, lived in Oxford, while Charly and Philinda lived in Charlestown. The entire family was stirred by the institution of the first draft in 1862. Charly had a very difficult time trying to raise the three hundred dollars needed to be exempt, and he eventually had to register. He was lucky, however, and was not called to war.

Lauriston's daughter, and Ellen's step-daughter, Mary E. was born around 1860. She grew up and attended school in North Hadley. She was educated on a variety of subjects ranging from grammar to geography. She also had many friends, including the two Smith children, originally of North Hadley, who moved to Saginaw City, Michigan in 1874. Willie, born in 1857, and Evelyn, born in 1860, maintained a close relationship with Mary throughout their time living in Michigan.

In 1877, Mary relocated to New Haven, Connecticut where she attended school and worked nights teaching, eventually becoming a rubber worker. In an 1880 census Mary was identified as a border with a family in New Haven. She always considered North Hadley home, though, and because her parents continued to reside there she was able to maintain her connection with the town.

Willie Smith was a sickly young man who was often taken ill for days and months at a time with headaches, sore throats, and colds. He attended some school but worked most of the time. He purchased small amounts of land in November of 1877 and began growing various berries and grapes, and also drove teams of horses. He was extremely lonely most of the time, and wished to be back in North Hadley. He had few, if any, friends and did not participate in many social activities in Michigan. Willie, however, did associate himself with something in Michigan: the growing temperance movement. Even though he never joined formally, he pledged himself to a life of sobriety.

His sister, Eva, born on January 8, 1860, enjoyed life in Michigan. She attended school and learned Latin, geography, orthography, arithmetic, French, and algebra, and even taught a class of 40 students. She partook in many social activities throughout her time in Michigan, including dances, soldiers reunions, and holiday celebrations.

Another friend of Mary E. Ware, George H. Clark, attended lectures in 1877 on the benefits of a life free of alcohol. Clark was an assistant to Silas R. Cooley, a jeweler and watchmaker, who was located in Northampton, Massachusetts.

From the guide to the Ellen and Mary E. Ware Papers MS 511., 1862-1893, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries)