Two letters written by Mary H. Child from Philadelphia in the 1860s to her children and grandchildren, Henry, Climena and Stella, who have settled in Clinton County, Iowa. In one, she writes of Henry's father who is having a tumor removed from his leg in Philadelphia and wants her to make the journey back with him to Iowa. She fears it would be too hard and too expensive, and that Henry's father may not survive. She also refers to Climena's troubles with the Dutch folk and fears for her safety. Urges Climena and Henry to do all they can to make friends with them, not stay alone or pass that way in the night. In another, she promises to send Stella some sugar. Father still has not had any success with his hops. Tells of financial troubles. Oliver is mad because his property is being taken over by Joseph and he cannot pay his hired help. She is upset and would like to go away to join her children in Iowa. Tells of the new Cannuck hired hand. One letter written in Philadelphia on March 15, 1862 by T. T. [Thomas] Child to his brother [Henry], who has moved across the Mississippi [to Clinton County, Iowa]. Tells of a fire that destroyed a local sawmill and tub factory and the help of neighbors. Asks his brother about his travel west and the cost of livestock. Twelve letters written between 1864-1865 by Oliver A. Child to his brother Henry and sister Climena, who had settled in Clinton County, Iowa-- sent presumably from Philadelphia, where Oliver Child was living. In them he tells of a family feud over the farm; grain prices and debts; the death of President Lincoln; a fuss over religion; the price of land; problems with the Dutchman; a neighbor's moving his house and barn off the plains; and sending a package of sugar by boat to his sister. He inquires about the cost of land plots, the farm, the crops, debts, dockage fees, and the family's health. One letter from Stella Child to her parents, written April 30, [19]17 from Camp Henry Ette, and two letters to Stella from her mother and father, one dated October 23, 1881, from Low Moor, Iowa.
