Close
Digital Collections
Statement on Potentially Offensive Materials
Help
Rights and Reproductions
Log In / Sign Up
0
Selected
Invert selection
Deselect all
Deselect all
Click here to refresh results
Click here to refresh results
Go to Login page
Loading details...
You do not have the permission to view Original image
Add to collection
Download
Share PDF
Get link
Transcription
User-Contributed Transcription
I have very little expectation of being so; old Mrs Harlow & Miss Walker take a great deal of interestin my getting along well, and I am very happily situated as to boarding;There is many valuable books to read, and we have some good times in singingand playing on the piano. Mr. W is a real, lively, good natured, shrewd good sort of a man,Mrs. W. really kind and agreeable, polite and intelligent, and Miss W real cleverwhile Grand ma'am is really affectionate, and kind, spends her time partly here and partly at her son's. Isaac is treated as far as I can see, just like a boarder &has a fine chance to learn, if he would only realize his advantage and improvethem: what a favourable opportunity to gain the best of all knowledge, that of hismaker and redeemer but I fear he thinks little of his obligation or his own real good. I expect to take charge of a class in Sabbath school, next sabbath. Itdoes not seem much like Pine Street: I have not been to an evening meeting yetbut mean to this week: I have made me a comfortable hood, one of the drawedkind, like a calash but stuffed. they are much worn here, the material cost $1,15.I have not money to buy any shoes; I don't like it that A. does not send some, but supposeshe thinks it of no consequence. If I could be at home all day I could make you a good hood. - Mr. Thomas came in last Wednes, brought me books &c, and sat some minutes, talking after his manner: I thought afterwards that hewanted I should pay him, and I was sorry I didn't, for he ought I supposeto be paid and it belonged to me to pay him. It is very hard times for moneyall about here, people are out of business talking of going out farms in the springvery little business done, it is a pity Charles did not take a school unless he canfind profitable work on his farm. How does Eliab get along? I hope it will beshown that he has sufficient energy and resolution to overcome any littleobstacles, such as indolence, that may lie in the way of his improvement, asdetermination to learn. Have had four new boys one 16 years oldhave furnished 7 boys with a great stout ferule and get along pretty well: I haveto walk most half a mile up and down hills, schoolhouse is near the railroad bridge; myschool receives the older scholars of three other schools, and his pupils for the Select Schooltaught by Mr Littlefield, who prepares them for the High School. I visited Mrs Mary Dougallast week, where I took tea with 4 school teachers ( two of whom board there) and 4 ofthe students, had a pleasant time, Isaac came in, after me: he and I went to theLyceum last evening with Mr W's ticket, heard Gov. Kent , Ms Harlow says it will be good for I. to have me here, says he I have purchased this afternoon some new ribbons, pair of shoes, pair of gloves and going to get a card of good steel penswhich I am satisfied will be cheaper than to keep a supply of quill. I will send the wool there.
Title
DeWitt, Elizabeth Anna Rich (half-sister), to Anna Mayo Stevens Rich Metcalf (mother), 1832, 1835-1839, Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers
Creator
Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, 1822-1898
Place
United States
Subjects
Bowdoin College
,
Brothers and sisters
,
DuQuoin Coal Company
,
Illinois Central Railroad Company
Description
Use the link to the finding aid for a fuller description of collection contents that explains the use of the name and subject terms appearing in this catalog record.
Summary
Correspondence, writings, diaries, and journals documenting family and rural life, as well as early business correspondence and records, and a few photographs, all pertaining to Isaac Stevens Metcalf and the Metcalf, Furber, and Putnam families. Family correspondence was used to keep all of the branches of the family in touch with each other when family members moved away. There are many instances where multiple family members wrote on one letter to one or more other family members, and some people even wrote "family letters" that were intended to be shared amongst parents, siblings, and the like. Topics of family correspondence tend to be related to religion, daily activities on the farm, weather, and the news of friends and relatives (births, deaths, sicknesses, etc.) Business records of Metcalf's pertain to land ownership, railroad engineering and construction, and running a coal mining business. The mid-19th century business records also document tax payments and some reports including labor and payroll expenses. There are a few drawings and sketches from Metcalf's tenure as division engineer of the Illinois Central Railroad. The first accession of these family papers was a donation of the letters between Charles W. and Albina Rich, given by Grace Leadingham, Charles Rich's granddaughter. This gift was facilitated by Keyes D. Metcalf, 17th child of Isaac Stevens Metcalf.
Biographical/Historical Note
Railroad engineer, farmer, and businessman of Maine, Ohio, and Illinois during the second half of the 19th century. Isaac Stevens Metcalf was born in Royalston, Massachusetts, on Jan. 29, 1822. His father, Isaac Metcalf, had married Lucy Heywood in 1810; she died childless in 1820. In March 1821 he married Anna Mayo Stevens Rich, the widow of Charles Rich, by whom she had had three children (named Charles, Elizabeth Anna, and Almeida). Isaac was born to Metcalf and Rich, followed by Joseph, Lucy, and Eliab. Isaac Metcalf (father) died in Boston in 1830, and the family relocated to Milo, Maine, where half-brother Charles had purchased a farm. Isaac Stevens Metcalf lived there with his mother and siblings, preparing for college and working on the farm until he entered Bowdoin College as a sophomore in 1844. He graduated there in 1847, having taught school while studying engineering. He surveyed and built railroads in New England until the spring of 1850, when he became a division engineer on the southern section (near Centralia, IL) of the Illinois Central Railroad. Metcalf worked closely with the Chief Engineer, Roswell B. Mason. Metcalf remained on the job until the line was completed to Cairo, IL, in 1855. While in central Illinois, Metcalf purchased land and with his partner Chester A. Keyes laid out the railroad town of Du Quoin, which was officially dedicated on Sept. 20, 1853. On Jul. 5, 1852, he married Antoinette ("Nettie") Brigham Putnam, the daughter of prominent New Hampshire minister John Milton Putnam. The couple had twelve children, three of whom died young. They settled in Elyria, Ohio, in Nov. 1856, to be near Metcalf's half sister, Elizabeth Ann (also known as Ann Elizabeth), and more family joined them within the next ten years. Metcalf and family lived in Elyria for over 41 years, farming and running a flour mill while Isaac Stevens Metcalf maintained business interests in Du Quoin, Illinois (real estate and coal mining). Antoinette died Aug. 14, 1875, and three years later Metcalf married Harriet Howes. That couple had six boys. Harriet Howes died of pneumonia Dec. 7, 1894, and Isaac Stevens Metcalf died Feb. 19, 1898, age 76. A more complete Metcalf genealogy family, focusing on the children of Isaac Stevens Metcalf, is available in the Special Collections Department information files. The genealogy was compiled by Keyes DeWitt Metcalf, 17th child of Isaac Stevens Metcalf.
Extent
10.8 linear feet (20 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
Format
Business records
,
Correspondence
,
Diaries
,
Genealogy
,
Invoices
,
Manuscripts, American
,
Personal narratives
,
Records and correspondence
,
Sources
Archival Collection Title
Isaac Stevens Metcalf papers
,
Midwest Manuscript Collection
Rights Status
No Copyright - United States
Newberry Open Access Policy
The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to
these terms and conditions.
Contributing Institution
Newberry Library
Link to Catalog
View finding aid
|
View record
Call Number
midwest ms metcalf Box 1 Folder 3
BibID
821787
Size
3104px × 3871px 68.79 MB
IIIF Resource Type
Canvas
Filename
998217878805867_mms_metcalf_box_01_fl_03_010_002.tif
Unique Identifier
NL11FDDS
Help
Need help finding, searching, sharing, or downloading? Check out our
help page
!
Linked assets