Scope and Contents Charles Francis and his wife, Elizabeth, migrated from Wethersfield, Connecticut, through New York and Indiana, eventually settling in New Buffalo, St. Joseph County, Michigan. His papers include correspondence from various members of the Francis family in Connecticut, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The collection also contains a ledger of Charles Francis, in which he recorded his daily work as well as expenses and receipts.Much of the...

Scope and Contents The Leach family papers consist of photocopies of letters, and a ledger/scrapbook belonging to Morgan Leach. The early letters (1810-1827) discuss the hardships of pioneer life, the swift deaths brought on by disease, and the loneliness of separation from families left behind. The later correspondence discuss business and land transactions, teachers' wages, and various aspects of small town life. Clinton's letters to his parents in 1841, when he went from Margaretta, Ohio to Grand Blanc,...

Scope and Contents This collection contains an account book (1829-1851) of William Whiteley containing entries made in Toledo (1837), Cillicothe (1838), Zanesville (1840), Washington (1848) and Lansing (1848). From 1829 to 1836 Whiteley may have been a shoe dealer, since all entries in the period are for shoes. Other commodities, including food, wine, hardware, clothing, room and board, and labor wages, are entered in the ledger beginning in 1836. In 1848 most of the entries are for household items, livestock,...

Scope and Contents This collection consists of a photocopy of an unpublished manuscript, "Journey into the Wilderness," a narrative history of the Pemberton family of Mecosta County, Michigan from 1863 to 1907. In her book, the author and illustrator, Nell Pemberton-Rosenzweig, also tells how she became interested in her family history and came to write their story. The author describes the adventures her grandparents had as they moved west, and the hardships they endured because of harsh weather, poor...

Scope and Contents The collection contains a mimeographed transcription of Halliday's "Journal of a trip on the Missouri River." It is a day-by-day account of his trip taken in 1868 from his home in Fountain Prairie, Wisconsin, to Montana and back again. He traveled by train from his home to St. Louis, Missouri, and from there to Ft. Benton, Montana, by steamboat. While in Montana, he took a side trip by horse from Ft. Benton to Virginia City, Montana. He comments on weather and travel conditions and describes...

Scope and Contents

Sanford Fulton's papers consist of one booklet entitled "The Life of William Fulton," written by Sanford about his pioneer grandfather in 1922. It includes a list of descendants of William Fulton, and an introduction by Sandford's brother, Merritt Fulton.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains correspondence for the most part addressed to John Strange of Oneida, Eaton County, Michigan, and to his spouse Orinda (nee Sprague), from members of their families in Massachusetts and New York.

The letters are concerned with family matters -- births, deaths, and marriages -- and flavored with pious comments. Beginning in 1849, the correspondence includes much discussion of California and the Gold Rush, and of travel to the West.