Quarryville, Pennsylvania,

15 Letters Mailed to Teenager Joseph Denny of Quarryville, Pennsylvania
Dated 1926 to 1929 Most Letters while Joseph was a Patient in Pennsylvania Hospital, in Philadelphia.

These letters are:

March 22, 1926. From Catharine Books of Quarryville, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny at the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia. She is a classmate of Joseph Denny. Information about school and classmates.

October 2, 1926. From Charles V. Denny on the U. S. S. Umpgua at the Navy Yard of Charleston, South Carolina. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Quarryville. Reference to sister Alma Denny, etc.

January 6, 1926. From Paul W. Sweigart of Morgantown, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Quarryville. Reference to Joseph's sister Alma Denny. Information about being a Boy Scout, and about Paul's bicycle.

September 12, 1929. From Charles E. Byler of Morgantown, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Information about school. References to high school classmates George Boyer and Paul Sweigart. Information about high school and a barn fire at farm of Vernon Orr. Reference to Rosie Kurtz.

September 13, 1929. From Sadie Fisher of Morgantown, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Includes information about a singing at the home of John Hartzler, and singing at the County Home in Reading, PA. Information about barn burning of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Orr. Information about Boston terriers, Edna Plank, Alfred Plank.

October 2, 1921. From George B. in State College, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Information about George's Classes, presumedly at Penn State. Information about George Zook and Christ Rhiel car racing. Information about Charles Kurtz and Bill Peck in Wilminglton, Delaware, out of jail on bail, apparently for bootlegging during prohibition: "they found 9 quarts of liquor in his car."

August 26, 1929. From Dr. Horace H. Jenks of Philadelphia. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Morgantown. Instructions to Joseph Denny about taking medicine for his swollen legs, with a pharmacy label from Pharmacist J. B. Shenk of Philadelphia.

Setpember 29, 1929. From Wilmer W. Hoffman of Morgantown, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Wilmer Hoffman was a classmate of Joseph Denny. Reference to a new International truck bought by David Hartz.

October 12, 1929. From Robert Byler in State College, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Information about Penn State vs. University of Penn football game. Information about the World Series baseball games, and initiating freshmen into a Penn State fraternity.

October 9, 1929. From Lois Benedict in Philadelphia. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Information about sending postage stamps to Joseph.

October 14, 1929. From the Alfred Plank and Edna Plank Family in Morgantown, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Information about Chautauqua. Alfred rode the goat at the Odd Fellows Lodge. Reference to Frank Plank of Willow Glen. Reference to Verna Kurtz getting married.

October 16, 1929. From William Daley of Dunwoody Home / Dunwoody Village, a convalescent home in Newtown Square, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Descriptions of Dunwoody Home. This Bill Daley had been in the Philadelphia hospital with Joseph Denny.

October 23, 1929. From Charles (Byler). Addressed to Joseph Denny in Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Hospital. Information about breaking his toe while wrestling, etc.

December 14, 1929. From Charles Byler and Mrs. Alice Byler of Morgantown, PA. Addressed to Joseph Denny at the Coatesville Hospital. Information about a car garage and a car wreck of Henry Zook, and a fire at Backersville, and the school buses of David Hartz. Emery Wells shoots a deer at Pine Swamp near Elverson, PA. Charles Peck trapped a weasel, but a thief stole the weasel and traps

Item number: 350435057849

1792 PHILA LETTER - SOLOMON [SALOMON] RAPHAEL

1792 PHILA LETTER - SOLOMON [SALOMON] RAPHAEL - JEWISH MERCHANT - Early Pennsylvania Judaica. Letter signed, "Salomon Raphael", Philadelphia, June 18, 1792. Hand carried cover to Daniel Clymer, Esqr in Reading. The signature is hard to decipher but docketing notes, "Solomon Raphael", and signature is known to be in his hand. Legal and business matter content. In part:

"I wrote you some time ago respecting my Business in your hands....have seen Mr. Zeanley since and he tells me he has settled with you which I am very happy as I know he is dificult to do Business with. I therefore would esteem it as a singular favour if you will...pay it to Mr. Coleman...the first time he passes with the Stage for Philadelphia..."

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Letter to Mrs. Mary Bradford and sister Sarah Jane, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, from Louisa, York Pennsylvania, 1839

York Friday Nov. 25th ‘39

— I cannot refrain from expressing my thanks, thus early, for it, nor from giving you, Sarah Jane, our particular thanks (which you well deserve) for urging dear Mrs Bradford to renew her determination of visiting us at Christmas – We have set our hearts upon seeing her then, and cannot be disappointed – Sally & Emy, I am sure, will not be happy without her.....

Miss Naudain left Town about a week since – she is a lively, pleasant girl, and probably may carry off one of our Beaux – certain it is, that Mr Barnits was very attentive to her, which, is all I have to found my supposition on. We are as yet without a stationed Clergyman — Mr Wallace who has preached here once, is expected this week, to remain six months upon trial – It is generally supposed that he will be continued, as he was universally liked, by those who heard him — On Sunday next, in addition to Mr Wallace; Mr Wolfe (the celebrated missionary), and Mr George Jones will preach here

... continue reading Letter to Mrs. Mary Bradford and sister Sarah Jane, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, from Louisa, York Pennsylvania, 1839

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 1850

Letter from Benj Scott to mother, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Dec. 8, 1850. After leaving Craftsbury, Vermont he travelled through many cities and towns (Burlington, Rochester, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland, etc.) via railroad, steamboat, stage, team and canal boat, before finally arriving in Harrisburg where he's been for a week - "awaiting an answer from one Mr. Spear from Alexandria, VA. I expect to go there to work in a Public House this winter."

Excerpts:
"This is a great country. I have seen more ignorance since I left home than I ever saw in my life. I have found thousands of People that could neither read nor write....There is one thing. Deliver me from the western Country. It is a cold good for nothing country."; "...I have been on the road about 68 days...I have formed 10,000 new acquaintances."
"Illinois & Wisconsin is a colder country than the New England states & the people are as poor as people ought to be be & live. Wheat was selling when I was there for 40 & 45 cts per bush. & drawing it from 50 to 80 miles & it cost them about all that the wheat was worth for to freight it to market & I never saw such poor oxen as they have."
"Pittsburg, Pa. is a Business Place. It is the smokiest place I ever saw. I was there three days & there was not any of the time that I could see even 40 rods distance, there is so many Foundrys of Iron & glass works & steam boats in the Ohio River & so much coal burnt, that it is a thick cloud about all of the them."
"Harrisburg is a nice place. There is about 10,000 inhabitants...& I find some very nice people...I have occasion to find them if there is any for I stop to the best of the Houses."

This great old letter is up for sale on Ebay Item number:230382531442

Channell family of Downingtown Pennsylvania

28 handwritten letters all belonging to the Channell family of Downingtown Pennsylvania. The earliest letter dates from the year 1886 and the last letter 1907. Most of the letters are addressed to Alfred C. Channell with some also to Margaret and Mary Channell.

Ebay Item number:170378090842

William Harrison Letter, Meadville Pennsylvania 1867

Meadville [PA] April 8 /67 [1867]

Dear Children, Mase and Arvilla

Your welcome and kind letter dated March the 25th was rec'd yesterday.
Thank you very much for that. Hope you will favor me with another when
convienient. I have entirely given up hearing directly from Mase or your
Uncle Charles or any others from that section of the country. Nothing
could have been more welcome or acceptable than your letter informing me
how you have all getting along. Making your passage ( and by the way,
most of us are compeled to take a deck passage and that on what the
mariner calls Hurricane Deck) [in] this truthfully called this dark and
unfriendly world. Arvilla I often feel as Alexander Selkirk express
himself "I am out [of] humanity's reach I must finish my journey alone
etc. etc.”

We have all had a glorious this winter Maria, Charley and little Lura the
hired girl and myself all sick in the house together. A very interesting
time I assure you. We are all improving in health and poverty I think.
I am still with Hull & Whitney in the music store at a salary a little
less than $50 per month. If my expenses are not awful I might lay up a
little something.

I wish I could see that sweet little Emma and little Wille. Kiss each of
them a dozen times for me. If I can get away from the store long enough
to slip down and see you all one of these days perhaps I may.

I sent Samuel Nuntty a book of Sabath School songs. Has he rec’d them if
so, please say to him I would like him to acknowledge it by letter. All
business in this section of country is dull to quiet. My kind regards to
Mase, to your Uncle Charles and family also our friends up on the hill
and others who may take the trouble to enquire about me. Tell little
Emma for me that she must be good girl and learn rapidly and in a few
years after your nice house is built and properly furnished and her
Father will furnish a part of the money that Grandpa will do something
towards procureing for a splendid piano. I can get them at first cost
any one of the best and most popular makes of pianos.

I would really like to send a good No. 3 Florence Sewing Machine to
Ellicottville and sell it to Aunt Em’s next door neighbor with a tip top
operator with it. Compare the stitching and work of each together and
she would not want a Grover & Baker as a gift could she see them tested
by competent operators. But it is all right as it is. Goodbye to all.
Write me again when convenient.

As ever your affectionate Father,

W. E. Harrison [William E. Harrison]

A letter from William E. HARRISON (b.1817 d.?) to his daughter Arvilla ALLEN(b.1842 d.1932) and her family then living in Ellicottville, NY. The spelling is the original. "Mase" is Mason Hicks ALLEN (b.1833 d.1905), Arvilla's husband.

"Uncle Charles" is Charles GALLOWAY who resided with the ALLEN family and was related to William and Arvilla.

"Alexander Selkirk" was the real-life model to Defoe's book, ROBINSON CRUSOE.

"Maria" is William's second wife. (William's first wife and Arvilla's mother Lydia Fish died in 1858.)

"Charley and Lura" are probably William's and Maria's children.

"Emma" (Emma I. ALLEN b.1860 d.1934) and "Willie" (William C. ALLEN b.1866 d.1892) are Arvilla's and Mason's children.

Submitter: David A. WOOLLEY daw@lawoolley.com

American Red Cross Letter 1919 to Bertha Gilkeson, Pennsylvania

American Red Cross Letter 1919 to Miss Bertha V. Gilkeson, Pennsylvania about knitting for refugees

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Item number: 320154178058