This is a particularly interesting piece of late-19th-century Midwestern social history because it combines intimate family correspondence with references to Danville’s banking circle, local education, health, travel, courtship, and extended family relationships.
Mary writes that she and her husband are well, expresses concern over her mother’s illness, asks that her mother not overexert herself, and mentions her father and other family members. She looks forward to returning home once the weather becomes warm and nostalgically recalls roaming the “old hills” and wearing out shoe leather as she had in earlier years.
One of the most important passages concerns “Mrs. Foote, the banker’s wife,” a woman with whom Mary says she is very close. Mrs. Foote apparently wished to accompany Mary on her trip home and board with Mary’s family for the summer for her health.
Mary also asks:
“Is Gilpin running the new Normal yet, or is it a failure.”
This is an especially intriguing contemporary reference. Danville was undergoing a major educational transition in this period, with Central Normal College relocating from Ladoga to Danville in 1878, only months before this letter was written. Whether Mary’s remark refers directly to Central Normal College or to another newly established normal school remains uncertain, but the passage provides an excellent research lead.
The letter contains numerous additional family and social references, including Kate, a Will identified as an M.D., and several other names and nicknames that could help identify Mary and her family through further genealogical research.
Biographical & Historical Context
Mary — Letter Writer
Mary’s full identity has not yet been conclusively established. The letter confirms that she was a married woman living in Danville in April 1879, with both parents still living and with close family ties elsewhere. She appears to have been away from her family home for approximately two years and intended to return for a visit. Her writing suggests an educated, socially connected woman with ties to prominent Danville families.
Mrs. Foote — Danville Banking Circle
The Foote family was closely associated with banking and civic life in Danville. Samuel P. Foote was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Danville and served as an early cashier of the institution. Mary’s reference to “Mrs. Foote, the banker’s wife” places her within, or at least adjacent to, a prominent local social circle.
Central Normal College
Central Normal College was founded in Ladoga, Indiana, in 1876 and moved to Danville in 1878. It became an important teacher-training institution in Indiana and later evolved into Canterbury College. Mary’s reference to a “new Normal” was written during the exact period when normal-school education was expanding rapidly in the region.
Gilpin
Mary asks whether “Gilpin” is “running the new Normal yet, or is it a failure.” The wording may be literal or humorous. It could refer to an administrator, teacher, student, or ambitious acquaintance jokingly described as “running” the school. Later Central Normal College records do contain the Gilpin surname, making this a potentially significant research clue, though no firm identification has yet been made.
Will, M.D.
The letter also references a “Will” identified as a physician. This may eventually prove important in identifying Mary’s natal family, as doctors are often comparatively easy to trace in county histories, city directories, and medical registers.
Why This Letter Is Important
This letter is more than an ordinary family note. It captures:
- Danville social life in 1879
- A direct reference to the local Foote banking family
- The era of Central Normal College’s relocation to Danville
- Family illness and domestic health concerns
- Travel between Indiana and a hillier home region
- Courtship and family gossip
- A reference to a physician within the extended family
- A potentially identifiable “Gilpin” associated with a “new Normal” school
The letter remains an excellent candidate for further genealogical research and may ultimately be attributable to a specific Mary and family once census, marriage, newspaper, and educational records are fully cross-referenced.
Condition:
Original handwritten manuscript on period lined paper. Written in pencil/graphite. Expected fold lines, light toning, and wear at fold intersections consistent with age. Writing remains largely legible. Please review all photographs carefully for condition and content.
A strong piece of 1879 Indiana social, educational, banking, and genealogical history, with several unresolved research leads that could significantly enhance its historical value.
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