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Ellen Spaulding Miller Papers, 1863, 1870-1887

 Collection
Identifier: Eau Claire Mss BF

Content Description

Papers of a woman who lived in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in the 1870s. The collection consists largely of letters, written principally by Ellen Spaulding Miller to family members who probably lived in New York. The letters reflect domestic life, family relationships, economic conditions, lumbering, religious revivals, and health conditions in the lumbering capital of northwestern Wisconsin. The Spaulding papers also include the booklet The Christian Minister's Affectionate Advice to a Married Couple (circa 1863), eight issues of Every Child's Paper - a children's Sunday School paper, and two photographs of Jefferson Miller, Ellen Miller's husband.

This collection of letters is not comprehensive, yet it provides a clear view of the times and of domestic and family life in the early 1870s. Most of the letters were written by Ellen to her parents and sisters Bertha and Birdie. Jefferson Miller wrote a few of the letters. Most of the detailed information in the collection relates to the subjects of everyday life such as the weather, flower gardens, travels back to New York, and family health. In many instances, however, these mundane details are related to more far-reaching events such as epidemics, floods, religious revivals, and hard frosts. The state of agriculture in the area also received detailed treatment, with a discussion of land prices, commodity prices, credit terms, and crops raised. The Grange farm organization also is mentioned briefly. In addition, the letters contain information regarding tenant housing, specialized health care, general economic conditions, and operation of the Eau Claire Lumber Company. Unfortunately, many letters lack complete dates.

Dates

  • Creation: 1863
  • Creation: 1870-1887

Creator

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public.

Use Restrictions

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. For more information regarding the copyright status of this collection please contact the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Biographical/Historical Note

Ellen E. Spaulding was born in New York state on January 7, 1843, the daughter of Ryland and Eleanor Angle Spaulding. She married Jefferson Miller in an evening ceremony performed by Pastor L. Cowler of the Congregational Church in Randolph, New York, on February 23, 1863. The couple had three children: Mira, born March 12, 1865; Carrie, born February 20, 1869; and Frank (called “Budgie”), born November 7, 1876. The Millers moved to the city of Eau Claire by the late summer of 1870, traveling by steamboat from the port in Illinois. The family remained in Eau Claire until after Ellen's death from pneumonia in the mid-1880s, when Jefferson moved to a farm near Thorp in Clark County. He remarried in 1889, and died in 1910 of Brights' (kidney) disease. Jefferson Miller is buried in Bateman Cemetery in the Town of LaFayette, Chippewa County, Wisconsin.

Extent

0.2 Linear Feet (1 archives box)

Language of Materials

English

Summary

Papers of a woman who lived in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in the 1870s. The collection consists largely of letters, written principally by Ellen Spaulding Miller to family members who probably lived in New York. The letters reflect domestic life, family relationships, economic conditions, lumbering, religious revivals, and health conditions in the lumbering capital of northwestern Wisconsin. The Spaulding papers also include the booklet The Christian Minister's Affectionate Advice to a Married Couple (circa 1863), eight issues of Every Child's Paper - a children's Sunday School paper, and two photographs of Jefferson Miller, Ellen Miller's husband.

Wisconsin Historical Society Descriptive Finding Aid

A duplicate copy of the information in this finding aid is also available through the Wisconsin Historical Society: Register of the Ellen Spaulding Miller Papers, 1863, 1870-1887

Acquisition Information

Presented by Maxine M. Swanson, Alma, Wisconsin, March 1984.

Accession Number

M84-181

Digitized Materials

Selections of digitized papers and letters (115 pages): Ellen Spaulding Miller papers

Processing Note

Processed by Allan Patek and Richard L. Pifer, 1985.

Status
Published
Author
Stephanie Much
Date
March 5, 2024
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Eau Claire Area Research Center, McIntyre Library, UW-Eau Claire Repository

Contact:
103 Garfield Avenue
Eau Claire Wisconsin 54701 United States
715-836-2739