Important and historic 3+ pages stampless letter written by Louisa D. Whittlesey on March 27 and 30, 1848, at Baton Rouge, LA, to her sister Ann A. Youngs at Pleasant Valley, Litchfield County, CT. Pages measure approx. 7 3/4" x 9 3/4".
Postal history: VERY FINE 29mm black CDS, BATON ROUGE La., with a large matching 10 cents rate mark.
Condition: Age toning, some pinholes in folds, small piece missing in page 3 where seal removed (affecting one word).
This long letter was written by Louisa D. Whittlesey, a young Connecticut woman who had traveled to the South to teach. She writes to her sister Ann, giving her a detailed account of her school and its Principal Miss Woodruff, the hiring of enslaved men and women to work at the school, the work of slaves in a family household, the construction of the famous Harney House, and the mention of notable people whom she had met in Baton Rouge. Louisa attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary (now Mount Holyoke College) and in 1846 traveled to Baton Rouge to accept a teaching position at the Baton Rouge Female Institute. The Institute was founded by Lucy Mildred Woodruff in 1837 as the Baton Rouge Female Academy and it became known as an excellent school with high standards. After Lucy's marriage to John Phillips in 1847, her sister Dorothea "Dolly" L. Woodruff, known as "Miss Woodruff," took over the school. Louisa notes that she was only one of two teachers there and expresses her frustration that her contract with Miss Woodruff included six weeks of vacation, explaining that she has had no vacation since school began the previous September and that Miss Woodruff mentioned that there might not be any vacation when the term ended in August!]
1848
Baton Rouge March 27Dear Sister Ann
I was glad enough to get a letter from you this morning and another from Emily. You asked lots of questions about the folks here which I shall be happy to answer. I am glad you take some interest in them, strangers as they are to you. But in the first place, I don't know what you mean by apologising [sic] for your letters, you make me quite ashamed of mine and instead of thinking yours were unworthy of an answer, I would write two for one of yours, if I could not get it any other way: but I am not going to offer to do it though. Tell Harriet I think of her and bub (or Johnny) very often. I should like to go out on the hill with her and get wintergreen berries, if there are any. I suppose she has grown a great deal since I have seen her and as for Johnny I have a great curiosity to see him, does he walk and talk yet? and is Harriet fond of him. Tell Harriet you can write for her, I should like to have her send messages. I hope I shall see her before she is old enough to write letters. Emily says Frances is almost as tall as Ellen. I wish I could have been at your house when Abner carried the girls up. If I could only have found my old man to have gone with me, it would have been quite a family visit wouldn't it.
Mr. Hedenberg did go a good ways to see my 'lations" to be sure 'dear good man" you may love him if you want to I shant, perhaps you do more than you would if he had gone to see you; but he was very kind, indeed he was, and he is a mighty good natural, clever fellow, you cant make him angry, or I cant.
"Dr Gruneberg's name is pronounced in three syllables, Gru-ne-berg accent on the first syllable. He teaches music here now has 7 scholars, I have four. We expect two more boarders soon who will be his scholars. Miss Woodruff, before I came out here engaged to give me $200, the first year, $250 the second $300 the third besides that I was to have six months instruction in music from Dr. Gruneberg. Cornelia's salary was fifty dollars less each year.
Nothing has been said about altering the terms, and I expect it is as much as Miss Woodruff can afford. I have no bills to collect[,] Miss W. superintends both departments and has no other teachers in school. She hires three servants at the rate of 8 & 10 dollars a month. one washes and irons, another cooks, and the other takes care of the house. The cook belongs to Mrs Philips and the house servant to Mr. Philips. of course their masters and mistresses receive their wages. Mr Philips has one servant who hires his time of his master, pays him 20 dollars a month, and is making money at that. he drives a dray. Mrs Philips has a small family, there are only Mr. & Mrs. P. Eliza, and Mrs. P's two boys. They live in very good style, have three servants in the kitchen besides a boy who helps wait on table cleans knives and runs on errands. -
I dont [sic] believe you know how to pronounce the Mr. McCaughey's name. it is pronounced as if it was spelt McCoy. it is Scotch they say, they are from Ohio there are three brothers, one is married, was married a few weeks before I came here. They are carpenters I believe the second one Joseph is an architect and a first rate fellow he is. They all used to work in the ordinance in the United States service, but J. is now in business for himself. He is now putting up a fine hotel. If he has plenty of business and he seems to have a prospect of it, I expect he will get rich, though his health is delicate. The youngest one is not 21 he is a fine fellow too. You ask who likes Joe, Eliza or I, we both do, but we cant come it [sic] Im afraid, he is thinking about his business more than about the girls I expect. Mr. Hedenberg works for Mr. Tunnard who makes carriages, wagons, and I dont [sic] know what he does not do. He has a great many men black and white in his employ. -
Eliza Phillips is not handsome, she is good looking though, will be twenty one next month. I dont [sic] know why she dont [sic] get married, expect she would if she could be exactly suited. There I think I have given you quite a description you must pass it all off for nonsense I could give you plenty of that I have just been asking Eliza, she says, "tell her I am beautiful and could get married next week if I wanted to but I don't want to." Sour grapes.! -
I could not think at first who you meant by Mr. Thompson, his name is Thompson Bird. I see them occasionally they seem to be very happy, live at his home in the country or at hers in town just as they please, and are at both places almost every day. they have nothing to do but ride about and enjoy themselves. I went with them to a masquerade ball a few weeks ago. I suppose Dr. Laycock is married to Mr. Bird's sister, at least it is reported that they are: they went to St Louis several weeks ago, and her mother with them, she is about 19, and has been a widow 10 months, she has one child, but she is both rich and pretty. -
So Huldah is going to leave Winsted I wish I could see her. I think Eliza Philips looks a little like her but she has dark hair and eyes. -
I suppose it is cold weather with you yet. I can hardly realize it, for we have had some very warm weather and have been wearing muslin dresses, though it is cool enough today for a thick dress. -
I am not acquainted with Eliphalet Whittlesey and should not dare send him a paper he knows I am here doesnt [sic] he, he can send me one if he wants to. I should like to have him come here but I dont [sic] suppose he will. He wont go home this way will he. I want Emily to come out here but I dont [sic] suppose Miss Woodruff will think best to employ her. I do not think myself that she needs two teachers if Dr. Gruneberg stays, and I cannot take his place.
Thursday morning March 30. I saw Eliza last night, she sends her love to you. I dread the long summer some, we have no vacation until August, have been in school without a vacation since the
first15 of September, and Miss Woodruff says she dont[sic] know that she willbeginhave any vacation even in August, it breaks up a school so, but I shant [sic] like it much if she dont [sic] give six weeks as she agreed. She talks of giving a party the first of May, hope she will."Give my love to all the folks, tell Edward I shall expect to see him and his wife when I go to Connecticut. I heard that Alpheus Porter was very partial to Abby, is it so &c. You see I have answered your letter very soon, now you must write again directly.
[More information from the seller:
Louisa Dolly Whittlesey (1825-1909) was born in Farmington, CT, the daughter of Harvey Whittlesey (1788-1861) and Ruth Dolly Whittlesey (1793-1841). Louisa attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary 1841-1843, but did not graduate. Her mother gave birth to a son Lucius on March 11, 1841, and died eight days later. On August 31, 1842, her father married Dolly Maria Sperry (1812-?). Possibly, Louisa was needed at home to help with the care of Lucius and her three other young siblings. Louisa taught school in Farmington 1843-1844 and in Berlin, CT, 1845-46. In late December 1846, Louisa traveled to Baton Rouge where she joined her brother-in law's cousin Cornelia Youngs and Dr. Gruneberg on the teaching staff of the Baton Rouge Female Institute (see below for a history of the school and its staff). During her time in Baton Rouge, Louisa managed to participate in the social life of the city and met a wide variety of people including sugar planters, manufacturers, builders, and merchants. She became a close friend of Eliza Phillips whose father John Phillips married Lucy Matilda Woodruff in 1847. Louisa taught at the Baton Rouge Female Institute until 1849, when she left the school to return to CT. She lived with her family in Farmington until 1860, when she moved to Chicago to live with her sisters Emily and Frances. By 1870 she had moved back to Farmington to live with her sister Ann. Louisa returned to Chicago by 1900 and lived again with Frances until she passed away in 1909. She is buried in Memento Mori Cemetery in Farmington. See Fifth Annual Catalogue of the Officers and Members of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary 1841-2, Sixth Annual Catalogue of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary...1842-43, Catalogue of the Memorandum Society, and of the Alumnae of Mount Holyoke Seminary... 1837-1877, and General Catalogue of Officers and Students of Mount Holyoke College (1911).
In 1840 Louisa's sister Ann Amelia Whittlesey (1815-1897) married Daniel W. Youngs (1814-1902), the son of Constant Youngs (1790-1826) and Cynthia Wiggins (1787-1834) of Farmington. Daniel and Ann made their home in Pleasant Valley, where Daniel worked as a farmer and manufacturer. Their children, mentioned in the letter, were Harriet (born on February 12, 1842) and John (born on January 21, 1847; died on November 22, 1848). Daniel's cousin Cornelia Youngs (1826-1847) was the daughter of his uncle Thomas Youngs (1787-1865) and Elizabeth Miller (1796-1855) of Farmington. Cornelia graduated from Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in 1845 and taught at the Baton Rouge Female Institute 1846-1847. On November 7, 1847, she died of yellow fever in Baton Rouge. See Catalogue of the Memorandum Society, and of the Alumnae of Mount Holyoke Seminary... 1837-1877.
Louisa and Ann's siblings mentioned in the letter include Abner Sheldon Whittlesey (1819-1888), Ellen Ruth Whittlesey (1828-1866), Emily Wadsworth Whittlesey (1830-1900), and Frances Marion Whittlesey (1835-1919).
For more information on the Whittlesey and Youngs families, see Genealogy of the Whittelsey-Whittlesey Family (1898) and Youngs Family (1907).
Lucy Mildred Woodruff (1806-1908) was born at Farmington, the daughter of Ozem Woodruff (1773-1849) and Martha Scott (1775-1843). Her brother Ozem Jr. (1803-1857) had moved to Baton Rouge. He brought Lucy to Baton Rouge in 1836 and their father joined them in 1847. In June 1837 Lucy founded the Baton Rouge Female Academy, which was one of the earliest Protestant schools for young women in the city. In 1838 she married Phineas D. Fisher (1810-1843), who taught at the school and served as co-principal. On June 21, 1843, Phineas died, leaving Lucy with two young children, John (1839-1861) and George (1842-1864), to support. She continued as principal of the school and it became known informally as "Mrs. Fisher's School." On August 17, 1847, Lucy, who is the "Mrs. Phillips" mentioned in the letter, married a prosperous Baton Rouge merchant named John Phillips (1787-1853). After her marriage, she retired from the school and her sister Dorothea "Dolly" L. Woodruff, who had been teaching there, became the principal. Dorothea is the "Miss Woodruff" mentioned in the letter. The 1850 census shows that John Phillips owned 17 slaves and real estate valued at $12,000. In November 1853, he died of yellow fever in Baton Rouge. John Phillips' daughter Eliza D. Phillips (1829-1913) by his first wife Susan Sommers (1785-1846) married Horace Vibbert (1825-1872) at St. Francisville, LA, in 1853. In 1855 Lucy married Phineas D. Fisher's brother Samuel Fisher (1808-1885), who was a prosperous farmer and local officeholder in Warsaw, NY. They lived the rest of their lives in Warsaw and are buried in the Warsaw Cemetery. See Biographical Record of the Alumni of Amherst College... (1883), and Biographical Review (1895).
Dorothea "Dolly" L. Woodruff (1813-1866) was born in Farmington. By 1843 she had moved to Baton Rouge, where she worked as co-principal with her sister Lucy of the Baton Rouge Female Institute. She was known as "Miss Woodruff" and the school became known informally as "Miss Woodruff's School." The 1850 census shows that she boarded with the Phillips family. On July 21, 1851, Dorothea married Shubael Tenney (1805-?). They moved to the town of Fayette in Jefferson County, MS, where Shubael served as President of the Fayette Female Academy. Dorothea passed away in Fayette in Fall 1866. Her estate was settled in Baton Rouge, where she still owned several tracts of land.
For more information on the Woodruff family see Woodruff Genealogy (1963), and Gibbens Relatives (1971).
Others mentioned in the letter are described below:
"Mr. Hedenberg" and "Mr. Tunnard" refer to the Baton Rouge carriage-making firm of Tunnard & Hedenburg, which was located at Main and Church Sts. The partners were William F. Tunnard (1809-1871) and Abram D. Hedenberg (1809-1871). See The Southern Business Directory, and General Commercial Advertiser... (1854).
"Thompson Bird" refers to wealthy sugar planter Thompson J. Bird (1827-1902). On December 2, 1847, he married Cecelia Catherine Tessier (1833-1850). In April 1850, Cecilia died of cholera in Baton Rouge. Thompson served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Confederate Army. After the war, he served as Sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish and as Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture. On March 3, 1848, Thompson's sister Adelia Louise Bird (1829-1865) married Dr. Samuel Gordon Laycock (1818-1887) at Baton Rouge. See The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer, Vol. 28 (1902).
The "fine hotel" refers to the Harney House, which was built in 1848-1849 on the northeast corner of Lafayette & Main Sts. The hotel became the finest hotel in Baton Rouge, accommodating many wealthy and famous guests including ex-President Polk and General Zachary Taylor. The hotel was owned by merchants and financiers William S. Pike and Samuel M. Hart. Construction began in Spring 1848 and Louisa Whittlesey identifies architect, builder, and carpenter Joseph Green McCaughey as one who was "putting up a fine hotel." On December 2, 1848, the New Orleans Times-Picayune gave a detailed description of the exterior and interior of the new hotel. The four-story Harney House opened on February 20, 1849, with a grand ball to celebrate. The hotel remained in business under a succession of names - the last being the Louisian - until well into the 20th Century. See the Baton Rouge Gazette (July 29, 1848), the Times Picayune (December 2, 1848, and February 26, 1853), the New Orleans Daily Delta (February 25, 1849), 1858 Baton Rouge city directory, and the Woman's Enterprise (Baton Rouge, March 10, 1922).
Joseph Green McCaughey (1820-1848) was the son of James McCaughey (1785-1833) and Elizabeth McCune (1789-1832) of Jefferson County, OH. Joseph and his brothers Jackson Warren McCaughey (c. 1828-1849) and William H. McCaughey (1820-1850) moved from OH to Baton Rouge in the 1840's. Joseph was involved in the construction of the Harney House. He is mentioned by Louisa as being in "delicate health," and he died in Baton Rouge by October 26, 1848, before the completion of the hotel. Jackson Warren McCaughey was also a carpenter and administered Joseph's estate, which included two lots in Baton Rouge, "one set of drawing instruments," and other items. William H. McCaughey also worked as a carpenter and in 1846 married Frances Ann Augusta Pratt (1825-1903) in Baton Rouge. William passed away there on March 26, 1850. See the Baton Rouge Gazette (October 28 and December 30, 1848).
The Baton Rouge Female Academy was founded in June 1837 by Lucy Mildred Woodruff. On December 25, 1838, Lucy married Phineas D. Fisher and subsequent advertisements for the academy show that it was "conducted by Mr. & Mrs. Fisher." On December 23, 1839, they advertised that the school was devoted to the "moral and intellectual interests" of the students, contained a valuable library, and that they had ordered the best texbooks and scientific equipment from New York. Phineas died in 1843 and afterwards the school was sometimes advertised as the Seminary for Young Ladies, "conducted by Mrs. Fisher." Dr. Gruneberg, a highly regarded music teacher, joined the staff in September 1845. Advertisements show that Lucy began to share the management of the school with her sister Dorothea "Dolly" L. Woodruff around October 1845. The same year, the school moved to a large building on Church Street that had been purchased by "a friend of the school." On January 9, 1847, Lucy announced that the school had added "three new associates" to its teaching staff: a Mr. Edwards, Cornelia Youngs, and Louisa D. Whittlesey. Her announcement included proud mention of the fact that Miss Youngs and Miss Whittlesey had been educated at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. Around this time the formal name of the school was changed to the Baton Rouge Female Institute, under the direction of "Mrs. L. M. Fisher, Principal." On August 17, 1847, Lucy Matilda Woodruff Fisher married John Phillips. Lucy then removed herself from the management of the school and Dorothea became Principal. The school then became known as Miss Woodruff's School and continued to operate until 1852 or 1853. Louisa's letter reveals that during Dorothea's tenure, she hired three enslaved African-Americans "at the rate of 8 & 10 dollars a month" each to wash, iron, cook, and take care of the house. See the Baton Rouge Gazette (December 3, 1839; October 31, 1840; December 21, 1844; September 6 and October 18, 1845; January 9, February 6, and May 8, 1847; and February 26, 1848) and the Missionary Herald, Vol. 48 (1852).