20.18.14

Letter

1877

Letters from(1) Cousin James Lilly Jr. and (2) sister Ellen. Material: paper. Size: 8" x 10". Description: white lined paper; first half is written in black ink to Dear Cousin from James Lilly Jr. from Monticello, Indiana; contents makes reference to his school subjects, ice skating, abundance of apples and cider and the status of the farm crops in Indiana; the second message written on the same piece of paper is in reference to forwarding the message from Cousin James Lilly; Ellen's letter is written from "home" and makes reference to another James, their brother James Conner traveling to New Ulm to sell corn and oats; also to brother George Conner attending writing school; visitors James, Sarah Jane Pertie and Mary Walker; Mrs. Beeman; quilt charms; a lyceum discussion about whether married life is happier than single life led by Mr. J. Hawk and other social news.

Brother of Amanda Conner: George Furman Conner BIRTH 19 Jul 1857 Waseca County, Minnesota, USA DEATH 10 Dec 1923 (aged 66) Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan, USA BURIAL Lakeside Cemetery Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan, USA. Miss Amanda C. Conner of Blooming Grove and James Wilson (J.W.) Cleland were married October 3, 1877. Amanda was born September 11, 1852, in Indiana, and came to Waseca County with her parents in 1856. Mother Sarah Lilly Conner moved with her husband and family to South Dakota in 1883. She died there in 1900. Amanda's husband, J. W. Cleland was born September 27, 1847 in Delaware County, NY., and was one of nine children born to Rev. and Mrs. W. J. Cleland. He came West with his family in 1863. He carried on the homestead farm until 1885, when the place was sold and he purchased a small farm on the west shore of Clear Lake, near Waseca. J. W. was stricken by paralysis while working about a threshing machine. He never recovered from the stroke and died after a very prolonged illness, July 15, 1903.