Centre County Library and Historical Museum - Keller Letters

About This Collection

The family of Henry Keller were residents of Boalsburg, Pa. in the 1800's. Sophie Keller, daughter of Henry and Margaretta (nee Schneck), is significant because of her participation in a graveside remembrance at the Boalsburg, PA cemetery in Oct. 1864 that blossomed into an annual memorial day event now held in May. Collection covers sixty-one letters and one poem from 1837 to 1893 associated with the life of family members, including Margaretta's kin, with many in the Civil War timeframe.
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1865-10-03 Handwritten letter from P. T. Musser to Sallie (Sarah J. Keller)
1865-10-03 Handwritten letter from P. T. Musser to Sallie (Sarah J. Keller)
Keller Family
Mr. Musser associated with the Millheim schools stated that they had no need for teachers but would try to get Sallie in if another teacher cancels.
1865-11-02 Handwritten letter from Alfred Shaw to Henry and Margaretta Keller
1865-11-02 Handwritten letter from Alfred Shaw to Henry and Margaretta Keller
Keller Family
Alfred states his intentions of marrying Ellie (Margaret Ellen Keller) on Dec. 27th to her parents. Alfred is open to changes if the date does not suit them. Alfred is building a house for completion in the Spring but if not married his desire to complete it would be affected. In terms of wedding celebrations Alfred has 'no taste for lively gatherings and that day cannot be too quiet for me'; and '...to be amongst strangers affords me no pleasure...'.
1865-11-30 Handwritten letter from Ada (Adaline S. Keller Hutchison) to her mother, Margaretta Keller
1865-11-30 Handwritten letter from Ada (Adaline S. Keller Hutchison) to her mother, Margaretta Keller
Keller Family
Ada is expecting another child and asks her mother about getting a nurse, supplying bandages and rags and getting a 'wooden nursing rocker' built. Boyd and Ada also need 'lard very badly'. Ada is looking for three diapers.
1865-12-23 Handwritten letter from Jennie H. Beck to her friend, Sallie (Sarah J. Keller)
1865-12-23 Handwritten letter from Jennie H. Beck to her friend, Sallie (Sarah J. Keller)
Keller Family
Correspondence between two teachers who are also friends. Jennie is teaching in Beech Creek. Jennie went to the Temperance meeting, and mentioned the monthly Institute meetings that she has not gone to yet. Jennie mentioned that members of the local Sabbath School went ice skating on Sunday and were told about it by the reverend that evening. Jennie wrote about other teachers in the area.
1865-12-31 Handwritten letter from A. Boyd Hutchison to his father-in-law, Henry Keller
1865-12-31 Handwritten letter from A. Boyd Hutchison to his father-in-law, Henry Keller
Keller Family
Boyd told his father-in-law that their infant son died on Dec. 30th from some unknown 'internal ailment'. Boyd and Ada buried him in the cemetery. Ada is well and appears to be getting 'strong rapidly'.
1866-01-01 Handwritten letter from Ellen (Margaret Ellen Keller Shaw) to her sister, Sophie (Sophie C. Keller)
1866-01-01 Handwritten letter from Ellen (Margaret Ellen Keller Shaw) to her sister, Sophie (Sophie C. Keller)
Keller Family
Ellen described visits with friends in Milesburg, PA and in Tyrone, PA before proceeding to Philadelphia, PA; the visits were muddy. Ellen visited their aunt (Adeline Schneck) while in Philadelphia, PA. In New York, Edwin Waring and his sister lived in a house that was 'so handsome and elegantly furnished'. Edwin was 'as handsome a man as I ever saw, only most too much of a dandy'. Edwin is 'full of fun and mischief' as evident by his ink blot and writing on the paper.
1866-01-17 Handwritten letter from Ellen (Margaret Ellen Keller Shaw) to her sister, Sallie (Sarah J. Keller)
1866-01-17 Handwritten letter from Ellen (Margaret Ellen Keller Shaw) to her sister, Sallie (Sarah J. Keller)
Keller Family
Ellen and her husband, Alfred, are coming back to Boalsburg, PA through Bellefonte, PA. They are coming from the Osceola, PA area. Ellen is asking whether their father was well enough to pick them up and bring them to Boalsburg, PA.
1866-02-17 Handwritten letter from Daniel S. Keller to his sister, Clara (Clara Louise Keller)
1866-02-17 Handwritten letter from Daniel S. Keller to his sister, Clara (Clara Louise Keller)
Keller Family
Daniel writes about meeting up with Alice Gilliland. Daniel wants Clara to sent him his discharge perhaps mailed 'wrapped around a light pine stick'. Daniel mentioned the 4th anniversary meeting of the U.S. Christian Commission and the 'Birthday of Abraham Lincoln' exercises in the Capitol, but he did not attend either.
1866-03-20 Handwritten letter from Daniel S. Keller to his sister, Clara (Clara Louise Keller)
1866-03-20 Handwritten letter from Daniel S. Keller to his sister, Clara (Clara Louise Keller)
Keller Family
Daniel felt that an apology for not writing was not needed since he thought he wrote last, and for this same reason did not acknowledge the receipt of his discharge. Daniel mentions his financial stake in bonds, and the well-received nomination of Gen. Geary by fellow Pennsylvanians in Washington D. C.
1866-03-22 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
1866-03-22 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
Schneck Family
Benjamin is having difficulties getting a required Power of Attorney signature so he can help settle his nephew's estate for his siblings and himself. Appraisal of the estate's real estate is high therefore the taxes will be high. There is a dower of $4,000 on the land but the 'old lady has died'. Benjamin also tells about his Churches' Print Estate in Chambersburg, Pa. settlement progress after its burning by the Confederates.
1866-03-27 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
1866-03-27 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
Schneck Family
Benjamin discusses settlement of interest due to his nephew's estate from a mortgage to Mrs. Adeline Schneck (the wife of deceased Daniel Schneck) among his siblings, himself and his nephew's widow. Benjamin still is having trouble getting the required signature for Power of Attorney. The settlement of his Church's Printing Establishment in Chambersburg from the Confederate burning is still being discussed.
1866-05-02 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his brother-in-law, Henry Keller
1866-05-02 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his brother-in-law, Henry Keller
Keller Family; Schneck Family
Benjamin is still having troubles in getting his Power of Attorney approved to deal with their deceased nephew's estate for him and his sisters. Benjamin writes about the financial details of the estate including the taxes and his plan for settling it with their nephew's wife. Benjamin wants their nephew's wife to withdraw or sell her 'Life Interest' but that is not likely. Benjamin is determined to 'have evenhanded justice, law & equity carried out' for all parties.
1866-06-22 Handwritten letter from Ada (Adaline S. Keller Hutchison) to her sister, Sallie (Sarah J. Keller)
1866-06-22 Handwritten letter from Ada (Adaline S. Keller Hutchison) to her sister, Sallie (Sarah J. Keller)
Keller Family
Ada and Boyd are planning to go to the 'City' (Philadelphia, PA). Ada mentioned that she 'took cold & was very sick'. Ada stated that she had 'something like Pleuricy'. Ada applied mustard (maybe to her chest) for 3 or 4 hours and it burnt her skin. They had to 'open the blisters and poultice it'. Ada notes that 'the Cure was worse than the disease'.
1866-06-23 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
1866-06-23 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
Schneck Family
Benjamin went to Philadelphia to sell stocks associated with his and his sisters nephew's estate. Benjamin decided to keep and distribute between himself and his sisters the Lehigh Navigation stock shares because of their dividends. Other stocks were being held for sell later.
1866-07-10 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
1866-07-10 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
Schneck Family
Benjamin discusses further the settlement of his and his sisters nephew's estate which will be divided between his sisters, himself and Mrs. Louisa Schneck (his nephew's wife). Benjamin looks at the estate with the dower on and off.
1866-07-13 Handwritten letter from Daniel S. Keller to his sister, Sallie (Sarah J. Keller)
1866-07-13 Handwritten letter from Daniel S. Keller to his sister, Sallie (Sarah J. Keller)
Keller Family
Daniel writes about his wife, Mattie, and her teaching in the Georgetown schools. Daniel mentions visits with friends. Daniel and his wife are expecting to be home in August on a leave of absence, and he has not heard about his pension yet due to a 'press of business in the varied Government offices'.
1866-09-04 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
1866-09-04 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
Schneck Family
Benjamin recommends that he and his sisters buy additional stock in the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company and he will await their decision. Benjamin is going to Lebanon, PA to find out about the sell of their deceased nephew's farm; Benjamin wants at least $200/acre, or he will stop the sell.
1866-09-24 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
1866-09-24 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
Schneck Family
The Schneck family's deceased nephew's farm was up for auction but Benjamin notes the auction only had 'one, real bona fide bidder' and only reached $193/acre ; the auction was adjourned without a sell because Benjamin wanted at least $200 per acre. The farm will go up again for auction later if not sold privately. Benjamin ordered the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company stock.
1866-12-03 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
1866-12-03 Handwritten letter from Benjamin S. Schneck to his sister, Margaretta Keller
Schneck Family
Benjamin is sending Margaretta a check for $49.96 as the bi-annual dividend on her 20 shares of Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company stock. Benjamin notes that there is a potential buyer for their deceased nephew's farm but the 'conditions of payment' need changed.
1867-04-23 Handwritten letter from Lil H. McCollough to her friend, Sallie (Sarah J. Keller)
1867-04-23 Handwritten letter from Lil H. McCollough to her friend, Sallie (Sarah J. Keller)
Keller Family
Lil wrote of the death of her mother and that they 'bade her farewell to meet no more on earth'. Lil is taking care of her father and brother on the farm. Lil mentions some of their mutual acquaintances who were recently married. Lil asked when Sallie was getting married.