Hello the list! My grandmother, Mary Edith Raff Bell, died in 1968. I've had a large box of her effects since that time and about 3 months ago decided to go through it more thoroughly than I ever had before. In it I re-discovered a diary she had kept from 1911-1914, while teaching school in Muscatine, and many letters, cards and photos. I transcribed the diary and over 60 letters and postcards, some which were written at the time of the diary, many others dating from 1861 to 1923 or so. I have donated the diary to the Scott and Muscatine County pages. The diary includes over 100 Muscatine and Scott County surnames, many business names and events in both counties and a written view of a school marm's life from 1911-1914. In the meantime, I thought I'd post some of the letters and postcards that did not accompany the diary, as they might be of historical interest to some. The following is a courtship letter from my G grandfather, Almon Keeler Raff, to his lady love, my G grandmother, Ella Sanders, who lived in Davenport. He was in the farm implement business ca 1870, and his work included sales calls throughout the Midwest. Ah, love! Albia Iowa Sept. 11th, 1869 My Darling Ellie, My heart was made glad yesterday on the receipt of a sweet and delicately toned missive from one, whom of all others in this wide, wide world, I most longed to hear;--one whom I love and worship dearly and devotedly;--one whom I have long wished to call my wife,--and now after many dreary days of watching, long and sleepless nights of thinking, my prayer is answered and I am happy, yes my cup of happiness is complete. Twas a long fight, yet will and perseverance conquered. Do you know dearest that the past eight days seem more like a dream than stern reality! That looking way back to the evening of December 7th and comparing it with the night of Sept 1st, that it appears like a myth, a fairy tale! Your change of feeling from that of friendship to love, was so unlooked for, so unexpected that it nearly made me wild with delight, and only now am I beginning to be myself again and to realize that it was no dream nor imagination. I know I have your whole heart, and that you love me with all the love woman can bear man; and also, that you are worthy a thousand times deeper affection than is in the power of mortal man to give;-and fear I shall never be worthy of the great happiness conferred upon me. What can I do, how act and live that will in a measure requit the debt I owe you; what course persue that will make your life bright and joyous, for henceforth my life shall be devoted to that one great object, viz: the happiness of my Ellie. Now I have something to live for; have taken a new lease on live which I trust will not be purposless,--not all froth and foam as heretofore. Need I tell you I looked forward to the receipt of your letter with many pleasurable emotions? and the moments consumed in perusing it were some of the most happy of my life. It has made many a long and wretched hour often while waiting at night for a train, or riding in the cars and alone with my own thoughts, would they wander back to the two last evenings we were together; and the I would wonder whether you followed me in thought as often as I do you, But I know you do, for often my ears burn wonderfully-and that you know is a positive sign that some one is thinking of you, and whoelse could it be but your own dearself. It appears as though business matters were multiplying instead of decreasing as I progress.-must be because I am so anxious to see you-and unless I make better headway in the future will not be at home at the expiration of my two weeks. Our meeting however will be all the dearer for that, "wont it?" I want to see you real badly Ellie; want to set down by ! your side and have you again tell me you love me, and at some future day will be my little wife. Will you do it, dearest? Then too, we have never been alone together for more than a few moments at a time since that happy night, and I have something so sweet to tell you, and so much to talk about. Don't think I will reach home until the first of week after next, and how it seems so long. Wish I had I have given you directions where to write me again, but never thought of it. "Will close or I wont have anything to tell you when we meet." Yours with deep and undying love. Keeler ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann Assist. CC: Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm. for: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES