I've "rescued" a group of old family letters belonging to the DANA Family of Massena, New York. The group of 10 letters include a considerable amount of information regarding family activities and events and appear to span from 1874 to 1890 being written by and to family members. Based on limited research I was able to gather the following information regarding this family: Samuel DANA (b. 26 Mar 1790 in Amherst, MA) married Julia MOODY (b. 6 Nov 1792 in Amherst, MA) on 15 Jan 1915. Samuel DANA died Jul 1882 in Massena, NY. Joseph Clark DANA b. 28 Feb 1824 in Massena, NY to parents Samuel DANA and Julia MOODY. Joseph married Eveline Patience EDDY on 28 May 1851 in Massena, NY and died in March 1902. Melinda DANA b. 12 Apr 1830 in Massena, NY, died 9 Oct 1922 in Jamaica, NY at the home of her daughter Alma. 1860 census of Massena, NY: Samuel DANA, age 70, a Farmer, born MA Julia DANA, age 68, born MA Emily DANA, age 42, born NY Lucius DANA, age 32, a Farmer, born NY Elizabeth DANA, age 21, a Teacher, born NY Martha DANA, age 10, born NY 1870 census of Massena, NY: Samuel DANA, age 80, a Farmer, born MA Lydia DANA, age 77, born MA Emily DANA, age 50, Keeping House, born NY Lucius DANA, age 45, a Farmer, born NY Royal M. CROWLEY, age 32, a Farmer, born NY Julia CROWLEY, age 34, Keeping House, born NY Edda CROWLEY, age 9, born NY Samuel CROWLEY, age 7 born NY ? CROWLEY, age 6, born NY (female) Jessie CROWLEY, age 1, born NY 1880 census of Massena, NY: Royal CROWLEY, age 42, a Farmer, born NY, parents born VT Julia CROWLEY, wife, age 43, Keeps House, born NY, parents born MA Edwin CROWLEY, son, age 18, at Home, born NY Samuel CROWLEY, son, age 16, at Home, born NY Inas CROWLEY, dau, age 15, at Home, born NY Jessie CROWLEY, dau, age 10, at Home, born NY Edney CROWLEY, dau, age 7, at Home, born NY Lucius DANY, age 53, born NY, a Farmer, parents born MA Fanny DANY, wife, age 49, born NY, Keeps House, parents born VT Samuel DANY, father, age 90, born MA, parents born MA Julia DANY, mother, age 88, born MA, parents born MA Emily DANY, sister, age 63, born NY + 1 Servant 1880 census of La Fayette, WI: Joseph DANA, age 55, born NY, a Farmer, parents born MA Evaline DANA, wife, age 53, born VT, Housekeeping, parents born VT Eva DANA, dau, age 25, born NY + a School Teacher 1900 census of Massena Township, NY: Julia N. CROWLEY, age 59, a widow, born Nov 1840, 5 children/5 living, born NY, parents born NY/Ireland, a Landlady Fred BABCOCK, boarder, age 29, born Jun 1870, married 2 years, born NY, parents born NY/Canada, a Grocery man Edna C. BABCOCK, dau, age 29, born Nov 1870, married 2 years, no children, born NY, parents born NY 1910 census of Massena, NY: Julia D. CROWLEY, age 74, born NY, parents born MA 1910 census of Russell, NY: Lucius DANA, age 51, married 23 years, born NY, parents born NY, a Farmer Eveline DANA, wife, age 47, married 23 years, 3 children/3 living, born NY, parents born NY Alfred DANA, son, age 21, born NY, a Laborer Floyd DANA, son, age 19, born NY, a Laborer ? ALDRICH, dau, age 17, newly married, 1 child/1 living, born NY 1920 census of Massena, NY: Fred BABCOCK, age 49, born NY, parents born VT/Canada, a Grocery Merchant Edna C. BABCOCK, wife, age 49, born NY, parents born NY Mildred BABCOCK, dau, age 16, born NY Julia CROWLEY, mother-in-law, age 85, a widow, born MA, parents born MA, retired Clement PAYNE b. 1835 in NY to parents Barnabus & Sopha PAYNE. Clement married Amanda WELCH (b. 1840 in NY) and together they had two children, Daisy PAYNE b. 1863 and Jessie L. PAYNE b. 1871 in NY. Clement died sometime after 1880 in Massena, NY. Census records provide the following information: 1880 census of Massena, NY: Clemant PAYNE, age 45, a Farmer, born NY, parents born MA/VT Amanda PAYNE, wife, age 40, Keeping House, born NY, parents born NY Daisy PAYNE, dau, age 17, at School, born NY Jessie PAYNE, dau, age 10, born NY Barnabus PAYNE, father, age 80, Lives with Son, born MA, parents born MA/VT Sophia PAYNE, mother, age 75, Living with Son, born VT, parents born VT + 1 Servant 1900 census of Massena, NY: Clement PAYNE, age 65, born Jan 1835, married 41 years, born NY, parents born MA/VT, a Landlord Amanda PAYNE, wife, age 60, born Feb 1840, married 41 years, 2 children/2 living, born NY, parents born NY 1910 census of Massena, NY: Clement C. PAYNE, age 75, married 51 years, born NY, parents born MA/VT, Own Income Amanda PAYNE, wife, age 70, married 51 years, born NY, 2 children/1 living, born NY, parents born NY +1 Servant Thank you, Shelley Cardiel DANA Family Letters >From F. DANA at Massena Center - to Brother Joseph and Sister Eva dated Nov 1874 >From Jule CROWLEY at Massena - to Sister Evy dated Dec 1877 >From L. at Massena Center - to Brother Jo dated Dec 1878 >From Melnar at Massena - to Sister Eva dated Jun 1878 >From C. C. PAYNE at Massena - to Eva DANA dated Jul 1886 >From F. DANA at Massena Center - to Brother & Sister dated Dec 1878 >From F. DANA at Massena Center - to Sister Eva dated Nov 1878 >From L. at Massena Center - to Brother Jo dated Jan 1890 >From L. at Massena Center - to Brother Jo dated Sept 1889 >From Lute at Massena Center - to Brother Jo dated Oct 1889 Reference in letters - Staying with the CROWLEY'S Attending funeral of Mary COOPER Folks staying with Mr. Elisha DENNISON Rilla came down to visit Elisha died 27 of Nov 1877 Father gets out to the barn each day Mother gets from the chair to bed with a cane Rilla is with Mother and Father most of the time Rilla is not as well as when she came from the West Emily is poorly all the time so it is a task to care for Mother and Father Emily tries to get Father ready for breakfast Good to hear that Rilla arrived safely Father has been fine since Rilla left Mother's back is lame Emily is doing ok since Rilla left, not baking too much Mother divided her money so I'm sending $50 Mother DANA knits a little Lute killed a hog and a pig a week ago, 68 lbs of lard Reached Chicago after leaving your place at half past 7 in morning Got home from Lawrence at 3pm Julius got a letter for you Didn't stop at the Falls, but did stop at the Depot Eva says that Matt is gaining slowly I was up to see Rilla and see is getting over the sickness Fannie is poorly all the time now Saw Rilla yesterday and she is coming here tomorrow Emily was at Allie's but got all tired out so I haven't seen her Royal and Jule went to Lawrence week before last and visited Moody Matt and Frank and family were out here to visit Matt says she expects Will home this fall Allie doesn't get along well at all Art is going to stay another year at the Burg, he will get $800 this year coming Art spent his vacation near Boston taking violin lessons Art gets $150 to play and will get more when he plays at the Episcopal Church Ed is on the Island due to his illness Fannie's health is very poor Rilla received your letter and wants me to write for her Will would like to stop at your house; his address is Wm THOMSON 5298531 Main St. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Rilla has been down with Jules for a week Lyms went to Burke Malone and Lawrence visiting Emily is very poorly Melinda has been with Allie