1868

1868 was a year of tragedy for Mary Burt. Her husband Thomas–who had traveled from job to job throughout the Midwest–was seriously injured in a sawmill accident on March 4th. He had ventured to Michigan to seek work in the lumber industry. Thomas lay ill for several months, under Mary’s constant care. Unfortunately, despite Mary’s best efforts, Thomas’ condition remained serious until he passed away in early July. Mary’s letters from this year show great insight into her journey through grief as she ponders the meaning of human existence.

Beyond the emotional impact of her loss, Thomas’s death also put Mary into desperate financial straits. She and her children temporarily moved back to Illinois after the death of her husband, staying with Thomas’ brother Welling in Peoria before setting out for the town of Canton, Illinois, which is about 30 miles southwest. After her arrival in Canton, she heard that her father, Dennis Chapin, was becoming more and more ill. In her September letter to “one and all,” Mary laments that because she heard this news after relocating, she is no longer able to travel to Urbana, as the journey from Canton would cost her twice as much money as she currently had. In fact, her poverty is even reflected in the poor quality of the paper and ink used to scratch out her letters home.

Without Thomas’ income and only four dollars to her name, Mary was forced to pick up an occupation in addition to raising her children. Mary was not the only one struggling financially, as the Pepple family also found themselves in financial difficulty.