1895

The only letter in the collection written after Lucinda Chapin’s passing is dated 1895. In this letter, Marcia writes to her sister Maggie, who is living in Danville, Illinois. The impact of Lucinda’s absence at the center of the Chapin-McNeil family web can be keenly felt. 

While previous letters certainly conveyed a longing for physical proximity, more often than not the family seemed to be generally clued in to the goings on of its disparate component cohorts. The content of the letters in the collection leave an indication that there were potentially many more letters or telegrams being sent between Dorcas and her spread out family that kept everyone apprised of everyone else’s goings on. In this letter, Marcia’s detachment and isolation living in Oklahoma is clearly expressed. Marcia has also not heard from her brother Harrison in such a long time that she inquires, possibly jokingly, if he has passed away.

Lucinda’s absence can also be felt in a second, smaller way. While in the past the Chapin family had always asked Lucinda to send seeds of various fruits and vegetables, in this letter Marcia mentions having to order seeds from St. Paul.