Recollections of Emma Elizabeth Marvin

COMMUNICATION FROM EMMA ELIZABETH MARVIN.

The subject of this sketch was born in Wayne County, Ind., February 5, 1826; born and raised on a farm, only having the advantages of pioneer life, from which I wish to contrast the past with the present and let the present generation of children see the change. In the first place we had no school system, therefore the consequences was three months of school for summer and three months for winter, all subscription. The school buildings were made of round logs schutched off and daubed with clay mortar. One end of the building was about one-third cut into to make way for the chimney, which was made of sticks and clay; lighted by a window on each side; a slab, into which legs were put, for their seats; a broad board fastened to the wall for writing desks; the books were no two alike, so there was as many classes as books, excepting the spelling classes, the big and little spelling as it was called. As time passed there was some improvement in the books, which made way for classing. The girls when arriving at the age of fifteen or sixteen concluded that their school days were about over, and their minds were directed in another direction, not to music or teaching school; it was the big and little wheel, of which they spun their two hundred pounds of wool during the summer season; and I must say that those days were the happiest day of my life. But since time has passed and the improvements that have taken place reminds me of that old adage, “When ignorance is bliss it is folly to be wise.” As we had nothing better we were perfectly happy, so our days glided along until we were grown up. In the year 1844, on the 1st day of December, I was married to Henry M. Marvin, and on the morning of my nineteeth [sic] birthday we bade adieu to the parental roof and started out in the world to try the realities of life. We came to this place, where I have lived ever since, with the exception of two years. I have lived in the same door-yard for forty-two years, protected and guarded by our Heavenly Father, who knoweth all things and what is for our good, and finding we have realized the trials of our ups and downs. Up to the present time our family consists of nine children, only four living, the other five having gone to try the realities of another world.

Source Citation: Boone County History [database online] Boone County INGenWeb. 2007. <http://www.rootsweb.com/~inboone> Original data: Harden & Spahr. "Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana." Lebanon, Indiana. May, 1887, pp. 127-128.

Transcribed by: Julie S. Townsend - July 10, 2007