Sarah Betts Wheeler Family Papers

The Sarah Betts Wheeler Papers consist mainly of correspondence between Sarah and various members of her family. Unless otherwise noted, the letters are filed by the recipient's name. This collection presents several difficulties for the researcher. First, the salutations are commonly by relationship rather than by name, for example, "Dear Brother and Sister." Another difficulty is the letters were partially processed and the covers were removed several years before the final processing. As a result, the accuracy of the information such as names, dates, and places which have been penciled onto the letters is not verifiable. A third area of concern is the fact that there are two persons named Sarah Betts within the correspondence. A comparison of the handwriting has revealed that Sarah Abigail Betts and Sarah L. Betts were cousins, and that Sarah L. Betts most often signed her letters as "Louesa". Finally, it is not certain when Sarah Betts married Phineas Wheeler. There are two letters, one dated 1856, the other dated 1862, which refer to Phineas and Sarah as husband and wife. It is most probable that these two letters were misdated. Letters throughout the year 1864 show the developing courtship of Phineas and Sarah. In addition, Sarah's teacher's certificate from March 1864 was in her maiden name.

The early correspondence in this collection is concerned mainly with the health of family members and friends, farm and crop information, and church news. It is not possible to infer from the letters which church the Betts and the Wheelers belonged to, but it is certain they were not Presbyterians or Baptists, and Sarah's sister Minerva was a Campbellite. As the nineteenth century progresses, the letters show increasing awareness of national events.

Series I, the Betts Family Correspondence, is the smallest of the three series and consists largely of correspondence to Edwin and Olive Betts. Of particular interest are the Quit Claim Deed and Bill of Sale by Samuel Betts to his son Martin in February 1859. Series I covers the years 1859-1912.

Series II, the Wheeler Family Correspondence, consists of letters written to Phineas Wheeler between 1863 and 1907, and to Phineas and Sarah Wheeler between 1856 and 1904. Phineas was a member of Company L, Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, and there is a letter advising him of a reunion, as well as listing former comrades. Also in the Wheeler correspondence is a series of letters written to Phineas and Sarah from E.L. Frazier, Evangelist.

The heart of the Sarah Betts Wheeler Papers is the correspondence to Sarah written between 1839 and 1919. Throughout the period she maintained contact with all her relatives. In her youth she corresponded regularly with her cousin Louesa. Later, she and Phineas carried on a lengthy courtship by letter. Finally she kept in constant contact with her daughters and grandchildren. Her letters represent a "typical" rural white woman in the nineteenth century. She grew up on a farm, became a rural school teacher, was concerned with religion, moved to a city shortly after the Civil War, and sent her daughters to college.