Directions for the operation of a Casady Plow; pedigree of a Blue Bayard brown horse, circa 1874

This collection is primarily an example of family correspondence as written from the middle of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century. Files one to five show a considerable slice of life of that period. These five files are made up of advertisements, announcements, and an abstract of the Seventh United States Census, miscellaneous literature, and pamphlets. The abstract and various pamphlets seem to merit special attention. Among the pamphlets is one dated 1871 that deals with the national debt of that time. Another pamphlet that originated in Cleveland, Ohio, riles the evil of intemperance.

The legal papers in files six and seven are dated from 1860 to 1882 and include George Watson's appointment as secretary of subdivision 10, Xenia Township, Ohio; a petition for a township road; a real estate appraisal; subpoenas and a summons. Files eight and nine consist of family correspondence.

The papers reveal very little about the relationship of the letter writers to the main addressee, George and Margaret Watson. The collection contains no correspondence written by George and Margaret.