English: Postal Date: March 3, 1873, Valparaiso, Indiana

Scott Catalog Number of Postage Stamp: 147 Collection: Steven R. Shook Remark: This cover includes a letter written by Laura to Lena Miller of Smithland, Shelby County, Indiana. A transcription of Laura's letter is provided below:

Valparaiso Ind April 30th '73

Dear Friend Lena, As it was your request that I should write to you when I got here so I will now by to make an effort towards it, but I am afraid it will be a pretty poor one, but perhaps I can make a little better effort next time, or at least I hope so. will try any how.

I would have written sooner by my finger has been so soar [sic] that I could not write. we got here all right we started from home Wednesday morning, and got to Shelbyville, about 8 o'clock, and waited there until 11:30 then started for Indianapolis and got there about 12:30 and had to stay their [sic] until 11:30 that night. We had an acquaintance their [sic], and we went these and stayed until train time. then started for Plymouth, and got there 6:30 the next morning, and then got on another train and come to Valparaiso and got on the hack and went up to the College, and got out, and we hadent [sic] any more than got out until Jerisom [?] come up where we was, and took us and got some breakfast. the school commenced Tuesday. I have been here a week yesterday. they think their [sic] will be 700 or 800 here by the end of this term. I like it the best kind. I have such good teachers. Prof. Brown, Mrs. M. Baldin [Mattie Baldwin], and Prof. M. Bogarte are three the best teachers they have. I am on their classes, also they have a splendid music teacher, Miss Lillie Chamberlain. I take of her. Mr. Bogarte is the penmanship teacher. he is a splendid writer. well I don't know hardly what to write as there is no news. so I will close for this time hoping to hear from you as soon as you get it. give my love to all.

from your friend, Laura

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Lena Miller appears in the 1870 Federal Census enumeration for Hendricks, Shelby County, Indiana, as a 19 year old living at home with her parents, Edward and Sarah J. Miller.

It is assumed that Laura, the sender of this letter, was about the same age as Lena. The same census record shows than one individual named Laura, Laura Louis, resided in Hendricks. Laura Louis is recorded as being 19 years old. It is believed that Laura's last name was spelled Lewis rather than Louis.

Assuming that Laura Lewis is the writer of this letter, then genealogical information indicates that Laura was born December 1851 in Georgia and married Joel Joseph Cooper on December 6, 1874, in Shelby County, Indiana. Joel and Laura would have at least five children (Samuel, Emma, Chloe, Frank, and Elmer). Laura would pass away on November 8, 1919, in Edinburgh, Johnson County, Indiana, due to pneumonia

SENDER: Laura

RECIPIENT: Miss Lena Miller Smithland Ind.

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