A fasionable young lady in the 1860's

Do you make good coffee?

What were a woman’s most important qualities in the 1860s, in the eyes of a Union soldier? Edwin Lybarger, an officer in the 43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, received letters from a dozen Northern women between 1862 and the end of the war

A fasionable young lady in the 1860's

Do you make good coffee?

What were a woman’s most important qualities in the 1860s, in the eyes of a Union soldier? Edwin Lybarger, an officer in the 43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, received letters from a dozen Northern women between 1862 and the end of the war

Col. Joseph L. Kirby Smith, 43rd OVI

Great-grandfather’s photo album

      Edwin Lewis Lybarger (1840-1924), my great-grandfather, compiled a photograph album at the end of the Civil War. He had served for nearly four years in the 43rd Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry (1861-65), in the Army of the Mississippi from Feb. 1862

Col. Joseph L. Kirby Smith, 43rd OVI

Great-grandfather’s photo album

      Edwin Lewis Lybarger (1840-1924), my great-grandfather, compiled a photograph album at the end of the Civil War. He had served for nearly four years in the 43rd Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry (1861-65), in the Army of the Mississippi from Feb. 1862

Scout (Mary Badham) & Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) in 1962 movie To Kill a Mockingbird

Ms. Lee threw it out the window

“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy, sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”         In frustration one night in the late 1950s, writer Nelle Harper Lee

Scout (Mary Badham) & Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) in 1962 movie To Kill a Mockingbird

Ms. Lee threw it out the window

“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy, sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”         In frustration one night in the late 1950s, writer Nelle Harper Lee

Abraham Lincoln, photographed by Alexander Gardner, Feb. 5, 1865, printed despite the broken glass plate

Almighty purpose

“The prayers of both [North and South] could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has his own purposes.”  – Abraham Lincoln, 2nd Inaugural Address, March 5, 1865   I’ve used the Lincoln quote for the

Abraham Lincoln, photographed by Alexander Gardner, Feb. 5, 1865, printed despite the broken glass plate

Almighty purpose

“The prayers of both [North and South] could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has his own purposes.”  – Abraham Lincoln, 2nd Inaugural Address, March 5, 1865   I’ve used the Lincoln quote for the

Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, Army of the West

Sherman broke her heart, twice

Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson was 34 years old, over 6 feet tall, handsome, brilliant, kind, charming, and universally well-liked when he took command of the Army of the Tennessee in March 1864. Gen. Wm. T. Sherman granted his request

Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, Army of the West

Sherman broke her heart, twice

Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson was 34 years old, over 6 feet tall, handsome, brilliant, kind, charming, and universally well-liked when he took command of the Army of the Tennessee in March 1864. Gen. Wm. T. Sherman granted his request

1910, Warsaw, Ohio - 4 veterans of Co. K, 43rd OVVI, who volunteered in Nov. 1861 at Camp Chase, Ohio and mustered out together July 13, 1865

Advice from an Old Soldier

April 24, 1861 To the Editor of the New York Times: Allow an old soldier who has seen service to offer a few practical suggestions to our men who are marching South. Avoid drinking water as much as possible while

1910, Warsaw, Ohio - 4 veterans of Co. K, 43rd OVVI, who volunteered in Nov. 1861 at Camp Chase, Ohio and mustered out together July 13, 1865

Advice from an Old Soldier

April 24, 1861 To the Editor of the New York Times: Allow an old soldier who has seen service to offer a few practical suggestions to our men who are marching South. Avoid drinking water as much as possible while

Mark Twain, 1905

The War Prayer, by Mark Twain

In 1905, Mark Twain’s publisher thought “The War Prayer” was traitorous. It was not published until after Twain’s death, when the U.S. was nearing entry into the Great War. It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country

Mark Twain, 1905

The War Prayer, by Mark Twain

In 1905, Mark Twain’s publisher thought “The War Prayer” was traitorous. It was not published until after Twain’s death, when the U.S. was nearing entry into the Great War. It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country

Ethel Finney 1898 CU

Grandmother’s 1896 trip to Italy

At the age of 10, my grandmother Ethel Finney (1885-1969), the daughter of Presbyterian missionaries in Egypt, was invited to join a wealthy family on a tour of Italy. She wrote a letter about the trip to her 11-year-old cousin Lucile,

Ethel Finney 1898 CU

Grandmother’s 1896 trip to Italy

At the age of 10, my grandmother Ethel Finney (1885-1969), the daughter of Presbyterian missionaries in Egypt, was invited to join a wealthy family on a tour of Italy. She wrote a letter about the trip to her 11-year-old cousin Lucile,

Flirting with a fan in 1860

Victorian ladies flirted and sent their lovers messages with their fans, a language with its own codes: You have won my love – place your fan near your heart You may kiss me – press half-opened fan to your lips

Flirting with a fan in 1860

Victorian ladies flirted and sent their lovers messages with their fans, a language with its own codes: You have won my love – place your fan near your heart You may kiss me – press half-opened fan to your lips