Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
“ My father and brothers went to the mines and my mother and I were left alone. I had to do my brother's work. Took a hatchet, went up the hill, and cut some branches for firewood and brought them home. We had no stove. We placed our pots on an iron bar that was fixed in the chimney. We baked our bread and roasted our meat in a Dutch oven. All our water was brought from Selina Place. The owner of the well was Mrs. Patch. She would watch and see that no one took more than two buckets at a time. We paid her five cents a week. We were obliged to make our own candles. I have burned my fingers many times with hot grease.
Mrs. Gillespie and Mrs. Brannan called one day and asked my mother who made her dresses. She said she made them. They then inquired if she would make them some dresses. Mother replied she did not think she could make them well enough. They said they would be satisfied. After that she was kept quite busy and had to employ help. ”
Caroline Elise Mosse
arrived in 1848 from Valparaiso, Chile