Good: Abraham H. Good Family Papers, 1851-1872
Call Number: MG-542
1 box 5 folders .25 cubic ft.
Repository: LancasterHistory (Organization); PV7
Shelving Location: Archives South, Side 11
Scope and Content Note: This collection contains letters, envelopes, and business and miscellaneous papers, dated 1851-1872, which belonged to Abraham H. Good and his wife, Dianna Good. Amos Breneman, Daniel Gingrich and Martha Bishop have the most prolific correspondence, being friends of the couple. Correspondence ranges between the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Virigina, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Creator: Good family.
Conditions for Access: No restrictions.
Conditions Governing Reproductions: Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.
Language: English, German
Biographical and Historical Note: Abraham H. Good was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on April 13, 1831 to parents Christian Good (1794-1880) and Magdalena Gartz (1803-1875). He married Dianna Grenier (1831-1900), also of Lancaster County, and had seven children. As a Lancaster county resident from birth until death, Good joined a volunteer company for the Union army in 1862. He would travel up and down the east coast with the company until the end of the Civil War. Post-war, he returned home to Lancaster County and was named Justice of the Peace of Marctic Township.
Source of Acquisition: The Abraham H. Good family collection was given by an anonymous woman to Pastor Frederick Weiser of New Oxford, Pennsylvania who donated them to this collection, 1988.
Accruals: No further accruals are expected.
Preferred Citation:Abraham H. Good Family Papers (MG-542), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pa.
Subject Headings:
Good, Abraham H., b. 1831.
Letters.
Processing History: Processed and finding aid prepared by AB, Winter 2014/2015.
Folder 1 Letters to Abraham and Dianna Good, 1851-1868. (13 items)
Insert 1 Envelopes addressed to Abraham Good
Envelope Labeled (2) Dark mustard yellow in color, good condition, addressed to Mr. A.H. Good, Mount Joy, Lancaster County, Pa., with (Grosh’s) in left-bottom corner. Postmarked Old Point Comfort, Virginia, June 18.
Envelope Labeled (3)Mustard yellow in color, good condition, addressed to Mr. Abrm. H. Good, Mount Joy, Lancaster County, Pa., care of B. Grosh. Postmarked Old Point Comfort, Virginia, April 10.
Envelope Labeled (5)Faded mustard yellow in color, fair condition, torn in right-bottom corner, addressed to Mr. Abraham Good, Mount Joy, Lancaster County, Grosh Store. US three cent postage stamp in bottom-left corner with “McCom” seal.
Insert 2 Letters
Two letters inscribed on one large sheet of paper, fair condition, folded once width-wise.
Page 1: addressed to Mr. Abraham Good, Mount Joy Post, Lancaster Co. Three-cent postage stamp, postmarked Carlisle, Pa,11 October
Page 2: back of cover
Page 3: Letter to “Dear coussant” from Abraham Good, announcing his marriage and an invitation to visit Lancaster County, which he refers to as the “Heart of the World”. Lancaster County, Pa. 3 February 1851.
Page 4: back page. Letter to “My dear cousin” from Elizabeth Hartman and Abraham Good, congratulating her on her marriage and well wishes. An invitation to visit in Lancaster precedes an account of a Singing School they have opened in [Ringstown], Lancaster County.
Insert 3 Letter. Three pages used on one sheet of paper, folded once width-wise. Letter composed in English and German. The speaker recounts an incident involving “Indians”, describing a tomahawk, scalping knife and “the rings in their nose”. A stick-figure sketch of a male and female figure next to the name Mr. Abraham Good is on the final page.
Insert 4 Letter. Two pages, back and front, on one sheet of paper, folded width-wise. Letter to “Dear Sir” from Jeremiah F. [Greines] regarding a report on his personal farm, neighbors and a description of the animals each owns. He mentions a trip to Ohio occurring in the next week. 6 June 1857.
Insert 5 Small letter and envelope addressed to Mrs. Diana Good from Annie G. Sprout, Mount Joy Township, Lancaster Co. Pa (in haste). Postmarked Mount Joy, Pa, 3 Jul. Short note regarding her good health and well wishes. She bids her goodnight and asks forgiveness for her poor writing.
Insert 6 Letter and envelope addressed to Mr. Abraham Good, Mount Joy, Lancaster County Pa, in care of Benjamin Grosh. Postmarked Old Point Comfort, Virginia, 21 Jul 1862. Three-cent US postage stamp in top left-hand corner. Letter addressed to “Dear Sir” regarding the conditions of soldiers 25 miles from Richmond on the James River at Harrison’s Landing. He describes their rationed essentials of coffee, crackers and whiskey.
Insert 7 Letter addressed to “Dear friend, A. H. Good” from Cyrus G. Kopp. Kopp writes from Walton [Walton] Wayne, Ohio, speaking of price differences in wheat, corn and oats. He describes his new location in relation to the larger cities of Pittsburgh and Mansfield as well as travelling directions from Mount Joy to Ohio. He repeats to “read this by yourself” and discloses his salary, $1.00 a day. 29 April 1868.
Insert 8 Letter. Two separate pages of a letter from A. Good. He notes his present condition as healthy and that he has not touched a woman since his recent move to [Gisboro] Point. 19 November.
Folder 2 Letters to Dianna Good from Martha Bishop (16 items)
Insert 1 Envelopes Addressed to Mrs. Dianna Good
Two small, yellow envelopes address to Mrs. Dianna Good, Mount Joy, Lancaster County Pa, care of Grosh store in Centerville.
Insert 2 Letters Martha Bishop to Mrs. Dianna Good
Letter to Dianna Good from Martha Bishop. Recounts the weather and inquires into the health of the Good baby. She thanks Dianna for seeds she had sent and tells of her garden. Pleasantville, Ohio 13 June 1864.
Letter to Dianna Good from Martha Bishop. States that the previously mentioned seeds have been lost in the move and asks for Dianna to collect and send more. She invites her to visit in Ohio, describing it as a nice place. Hancock County, Ohio, 20 April 1864.
Insert 3 Letters Martha Bishop to Mrs. Good
Letter to Dianna Good from Martha Bishop. Invites Dianna to come west with them to Michigan, should the Bishop family sell their land in Lancaster. Pleasantville, Ohio. 16 September 1864.
Letter to Dianna Good from Martha Bishop. Describes her vegetable garden and new quarters in Michigan. Michigan, 24 July 1865.
Letter to Dianna Good from Martha Bishop. Asks for family photos and expresses affection to her friend. Pleasantville, Ohio. 17 June 1865.
Insert 4 Envelope and Letter Martha Bishop to Dianna Good
One small, yellow envelope addressed to Mrs. Dianna Good, Mount Joy, Lancaster County Pa, care of Centerville. Dated March 26 from Michigan. Three-cent US postage stamp in top right-hand corner. Letter addressed “Dear Friend”, describes her making of 30 pounds of maple sugar. Invites Dianna to visit her in Michigan.
Insert 5 Letter to Dianna Good
Letter to Dianna Good from Martha Bishop, inviting her friend to visit her in Michigan. She describes it as much different than Ohio but similar to Pennsylvania. Michigan.
Insert 6 Letter to Dianna Good
One small, yellow envelope addressed to Mrs. Dianna Good, Mount Joy, Lancaster County, Pa. Care of Centerville. Dated June 15, Portland, Michigan. Three-cent US postage stamp in top right-hand corner. Letter addressed “Dear friend Dianna”. Expresses sadness that her friend is unable to visit. Michigan, June 12, 1866.
Insert 7 Letter to Dianna Good
One small, white envelope addressed to Mrs. Dianna Good, Mount Joy, Lancaster County, Pa. Care of “A Good” at Centerville. Postmarked August 21, Portland, Michigan. Letter addressed to “Dear friend Dianna” from Martha Bishop. Inquiries into whether Dianna has received any letters from her. Tells of a harsh spring and her crops.
Insert 8 Letters to Dianna Good
Letter to Dianna Good from Martha Bishop, telling of the poor summer weather and expressing gratitude at receiving a letter from her. November 18, 1866.
Letter to Dianna Good from Martha Bishop, inviting her friend to visit once again and pleading for news of her and her health.
Folder 3 Letter to Abraham Good from Amos Breneman 1864-1865 (5 inserts)
Insert 1 Letter to Abraham Good
Letter to Abraham Good from Amos Breneman, addressed “My dear friend”. Breneman describes his current experience as a northern soldier of the Civil War in Richmond, Virginia. Says he heard from the rebels that if “old Abe” gets reelected, he will be able to go home.
Insert 2 Letter to Abraham Good
One small, white envelope addressed to Mr. Abraham Good, Mount Joy, Past Lancaster, Co. Pa, in care of [Barg] Grosh. Letter to Abraham Good from Amos Breneman. Dated 23 October 1804. Breneman describes his current experience as a northern soldier of the Civil War. Speaks of the possibility of Lincoln’s reelection and the end of the war. Says his general has died.
Insert 3 Letter to Abraham Good
Letter to Abraham Good from Amos Breneman from “Camp near Richmont”. Dated Nov. 27, 1864. Two pages on U.S. Christian Commission stationary. Describes Yankee conditions, rainy weather and the upcoming end of the war. Says he hopes to relocate to South Carolina or Philadelphia.
Insert 4 Letters to Abraham Good
Letter to Abraham Good from Amos Breneman from South Carolina. Dated March 30. Discusses his relocation with the Northern Army through to South Carolina. Describes looting and stealing of yankee and rebel soldiers near the end of the war, saying he will be home in five months.
Letter to Abraham Good from Amos Breneman from Williamton. Dated March 7, 1865. Describes chasing the Rebel troops South past Cape Fear. Hopes to be relocated to Philadelphia.
Letter to Abraham Good from Amos Breneman from Raleigh. Dated April 26, 1865. Wishes Good well and describes the hot conditions of the south.
Insert 5 Envelopes to Abraham Good
Four plain, small, yellow envelopes addressed to Abraham Good in the care of the Grosh store in Centerville, Lancaster. March 15, Annapolis, Maryland; October 19, Old Point Comfort, VA; no date or location provided; no date, Washington DC
Two plain, small, yellow envelopes address to Abraham Good, Mount Joy Post, Lancaster Co. in the care of Ben Grosh. On U.S. Christian Commission Soldier’s Letter envelopes. January 9, Old Point Comfort, VA; November 7, Old Point Comfort, VA.
One plain, small, yellow envelope addressed to A.H. Good, Lancaster, PA. With the words printed, “P.M. Please deliver to Principal Teacher in the absence of the one addressed. A. S. Barnes & Co., Phila. Pa.”
Folder 4 Letters to Abraham Good from Daniel Gingrich, 1865
Insert 1 Envelope
One plain, small, yellow envelope addressed to A. H. Good, Mount Joy, Lancaster Co. Penn. With the words “Centerville Box” written beneath the address. Three-cent US postage stamp in top left-hand corner.
Insert 2 Letters, 25 January 1865, 7 February 1865
Letter to Abraham Good from Daniel Gingrich. Dated January 25, 1865. Hampton, Virginia. Speaks of war rumors and his residency as a doctor and teacher.
Letter to Abraham Good from Daniel Gingrich. Dated February 7, 1865. Hampton, Virginia. Tells of leaving teaching. Speaks of plans to move West, references Differderum and Breneman.
Insert 3 Letter, 12 March 1865
Letter to Abraham Good from Daniel Gingrich. Dated March 12, 1865. Hampton, Virginia. Addresses an incident of blame between himself and Good. Asks forgiveness for any miscommunication.
Insert 4 Letters, 30 April 1865, 18 June 1865
Letter to Abraham Good from Daniel Gingrich. Dated April 30, 1865. Hampton, Virginia. Addressed “Dear Sir”, tells rumors of the end of the Civil War and the Rebel surrender. Speaks of Lincoln’s assassination, the upcoming presidency of Andrew Jackson,
Letter to Abraham Good from Daniel Gingrich. Dated June 18, 1865. Old Comfort, Virginia. Tells Good he is home and has been discharged. Speaks of his return home and immediate plans.
Folder 5 Business Papers of Abraham Good, 1870-1872
Insert 1 Purchases, 1868
A small, rectangular purchase pamphlet kept by Abraham Good.
Insert 2 Miscellaneous Items, 1870-1872
An Adams Express Company Domestic Bill of Lading to Abraham Good.
A Price List of Eggs, Spring 1871.
Letter to Abraham Good from [A.N. Raub]. Dated March 7, 1872. Lock Haven. A response for the price of eggs. It asks for Good’s order.