1865 Letter Requesting Care for Child During Wife’s Illness - Historical Document #2284695 (License: Personal Use)

This aged, cream-colored sheet bears elegant cursive script dated March 14, 1865, in Philadelphia, addressed to Mr. William Tipton. The letter, penned by J. M. Mantrell, conveys urgent familial concern: his wife has been gravely ill for an extended period, prompting him to request that their son, William Tipton, be placed under the care of her sister, Virginia Hopkins, with full provision for living, clothing, and education. The document reflects Victorian-era family dynamics, medical vulnerability, and the emotional weight of separation during the Civil War’s final months.

Used in digital archives, museum exhibits, or genealogical research pages focusing on 19th-century American family life, Civil War correspondence, or women’s health history; matches user intent seeking primary sources on domestic hardship during wartime.