West/Steele Family Letters, 1913-1975 by Darrell M. West
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Letters of a College Student, 1974-1983 by Darrell M. West
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Letters of a College Professor, 1992-2007 by Darrell M. West PDF
YouTube video of "Growing Up in Rural America, 1930s-1970s", July 20, 2023 (9 minutes)
Steele Family History: "[Darrell West's great-great-great grandfather] Samuel Steele was born in Ireland in 1745 and some time later probably with his parents came to South Carolina. He gave service in the Revolutionary war in North Carolina and married Jennet Taylor Knox, born August 16, 1787 in South Carolina, who
liberated him from prison [probably a debtor's prison for unpaid debts].
They lived in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Five children were born
to them. In 1818, the family came to Preble County, settling in Israel township [Ohio].
Mrs. Steele died on the journey to Ohio and was buried by the roadside. Mr. Steele died October 27, 1833
and is buried in Fairhaven cemetery." (Source: Preble County History).
"Nettie Harper
Journal, 1867-1876" from Morning Sun, Ohio (Israel Township) (around 130 pages)
(courtesy of Hopewell Church). Nettie died at age 26 but kept a journal from ages
16 to 25 between 1867 and 1876. In her journal, she described her doubts about
Christianity, her desire for an education despite her family's decision to take her
out of high school, the controversial
impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson, and daily life
in rural Ohio.
