August 13, 1837. Martin B. Wood to Elijah Cornell: "As a matter consequent upon human life I have for a course of years studiously regarded the motions and movements of my female acquaintance for the purpose of discovering one among the multitude who possessed the requisite qualities for rendering the married life preferable to any other and of the number of ladies that have fallen within the circle of my acquaintance I feel it my imperitive duty to bestow upon your daughter Phebe, the preferance." Topics: Cornell family correspondence: letters to Elijah and Eunice Cornell in DeRuyter from their children and other relatives; notices of births and deaths, requests for permission to marry, local news, reports on family health, and mention of women's work. Personal names: Cornell, Elijah; Cornell, Eunice; Cornell, E.B.; Cornell, Lucretia; Cornell, Benjamin; Cornell, Mary; Cornell, Phebe; Cornell, Paul; Earle, Rhoda; Macy, Anna; Chace, Thomas; Wood, M. B. Geography: DeRuyter; Ithaca; Providence; Rochester; North Carolina.