Image and transcription of page 63 of the diary of Frances Shimer. Click here to edit or add text. - View this page on archive.org
[...] Mr. Grattan the Editor is very anxious we should take boys etc. We were introduced to him at Mr. Greys. Called at Mr. Wilson's office with Isaac, also at Mr. Grattan's, [...] owns the Telegraph apperatus here. Mr. Baily, the opperator (who boards here with us) showed us how they opperated. In the evening we, Isaac & Mr. Wilson called with Mrs. Hostetter & Mrs. Halderman.
Tuesday 10th. Have decided to open in the church & remain till Thorp's brick building can be arranged for our convenience. Isaac left us today, he went to Savanna with Mr. Wilson. Isaac subscribed for the Mt C Republican etc for us one year. It came out today, announcing our arrival & quite a puff, thanks to Mr. Grattan I suppose.
Wednesday 11th. Very rainy, rather a bad commencement, we however had 11 young ladies; we all remain together for the present yet Mr. Grey offers his rooms for our own use. One of our young ladies, Miss Pierce, has been at Rockford Seminary