Background for the story:

Martha's grandmother was Eliza Whitson (née Rakestraw). The Whitson and Rakestraw families were prominent in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster and Chester counties during the 18th and 19th centuries. Both families were well-established in their local communities and were significantly involved in education, Quaker Meetings, and agriculture.  They were well-known for their support of progressive causes such as abolition and women’s education. [1]

Eliza corresponded actively with relatives and wrote poetry, some of which was published in local newspapers.  An example from 1880 can be found in The Semi-Weekly New Era of Lancaster, PA [2]. She composed a poem for the eightieth birthday of Mrs. Martha Whitson, a relative.