Nancy Lucinda (Nye) Hungerford (US8466) wrote to a Mr. Gates asking for work, to keep her occupied, making butter. She states she noticed his advertisement and then proceeds to tell him she rents her farm and that person isn't using the milk for butter so she is feeling under-utilized. She tells of her recent high score in a butter making contest despite some unfortunate circumstances. This letter was found in the Archives of former Senator Francis H. Gates (1839-1925)--a politician and businessman farmer from Chittenango, New York who owned and operated The Gates Farm & Dairy Homestead. This enterprise was a well-known dairy and farm business that had been in operation since the early 1800s--having been run by several generations of the Gates family. Mrs. Hungerford was one of the vice presidents of the Tompkins County Agricultural Society in Ithaca and that is why her note is found on stationary with that letterhead.