Can you find the name of this old children book ?

[NadaTeTurbe]

I am looking for the name of a serie of children book. It's american, and was written/had success somewhere in the second half of the 19th century. It is not read by children today, and have interest only for specialist, I think. But it was a major success in its time. I need it for a friends, who is writing about children books who had success in their time, and are now forgotten. 

It tells the story of a young girl, who have lost her mother, and her stepmother is awfull. She lives all kind of horrible things, but she doesn't complain, is still happy, etc... In the end, she's 18 years old, and she marries her father best friend who is something like 50 years old. It's really awfull, with a lot of racist words. 

Thank you for your help ! 

[darcy15]

Perhaps the Elsie Dinsmore series, written by Martha Finley? 

[NadaTeTurbe]

Yes, that's it ! Thank you very much :D 

[darcy15]

You're welcome