Barton family papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
345 Letcher Ave.
Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jeffrey S. Kozak
Phone: (540) 464-7516
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7089
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions

Terms of access:

Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.

Preferred citation:

Barton family papers, 1855-1869. MS 0020. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
10 items
Creator:
Barton, Charles M. (Charles Marshall), 1836-1862, Barton, Bolling W. (Bolling Walter), 1845-1924, Barton, Randolph J., 1844-1921, and Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henney), 1812-1890
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Barton family papers, 1855-1869. MS 0020. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

The Barton family papers consist of the papers of three members of the Barton family who attended VMI during the mid-19th century. Papers related to Charles M. Barton (VMI Class of 1856) include a letter (dated September 28, 1855) from Charles to his cousin Joseph M. Barton in which he complains about VMI life and about his instructor Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (Jackson is described as a "hell of a fool"). Other Charles Barton material is found in a notebook (approximately 250 pages) that contains poetry copied by Charles, including "The Faculty of the VMI," which describes Francis H. Smith, John T.L. Preston, and other early faculty members; class notes from lectures given by Francis H. Smith; autographs of his VMI classmates, and a resolution on the death of Cadet Thomas Blackburn.

The notebook described above, although pertaining largely to Charles, also contains notes on law and notations concerning legal cases and fees. This material likely relates to Randolph Barton (VMI Class of 1864), an attorney.

Material related to Bolling W. Barton (VMI Class of 1866) includes one letter (dated January 18, 1864) from Frank (last name unknown, but a VMI alumnus), and six documents, primarily French language exercises.

Material related to Randolph J. Barton includes a typescript photocopy of a speech delivered by Randolph to the VMI Class of 1912.

Biographical / historical:

Charles Marshall Barton, the eldest son of David W. Barton and and Frances (Fanny) Jones Barton, was born in Winchester, Virginia on November 30, 1836. His preparatory education was received at Winchester Academy and at Episcopal High School (Alexandria, Virginia). He entered VMI in 1852 and graduated in 1856. He subsequently returned to the Winchester area where he was a farmer. Charles married Ellen Harvie Marshall of Fauquier County in 1859. During the Civil War, he served with Cutshaw's Artillery Battery and was mortally wounded in action near Winchester on May 25, 1862.

Randolph J. Barton, Charles's younger brother, was born in Winchester on April 24, 1844. He attended the VMI for one year (1860-1861), and joined the 33rd Virginia Infantry Regiment at the beginning of the Civil War. He subsequently served in the 2nd Virginia Infantry and as a Staff Officer for Generals Elisha F. Paxton, James A. Walker, and William R. Terry. Following the War, Randolph practiced law in Baltimore, Maryland. He married Agnes P. Kirkland of Baltimore on December 29, 1869 and the couple had nine children. He died on March 15, 1921.

Bolling W. Barton, a younger brother of Charles and Randolph, was born in Winchester on November 24, 1846. He entered VMI on September 25, 1862, and while at the Institute, took part in the Battle of New Market (Virginia) on May 15, 1864. In November 1864 he joined the 1st Foreign Battalion. After the Civil War, Bolling studied and practiced medicine, and also taught botany at Johns Hopkins University. He married Ella Jane Gibson in 1872 and the couple had no children. He died in Loudoun County, Virginia on February 18, 1924.

Physical location:
Manuscripts stacks