James Washington Singleton Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Old Dominion University
3023 Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library
Old Dominion University
4427 Hampton Blvd
Norfolk, VA 23529
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jessica Ritchie
Phone: (757) 683-4483
Fax: (757) 683-5954
Restrictions:

The collection is open to researchers without restrictions.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], James Washington Singleton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
20.80 Linear Feet and 35 Hollinger document cases; 1 clamshell box, 2 oversized boxes boxes
Creator:
Singleton, James Washington (1811-1892)
Abstract:
Prominent Peace Democrat from Illinois during the Civil War. Served in the United States House of Representatives (1879-1883). Contains family papers spanning five generations, dating from 1770 to 1975. Includes correspondence, business papers, military papers, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], James Washington Singleton Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of family papers spanning the lifetime of five generations of Singleton descendants. The collection includes papers of James Singleton, the father of James W. Singleton; James W. Singleton; Lily Singleton Thomas Osburn, the daughter of James W. Singleton; the Thomas children, the grandchildren of James W. Singleton; and Judith Ball Wysong Cofer, the great-granddaughter of James W. Singleton. The bulk of the collection concerns the lives of James Singleton, James W. Singleton and Lily Singleton Thomas Osburn.

Biographical / historical:

James Washington Singleton was born on November 23, 1811 at "Paxton" in Frederick County, Virginia, the estate of his father, General James Singleton. After attending the academy in Winchester, Virginia, Singleton moved to Kentucky in 1828. He married Mathilde Caves who died in 1832. Singleton pursued the study and practice of medicine in Kentucky. Later he married Ann Craig of Lexington, Kentucky. About 1834 he settled at Mount Sterling, Illinois. He commenced the study of law in Mount Sterling and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1841. During these years the Singletons had a son, James Washington, Jr. but he died in infancy. Ann Craig Singleton also died about 1840.

James Washington Singleton began to distinguish himself in public service during the 1840's. In the "war" against the Mormons he was in command of a military company and he was later commissioned a brigadier-general of militia by Governor Ford of Illinois for his services in the Mormon War. He married Parthenia McDonald on April 9, 1844. He had two children by his third wife: Louise(Lily) born in 1857 and James J. Singleton born in 1860. In 1847 he was elected to represent his county in a constitutional convention. He served in the Illinois legislature representing Schuyler(Brown) County from 1850 to 1854. The Singletons moved to Quincy where James Washington practiced law and became active in politics. He served in the state legislature from 1860 to 1862. He also represented Quincy in the state Constitutional convention of 1861.

During the Civil War Singleton may be most accurately characterized as a Peace Democrat who maintained close ties with President Lincoln. He had met Lincoln while he was in legal practice in Illinois in the 1840's. Their friendship lasted until Lincoln's death although they held different positions on the principal political issues of the time. Singleton apparently held informal "negotiations" with several people in Richmond including President Jefferson Davis and General Robert E. Lee. Lincoln did not give official sanction to these talks but was ready to recognize them if satisfactory Confederate proposals should emerge from the negotiations. Singleton died at home on April 4, 1892.

Acquisition information:

Mrs. Judith Ball Wysong Cofer

Gift. Accession #A77-5

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into eleven series: Series I: Correspondence; Series II: Legal and Government Documents; Series III: Financial and Bookkeeping RecordsSeries IV: Business Papers; Series V: Miscellaneous Material; Series VI: Speeches; Series VII: Miscellany; Series VIII: Memorabilia; Series IX: Newspaper clippings; Series X: Publications; and Series XI: Photographs.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard