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Correspondence of the Athey family of Tyler County, West Virginia, consisting primarily of ten letters written from Dudley and Austin Athey, brothers who served in the 11th West Virginia Infantry Regiment from 1863 to 1865 (Folder 1). In letters to their siblings and parents at home, the Atheys describe their desire to visit home; their location on railroads or in camps at New Creek and Parkersburg, West Virginia; their health; and their desire to receive more letters from home. Letters from family members at home chiefly contain news about the family's farm and harvest. Most of the letters are brief and notable for phonetic spelling. One letter to the Athey family from another member of the 11th West Virginia documents the regiment's position in Deep Bottom, Virginia, in January 1865 and describes the cold weather, winter quarters, African American troops, the interaction between Confederate and Union pickets, and artillery fire. There is also an 1869 letter written by a Methodist circuit rider, Loren Stewart, concerning his work around Spencer following the Civil War.

West Virginia land records, including receipts for fees paid, surveys, certificates of survey, land patents, grants, correspondence and other material. Some of the records are copies rather than official documents. The records are sorted by the names of buyers and stored in envelopes. Recorded to the fronts of the envelopes is information relevant to their contents.