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These are the land and mercantile papers of Felix Hansford, a large land owner along the banks of Pain[t] Creek and the Great Kanawha River, near the town of Clifton in [Kanawha] County. The collection is primarily account statements, receipts and buisness notes.There are a few land surveys, entries and deeds dating back to the 1790. Some of the papers shed light on the Hansford's activities as a falt boat builder, sawmill and grist mill operator, and justice of the peace. A few letters and bank statements deal with his term as president of the Giles, Fayette and Kanawha Turnpike Company.

The papers of the President of Giles, Fayette and Kanawha Turnpike, charted in 1837, consist of land grants, deeds, and indentures; legal papers; turnpike correspondence, stock, books, contracts, and reports to the Board of Public Works, the Virginia Legislature, and stockholders.

This collection contains letters and other papers, 1872-1902, of H. H. Riddleberger (1844-1890) of Woodstock, Virginia who retained the titles of member of the House of Delegates, 1871-1875; State Senator, 1879- 1882; and U.S. Senator, 1883-l889. Among the correspondents are: William Mahone, William E. Cameron, Winfield S. Hancock, Roscoe Conkling, Robert Toombs, Fitz-John Porter, John W. Daniel, and John Goode. There are letters from Riddleberger to his wife Emma Belew Riddleberger and to their children.

Letter from United States Senator John Tyler (1790- 1862) to Benjamin Ogle Tayloe dated May 30, 1835. In it he discussed horses and horse racing. He also comments on the recent Democratic Party convention of 1835. As a newly emerged Whig party leader, Tyler was nonplussed by the nomination of Martin Van Buren and voiced support that Virginia voters would go for Judge White (Hugh Lawson White) one of four Whig Presidential candidates in 1836.

Papers (including business and personal correspondence and accounts) of William H.E. Merritt, of Brunswick and Greensville counties, Va. who was a lawyer, member of the Virginia House of Delegates and editor of the "Richmond Whigquot;and his brothers Dr. Alexander T.B. Merritt of Hicksford, Greensville County,Va. and John F.W. Merritt of Vicksburg, Miss. The collection includes letters, 8 January and 29 March 1857, written by John Minor Botts and accounts of William H.E. Merritt Brother with Cuddy, Brown Co., cotton brokers in New Orleans, La. Subjects covered by the collection include horses, the practice of law, Reconstruction, and slavery.

Papers, chiefly 1834-1863, of Thomas W. Thomas, soldier, lawyer, and judge of Elberton, GA concerning his law practice and his friendship with US Senator Robert Toombs. His papers primarily concern his various legal cases, but also discuss politics, the Civil War, and other topics sporadically. Included in the collection are papers, 1834-1864, of Drury B. Cade who operated a canal boat on the Savannah River. Items of special interest include letter, 3 April 1842, from John Reeves Jones Daniel attacking the Whigs; letter, 1849, to Zachary Taylor concerning liquor seized during the Mexican War; letter, 1857, concerning a suit to secure title to land originally granted to Eli Whitney; and there are a number of Civil War letters in the collection.