Scope and Content
This collection consists of the papers of the
Louisa Countylawyer,
W. E. Bibb(1848-1910) and other
Louisa Countyfamilies, ca. 1830-1940, ca.
18,250 items (44 Hollinger boxes, 2 oversize folders and 2M
volumes) of a non-official character removed from private
offices on the premises of the
Louisa CountyCourt House. Among the
earliest items are those of Dr.
Baldwin M. Bucknerand the
Buckner familyof
Louisa County. Other persons or subjects
in the collection include Captain
Boyd M. Smith,
Reuben Lindsay Gordon,
John G. May,
William Worth Smith, Jr., Virginia State
senator,
Louisa Countyelection materials,
Mineral City Mining,
Manufacturing and Land Company,
Robert F. Moss(d. 1883),
Louisa Countysheriff, and
John Q. Rhodes.
The papers include correspondence, business & legal
papers, political papers, and bound volumes, arranged
alphabetically under the name of the family or individual.
Papers within each folder are arranged chronologically unless
otherwise noted in the guide. A number of prominent Virginians
appear in this collection and are cited in
The National Union Catalog of
Manuscript Collectionsbut unless they are specifically
mentioned in this guide or have their own folder the subject
of the letter is usually a legal or business matter; this is
especially true of the prominent people who are lawyers.
The collection has been arranged in five series, 1)
William Emmet Bibband the
Bibb Family(Boxes 1-14), 2) Miscellaneous
Louisa CountyFamilies (Boxes 15-24), 3)
Boyd SmithPapers (Boxes 24-26), 4)
William Worth Smith, Jr.Papers (Boxes
26-33), and 5) Bound Volumes pertaining to people in all of
the previous four series (Boxes 34-43). These papers were
given to the Library by
Carl Nolting, Chairman of the
Louisa County Board of Supervisorson
February 17, 1953.
Series I: W.E. Bibb and Bibb Family Papers
William Emmet Bibb(1848-1910), son of
William T. Bibb(d. 1891) and
Lucy A. Bibb(d. post 1899), was a
University of Virginiaalumnus
(1868-1869), a lawyer, businessman, and former State senator
(1887-1895), of
Roanokeand
Louisa County, Virginia, whose
correspondence and other papers (Boxes 1-14) were chiefly
concerned with his law practice and allied business
activities, especially real estate development and mineral
speculation companies, which were widespread but centered in
the
Roanoke-
Salem,
Charlottesville,
Lynchburg,
Waynesboro, and
Louisa Countyareas, and correspondence
pertaining to
Virginiaand
Louisa Countypolitics.
Bibbwas also involved with the
Mineral City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land
Companyof
Mineral, Virginia, but these papers have
been separated and grouped together (see Boxes 20-23, and
Boxes 40-42, & 2M bound volumes listing, for bound volumes
pertaining to the company).
Also present in this series are the papers of other members
of the
Bibb family, including the correspondence
between
W.E. Bibband his brother,
James E. Bibb, his sons,
John Pendleton Bibband
William C. Bibb(Box 1), and the
Bibb familycorrespondence including his
mother and father, sisters, and others (Box 8).
Bibbmarried
Kate Lester Cammack(1855-1942) on
December 28, 1876, and they had five children:
Janet Herndon Bibb(1878-1959),
Emmet Cammack Bibb(1879-1888),
William Chew Bibb(1882-1942) who married
Rebecca Sterrett Bibb(1888-1941),
John Pendleton Bibb(1884-1963), and
Kathleen Bibb(1890-1964) who married
Walter N. Cole.
Several individuals or companies who frequently
corresponded with
Bibbover business or legal matters have
their own folders (see boxes 5-7) and include: the
Arminius Chemical Company,
W.L. Bishop,
J.R. Crank,
Charles Goodloe,
Thomas J. Harmon, Mrs.
B.M. (Hasher) Loving, Mining Properties
(miscellaneous),
Ella R. Moss,
Nelms & Wise,
Samuel H. Parsons,
J.F. Reynolds, and
Helen Summers.
The correspondence between
James E. Bibb(1855-1927) a
University of Virginiaalumnus (1871-1872)
and his brother,
W.E. Bibb, is chiefly concerned with
business deals they have in common, especially a plan by
James Bibbto purchase a fire clay deposit
on Ogg's farm in order to make bricks, eventually called the
Clay Valley Brick and Tile Works,
beginning with his letters of April 1891 and continuing
through 1894, including the mention of a strike by
African-American workers at the brick works (1891 Sep 14).
Other topics include: a purchase of a mill in
Basic City(1890 Dec 9), sale of
Basic Citylots and
James Bibb's collateral (1890 Nov 20),
land schemes involving buying up land around
Hanover junction(1890 Dec 8), and a list
of lots purchased in the name of the
Guarantee Title & Investment
Companyof
Roanoke(1891 April 1).
James E. Bibbwas also a part of the Real
Estate Exchange office of
Bibb, Harmon & Company, with
W.E. Bibb(attorney),
T.J. Harmon(real estate), and
James E. Bibb(notary public). Also
occasionally mentioned is
James Bibb's involvement in the
publication of weekly newspapers.
James E. Bibband
J.T. Boozwere both editors and
proprietors of
Waynesboro City Times, established
January 6, 1891.
Bibbalso established the Democratic
newspaper the
Louisa News and Farmerin 1879, changing
its name to the
Louisa County Newsin 1891, and continuing
to edit it until its sale in 1903. For other reference to
common business deals with his brother see Mining Properties
in Box 7.
The papers of
John Pendleton Bibb(1884-1963), son of
W.E. Bibband
Kate Crammack Bibb(1855-1942), consist
mainly of business and legal papers with some personal
correspondence about social events. The business and legal
papers include those related to the
Louisa Guano Companypartnership between
John P. Bibband
John H. Chandlerset up to manufacture
guano in
Louisa County, inquiries about the
purchase of various pieces of machinery, and his work settling
the accounts as a trustee for
Rich & Cornevin,
Grocers and Meat Dealers,
Louisa, Virginia(separate folder).
The papers of
William Chew Bibb(1882-1942), another son
of
W.E. Bibband
Kate CrammackBibb, include business &
legal papers predominantly related to his legal practice in
partnership with his father as
Bibb & Bibb, Attorneys at Lawand
papers pertaining to the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The papers of
William E. Bibbare separated according to
the type of material, such as accounts & receipts,
business correspondence, correspondence with particular
individuals or businesses,
Bibb familycorrespondence, legal cases with
the divorce proceedings filed separately, correspondence
pertaining to his legal practice, personal correspondence, and
correspondence of a political nature with some individual
folders.
Business correspondence includes land transactions in
Basic City,
Waynesboro,
Staunton,
Louisa County, and
Roanoke, Virginia; business matters of
the
Guarantee Title & Investment Company of
Roanoke, Virginia, and the
Louisa Lumber Company(
Bibbwas the President of both companies);
medical bills of Mrs.
Kate Crammack Bibb(see also personal
correspondence); children's educational bills; tobacco sales
to
George A. Haynes, general commission
merchant,
Richmond; interest in an hotel property
(1891 Jan 11 & 1891 Jan 21); disagreements over bills and
requests for payment; orders for merchandise and machinery;
the sale of
Bibb's 150 acre farm in
Louisa County(1890 Jun 9 & 1890 Jul
1); inquiries concerning a teaching job; a
Louisa Countywoman having to close her
boarding house because her daughter had scarlet fever (1892
Dec 29); cancer treatment (1894 Jan 6); property of the
Farmer's Alliance Co-operative Manufacturing
Company(1894 Apr 9);
Hazelbrook Home School,
Trevilians, Virginia(1895 Apr 18 &
1895 Apr 23; 1896 Feb 14); and African-American tobacco
sellers (1899 Feb 14).
Bibb's correspondence with
Arminius Chemical CompanyMineral, Virginia, includes many letters
from the company's general manager
William Henry Adams(1842-1930) son of
General
Henry Perryand
Elizabeth Adams, and mining engineer, to
W.E. Bibbconcerning the legal aspects of
the mining and marketing of pyrites and sulfur ore.
Adamstook an option on the property from
its owner in
New Yorkin March 1883.
Bibbserved as the local legal
representative of the company. In one letter,
Adamsasked
Bibbto secure legal protection against a
Mr. Rogerswho had been threatening to
shoot
Adamson sight (1895 Apr 8-1895 Apr 10);
this correspondence also discusses a lawsuit against the
Arminius Chemical Company[ca. 1897
?].
W.L. Bishop(1855-1915), an engineer and
surveyor, was employed to lay out the
Reuben Davislands as the town site of
Mineraland he drew up the original plan
of lots for sale in
Mineral City, Virginia, in 1890.
W.E. Bibband several others decided to
promote
Mineral Citythrough the
Mineral City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land
Company, and
Bishoppurchased several lots in
Mineralfor himself. Their correspondence
discusses
Bishop's lots in
Mineral, development of the
Goodwintract (1893 Aug 17), other
properties, and legal questions.
Bishopeventually went bankrupt after the
Panic of 1893.
Bishopwas also apparently associated with
Boyd Smith(see boxes 24-26) in the
Pyrites Chemical Mining Company.
Other individuals who merit a separate folder based on the
quantity of their business correspondence include
J.R. Crankand
J.F. Reynolds, both manufacturers of pine
and white oak lumber;
Thomas J. Harmon, a member of the
Waynesborooffice of
Bibb, Harmon and Company, along with
Bibband his brother James, handling real
estate deals whose correspondence discusses some of the same
business as those of
James E. Bibb; several women with
detailed correspondence about their financial affairs, Mrs.
B.M. (Hasher) Loving,
Ella R. Moss, widow of
Louisa CountySheriff
Robert F. Moss, and
Helen Summers; the
law office of Nelms & Wise;
Samuel H. Parsons,
Louisa Countycourt clerk concerning his
proposed book on legal forms; and
Bibb's cousin,
Charles Goodloe, a postal clerk of
Henrico County, accused of
embezzlement.
Also included in this group are three folders of
correspondence dealing with speculation of miscellaneous
mining properties by
W.E. Bibb, as business ventures. These
letters include negotiations with lawyers, real estate agents,
the owners of mining properties and representatives of
companies wishing to purchase mined ore or options on various
properties. Subjects in these files include the following
mines:
Slate Hill Mine,
Arminius Mine,
Walnut Grove Gold Mine,
Morrison Mine, and the following topics:
Bridgewater Mills, barytes, pyrites, and
the suit of
Smithvs
The Pyrites Mining & Chemical
Company.
Bibbwas appointed Special Commissioner to
sell
The Pyrites Mining & Chemical
Companyin November 1900.
Individuals with letters in these files include:
Richard P. Bell(law office);
A.C. Braxton(lawyer);
James R. Caton(attorney);
Fairfax Cary Christian;
Coalter & Wise law firm;
M.H. Crump(land agent);
Charles W. Cunningham;
Dingee, Weinman & Company(barytes);
Oliver Duncan;
John B. Dye;
Horace M. Engle;
Edward L. Evans(
South Planing Mills);
S.G. Evans;
John Fleming(
Virginia Pyrites Mining Company);
D.C. Gallagher;
W.S. Harris;
Ernest A. Hoen;
Samuel Morais Hyneman;
W.B. Jeffrey(
New Pinos Altos Company,
Chihuahua, Mexico);
R.F. Knox;
T.C. Leake, Jr.;
J.B. Levy;
W.A. Little;
H.M. McDonald(
Dominion Mining & Chemical Company);
Robert F. Morris(barytes);
George W. Palmer;
John A. Partridge;
R.N. Pool(President of
Ingalls Iron & Coal Company);
William B. Tinsley(attorney);
John F. Walker;
J.J. Weicher(manager of
The Caledonia Mine);
James D. West; and
J.F. Wingfield.
The family correspondence reflects the occasional strained
relations between
Bibband his brother and sisters, and
includes correspondence with
Bibb's cousin
Rosa P. Chiles, author of
Down Among the Crackers(1890
Sep 11; 1894 Aug 13; 1895 Nov 19; and n.d.); his father,
William T. Bibb(?-1891); his sisters,
Lucy Bibb,
Mollie Bibb, and
Ella Rachel Broadhead, his
brother-in-law,
J.F. Bickers, and cousins
E.G. Briscoeand
George [Cammack ?]. Family letters
discusses the following subjects: morphine addiction (1890 May
8 and [ante 1891 Mar 18]); death of
William T. Bibb(1891 May 18); mention of
the marriage proposal of
Clarence A. Bibbto
Lucy Bibb(1891 Apr 29); dress-making
business and marital problems of
Lucy Bibb(1891 Oct 8, Nov 5, & Dec
18, and following); reference to a lynching of
African-Americans at
Clifton Forge, Virginia, probably the
participants in the riot of 1891; see Clifton Forge Virginia
Scenic Busy Friendly by
Elizabeth Hicks Corron, page 55 (1891 Nov
5);
Janet Bibb's illness while at
Richmond Female Seminary(1895 Apr 19
& May 4); death of
William F. Broadhead, husband of
Ella Rachel Bibb Broadhead,
Cismont, Virginia(1899 Jan 3, Apr 18, 21,
& 24) and her subsequent problems as guardian of his
children and the settling of the estate (1900 Jan 9 -1902 Feb
14); Uncle
J.H. Bibb's notes on
Bibbgenealogy (1903 Mar 15 & Sep 5);
and references to the Spanish-American War and a possible trip
to
Cuba(n.d.). Also present are undated
letters written by
Bibb's cousins
E.G. Briscoeand
George [Cammack ?]to
Bibbwhile he was a patient at the
Pasteur Institute,
New York, mentioning political offices,
Theodore Roosevelt's drive for applicants
for his police force, places to see in
New York, and political affairs.
The small number of legal cases of
W.E. Bibbare arranged alphabetically with
separate folders for the divorce cases and the suit between
John J. Triceand the executors of the
Samuel AndrewsEstate. His legal
correspondence files are more extensive and include letters
concerning typical legal tasks such as abstracts of title, the
drawing up of wills and deeds, conducting lawsuits, estate
settlements, and correspondence with other lawyers about legal
cases and trials.
Legal correspondence involving mental illness or asylums
include: sorcery & theft (1898 Dec 14); suicide threat
(1898 Dec 28 & 29); the mental instability of a sister
involving the orchestra leader
Louis H. Wondree(1901 Aug 14 & Sep 30
attached); a case of sexual impropriety (1897 Nov 18, 22, 30,
& Dec 13); the female asylum too crowded (1899 Apr 25);
the "colored insane" asylum too crowded so the inmates are
kept in jail (1899 Oct 5); a brief report on two inmates at
Central State Hospital(1898 Feb 8); a
report on
Isaac Harris(1899 Nov 8) and a woman said
to be on a "rampage" (n.d.).
Other topics include the witness of an ex-slave,
Robert Barret, to the Union sentiments of
the father of
James G. Boxley(1899 Apr 3); the sale of
whiskey on election day (1900 Jun 26); the alleged Union
service of
Frank Mills(1899 Apr 12); pensions for
old ex-Confederate soldiers (1900 Mar 7); the murder trial of
Susan Waddyinvolving an infant (1900 Jul
7); a debtor whose husband is in the
Williamsburg asylum(1900 Sep 7); a strike
on the railroad (1900 Jun 11); the sale of whiskey to mine
employees (1901 Jun 4); application for payment for services
rendered the Union under General
Philip Sheridanfor three months by
African-American
John Wallace(1895 Nov 25); possible
Bibbrelatives (1896 Apr 10); the
Valley Seminary,
Waynesboro, Dr.
J.B. Winston& Mrs.
Winston, Principals (1896 Nov 30 &
Dec 26); and a seduction charge (1897 Nov 12).
Personal correspondence contains the following topics: a
discussion of politics with an anti-
Clevelandslant (1892 Apr 24);
Janet Bibbat
Hollins Institute(1892 Dec 24); Janet and
the
Richmond Female Institute(1893 Jul 28
& 1894 Oct 15); the search for a
Jim Bibb, by another member of the
Sturdevants Battery, Light Artillery, Army of
Northern Virginia(1895 Jun 10); an autobiographical
sketch written by
W.E. Bibb(1895 Oct 12);
Bibbbitten by a possibly rabid dog (1896
Apr 4); the governor's race (1896 Dec 21); sons to attend
William and Mary(1897 Jul 12); Dr.
R.B. Shackelfordre
Bibb's mother at
Cismont, Virginia(1898 Feb 2 & 10);
the Cuban
Ricardo Sugar Estatebelonging to
C.H.R. Doringh(1815? -?) ruined by the
Spanish-American War (1898 May 5 & 18, and 1899 Jan 14);
Pantops Academy(1898 Aug 17 & 25, and
Sep 6);
Randolph-Macon College(1898 Sep 5);
Bibb's interest in joining the
Episcopal Church(1898 Oct 26); a stamp
collector (1899 Jan 17); Dr.
Edna Beckwithfor mental treatment in
New York(1899-1900);
Brown's University School(1901 Jul 4, Nov
13, Dec 7; 1902 Jan 29); and the
Key Familygenealogy (1904 Jan 14).
The political correspondence discusses
Louisa Countypolitics, the Democratic
party nominations and political recommendations for jobs based
on party loyalty. Topics include: the reorganization of the
Grangein
Louisaand
Alex J. Wedderburn(1893 Jan 25);
Bibb's campaign for senator (1893 Apr 8
& 10); violence in the
Louisa Countycourthouse (1893 Jul 11
& 13); many letters supporting
Bibbfor commonwealth's attorney in 1895,
some mentioning compensation for missing work to vote (1895
scattered); African-American support for
Bibb(1895 May 6); a proposed amendment to
the Constitution to allow ex-slave owners to be recompensed
for the emancipation of their slaves (1896 Feb 7 & 22, Apr
1 & 14; 1903 Feb 20 and attached undated copy of the
bill); the "silver question" (1896 Feb 22); mention of his
treatment at the
Pasteur Institute(1896 Apr 10); a very
full political letter discussing the Democratic lock on
Virginiaelections and the 1896
Presidential contest (1896 Oct 12); letters from persons
seeking the office of Chairman of the
Roanoke Democratic Convention(1897 Jun
29, Jul 1, 4, 5, 7, 15, 22; and Aug 6);
Bibbseeking the position of railroad
commissioner (1897 Jul 25, 29, 31; Aug 20, 24; Sep 16, 17, 18,
20, 21, 24, 27; Oct 3, 4, 8, 9; Nov 10, 19); letter stressing
the strength of the current railroad commissioner,
James C. Hill(1897 Oct 4); voting
tendencies by the men at the
Arminius Chemical Companymine (1897 Oct
30); direct tax question (1897 Nov 8 -1898 Jan 24); mining
lands bill (1898 Jan 26; Feb 18 & 22; and 1900 Feb 21);
the
Virginiasenatorial contest of 1899;
Claude Swanson's nomination for governor
(1901 Jun 3); advisability of holding primary elections (1903
Aug 13); and prohibition and the local option bill (n.d.).
Some of the correspondents in the political files
include:
R.E. Boykin(1897 Dec 14)
Paul C. Edmunds(1893 Nov 10)
H.D. Flood(1897 May 14, Sep 21)
James Hay(1892 Nov 16)
Jed. Hotchkiss(1898 Feb 18; n.d. postal
card)
Eppa Hunton, Sr(1893 Jun 23; Jul 1)
William A. Jones(1897 Sep 10)
W.H.F. Lee(1890 Apr 18; 1898 May 16)
William McComb(1896 Sep 18, 30; Oct
17)
William B. McIlwaine(1897 Sep 21)
James Mann(1897 Sep 20)
S.R. Moore(1897 Nov 8, 15, & 20)
F.F. Ninde(1892 Sep 5)
W.B. Pendleton(1898 Jan 30; 1899 Mar
21)
Henry R. Pollard(1897 Mar 23)
R. Carter Scott(1893 Jul 6 & 12)
Claude Swanson(1901 Apr 19; May 11)
J. Hoge Tyler(1900 Mar 2)
Samuel W. Williams(1901 Jan 12, Jun 3,
Aug 10; 1903 Jun 15)
George D. Wise(1893 Dec 6)
Individuals in the political correspondence files who have
their own folders include: United States Senators
John W. Daniel,
Lynchburg, Virginia, and
Thomas S. Martin,
Scottsville, Virginia;
J. Taylor Ellyson, the Chairman of the
Virginia State Democratic Committee;
William A. Little, a Virginia Senator
representing
Louisa County;
E.E. Meredith,
John F. Rixey, and
Charles T. O'Ferrall, members of the
United States House of Representatives;
and
R.R. Powell.
Series II: Miscellaneous Louisa County Families &
Businesses
This group of papers consists of miscellaneous
Louisafamilies,
Louisa Countyelections and miscellaneous
political papers, and businesses not large enough to merit a
separate series, arranged alphabetically by the name of the
individual, family, or business. Individuals and families
include:
John Boxley;
H.C. Buck, Jr.; the
Buckner family;
John Chiles;
Mary Fletcher;
R.L. Gordon;
George H. Johnson;
John G. May;
Joseph R. Mosby;
Robert F. Moss;
J.Q. Rhodes;
Ellis Sharp; and
J.G. Thomasson.
Several of these files involve the settling of an estate or
the setting up of a guardian for children; these include the
estate of
John Boxleyand the accounts of his
children
John J. Boxley, Jr.and
Virginia Boxley; the estate of
John Chiles, which includes a list of
slaves (1846 Jan 3); the estate of
Mary Fletcher, administered by Dr.
Baldwin M. Buckner; the estate of
Joseph R. Mosby, administered by
James E. Bibb; and the guardianship of
the brothers and sisters of
J.G. Thomasson. The letters of
Ellis Sharpand his wife discuss their
separation and divorce proceedings.
The papers of
H.C. Buck, Jr.are concerned with a court
case involving a lawsuit between
H.C. Buck, Jr. Company,
Newark, New Jersey, and
W.S. Poindexterof
Louisa, Virginia, over
Poindexter's failure to fulfill a
contract to cut, saw, and deliver timber on
Poindexter's property to cars at
Louisaaccording to specifications. The
law firm of Bibb and Bibbapparently
represented the
H.C. Buck, Jr. Companyin the dispute.
The
Buckner familypapers are among the earliest
in this collection and are chiefly those of Dr.
Baldwin M. Buckner, a
Louisa Countyphysician, who married Mary,
"Moldy" (d. 1864), the daughter of [William P. ?]
Townshead. Items in the accounts &
receipts of the
Bucknerfamily include: the accounts of the
parsonage committee for the
Methodist Episcopal Churchon
Madison Circuit, Virginia Conference(1838
Apr 21-25, May 12 & 24; 1839 Mar 28);
Pottierville Post Officeaccount (1850
Jan; 1851 Jan); marriage license for
William Baughanand
Elizabeth P. Sledd(1850 Jan 31);
John Marshall Division Temperance
Hallrental receipt (1850 Nov 20);
Goochland Academytuition (1852 Dec 29;
1853 Jan 1 & 23; 1855 Nov 2);
Louisa Countyeducation receipt (1855 Dec
10); receipt for teacher's services,
Alice E. Wyatt(1864 Jul 30),
Bettie B. Brick(1865 Mar 15; 1866 Mar
15); fee for delivery of baby (1865; 1866 Jun 12); tuition of
poor children paid by
Buckner(1853 Dec 24); the sale of the
Southfield Church, Methodist Episcopal,
South(1876 Apr 10); and a reference to brandy and a
still (1870 Oct 4).
Accounts and receipts involving slaves or slavery include:
tax receipts for slaves (1851; 1857; 1861; 1862; and 1863);
the estate sale of two slaves (1853 Jan 1); bill of sale for a
girl named
Mary Gracefrom
Garland J. Harris(1853 Dec 22); a slave
hire of
Winstonfrom
Mary Harris(1856 Apr 24); a bill of sale
for two men,
Josephand
Sandy, from
Henry Francisco(1857 Jan 6); a slave hire
of
Josephfrom
Bucknerto
Lewis Johnsonto learn the art of
shoemaking (1862 Feb 24); receipt for medicine and a visit for
a slave woman (1863 Sep 19); the service of overseer
Richard Lewis(1858 Dec 30; and 1859 Dec
28); slave hires for
Nelson,
Harvey, and
Austin(1865 Jan 1); and a receipt to
E.R. Watson"for defending a slave" (1862
Nov 16).
Also present are receipts for several persons hired by
Bucknerafter the Civil War, some of which
are known freedmen and may include other former slaves. These
individuals include:
Annie Brown(1881 Dec 14)
Bonnie Brown(1883 Aug 8)
James Henry Bullock(1869 Jan 21)
Lewis Holliday(1875 Sep 11)
Benjamin Marshall, freedwoman's son (1869
Jan 6)
Robert Mason(1875 Jul 14)
Robert Minor, freedman (1868 Jul 11; Oct
7; Dec 24; 1869 May 1 & 14)
Henry Meredith(1881 Jan 7)
Andrew Myers(1882 Feb 15)
Franklin Page, son of freedwoman
Elizabeth Page, by consent of husband
James (1870 Jan 14)
A.V. Parrish(1885 Mar 6)
Richard Petters(1870 Nov 14 & Dec
23)
Elisha Purington(1872 Apr 1)
Charles Rollins(1881 Sep 19)
William A. Tompkins(1883 Jan 9; 1885 Jan
10)
Bucknerbusiness correspondence mentions
the following subjects: slaves belonging to the mother of
E.B. Brock(1855 Dec 22); the lack of
success in getting farmers to come to
Virginiato work the farms for half shares
(1870 Dec 15); the widow of
John Terrellseeking a pension based on
the service of her husband with
Captain Bentley Brown's Company(1871 Dec
20); the estate of
Buckner's mother (1873 Aug 21);
references to prejudice, "
Claytonwill not rent again if any of the
negroes do" (1873 Sep 10); malpractice accusations of
C.T. Brownand squabbles over the teaching
payments (1874 Sep 25, Oct 1, 3, & 5); an inquiry about a
pyrite mine near
Buckner(1884 Apr 7); a marriage
certificate needed for
A.J. Yarboughand
W.S. Kirk, married 1881 Oct 11, due to
death of husband in an accident (1885 Sep 12);
Warner Halldisability certificate (1885
Sep 20); and the dependence of
Susannah D. Millson the hire of her
slaves to pay family expenses [pre 1865].
The
Buckner familypersonal correspondence is
chiefly between
Dr. Bucknerand his wayward son,
Horace Buckner(d. 1888), out West in
St. Louis,
Baton Rouge, and elsewhere, and includes:
the birth of a son to Baldwin and Moldy (1854 Oct 11); the
death of little Matt (1856 Nov 9); the visit of Yankees
frightening
Buckner's wife Moldy and the death of
Moldy (1864 Apr 20);
Horace Bucknerwith
General Johnstonin
Georgiaand his participation in the
Battle of
New Hope Church(1864 Jun 23);
Horace Bucknerfrom
Mobile, Alabama, describes the replacing
of all southern officials by a military government and Yankee
sympathizers, African-Americans working on shares in
agricultural jobs, the emigration to
Brazilof a flourishing colony of
Southerners, an offer to take charge of a mercantile business
on a branch of the
Amazon River, and a request to present a
speech before the
Philo Mathematician Societyon July fourth
(1867 Jun 8); a "testimonial" for chances in advancement out
West (1869 Dec 11); a description of
Nebraskaand
Minnesota(1870 Dec 24); a reference to
astrology (1871 Apr 24); and industrial accident in
Horace Buckner's dyeing and tailoring
establishment (1871 Sep 26); a reference to "Mardi Gras" in
Baton Rouge(1874 Feb 22);
Horace Buckner's problem with gambling
and drinking (1875 May 13);
Horace Bucknerhas his hand bitten through
in a fracas on Saturday (1876 Feb 9); his brother
Robert Bucknerabout
Horace Buckner([187?); a testimonial that
Captain
H. Buckneris not dissipated (1880 May
11); and the amputation of a woman's knee due to cancer (1882
Sep 14 & 27).
The papers of
Reuben Lindsay Gordon(1855-1939),
Commonwealth's Attorney for
Louisa Countyfor sixteen years, elected
to the
House of Delegatesin 1914 where he served
until 1928, and member of the
Constitutional Conventionin 1901-1902,
consist of business and legal papers and correspondence.
Gordonwas born in
Edgewoth, Albemarle Countyand educated
privately by his father,
William F. Gordon, and was married (1884)
first to
Alice Maud Winston(1860-1919) and
subsequently to
Nellie Blair Hunt. The business and legal
papers include a reference to elections in
Louisa County, including
Daniel Gordonand
R.L. Gordon, Jr.(1881 Sep 6); a mention
by
Maury Morrisof fox hunting (1880 Sep 16);
a suit involving an African-American male (1886 Jul 13); and
the death of
Gordon's mother (1887 Apr 9).
Correspondents include
A.B. Grymes,
William F. Gordon, Jr.,
Mary Jane Gordon(1852-1891),
Alexander T. Gordon(1862-1943), his
brother-in-law,
J.O. Winston, sister,
B.L. Gordon, and
Cassius Carter. Subjects in the
correspondence include opportunities for lawyers in
Texas(1884 Aug 26); work as a locating
engineer for a railroad in
Texas(1887 Apr 3); and the poor postal
service in
Metz, Texas(1887 Aug 27).
The papers of
John Goodwin Mayare chiefly concerned
with his legal duties as a practicing lawyer in
Louisa County, with separate folders for
correspondence concerning the installation of an electric
light plant for the town of
Louisa(1903) and the inventory of stock
of
John F. Tolley & Bro.(1905). The
legal cases folder contains a suit by
Mary L. (Baker) Massievs the
Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias; the
estates of
W.J. Underwoodand
Jeff Porter; and the
Mamie Thomasand
J.B. ThomasDivorce Case. His personal and
political correspondence includes: a disagreement with the
Rev.
L.J. Haley(1904 Sep 1; 1905 Aug 30); the
death of May's father (1913 Mar 18); a controversy with
R.L. Gordon(1913 Mar 25); correspondence
with
George S. Shackelford(1914 Jun 16); the
Cumberland Sanitorium,
Lebanon, Tennessee(1916 Jul 3); offer of
services to the government during World War I (1917 Jun 30-Aug
27); warning not to use cocaine with another remedy (1917 Nov
8); and a description of her student life by his daughter
Gladys Mayin
Baltimoreduring World War I (1917 Nov 23,
n.d.).
The business and legal papers of
Robert F. Moss(d. 1883), sheriff of
Louisa County, include: a letter from
William Gilmanto Moss regarding the next
election to the
Virginia House of Delegateswhere, "I
trust
Louisawill be redeemed and that instead
of negroes and white Radicals I will meet a simon pure
Virginian delegation from your good old county," (1875 Oct
25); notification of the escape of an inmate from the
Central Lunatic Asylumnear
Richmondwho was probably headed for
Louisa(1881 Feb 16); and concerning the
primary election,
H.V. Winstonasking for support in the
upcoming election (1880 Jul 1).
John Q. Rhodeswas the law partner of
W.C. Bibbin the 1920's and his business
and legal papers chiefly pertain to his legal work in
Louisa County. In 1936,
Rhodesbecame director of the
Division of Motor Vehiclesfor
Virginia. He served as a member of the
House of Delegatesfrom 1930-1934. His
correspondence contains very little personal material and is
chiefly concerned with the legal cases he represented. An
unusual item in the business and legal papers is a prospectus
of the
Haile Gold Mines, Inc.(1937 Jul 15).
The personal and political folder contains a booklet of
admission tickets for delegates to the 1924
Democratic National Conventionin
New Yorkand the declaration of
Rhodesfor candidacy with supporting
papers for the
House of Delegatesfrom
Louisa Countyto
Carl H. Nolting, Chairman of the
Louisa County Democratic Committee(1933
May 9).
Among the papers related to
Louisa Countyelections and politics are:
the
Louisa Camp Confederate Veterans
Roll;election returns (n.d.); poll books; used primary
election ballots for 1905; and voting lists (1895 & n.d.)
with separate "white" and "colored" lists. There is also some
political material in a folder labelled "Miscellaneous:
Political & Miscellaneous Documents."
Businesses represented in this series include:
Craig Kennels and Game Farm,
Trevilians, Virginia, all concerning debt
collection; a lawsuit involving the
Jackson Telephone and Telegraph Company;
The Old Dominion Phonograph Company,
Roanoke, Virginia, containing an annual
report (1890) and stock certificates belonging to
W.E. Bibb; and the
Mineral City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land
Company. The directors of this company were
R.P. Talley(President),
W.H.F. Lee(Vice-President),
W.R. Goodwin(General Manager),
P.B. Porter(Secretary & Treasurer,
replaced by
A.G. Hillin June 1890),
W.E. Bibb(Attorney),
W.O. Smith,
J.F. Bickers, and
J.W. Flannagan. Most of the
correspondence was handled by
P.B. Porterand then
A.G. Hill, and was concerned with a new
C & O Railroaddepot (1890 Apr 11
& 19), a petition to change the name of the town of
Tolersvilleto
Mineral City(1890 Apr 17), questions
about the charter, the prospectus of the company, the purchase
of stock shares, and advertisements concerning the property.
Other types of papers include: bills & receipts, financial
statements, pay rolls, printed material, and a time book (for
bound volumes pertaining to the
Mineral City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land
Companysee Boxes 40-42). For a recent discussion of
the history of
Mineraland the
Mineral City Mining, Manufacturing, and Land
Companysee the Louisa County Historical Magazine,
Spring 1990 Mineral Centennial Issue, Volume 21, No. 1, pages
15-27.
Series III: Boyd Smith Papers
The
Boyd Smithmines were first opened about
1886 by
Boyd Smith, who was also President of the
Pyrites Mining & Chemical Company.
The mines were never as successful as the nearby
Arminius Minesand much of his business
and legal papers deal with claims made against
Boyd Smithand his company, law suits
against
Boyd Smith, and attempts to interest
various mining companies in purchasing his mines in
Louisa County. There is a fair amount of
correspondence with
W.E. Bibbwho was his legal representative
in
Louisaand who was appointed Special
Commissioner to sell the
Pyrites Mining & Chemical Companyin
November of 1900. These files also contain
Boyd Smith's personal business and legal
papers such as late life insurance payments, bills, and other
matters. Also present are inventories of the stores and tools
at the pyrite mines listed for potential buyers of the
property (1900 August & October; 1901 Apr) and examples of
the
Pyrites Chemical & Mining
Companystore script (see separate folder).
The folder of family and personal correspondence,
1897-1903, contains mainly letters from his son,
D. Boyd Smithto his father, one from his
wife [Bliss ?] (1902 May 14), and a photograph of [Bliss ?]
and Mrs.
Bibb(1901).
Series IV: William Worth Smith, Jr. Papers
This series consists chiefly of the legal cases handled by
William Worth Smith, Jr.(1887-?), a
VirginiaState Senator from 1924-1934,
arranged alphabetically by the name of the claimant.
William Worth Smith Jr.'s papers are
concerned predominantly with the collection of debts for his
clients but they also contain separate folders of a slander
case, cases of divorce, the purchase of "Ionia Farm, and law
suits.
William Worth Smith Jr.'s correspondence
folder includes letters of a political nature from
Claude Swanson,
Charles C. Carlin,
Howard W. Smith, and
A. Willis Robertson.
William Worth Smith Jr.was born in
Fauquier Countyto
William Worth Smithand
Lucinda Lewis Smithand was educated at
Randolph-Macon Collegeand the
University of Virginia, receiving his law
degree in 1910. He was married to
Lucy Winston Sims, daughter of Judge
F.W. Sims, and became a dairy farmer in
Louisa County. His only brother was
Representative
Howard Smithof the Eighth District.
Series V: Bound Volumes & Oversize Material
This series has three subseries based on the size of the
items, a) boxed bound volumes, b) 2M bound volumes and c)
oversize folders, and arranged alphabetically within subseries
according to the name of the individual or business concerned
with the item.