Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts and Archives Department
Collection Information
Historical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Box and Folder Listing
Cataloging Information
Processed by:
Paul Brockman
20 May 1991
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VOLUME OF COLLECTION: |
2 boxes, 1 oversize folder, 10 reels of microfilm (.75 linear feet) |
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COLLECTION DATES: |
Inclusive 1832-1901; Bulk 1837-1886 |
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PROVENANCE: |
Marian Deal, LaGrange, Indiana, 17 April 1991 |
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RESTRICTIONS: |
None |
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COPYRIGHT: |
Held by Indiana Historical Society |
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ALTERNATE FORMATS: |
Microfilm of papers |
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OTHER FINDING AIDS: |
None |
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RELATED HOLDINGS: |
None, although 12 manuscripts, 102 printed forms filled in, and 6 notebooks were originally a separate collection (M 0300) and was combined with this donation to form M 0160. |
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ACCESSION NUMBER: |
1991.0358 |
Samuel P. Williams (1814-1897) was born in Lebanon, Connecticut. In 1832 he moved to White Pigion (sic.), Michigan, where he was a merchant. Williams came to Lima, LaGrange County Indiana in 1836 and was engaged in business as a merchant, banker, and real estate agent. In 1853 Williams and John B. Howe established the LaGrange Bank at Lima, becoming president of the Lima Branch, State Bank of Indiana, in 1856, and president of the State Bank of Lima in 1878. He was also the director of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad as well as owning an iron foundry. In 1857 he was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives as a member of the Republican Party and served one term in office. Williams was also an advocate of education founding a female seminary at Lima in 1854 and sustaining it for over 12 years; serving as director of the LaGrange Collegiate Institute in Ontario, Indiana; being a trustee for Wabash College for over 30 years; and a financial backer for Howe Military Academy in LaGrange County. In 1839 Williams married Lydia Ann Hume and they had one child. Lydia Williams died in 1842, and the following year, he married Lydia's sister, Isabel J. Hume, and they had six children. Williams died in Berkeley, California.
Sources: Biographical Directory of the Indiana General Assembly, vol. 1, p. 418.
History of LaGrange and Noble Counties, (1882), p. 324.
The collection is made up of Samuel P. Williams' correspondence and business papers from 1832-1895. The correspondence covers the years 1841-1886, the bulk of which were written in the 1850s and 1860s, and contain items of both personal and business nature. Among the personal materials are letters to Williams from his family in Manchester and Hartford, Connecticut, as well as California, New York City, and other locations and contain local and health related news as well as business items, travels, the Civil War, and political commentary. In addition, there are several letters written by Williams to his wife while he was serving in the State Legislature in Indianapolis from January-March, 1857, and letters from Caleb Mills to Williams regarding the status of Wabash College from 1860-1862. The business correspondence contains items regarding accounts, payments freight shipments, the sale of property, LaGrange Collegiate Institute, the female seminary at Lima, and similar institutions. Most are addressed to Williams from such locations as Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Buffalo, New York, and Chicago.
Williams' business papers include receipts, financial records, and legal documents mostly dealing with his educational, real estate, and banking interests, 1832-1895, the bulk of which are from the late 1840s to the mid 1860s. There are notes regarding payment enclosed or notes due for the LaGrange Bank at Lima, Indiana, the LaGrange Collegiate Institute at Ontario, Indiana, and the female seminary at Lima. There are also farm leases, warranty deeds, land indentures, and other general land documents dealing with Williams' real estate business. There are also materials regarding paper currency and failed banks including the general unreliability of the banking industry (1854), and notes from the Indiana State Auditor informing Williams of the state burning bank notes from his institution (1858 & 1860). There are also the financial records of the LaGrange Collegiate Institute (1871-1874), deposit certificates and state bank checks for the LaGrange Bank (1854-1856), and Williams' diaries, account books, and notebooks (1832-1874).
BOX 1: Correspondence, 1841-1886
FOLDER CONTENTS
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1 |
Correspondence, 1841-1849 |
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2 |
Correspondence, 1850-1853 |
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3 |
Correspondence, 1854 |
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4 |
Correspondence, 1855 |
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5 |
Correspondence, 1856 |
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6 |
Correspondence, 1857 |
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7 |
Correspondence, 1858 |
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8 |
Correspondence, 1859 |
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9 |
Correspondence, 1860 |
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10 |
Correspondence, 1861 |
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11 |
Correspondence, 1862 |
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12 |
Correspondence, 1863 |
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13 |
Correspondence, 1864 |
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14 |
Correspondence, 1865-1870 |
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15 |
Correspondence, 1871-1886 & n.d. |
BOX 2: Business Papers and Accounts, 1832-1901; Microfilm
FOLDER CONTENTS
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1 |
Business Papers, 1837-1846 |
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2 |
(OM 0256) Business Papers, 1837-1876 |
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3 |
Business Papers, 1847-1849 |
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4 |
Business Papers, 1850-1853 |
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5 |
Business Papers, January 1854-June 1854 |
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6 |
Business Papers, July 1854-December 1854 |
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7 |
Business Papers, January 1855-June 1855 |
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8 |
Business Papers, July 1855-December 1855 |
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9 |
Business Papers, 1856 |
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10 |
Business Papers, 1857 |
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11 |
Business Papers, 1858 |
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12 |
Business Papers, 1859 |
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13 |
Business Papers, 1860-1863 |
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14 |
Business Papers, 1866-1867 |
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15 |
Business Papers, 1870-1876 |
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16 |
LaGrange Collegiate Institute Finances, 1871-1874 |
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17 |
Business Papers, 1877-1879 |
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18 |
Business Papers, 1880 |
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19 |
Business Papers, 1881-1889 |
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20 |
Business Papers, 1892-1901 |
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21 |
Business Papers, n.d. |
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22 |
LaGrange Bank Deposit Certificates & Indiana State Bank Checks, 1854-1856 |
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23 |
Diaries & Notebooks (5), 1832-1864 |
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24 |
Account Books (2), 1848 & 1853 |
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25 |
Diary, 1859; Account Book, 1865-1874 |
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26 (F 0385-0386) |
Negative microfilm of original collection |
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27 (F 1198-1205) |
Microfilm of entire collecton--see list below |
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F 1198 |
microfilm of box 1, folders 1-6 |
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F 1199 |
microfilm of box 1, folders 7-10 |
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F 1200 |
microfilm of box 1, folders 11-16 |
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F 1201 |
microfilm of box 2, folders 1-8 |
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F 1202 |
microfilm of box 2, folders 9-15 |
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F 1203 |
microfilm of box 2, folders 16-22 |
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F 1204 |
microfilm of box 2, folders 23-24 |
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F 1205 |
microfilm of box 2, folder 25 |
For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:
END