Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives

JOHN WINSLOW
PAPERS, 1792-1936


Collection #
M 516
OM 120
BV 2536-2537


Table of Contents

User Information
Biographical sketch
Scope and Content note
Box and Folder Inventory
Cataloguing Information

Processed by
Hilary Adams
November 1988


 USER INFORMATION

VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 1 manuscript box, 1 oversize folder, and 2 bound volumes (.5 cubic feet)

 COLLECTION DATES: Inclusive 1792-1936; bulk 1853-1936

 PROVENANCE: Purchased from Maria Miller, Brownsburg, IN

 RESTRICTIONS: None

 REPRODUCTION RIGHTS: Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society.

 ALTERNATE FORMATS: None

 OTHER FINDING AIDS: None

 RELATED HOLDINGS: SC 498, Gilbert Denny Civil War letters.

 ACCESSION NUMBER: 86.0184

NOTES:


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

  John Winslow was born June 24, 1834 in Washington County, Indiana. His father, John Woolman Winslow, had come to Indiana in 1814 and settled down to farm in Washington County. His son John took over the farm as he came of age. He was a highly successful farmer and at one point worked 600 acres of land.

In 1856, Winslow married Margaret Hollowell. They had six children who survived to adulthood:

Sherman (b.1859) m. Matta Boling
Caroline (b.1864) m. Frank Hines
Zella (b.1867) m. Arthur Callaway
Charles (b.1870) m. Zella Albertson
William (b.1872)
Elmer (b.1875) m. Lula Boling

Margaret Hollowell Winslow died in 1875. In 1876 Winslow married Diana Denny. They had five children:

Winnie (b.1879) m. Lillian Frantz
George (b.1881) m. May Lisle
Louis (b.1886) m. Detha Batting
Josephine (b.1888) m. Roy Spaulding
Ruth (b.1890) m. Sherman Harned

John Winslow continued to farm in Washington County until his death in 1933.


SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

  The Winslow papers consist of correspondence between John Winslow and various members of his family, business records of his farm, and family papers of the Denny family, of which his wife was a member.

The correspondence is generally to John Winslow from his children and grandchildren. These items relate family news. Some items are from other relatives (nieces and nephews), and a few pieces deal with the business of the Winslow farm.

The business records of the Winslow farm consist of tax assessments, promissory notes, account books, memoranda and contracts for the years 1859-1933. In addition there are two diaries, kept by John Winslow: one for 1880-1888 and one for 1889-1898. These diaries consist of one-line entries for each day, which describe personal, as well as business matters. While the information in each entry is limited, read in sequence they present a picture of farm life in Indiana at the turn of the century.

The Denny family papers consist of Civil War letters and pension requests by Elizabeth Denny, the widow of Gilbert Denny. The letters and papers date from 1862-1867, saving one letter from 1891. The genealogy of the Denny family and their connection with the Winslows is detailed in the genealogical material found in the manuscript portion of the collection and beginning on page 103 of the 1880-1888 diary.

A calendar of correspondence is available in the Indiana Historical Society Library.


BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1:
Folder:

1: Collection Guide.

2: Correspondence, 1853-1906.

3: Correspondence, 1907-1910.

4: Correspondence, 1911-1917.

5: Correspondence, 1918-1922.

6: Correspondence, 1924-1927.

7: Correspondence, 1928-1933 and n.d.

8: Estate Correspondence, 1935.

9: Denny Family Letters, 1862-1891.

10: Denny Family Pension and Bounty Documents

11: Denny Family Miscellaneous

12: Winslow-Denny Genealogical Material.

13: Legal Papers, 1859-1934.

14: Assessments, 1859-1927.

15: Business Letters, 1892-1923.

16: Cancelled Checks and Receipts, 1906-1936.

17: Bills and Promissory Notes, 1860-1891.

18: By-Laws of Republican Club, n.d.

19: Anti-Abolition Resolution, Washington County Democrats, 2/15/1863.

20: Miscellaneous Ads and Clippings.

21: Journals and Memoranda, 1879-1905.

22: Account Books, 1877-1910.

23: Poll Book, 1876.

24: (BV) Diary, 1880-1888; Diary, 1889-1898, (See BV 2536-7)

25: (OM) North Carolina Land Grant, 1792 (See OM 120)


CATALOGUING INFORMATION

MAIN ENTRY: Winslow, John, 1834-1933

SUBJECT ENTRIES: Winslow, John, 1834-1933--Diaries

Winslow, John, 1834-1933--Estate

Denny, Elizabeth

Denny, Gilbert H., ca. 1840-1864

Winslow family--Genealogy

Denny family--Genealogy

United States. Army. Indiana Infantry Regiment, 18th (1861-1865)

Farms--Indiana--Salem (Washington County)

Farms--Taxation--Indiana--Washington County

Farmers--Indiana--Washington County--Economic conditions

Farm life--Indiana--Washington County

Military pensions--Indiana--Washington County

Land grants--North Carolina

Voting registers--Indiana

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Indiana--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Washington County (Ind.)--History--Sources

Salem (Washington County, Ind.)--History--Sources

END