A Guide to the Papers of James S. Easley, 1837-1904 #38-52

A Guide to the Papers of James S. Easley, 1837-1904 Easley, Papers of James S. 38-52

A Guide to the Papers of James S. Easley, 1837-1904

A Collection in
Special Collections
The University of Virginia Library
Accession Number 38-52

Special Collections, University of Virginia Library

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Reference Request Form: https://small.lib.virginia.edu/reference-request/
URL: http://small.library.virginia.edu/

Processed by: Special Collections Staff

Repository

Special Collections, University of Virginia Library

Accession number

38-52

Title

Papers of James S. Easley 1837-1904

Physical Characteristics

This collection consists of ca. 2600 items (4 Hollinger Boxes, 1.6 linear shelf feet) and 115 bound ledgers (18 linear shelf feet).

Language

English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Papers of James S. Easley, Accession #38-52, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

The collection was given to the Library by James S. Easley, a grandson of James S. Easley (1802-1879), of Halifax, Virginia, in 1934.

Scope and Content Information

The James S. Easley collection consists of ca. 2600 items (4 Hollinger Boxes, 1.6 linear shelf feet) and 115 bound ledgers (18 linear shelf feet), 1837-1904, containing business records of James S. Easley and his successors of Halifax Court House [now Halifax], Virginia.

James S. Easley was born in 1802 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. With various associates, he sold general merchandise in Halifax Court House , Virginia, and speculated in mid-western lands. Mr. Easley died in 1879. Over the years James Easley's businesses were conducted by a variety of the following associates, executors and successors: Easley and Willingham; W.W. Willingham; Easley, Holt and Co.; Easley, Carrington and Co.; Samuel W. Holt; Easley and Hurt; R. Holt Easley, Wood Boudin, Jr. and Banister Mills.

The collection includes the records of merchandising business, land speculation, a milling enterprise and the settling of Easley's estate. Also included are the records of the continuation of these activities in a business operated by R. Holt Easley, son of James. Easley. The records of the general merchandising business are contained chiefly in day books/ journals, journals and ledgers. They include the names of wholesale suppliers and customers, and detail the variety of goods handled. The records of Easley's land speculations dominate the collection and include correspondence, maps, registers of various land records, receipts, bonds, deeds, tax lists and accounts. They are to be found throughout the manuscript material and the bound ledgers. The land records begin in 1853 and continue through 1904. Business was conducted with Iowa land agents such as Weare and Allison, W.J. Barney and Co., E.S. Hedges, J.P. and J.N. Casady, and Casady and Test as well as agents in Kansas, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, and Nebraska. Brief references to a milling enterprise are included in a receipt (Banister Mills, 1881) and in several business letters (1903--1904).

Beginning in 1879 all records, including those of the land speculation, reflect the adjustments necessitated by Easley's death. Records of R. Holt Easley's management of the business can be found in both the manuscript material and the bound ledgers, beginning ca. 1882. The collection contains references to the existence of lead in Iowa, the influence of new railroads, and problems resulting from the Civil War in relation to the ownership of property in the north by a Virginia businessman.

Organization

The manuscript material is filed in chronological order. The material within each folder is in forward chronological order, except for some letters which had been serialized. These letters have been filed by number, and vary between being in reverse chronological order and an inconsistent forward chronological order. Some of these folders also contain an index of fair accuracy.

The ledgers are arranged in six groups: Letter books, Daybooks/ Journals, Journals, Ledgers, Land Records, and Miscellaneous. Each group is lettered (A to F, respectively), and ledgers in each group are arranged in chronological order and numbered. (See listing at the end of this guide.) Several of the journals contain two sets of records, each set separated by a number of years. The letters in some of the ledgers are letter press copies and, therefore, many are difficult to read.

Contents List

Box 1

Accounts, bonds, business letters, deeds and land lists 1850-1882

Box 1

Business letters to James S. Easley, Easley and Willingham and W.W. Willingham (with index for period 1855 Oct. 13- 1855 Dec 1) 1855 Oct. 13-Dec.1

Box 1

Business letters to James S. Easley, Easley and Willingham and W.W. Willingham (for index see folder for 1855 Oct. 13- 1855 Dec. 1) 1855 Nov.21-1856 Feb 16

Box 1

Accounts, business letters, receipts and tax lists 1858-1862

Box 1

Accounts, business letters, land lists and receipts 1861-1870

Box 1

List of Western Lands 1856

Box 1

Accounts, business letters, deeds and receipt 1870-1880

Box 1

Business Letters to James S. Easley, Easley and Willingham and W. W. Willingham (contains map- "Township No. 28 Range 32") 1870 Nov 28-1871 Jan 19

Box 1

Business letters to James S. Easley, Easley and Willingham and W.W. Willingham 1871 Jan 16-Feb 24

Box 2

Business letters to James S. Easley, Easley and Willingham and W. W. Willingham 1871 Feb 15- Apr 17

Box 2

Accounts, Business letters and Deeds 1873-1880

Box 2

Newspaper clipping re crop prospects [ca 1874]

Box 2

Business letters to James S. Easley, Easley and Willingham and W.W. Willingham 1874 Feb 14-Apr 30

Box 2

Business letters to James S. Easley and W.W. Willingham 1874 Aug 11- Oct 3

Box 2

Business letters to James S. Easley, Easley and W. W. Willingham 1874 May- Aug 10

Box 2

Accounts, business letters, deeds, land lists and receipts 1875-1880

Box 2

Business letters to James S. Easley (with index for period 1876 Jan 3- 1876 May 16) 1876 Jan 3- Feb 12

Box 2

Business letters to James S. Easley (for index see folder for 1876 Jan 3-1876 Feb12), 2 folders 1876 Feb 10- May 16

Box 3

Business letters to James S. Easley, Easley and Willingham and W.W. Willingham (with index for period 1876 Sep 30- 1877 Mar 12) 1876 Sep 30- Jan 12

Box 3

Business letters to James S. Easley and W.W. Willingham (for index see folder for 1876 Sep 30- 1877 Jan 12) 1877 Jan 12- Mar 12

Box 3

Business letters to James S. Easley and W. W. Willingham 1878 Dec 11- 1879 Feb 25

Box 3

Accounts, business letters, deeds, and receipts 1879-1883

Box 3

Business letters to James S. Easley and Easley and Willingham 1879 Feb 26- May 3

Box 3

Business letters to James S. Easley and Easley and Willingham and W.W. Willingham 1879 Apr 30- Aug 28

Box 3

Accounts, business letters, receipts and statements 1880-1887

Box 3

Business letters to Wood Bouldin, Jr., R. Holt Easley, Samuel W. Holt and other executors of James S. Easley's estate 1881 Dec 16- 1882 May 9

Box 4

Accounts, receipts and statements 1882 Jan 7- Apr 29

Box 4

Accounts and receipts 1882 May 4- 1884 Jul 12

Box 4

Accounts, business letters, land lists, receipts, and statements 1883-1886

Box 4

Accounts, business letters, land lists, receipts, and statements 1886

Box 4

Business letters and receipts 1887-1895

Box 4

Pamphlet 1886

Box 4

Advertisements, catalogs and circulars 1900-1901

Box 4

Zeta Psi fraternity- Biographical catalog blank 1900 Jan 2

Box 4

Accounts book: J. S. Easley in A/C with V.M.I. 1901-1904

Box 4

Telegram: Elizabeth Easley to R. Holt Easley 1901 May 16

Sales of warrants 1853 Jun 23-1885