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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


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© 2003 By the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All rights reserved.

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
Physical Location: Oversize
Accounts- Easley and Willingham W/ Cook, Sargent and Downey 1853-1855
Physical Location: Oversize
Sales of land Warrants 1854 Oct 17 1885 Dec 29
Physical Location: Oversize
"Abstract of Warrants sold for Easlet and Willingham" 1855 Oct 22- 1856 Feb 27
Physical Location: Oversize
"Easley and Willingham time entries" 1855 Nov 26- 1856 Apr 23
Physical Location: Oversize
"List of locations scrip for Easley and Willingham" 1855 Dec 25- 1857 Feb 11
Physical Location: Oversize
Account- James S. Easley w/ Cook, Sargent and Downey 1856 Jan 1- Mar 21
Physical Location: Oversize
"List of warrants sold for Easley and Willingham" 1856 Mar 4- Apr 14
Physical Location: Oversize
"List of warrants located for James Easley" 1856 Mar 18- Apr 16
Physical Location: Oversize
Account- Cook, Sargent and Downey w/ James S. Easley. 1856 Mar 21- Apr 24
Physical Location: Oversize
"Abstract of warrant and scrip locations for James S. Easley" 1856 Aug 14- 1857 Nov 6
Physical Location: Oversize
List of properties Post 1856 Nov 1
Physical Location: Oversize
Account- Bennet and Maxon w/ Easley and Willingham 1858 May 29- 1859 May 2
Physical Location: Oversize
Accounts- James S. Easley w/ Casady and test 1858 Jaul 1- 1859 Dec 2
Physical Location: Oversize
"Map of Fort Dodge and a part of the Sioux City and Osage Land Districts Iowa 1858" 1858
Physical Location: Oversize
"Statement of homesteads, Council Bluffs [Iowa] Land District for James S. Easley" [ca 1858-1859]
Physical Location: Oversize
Account- Easley and Willingham w/ Weare and Allison 1866 [Jan 3?] -Oct 12
Physical Location: Oversize
"List of Easley and Willingham's lands sold by Weare and Allison 1866" 1866
Physical Location: Oversize
24 Treasurer's Tax Deeds to James S. Easley 1872 Nov 27- 1876 Jan 31
Physical Location: Oversize
Business letter - Chas. A. Wallace to James S. Easley 1876 Feb 8
Physical Location: Oversize
Map- "Topographical map of Hancock county, Iowa" 1876-1879
Physical Location: Oversize
Map- "Map of Woodbury County, Iowa" 1882
Physical Location: Oversize
Account- R. Holt Easley w/ L. Faulkner 1884 Feb 5- 1886 Feb 2
Physical Location: Oversize
Map- "Map of Sioux City, Iowa" 1887
Physical Location: Oversize
Map- "Highland Park, Sioux City, Iowa" n.d.
Physical Location: Oversize
Map- "Plat of Sioux City, Iowa" (two copies) n.d.
Physical Location: Oversize
"Map of Sioux City, Iowa" (Blueprint) n.d.
Physical Location: Oversize
Letter Books 1853-1904
48 Volumes
  • 1853 Jun 11- 1855 Sep 11

    with index 1

  • 1855 Sep 17- 1856 Nov 1

    with index 2

  • 1856 Nov 2- 1858 Oct 5

    with index 3

  • 1858 Oct 5- 1860 Jun 18

    with index 4

  • 1859 Nov 14- 1860 Jul 11

    with index 5

  • 1860 Jun 18 1865 Oct 16

    with index 6

  • 1861 Feb 13- 1866 Jul 24

    with index 7

  • 1865 Oct 16- 1867 Feb 20

    with index 8

  • 1867 Feb. 20- 1868 Apr 11

    with index 9

  • 1867 Oct 3- 1868 Jul 25

    with index 10

  • 1868 Apr 14- 1869 Apr 9

    with index 11

  • 1868 Jul 28- Dec 21

    with index 12

  • 1869 Apr 19- 1870 Mar 31

    with index 13

  • 1870 Jun 1- 1871 Aug 14

    with index 14

  • 1871 Aug 16- 1872 Sep 4

    with index 15

  • 1872 Sep 11- 1873 Dec 31

    with index 16

  • 1874 Jan 1- 1875 Feb 25

    with index 17

  • 1874 Oct 20- 1874 Feb 10

    with index 18

  • 1875 Feb 25- 1876 Feb 18

    with index 19

  • 1875 May 26- 1876 Jan 1

    with index 20

  • 1876 Feb 19- 1877 May 15

    with index 21

  • 1877 May 17- 1878 Sep 17

    with index 22

  • 1878 Arp 8- Dec 10

    with index 23

  • 1878 Sep 17- 1881 Jan 21

    with index 24

  • 1879 Aug 2- 1880 Feb 2

    with index 25

  • 1879 Dec 29- 1880 Dec 10

    with index 26

  • 1880 Dec 8- 1882 Apr 21

    with index 27

  • 1880 Dec 9- 1881 Dec 26

    28

  • 1881 Jan 7- 1882 Aug 25

    29

  • 1881 Oct 26- 1883 Jun 3

    30

  • 1882 Apr 27- 1883 Nov 3

    with index 31

  • 1883 Jun 1- 1884 Mar 17

    with index 32

  • 1883 Nov 5- 1885 Jul 10

    with index 33

  • 1884 Apr 1- 1885 Apr 8

    with index 34

  • 1885 May 23 -1888 Jun 20

    with index 35

  • 1885 Jul 11- 1889 Mar 12

    with index 36

  • 1887 Oct 11- 1890 Apr 9

    with index 37

  • 1889 Mar 15- 1891 Aug 11

    with index 38

  • 1889 Apr 24- 1891 Jan 20

    with index 39

  • 1889 Apr 27- 1890 Jul 24

    with index 40

  • 1890 Jul 1- Dec 11

    with index 41

  • 1891 Apr 6- 1892 Mar 1

    with index 42

  • 1892 Jan 12- Aug 19

    with index 43

  • 1892 Mar 2- Oct 27

    with index 44

  • 1894 May 24- 1896 Feb 22

    with index 45

  • 1901 Nov 5- 1902 May 15

    with index 46

  • 1902 Jul 17- 1903 Jun 12

    with index 47

  • 1903 Jun 16- 1904 Sep 16

    with index 48

Daybooks/Journals 1837-1838, 1873-1878
2 Vols.
  • 1837 Jul 23- 1838 Sep 29 1

    Daybook

  • 1838 Jun 15- Sep 19

    Journal

  • 1837 Jul 19- 1838 Jul 28
  • 1873 Sep 16- 1877 Jul 14 2

    Daybook

  • 1873 Sep 15- 1878 Mar 3

    Journal

Journals 1837- 1895
42 Vols.
  • 1837 Jul 1- Nov 20

    1

  • 1838 Jan 1 -Sep 29

    2

  • 1838 Nov 1- 1839 Aug 31

    3

  • 1838 Oct 16- 1839 Aug 4

    4

  • 1839 Sep 2- 1840 May 30

    5

  • 1869 Oct 1- 1840 Jun 23

    6

  • 1840 Jun 22- 1841 Feb 20

    7

  • 1840 Jul 1- 1841 Jan 30

    8

  • 1841 Feb 22- Oct 23

    9

  • 1841 Mar 1- Sep 30

    10

  • 1841 Oct 25- 1880 Jul 17

    11

  • 1842 Mar 21- Nov 8

    12

  • 1842 Apr 1- Oct 31

    13

  • 1842 Nov 9- 1843 Jul 29

    14

  • 1842 Dec 1- 1843 Aug 31

    15

  • 1843 Sep 1- 1884 May 31

    16

  • 1843 Oct 2- 1884 Oct 30

    17

  • 1844 May 13- 1845 Jan 31

    18

  • 1845 Apr 1- Dec 31

    19

  • 1845 Dec 1- 1847 Oct 15

    20

  • 1846 Jan 1- Nov 17

    21

  • 1846 Feb 2- Oct 31

    22

  • 1846 Nov 18- 1847 Sep 30

    23

  • 1847 Oct 15- 1877 Apr 6

    24

  • 1863 Oct 15- 1864 Jan 25
  • 1847 Nov 1- 1848 Jan 31

    25

  • 1862 Nov 24- 1863 Oct 14
  • 1854 Mar 1- Nov 30

    26

  • 1854 Apr 1- Nov 30

    27

  • 1855 Jan 1- Jul 30

    28

  • 1855 Jul 31- 1856 Jan 31

    29

  • 1856 Mar 1- 1857 Mar 31

    30

  • 1856 Apr 1- 1857 Apr 30

    31

  • 1857 Jun 1- 1858 Feb 26

    32

  • 1858 Mar 1- 1859 Fan 31

    33

  • 1858 Apr 1- 1861 Feb 28

    34

  • 1859 Mar 1- 1860 Jan 16

    35

  • 1859 Apr 1- Dec 31

    36

  • 1860 Jan 16- 1860 Jan 30

    37

  • 1860 Feb 1- 1861 Feb 12

    38

  • 1861 Mar 1- 1862 Sep 23

    39

  • 1861 Apr 1- 1862 Nov 23

    40

  • 1873 Fan 20- Feb 8

    41

  • 1883 Nov 1- 1895 Mar

    42

Ledgers 1837-1883
12 vols.
  • 1837- 1839

    1

  • 1842-1846

    with index 2

  • 1844-1833

    with index 3

  • 1851-1852

    4

  • 1853-1860

    5

  • 1855-1874

    with index 6

  • 1855-1856

    7

  • 1858-1859

    8

  • 1861-1864

    9

  • 1864-1881

    with index 10

  • 1870-1873

    with index 11

Land Records
  • Register of Land Warrants 1852-1855

    with index 1

  • Ledger/ Register of Land Records 1853-1858

    with index 2

  • Ledger/ Register of land records 1853-1881

    3

  • Ledger/ Register of land records 1854-1879

    with index 4

  • Register of land 1857-1878

    with index 5

  • Land tracts maps ca. 1857

    6

  • Register of land records 1869-1882

    with index 7

Miscellaneous
  • Register of debt, court judgments and land records 1837-1886
  • Register of balances 1874-1879

    with index

  • Miscellaneous Financial records 1866-1876
  • Invoice book 1869-1871