Judson-Fairbanks Papers: Finding Aid

Processed by Mitchell W.K. Toda in July 2002.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Manuscripts Department

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2129

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Overview of the Collection

Title: Judson-Fairbanks Papers

Dates (inclusive): 1852-1887

Collection Number: mssHM 62780-62821

Creator: Judson, Everitt, Fairbanks, Martin L., and Fairbanks, Zelotes C.

Extent: 47 pieces in 1 box.

Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2129

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Abstract: This collection chiefly contains family correspondence of the Judson Family, dating from 1852 to 1887 and discussing family affairs as well as current events, including such topics as agriculture and economic conditions in California. Thirteen letters have to do with the Quartermaster Corps in Memphis during the Civil War. In addition, there are some items dealing with the accidental death of Martin L. Fairbanks.

Language: English.

Access

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Administrative Information

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Judson-Fairbanks Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Purchased from Usher Lloyd Burdick, May 27, 1947.

Biographical Note

Everitt Judson traveled from New York to San Francisco in 1852 on the schooner Ino to pursue financial gains in California, leaving behind his wife, Philuta. Once there he tried his hand at gold mining and farming; each produced modest results and allowed him to purchase a ranch on the south fork of the Kern River. Everitt and Philuta had four children: John Baldwin, E. S., Smith and Mary.

Other Judson Family members include Everitt's brother, Roswell Judson, and Everitt's three nephews, Carlton, Harris, and J. Watts. J. Watts Judson worked in the Quartermaster Corps. in Memphis, Tennessee, and fought in 1862 in the Battle of Shiloh and the Battle of Corinth.

Everitt and Philuta's son, John Baldwin Judson, had two brothers-in-law, Zelotes C. Fairbanks and Martin L. Fairbanks, who also worked in the Quartermaster Corps. in Nashville, Tennessee.

Three Judson family members were Methodist chaplains: D. Cobb, Charles H. Flanders, and J. C. Robbins.

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of 36 single-item cataloged letters, 23 of which deal with the Judson Family, while the remaining 13 have to do with the Civil War. In addition, there are 5 letters, 5 bills and receipts, and 1 broadside that deal with the accidental death of Martin L. Fairbanks in 1866 and the recovery of his body. The bulk of the letters are written by Everitt Judson to his wife Philuta, while the remaining letters are written between various members of the Judson family. The letters concerning the accidental death of Martin L. Fairbanks are mostly written by or to his brother-in-law, John Baldwin Judson.

The letters are primarily family correspondence in which affairs of the family as well as current events are discussed. The majority of the letters from Everitt to Philuta relate to his business in gold mining and agriculture in California. In those letters are details as to the variety of crops grown, irrigation farming, fruit growers, and land tenure. Everitt's letters also frequently mention economic conditions in California, domestic relations in the 19th century, and Indian attacks, interspersed between descriptions of Placerville and Visalia, Calif. Other topics that are briefly addressed include telegraphs, railroads, the Mormons, churches, and the Central America steamship.

The letters pertaining to the Civil War discuss the Quartermaster Corps., religious practices in camp, and military chaplains. Some letters provide descriptions of Memphis, Tenn., and Washington, D.C., while others make brief mention of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) and the political climate of the time.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.

Subjects

Fairbanks, Martin L.

Judson, Everitt.

Judson, Philuta, correspondent.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.

United States. Army. Quartermaster Corps.

Agriculture -- California.

Military chaplains -- United States -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Correspondence.

Frontier and pioneer life -- California.

Gold mines and mining -- California, Northern.

Ranches -- California -- Visalia.

Voyages to the Pacific coast.

California -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.

Memphis (Tenn.)

Placerville (Calif.)

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Religious aspects.

United States -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865.

Visalia (Calif.)

Forms/Genres

Letters(correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century.

Family papers -- United States -- 19th century.

Alternate Authors

Fairbanks, Martin L.

Judson, Everitt.

Judson, J. Watts.

Judson, Philuta, correspondent.

Indexing: Subjects

Additional Note

Agriculture - California

1855, July 22. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62787.
1860, July 20. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62794.

Banks and banking - California - San Francisco

1855, Feb. 2. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62786.

Central America (Steamship)

1857, Nov. 3. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62789.

Chaplains, Military - United States - Civil War, 1861-1865

1862, Sept. 20. Charles H. Flanders, letter to Brother Judson. HM 62799.
1865, Apr. 6-7. J. C. Robbins, letter to John Baldwin Judson and his wife. HM 62811.
[1865], Apr. 22. J. C. Robbins, letter to John Baldwin Judson and his wife. HM 62812.
1865, May 25. D. Cobb, letter to Judson. HM 62813.
1865, May 30. D. Cobb, letter to Judson. HM 62814.

Domestic relations

1857, May 17. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62788.

Fairbanks, Martin L.

[1866], Oct. 6. John Baldwin Judson, broadside. HM 62815.
1866, Oct. 20. Zelotes C. Fairbanks, letter to Dear Bro. HM 62816.
1867, Jan. 5. Porter, Bates & Co., letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62817.
186[7], Jan. 5. E. S. Judson, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62818.
1867, Jan. 24. John Baldwin Judson, letter to E. P. Bates. HM 62819
1867, Feb. 13. William Henry Cook, 1832-1899, letter to Judson. HM 62820.
1864-1868. Bills and receipts regarding the accidental death of Martin L. Fairbanks and the settlement of his estate.

Farms - California - Contra Costa County

1855, Feb. 2. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62786.

Fruits - California

1854, Oct. 23. Everitt Judson, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62785.

Frontier and pioneer life - California - Owens River Valley

1862, Dec. 7. [Everitt Judson], letter to [Philuta Judson]. HM 62800.

Gold mines and mining - California, Northern

1854, Oct. 23. Everitt Judson, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62785.
1859, July 17. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62792.
1862, Dec. 7. [Everitt Judson], letter to [Philuta Judson]. HM 62800.
1863, Nov. 16. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62804.

Grapes - California

1887, Dec. 5. Samuel McKoon, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62821.

Indians of North America - California

1858, Nov. 4. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62791.
1862, Dec. 7. [Everitt Judson], letter to [Philuta Judson]. HM 62800.
[Post-1864], May 25. Sophy Smith, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62810.

Irrigation farming - California - Tulare County

1861, Mar. 14. Everitt Judson, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62795.

Land tenure - California

1863, Nov. 16. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62804.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

1862, Jan. 19. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62796.
1864, Oct. 30. Martin L. Fairbanks, letter to [Everitt Judson and Philuta Judson]. HM 62808.

Methodists - California - San Francisco

1853, Sept. 25. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62782.

Memphis (Tenn.)

1862, Jan. 19. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62796.

Placerville (Calif.)

1853, Sept. 25. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62782.
1853, Nov. 25. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62783.

Placerville (Calif.) - Social life and customs

1853, Nov. 25. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62783.

Raisins - California

1887, Dec. 5. Samuel McKoon, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62821.

Ranches - California - Visalia

[Post-1864], May 25. Sophy Smith, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62810.

Right of Property - California - Visalia

1864, Aug. 14. Sophy Smith, letter to Everitt Judson. HM 62807.

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

1852, Apr. 22. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62780.

San Diego - California

1887, Dec 5. Samuel McKoon, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62821.

Seeds

1855, July 22. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62787.

Slate Range (San Bernardino County, Calif.)

1863, Nov. 16. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62804.

Tulare County (Calif.) - Social life and customs

[Post-1864], May 25. Sophy Smith, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62810.

United States. Army. Quartermaster Corps.

1862, Jan. 19. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62796.
1862, July 26. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62798.
1863, June 11. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62801.
1864, Feb. 27. Roswell Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62805.
1864, July 10-11. Martin L. Fairbanks, letter to [Everitt Judson and Philuta Judson]. HM 62806.

United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865

1862, Jan. 19. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62796.
1862, Apr. 16. Roswell Judson, letter to J. Watts Judson. HM 62797.
1862, July 26. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62798
1863, June 11. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62801.
1864, Oct. 30. Martin L. Fairbanks, letter to [Everitt Judson and Philuta Judson]. HM 62808.
1865, May 25. D. Cobb, letter to Judson. HM 62813.

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

1862, Sept. 20. Charles H. Flanders, letter to Brother Judson. HM 62799.
1865, Apr. 6-7. J. C. Robbins, letter to John Baldwin Judson and his wife. HM 62811.
1865, May 25. D. Cobb, letter to Judson. HM 62813.
1865, May 30. D. Cobb, letter to Judson. HM 62814.

United States - Politics and government - 1861-1865

1863, June 11. J. Watts Judson, letter to Dear Coz. HM 62801.

Vegetables - Marketing

1863, July 28. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62802.

Visalia (Calif.)

1860, June 30. Everitt Judson, letter to [J.] Watts Judson. HM 62793.
1861, Mar. 14. Everitt Judson, letter to John Baldwin Judson. HM 62795.

Voyages to the Pacific Coast

1852, Apr. 22. Everitt Judson, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62780.

Washington (D.C.)

[1865], Apr. 22. J. C. Robbins, letter to John Baldwin Judson and his wife. HM 62812.

Women Pioneers - California - Visalia

[Post-1864], May 25. Sophy Smith, letter to Philuta Judson. HM 62810.

Box 1

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1852, Apr. 22 HM 62780

Placerville, Calif. Everitt Judson. To E. S. Judson. 1853, July 18 HM 62781

Placerville, Calif. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1853, Sept. 25 HM 62782

Placerville, Calif. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1853, Nov. 25 HM 62783

Placerville, Calif. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1854, Apr. 4 HM 62784

San Juan Bautista, Calif. Everitt Judson. To John Baldwin Judson. 1854, Oct. 23 HM 62785

Oakland, Calif. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1855, Feb. 2 HM 62786

Oakland, Calif. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1855, July 22 HM 62787

Oakland, Calif. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1857, May 17 HM 62788

Oakland, Calif. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1857, Nov. 3 HM 62789

Oakland, Calif. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1858, Oct. 1 HM 62790

Oakland, Calif. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1858. Nov. 4 HM 62791

Oakland, Calif. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1859, July 17 HM 62792

Visalia, Calif. Everitt Judson. To J. Watts Judson. 1860, June 30 HM 62793

Visalia, Calif. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1860, July 20 HM 62794

Visalia, Calif. Everitt Judson. To John Baldwin Judson. 1861, Mar. 14 HM 62795

Memphis, Tenn. J. Watts Judson. To Dear Coz. 1862, Jan. 19 HM 62796

Beaver Dam, Wis. Roswell Judson. To J. Watts Judson. 1862, Apr. 16 HM 62797

In the woods near Corinth, Miss. J. Watts Judson. To Dear Coz. 1862, July 26 HM 62798

Camp Chase, Va. Charles H. Flanders. To Brother Judson. 1862, Sept. 20 HM 62799

Visalia, Calif. [Everitt Judson]. To [Philuta Judson]. 1862, Dec. 7 HM 62800

Memphis, Tenn. J. Watts Judson. To Dear Coz. 1863, June 11 HM 62801

South fork of Kern River, Calif. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1863, July 28 HM 62802

Keysville, Calif. H. A. Rindge. To Philuta Judson. 1863, Sept. 20 HM 62803

Keysville, Calif. Everitt Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1863, Nov. 16 HM 62804

Hastings, Minn. Roswell Judson. To Philuta Judson. 1864, Feb.27 HM 62805

Nashville, Tenn. Martin L. Fairbanks. To [Everitt Judson and Philuta Judson]. 1864, July 10-11 HM 62806

Visalia, Calif. Sophy Smith. To [Everitt] Judson. 1864, Aug. 14 HM 62807

Chattanooga, Tenn. Martin L. Fairbanks. To [Everitt Judson and Philuta Judson]. 1864, Oct. 30 HM 62808

Middletown, [Ky.] Zelotes C. Fairbanks. To Dear Brother. 1864, Nov. 6 HM 62809

Visalia, Calif. Sophy Smith. To Philuta Judson. [Post-1864], May 25 HM 62810

City Point, Va. J. C. Robbins. To John Baldwin Judson and his wife. 1865, Apr. 6-7 HM 62811

Richmond, Va. J. C. Robbins. To John Baldwin Judson and his wife. [1865], Apr. 22 HM 62812

Montgomery, Ala. D. Cobb. To Judson. 1865, May 25 HM 62813

Montgomery, Ala. D. Cobb. To Judson. 1865, May 30 HM 62814

Manitowoc, Wis. John Baldwin Judson. Broadside. [1866], Oct. 6 HM 62815

Two Rivers, [Wis.] Zelotes C. Fairbanks. To Dear Bro. 1866, Oct. 20 HM 62816

Chicago, Ill. Porter, Bates & Co.. To John Baldwin Judson. 1867, Jan. 5 HM 62817

[Milwaukee, Wis.] E. S. Judson. To John Baldwin Judson. 186[7], Jan. 5 HM 62818

Milwaukee, Wis. John Baldwin Judson. To E. P. Bates. 1867, Jan. 24 HM 62819

Glen Arbor, [Mich.] William Henry Cook, 1832-1899. To Judson. 1867, Feb. 13 HM 62820

El Cajon, Calif. Samuel McKoon. To John Baldwin Judson. 1887, Dec. 5 HM 62821