Stoneman Family Papers

Finding aid prepared by Anne M. Reid.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2009
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.


Descriptive Summary

Title: Stoneman Family Papers
Dates: 1891-1920
Collection Number: mssHM 71383-71454
Creator: Stoneman Family
Extent: 72 items in 1 box
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This small collection contains papers of the family of American Civil War Major General George Stoneman (1822-1894), dating from 1891 to 1920, including legal agreements; estate and financial records; correspondence, chiefly penned after Stoneman's death and directed to his estate administrator; and some ephemera. Notable participants include William B. Allison, Thomas Updegraff, and the United States Army.
Language of Material: The records are in 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]. Stoneman Family Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Purchased from Henry Carter, April 1969.

Biographical Note

Although best known for his service in the Union cavalry during the Civil War, Major General George Stoneman (1822-1894) extended his career into civil and political spheres after the war. Near the end of the conflict, he married Mary Oliver Hardisty of Baltimore, Maryland, with whom he eventually had four children: George J., Adele, Katherine, and Cornelius. After poor health forced him to resign as commander of the Department of Arizona in 1871, Stoneman relocated with his family to the "Los Robles" estate in the greater Los Angeles area. His political career in California began with his appointment as Railroad Commissioner in 1879, and culminated in his tenure as the state’s Democratic governor from 1883 to 1887. Domestic, health, and financial troubles vexed Stoneman by the end of this governorship, apparently compelling him to seek respite in his native New York circa 1892. While staying with his sister, Charlotte S. Williams, wife of New York Senator Benjamin H. Williams, his health continued to worsen, precluding his return to California. He suffered a stroke in April 1894 from which he was unable to recover. Stoneman died in Buffalo, NY on September 5, 1894 and was interred at Bentley Cemetery in Lakewood, NY. His brother, John T. Stoneman, assumed the role of administrator of the ex-general’s estate from the time of Stoneman’s death to 1897.

Related Materials in the Huntington Library

Scope and Content

This small collection contains papers of the family of American Civil War Major General George Stoneman (1822-1894), dating from 1891 to 1920, including legal agreements; estate and and financial records; correspondence, chiefly penned after Stoneman's death and directed to his estate administrator; and some ephemera. Notable participants include William B. Allison, Thomas Updegraff, and the United States Army.
The papers consist of the following series:
  1. The chronologically-arranged documents reveal the range of legal, financial, and estate-related transactions initiated by or concerning the Stoneman Family and their associates. Included in this series are legal agreements, banking statements, inventories of the Stoneman’s estate, and general financial records.
  2. The chronologically-arranged correspondence includes personal and business letters to and by the Stoneman Family members and their associates. Two letters dated January 1889 were written by General George Stoneman while he was still living in Los Angeles. Most of the letters were penned after the generals’ death in September 1894, and directed to John T. Stoneman, administrator of his brother’s estate.
  3. Finally, ephemera are subdivided into two sections: newspaper clippings and miscellaneous. The first subdivision includes 15 obituaries and accounts of the funeral of George Stoneman, all of which were reported in Buffalo, NY newspapers. The second subdivision contains one invoice to A. Chapin to pay E. Stow, signed by James Crawford and dated Jan. 19, 1891; one postcard dated Dec. 13, 1919 and addressed to Asahel Chapin; a typewritten postcard addressed to A. Chapin from L. Ernest Thornton, Deputy Secretary of State of Maine, and dated Jan. 5, 1920; the stamped face of a mutilated envelope addressed to A. Chapin from the District Court of Elkader, Iowa, and postmarked Apr. 13, 1894; one letter-sized envelope addressed to Florence S. Chapin of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and three oversized, fragile envelopes that originally housed the papers of this collection.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Indexing Terms

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

Personal Names

Stoneman family.
Stoneman, George, 1822-1894.
Allison, William B. (William Boyd), 1829-1908.
Updegraff, Thomas, 1834-1910.

Corporate Names

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. California Commandery.
United States. Army -- Pay, allowances, etc.

Subjects

Inventories of decedents' estates -- New York (State)

Geographic Areas

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

Genre

Account books 19th century.
Bank statements 19th century.
Legal documents California 19th century.
Legal documents New York 19th century.
Letters (correspondence) California 19th century.
Letters (correspondence) New York 19th century.
Letters (correspondence) New York 20th century.


Box 1

Papers

 

1891, Jan. 1. Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. California Commandery. Dues of $15.00 assessed to General George Stoneman. HM 71383

 

1891-1893. Cedar Rapids National Bank Account with George Stoneman. HM 71384

 

1893-1894. Bank of America formerly Los Angeles County Bank. Six banking statements sent to John T. Stoneman, acknowledging credits to Mary O.H. Stoneman’s account. HM 71385 a-f

 

1894, June-Sep. First National Bank, Los Angeles, Ca. Five banking statements sent to John T. Stoneman, concerning credits to Mary O.H. Stoneman’s account. HM 71386a-e

 

1894, July 30. First National Bank in Decorah, Iowa. Banking statement sent to Asahel Chapin concerning $18.33 entered for collection on behalf of H. and M. Murray. HM 71387

 

1894, Dec. 11. In the matter of the accounting of Charlotte S. Williams, Committee of George Stoneman, a Lunatic. Note: John T. Stoneman’s copy of the original. HM 71388

 

1895, July 11. Stoneman, John T. Memorandum of payment claim of $166.50 owed to Dr. D.H. Harrington. HM 71389

 

1895. Agreement between John T. Stoneman and Mary O.H. Stoneman and heirs concerning the disposition of three personal effects of the deceased George Stoneman. HM 71390

 

1896, Feb. 4. Stoneman, Mary O.H., et al. Permission granted to John T. Stoneman to use estate funds to pay for a monument to be erected at the grave of George Stoneman. HM 71391

 

1896, Apr. 20. Stoneman, John T. Final report of the administrator in the matter of the estate of George Stoneman, deceased, and filed in the Surrogate’s Court of the County of Erie, New York as well as in Clayton County, Iowa. HM 71392

 

1896, Apr. 20-May 15. Voucher of John T. Stoneman, Administrator, for payment made to A. Chapin of $5.00. HM 71393

 

1896, July 21. New York (State). Surrogate Court (Erie County). Legal document certifying the addition of $31.00 of interest to the estate of the deceased George Stoneman, the transfer of those funds to Henry Chace, Esq., and John T. Stoneman’s request to be discharged as administrator of the estate. HM 71394

 

1896. Stoneman, Mary O.H., et al. Power of attorney, in the matter of the estate of George Stoneman, deceased. HM 71395

 

1889, Jan.8. Stoneman, George, 1822-1894. 1 letter to "My dear Brother." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71396

 

1889, Jan. 24. Allison, William B. (William Boyd), 1829-1908. 1 letter to John T. Stoneman. HM 71397

 

1889, Jan 28. Stoneman, George, 1822-1894. 1 letter to "My dear Brother." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71398

 

1891, July 23. Stoneman, Mary O.H. 1 letter to "My Dear Brother John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71399

 

1891, Sep. 2. United States. Army. Pay Dept. 1 letter to John T. Stoneman. Note: signature of Rodney Smith. Also: 1891 balance sheet [prepared by John T. Stoneman?] with an attached memo stating, "Cal Rodney Smith Chief Paymaster Army Building…" May be George Stoneman’s penmandhip. HM 71400

 

1894, May 21-July 5. Stoneman, Mary O.H. 2 letters to "Dear Brother John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71401-71402

 

1894, July 5. Updegraff, Thomas, 1834-1910. 1 letter to "Friend Chapin." Note: addressee is likely Asahel Chapin. HM 71403

 

1894, July 25. Williams, Charlotte S. 1 letter to "Dear Brother." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71404

 

1894, Aug. 15. M.P.D. 1 note on a postcard to A. Chapin. Note: addressee is likely Asahel Chapin; author not identified other than his initials. HM 71405

 

1894, Aug. 29. Stoneman, John T. 1 letter (draft) to United States. Postmaster General. HM 71406

 

1894, Sep. 13. Blaisdell, H. M. 1 note on a postcard to A. Chapin. Note: addressee is likely Asahel Chapin. HM 71407

 

1894, Sep. 21-Oct. 21. Stoneman, Mary O.H. 3 letters to "Dear Brother John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71408-71410

 

1894, Oct. 22. Updegraff, Thomas, 1834-1910. 1 letter to "My Dear Chapin." Note: addressee is likely Asahel Chapin. HM 71411

 

1894, Oct. 27. Stoneman, Mary O.H. 1 letter to "Dear Brother John." Included: unsigned note (by Charlotte S. Williams) commenting on author’s letter. Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71412

 

1894, Nov. 2. Stoneman, John T. 1 letter to J.D. Lawler. Note: addressee likely John D. Lawler, president of the First National Bank of Mitchell, SD, one-time territorial governor of Dakota, and son-in-law of General SD Sturgis. HM 71413

 

1894, Nov. 19-Dec. 22 . Stoneman, Mary O.H. 2 letters to "Dear Brother John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71414-71415

 

1895, Jan. 24. Security Savings Bank, San Francisco, Ca. Reply to Mary O.H. Stoneman stating that the bank has no funds in the name of General George Stoneman. HM 71416

 

1895, Feb 4-5. Williams, Charlotte S. 2 letters to "Dear Brother." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71417-71418

 

1895, Feb. 10. Stoneman, Mary O.H. 1 letter to "Dear Brother John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71419

 

1895, Feb 11. Williams, Charlotte S. 1 letter to "Dear Brother." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. Included: autograph statement delineating the expenses related to the settlement of the estate of George Stoneman. HM 71420

 

1895, Feb. 21-Mar. 4 Stoneman, Mary O.H. 3 letters to "Dear Brother John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71421-71423

 

1895, Mar. 13-25. Barlow, B.A. 2 letters to John T. Stoneman. HM 71424-71425

 

1895, Apr. 12. Stoneman, Mary O.H. 1 letter to "Dear Brother John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71426

 

1895, Apr. 22-23. Williams, Benjamin H. 1 letter to "My Dear Brother." Included: two invoices and receipts issued by J.L. Hudson, Clothier (Oct. 1-Nov. 6, 1894) and Humphrey House (Oct. 16, 1894), respectively. Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71427

 

1895, May 1-24. Stoneman, Mary O.H. 3 letters to "Dear Brother John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71428-71430

 

1895, May 25. Williams, Charlotte S. 1 letter to "Dear Brother." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71431

 

1895, June 1. Stoneman, Mary O.H. 1 letter to "Dear Brother John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71432

 

1895, July 13-17. Williams, Benjamin H. 2 letters to John T. Stoneman. HM 71433-71434

 

1895, July 26-Aug. 19. Stoneman, Mary O.H. 2 letters to "Dear Brother John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71435-71436

 

1895, Sep. 25. Stoneman, M[ary] J[ane]. 1 letter to "Dear Brother." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71437

 

1895, Sep. 29. Stoneman, Mary O.H. 1 letter to "Dear Brother John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71438

 

1895, Oct. 11. Stoneman, Adele. 1 letter to "Dear Uncle John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71439

 

1895, Oct. 24-Dec. 27. Stoneman, Mary O.H. 3 letters to "Dear Brother John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71440-71442

 

1896, Feb. 24. New York (State). Surrogate Court (Erie County). 1 letter to John T. Stoneman. HM 71443

 

1896, Apr. 3. Chace, Henry. 2 letters to John T. Stoneman. HM 71444-71445

 

1896, Apr. 6. Stoneman, George J. 1 letter to "Dear Uncle John." Note: addressee most likely John T. Stoneman. HM 71446

 

1896-1897. Chace, Henry. 8 letters to John T. Stoneman. HM 71447-71454

 

1894, Sep. Fifteen newspaper clippings, most of which are obituaries announcing the death and funeral of George Stoneman.

 

1891-1920 One invoice to A. Chapin to pay E. Stow, signed by James Crawford and dated Jan. 19, 1891; one postcard dated Dec. 13, 1919 and addressed to Asahel Chapin; a typewritten postcard addressed to A. Chapin from L. Ernest Thornton, Deputy Secretary of the State of Maine, and dated Jan. 5, 1920; the stamped face of a mutilated envelope addressed to A. Chapin from the District Court of Elkader, Iowa, and postmarked Apr. 13, 1894; one letter-sized envelope addressed to Florence S. Chapin of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and three oversized, fragile envelopes that originally housed the papers of this collection.