Frederick Kesler papers, 1852-1898

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Summary

Creators:
Kesler, Frederick, 1816-1899
Abstract:
A collection of correspondence and journals of the American master millwright and Mormon Bishop, Frederick Kesler.
Extent:
2 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Frederick Kesler papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of 184 items from 1852 to 1898; it consists of correspondence and journals relating to Frederick Kesler and his duties as a master millwright and bishop of the 16th Ward, as well as financial papers and newspaper clippings. Correspondents in the collection include John M. Bernhisel, George Reynolds, Joseph F. Smith, and Brigham Young. A major portion of the correspondence and manuscripts relate to the divorce between Frederick Kesler and Jane Elizabeth Pratt Kesler and Abigail Dow Snow Kesler. The material covers the reasons for the divorces as well as the financial compensation they would receive from Kesler per the instructions of Brigham Young. The 58 journals written by Frederick Kesler primarily contain notes on mills, tithing records and receipts for expenditures in the ward. A journal written by Alexander Ott includes the names of and provisions provided to Mormon immigrants.

Biographical / historical:

Frederick Kesler (1816-1899) was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania. At the age of 15 he was apprenticed to Abram Clark, a master millwright and builder. When Kesler was 19 he began his own career as a master millwright. He married Emeline Parker in 1836 and both became Mormons in 1840. In the spring of 1851, Kesler and his family migrated to Salt Lake City, Utah. After arriving there, Kesler was set to work by Brigham Young to build mills for the territory. He served as bishop of the Sixteenth Ward from April 7, 1856 until his death in 1899. In addition to Emeline Parker, Kesler had two other wives: he married Jane Elizabeth Pratt in 1854 and Abigail Dow Snow in 1857, and was the father of 30 children; in 1872, both Emeline and Abigail divorced him.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Zion Bookstore, December 1962.
Processing information:

Processed by Mitchell W. K. Toda, March 2002. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the electronic finding aid derived from a paper finding aid.

Arrangement:

Organized in the following manner: 1. Manuscripts and correspondence; 2. Journals; 3. Journals, financial papers, and newspaper clippings.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

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]. Frederick Kesler papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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