Kersteter, Simon B. (Civil War correspondence), 1864 June 4 - 1865 July 11

Summary

Title:

Simon B. Kersteter Civil War correspondence

Dates:

1864 June 4 - 1865 July 11

Creators:

Levengood, Marcia, Kersteter, Simon B., Private, 1843-1909, and Row, Emanuel B.

Abstract:

This collection contains four letters from Pvt. Simon B. Kerstetter to his future wife Lucinda Bowman and to his mother during the Civil War. Also included is one letter to Lucinda from Emanuel B. Row, two photographs of Kerstetter and his family, as well as one obituary and one four-page military record for Kerstetter.

Containers:

document-box: Civil War 9
folder: 1-2
folder: 1-2

Extent:

0.03 Linear Feet (2 folders)

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Simon B. Kerstetter Civil War correspondence (2023.050.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains four letters from Pvt. Simon B. Kerstetter to his future wife Lucinda M. Bowman and to his mother during the Civil War. There were two letters written to each. Also included is one letter to Lucinda from Emanuel B. Row, two photographs of Kerstetter and his family, as well as one obituary and one four-page military record for Kerstetter. Each letter includes a transcription provided by the donor.

Biographical / historical:

Private Simon B. Kersteter (6/29/1843 - 9/10/1909) was born in Crawford Township, Ohio. He served the Union Army during the Civil War with Company C, 78th Ohio Volunteers, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps. He served with General Tecumseh Sherman during the famous "march to the sea" and participated in many battles and campaigns, including the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston to General Sherman on April 26, 1865 at Bennett Place near Hillsborough, North Carolina; the largest surrender of the war.

He married Lucinda M. Bowman February 15, 1866 in Coshocton County, Ohio and the two had two sons and five daughters; the youngest, Elva Mae Levengood née Kersteter, was the grandmother of the donor. He ran a farm, eventually including 91 acres (per his final will) and was a member of the Reformed Church in New Bedford and served as their clerk for three decades and passed away from illness at 66 years old in 1909. He was interred at the Reformed Church, later Zion United Church of Christ Cemetery, New Bedford.

Emanuel B. Row served with 67th Regiment, Ohio Veteran Volunteers, 1st Division, 10th Army Corps. Further biographical information is unknown, though he may be related to Lucinda as he asks her to send well wishes to "Aunt," and says that "Uncle Jack" wishes her well.

Acquisition information:

Gift of the Lawrence J and Charles V Levengood Families, donated by Marcia Levengood.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged by author and chronology.

• Series 1, Correspondence and other materials from Simon B. Kerstetter
• Series 2, Correspondence from Emanuel B. Row

Material specific details:

This collection contains fragile materials. The correspondence is brittle and torn in several places, at some point put together by clear tape. Some of the tape has been removed and the pages have been rehoused in clear mylar protective sheets.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related resources

Other descriptive data:

This collection may contain materials that are difficult to view, are potentially harmful, or use outdated and culturally insensitive language. Chapman University preserves and makes these materials accessible to researchers to ensure long-term accuracy of these historical records. This repository aims to not promote or otherwise celebrate this content, but to use it for educational and research purposes.

Please see the National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) "Statement on Potentially Harmful Content" for more information: https://www.archives.gov/research/reparative-description/harmful-content

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Correspondence -- American Civil War
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861 1865 -- Personal Narratives.

Names:

Levengood, Marcia

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:

Andrew Harman

Date Encoded:

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-05-23 18:59:28 -0400 .

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.

Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Simon B. Kerstetter Civil War correspondence (2023.050.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Location of this collection:

Chapman University, Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Center for American War Letters Archives

One University Drive

Orange, CA 92866, US

Contact:

(714) 532-7716

privette@chapman.edu

Website