No online items No online items       Request items ↗

Wills Family Papers: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Gina C Giang, June 12, 2013.
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
© June 2013
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.

Overview of the Collection

Title: Wills Family Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1750-1912
Collection Number: mssHM 80151-80181
Creator: Wills family.
Extent: 41 items; 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 small collection chiefly contains correspondence between lawyer John Alexander Wills (1819-1891) and his wife, Charlotte Le Moyne Wills (1824-1908), before and during the American Civil War.
Language: English.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

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]. Wills Family Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Gift of Etienne Noir, April 25, 1941.

Biographical Note of John Alexander Wills

John Alexander Wills (1819-1891) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 21, 1819. Wills graduate from Washington College in Washington, Pennsylvania, in 1837 and received a law degree from the Law School of Harvard College in 1840. After graduation, Wills was admitted into the bar of Pennsylvania in 1841 and practiced in the courts of Pittsburgh.
Wills was an aggressive opponent of slavery, joining in 1842 the Liberty Party, in 1843 the Free Soil party, and in 1852 the Republican Party. In 1853, Wills moved to San Francisco, California, and practiced law there until 1856. Between 1856 and 1884, Wills lived in Chicago, Illinois, Washington, D.C., Europe, and Washington, Pennsylvania. In 1884, Wills relocated with his family to Los Angeles, California, where he was actively involved in establishing the first crematory in Los Angeles.
In 1848 he married Charlotte Le Moyne; the couple had four children including surgeon and medical professor William Le Moyne Wills (1853-1933) and Madeline Francis Wills.
Wills died on November 26, 1891 in Los Angeles, California.

Biographical Note of Charlotte Le Moyne Wills

Suffragist and philanthropist Charlotte Le Moyne Wills (1824-1908) was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, on June 21, 1824, the eldest daughter of surgeon, philanthropist, and reformer Dr. Francis Julius Le Moyne. In her younger years, people called her "the little abolitionist," and runaway slaves were housed in the family's barn as part of the Underground Railroad. Le Moyne graduated from Washington Female Seminary and married John Alexander Wills in 1848.
The Wills moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1884, and Charlotte Wills actively participated in club work and was one of the founders of the Friday Morning Club. Le Moyne Wills passed away on November 1908 in Los Angeles, California.

Scope and Content

This small collection chiefly contains correspondence between lawyer John Alexander Wills and his wife, Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, before and during the American Civil War, and a few letters between Charlotte Le Moyne Wills and her daughter, Madeline Francis Wills. In addition, there are several manuscripts pertaining to the French history in Gallipolis and Gallia County, Ohio. Ephemera includes newspaper clippings and a drawing of the plan purchase by the Ohio Company and Scioto Land Company.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by author.

Related Materials in the Huntington Library

Indexing Terms

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

Subjects

Barlow, Joel, 1754-1812.
Duer, William, 1747-1799.
Frémont, John Charles, 1813-1890.
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885.
Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834.
McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885.
Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872.
Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874.
Wills family.
Ohio Company (1786-1796)
Scioto Land Company.
Antislavery movements -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
Indians of North America -- Ohio.
Soldiers -- United States -- Correspondence.
Soldiers -- United States -- Social conditions -- 19th century.
Songs, English -- 18th century.
Songs, French -- 18th century.
France -- Emigration and immigration -- History -- 18th century.
French -- Ohio -- Gallipolis -- History -- 18th century.
French -- Ohio -- Gallipolis -- Social life and customs -- 18th century.
Gallia County (Ohio) -- History -- 19th century.
Gallipolis (Ohio) -- History -- 18th century.
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century.
United States -- Description and travel.
Washington (D.C.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.

Forms/Genres

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

Additional Contributors

Bureau, John Peter Romaine.
Newsome, Lewis.
Wills, Charlotte Le Moyne.
Wills, John Alexander.

Subject index

Antislavery movements – United States – 19th century
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, July 6), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80172.
Barlow, Joel, 1754-1812
  • Subject in Newsome, Lewis. The French of Southern Ohio: [manuscript], A.MS. (31 p.), [approx. 1840?]. Included: Transcript. HM 80155.
  • Subject in Gallia County: [excerpt], A.MS. (19 p.), [undated]. HM 80180.
Duer, William, 1747-1799
  • Subject in Bureau, John Peter Romaine. History of Gallipolis, Ohio: carbon copy (typewritten: 10 p.), [before 1852]. HM 80152.
  • Subject in Bureau, John Peter Romaine. Sketch of the first formation of the Purchase by French settlers, A.MS.S. (2 p.), [before 1852]. HM 80153.
  • Subject in Newsome, Lewis. The French of Southern Ohio: [manuscript], A.MS. (31 p.), [approx. 1840?]. Included: Transcript. HM 80155.
Frémont, John Charles, 1813-1890
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Mar. 6), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80168.
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Mar. 20), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80169.
France – Emigration and immigration – History – 18th century
  • Subject in Bureau, John Peter Romaine. History of Gallipolis, Ohio: carbon copy (typewritten: 10 p.), [before 1852]. HM 80152.
  • Subject in Newsome, Lewis. The French of Southern Ohio: [manuscript], A.MS. (31 p.), [approx. 1840?]. Included: Transcript. HM 80155.
French – Ohio – Gallipolis – History – 18th century
  • Subject in Bureau, John Peter Romaine. History of Gallipolis, Ohio: carbon copy (typewritten: 10 p.), [before 1852]. HM 80152.
  • Subject in Newsome, Lewis. The French of Southern Ohio: [manuscript], A.MS. (31 p.), [approx. 1840?]. Included: Transcript. HM 80155.
French – Ohio – Gallipolis – Social life and customs – 18th century
  • Subject in Newsome, Lewis. The French of Southern Ohio: [manuscript], A.MS. (31 p.), [approx. 1840?]. Included: Transcript. HM 80155.
Gallia County (Ohio) – History – 19th century
  • Subject in Gallia County: [excerpt], A.MS. (19 p.), [undated]. HM 80180.
Gallipolis (Ohio) – History – 18th century
  • Subject in Bureau, John Peter Romaine. History of Gallipolis, Ohio: carbon copy (typewritten: 10 p.), [before 1852]. HM 80152.
  • Subject in Newsome, Lewis. The French of Southern Ohio: [manuscript], A.MS. (31 p.), [approx. 1840?]. Included: Transcript. HM 80155.
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Mar. 20), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80169.
Indians of North America – Ohio
  • Subject in Bureau, John Peter Romaine. History of Gallipolis, Ohio: carbon copy (typewritten: 10 p.), [before 1852]. HM 80152.
  • Subject in Gallia County: [excerpt], A.MS. (19 p.), [undated]. HM 80180.
  • Subject in Newsome, Lewis. The French of Southern Ohio: [manuscript], A.MS. (31 p.), [approx. 1840?]. Included: Transcript. HM 80155.
Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834
  • Subject in Lafayette’s Tour Thro’ United States: [excerpt], A.MS. (7 p.), (1904, Oct. 20). 1 item. Copied by M. Le Moyne. HM 80181.
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, July 6), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80172.
Los Angeles (Calif.) – Social life and customs – 19th century
  • Subject in Wills, Charlotte Le Moyne 1 letter to Madeline Francis Wills, A.L.S. (10 p.), (1887, July 31), Los Angeles (Calif.). HM 80161.
McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Sep. 18), Chambersburg (Pa.). HM 80175.
Ohio Company (1786-1796) – History
  • Subject in Bureau, John Peter Romaine. History of Gallipolis, Ohio: carbon copy (typewritten: 10 p.), [before 1852]. HM 80152.
  • Subject in Bureau, John Peter Romaine. Sketch of the first formation of the Purchase by French settlers, A.MS.S. (2 p.), [before 1852]. HM 80153.
  • Subject in Newsome, Lewis. The French of Southern Ohio: [manuscript], A.MS. (31 p.), [approx. 1840?]. Included: Transcript. HM 80155.
  • Subject in Gallia County: [excerpt], A.MS. (19 p.), [undated]. HM 80180.
Scioto land company
  • Subject in Bureau, John Peter Romaine. History of Gallipolis, Ohio: carbon copy (typewritten: 10 p.), [before 1852]. HM 80152.
  • Subject in Bureau, John Peter Romaine. Sketch of the first formation of the Purchase by French settlers, A.MS.S. (2 p.), [before 1852]. HM 80153.
  • Subject in Newsome, Lewis. The French of Southern Ohio: [manuscript], A.MS. (31 p.), [approx. 1840?]. Included: Transcript. HM 80155.
  • Subject in Gallia County: [excerpt], A.MS. (19 p.), [undated]. HM 80180.
Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Mar. 20), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80169.
Soldiers – United States – Correspondence – 19th century
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Sep. 17), Chambersburg (Pa.). With envelope. HM 80174.
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Sep. 18), Chambersburg (Pa.). HM 80175.
Soldiers – United States – Social Conditions – 19th century
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Sep. 17), Chambersburg (Pa.). With envelope. HM 80174.
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Sep. 18), Chambersburg (Pa.). HM 80175.
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (6 p.), (1862, Oct. 19), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80176.
Songs, English – 18th century
  • Subject in [Unknown author]. Benjamin the Beau: [lyrics], A.MS. (2 p.), [approx. 1750]. HM 80178.
Songs, French – 18th century
  • Subject in [Unknown author]. French songs: [lyrics], A.MS. [approx. 1750]. 4 items. HM 80179
Stanton, Edwin McMasters, 1814-1869
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Mar. 6), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80168.
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Mar. 20), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80169.
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Mar. 29), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80170.
Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874
  • Subject in Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, July 6), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80172.
United States – Description and travel
  • Subject in Lafayette’s Tour Thro’ United States: [excerpt], A.MS. (7 p.), (1904, Oct. 20). 1 item. Copied by M. Le Moyne. HM 80181.
Box 1

Correspondence, Manuscripts, and Ephemera

 

Audenried, Joseph C. 1 letter to William Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (7 p.), (1872, Nov. 5), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80151

 

Bureau, John Peter Romaine. History of Gallipolis, Ohio: carbon copy (typewritten: 10 p.), [before 1852]. HM 80152

 

Bureau, John Peter Romaine. Sketch of the first formation of the Purchase by French settlers, A.MS.S. (2 p.), [before 1852]. HM 80153

 

Goddard, M.V. 1 letter to [John Alexander Wills], A.L.S. (6 p.), ([1862], June 30), Cambria (Pa: Township). HM 80154

 

Newsome, Lewis. The French of Southern Ohio: [manuscript], A.MS. (31 p.), [approx. 1840?]. Included: Transcript. HM 80155

 

Wills, Charlotte Le Moyne 1 letter to [John Alexander Wills], A.L.S. (6 p.), (1862, Oct. 22), Washington (Washington County, Pa.). HM 80156

 

Wills, Charlotte Le Moyne 1 letter to [John Alexander Wills], A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Dec. 14), Washington (Washington County, Pa.). HM 80157

 

Wills, Charlotte Le Moyne 1 letter to [John Alexander Wills], A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Dec. 17), Washington (Washington County, Pa.). HM 80158

 

Wills, Charlotte Le Moyne 1 letter to [John Alexander Wills], A.L.S. (6 p.), (1863, Mar. 14), Philadelphia (Pa.). HM 80159

 

Wills, Charlotte Le Moyne 1 letter to Madeline Francis Wills, A.L.S. (10 p.), (1887, July 3), Los Angeles (Calif.). With envelope. HM 80160

 

Wills, Charlotte Le Moyne 1 letter to Madeline Francis Wills, A.L.S. (10 p.), (1887, July 31), Los Angeles (Calif.). HM 80161

 

Wills, Charlotte Le Moyne 1 letter to Madeline Francis Wills, A.L.S. (12 p.), (1887, Aug. 22), Los Angeles (Calif.). HM 80162

 

[Wills, Charlotte Le Moyne] 1 letter to Madeline Francis Wills, A.L. (6 p.), ([1887], Aug.), Los Angeles (Calif.). HM 80163

 

Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (8 p.), (1857, June 14), Chicago (Ill.). With envelope. HM 80164

 

Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1857, Oct. 18), Chicago (Ill.). With envelope. HM 80165

 

Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (8 p.), (1857, Dec. 27), Chicago (Ill.). Included: Newspaper clipping. With envelope. HM 80166

 

Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (8 p.), (1862, Feb. 2), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80167

 

Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Mar. 6), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80168

 

Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Mar. 20), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80169

 

Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Mar. 29), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80170

 

Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (6 p.), (1862, May 31), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80171

 

Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, July 6), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80172

 

Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Sep. 14), Harrisburg (Pa.). HM 80173

 

Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Sep. 17), Chambersburg (Pa.). With envelope. HM 80174

 

Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (4 p.), (1862, Sep. 18), Chambersburg (Pa.). HM 80175

 

Wills, John Alexander 1 letter to Charlotte Le Moyne Wills, A.L.S. (6 p.), (1862, Oct. 19), Washington (D.C.). With envelope. HM 80176

 

Wills, William Le Moyne 1 letter to Madeline Francis Wills, A.L.S. (12 p.), (1887, July 10), Los Angeles (Calif.). With envelope. HM 80177

 

[Unknown author]. Benjamin the Beau: [lyrics], A.MS. (2 p.), [approx. 1750]. HM 80178. [Unknown author]. French songs: [lyrics], A.MS. [approx. 1750]. 4 items. HM 80179

 

Gallia County: [excerpt], A.MS. (19 p.), [undated]. HM 80180

 

Lafayette’s Tour Thro’ United States: [excerpt], A.MS. (7 p.), (1904, Oct. 20). 1 item. Copied by M. Le Moyne. HM 80181

 

Jane Addams Chorus Certificate for Madeline Francis Wills, (1912, Aug. 26), Los Angeles (Calif.) 1 item.

 

Newspaper clippings: Wills Family (1891-1904). 4 items.

 

Plan of Purchase of the Ohio and Scioto Land Companies: [drawing], (1878). 1 item. Copied by Miss Steinman.

Home | Contributing Institutions | Collection Guides | Browse Map | About OAC | FAQs | Contact Us | Privacy Statement | Terms of Use | Accessibility
The Online Archive of California is a service of the UC Libraries, powered by the California Digital Library.