Humer family correspondence, 1863-1875

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Summary

Abstract:
Family papers of American Civil War Union soldier Samuel Humer, his wife Mary, and their extended families.
Extent:
1.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Humer family correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The correspondence of the extended Humer and Mowry families. The Civil War correspondence between Samuel Humer, and his then future wife Mary C. Mowry, discusses their feelings for each other, religious reflections, war news, the drafts, rogue officers in the regiment, and local and family news. Samuel Humer's letters also contain anxious inquiries about the country in the aftermath of Robert E. Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, and teasing accounts of "young ladies," evidently of questionable reputation, who frequented the camp in North Carolina. Also included are three unsigned letters to Samuel Humer and Hamilton Mowry discussing Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, the Copperheads, and other political and military matters. Other correspondents include Mary's father John Mowry and her brother Hamilton Mowry, Samuel's brother Theodore F. Humer, private of Company A of the 160th Pennsylvania Infantry, (re-organized in October of 1862 as the 15th Regiment of Pennsylvania Cavalry), and other relatives and friends.

Biographical / historical:

Samuel Humer (1839-1921) was a coach maker who lived in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. In November 1862, he became a private in Company B of the 158th Regiment of Pennsylvania Infantry. The 158th Regiment was stationed in New Bern, North Carolina, Fortress Monroe, Virginia, and in July of 1863, it joined the pursuit of General Robert E. Lee. The regiment was mustered out in August 1863. In December 1864, Samuel Humer married Mary C. Mowry of Lurgan Township, Pennsylvania; they had one son Agnue Thompson Humer (born 1865).

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Charles Apfelbaum, January 2005.
Processing information:

Processed by Olga Tsapina in January 2006. In December 2024, Brooke M. Black created a finding aid.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

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]. Humer family correspondence, 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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