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Stoneman Family Papers Addenda
mssStonefam
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Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Stoneman family papers addenda
Creator:
Stoneman (Family)
Identifier/Call Number: mssStonefam
Physical Description:
4.7 Linear Feet
(10 boxes, 3 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): 1830-1985
Abstract: The Stoneman family papers addenda
consists of diaries, family and official correspondence, photographs, ephemera, memorabilia,
and genealogical and historical research files from the family of George Stoneman,
1822-1894, and his wife, Mary Oliver Hardisty Stoneman, 1836-1915.
Language of Material: The records are in
English.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
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.
[Identification of item]. Stoneman family papers addenda, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Gifts of George B. Stoneman, MD, June 2016, and April 2021.
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, New
York, on September 5, 1894, and was interred at Bentley Cemetery in Lakewood, New York. 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.
Mary Oliver Hardisty Stoneman was born on July 28, 1836 in Baltimore, Maryland. Her
parents were Henry Hardisty, Jr., 1808-1855 and [Lydia] McLean Hardisty, 1812-1866; her
father appears to have been a merchant in Baltimore, Maryland.
George Stoneman married Mary Oliver Hardisty Stoneman on November 21, 1861. The couple had
four children: Cornelius McLean Stoneman, 1862-1904; Katherine "Kitty" Cheney Stoneman,
1866-1940; George John Stoneman, 1868-1928; and Adele Stoneman [Mrs. Louis A. Schmidgall],
1874-1939. George John Stoneman married Julia Shortridge Hamm in 1901. The couple had three
children: Virginia Hardisty Stoneman, 1902-1980; George Stoneman, 1906-1988; and Mary Lejeal
Stoneman, 1908-1985. George Stoneman, 1906-1988 married Frances Marie Beattie in 1936. The
couple had two sons: George Beattie Stoneman [donor of the collection] and Robert McLean
Stoneman.
The Stoneman family papers consist of diaries, family and official correspondence,
photographs, ephemera, memorabilia, and genealogical and historical research files from the
family of George Stoneman, 1822-1894 and his wife, Mary Oliver Hardisty Stoneman,
1836-1915.
The earliest letters are written by Mary O.H. Stoneman's father, Henry Hardisty, Jr. There
are two letters from 1832 and the remainder are from his European travels from 1851 through
1852. The correspondence concerns family news and descriptions of his travels in Scotland,
Ireland, England, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, and Egypt. There are four letters written
by the still life painter and portraitist, Andrew John Henry Way, who appears to be related
to Mary O.H. Stoneman. Although there are very few surviving personal and military material
related to George Stoneman, 1822-1894, there are a few letters to his wife, Mary O.H.
Stoneman from 1883 through 1888. Other correspondence related to George Stoneman, 1822-1894
includes his appointment as United States railroad commissioner and reinstatement to the
Army retired list in 1888. Other Stoneman family material includes: Adele Stoneman
Schmidgall, Cornelius McLean Stoneman, George J. Stoneman, Julia H. Stoneman, George B.
Stoneman, Robert M. Stoneman, Mary Lejeal Stoneman McGinnis, and Virginia Hardisty
Stoneman.
Most of the correspondence was compiled and organized by George J. Stoneman's daughter,
Virginia Hardisty Stoneman. These files also include, but not limited to, printed ephemera,
notes, and letters to and from Virginia Hardisty Stoneman.
There are fourteen diaries belonging to Mary O.H. Stoneman. Stoneman's first diary begins
in 1882, a year before her husband becomes Governor of California, and concludes in 1887.
The later diaries detail her trip through Europe from 1902 through 1905. There is also a
diary written by Katherine "Kitty" Cheney Stoneman, concerning her European travels from
1894 through 1895. A journal of interest may be Mary O.H. Stoneman father's journey around
the word on ships Rolla and Birmingham. Henry Hardisty, Jr., 1808-1855, begins his trip from
Baltimore, Maryland and proceeds to Cape Horn. He stops in Cobija, Bolivia, Lima, Peru,
Coquimbo, Chile, and Huasco, Chile. On April 16, 1831, Hardisty finds himself in the middle
of a "revolution" in Peru. He writes, "…of all public commotions I ever heard of this
certainly capped the climax." Hardisty also travels to Honolulu where he witnesses the
construction of a wall; meets the father of 37 children by different wives; and describes
his encounter with the king "Called upon the King - Kow Kioli - at his palace and find him
lolling upon a bed of mats with a motley group of men, women and children," (Aug. 13, 1831).
Hardisty's journal abruptly ends, shortly after arriving in Canton, China at the end of
September 1831.
The donor compiled a portfolio of correspondence, documents, legal documents, photographs,
and printed ephemera related to George Stoneman, 1822-1894. These items have been re-housed
in a binder. The oversize items are housed separately.
The collection also includes a typescript of Civil War Letters of Margaret Sumner McLean;
a visitor book with over approximately 600 visitors to the Stoneman's estate "Los Robles";
photographs; clippings; memorabilia; textbooks; and buttons with shoulder marks belonging to
George Stoneman, 1822-1894. The 2021 addenda includes a letter by John Bell Hood, two
letters by Robert E. Lee, a photograph of George Stoneman and Mary O. H. Stoneman, and a
file of correspondence related to the dedication ceremony of Camp Stoneman, Pittsburg,
California, in 1942.
Arranged by format and subject.
Former call number: mssStoneFamilyAddenda.
Stoneman family papers (1891-1920), mssHM 71383-71454; Stoneman family letters (1885-1899),
mssStonemanFamilyletters.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Governors -- California
Ocean travel
Voyages around the world
Women -- Political activity
California -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
California -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Camp Stoneman (Pittsburg,
Calif.)
Europe -- Description and travel
Fort Mason (San Francisco,
Calif.)
Hawaii -- Description and travel
South America -- Description and travel
Texas -- History -- 19th century
Clippings (information artifacts)
Diaries
Legal documents
Letters (correspondence)
Photographs
Printed ephemera
Hood, John Bell,
1831-1879
Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870
Stoneman, George, 1822-1894
Stoneman, Mary Oliver Hardisty, 1836-1915
Stoneman, Virginia Hardisty
Way, A.J.H. (Andrew John Henry), 1826-1888
Hardisty family
Stoneman family
United States. Army