David K. Gillespie Papers, 1879-1903

Summary

Creators:

Gillespie, David K., 1821-

Abstract:

The David K. Gillespie Papers contain correspondence and other materials relating to his wholesale grain business in Kirkwood, Ohio in the later nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Papers include incoming correspondence from business associates and fragmentary personal correspondence from relatives and the Ohio Prohibition Party. Some letters contain receipts, business cards, and market reports. Also includes two brief account ledgers for 1882 and 1888. Subjects discussed relate to grain prices, weather, condition of grain, methods of shipment, and availability of grains.

Extent:

2.2 linear feet

Language:

English.

Background

Scope and content:

Organized into two series: 1. Correspondence and 2. Account Ledgers/Market Reports.

Biographical / historical:

Biographical Narrative

David K. Gillespie was born in Warren County, Ohio on November 29, 1821. In 1850, he began his operations in the grain business in Lockington, Ohio. For fourteen years, he bought and sold grain and shipped it by canal to Cincinatti and Toledo. In 1864, he bought and farmed a four hundred acre piece of land north of Piqua, Ohio. In 1877, he relocated to Kirkwood, Ohio and again became involved in the grain business. His main business activities involved buying and selling grain and grain futures; he sometimes dealt in salt, shingles, lumber and farm machinery. He sold his grain to commission merchants and mill owners all over Ohio, and in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City.

In 1851, he married Martha McKee. She died in 1854 and in 1856 he married Maria McKee, a cousin of his first wife. With his second wife, he had eight children: William H., James M., Lee W., Jennie L., Annie S., David K., Mattie, and one child who died in infancy. Maria died in 1875 and in 1878 Gillespie married Sarah J. McKnight.

Gillespie held various township offices and was elected Comissioner of Shelby County in 1860 and was re-elected in 1863. He also represented the Prohibition Party in county, district, and state conventions.

Source: Portrait and biographical record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States. Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1892. p. 585-586.

Acquisition information:

Acquired from Charles Apfelbaum in October 1989.

Physical location:

Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Grain trade--Ohio

Location of this collection:

UC Davis, Special Collections

University of California, Davis, Special Collections, UC Davis Library

100 NW Quad

Davis, CA 95616-5292, US

Contact:

(530) 752-1621

speccoll@ucdavis.edu

Website