Description
This small collection contains papers of the family of
American Civil War Major General George Stoneman (1822-1894), dating from 1891 to 1920,
including legal agreements; estate and financial records; correspondence, chiefly penned after Stoneman's death and
directed to his estate administrator; and some ephemera. Notable
participants include William B. Allison, Thomas Updegraff, and the United States
Army.
Background
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,
NY on September 5, 1894 and was interred at Bentley Cemetery in Lakewood, NY. 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.
Restrictions
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.