Guide to the Cody Family Papers, 1859-1912
Processed by Michele Laurie; machine-readable finding aid created by
James Lake
Fresno City & County Historical Society Archives
7160 West Kearney Boulevard
Fresno, California 93706
Phone: (559) 441-0862
Fax: (559) 441-1372
Email: Fhsarchiv@aol.com
URL: http://www.valleyhistory.org
© 1999
Fresno City and County Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Cody Family Papers, 1859-1912
Collection number: MSS #013
Fresno City & County Historical Society
Archives
Fresno, California
Contact Information:
- Fresno City & County Historical Society Archives
- 7160 West Kearney Boulevard
- Fresno, California 93706
- Phone: (559) 441-0862
- Fax: (559) 441-1372
- Email: Fhsarchiv@aol.com
- URL: http://www.valleyhistory.org
- Processed by:
- Michele Laurie
- Encoded by:
- James Lake
© 1999 Fresno City and County Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Cody Family Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1859-1912
Collection number: MSS #013
Origination:
Cody, Philander, 1840-1924
Extent: 5 inches
Repository:
Fresno City and County Historical Society
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Acquisition
Gift of Eleanor Wright, Accession # 75.14
Access
Collection is open for research by appointment only.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Fresno City and County Historical Society. All requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing
to the Society archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the Fresno City and County Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be
obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Cody Family Papers, MSS #013, Fresno City and County Historical Society.
Biography
Philander Cody was born on June 9, 1840 in Westport, Ohio, the son of Darius and Sarah Cody. Cody married Cora Vaughn on July
10, 1859, after meeting in Wisconsin. In 1862, Cody joined the 12
th Wisconsin Battery. He remained with the unit until the end of the Civil War. During that time, the 12
th Wisconsin was mostly utilized as a garrison unit but he was involved in two significant battles, Vicksburg and Chattanooga.
During the garrisoning, the artillery unit moved throughout the South roughly following the victories of Sherman and involving
itself in some lesser skirmishes. Cody was listed as wounded in battle on January 14, 1865, but remained in the service until
June 26, 1865. His unit took part in the Grand Review of troops in Washington D.C.
After the war, Philander and Cora moved to Tecumseh, Nebraska, making their way to California in the fall of 1890, and settling
in Parlier where the family maintained a farm. Philander Cody died on December 8, 1924, in Sanger, California.
Scope and Content
The Philander Cody Papers consist primarily of correspondence written by Philander to his wife, Cora, while he served in the
12
th Wisconsin during the Civil War. Other material includes legal records, printed material, photographs, and genealogical material.
Correspondence (1862-1923)
Additional Note
Series is arranged alphabetically by recipient and includes approximately 100 letters (and transcripts) written by Cody to
his wife during the Civil War. Subjects include daily military life, descriptions of comrades and commanders, and Cody's involvement
in the Vicksburg campaign. Other correspondence includes information sent to and from family members relating to family reunions,
illnesses, and vacations. Correspondents include Darious Cody, Burt Cody (son of Philander and Cora), and Nellie Vaughn, sister
of Cora.
Genealogy, 1859, undated
Scope and Content Note
Includes the marriage license of Philander and Sarah Cody dated July 10, 1859, and an undated handwritten list of family marriages
and births.
Poems, undated
Scope and Content Note
Written by Cora Cody
Printed Materials
Scope and Content Note
Newspaper clippings relating to the Cody Family. Also included is a ribbon worn by Philander Cody during a meeting of the
Grand Army of the Republic, Heckathorne Post No. 47.
Photographs
Scope and Content Note
Assorted images of the family and their farm.
file 3
Cora Cody
1862 Mar 16-Apr-23
file 20
Philander Cody from Chapman
1883
file 21
Truman Cody From Barland
1908
Box 1, file 30
Cody Civil War Correspondence
