Elmer Collection

Description:

This is a collection of the papers of Jackson K. Elmer and family. Elmer was born in New York in 1840, and moved to Michigan in 1853 after the death of his father. He spent most of his adult life in Mason. He was married to Mary E. Bond in 1866, and they had a daughter Dora D. Elmer. Both his wife and daughter's correspondence and other materials including schoolwork and text books are part of this collection. Elmer was initially involved in carpentry and construction after learning the trade following public school in Rome, Michigan. He operated a carpentry and building business in partnership with a half brother Lyman W. Baker. He also served for the Union in the Civil War, first enlisting as a sergeant and then receiving promotions to second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and adjutant. There is significant correspondence with military organizations and friends, and other paperwork related to his military service. There are several warranty deeds for a piece of land in Ingham County between Mason and Lansing along the "State Road" which may have been where the Elmer, Baker, & Co. construction business or his future endeavors in mercantile, coal, and grocery was located. Elmer also owned 80 acres in Section 6, Aurelius Township, which he managed but never farmed himself. The collection also includes a large number of calling cards, carte de visite photographs and other portraits and photographs, as well as small ledgers, travel diaries, and account books. One of the earliest account books is for the Primary School Interest Fund account that was kept at the Bank of Michigan for 1839-1841, which was probably not Elmer's personal record. He used blank pages later in the volume for his household and Elmer & Baker business accounting and drafts of correspondence. This reuse of items is common in the collection, especially in bound volumes.

Date Created:

[1839 TO 1929]

Data Provider:

Capital Area District Library (Lansing, MI). Forest Parke Library and Archives

Collection:

Elmer Collection

Subject Topic:

Ingham County (Mich.), Lansing (Mich.), Mason (Mich.), Aurelius Township (Mich.), Civil War, Military, Correspondence, Calling cards, Schoolwork, Family history, Accounting, and Diaries

Language:

English

Rights:

Copyright Not Evaluated

URL:

http://cadl.pastperfectonline.com/archive/26601D2D-2A7A-491E-AA4E-970827313726