Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Benjamin Stark Papers, 1829-1894
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Stark, Benjamin, 1820-1898
- Title
- Benjamin Stark Papers
- Dates
- 1829-1894 (inclusive)18291894
- Quantity
- 3 cubic feet (6 document cases)
- Collection Number
- Mss1155
- Summary
- Papers of a merchant, land proprietor, and U.S. Senator from Oregon who also lived in New London, Connecticut. Includes extensive correspondence relating to business, politics, and family matters. Correspondents include: John Adair, Asahel Bush, E.S. Kearney, Ladd & Tilton, David Logan, David McLoughlin, Simeon G. Reed, Sherman & Stark, William Strong, Clement L. Vallandingham, and members of the Stark family of New London, Ct. Also includes accounts, land claim papers, Masonic documents, speeches, and ephemera.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- Englsih
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Benjamin Stark was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 26, 1820, the eldest son of sea captain Benjamin Stark, of New London, Connecticut. Apparently his mother died when he was quite young and his father remarried; his step-mother, Charlotte Stark, was the mother of his three half-brothers, William, Richard, and Charles. Stark attended school at New London, then at age fifteen started his business career with a New York counting-house. In 1845, he sailed for the Oregon Territory with Capt. Nathaniel Crosby, Jr. aboard the bark Toulon. Stark represented the firm of A. G. & A. W. Benson of New York. The Toulon, a Benson ship, carried cargo destined for Francis W. Pettygrove who had come to Oregon with a consignment of goods from the Bensons in the spring of 1843.
In Oregon, Stark purchased an interest in the land claim of Asa Lawrence Lovejoy, owner of half the town site of Portland, Oregon. Much of Stark's future was to depend upon this fortunate acquisition. During the years 1846-1848 he sailed on the Toulon for China, having severed business connections with the Bensons. From China he took another ship to New York, arriving there in time to hear the first news of the gold discovery in California.
Using his Portland land claim as a good part of his equity, Stark entered into partnership with Edward and John Sherman of New York to ship merchandise to California and capitalize on the gold rush boom. Sherman & Stark sent a load of lumber and other goods to California on the Madonna, captained by John H. Couch, whom Stark had previously met in Oregon. Traveling out ahead of the Madonna via Panama, Stark set up two subsidiary companies: Stark & Co. at San Francisco, and Couch & Co. at Portland. Meanwhile the New York parent company went bankrupt due to the Shermans' unwise investments in an oar business, and Stark was able to salvage only the title to his Portland property. In 1850 Stark moved to Portland and became a prominent civic leader, businessman, builder, and land proprietor. In 1854 he married Elizabeth Molthrop, daughter of New England sea captain, William E. Molthrop.
Stark was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Oregon Senator Edward D. Baker, who was killed at the Battle of Ball's Bluff. Stark served in the Senate from February through December, 1862. During this period his wife and son, Benjamin III, moved to New London, and Stark joined them there after his Senatorial term expired. In 1864 he was an Oregon delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Chicago, and in 1868 was a Connecticut delegate to the New York convention. He continued to make his home in New London, but retained his valuable property interests in Portland until his death in 1898.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Benjamin Stark papers, 1829-1894, include correspondence and subject files. Issues covered include both business and family matters. Correspondence, 1829-1894, includes family letters from Benjamin Stark's parents, Captain Benjamin and Charlotte Stark; his brothers, Richard, William, and Charles; his wife, Elizabeth (Molthrop) Stark; and his cousins. Other correspondents include: John Adair, James Nelson Burnes, Asahel Bush, Samuel Barlow, Samuel F. Butterworth, John H. Couch, George L. Curry, Matthew P. Deady, Thomas Jefferson Dryer, Charles T. Griffith, Edward Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin Harding, Edward S. Kearney, David Logan, S. P. McCurdy, David McLoughlin, James W. Nesmith, James O'Meara, John K. Osgood, Orville C. Pratt, Simeon G. Reed, Alonzo A. Skinner, Sabin Smith, Isaac I. Stevens, William Strong, Clement L. Vallandingham, John Whiteaker, and George W. Wylie.
Subject files contain lawsuit papers, business accounts, Masonic papers, papers of the Columbia River Steam Navigation Company, and papers of Couch & Company. Included are receipts, correspondence, newspaper clippings, notes, and account ledgers. There are also a number of letters and accounts from Ladd & Tilton, 1862-1878.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any publication use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Benjamin Stark Papers, Mss1155, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following series:
- Series A: Correspondence, 1829-1894
- Series B: Accounts, legal papers, and general materials, 1848-1891
- Series C: Ladd & Tilton correspondence and papers, 1862-1878
Acquisition Information
Origin of the bulk of the collection is unknown. Letters from John K. Osgood (1863 May 27) and Robert Owen (1863 Apr. 25) gifts of Robert J. Chandler, 1987 Sept. Photocopies of letter to William Stark (1853 Sept. 13) and photocopies of 23 letters (1845-186) to members of the Stark family, gifts of Dale Forster, 1986 Dec. 12 and 1989 June.
Location of Originals
Some letters in the collection are copies of originals in the Yale University Library, New Haven, Ct.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series A: Correspondence, 1829-1894, undatedReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Letters to Benjamin
Stark |
||
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Abrams-Atlantic
|
1849-1867; undated |
1/2 | Babcock-Bassett
|
1853-1866 |
1/3 | Bell-Boyd
|
1849-1866 |
1/4 | Bradley-Briggs
|
1862-1867; undated |
1/5 | Brooke-Bryant
|
1849-1868 |
1/6 | Buck-Butterworth
|
1854-1867 |
1/7 | Cambell-Chenoweth
|
1852-1866 |
1/8 | Cissna-Currin
|
1848-1867 |
1/9 | Curry, George Law
(1820-1878) 28
items
|
April 30 1848-March 6; 1867 |
1/10 | Daboll-Duncan (except
Matthew P. Deady)
|
1839-1867 |
1/11 | Deady, Matthew Paul
(1824-1893) 7
items
|
October 22; 1862-August 14; 1866 |
1/12 | Eastman-Fruit
|
1849-1868 |
1/13 | Gallagher-Griffith
|
1849-1867 |
1/14 | Haas-Hendricks
|
1861-1866 |
1/15 | Hodges-Hyland
|
1842-1867 |
1/16 | Ingalls-Jones
|
1862-1866 |
1/17 | Kamm-Kraemer
|
1862-1868 |
1/18 | Lamson-Lyles
For William S. Ladd and Ladd & Tilton Bank, see
Series C.
|
1836-1868 |
1/19 | McCarty-McNaughton
|
1854-1864 |
1/20 | Macy-Myers
|
1843-1891 |
2/1 | Nesmith-Norris
|
1859-1861 |
2/2 | Oakley-O'Neill
|
1844-1865 |
2/3 | Osgood-Owen
|
1850-1864 |
2/4 | Page-Quenandon
|
1845-1868 |
2/5 | Raymond-Rutjis
|
1844-1865 |
2/6 | Sanborn-Skinner (except
Sherman & Stark)
|
1844-1866 |
2/7-8 | Sherman &
Stark 59
items
Includes letters from Edward Sherman, Frederick Sherman,
and John S. Sherman.
|
April 19; 1849-July 29; 1865 |
2/9 | Smith, Alfred-Smith,
Volney
|
1843-1867 |
2/10 | Southwick-Sulger
|
1842-1871 |
2/11 | Taylor-Van
Sice
|
1849-1868 |
2/12 | Wait-Whiteaker
|
1839-1871 |
2/13 | Wilcox-Zachain
|
1840-1866 |
2/14 | Unidentified
letters |
1844-1870; undated |
Family
Correspondence |
||
Box/Folder | ||
2/15 | Letters to Elizabeth
(Molthrop) Stark |
1860-1870 |
2/16 | Letters to his parents
& brothers |
1835-1844 |
3/1 | Letters to his parents
& brothers |
1845-1849 |
3/2 | Letters to his parents,
brothers & son |
1850-1891 |
3/3 | Miscellaneous letters
from |
1843-1866 |
3/4 | Letter copy
book |
1847-1849 |
3/5 | Letters to Stark from
Captain Benjamin Stark |
1836-1837 |
3/6 | Letters to Stark from
Captain Benjamin Stark |
1838 |
3/7 | Letters to Stark from
Captain Benjamin Stark |
1839 |
3/8 | Letters to, from Captain
Benjamin Stark |
1840-1844 |
3/9 | Letters to Stark from
Charles Stark |
1850; 1862 |
3/10 | Letters to Stark from
Charlotte Stark |
1836-1849 |
3/11 | Letters to Stark from
William Stark |
1837-1845 |
3/12 | Letters to Stark from
William Stark |
1849-1850 |
3/13 | Letters to Stark from his
cousins |
1836-1867 |
3/14 | Letters to Stark from his
cousins, Watson |
1849-1866 |
3/15 | Letters to Benjamin &
other family, from Richard Stark |
1849-1868 |
3/16 | Letters to Captain
Benjamin Stark, Sr. |
1829-1844 |
3/17 | Letters to Elizabeth
(Molthrop) Stark from her family |
1852-1871 |
3/18 | Miscellaneous Stark
family letters |
1847-1894 |
6/1 | Letters, family and
business
Photocopies of letters that were sold at auction by
Christie's, London, 1986. Formerly designated as Mss 1155-1.
|
1845-1859 |
Additional family
letters
Collection of letters formerly designated as Mss 1155-2.
Includes letters, 1829-1859, from Benjamin Stark to his parents, Charlotte and
Captain Benjamin Stark as well as letters from Jane Hogart, William Stark,
William C. Crump, Claudius Monell,and Charles Griffith.
|
||
Box/Folder | ||
6/2 | Letter from Jane Hogart
to Charlotte Stark |
1843 |
6/3 | Letters from Benjamin
Stark to Charlotte Stark |
circa 1835-1840 |
6/4 | Letters from Benjamin
Stark to Charlotte Stark |
1840-1841 |
6/5 | Letters from Benjamin
Stark to Charlotte Stark |
1842 |
6/6 | Letters from Benjamin
Stark to Charlotte Stark |
1843-1847 |
6/7 | Letters from Benjamin
Stark to Charlotte Stark |
1849 |
6/8 | Letters from Benjamin
Stark to Charlotte Stark |
1859 |
6/9 | Letters from William
Stark to Charlotte Stark |
1849 |
6/10 | Letter from William C.
Crump to Captain Benjamin Stark, Sr. |
1844 |
6/11 | Letter from Claudius
Monell to Captain Benjamin Stark, Sr. |
1840 |
6/12 | Letters from Benjamin
Stark, Jr., to Captain Benjamin Stark, Sr. |
1836-1838 |
6/13 | Letters from Benjamin
Stark, Jr. to Captain Benjamin Stark, Sr. |
1839 |
6/14 | Letters from Benjamin
Stark, Jr. to Captain Benjamin Stark, Sr. |
1840 |
6/15 | Letters from Benjamin
Stark, Jr. to Captain Benjamin Stark, Sr. |
1841 |
6/16 | Letters from Benjamin
Stark, Jr. to Captain Benjamin Stark, Sr. |
1842 |
6/17 | Letters from Benjamin
Stark, Jr. to Captain Benjamin Stark, Sr.
Includes letter of November 15, 1845, written from
Oregon City and discussing the issue of U.S. sovereignty over the Oregon
Territory.
|
1843-1846 |
6/18 | Letter from Lyman Strong
to Captain Benjamin Stark, Sr. |
1829 |
6/19 | Letters to Benjamin Stark
from Charles Griffith |
1853 |
6/20 | Correspondence--William
& Benjamin Stark |
1834-1858 |
6/21 | Letters to Benjamin &
Charles Stark from Richard Stark |
1853-1859 |
6/22 | General correspondence (4
items) |
1844-1878; undated |
Series B: Accounts, legal papers, and general materials, 1848-1891Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
4/1 | Accounts--Diary for
1858 |
|
4/2 | Bills &
receipts |
1857-1876 |
4/3 | Business Accounts |
1842-1862 |
4/4 | Columbia River Steam
Navigation Co. |
1862 |
4/5 | Couch & Co. |
circa 1851-1852 |
4/6 | Land claims
Includes land ownership map of a block in Portland bounded
by Oak, Pine, Front and First Streets, circa 1878.
|
1856-1878 |
4/7 | Law suit, vs. Starr, for
title to land in Portland (Block 81?) |
circa 1891 |
4/8 | Law suits |
1852-1882 |
4/9 | Masonic |
1850-1868 |
4/10 | Miscellaneous--letters,
notes, receipts, wills, etc. |
circa 1849-1885 |
4/11 | Newspaper clippings regarding
San Francisco (3 items) |
1848-1849 |
4/12 | Seeches
Manuscripts. Includes speech for July 4, 1854; speech on
internal improvements; and speech on Ben Butler.
|
1854; undated |
4/13 | Stark & Co.
accounts 4
items
|
1849-1852 |
Series C: Ladd & Tilton correspondence and papers, 1862-1878Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
5/1 | Letterbook, from Ladd &
Tilton |
1864-1868 |
5/2 | Letters & accounts from
Ladd & Tilton |
1862 |
5/3 | Letters & accounts from
Ladd & Tilton |
1862-1876 |
5/4 | Letters & accounts from
Ladd & Tilton |
1862-1878 |
5/5 | Letters & accounts from
Ladd & Tilton [from letterbook] |
1863-1878 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Business enterprises--Oregon
- Businessmen--Oregon--Correspondence
Personal Names
- Barlow, Samuel Kimbrough, 1795-1867--Correspondence
- Bush, Asahel, 1824-1913--Correspondence
- Couch, John Heard, 1811-1870--Correspondence
- Curry, Geo. L. (George Law), 1820-1878--Correspondence
- Deady, Matthew P. (Matthew Paul), 1824-1893--Correspondence
- Dryer, Thomas Jefferson, 1808-1879--Correspondence
- Harding, Benjamin F., 1832-1899--Correspondence
- Nesmith, James Willis, 1820-1885--Correspondence
- O'Meara, James, 1825-1903--Correspondence
- Pratt, Orville C., 1819-1891--Correspondence
- Stark family--Correspondence
- Stark, Benjamin, 1820-1898--Correspondence (creator)
- Stark, Charlotte--Correspondence
- Stark, Elizabeth--Correspondence
- Stark, Banjamin, Captain--Correspondence
- Stevens, Isaac Ingalls, 1818-1862--Correspondence
Corporate Names
- Columbia River Steam Navigation Company--Archives
- Couch and Company--Archives
- Ladd & Tilton Bank (Portland, Or.)
- Stark and Company--Archives
Geographical Names
- Oregon--History--1859-
- Oregon--History--To 1859
- Oregon--Politics and government--1859-1950
- Oregon--Politics and government--To 1859
Form or Genre Terms
- Accounts
- Business records
- Letters
- Speeches