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James Willis Nesmith papers., 1845-1961

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Nesmith, James Willis, 1820-1885.
Title
James Willis Nesmith papers.
Dates
1845-1961 (inclusive)
1845-1885 (bulk)
Quantity
2 cubic feet (4 document cases, 1 oversize folder)
Collection Number
Mss 577
Summary
Papers of an Oregon lawyer, political figure, and Superintendent of Indian Affairs who served in the U.S. Senate from 1861-1867. Collection includes letters to and from Nesmith, including many related to the pre-Civil War political crisis; diary of overland journey, 1843; and diary and notebook from the Yakima Indian War, 1855. Also includes business records from Nesmith's ranch in Polk County, family and genealogical materials.
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
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

James Willis Nesmith, a lawyer, rancher, and important Democratic political figure in Oregon, was born July 23, 1820 in New Brunswick, Canada. He grew up in Maine, the son of Irish immigrants who suffered financial misfortunes. He attended school in Ohio, lived for a time in Iowa, then came to Oregon with the Applegate wagon train in 1843. Settling at first in Oregon City, he served as a judge under the provisional government from 1845-1846, and member of the Provisional Legislature in 1845. He married Pauline Coff in 1846 and took a donation land claim on the Rickreall River in Polk County. He served in the Yakima Indian war of 1855 and was promoted to Colonel. He held the office of U.S. Marshall, 1855-1856, and Superintendent of Indian Affairs from 1856-1859. In 1860 he was elected U.S. Senator and served in Washington from 1861 to 1867. He was a "war Democrat," although he later opposed the Republican program for reconstruction. After returning to Oregon, he was elected to Congress in 1873 to fill the remainder of the late Joseph Wilson's term. Serving until 1875, he retired to his Polk County ranch. After suffering a debilitating stroke in 1884, he was committed to the state asylum in Salem and died at his ranch the following year.

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Content Description

Papers include: personal and official correspondence (1861-1881), including letters related to Nesmith's work as superintendent of Indian affairs in Oregon, state legislator, and U.S. senator, many reflecting the pre-Civil War crisis in the Democratic Party; diary and notebook from the Yakima Indian War (1855); draft of report (November 19, 1855) from Nesmith to George Law Curry concerning the First Regiment of the Oregon Mounted Volunteers; speeches; genealogical materials; account book (1850-1857); ledger (1852-1860); list of voters (1860). Correspondents include Jesse Applegate, Asahel Bush, George Law Curry, Matthew P. Deady, Joseph Hooker, Joseph Lane, Robert Newell, and Benjamin Stark.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

Overland diary of James Nesmith also available on microfilm at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

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

James Willis Nesmith Papers, Mss 577, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series:

Series 1: Correspondence

Series 2: General Materials

Acquisition Information

The origin of the collection is unknown.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Series I: Correspondence

    • Letters to Nesmith

      • Description: Ab - Ain

        • Abernethy, George Mar. 9, 1859; July 6, 1861

          2 letters

        • Ainsworth, John Commigers Feb. 27, 1859-Feb. 8, 1869

          6 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 1/1
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Al - Au (excluding Apllegate, J.)

        • Alvord, Benjamin June 22, 1862-July [25], 1863

          4 letters

        • Ankeny, Alexander P. Dec. 27, 1860

          1 letter

        • Applegate, Elisha Lindsay Oct. 29, 1861

          1 letter

        • Ark, Daniel April 13, 1974

          1 letter

        • Ashmead, Lewis May 27 [no year]

          1 letter

        • Atkinson, R. J. Apr. 12, 1859

          1 letter

        • Augur, Christopher Colon May 8, 1861

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 1/2
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Jesse Applegate
        53 letters
        Dates: July 20, 1845-Jan. 16, 1884
        Container: Box/Folder 1/3-4
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Ba - Barnes (excluding Barnhart)

        • Bache, Alexander Dallas May 13, 1862; June 15, 1862

          2 letter

        • Baker, Edward Dickinson May 20, 1862

          1 letter

        • Barkwell, M. C. Feb. 25, 1862

          1 letter

        • Barnard, A. D. June 22, 1862

          1 letter

        • Barnard, W. E. Aug. 21, 1867

          1 letter

        • Barnes, Joseph K. July 14, 1864-June 30, 1868

          6 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 1/5
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Barnhart

        • Barnhart, William H. Mar. 22, 1856-Dec. 16, 1868

          13 letters

        Dates: 1856-1868
        Container: Box/Folder 1/6
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Barnum - Boon

        • Barnum, E. M. Sept. 1-Oct. 22, 1862

          3 letters

        • Barstow, F. S. Jan. 5, 1867

          1 letter

        • Bennett, Charles Sept. 26, 1848

          1 letter

        • Berry, Thomas W. June 12, 1865; Mar. 19, 1868

          2 letters

        • Biddle, Benjamin R. Aug. 18, 1862

          1 letter

        • Bigelow, Daniel R. Nov. 14, 1853

          1 letter

        • Boise, Elizabeth June [1862]

          1 letter

        • Bond, Frank S. May 3, 1864

          1 letter

        • Boon, John Daniel Jan. 21, 1862

          1 letter

        • Boon, John Lee Apr. 19, 1861; May 25, 1862

          2 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 1/7
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Br - Burkhart

        • Bristow, William Wilshire Feb. 21, 1862

          1 letter

        • Brooks, Quincy Adams July 24, 1862

          1 letter

        • Broughton, N. June 7, 12, 1862

          2 letters

        • Brown, Z. J. Mar. 7, 1862

          1 letter

        • Browne, John Ross Nov. 5, 1857-Feb. 5, 1862

          4 letters

        • Bruce, James Jan. 22, 1862

          1 letter

        • Burbank, Augustus Ripley Apr. 19, 1862

          1 letter

        • Burkhart, C. D. Apr. 2, 21, 1862

          2 letters

        • Burkhart, L. C. Apr. 26, 1862

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 1/8
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Burnett - Butler

        • Burnett, Peter Hardeman Aug. 4, 1865; Feb. 27, 1866

          2 letters

        • Bush, Asahel Sept. 9, 1855; Feb. 6-Aug. 13, 1862

          12 letters

        • Bush, William W. and S. W. Moss [letter to Nesmith and Stark] May 13, 1862

          1 letter

        • Butler, Benjamin Franklin Feb. 27, 1864

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 1/9
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Ca - Cl

        • Campbell, Lewis Davis May 7, 1866

          1 letter

        • Cann, T. H. Sept. 19, 1881

          1 letter

        • Chadwick, Stephen Fowler Dec. 28, 1858; Mar. 12-May 12, 1862

          4 letters

        • Chase, Henri M. July 14, 1883

          1 letter

        • Clark, Hansom and Joel Palmer Sept. 29, 1851

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 1/10
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Co

        • Cochran, Silas D. Mar. 25-May 5, 1862

          3 letters

        • Coe, Lawrence White Aug. 31, July 21, 1862

          2 letters

        • Coe, Nathaniel Apr. 8, Aug. 12, 1862

          2 letters

        • Cole, James Sept. 15, 1862

          1 letter

        • Conkling, Edgar Feb. 28-May 27, 1862

          3 letters

        • Connell, J. A. Aug. 16, 1862

          1 letter

        • Corbett, Henry Winslow Mar. 8, 1862; Jan. 9, 1863

          2 letters

        • Cowen, Edgar Dec. 3, 1873

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 1/11
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Cr - Cu

        • Craig, T. June 8, 1862

          1 letter

        • Crane, C. H. Mar. 15, 1879

          1 letter

        • Cranston, Ephraim Apr. 29, 1862

          1 letter

        • Crawford, Medorem May 29, Aug. 27, 1862; Jan. 9, 1879

          3 letters

        • Crawford, S. G. Mar. 29, Apr. 6, 1862

          2 letters

        • Cummins, Henry May 5, 1862

          1 letter

        • Cummins, John Apr. 23, 1862

          1 letter

        • Curry, George Law Feb. 29, 1848-Sept. 19, 1856

          7 letters

        • Cushman, Joseph Mar. 1, 16, 1862

          2 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 1/12
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Da - De (excluding Deady)

        • Dan, W. L. Feb. 12, 1862

          1 letter

        • Dandy, G. B. Dec. 21, 1862; Feb. 27, 1867

          2 letters

        • Davenport, Timothy woodbridge June 3, 1883

          1 letter

        • Davis, Jefferson C. May 2, 1874

          1 letter

        • Davis, L. A. June 23, 1862

          1 letter

        • Deifendorff, P. H. Jan. 2, 1848

          1 letter

        • Denlinger, Henry Mar. 25, 1862

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 1/13
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Deady, Matthew Paul, Feb. 23, 1851-June 30, 1882

        Container: Box/Folder 1/14-23

        171 letters
      • Description: Di - Do

        • Dole, William P. Mar. 13, 1865; Mar. 28, 1865

          2 letters

        • Dolph, Joseph Norton Mar. 28, 1862; Oct. 22, 1883

          2 letters

        • Dowell, Benjamin Franklin Apr. 1, 1857

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 1/24
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Dra - Drew, E. P.

        • Draper, Lyman C. June 10, 1862

          1 letter

        • Drew, C. S. Feb. 22, May 23, 1862} Jan. 24, 1865

          3 letters

        • Drew, Edwin P. Apr. 14, 1855; Apr. 14, May 2, 1862

          3 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 1/25
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: J. Drew - Dryer

        • Drew, Joseph W. Mar. 8-Sept. 28, 1862

          9 letters

        • Dryer, Thomas Jefferson Nov. 23, 1861; Feb. 7, 1862

          2 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 1/26
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: E

        • Eddy, C. B. July 26, 1862

          1 letter

        • Edmunds, George Franklin Oct. 9, 1883

          1 letter

        • Elfelt, A. B. Aug. 1, 1862

          1 letter

        • Elkins, James Mar. 19, 1862

          1 letter

        • Emory, Matilda W. (Bache) July 6, [1861]

          1 letter

        • Emory, W. H. (Gen'l, USA) June, 11, 25, 1861

          2 letters

        • Evans, Charles [Oct?] 29, 1863

          1 letter

        • Evans, Elwood Sept. 20, 1862

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 2/1
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Fa

        • Fagan, Robert Mar. 7, 1876

          1 letter

        • Farrar, William H. Oct. 9, 1853-Oct. 16, 1862

          9 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/2
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Fi - Fr

        • Fisk and Hatch Mar. 13, 1862

          1 letter

        • Francis, Simeon June 19, July 28, 1862

          2 letters

        • Franz, D. W. June 10, 1862 (2)

          2 letters

        • Frisbie, John B. Nov. 30, 1862

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 2/3
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Ga - Gri

        • Gaines, Archibald E. June 15, 1862

          1 letter

        • Gale, Joseph Apr. 22, 1880

          1 letter

        • Gaston, Joseph Oct. 26, 1865; Feb. 12, 1866

          2 letters

        • Gates, Nathaniel H. Apr. 20, 1862

          1 letter

        • Geary, Edward Rachford Mar. [?], 1852; June 14, 1878

          2 letters

        • Gibbons, A. M. Aug. 27, 1862; undated

          2 letters

        • Gibbs, Addison Crandall July 18, 1862; Jan. 24, 1874

          2 letters

        • Grant, Ulysses Simpson Feb. 14, 1867; undated

          2 letters

        • Greenwood, A. B. July 16, 1859

          1 letter

        • Grimm, John W. Jan. 26, 1862

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 2/4
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Gro - Gu

        • Groux, D. E. Feb. 16, 1863

          1 letter

        • Grover, C. Dec. 5, 1865

          1 letter

        • Grover, Lafayette Dec. 18, 1858-Jan. 6, 1874

          7 letters

        • Guthrie, G. W. Oct. 28, 1861; Apr. 30, 1862

          2 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/5
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: H - Han

        • Haller, Granville Owen Dec. 16, 1855; May 12, July 21, 1856

          3 letters

        • Hamilton, E. Feb. 20, May 2, 1862; Nov. 25, 1873

          3 letters

        • Hancock, Winfield Scott Dec. 6 1864-May 14, 1866; Jan. 19, 1874

          4 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/6
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Har - Haz

        • Hardie, James A. Jan. 9, 1861

          1 letter

        • Harding, Benjamin F. Dec. 20, 1861-June 6, 1863

          5 letters

        • Hartauff, George S. Dec. 25, 1861

          1 letter

        • Harvey, J. W. McL. July 11, 1883

          1 letter

        • Hawley, L. C. May 29, 1862

          1 letter

        • Hasen, William Babcock Oct. 20, 1858; June 1, Dec. 14, 1862

          3 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/7
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: He - Hol

        • Heath, Lucien Dec. 6, 1861 (2); Apr. 8, 1862

          3 letters

        • Henderson, John Brooks Mar. 29, 1869

          1 letter

        • Herring, C. F. July 28, 1877

          1 letter

        • Hill, William Lair July 12, 1883

          1 letter

        • Hoffman, Ogden Nov. 9, 1866

          1 letter

        • Hoffman, William Sept. 28, 1861

          1 letter

        • Holbrook, Amory Mar. 9, 1862 (2); Mar. 20, 1862

          3 letters

        • Holbrook, Mary H. May 22, June 6, 1862

          2 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/8
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Hooker, Joseph
        12 letters

        • 19 December 1859

          8 pp

        • 18 January 1861

          3 pp

        • 14 June 1861

          1 p

        • 26 December 1861

          2 pp

        • 24 April 1862

          2 pp + 4 pp enclosures (4pp typescript)

        • 4 May 1862

          3 pp (1pp typescript)

        • 5 May 1862

          7 pp (2pp typescript)

        • 13 May 1862

          3 pp (1pp typescript)

        • 11 July 1862

          4 pp (1pp typescript)

        • 8 October? 1862

          3 pp

        • 9 April 1864

          3 pp

        • 9 April 1865

          3 pp

        Dates: Dec. 19, 1859-Apr. 9, 1865
        Container: Box/Folder 2/9
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Hop - Hu

        • Hopkins, Charles June 7, 1862

          1 letter

        • Howard, Hugh H. Oct. 13, 1862

          1 letter

        • Hubbard, Thomas Jefferson Sept. 24, 1858

          1 letter, copy

        • Hubbell, William L. Mar. 21, 1862

          1 letter

        • Humason, Orlando Jan. 1, 1862; Jan. 29, 1864

          2 letters

        • Huntington, J. W. Perit Sept. 26, 1861; Feb. 1, 1866

          2 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/10
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: I

        • Ihrie, George P. Dec. 14, 1855; Jan. 26, 1856

          2 letters

        • Ingalls, Rufus June 15, 1861-Mar. 23, 1864

          8 letters

        • Ironsides, R. B. June 13, 1862

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 2/11
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: K

        • Kearny, E. S. Mar. 13, 1860-June 21, 1862

          5 letters

        • Kelly, John Jan. 1, 1862

          1 letter

        • Kendall, Benjamin Freeman Nov. 12, 1861-July 18, 1862

          7 letters

        • Kilgore, James Mar. 29, 1862

          1 letter

        • Killin, Benton Dec. 27, 1874

          1 letter

        • King, Preston May 26, 1862

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 2/12
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: La (except Lane)

        • Ladd, John Wesley July 20, 1866

          1 letter

        • Ladd, Robert J. May 20, 1862

          1 letter

        • Ladd, William Sargent Jan. 10-May 14, 1862

          4 letters

        • LaDow, George Augustus Apr. 20, 1874

          1 letter

        • Lamson, Roswell H. May 13, 1862; Jan. 7, 1865

          2 letters

        • Latham, Milton Slocum Oct. 12, Dec. 25, 1863; Feb. 11, 1865

          3 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/13
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Lane

        • Lane, Joseph Sept. 11, 1849-Apr. 14, 1855

          18 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/14
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Le - Lo

        • LeConte, John L. June 19, 1862

          1 letter

        • Lee, Hugh Feb. 7, 1862

          1 letter

        • Leonard, W. B. Aug. 20, 1862

          1 letter

        • Leonard and Green July 20, Sept. 2, 1862

          2 letters

        • Livermore, W. H. Oct. 1, 1874

          1 letter

        • Logan, David Feb. 12, 1869

          1 letter

        • Lovejoy, Asa Lawrence Dec. 21, 1846; Dec. 18, 1847; July 8, 1866

          3 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/15
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Mc - Mag

        • McBride, James Dec. 12, 1865

          1 letter

        • McClure, T. C. Mar. 19-May 25, 1862

          3 letters

        • McCoy, J. F. Mar. 20, 1862

          1 letter

        • McCully, Asa A. Jan. 3, 1862

          1 letter

        • McFeely, Michael Jan. 20, 1862

          1 letter

        • McKay, William Cameron July 3, 1854

          1 letter

        • Magruder, W. T. June 1, 1862

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 2/16
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Man - May

        • Mansfield, J. K, F. Mar. 29, 1862

          1 letter

        • Marshall, Anson S. May 22, Sept. 27, 1862

          2 letters

        • Maury, Reuben F. Jan. 6-Mar. 4, 1862; Apr. 22, 1866

          4 letters

        • May, Samuel E. Mar. 24, May 1, 1862

          2 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/17
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Me - My

        • Merry, T. B. Oct. 21, 1878

          1 letter

        • Miller, Frank, and others Sept. 14, 1865

          1 letter

        • Mitchell, Ira May 31, 1862

          1 letter

        • Mix, Gustavus L. Mar. 31, 1862

          1 letter

        • Monteith, Thomas Mar. 22, 1862

          1 letter

        • Morehouse, Edgar P. July 7, 1862

          1 letter

        • Morgan, Edward S. Feb. 18, 26, 1862

          2 letters

        • Morrow, R. May 11, 1866

          1 letter

        • Mott, C. H. Sept. 29, 1859

          1 letter

        • Mulkey, Marion F. Apr. 18, 1862

          1 letter

        • Myer, Albert J. Oct. 20, 1867

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 2/18
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: N

        • Nesmith, John Mar. 29, 1862

          1 letter

        • Newell, Robert Jan. 13, 1861-Jan. 20, 1863; Apr. 9, 1868

          9 letters

        • Nibley, A. E. Apr. 28, 1862

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 2/19
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: O

        • Olney, Cyrus July 15, 1854-Feb. 24, 1862

          5 letters

        • Olney, Nathan Oct. 31, 1854

          1 letter

        • O'Meara, James Feb. 13, 1860

          1 letter

        • O'Neill, James July 26, 1862

          1 letter

        • Owen, H. C. Jan. 25, 1862

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 2/20
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Pa - Po

        • Page, William Wilmor Feb. 7, 1862

          1 letter

        • Parker, S. H. Apr. 30, 1862

          1 letter

        • Parmer, Thomas Aug. 8, 1862

          1 letter

        • Parrish, Josiah L. July 6, 1878

          1 letter

        • Pendleton, George Hunt [1862?]

          1 letter

        • Pengra, Bynon J. Jan. 21, May 10, 1862

          2 letters

        • Pettygrove, Francis W. Nov. 15, 1861

          1 letter

        • Pickett, Charles E. Aug. 25, 1860

          1 letter

        • Pinn, Franklin May 23, 1862

          1 letter

        • Plessonton, A. June 5, 11, 1861

          2 letters

        • Porter, David W. Jan. 15, 1861-May 7, 1862

          5 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/21
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Pr - Py

        • Pratt, Orville C. Mar. 31, 1853; Jan. 27, 1861-Aug. 18, 1862; ??? 25, 1875

          11 letters

        • Pyle, James M. Mar. 14-June 1, 1862

          4 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/22
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Q - Rector

        • Quimble, J. M. Aug. 30, 1862

          1 letter

        • Rector, William Henry Dec. 5, 1861-Nov. 20, 1862

          6 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/23
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Reed - Ru

        • Reed, Simeon Gannett Jan. 1, 1862

          1 letter

        • Rogers, Amos E. Feb. 22, Mar. 22, 1862

          2 letters

        • Rowland, George Feb. 19, 1862

          1 letter

        • Ruffner, Peter Apr. 18, 1858; Feb. 6, 1859

          2 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/24
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Se - Si

        • Seward, William Henry Dec. 15, 1864

          1 letter

        • Shannon, Wesley Mar. 1, 1862

          1 letter

        • Shattuck, Erasmus D. Nov. 26, 1874

          1 letter

        • Sheridan, Philip Henry Dec. 5, 1862; Jan. 15, 1866

          2 letters

        • [Shrubrick?], W. B. Dec. 28, 1863

          1 letter

        • Simpson, Benjamin Nov. 28, 1861; June 14, 1862

          2 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/25
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Sm - Sp

        • Smallwood, James B. May 26, Aug. 28, 1862

          2 letters

        • Smith, Albert J. Oct. 29, 1858

          1 letter

        • Smith, Delazon Nov. 30, 1858; Feb. A, 1859

          2 letters

        • Smith, [Edward Henry?] Jan. 8, 1862

          1 letter

        • Smith, Hiram Dec. 12, [1861?]

          1 letter

        • Smith, James A. Mar. 7, 1876

          1 letter

        • Smith, John Sept. 3, 1866

          1 letter

        • Smith, Truman May 29, 1862

          1 letter

        • Snook, J. S. Nov. 25, 1862

          1 letter

        • Spencer, W. H. June 9, 1862

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 2/26
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Sta

        • Staats, Stephen Dec. 1, 1861; June 16, 1862

          2 letters

        • Stark, Benjamin Nov. 21, 1855-Jan. 12, 1884

          9 letters

        • Starkweather, William A. Feb. 21, 1862

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 2/27
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Ste

        • Steinberger, Justus Feb. 20-July 10, 1862

          4 letters

        • Stephens, James B. Feb. 21, 1862

          1 letter

        • Stevens, Isaac Ingalls Mar. 15-June 20, 1862

          5 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/28
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Sto - Sw

        • Stout, Lansing Feb. 5, 1858; Jan. 28, 1860; Mar. 4, 1866

          3 letters

        • Stratton, Riley Evans Jan. 20, 1862

          1 letter

        • Strong, William May 19, 1853

          1 letter

        • Swords, Thomas Feb. 24, 1858-June 19, 1862

          5 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/29
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Th - Tichenor

        • Thornton, Jesse Quinn. [See also E. Hamilton to Nesmith] May 22, 1847

          1 letter

        • Tichenor, William Dec. 12, 1861-Apr. 24, 1862

          5 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/30
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Tilton - Tw

        • Tilton, Alfred E. Mar., 1862

          2 letters

        • Tilton, Charles E. Aug. 19-Sept. A, 1862

          5 letters

        • Tilton, A. E. and C. E. Apr. 4-Oct. 15, 1862

          2 letters

        • Tolmie, William Fraser June 19, 1883; undated

          2 letters

        • Twogood, James Henry Dec. 8, 1866

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 2/31
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: V - Wa

        • Van Riper, S. undated

          1 letter

        • Wait, Aaron E. Feb. 28, 1866

          1 letter

        • Wakeman, Dimon & Co. May 14-June 2, 1862

          3 letters

        • Wakeman, Gookin & Dickinson May 9, 1864

          1 letter

        • Walker, C. M. Aug. 26, 1849

          1 letter

        • Waller, Alvin F. Apr. 30, 1862

          1 letter

        • Warren, W. Feb. 27, 1862

          1 letter

        • Watt, Joseph Apr. 24, 1862

          1 letter

        • Waymire, Fred Jan. 18, Nov. 4, 1850; Jan. 14, 1853

          3 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/32
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith
      • Description: Wh - Wy

        • White, Elijah Mar. 30, 1862

          1 letter

        • White, William L. Feb. 19, 1862

          1 letter

        • Whiteaker, John Mar. 24, 1861

          1 letter

        • Whittlesey, S. H. Jan. 3, 1862

          1 letter

        • Wilbur, James Harvey Dec. 28, 1861-July 23, 1864

          4 letters

        • Williams, George Feb. 9, 1862

          1 letter

        • Williams, George Henry Aug. 14, 1883

          1 letter

        • Wilson, Eupheme C. Apr. 11, 1862

          1 letter

        • Wilson, Joseph Gardner [1853?]-Sept. 29, 1862

          4 letters

        • Wilson, James M. July 11, Oct. 11, 1862

          2 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 2/33
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters to Nesmith

    • Letters by Nesmith

      Many of these are copies

      • Description: A- Bo

        • Alvord, Benjamin Dec. 29, 1862

          1 letter

        • Applegate, Jesse Jan. 3, 1859-Apr. 20, 1876

          8 letters

        • Bond, Frank S. Apr. 29, 1864

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 3/1
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters by Nesmith
      • Description: Bush

        • Bush, Asahel May 28, 1851-Dec. 11, 1866

          35 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 3/2
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters by Nesmith
      • Description: C - G

        • Campbell, L. D. May 20, 1866

          1 letter

        • Crawford. Apr. 2, 1863

          1 letter

        • Dole, William P. June 2, 1862, June 27, 1864

          2 letters

        • Doolittle, J. R. Mar. 28, 1865

          1 letter

        • Dowell, Benjamin Franklin June 11, 1877

          1 letter

        • Edmunds, George R. Oct. 20, 1883

          1 letter

        • Failing, Henry July 22, 1877

          1 letter

        • Goff, David Mar. 20, 1863

          1 letter

        • Gordon, Harvey Dec. 22, 1860; Feb. 6-Apr. 19, 1861

          6 letters

        • Grier, William Nov. 19, 1858

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 3/3
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters by Nesmith
      • Description: H - Ladd

        • Harlan, James Oct. 23, 1865

          1 letter

        • Hill, William Lair Feb. 15, 1883

          1 letter

        • Jenkins, Willis Sept. 2, 1856

          1 letter

        • Jordan, Thomas Sept. 7, 1859

          1 letter

        • Knott, W. W. Nov. 19, 1883

          1 letter

        • Ladd, William Sargent May 3, 1885

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 3/4
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters by Nesmith
      • Description: Lane - M

        • Lane, Joseph Aug. 21, 1858; undated

          2 letters

        • McArthur, L. L. Dec. 28, 1873; Ap 4, 1874; Feb. 12, 1880

          3 letters

        • Maury, Reuben F. Apr. 3, 1862

          1 letter

        • [Mendell?], ______ Jan. 3, 1862

          1 letter

        • Miller, Frank, and others Sept. 16, 1865

          1 letter

        • Mix, Charles E. Nov. 12, 1858

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 3/5
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters by Nesmith
      • Description: O - S

        • O'Meara, James Dec. 4, 1859; June 3, 1873

          2 letters

        • Pope, John Dec. 12, 1863

          1 letter

        • Smith, Delazon June 9, 1859 [incomplete]
        • Squier, E. G. Dec. 27, 1865

          1 letter

        • Stanton, Edward M. Dec. 18, 1865

          1 letter

        • Stark, Benjamin Apr. 27, 1860

          1 letter

        • Stevens, Isaac Ingalls Nov. 1, 1858, Jan, 16. 1860

          2 letters

        Container: Box/Folder 3/6
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters by Nesmith
      • Description: T - W

        • Thornton, Jesse Quinn May 20, 1847

          1 letter

        • Tilton, A. E. and C. E. May 28, 1862

          1 letter

        • Waldo, Clara June 22, 1882

          1 letter

        • Whitson, W. C. May 27, 1864

          1 letter

        • Wilson, Joseph Gardner Nov, 29, 1862

          1 letter

        • Wilson, Samuel June 27, 1845

          1 letter

        • Wyeth, George Dec. 29, 1862

          1 letter

        Container: Box/Folder 3/7
        Location: Series I: Correspondence / Letters by Nesmith
    • Description: Letters to family
      27 letters

      • Letters to wife and children 1853-1881

        27 letters

      • Letter to his cousin Harriet Sept. 23, 1863

        1 letter

      • Letters to his mother July 26, 1862; Sept. 22, 1862

        2 letters

      Container: Box/Folder 3/8
      Location: Series I: Correspondence
    • Description: Letters to cousin, Albert Otis
      (typescript copy), 7 letters
      Dates: 1867-1881
      Container: Box/Folder 3/9
      Location: Series I: Correspondence
    • Description: Other letters

      These letters in the Nesmith collection neither addressed to him nor from him.

      • William Henry Rector to Harvey GordonJan. 9-Apr. 24, 1862

        3 letters

      • S. G. French to Rufus IngallsJune 14, 1866

        1 letter

      • F. Haven to Benjamin Alvord, relating to joint occupation of San Juan IslandSept. 18, 1864

        copy, 1 letter

      • J. K. Barnes to Lloyd BrookeFeb. 6, 1866

        copy, 1 letter

      • J. K. Barnes to John GreenFeb. 6, 1866

        copy, 1 letter

      • J. K. Barnes to R. R. ThompsonFeb. 6, 1866

        copy, 1 letter

      • James Harlan to Andrew JohnsonDec. 20, 1665

        copy, 1 letter

      • Oregon Delegation to William P. FessendenJan. 5, 1865

        copy, 1 letter

      Container: Box/Folder 3/10
      Location: Series I: Correspondence

  • Series II: General Materials

    • Description: Draft of report to George Law Curry. First Regt. Oregon Mounted
      Dates: Nov. 19, 1855
      Container: Box/Folder 3/11
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: Eulogy of Charles Sumner (incomplete) delivered in House of Representatives.
      Dates: 1874
      Container: Box/Folder 3/12
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: Address to Oregon Pioneer Association
      Dates: June 15, 1875
      Container: Box/Folder 3/13
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: Diary and notebook, Yakima War
      Dates: 1855
      Container: Box/Folder 3/14
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: Autobiography, biography, letters relating to Nesmith family history, genealogy.
      Dates: 1881-1187; 1961; undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3/15
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: S. A. Clarke notes on Nesmith
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3/16
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: Biographical and genealogical notes, letters and manuscripts
      Dates: 1893-1894, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3/17
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: Receipt note and general materials
      Dates: 1855-1866, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3/18
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: General materials

      • Telegram. Harding, Bush, Boise, and Heath to Nesmith Feb. 22, 1862

        1 letter

      • Bond, Supt. of Indian Affairs Apr. 22, 1857

        1 letter

      • Orders and Instructions to Capt. Jas. W. Nesmith... [Curry] Aug. 25, 1853

        1 letter

      • 2 passes, "over the bridge and within the lines," [Washington D.C.] June 14, July 7, 1861

        1 letter

      • Notice of election, Judge of Oregon June 12, 1845

        1 letter

      • "General Orders No. 19" - R. F. Maury. June 23, 1865

        1 letter

      Dates: 1844-1866
      Container: Box/Folder 3/19
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: Design of Gravestone
      1 letter
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3/20
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: Account book

      J. W. Nesmith & Co., and newspaper subscribers' accounts.

      Dates: 1850-1857
      Container: Box/Folder 4/1
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: Ledger
      1 volume
      Dates: 1852-1860
      Container: Box/Folder 4/2
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: List of voters, 1860 election, Oregon.
      1 volume
      Dates: 1860
      Container: Box/Folder 4/3
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: Diary of westward journey
      2 volumes

      Ends Sept. 15. Not complete. For transcription, see Oregon Historical Quarterly, vol. 7 (1906), pp. 330-359. Complete diary also available on microfilm.

      Dates: 1843
      Container: Box/Folder 4/4
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: Continuation of diary
      Dates: 1843
      Container: Box/Folder Oversize folder
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: "Names of the emigrants of 1843, including all who started either to Oregon or California"
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4/5
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: Certificate of appointment of James Nesmith as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Territory of Washington and Oregon
      Dates: 1857 March 15
      Container: Box/Folder Oversize folder
      Location: Series II: General Materials
    • Description: Coat of arms of Nesmith family, on cloth
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder Oversize folder
      Location: Series II: General Materials

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Indians of North America--Oregon--Wars
  • Pacific Coast Indians--Wars with, 1847-1865
  • Yakama Indians--Wars, 1855-1859

Personal Names

  • Applegate, Jesse A., 1811-1888--Correspondence
  • Bush, Asahel, 1824-1913--Correspondence
  • Curry, Geo. L. (George Law), 1820-1878--Correspondence
  • Deady, Matthew P. (Matthew Paul), 1824-1893--Correspondence
  • Hooker, Joseph, 1814-1879--Correspondence
  • Lane, Joseph, 1801-1881--Correspondence
  • Nesmith, James Willis, 1820-1885--Correspondence
  • Nesmith, James Willis, 1820-1885--Diaries
  • Newell, Robert, 1807-1869--Correspondence
  • Stark, Benjamin, 1820-1898--Correspondence

Corporate Names

  • Democratic Party (Or.)
  • United States. Office of Indian Affairs. Oregon Superintendency--Archives

Geographical Names

  • Oregon--History--1859-
  • Oregon--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
  • Oregon--History--To 1859
  • Oregon--Militia--Officers--Correspondence
  • Oregon--Politics and government--1859-1950
  • Oregon--Politics and government--To 1859

Form or Genre Terms

  • Diaries
  • Financial records
  • Letters
  • Reports
  • Speeches

Finding aid prepared by Geoffrey B. Wexler
2006

CC0

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