MZFCollection1407.xml Guide to the Lester S. Willson Family Papers 1861-1922 Willson (Lester S.) Family Papers Kim Allen Scott, 2009 Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections P.O. Box 173320 Bozeman, MT 59717-3320 United States Phone (406) 994-4242 Fax (406) 994-2851 http://www.lib.montana.edu/archives/ University Archivist spcoll@www.lib.montana.edu
Finding aid encoded by ArchProteus2012 Finding aid written in English Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard) Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320 Bozeman, MT 59717-3320 United States Phone (406) 994-4242 Fax (406) 994-2851 http://www.lib.montana.edu/archives/ University Archivist spcoll@www.lib.montana.edu
Collection 1407, MtBC, us Willson, Lester S. (Lester Sebastian), 1839-1922 Lester S. Willson Family Papers 1861-1922 .2 linear feet The Lester S. Willson Family Papers consist of letters written by Lester and Davis Willson during the Civil War while both men were with the army; letters written by Lester and Davis during their first years in Bozeman; letters written by Eugene and Fred from Bozeman to their parents who were away; Civil War military documents pertaining to the 60th New York Volunteer Infantry and Lester S. Willson; student papers of Fred and Eugene; scrapbook materials and newspaper clippings; photographs of the Willsons, the Tuller and Rich Cash Store, and the Willson home in Bozeman. Collection materials are in English Biographical Note

Lester S. Willson was born in Canton, New York on June 15, 1839. His parents, Ambrose and Julia Willson had at least two other sons, Davis and George. Lester enlisted as a private in the 60th New York Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War and spent the early months guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in Maryland. By 1865 Willson had gained the rank of colonel of his regiment, and at the war's end he was brevetted a brigadier general. He administered the Soldier's Home in Albany, New York following the war and in 1867 moved to Montana Territory to join his brother Davis in the mercantile business at Bozeman. Willson entered into a partnership with Tuller and Rich at Bozeman, eventually replacing both men to become a sole proprietor. He also served in the state legislature and with the state militia. He married in 1869 Emma D. Weeks and the couple had three children; George (who died as an infant), Lester Eugene, and Fred Fielding. Both Fred and Eugene attended Bozeman schools, and Fred eventually became a prominent local architect. Eugene died in 1893 at the age of 14. Lester S. Willson continued to operate his business until his death on January 26, 1919.

The Lester S. Willson family papers consist of letters written by Lester and Davis Willson during the Civil War while both men were with the army; letters written by Lester and Davis during their first years in Bozeman; letters written by Eugene and Fred from Bozeman to their parents who were away; Civil War military documents pertaining to the 60th New York Volunteer Infantry and Lester S. Willson; student papers of Fred and Eugene; scrapbook materials and newspaper clippings; photographs of the Willsons, the Tuller and Rich Cash Store, and the Willson home in Bozeman. The papers have been arranged in five series.

Series 1 Correspondence, 1861-1922

Series 2 Civil War military documents, 1863-1865

Series 3 School papers, 1890-1893

Series 4 Scrapbook material, 1893-1911

Series 5 Photographs, 1865-1910

This collection is open for research.

Family papers, military documents, and photographs created or collected by members of the Lester S. Willson family of Bozeman, Montana, were donated to Special Collections in 1968 by Merrill G. Burlingame. Additional materials were donated by Burlingame in 1974. The papers incorporate those originally recorded under accession number 846.

This collection was processed 2009 March 16

 Willson, Davis, 1841-1915-Correspondence Willson, Fred Fielding, 1877-1956 Willson, Lester Eugene, d. 1893 Willson family-Homes and haunts-Montana-Bozeman-Photographs Wilson family Willson family Tuller and Rich Cash Store (Bozeman, Mont.)-Photographs United States-Army-New York Infantry Regiment, 60th (1861-1865) Bozeman (Mont.)-Buildings, structures, etc. -Photographs United States-History-Civil War, 1861-1865-Personal narratives General stores-Montana-Bozeman-Photographs Soldiers-United States-Correspondence Family papers-Montana-Bozeman Photographs-Montana-Bozeman Elementary and Secondary Education Military Retail Trade Montana Bozeman Photographs Scrapbooks Series 1 Correspondence 1861-1922

Letters written by Lester S. Willson, Davis Willson, Lester Eugene Willson, Fred Fielding Willson, and other family members and friends. Letters pertain to the Civil War, early Bozeman, Montana, condolences on the 1919 death of Lester S. Willson, and other family news. The letters have been chronologically arranged and individually listed.

 1/1 1861-1866 Lester S. Willson (Camp Wheeler, Ogdensburgh) to Davis Willson September 26, 1861 Lester S. Willson (Baltimore, Maryland) to parents November 10, 1861 Lester S. Willson (Camp Preston King) to family) February 19, 1862 Davis Willson (on march) to parents January 26, 1865 Lester S. Willson (Albany, New York) to mother December 26, 1866 1/2 1867-1879 Davis Willson (Bozeman, Montana Territory) to "folks at home" May 29, 1867 Lester S. Willson (Bozeman, Montana Territory) to Mary A. Cory June 12, 1867 P.J. Moran (Albany, New York) to Lester S. Willson January 9, 1868 Lester S. Willson (Bozeman, Montana Territory) to Mary A. Cory May 10, 1868 Lester S. Willson (Bozeman, Montana Territory) to Mary A. Cory September 18, 1868 Description of headstone for Mary Blackmore July 19, 1872 Blanche Blackmore, (Salisbury, England) to Emma Willson August 18, 1872 Mrs. Hampton (Bedford, England) to Emma Willson November 6, 1872 Lester S. Wilson, (Bozeman, Montana Terr.) to Mary A. Cory February 19, 1879 1/3 1886-1890 Grandmother Willson (Greene, Maine) to Fred and L. Eugene Willson August 1, 1886 Fred W. Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Emma Willson October 25, 1887 L. Eugene Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Emma Willson October 25, 1887 L. Eugene Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Emma Willson November 3, 1887 Fred W. Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Emma Willson November 3, 1887 Fred W. Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Emma Willson February 11, 1888 L. Eugene Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Emma Willson December 9, 1888 Fred W. Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Emma Willson December 9, 1888 L. Eugene Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Uncle Gus November 15, 1890 1/4 1891 L. Eugene Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Uncle Gus January 20, 1891 Fred F. Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Lester S. and Emma Willson February 2, 1891 L. Eugene Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Lester S. and Emma Willson February 8, 1891 L. Eugene Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Lester S. and Emma Willson February 9, 1891 L. Eugene Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Lester S. and Emma Willson March 4, 1891 Fred F. Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Lester s. and Emma Willson March 9, 1891 L. Eugene Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Lester s. and Emma Willson March 16, 1891 Fred F. Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Lester S. and Emma Willson March 23, 1891 L. Eugene Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Uncle Gus April 4, 1891 L. Eugene Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to Mr. Johnson April 7, 1891 1/5 1892-1918 L. Eugene Willson (Bozeman, Montana) to S. R. Raymond October 26, 1892 Col. M. Rich (Bozeman, Montana) to Lester S. and Emma Willson March 24, 1894 May Travis (Twin Bridges, Montana) to Emma Willson April 15, 1894 [unknown] (Revenue Mill, Montana) to George Willson July 13, 1895 Jim Gertirdge (Salmon City, Idaho) to Lester S. Willson July 25, 1895 [unknown] (Revenue Mill, Montana) to Mr. Lowman July 28, 1895 "Sis" (Revenue Mill, Montana) to George Willson November 19, 1895 Robert H. Chapman (Camp near Choteau, Montana) to Emma Willson September 4, 1897 Invitation to wedding of Helen Fisher and Fred F. Willson October 15, 1897 May Travis Shaw (Lansing, Michigan) to Emma Willson January 14, 1917 Robert M. Donaldson (Boise, Idaho) to Lester S. and Emma Willson February 23, 1917 "Stella" (Pocatello, Idaho) to Emma Willson December 19, 1918 Robert M. Donaldson (Boise, Idaho) to Lester S. and Emma Willson December 21, 1918 1/6 1919 J.R. Russell (Butte, Montana) to Emma Willson January 27, 1919 Wilbur F. Sanders (Pasadena, California) to Fred F. Willson January 28, 1919 John S. Axtill (Columbia Falls, Montana) to Emma Willson January 29, 1919 W.W. Wylie (Pasadena, California) to Emma Willson January 30, 1919 R.O. Wilson (Bozeman, Montana) to Emma Willson January 31, 1919 Alfred Myers (Hardin, Montana) to Emma Willson February 1, 1919 Daniel H. Tuttle (St. Louis, Missouri) to Emma Willson February 5, 1919 Sarepta Sanders (Long Beach, California) to Emma Willson February 15, 1919 May Travis Shaw (Lansing, Michigan) to Emma Willson February 16, 1919 One lot telegrams, all to Emma Willson January-February 1919 Robert M. Donaldson (Boise, Idaho) to Emma Willson May 27, 1919 Adaline Terry (Lynn, Massachusetts) to Emma Willson December 30, 1919 1/7 1920-1922 Wilbur F. Sanders (Butte, Montana) to Emma Willson circa 1920 R. P. Calvin (Chicago, Illinois) to Emma Willson November 14, 1920 Adelaine Aldrich (Oakland, California) to Emma Willson May 12, 1921 Alfred Atkinson (Bozeman, Montana) to Fred F. Willson June 4, 1922 Miscellaneous envelopes Series 2 Civil War military documents 1863-1865

Muster rolls, property returns, and blank forms prepared or collected by Lester S. Willson in his various officer appointments within the 60th New York Volunteer Infantry. Included are the resolutions of the "Moral and Anti-Swearing Society" formed by an officer's mess of the 60th regiment in 1865. Most of the muster rolls are large and have been removed to separate storage.

 1/8 Military documents 1863-1865 Series 3 School papers 1890-1893

Report cards, tests, and student essays created by L. Eugene Willson and Fred Willson. The essays by Eugene are on a number of topics and describe life in Bozeman and Gallatin County during the 1890s.

 1/9 Fred and Eugene Willson report cards and tests 1/10 Eugene Willson student essays Series 4 Scrapbook material 1893-1911

Newspaper clippings and other memorabilia pertaining to the Willson family. Clippings include obituary notices for Lester, Emma, and Eugene Willson. Other documents are: memorial resolutions of GAR for Lester Willson, 1919; funeral guest list for Lester S. Willson, 1919; organ recital program, 1910; L. Eugene Willson account book, 1893.

 1/11 Newspaper clippings 1/12 Miscellaneous material Series 5 Photographs 1865-1910

Portraits of Lester S. Willson, L. Eugene Willson, Fred F. Willson, Willson family, and Lt. George Tyler, 2nd U.S. Cavalry. Building views including the Tuller and Rich Cash Store, Bozeman, 1866, and the Willson home, also in Bozeman. Images marked with (*) have negatives available.

 #1-7 1/13 #1 Lester S. Willson 1865* #2 Lester Eugene Willson circa 1880 #3 Fred F. Willson circa 1890s* #4 Lester Eugene Willson circa 1893 #5 Willson family, outdoors by tent circa 1880s #6 Lt. George L. Tyler circa 1880s* #7 Tour bus, Washington, D.C. circa 1910 #8-13 1/14 #8 Tuller and Rich Cash Store, Bozeman 1866* #9 "First residence of Gen'l L.S. Willson and Family, Bozeman...."

(printed engraving; two copies)

 #10 Wilson home, interior, hallway circa 1890 #11 Wilson home, interior, dining room circa 1890 #12 Wilson home, interior, dining room circa 1890 #13 Wilson home, interior, stairway circa 1890 1/15 Negatives