Calvin J. Cowles (1821-1907) Papers, PC.111
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Calvin J. Cowles (1821-1907) Papers
- Call Number
- PC.111
- Creator
- Cowles, Calvin J. (Calvin Josiah), 1821-1907
- Date
- 1817-1885
- Extent
- 10.400 cubic feet
- Repository
- State Archives of North Carolina
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], PC.111, Calvin J. Cowles Papers, Private Collections, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC, U.S.A.
Collection Overview
Papers of Cowles, Wilkes Co. merchant, Unionist Whig and postwar Republican, president of Constitutional Convention of 1868, and supervisor of U.S. Branch Mint at Charlotte (1869-1884). Many of the letters before 1850 relate to his partner-father Josiah of Surry Co., with some from his family in Connecticut. Calvin's correspondence (1846-1885) includes letter book copies of ca. 18,000 letters (1850-1877). Antebellum correspondence concerns his stores in Wilkes Co.; local traders and northern merchants; need for turnpike or railway; trade in roots and herbs; the careers of his brothers, including half brother Lt. Robert C. Duvall USN; slaves; the new county of Yadkin; gubernatorial elections (1850-1854); the panic of 1857; speculation in military land warrants granted to veterans of the Cherokee removal; purchase of land in North Carolina, Kansas, and Missouri; and mining interests, especially Gap Creek Mine in Ashe Co. Civil War correspondence with his father, brother Andrew and other legislators, father-in-law W. W. Holden, Confederate medical purveyors, farm tenants, and soldiers, concerns secession and Unionist opposition; problems as postmaster (1861-1863); first battle at Manassas; lead mine in Wilkes Co.; banks and investments; the peace movement (1863, 1865); election of 1864; Hillsborough Military Academy; hostile factions in Wilkes Co.; deserters and their families; provisions taken by army; Kirk's, Stoneman's, and independent raiders; and concern about liberated slaves and lawlessness at end of war. Postwar topics include the conventions of 1865 and 1868; elections, especially 1868, 1872, 1876; reestablishment of trade with North; railroad controversies; impeachment of Governor Holden; efforts to keep the U.S. Branch Mint at Charlotte open; political factions in Charlotte; search for land companies and immigrants to buy western land and for investors in Gap Creek Mine; and experiences of son Calvin, army lieutenant during Indian wars in the West (1873-1882). Correspondents include Calvin H. Wiley, Z. B. Vance, R. B. Vance, R. F. Hoke, Thomas S. Ashe, D. M. Furches, W. C. Kerr, A. S. Merrimon, B. F. Moore, S. F. Patterson, John Pool, R. M. Saunders, William L. Saunders, and John H. Wheeler.
Miscellaneous items include advertisements for his Elkville store (1848) and for a minstrel show (1865); fragment of root and herb catalog from the Shakers in Ohio (1850s); campaign pamphlet on ad valorem tax (1860); undated fragmentary statement about lynching and mistreatment of pro-Union men in Wilkes Co., 1860-1861; as-sorted records of Confederate Quartermaster's Dept., Richmond, including statement of expense in burial of 137 named soldiers; a company muster roll from 1st Ga. Regt. (1861); Confederate conscription records, Wilkes Co.; catalogs of blockade goods, Charleston and Wilmington, 1862-1863; ca. 175 affidavits of need and requests for rations in Wake, Johnston, Orange, and Harnett counties, Aug., 1865; and morning report of 6th U.S. Colored Troops, Wilmington (Sept., 1865). The remaining letter books (1877-1907) and other papers of Cowles are in the Southern Historical Collection, UNC.