Borton family papers

Collection – Multiple Containers

Identifier: MS-0462

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The Borton family papers is a collection of 216 letters in two boxes, box 1 containing photocopies of the original letters and box 2 containing transcripts of the same.

Dates

Creation: 1849-1889

Extent

0.69 Cubic Feet (1 legal archive box, 1 half legal archive box)

Creator

Borton family (Family)

Scope and Contents

The Borton family papers, dating 1849-1889, is a fine collection of family correspondence containing general family information and, between the years 1862-1864, is highlighted by a significant number of detailed letters written during the Civil War. As a whole, the collection illustrates the problems confronted by and the changes which occurred in the philosophy and lifestyle of a nineteenth century farm family as it faced and dealt with the hardships induced by the Civil War, family crisis, and the on-going trials of life itself.

The collection of incoming and outgoing family correspondence contains an extensive amount of material dealing with family life in Fulton County, Ohio; including such topics as health, weather, family finances, agriculture, and social and political issues of the day. Several letters speak specifically on land prices, the dollar value of farm commodities, and the intrinsic value of a good education. Highly significant correspondents writing or receiving letters of family and farm information include Borton's Elizabeth Jane, James Elwood, Mary, Samuel, Silas, Simeon; and Jane P. Marmon. For more specific information, see the selected letter listing.

The collection also contains a significant number of Civil War letters, dated 1862-1864, written by the four Borton brothers--James Elwood, Samuel, Silas, and Simeon--who served in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry; and a few from their cousin J.H. Milligan, stationed at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio. The letters reveal very descriptive accounts of a soldier's living conditions, food and rations, th picket line, marching and traveling, contact with enemy troops, injuries incurred, and interesting and detailed accounts of battle.

Included in the collection as an aid to the researcher is a comprehensive set of transcriptions of the original letters, prepared for the Fulton County Historical Society by Michael L. Williams of Bryan, Ohio. Also of value to the researcher is the two volume publication by Betty M.Mann entitled 1675-1979: 300 Years of Bortons in America, available at the Center for Archival Collections.

Overall, the Borton family papers is an excellent collection for the research historian, strong in its descriptive accounts of the Civil War from the perspective of the foot soldier, and in its specific references to and information on farm family life in nineteenth century Fulton County, Ohio. Unfortunately, the photocopied letters can be extremely difficult to read, and the researcher needs to rely heavily upon the transcriptions. The collection is a little more problematic for the genealogist however, in that little information is offered regarding family history and in that many family relationships remain difficult to determine. It is therefore recommended that the serious researcher use Betty Mann's publication in conjunction with this wonderful collection of family correspondence.

List of Correspondents

Name and Identity:

Baldwin, A.W.: Cousin of an undetermined Borton
Baldwin, Martha: Sister to Mary Borton
Baldwin, Stephen H.: Cousin of an undetermined Borton
Biddle, J.H. (T.H.): Friend of James Elwood Borton
Borton, Ann: Undetermined
Borton, Arthur: Nephew of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Borton, Elizabeth Jane: Daughter of Mary and Isaiah Borton; later married Alfred Shaffer (see also Shaffer, E.J.)
Borton, Ellis: Nephew of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Borton, Ezra: Brother of Isaiah Borton
Borton, Ira: Brother of Isaiah Borton
Borton, Isaiah: Husband to Mary Borton; father to John, Rhoda, Silas, Lucas, Simeon, Samuel, James Elwood and Elizabeth Jane
Borton, James Elwood: Son of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Borton, Joseph: Nephew of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Borton, Lillie: Daughter of Samuel Borton
Borton, Marvith: Undetermined
Borton,Mary: Wife to Isaiah Borton; mother of John, Rhoda, Silas, Lucas, Simeon, Samuel, James Elwood and Elizabeth Jane
Borton, Pap: Undetermined
Borton, Rhoda: Daughter of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Borton, S.: Son of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Borton, Samuel: Son of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Borton, Silas: Son of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Borton, Simeon: Son of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Brina: Niece of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Hamlin, Alva J.: Friend to Borton's S. and James Elwood (note: Hamlin is Mary Borton's maiden name)
Hamlin, Wilson F.: Undetermined (note: Hamlin is Mary Borton's maiden name)
Hugus, N.C.: Friend of James Elwood Borton
Hugus, W.H.C.: Undetermined
Johnson, Joseph: Undetermined
Lozer, Lilhe D.: Friend of Silas Borton
Marmon, Jane P.: Sister of Mary Borton; wife to Joseph Marmon; mother of Sally Marmon
Marmon, Joseph: Husband to Jane Marmon
Marmon, Sr., Joseph: (same as Marmon, Joseph?)
Marmon, Roth: Undetermined
Marmon, Sally: Daughter of Jane and Joseph Marmon; niece of Mary and Isaiah Borton (see also Potee, Sally)
McGuire, John: Nephew of Mary and Isaiah Borton
McGuire, M.R.: Undetermined Borton
Milligan, J.H.: Nephew of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Milligan, Joseph H.: Nephew of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Milligan, John: Nephew of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Milligan, K.T.: Nephew of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Milligan, K.Y.: Nephew of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Milligan, Thomas: Nephew of Mary and Isaiah Borton
Minnick, Deem: Undetermined
Minnick, John: Undetermined
Minnixk, Julie: Undetermined
Minser, David: Undetermined
Nash, Sophia: Friend of Simeon Borton
Ogden, William B.: Undetermined
Olds, Mary J.: Undetermined
Pinney, George: Undetermined
Potee, Sally: Daughter of Jane and Joseph Marmon; Niece of Mary and Isaiah Borton (see also Marmon, Sally)
Reeve, Benjamin: Husband of Lydia Reeve
Reeve, Lydia: Niece of Mary and Joseph Borton; wife to Benjamin Reeve
Richards, J.W.: Undetermined
Rittenhouse, Mary: Undetermined
Shaffer, Alfred: Husband to Elizabeth Jane (Borton) Shaffer
Shaffer, Elizabeth J.: Daughter of Mary and Isaiah Borton; wife to Alfred Shaffer (see also Borton, Elizabeth Jane)
Struble, Seubina: Undetermined
W., H.M.: Undetermined
Walker, Maggie: Friend of Silas Borton
Wentz, Mary: Friend of Simeon Borton
Wisner, Mary: Undetermined
Wisner, William: Undetermined

Selected Letters of Interest

Letters by Date and Subject:

4/23/1849: Perspectives on morality and religion, slavery and abolition.
2/17/1861: Prices of available land in the Fulton County area; prices of farm commodities; the importance of education and traveling up the "hill of science".
6/30/1861: Civil War draft policy.
3/15/1862: Extensive discussion on education.
7/10/1862: Very articulate and specific early Civil War letter from J.H. Milligan mentioning Captain Morgan; written at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio.
1/23/1863: A soldier's song in verse sent home in a letter from Simeon Borton from the Civil War.
4/17/1863: Commodity prices listed in a letter written by James Elwood Borton.
e.a. 1863: Civil War letters from simeon Borton relaying rumors about the death of Stonewall Jackson and the imprisonment of General Lee.
12/29/1863: Interesting account of a severe winter storm and its effects on the family and their livestock.
5/22/1864: A more detailed account of Simeon Borton's death in a letter written by James Elwood Borton.
5/26/1864: A more detailed account of Simeon Borton's death in a letter written by James Elwood Borton.
11/30/1864: A record of the death of James Elwood Borton in a letter from K.T. Milligan.
e.a. 1870: Account of a stroke suffered by Joseph Marmon.
11/2/1884: Account of the death of Mary Borton's sister Ann in a letter from Jane P. Marmon.

Biographical / Historical

The Isaiah Borton family moved to Fulton County from Stark County, Ohio, shortly after 1849, and settled near the village of Spring Hill, now Tedrow. Mary and Isaiah Borton were parents to eight children--John, Rhoda, Silas, Lucas, Simeon, Samuel, James Elwood, and Elizabeth Jane--four of whom--Silas, Simeon, Samuel, and James Elwood--served in the Civil War.

More specific information describing the immediate Borton family members is included in the family group sheet, page 2a; with the Borton brothers' Civil War service information listed on page 2b. As an additional aid to the researcher, pages 2c-2f contain a complete listing of all correspondents, the inclusive dates of that correspondence, and familial relationships where known. All correspondents are identified in relation to the primary family of Mary and Isaiah Borton and its members whenever possible.

Civil War Service Information

Borton, James Elwood: Company C, 130th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Entered service May 2, 1864. Mustered out September 22, 1864 at Toledo, Ohio. Died before he could get home.
Borton, Samuel: Company I, 67th Regiment, Ohio, Volunteer Infantry. Entered service August 13, 1862 for 3 years. Mustered out June 21, 1864 at Richmond, Virginia.
Borton, Silas: Company J, 67th Regiment, Ohio, Volunteer Infantry.
Borton, Simeon: Company I, 67th Regiment, Ohio, Volunteer Infantry. Entered service August 13, 1862 for 3 years. Killed in action on May 10, 1864, at Chester Station, Virginia. Buried at Hampton, Virginia.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

Materials in English.

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection has been chronologically arranged.

Related Materials

Additional biographical information is contained in a two-volume publication by Betty M. Mann, 1675-1979: 300 Years of Bortons in America, available at the Center for Archival Collections.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The original collection of letters was donated by the Borton family to the Fulton County Historical Society, Mrs. Merrill Bernath, Curator; and was acquisitioned on loan to the Center for Archival Collections for duplication by Assistant Director Ann M. Bowers for one month commencing April 1986.