The Will Hampton papers consist of correspondence, poetry, speeches, and historical reminiscences of Will Hampton as well as poetry and reminiscences of his mother Cornelia C. Hampton and correspondence of his father Carlos D. Hampton relating to his service in the Civil War. The collection is arranged in three series: Cornelia C. Hampton, Carlos D. Hampton and Will E. Hampton.
Hampton was born May 14, 1864 at Hudson, Michigan to Dr. Carlos E. Hampton (1821-1893) and Cornelia C. Hampton (1825-1903), the daughter of Capt. Apollos Drown who fought in the Blackhawk War in Michigan.. Starting from Lenawee County, Michigan with a three horse team on October 1, 1858, Doctor and Mrs. Hampton and their sons drove to St. Louis, boarded a freight boat and went down the Mississippi River to Gaines Landing, drove across Arkansas to Sulphur Springs, Texas, and eventually bought 160 acres of land six miles from Black Jack Grove, in hope of starting a stock farm.
Doctor Hampton practiced medicine and taught school for a year. Then he had to go North for supplies. Rumors began to spread that he had gone to obtain arms and ammunition and poison to distribute to the Negroes. People believed him to be a "black abolitionist" and they were determined he must leave the state or join the Rebel army. Troubles began for him and his family and any neighbors who befriended them. They suffered some harrowing and outrageous experiences at the hands of Texas Secessionists until Doctor Hampton, saying he was going to join the Rebel army, escaped into Arkansas where he joined the 9th Illinois Cavalry. In 1864 he enlisted as assistant surgeon in the 4th Michigan Infantry. Mrs. Hampton tells in great detail their experiences. When the abuse became too great and frightening, she and the boys left Texas in a lumber wagon on the pretext of visiting her husband in the Rebel army and eventually reached Hudson, Mich., their old home, on December 14, 1865. Dr. Hampton was mustered out of the army in May 1866.
Will Hampton moved with his family to Harbor Springs in 1875. Three years later he began working for his brother Charles at the Spring Harbor Independent, working his way up from printer's devil to editor. In 1890 Hampton moved to Charlevoix and became editor and publisher of the Charlevoix Courier. He retired from the newspaper business in 1920 and moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where he devoted himself to the activities of the Knights of Pythias fraternal lodge.
