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The papers include papers of Charles O. and Gerrit S.Ward, and the Ward and Ely families.

The collection includes genealogical materials for the Ward and Ely families of Alma, Michigan; Ward family photographs (19th-20th centuries), including some of Charles O. Ward in uniform and in local bands. The materials of Gerrit S. Ward include correspondence to/from Gerrit S. Ward to/from family, 1860-1897, and about his various business interests including banking, mines, and timberlands, 1886-1916; deeds and correspondence to Alma and Montcalm County lands, 1883-1911; Gerrit S. Ward’s estate records, 1916-1917 (copy, 1940); an annual report of the First Bank of Alma (illustrated with pictures of the bank and its staff and officers), 1916; legal papers, mostly regarding land, 1886-1910; Civil War artifacts and pension materials, 1862-1928; miscellaneous; and correspondence re: the Roanoke Rapids Paper Manufacturing Company, 1907-1910.

Materials for Charles O. Ward include Spanish-American War military certificates, 1898-1899; correspondence, mostly between Charles and Gerrit S. or Hugh E. Ward, 1898-1960; and numerous deeds and related legal papers concerning his real estate businesses in Alma, 1887-1961.

The materials of Josephine Ely Ward include correspondence, 1916-1917; estate records, 1940; and the Ely family genealogy.

Also included is an 1820 certificate of military appointment for Sardis Ward as a cornet player for the 6th New York Cavalry.

Two Oversized scrapbooks complete the collection. Volume 1, 1885-1961, mostly consists of newspaper clippings on the Spanish-American War, 1898. It includes telegrams about Charles O. Ward’s health and hospitalization at St. Joseph’s hospital in Philadelphia, November 1898, with typhoid. Telegrams were sent between T.S. Ward, G.S. Ward, Charles Spicer, Sarah Ward, and Josie Ward.

Scrapbook Volume 2, 1885-1941, includes many articles on Charles O. Ward and his wife, and the Ely and Ward families. Two memorial booklets for William Sisson Turck, (August 7, 1839-September 19, 1912), Mason, Major of the 26th Michigan Infantry Regiment, Alma Supervisor, County Treasurer, Michigan Representative, President of Alma, and member of the Board of Managers of the Michigan Soldiers’ Home in Grand Rapids are also included. Volume 2 also contains an Alma College commencement program, June 22, 1888; Hugh Ward’s recital program, 1918; and a memorial resolution from the Alma Order of the Eastern Star for Electra Brewbaker (died November 20, 1932 at age 81).

Both scrapbooks are quite acidic, but Volume 2 is very acidic, fragile, with detached covers and spine.

Family papers, photographic images, promotion papers, and medical writings of Joseph Rowe Smith, Jr., letters to/from his brother, Henry Smith, military and medical papers of Joseph Rowe Smith, Sr., and miscellaneous family materials.

The papers of Joseph Rowe Smith, Sr., 1823-1859, and undated, document his diary of his military career, 1823-1835, which traces his traveling, survey work in Florida, illnesses, births, and deaths of children, his affection for his wife, and conversion to Christianity following exposure to several severe cholera epidemics are particularly interesting. His faith comforted him through the loss of two babies. Also of interest are medical reports on his injured elbow, and estate papers.

The papers of Joseph Rowe Smith, Jr., 1848-1910, and undated, include his promotion papers, photographic images, and his medical writings. Also found in Box 1 are letters from Henry Smith to his brother Joseph R. Smith, Sr., and a journal, 1870-1878, and several folders of miscellaneous materials of Horace Smith, 1870, 1920.

Miscellaneous family papers and photographic materials, mostly undated, complete the collection. Item-level index cards are also found in Box 3. Note: The Clarke also has two portraits of Smith: one is a small. framed, damaged water color portrait probably from his West Point graduation, circa 1823;the second is an oversized, framed, painted portrait of Smith in uniform with his arm in a sling, undated. For more information about the portraits, please refer to the Framed Art Inventory binder.

A letter Smith wrote on November 13, 1862 to President Abraham Lincoln recommending Rev. S. T. Carpenter of Polo, Illinois for chaplain at the Washington Park Hospital in Cincinnati. Note by Surgeon General W. A. Hammond concurring is housed in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. A link to the finding aid describing the letter is found at https://illinois.as.atlas-sys.com/repositories/2/resources/2557.

The papers consist of family papers of the Collet and Hall families, including personal, business, legal papers and account books.

The Collet-Hall papers consist of correspondence, financial, business, and legal papers, certificates, and account books. Sections of the William and Sarah Hall correspondence note views on politics, the Civil War, and slavery. Letters from William Collet to his parents describe working at the Pere Marquette Railroad offices in Michigan City, Ind. A letter to Emma from her brother James tells about the fluctuating currency situation in Indiana, 1860. One document grants Emma Collet legal guardianship of her children, William Hastings and Emma Jane, after the death of her husband (their father), Stephen. Genealogical materials include records of births, deaths, and marriages, notebooks, certificates, and newspaper clippings.

The papers are mostly Elias' business accounts and legal agreements. Also included are correspondence and accounts of his wife and daughter, Martha and Iola, with lawyers about Elias' estate.

The papers are organized by creator: Elias, Martha and Iola, and Smith Family, and then alphabetically and chronologically. Elias W. Smith’s papers mostly involve his business accounts and legal papers involving business agreements. Materials of his wife and daughter, Martha and Iola Smith, include correspondence and accounts, mostly with lawyers about his estate and debts.

The collection includes the family papers of Dr. Charles W. Marvin, an Assistant Surgeon of the 26th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War, and his children, Louis, Ella, and Burr.

The collection consists mostly of Dr. Marvin and Louis Marvin’s papers, with a few items of other family members. They offer a view of family life and work in Ithaca.

The papers consist of Dr. Marvin’s Civil War papers (mostly forms for supplies, ordnance, muster roll, and his muster-out certificate from 1864-1865; Family Biographical Materials, 1850, 1869-1902; Family Correspondence, 1850, from Rough and Ready, California, describing gold mining conditions, 1890-1900, and undated; Family Legal Papers (mostly land records), 1850-1899; Burr Marvin’s poetry booklet, undated; and diplomas of Burr, Ella, and Dr. Marvin, and a chemistry certificate of Burr’s, 1851, 1887-1908. A few published items complete the papers. One is about Northern Michigan Medical Association prices and resolutions (1864) and the other is about Ithaca’s Common Council (1881).

The volumes include Dr. Marvin’s account books (general), 1853-1869; and (doctor’s), 1884; and diaries, 1868-1901 (4 volumes). Louis Marvin’s account books, 1902-1904 and 1944-1946; diaries, 1875-1944 (76 volumes), a Blacksmith’s account book, 1852-1856; and the account books of Marvin Bros., 1863-1948 (5 volumes) complete the volumes.

Of particular interest here are the doctor’s account book giving dates, names, and health problems of patients, and fees. Dr. Marvin’s diaries have scattered entries noting some church and school activities and patients’ cases. In August 1885, he traveled to the Dakota Territory and Nebraska, writing detailed entries in his diary.

Louis’ diaries detail his various interests and pursuits including school, his experiences teaching in Frankenmuth (January-March 1882), and Ithaca; work in Texas (1883) and later as a printer in Ithaca; Dr. Marvin’s death (1902); service in county offices (1903); and service as a delegate to the Republican County Convention. His diaries, 1902-1944, mostly note farm work and events in Ithaca, his work to erect the H. R. Pattengill Monument on the lawn of the Ithaca City Hall (1924); and his organization of the H. R. Pattengill Reunions, 1888-1938.

Records include reports, membership records, receipts, correspondence, books and miscellaneous of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Billy Cruson Post No. 347 and auxiliary Women’s Relief Corps (WRC) No. 95 of Breckenridge, Michigan.

The collection consists of various reports, membership records, receipts, correspondence, books and miscellaneous of the two GAR organizations of Breckenridge, Michigan, 1892-1919, undated. The collection is divided by series into WRC No. 95 and GAR No. 347, then it is organized alphabetically and chronologically.

The WRC’s Membership Records folder contains transfer cards, two rosters and a copy of the organization’s bylaws. The WRC’s Ritual Items folder contains music, songs, programs and ritual leaflets.

Of note in GAR No. 347, Quartermaster Ledger, 1892-1917, there is a handwritten note on the inside back cover in pencil, “Pres shot Sept 14, 1901,” referring to the assassination of President William McKinley. Several pages in this volume are loose.

Henderson-Ames Company was a Michigan-based badge, uniform and patriotic paraphernalia manufacturer. Included are several letters of correspondence (Box 4) and one catalog of badge options (Box 5).

Processing Note: Approximately 1.25 cubic ft. of duplicate books, papers and miscellaneous items were withdrawn and returned to the donor, Breckenridge Public Library, as per the donor agreement. Less than .25 cubic ft. of materials were copied, due to folding damage, the originals were included in the withdrawn and returned items to Breckenridge Public Library. Additionally, four ritual books and two national encampment journals were separately cataloged. The WRC and GAR Applications for Membership were originally pamphlets and were repeatedly folded and unfolded. Particular care should be taken with these documents as they are prone to tearing.

Perry's paper include her personal and professional papers, scrapbooks, articles, and correspondence.

The collection is divided by format into papers and then scrapbooks. The papers are organized chronologically. This is a collection of Ellen Perry’s personal and professional papers, scrapbooks, articles, and correspondence. Five scrapbooks include her articles from August 21, 1969 to May 1981. Another scrapbook contains newspaper obituaries and wedding announcements circa 1893-1903, apparently from the St. Louis weekly newspaper, The Independent. Also included are photographs, negatives, church programs, correspondence, stories, and miscellaneous. Some of the stories concern her son, Mearle. The bulk of the collection, however, is the typewritten “Manuscripts” for her submissions to newspapers, which are arranged chronologically. Stories on various subjects are arranged topically.

Processing Note: Scrapbook #9 (Formerly #6) was a part of the original collection. However, when the collection was reprocessed in 2001, it could not be located.

Organizational records include various financial accounts and a photography (copy) of the store.

The collection consists mainly of accounts and related financial information, such as inventories of goods, expenditures, income, and the purchases and debts of customers, 1900-1959, and tax information, 1963. Each volume is indexed in the front.

The collection includes photographs the newspaper staff took, retook, or collected of town business, people, events, buildings, organizations, schools, school events, accidents, and other topics in or near Gratiot County, Michigan.

The collection includes images that the newspaper staff photographed or collected of town business, people, events, buildings, organizations, schools, school events, accidents, and other topics in or near Gratiot County, Michigan. Some of the images are later copies of pre-1900 images.

Papers include diaries, typed transcriptions of diaries, photographs, biographical materials, and materials related to Chalker's work as a Free Methodist minister.

The collection consists mostly of Chalker’s Diaries and some typed Transcriptions of the Diaries, 1904-1932. A few Photographs, Biographical Materials, and materials related to his work as a Free Methodist minister complete the collection.