John M. Godown collection
Collection
Identifier: L098
Scope and Contents
The collection includes John Godown’s Civil War letters to his fiancée, Francis Fairbank of Lowell, Massachusetts, while he was in Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia and letters written from a Confederate prison camp in South Carolina during 1864–1865. Included are reminiscences by Godown of his early life and Civil War years, as well as reminiscences of his daughter Mary Godown McLaughlin, of growing up in Indianapolis.
Also included is a field notebook from 1862 to 1864 and a photocopied letter from the Old Fort News. The notebook includes sketches of battlefields and positions of soldiers. He listed the men in Pioneer Company, 4th Division, 15th A.C. (Artillery Company), dated December 31, 1863, in Scottsboro, Alabama. There is a drawing with dimensions for a bridge. He kept an accounting of finances under the heading: Allen Hamilton and Company. On September 19, 1863, he listed 18 names under the heading: Carpenters detailed.
Also included is a field notebook from 1862 to 1864 and a photocopied letter from the Old Fort News. The notebook includes sketches of battlefields and positions of soldiers. He listed the men in Pioneer Company, 4th Division, 15th A.C. (Artillery Company), dated December 31, 1863, in Scottsboro, Alabama. There is a drawing with dimensions for a bridge. He kept an accounting of finances under the heading: Allen Hamilton and Company. On September 19, 1863, he listed 18 names under the heading: Carpenters detailed.
Dates
- 1861-1951
Creator
- Godown, John M., 1833-1911 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
John McPherson Godown (1833–1911) was an engineer in Ft. Wayne, Indiana for the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne, and Chicago Railroad during 1850-1860s. Godown also served as a lieutenant in the 12th Indiana Regiment during the U.S. Civil War. Beginning as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company F, godown transferred to Company K as a 1st Lieutenant by August 17, 1862. He served in this capacity throughout the rest of the Civil War and was discharged on June 8, 1865. In 1870, Godown married Frances "Fanny" Fairbank in Lowell, Massachusetts. The 1880 federal census lists the family living in Indianapolis with their children: Mary D., age 12; Lottie P., age 8; and Katie F., age 6; as well as Johnson Godown, age 80; and Meriam Fairbank, age 70. The census recorded John was 45 years old and Fanny was 35. The census taker misspelled the last name, writing "Godonn" instead of Godown.
Following the war, Godown was secretary and treasurer of the State House Board where he was responsible for planning and constructing the new state capitol building.
Following the war, Godown was secretary and treasurer of the State House Board where he was responsible for planning and constructing the new state capitol building.
Extent
0.6 Cubic Feet (2 manuscript boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a records donation from Mrs. Mary Godown McLaughlin in 1951/02/16 and Kay Batista in June 1965.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing and finding aid completed in September 2012 by Brent Abercrombie. EAD finding aid completed on 2017/02/13 by Bethany Fiechter.
Creator
- Godown, John M., 1833-1911 (Person)
- Title
- John M. Godown collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
