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Jonathan Turley papers

 Collection
Identifier: L161

Scope and Contents

This is a collection of personal and business correspondence, other business papers, legal records, pamphlets, clippings, and ephemera from Jonathan Turley and his family in Lawrence County, Indiana, ranging from 1828 to 1934, with the bulk of the coverage being 1865-1895 and focus on his farm, mill, distillery, and lime burning operations. Included in the personal correspondence are Civil War letters from Jonathan’s brother Benjamin and as well as other friends. The later personal correspondence (1890s-1934) is all addressed to Lida and Jennie Turley. Also, there are three volumes ranging from 1874 to 1876 concerning Big Spring Grange: a roll book, minute book, and treasurer’s book. There are also 4 oversize account books ranging from 1867 to 1896 (V184). Oversize papers, ranging from 1841 to 1890, include indentures, property, tax, and business records, appointment certificates, and an 1890 National Cornice and Iron Company trade catalog (OBC106).

Dates

  • 1828-1934, undated

Creator

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

Jonathan Turley was born May 2, 1827 in Indiana to Benjamin (1801-1876) and Permelia (also Parmelia) (Wright) Turley (1808-1910). He grew up on the family farm and attended subscription schools. Turley chose to be a farmer, and at one time owned as much as 430 acres of land. He married Julia Ann Hall (1829-1892) in December 29, 1849 in Lawrence County, Indiana and they had six children, four of which grew to adulthood: Mary Frances "Fanny" (1852-1908), Sarah J. (1853-1926), Robert Bruce (1857-1935), and Anna Eliza (1859-1934). From 1860 to 1868, he served as postmaster of Morgiana in Lawrence County. For a time, Turley was a justice of the peace in the Mitchell, Indiana area. In 1879, Turley and Solomon Scott went into the brandy and whiskey distillation business at the Daisy Spring Mill (now Spring Mill State Park). Turley also had a lime burning company. Later, Turley did suffer some financial hardships. Jonathan Turley died of gastroenteritis (cholera morbus) on August 1, 1896 and was buried in Liberty Cemetery in Orleans, Indiana.

Sources:

Items in the collection.

Ancestry.com. "Jonathan Turley." 1850 United States Federal Census. Accessed July 1, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Jonathan Turley." 1860 United States Federal Census. Accessed July 1, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Jonathan Turley." 1870 United States Federal Census. Accessed July 1, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Jonathan Turley." 1880 United States Federal Census. Accessed July 1, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Jonathan Turley." Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001. Accessed July 1, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Jonathan Turley." U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971. Accessed July 1, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "Jonathan Turley." U.S., IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918. Accessed July 1, 2024. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

"Deaths." The Mitchell Commercial (IN), August 6, 1896. Accessed July 1, 2024. Newspapers.com.

Findagrave.com. "Jonathan Turley." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed July 1, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16765087/jonathan-turley.

Extent

2.36 Cubic Feet (6 manuscript boxes, 1 large oversize folder, 4 volumes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from the Indiana Department of Conservation on 1936/06/16.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 2004 June by Elizabeth M. Wilkinson. EAD finding aid created 2004 June by Elizabeth M. Wilkinson. Collection reprocessing completed 2024/07/01 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid revised 2015/10/30; 2020/09/04; 2024/07/01 by Brittany Kropf.

Subjects

Related Names

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Jonathan Turley papers
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

http://www.in.gov/library/manuscripts.htm
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