Ulysses P. Schenck papers
Collection — Folder: S2007
Identifier: S2007
Scope and Contents
This collection includes two commercially printed, hand-addressed postcards from Philip Golay in Cincinnati, Ohio and George T. Egbert in Catlettsburg, Kentucky regarding business advertising.
Dates
- undated
Creator
- Egbert, George T. (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
Ulysses P. Schenck, was born in the Canton of Neuchatel, Switzerland, May 16, 1811. His parents, John J.P. and Matilda Schenck came to the United States in 1817, and located on a farm above Vevay, Indiana. He obtained a common school education and was employed as clerk by his father in Louisville until he became of age and then began business for himself in the same city. On September 21, 1830, he married Justine Thiebaud [Thoebaud], of Swiss parentage, whose family were among the early settlers of Vevay. They had eleven children.
In 1837 he moved to Vevay and in the following year began merchandising on the site of the present mammoth Schenck store. He added largely to his profits by sending flat-boats with produce down the Ohio River to Southern markets, and he soon became identified with steamboat interests to a large extent. In 1854, with his brother, he built the "Switzerland," which, on the outbreak of the civil war, he sold to the government for a gunboat. In 1876 the "U.P. Schenck," one of the largest boats on the river, was built for the Cincinnati and New Orleans trade. He owned and controlled many boats on the river.
He was also prominent in the financial and manufacturing interests of Vevay; was president of the First National Bank of Vevay; president of the Union Furniture Manufacturing Company; and was one of the principals in the construction of the Versailles Turnpike. From the enormous quantities of hay he purchased and handled, he was long known as "The Hay King." He donated large sums to Franklin College, a Baptist institution of which he was trustee for several years. He was always a Democrat but avoided official position, except where local offices were urged upon him.
Personally he was a gentleman of quiet air, over modest in his estimate of himself, frank and kindly in his manners. He possessed a remarkable memory and an extraordinary stock of patience, at all times perfectly familiar with every detail of his immense business, and deliberate in all his transactions. His death occurred on November 16, 1884, and the vacancy thus occasioned in the commercial affairs of Vevay was keenly felt throughout the entire county.
"Schenck, Mrs. P.J.". Philadelphia, Passenger and Immigration lists, 1800-1850. Retrieved 2014/08/13. http://archives.ancestry.com
"Schenck, P.J.". Philadelphia, Passenger and Immigration lists, 1800-1850. Retrieved 2014/08/13. http://archives.ancestry.com
"Schenck, U. P.". Find a Grave Memorial. Retrieved 2014/08/13. http://www.findagrave.com
"Schenck, Ulysses P.". 1880 United States Federal Census. Retrieved 2014/08/13. http://archives.ancestry.com
"Schenck, Ulysses P.". INGenWeb. (based on "The History of Switzerland County, Indiana 1885". Chicago: Weakley, Harraman & Co., Publishers. ) Retrieved 2014/08/13. http://www.ingenweb.org/inswitzer/bios/schenckUlyssesP.html
"Schenck, Ulysses P.". Indiana Marriages to 1850. Retrieved 2014/08/13. http://archives.ancestry.com
In 1837 he moved to Vevay and in the following year began merchandising on the site of the present mammoth Schenck store. He added largely to his profits by sending flat-boats with produce down the Ohio River to Southern markets, and he soon became identified with steamboat interests to a large extent. In 1854, with his brother, he built the "Switzerland," which, on the outbreak of the civil war, he sold to the government for a gunboat. In 1876 the "U.P. Schenck," one of the largest boats on the river, was built for the Cincinnati and New Orleans trade. He owned and controlled many boats on the river.
He was also prominent in the financial and manufacturing interests of Vevay; was president of the First National Bank of Vevay; president of the Union Furniture Manufacturing Company; and was one of the principals in the construction of the Versailles Turnpike. From the enormous quantities of hay he purchased and handled, he was long known as "The Hay King." He donated large sums to Franklin College, a Baptist institution of which he was trustee for several years. He was always a Democrat but avoided official position, except where local offices were urged upon him.
Personally he was a gentleman of quiet air, over modest in his estimate of himself, frank and kindly in his manners. He possessed a remarkable memory and an extraordinary stock of patience, at all times perfectly familiar with every detail of his immense business, and deliberate in all his transactions. His death occurred on November 16, 1884, and the vacancy thus occasioned in the commercial affairs of Vevay was keenly felt throughout the entire county.
"Schenck, Mrs. P.J.". Philadelphia, Passenger and Immigration lists, 1800-1850. Retrieved 2014/08/13. http://archives.ancestry.com
"Schenck, P.J.". Philadelphia, Passenger and Immigration lists, 1800-1850. Retrieved 2014/08/13. http://archives.ancestry.com
"Schenck, U. P.". Find a Grave Memorial. Retrieved 2014/08/13. http://www.findagrave.com
"Schenck, Ulysses P.". 1880 United States Federal Census. Retrieved 2014/08/13. http://archives.ancestry.com
"Schenck, Ulysses P.". INGenWeb. (based on "The History of Switzerland County, Indiana 1885". Chicago: Weakley, Harraman & Co., Publishers. ) Retrieved 2014/08/13. http://www.ingenweb.org/inswitzer/bios/schenckUlyssesP.html
"Schenck, Ulysses P.". Indiana Marriages to 1850. Retrieved 2014/08/13. http://archives.ancestry.com
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged alphabetically.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2014/08/13 by Edythe Huffman. EAD finding aid created 2014/08/13 by Edythe Huffman.
Creator
- Egbert, George T. (Person)
- Golay, Philip (Person)
- Title
- Ulysses P. Schenck papers
- 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
