Skip to main content

William R. Ellis letter

 Collection — Folder: S2647
Identifier: S2647

Scope and Contents

This collection includes a photocopy of a December 19, 1863 letter written by William R. Ellis from Bridgeport, Alabama while serving with the 48th Indiana Infantry during the Civil War. The letter is addressed to "Dear Sister Em" and Ellis mentions that he's marched over 300 miles, fought in a battle, and was uncertain where they'd go next. He also notes that the "soldier boys" had received new clothes and comments on the cold weather.

Dates

  • 1863/12/19

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 / Historical

William R. Ellis was born July 14, 1844 in Goshen, Elkhart County, Indiana to Erastus W.H. and Maria Crozier Ellis. He served in Company I, 48th Indiana Infantry during the Civil War. He married Harriet Lessig on March 7, 1867 and engaged in several business ventures before serving as postmaster of Goshen from 1876 to 1888. Following his retirement from the postal service, he formed a partnership with William H. Hawks in a dry goods store and was active in the business until about year before his death on November 13, 1905.

Sources:

Ancestry.com. "Wm R. Ellis." Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed July 12, 2019. https://search.ancestrylibrary.com/.

"William R. Ellis Dead." Goshen Democrat (IN), November 18, 1905.

Extent

0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection contains a copy of one letter.

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 2019/07/12 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created 2019/07/12 by Laura Eliason.
Title
William R. Ellis letter
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671