Hasselman and Blood family papers
Collection
Identifier: L385
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of correspondence, legal and financial documents, papers, photographs, maps, indentures, and ephemera from the Hasselman and Blood families and Eagle Machine Works in Indianapolis and other places in Indiana and the United States, ranging from 1829 to 1936 and undated, regarding the family, land ownership, and Eagle machine Works. Notable items include correspondence from May Wright Sewall and a wedding invitation for Benjamin Harrison's daughter, Mary Scott Harrison McKee.
Photographs (P046) depict Ida Blood Hasselmand and other members of the Blood and Hasselman families, as well as the Boersetter, Griggs, Herne, Huber, Mansur, and Watson families; family friends; their homes and other places; and recreational activities, ranging from circa 1850 to 1912 and undated.
There are also oversize papers including, Joseph Watson's postmaster appointment for Union County, Indiana (1829); Watson J. Hasselman's United States passport (1873); Ida Blood's University of Kansas diploma (1874); a military appointment for Victor M. Hasselman (1917); and numerous indentures and land documents ranging from _ to _ (OBC003).
Photographs (P046) depict Ida Blood Hasselmand and other members of the Blood and Hasselman families, as well as the Boersetter, Griggs, Herne, Huber, Mansur, and Watson families; family friends; their homes and other places; and recreational activities, ranging from circa 1850 to 1912 and undated.
There are also oversize papers including, Joseph Watson's postmaster appointment for Union County, Indiana (1829); Watson J. Hasselman's United States passport (1873); Ida Blood's University of Kansas diploma (1874); a military appointment for Victor M. Hasselman (1917); and numerous indentures and land documents ranging from _ to _ (OBC003).
Dates
- 1829-1936, undated
Creator
- Hasselman, Watson J., 1853-1927 (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
Lewis William Hasselman was born in 1820. He and his family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana from Ohio in 1850. He founded the Washington Foundry in Indianapolis along with Almus Vinton, manufacturing agricultural equipment, steam engines, and equipment for grist mills and sawmills. When Vinton retired from the business in 1865, Hasselman renamed it the Eagle Machine Works, which was located at the intersection of South Meridian and Louisiana streets. The operation was eventually moved to the 200 block of North Meridian. Later it merged with Sinker-Davis Machine Company. Hasselman also served as a trustee on the local School Board in the early 1860s. In 1870, Hasselman bought the Indianapolis Journal with his cousin William Fishback, an Ohio-born attorney who moved to Indianapolis in 1857 and later became the law partner of Benjamin Harrison.
Hasselman married Elizabeth Watson (1828-1923), daughter of Joseph (1794-1850) and Nancy (Houtz) Watson (1805-1889) on April 22, 1846 in Montgomery, Ohio and they had 2 sons: Watson J. (1853-1927) and Otto Harley (1847-1906). He died in 1898 and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana. Elizabeth Hasselman died on January 11, 1923 and was buried with her spouse.
-----
Watson J. Hasselman was born on February 19, 1853 to Lewis W. (1820-1898) and Elizabeth (Watson) Hasselman (1828-1923) in Indianapolis, Indiana. After the U.S. Civil War, Hasselman developed and managed a greenhouse called the Indianapolis Flower and Plant Company. He also engaged in real estate business and was a member of the Board of Trade. He married Ida Lucy Blood on October 31, 1877 and they had 5 children: Frank G. (1879-1924), Lawrence Sherman (1881-1947), Harry Harley (1883-1943), Victor Mansur (1885-1958), and James Blood (1891-1968). Hasselman died on December 6, 1927 in Battle Creek, Michigan and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis.
-----
Ida Lucy Blood was born to Eliza Jane (Mansur) Blood (1833-1883) and Colonel James Blood (1819-1891), a prominent early settler of Lawrence, Kansas, on May 27, 1853 in Appleton, Wisconsin. She had several siblings including Harry M. (1858-1883), Thomas J. (1863-1894), and Jean (1871-1937). Blood grew up in Lawrence and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1874 as a science major. She married Watson J. Hasselman (1853-1927) on October 31, 1877 in Douglas County, Kansas and moved to Indianapolis with him. The Hasselmans had 5 sons. She died on June 3, 1938 and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery with her husband.
Sources:
Ancestry.com. “Elizabeth Watson Hasselman.” Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011.” Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Lawrence Hasselman.” Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011.” Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Lewis W. Hasselman.” Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” 1860 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” 1870 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” 1880 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” Kansas, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1811-1911. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Findagrave.com. “Elizabeth Watson Hasselman.” Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45926113/elizabeth-hasselman.
Findagrave.com. “Ida Lucy Blood Hasselman.” Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45926116/ida-lucy-hasselman.
Findagrave.com. “James Blood Hasselman.” Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/209614921/james-blood-hasselman.
Findagrave.com. “Lawrence Sherman Hasselman.” Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45926118/lawrence-sherman-hasselman.
Findagrave.com. “Otto Harley Hasselman.” Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45926122/otto-harley-hasselman.
Findagrave.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45926119/watson-j.-hasselman.
Smith, Robert W., Barry Slivka, and Dorothy A. Nicholson. "Hasselman Family Materials, ca. 1860-1958." Finding aid. Indiana Historical Society. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/hasselman-family-materials.pdf.
Hasselman married Elizabeth Watson (1828-1923), daughter of Joseph (1794-1850) and Nancy (Houtz) Watson (1805-1889) on April 22, 1846 in Montgomery, Ohio and they had 2 sons: Watson J. (1853-1927) and Otto Harley (1847-1906). He died in 1898 and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana. Elizabeth Hasselman died on January 11, 1923 and was buried with her spouse.
-----
Watson J. Hasselman was born on February 19, 1853 to Lewis W. (1820-1898) and Elizabeth (Watson) Hasselman (1828-1923) in Indianapolis, Indiana. After the U.S. Civil War, Hasselman developed and managed a greenhouse called the Indianapolis Flower and Plant Company. He also engaged in real estate business and was a member of the Board of Trade. He married Ida Lucy Blood on October 31, 1877 and they had 5 children: Frank G. (1879-1924), Lawrence Sherman (1881-1947), Harry Harley (1883-1943), Victor Mansur (1885-1958), and James Blood (1891-1968). Hasselman died on December 6, 1927 in Battle Creek, Michigan and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis.
-----
Ida Lucy Blood was born to Eliza Jane (Mansur) Blood (1833-1883) and Colonel James Blood (1819-1891), a prominent early settler of Lawrence, Kansas, on May 27, 1853 in Appleton, Wisconsin. She had several siblings including Harry M. (1858-1883), Thomas J. (1863-1894), and Jean (1871-1937). Blood grew up in Lawrence and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1874 as a science major. She married Watson J. Hasselman (1853-1927) on October 31, 1877 in Douglas County, Kansas and moved to Indianapolis with him. The Hasselmans had 5 sons. She died on June 3, 1938 and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery with her husband.
Sources:
Ancestry.com. “Elizabeth Watson Hasselman.” Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011.” Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Lawrence Hasselman.” Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011.” Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Lewis W. Hasselman.” Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” 1860 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” 1870 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” 1880 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” 1920 United States Federal Census. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” Kansas, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1811-1911. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952. Accessed August 3, 2021. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Findagrave.com. “Elizabeth Watson Hasselman.” Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45926113/elizabeth-hasselman.
Findagrave.com. “Ida Lucy Blood Hasselman.” Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45926116/ida-lucy-hasselman.
Findagrave.com. “James Blood Hasselman.” Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/209614921/james-blood-hasselman.
Findagrave.com. “Lawrence Sherman Hasselman.” Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45926118/lawrence-sherman-hasselman.
Findagrave.com. “Otto Harley Hasselman.” Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45926122/otto-harley-hasselman.
Findagrave.com. “Watson J. Hasselman.” Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45926119/watson-j.-hasselman.
Smith, Robert W., Barry Slivka, and Dorothy A. Nicholson. "Hasselman Family Materials, ca. 1860-1958." Finding aid. Indiana Historical Society. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/hasselman-family-materials.pdf.
Administrative history
The Washington Foundry and Machine Works was founded in 1850 by Lewis W. Hasselman and Almus E. Vinton in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company was one of the principle manufacturers of agricultural implements, threshing equipment, steam engines, and mill machinery. After Vinton retired in 1865, Hasselman renamed the enterprise Eagle Machine Works. They expanded to portable and stationary engines and boilers, sheet iron work, circular saw mills, excelsior shingle machines, steam pumps, water wheels, wrought iron piping and fittings, mill gearing and machinery, brass castings, wrought iron, and foundry work by 1873. At that time, the business was located at South Meridian and Louisiana streets. It eventually relocated to the 200 block of North Meridian Street. Sinker-Davis Company purchased Eagle Machine Works in July 1896, when it had a factory at Missouri Street (now Senate Avenue) and Union Railroad.
Sources:
Eagle Machine Works. "Eagle Machine Works, Indianapolis, Ind." Indianapolis, IN: Eagle Machine Works, 1873. Accessed April 14, 2025. https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16066coll6/id/3114. Hyman, Max R.The Journal Handbook of Indianapolis: An Outline History. Indianapolis, IN: Indianapolis Journal Newspaper Co., 1902. Accessed April 14, 2025. https://www.digitalindy.org/digital/collection/IH/id/5810.
Markisohn, Deborah B. "Metal Processing and Fabrication." Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. 1994 Accessed April 14, 2025. https://indyencyclopedia.org/metal-processing-and-fabrication.
Smith, Robert W., Barry Slivka, and Dorothy Nicholson. "Hasselman family materials, ." Indiana Historical Society. Revised October 2011. Accessed April 14, 2025. https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/hasselman-family-materials.pdf.
Tranfield, Pamela, and Dorothy Nicholson. "David Peat collection, ca. 1881-1952." Indiana Historical Society. Revised December 2003. Accessed April 14, 2025. https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/david-peat-collection-ca-1881-1952.pdf.
Sources:
Eagle Machine Works. "Eagle Machine Works, Indianapolis, Ind." Indianapolis, IN: Eagle Machine Works, 1873. Accessed April 14, 2025. https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16066coll6/id/3114. Hyman, Max R.The Journal Handbook of Indianapolis: An Outline History. Indianapolis, IN: Indianapolis Journal Newspaper Co., 1902. Accessed April 14, 2025. https://www.digitalindy.org/digital/collection/IH/id/5810.
Markisohn, Deborah B. "Metal Processing and Fabrication." Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. 1994 Accessed April 14, 2025. https://indyencyclopedia.org/metal-processing-and-fabrication.
Smith, Robert W., Barry Slivka, and Dorothy Nicholson. "Hasselman family materials, ." Indiana Historical Society. Revised October 2011. Accessed April 14, 2025. https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/hasselman-family-materials.pdf.
Tranfield, Pamela, and Dorothy Nicholson. "David Peat collection, ca. 1881-1952." Indiana Historical Society. Revised December 2003. Accessed April 14, 2025. https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/david-peat-collection-ca-1881-1952.pdf.
Extent
1.06 Cubic Feet (3 manuscript boxes, 1 large oversize folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from the American Museum of Natural History on 1981/05.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2016/09/21 by Kori Nell and Lauren Patton. EAD finding aid created 2016/09/21 by Kori Nell. EAD finding aid revised 2016/09/29; 2021/10/14 by Lauren Patton; 2021/08/03; 2025/04/14 by Brittany Kropf.
- Bartholomew County (Ind.)
- Blackford County (Ind.)
- Business records
- Carroll County (Ind.)
- Carte de visite photographs
- Correspondence
- Daguerreotype photographs
- Deeds
- Eagle Machine Works
- Hasselman family
- Hasselman, Ida Lucy Blood, 1853-1938
- Hendricks County (Ind.)
- Howard County (Ind.)
- Illinois
- Indentures
- Indianapolis (Ind.)
- Madison County (Ind.)
- Marion County (Ind.)
- McKee, Mary Scott Harrison, 1858-1930
- Minnesota
- Montgomery County (Ind.)
- Paper money
- Passports
- Photographs
- Pike County (Ind.)
- Plat maps
- Putnam County (Ind.)
- Randolph County (Ind.)
- Real estate management -- Indiana
- Ripley County (Ind.)
- Sewall, May Wright, 1844-1920
- Silhouettes
- Texas
- Tintypes
- Tippecanoe County (Ind.)
- Wells County (Ind.)
- Wisconsin
Creator
- Hasselman, Watson J., 1853-1927 (Person)
- Title
- Hasselman-Blood family papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- 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
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
