Finding aid for the Brown Family Collection


Title:
Brown Family Collection
Repository:
Ohio University
Phone: 740-593-2710
http://www.ohio.edu/library/collections/archives-special-collections/
Creator:
Brown, William A.; Brown, Edwin A.; and Brown, William Van; Van Vorhes, Jane C.; Van Vorhes, H.C.; Van Vorhes, N.H.
Dates:
1843-1866
Quantity:
1.8 cubic feet
Abstract:
Correspondence and a diary of various Brown family members, mostly from the Civil War period.
Identification:
MSS18
Language:
The records are in English

Biography of The Brown Family

The Brown family settled in Albany (Lee Township), Athens County, Ohio. It appears that Almyra Brown's family came from Boston and lived in Ohio for many years. After some of the children grew up and were married and because of the poor health of the mother and father, they left Ohio. The father, mother and the four remaining children went north to Stillwater, Minnesota in the 1850's. For the most part, the married children remained in Ohio. Two sons, William Van Brown and Edwin A. Brown, both served in the Civil War. William served in the West Virginia 4th Regiment, while his brother Edwin served with the 36th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Of the two, William is the more literate and observant correspondent. His letters provide an almost weekly account of the movements and activities of the West Virginia 4th Regiment. William died during the war, due to some dreadful disease (maybe small pox), and Edwin went on to serve his full three years, finally being discharged in 1864. The two brothers of Almyra Brown, Nelson H. Van Vorhes and Andrew Jackson Van Vorhes, also kept in close contact with the Brown family. The former became a distinguished citizen of Athens County who served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1850 through 1872. In 1861, he joined the Union Army and served as a colonel in the Kentucky campaigns, which he wrote about in his letters. Although less graphic and written from a more 'official' point of view than the letters of the Brown brothers, they help to augment the information provided by William and Edwin Brown. Andrew Jackson Van Vorhes left Athens in 1840 and moved to Stillwater, Minnesota. There he became a member of the legislature and founded the Stillwater Messenger. He was a clerk of the Supreme Court at the outbreak of the Civil War. The letters written by these members of the two families provide a fascinating account of the trip from Ohio to Minnesota in the mid-1840's, together with details of frontier life in what was then a rugged territory only recently opened to white settlement.

Scope and Content

This collection contains over 400 letters written by members, friends and associates of the Brown family of Lee Township, Athens County, Ohio. The collection also contains diaries kept by Edwin Brown during the Civil War, a copy of his discharge papers and other notebooks that he apparently used to help with his personal finances. The letters span the period 1843 to 1866 and cover a wide range of topics, from the general passing of information about family problems and worries to the tragic battles and hardships of the Civil War. The two diaries, which were kept by Edwin Brown, were dated 1862 and 1863 and appear to describe many battles (Fredericksburg, Virginia; Antietam, Maryland; and the second battle of Bull Run, Virginia.) Most of the letters were written during the time of the Civil War and serve to tell the story of the war from one family's perspective.

Statement of Arrangement

This collection remains in its original arrangement.

Subject Terms

The following terms have been used to describe this collection.

Subjects:

Albany (Ohio).
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives.

Preferred Citation

Researchers are requested to cite collection name, collection number, and Ohio University, Athens, Ohio in all footnotes and bibliographical references.

Other Finding Aid

A paper copy of the folder list is available.