Collections : [West Virginia and Regional History Center]

Correspondence and business papers of the family of George Koonce of Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County. Koonce was a prominent Unionist during the Civil War, a representative at the 1861 Wheeling Convention, and later a member of the West Virginia State Senate. The correspondence spans 1854 to 1920 (the bulk of which is from the period 1870 to 1900) and principally includes personal letters to and from family members spread out from Baltimore to Galveston, Texas. The topics, for the most part, involve family matters although there are some letters discussing politics and the Civil War. There are also some business papers concerning the firm of George Koonce & Son, a Harpers Ferry general store, and tax receipts.

Clippings and illustrations regarding abolitionist and activist John Brown, who led a raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859, precipitating the American Civil War. Includes: 1) facsimile of a page of the newspaper "Independent Democrat" of Charlestown, Virginia from 10-25-1859 including article giving an account of the raid by John Brown; 2) facsimile of a page of the newspaper "Daily Enquirer" of Richmond, Virginia from 11-21-1859 including copy of Brown's petition for a writ of error in his trial; 3) original copy of pages from "Frank Leslie's" illustrated newspaper from 12-10-1859 featuring article of final interviews with John Brown and an illustration of John Brown's execution; 4) photocopy of pages from "Harper's Weekly" from 1909 featuring article titled "How Patrick Higgins Met John Brown, His Story of What He Saw of the Raid on Harper's Ferry", October 16, 1859". Also includes two small undated newspaper clippings of images of "John Brown's House on Franklin Street", and of Brown's "Wool Warehouse on Railroad Row"; and two small undated magazine clippings of images of the schoolhouse John Brown used as an arsenal, and of insurgents thrown off a bridge at Harper's Ferry.

Contains letters, documents, letter-books, manuscripts and articles relating to John Brown and John Brown, Jr. Topics include abolitionist activities, including those in Kansas and Harpers Ferry, farm business, and family matters. Included are bits of fatherly advice, insight into the wool industry of the mid-1800's, eyewitness commentary on events in the abolitionist movement, and a phrenological description of John Brown. Names mentioned are Jason Brown, Owen Brown, Frederick Douglass, John Sherman, Garrett Smith and Boyd B. Stutler.

A ledger and financial records of Logan Osborne (1836-39) also containing the will of Balamm Osborne. The ledger contains accounts of an assortment of general store goods from perishables such as food and candles to durable goods such as tools and carriages. There are Osborne family deeds, land contracts and letters about family matters and debt (1808-89). There are early nineteenth century state bank script from Louisiana, Virginia, and North Carolina. There are land indentures and legal papers from eighteenth century Virginia, mainly of Matthew Rankin and Thomas Rutherford who contended for property in Ohio County. There is the thirty-eight page diary of Cleon Moore, a Confederate soldier from Charles Town. As a volunteer regiment member he was eyewitness and participant in the siege and capture of John Brown at Harpers Ferry. His unit was again called out prior to Virginia's secession resolution. He recounts their early maneuvering, stationing and being consolidated in the Virginia Second Cavalry which served at the First Battle of Bull Run. The account ends with the early 1862 campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley of General "Stonewall" Jackson. There is Civil War related material of Logan Osborne including records of loans to the Confederate government, letters to family and friends recounting and justifying the events and cause of the Confederacy and an 1861 January 28 broadside, entitled: "To The People of Jefferson County...", of Logan Osborne as a Unionist candidate to the Virginia Secession Convention. Also there are early West Virginia political papers pertaining to Jefferson County such as an attempt to move the county seat to Sheperdstown. Also included are George Shutt business letters and certificates as a geologist; certificates from the United Daughters of the Confederacy to Mary M. Shutt; and Osborne family history, genealogy and obituaries of descendents.

Contains material regarding George Washington and the Washington family, including the order book of the 8th U.S. Regiment stationed at Harper's Ferry, Virginia (1799-1800); typescript regarding Harewood, residence of Washington's brother (undated); New York Times article regarding observation of Washington's birthday (1862); and material regarding the genealogy of the Washington family (1891-1931). Also contains receipt for purchase of slave (1864); genealogy regarding the Forrest family and other families (undated); and a deed for a cemetery plot (1884). Please see "Scope and Content Note" for further information as well as information regarding an addendum to this collection.

Personal, medical, and business papers, account books, and daily journals of a Harpers Ferry physician (d. 1883). Subjects include the practice of a small town doctor, his related business interests, and the education and careers of his children, three of whom became medical doctors. Included are the papers of William V. Marmion (1840-1922), who studied eye surgery in Vienna and established a practice in Washington, D.C. There are letters from George Marmion, acting surgeon and secretary of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, and letters of Robert A. Marmion (1844-1907), who was a naval surgeon and the first president of the Naval Medical School in Washington, D.C. Many of the letters, especially after 1883, are those of the Marmion heirs and are concerned with family, personal, and financial affairs. Some letters shed light on the condition of the gold market after the Civil War and family activities as prominent members of the Roman Catholic faith. There are a few fragmentary records regarding John Hancock Hall, a relative, who invented and patented the first American breechloading rifle in 1811. He was later hired by the government in 1819 to establish and operate a "rifle works" in close proximity to the federal armory at Harpers Ferry (see box 17).