William T. Withers family papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- William T. Withers family papers
- Date
- 1832-1960 (inclusive)
- Bulk, 1832-1928 (bulk)
- Creator
- Withers, William Temple, 1825-1889
- Extent
- 5.64 Cubic feet
- Subjects
- Animal pedigrees.
- Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington
- Educators--Correspondence.
- Families--Kentucky--History--19th century.
- Family archives--Kentucky--Lexington.
- Harness racing--Kentucky.
- Horse breeders--Kentucky.
- Horse farms--Kentucky.
- Horse industry--Kentucky--History--19th century.
- Horse racing--Kentucky--Lexington.
- Horsemen and horsewomen--Kentucky
- Horses--Breeding--Kentucky.
- Households--Accounting.
- Lexington (Ky.)--History
- Plantation life--Mississippi.
- Practice of law--Mississippi.
- Race horses.
- Standardbred horse--Breeding--Kentucky
- State universities and colleges
- Universities and colleges--Administration--Kentucky.
- Universities and colleges--Faculty.
- Universities and colleges--Kentucky--Finance.
- Universities and colleges--Kentucky--Lexington
- Women in church work--Kentucky.
- Women--Kentucky--Lexington
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged into six series: William T. Withers, Martha S. Withes, Ida W. Harrison, Jennie W. Smith, Shakey Family, and Assorted Family and Friends.
- Preferred Citation
- 2013ms0772: [identification of item], William T. Withers family papers, 1832-1960, bulk 1832-1928, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Col. William T. Withers (1825-1889) and his family were prominent plantation owners in Mississippi before the Civil War and owned Fairlawn Stock Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, following the war. They spent a brief time during the war as refugees in Alabama. William T. Withers, the son of William A. Withers and Elizabeth Perrin, fought in the Mexican War and as a Confederate during the Civil War. He and his wife, Martha Sharkey (1830-1915), had ten children together: Ida Withers Harrison (1851-1927), Sallie, Alice, Robert, Martha, Anna (Rebel), William, Jennie, Mary, and Edith. On his father’s side, Withers had a brother named James S. Withers and and a sister named Jennie Withers Smith (1842-1918). Martha Sharkey’s family included her adoptive parents Robert R. Sharkey (1794-1867) and Sallie Sharkey (1802-1876) as well as two cousins Allen and Greenwood Sharkey.
- Scope and Content
- The William T. Withers family papers (dated 1833-1960, bulk 1833-1928; 5.65 cubic feet; 15 boxes) comprise correspondence, legal documents, financial papers, mission and church papers, journals, ledgers and account books, play bills, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, and horse pedigrees that document the Withers' family personal, financial, legal, and business matters as well as that of the Kentucky University.
- The papers include material related to Col. Withers' Confederate service; his activities after the war in real estate and law; the business of his horse farm, Fairlawn Stock Farm in Lexington, Ky.; and the development of Kentucky University A&M (1865-1878), the precursor to the University of Kentucky. Additionally, the collection includes the correspondence, financial papers, and legal papers of other members of the Withers and Sharkey families: Martha S. Withers, Ida W. Harrison, Jennie Withers Smith, Robert R. Sharkey, and Sallie S. Sharkey. They document the history of Lexington, Kentucky; Mississippi; and the South. Many prominent people are mentioned, including Henry Clay, John Bryan Bowman, John C. Breckinridge, John Morrison Clay, and William Seward. Henry Clay's Ashland estate and the Main Street Christian Church feature prominently in the papers, specifically in relation to Kentucky University. The Assorted Family and Friends Papers series consists of contributions created by friends of the Withers family; his children, the spouses of children; and William A. Withers, William T. Withers father, as well as assorted materials unconnected to the Withers family.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- Property rights reside with the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky holds the copyright for materials created in the course of business by University of Kentucky employees. Copyright for all other materials has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact Special Collections.
Contents of the Collection
William T. Withers, 1839-1889
Biographical note
Col. William T. Withers, the son of William A. Withers and Elizabeth Perrin, was born in Harrison County, Kentucky in 1825 and married Martha Sharkey on April 24, 1850. He attended school at Bacon College in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, graduating as valedictorian. He fought in the Mexican War (1846-1848) as a Lieutenant and was shot in the leg at the Battle of Buena Vista. After studying law under Major William R. Wall, Withers gained bar admittance between 1847 and 1851. He practiced law in Jackson, Mississippi, first at the law firm of Sharkey & Withers and later with Judge Wiley P. Harris. Additionally, he owned a plantation outside of Jackson, specializing in cotton. He fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War as a Colonel, where he was an integral figure in the command of the Home Guard and artillery in the fall of Vicksburg. After the siege, he was present at the surrender to Ulysses S. Grant with General John C. Pemberton. Later in life, he became friends with General Grant, who visited his Kentucky horse farm, Fairlawn. Following the war, Withers led a prominent business in Standardbred horse breeding through Fairlawn Stock Farm in Lexington, even selling a horse to the King Kalakawa of Hawaii, who stayed at Fairlawn in 1880. Withers was also involved in high education at institutions such as the Kentucky University, Hamilton Female College, and Morehead State University. At the Kentucky University and Agricultural and Mechanical College he became the President of the Board of Curators from 1877 to 1887 as well as being involved as an elder of the Main Street Church in Lexington. William T. Withers, known as "General" to friends and family, died in August 1889 due to complications from his old Mexican War wound.
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence, legal documents, deeds and leases, financial papers, bills, checks, inventories, accounts, receipts, stock bonds, ledger books, horse pedigrees, and journals make up the William T. Withers series.
The Kentucky University subseries contains correspondence, financial papers, legal documents, business papers, affiliated church papers, and Ashland estate papers. The prominent people involved in these records include William T. Withers, John Bryan Bowman, and John M. Clay. Interesting items consist of William T. Withers' resignation from the university (Box 2, Folder 13); correspondence and documents regarding the legal issues between the university and J. B. Bowman (Box 2, Folder 16-25 and Box 3, Folder 1); and the correspondence of the affiliated Main Street Church of Christ concerning the functions of the university (Box 2, Folder 14).
The Equestrian subseries includes correspondence about Withers' standardbred horse catalog and the purchase of his bred horses; his horse journals; and horse pedigrees. The journals document the horses that Withers’ bred and purchased, while the pedigrees pertain to his most famous horse line, Almont’s.
Other items of interest include the Supreme Court case records of Mary Morrison, et al vs. Martha S. Withers, et al (Box 3, Folder 13) which document a dispute over land Martha purchased during the Civil War. The case was decided in favor of William and Martha Withers.
Correspondence, 1856-1889
Equestrian, 1861-1879
Horse pedigrees, undated
Financial, 1853-1884
William T. Withers stock bond, undated
Journals, undated
Kentucky University, 1852-1914
Ashland, 1852-1914
Martha S. Withers receipt, 1914 December 10
Adopted provision for Ashland mansion, undated
Account of sale, 1852 September 18
Real estate offer for Ashland, 1879 Janaury 27
Rental proposal for Ashland, 1880 August 16
Mortgage account, undated
Business papers for the Kentucky University, 1871-1880
Statement of John Morris Clark, 1871 November 2
Pastor S. R. Jones statement on Withers's resignation, undated
Bill from John M. Clay to Kentucky University, 1880 August 19
Vote count sheet, undated
Deposition by clergy, undated
"Kentucky University: Its Legal Status", 1873
Memoranda of agreement, undated
Church papers, 1872-1884
Proposal of the Main Street Church, undated
R. M. Bishop letter to elders of Main Street Church, 1872 May 3
G. W. Ellery letter to J. D. Pickett, 1872 June 10
J. D. Pickett letter to elders of the Main Street Church, 1872 June 17
G. W. Ellery letter to J. D. Pickett, 1872 June 10
Agreement to arbitration between J. D. Pickett and elders of the Main Street Church, undated
J. D. Pickett letter to G. W. Ellery, 1872 June 6
Elders of the Main Street Church letter to R. M. Bishop, 1872 May 7
Settlement and agreement of church difficulties, undated
Statement brought before elders of the Main Street Church, 1874 September 11
J. W. S. letter to unidentified correspondent, 1884 March 3
R. M. Bishop letter to elders of the Main Street Church, 1872 March 23
L. J. Stockdale and G. W. Ellery letter to R. M. Bishop, 1872 June 4
"Proceedings of the Church of Christ, Main Street, Lexington, KY in the case of Certain Members Excluded from her Fellowship", 1871
Authorization to confer with the elders of the Main Street Church, 1874 September 10
J. B. Bowman letters, 1875-1878
J. B. Bowman letters to William T. Withers, 1871-1879
J. B. Bowman letter to Willim T. Withers, 1871 August 13
J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1871 September 29
J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1877 July 2
J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1877 August 1
J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1877 December 3\
J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1877 December 24
J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1877 December 17
J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1877 August 7
J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1878 January 5
J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1879 July 1
Breckingridge & Shelby legal firm letters, 1877-1880
Breckingridge & Shelby letter to William T. Withers, Hamilton A. Headley, W. E. Rogers, and A. M. Barnes, 1877 November 2
Kentucky University bill to Breckingridge & Shelby, 1879
Breckingridge & Shelby letter to William T. Withers, 1880 August 17
Breckingridge & Shelby letter to William T. Withers, 1880 October 8
Letters to the Executive Committee of Kentucky University, 1877-1887
J. A. Williams letter to the Kentucky University Executive Commitee, 1877 December 27
Breckingridge & Shelby letter to the Kentucky University Executive Committee, undated
D. V. Woody letter to the Kentucky University Executive Committee, 1880 August 16
Breckingridge & Shelby letter to the Executive Committee of Kentucky University, 1887 July 8
J. P. Torbitt letters to William T. Withers, 1883
J. P. Torbitt letter to William T. Withers, 1883 May 4
J. P. Torbitt letter to William T. Withers, 1883 May 6
J. P. Torbitt letter to William T. Withers, 1883 May 9
J. P. Torbitt letter to William T. Withers, 1883 May 18
N. B. Wells letters to William T. Withers, 1877-1879
N. B. Wells letter to William T. Withers, 1879 June 2
N. B. Wells letter to William T. Withers, 1877 September 27
N. B. Wells letter to William T. Withers, 1877 June 4
N. B. Wells letter to William T. Withers, 1878 January 8
N. B. Wells letter to William T. Withers, 1879 June 2
General correspondence of Kentucky University, 1872-1874
G. W. G. letter to Brother Williams, 1873 August 5
George Wintz letter to S. W. C., 1873 November 22
R. M. Bishop letter to the elders of Main Street Church, 1872 May 28
Elders leaving Main Street Church letter to whom it may concern, 1874 January 31
H. H. White Correspondence, 1879-1882
George Gist letter to H. H. White, 1882 March 11
George Gist letter to H. H. White, 1882 Mach 22
John J. Fisk letter to H. H. White, 1879 April 13
H. H. White letter to William T. Withers, 1881 December 19
H. H. White letter to William T. Withers, 1881 January 21
H. H. White letter to William T. Withers, 1882 January 14
William T. Withers letters to J. B. Bowman, 1877-1878
William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 August 31
William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 December 1
William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 December 29
William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1878 January 9
William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 December 20
William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1879 December 6
William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 June 27
William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 August 4\
William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 July 29
William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 October 1
William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1871 July 30
William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1878 August 3
General correspondence to William T. Withers, 1871-1879
R. Milligan letter to William T. Withers, 1872 June 10
Brother Franklin letter to William T. Withers, 1871 November 6
C. J. Washington letter to William T. Withers, 1871 November 4
A. Steele letter to William T. Withers, 1877 June 20
D. S. Gerald statement for William T. Withers, undated
Joseph Smith letter to William T. Withers, 1873 December 11
Unidentified correspondent letter to William T. Withers, 1873 August 8
W. T. Tibbs letter to William T. Withers, 1874 October 1
J. B. Bowman, J. Shackleford, and others proposition to William T. Withers, undated
J. B. Grubbs letter to William T. Withers, 1875 June 15
W. L. Williams letter to William T. Withers, undated
J. B. Grubbs letter to William T. Withers, 1875 October 27
Unidentified correspondent letter to William T. Withers, 1874 July 18
J. Lane Allen letter to William T. Withers, 1878 December 6
J. Lane Allen letter to William T. Withers, 1878 August 4
J. H. Hammond letter to William T. Withers, undated
D. M. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1878 August 20
Unidentified correspondent letter to William T. Withers, 1878 Novemer 25
David Cahill letter to William T. Withers, 1879 October 15
James K. Patterson letter to William T. Withers, 1878 September 5
William Mitchell letter to William T. Withers, 1878 August 20
B. J. Peters letter to William T. Withers, 1878 October 23
J. O. Harrison letter to William T. Withers, 1878 January 17
R. C. Ricketts letter to William T. Withers, 1878 July 12
Rob Peter letter to William T. Withers, 1878 September 9
James B. Clay letter to William T. Withers, 1879 Octobe 16
D. M. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1879 August 23
W. T. Tibbs letter to William T. Withers, 1879 August 20
R. Steel letter to William T. Withers, 1879 December 6
J. S. Reppert letter to William T. Withers, 1879 July 18
Bosworth letter to William T. Withers, 1879 December 15
John A. Dane letter to William T. Withers, 1879 October 16
General correspondence to William T. Withers, 1880-1882
Wood Springfield letter to William T. Withers, 1880 August 12
William E. Singleton letter to William T. Withers, 1880 August 16
W. H. Graham letter to William T. Withers, 1880 June 29
A. S. Talbert letter to William T. Withers, 1880 August 16
Morton & Packer letter to William T. Withers, 1880 July 7
Morton & Packer letter to William T. Withers, 1880 August 18
J. A. Tanner letter to William T. Withers, 1881 August 11
A. Steel letter to William T. Withers, 1881 August 16
E. F. Smith letter to William T. Withers, 1881 June 6
W. S. Jones letter to William T. Withers, 1881 August 6
W. T. Tibbs letter to William T. Withers, 1881 August 8
W. B. Kinkead letter to William T. Withers, 1882 July 22
L. M. letter to William T. Withers, 1882 june 7
S. W. C. letter to William T. Withers, 1882 September 28
C. L. Ford letter to William T. Withers, 1882 July 31
James B. Clay letter to William T. Withers, 1882 April 29
Unidentified correspondent letter to William T. Withers, undated
General correspondence written by William T. Withers, 1874
Kentucky University financial papers, 1860-1882
Geo Gist letter to William T. Withers, 1882 March 21
Financial note, undated
Sale of land, 1880 March 20
List of securities, 1876 June
Receipt from Austin Gold Mining Co., 1865 September 1
Receipt, 1869 September 6
Receipt to pay J. B. Bowman, 1860 September 7
Receipt to pay J. B. Bowman, 1860 September 7
Kentucky University legal documents, 1873-1882
Agreement to establish, 1875
Agreement, undated
List of offenses, undated
Agreement on J. B. Bowman suit, undated
Statement of C. B. Edgar, 1873 September 24
Indenture, 1878 November 23
Statement of G.W. William, 1873 September 26
Sale of Ashland, 1882 May 13
Court of Appeals order, 1878 October 22
Memoranda, undated
Court summons, 1879 March 14
Statement of Mrs. Jack McBrayer, 1880 November 26
Legal, 1839-1887
William T. Withers appointment, undated
Auditor documents, 1853-1872
Indenture, 1867
General legal documents from the Coleman, Britton, and Withers legal firm, 1858-1868
Legal documents between R. A. Edwards and the Coleman, Britton, and Withers legal firm, 1858-1866
Statement of William T. Withers, 1866
Martha S. Withers, 1858-1914
Biographical note
Martha Sharkey Withers was born in 1830 in Mississippi to William M. Knowland and Martha Hyland. After her mother died in childbirth, Knowland decided he could not support his daughter alone. Robert and Sallie Sharkey, her mother's aunt and uncle, adopted Martha. Martha married William T. Withers on April 24, 1850, and they had eight daughters and two sons between 1851 to 1871. She assumed charge of the family during the Civil War and took care of her husband throughout the last few years of his life when he suffered from illness. After William T. Withers' death in 1889, her children cared for her as she moved between Lexington and Florida. Eventually, she sold the family horse farm, Fairlawn. She died in Lexington, Kentucky, on December 29, 1915.
Scope and Contents note
The Martha S. Withers series comprises correspondence, financial papers, bills, receipts, checks, stock bonds, check books, account books, deeds, leases, and phrenological society documents. The series is organized into subseries by form. The bulk of this series consists of financial papers that document the financial obligations of Martha Sharkey Withers from 1894-1914. A large section of these papers documents the needs of a household during the late 19th century and contains checks, bills, and various account and check books. The correspondence primarily regards family and personal matters, although a small section concerns a land dispute and financial issues (Box 3, Folder 15). One notable document pertains to the will of Robert R. Sharkey (Box 3, Folder 17), Martha’s adoptive father.