William T. Withers family papers

Abstract

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.

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.
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Morgan Lockard
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

Buffington & Co. letters to William T. Withers, 1866-1867

  • Box 1, Folder 1
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W. H. Graham letters to William T. Withers, 1869-1875

  • Box 1, Folder 2
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General business correspondence, 1861-1874

  • Box 1, Folder 3
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General business correspondence, 1875-1883

  • Box 1, Folder 4
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General business letters written by William T. Withers, 1866-1875

  • Box 1, Folder 5
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W. H. Harvey letters to William T. Withers, 1876

  • Box 1, Folder 6
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William H. Knaws letters to William T. Withers, 1875

  • Box 1, Folder 7
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Maylore & Hobart letters to William T. Withers, 1870

  • Box 1, Folder 8
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A. G. Brown legal letters to William T. Withers, 1871

  • Box 1, Folder 9
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General correspondence as lawyer to William T. Withers, 1856-1880

  • Box 1, Folder 10
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W. L. Roberts letters to William T. Withers, 1875-1883

  • Box 1, Folder 11
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M. W. Boyd letters to William T. Withers, 1871-1884

  • Box 1, Folder 12
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General personal correspondence, 1866-1884

  • Box 1, Folder 13
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G. L. Sharkey letters to William T. Withers, 1869-1871

  • Box 1, Folder 14
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General personal letters written by William T. Withers, 1867-1887

  • Box 1, Folder 15
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William T. Withers letters to Mr. and Mrs. Sharkey, 1866

  • Box 1, Folder 16
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William T. Withers letters to sister, 1884-1889

  • Box 1, Folder 17
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Equestrian, 1861-1879

R. Barden letters to William T. Withers, 1875

  • Box 1, Folder 18
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Jay Beach letters to William T. Withers, 1879

  • Box 1, Folder 19
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L. B. Cook letters to William T. Withers, 1879

  • Box 1, Folder 20
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General equestrian correspondence, 1870-1875

  • Box 1, Folder 21
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General equestrian correspondence, 1876-1879

  • Box 1, Folder 22
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T. H. Smith letters to William T. Withers, 1878-1879

  • Box 1, Folder 23
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W. Wilmot letters to William T. Withers, 1879

  • Box 1, Folder 24
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George W. Wintz letters to William T. Withers, 1878-1879

  • Box 1, Folder 25
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William T. Withers assorted equestrian papers, 1877-1878

  • Box 1, Folder 26
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William T. Withers horse journals, 1861-1877

  • Box 1, Folder 27
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Horse pedigrees, undated

  • Box 13, Folder 3
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Financial, 1853-1884

Assorted oversized financial papers, undated

  • Box 15, Folder 5
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William T. Withers bills, 1853-1884

  • Box 2, Folder 1
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William T. Withers checks, 1858-1859

  • Box 2, Folder 2
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William T. Withers financial book, 1859-1860

  • Box 2, Folder 3
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William T. Withers financial notes, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 4
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William T. Withers inventories and accounts, 1858-1887

  • Box 2, Folder 5
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William T. Withes ledger books, 1869-1879

  • Box 2, Folder 6
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William T. Withers receipts, 1853-1875

  • Box 2, Folder 7
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William T. Withers stock bond, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 8
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William T. Withers taxes, 1853-1875

  • Box 2, Folder 9
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Journals, undated

William T. Withes journal, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 10
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William T. Withers sermon book, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 11
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Kentucky University, 1852-1914

Ashland, 1852-1914

Martha S. Withers receipt, 1914 December 10

  • Box 2, Folder 12, Item 1
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Adopted provision for Ashland mansion, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 12, Item 2
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Account of sale, 1852 September 18

  • Box 2, Folder 12, Item 3
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Real estate offer for Ashland, 1879 Janaury 27

  • Box 2, Folder 12, Item 4
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Rental proposal for Ashland, 1880 August 16

  • Box 2, Folder 12, Item 5
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Mortgage account, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 12, Item 6
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Business papers for the Kentucky University, 1871-1880

Statement of John Morris Clark, 1871 November 2

  • Box 2, Folder 13, Item 1
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Pastor S. R. Jones statement on Withers's resignation, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 13, Item 2
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Bill from John M. Clay to Kentucky University, 1880 August 19

  • Box 2, Folder 13, Item 3
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Policy statement for Kentucky University, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 13, Item 4
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Vote count sheet, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 13, Item 5
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Deposition by clergy, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 13, Item 6
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"Kentucky University: Its Legal Status", 1873

  • Box 2, Folder 13, Item 7
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Memoranda of agreement, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 13, Item 8
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Church papers, 1872-1884

Proposal of the Main Street Church, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 1
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R. M. Bishop letter to elders of Main Street Church, 1872 May 3

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 2
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G. W. Ellery letter to J. D. Pickett, 1872 June 10

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 3
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J. D. Pickett letter to elders of the Main Street Church, 1872 June 17

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 4
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G. W. Ellery letter to J. D. Pickett, 1872 June 10

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 5
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Agreement to arbitration between J. D. Pickett and elders of the Main Street Church, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 6
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J. D. Pickett letter to G. W. Ellery, 1872 June 6

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 7
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Elders of the Main Street Church letter to R. M. Bishop, 1872 May 7

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 8
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Settlement and agreement of church difficulties, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 9
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Statement brought before elders of the Main Street Church, 1874 September 11

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 10
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J. W. S. letter to unidentified correspondent, 1884 March 3

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 11
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R. M. Bishop letter to elders of the Main Street Church, 1872 March 23

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 12
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L. J. Stockdale and G. W. Ellery letter to R. M. Bishop, 1872 June 4

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 13
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"Proceedings of the Church of Christ, Main Street, Lexington, KY in the case of Certain Members Excluded from her Fellowship", 1871

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 14
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Proposal for the use of musical instruments, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 15
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Authorization to confer with the elders of the Main Street Church, 1874 September 10

  • Box 2, Folder 14, Item 16
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J. B. Bowman letters, 1875-1878

J. B. Bowman resolution to rent Kentucky University farm, 1875 September 1

  • Box 2, Folder 15, Item 1
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J. B. Bowman letter to Col. J. A. Peall, 1878 April 27

  • Box 2, Folder 15, Item 2
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J. B. Bowman letters to William T. Withers, 1871-1879

J. B. Bowman letter to Willim T. Withers, 1871 August 13

  • Box 2, Folder 16, Item 1
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J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1871 September 29

  • Box 2, Folder 16, Item 2
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J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1871 Juky 31

  • Box 2, Folder 16, Item 3
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J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1877 July 2

  • Box 2, Folder 16, Item 4
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J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1877 August 1

  • Box 2, Folder 16, Item 5
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J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1877 December 3\

  • Box 2, Folder 16, Item 6
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J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1877 December 24

  • Box 2, Folder 16, Item 7
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J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1877 December 17

  • Box 2, Folder 16, Item 8
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J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1877 August 7

  • Box 2, Folder 16, Item 9
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J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1878 January 5

  • Box 2, Folder 16, Item 10
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J. B. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1879 July 1

  • Box 2, Folder 16, Item 11
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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

  • Box 2, Folder 17, Item 1
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Kentucky University bill to Breckingridge & Shelby, 1879

  • Box 2, Folder 17, Item 2
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Breckingridge & Shelby letter to William T. Withers, 1880 August 17

  • Box 2, Folder 17, Item 3
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Breckingridge & Shelby letter to William T. Withers, 1880 October 8

  • Box 2, Folder 17, Item 4
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Letters to the Executive Committee of Kentucky University, 1877-1887

J. A. Williams letter to the Kentucky University Executive Commitee, 1877 December 27

  • Box 2, Folder 18, Item 1
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Breckingridge & Shelby letter to the Kentucky University Executive Committee, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 18, Item 2
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D. V. Woody letter to the Kentucky University Executive Committee, 1880 August 16

  • Box 2, Folder 18, Item 3
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Breckingridge & Shelby letter to the Executive Committee of Kentucky University, 1887 July 8

  • Box 2, Folder 18, Item 4
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J. P. Torbitt letters to William T. Withers, 1883

J. P. Torbitt letter to William T. Withers, 1883 May 4

  • Box 2, Folder 20, Item 1
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J. P. Torbitt letter to William T. Withers, 1883 May 6

  • Box 2, Folder 20, Item 2
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J. P. Torbitt letter to William T. Withers, 1883 May 9

  • Box 2, Folder 20, Item 3
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J. P. Torbitt letter to William T. Withers, 1883 May 18

  • Box 2, Folder 20, Item 4
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N. B. Wells letters to William T. Withers, 1877-1879

N. B. Wells letter to William T. Withers, 1879 June 2

  • Box 2, Folder 21, Item 1
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N. B. Wells letter to William T. Withers, 1877 September 27

  • Box 2, Folder 21, Item 2
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N. B. Wells letter to William T. Withers, 1877 June 4

  • Box 2, Folder 21, Item 3
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N. B. Wells letter to William T. Withers, 1878 January 8

  • Box 2, Folder 21, Item 4
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N. B. Wells letter to William T. Withers, 1879 June 2

  • Box 2, Folder 21, Item 5
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General correspondence of Kentucky University, 1872-1874

G. W. G. letter to Brother Williams, 1873 August 5

  • Box 2, Folder 19, Item 1
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George Wintz letter to S. W. C., 1873 November 22

  • Box 2, Folder 19, Item 2
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R. M. Bishop letter to the elders of Main Street Church, 1872 May 28

  • Box 2, Folder 19, Item 3
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Elders leaving Main Street Church letter to whom it may concern, 1874 January 31

  • Box 2, Folder 19, Item 4
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W. J. Moore, E. F. Smith, and W. J. Tibbs letter to elders of the Main Street Church, 1874 Novemeber 10

  • Box 2, Folder 19, Item 5
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H. H. White Correspondence, 1879-1882

George Gist letter to H. H. White, 1882 March 11

  • Box 2, Folder 22, Item 1
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George Gist letter to H. H. White, 1882 Mach 22

  • Box 2, Folder 22, Item 2
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John J. Fisk letter to H. H. White, 1879 April 13

  • Box 2, Folder 22, Item 3
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H. H. White letter to William T. Withers, 1881 December 19

  • Box 2, Folder 22, Item 4
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H. H. White letter to William T. Withers, 1881 January 21

  • Box 2, Folder 22, Item 5
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H. H. White letter to William T. Withers, 1882 January 14

  • Box 2, Folder 22, Item 6
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William T. Withers letters to J. B. Bowman, 1877-1878

William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 August 31

  • Box 2, Folder 23, Item 1
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William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 December 1

  • Box 2, Folder 23, Item 2
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William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 December 29

  • Box 2, Folder 23, Item 3
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William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1878 January 9

  • Box 2, Folder 23, Item 4
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William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 December 20

  • Box 2, Folder 23, Item 5
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William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1879 December 6

  • Box 2, Folder 23, Item 6
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William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 June 27

  • Box 2, Folder 23, Item 7
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William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 August 4\

  • Box 2, Folder 23, Item 8
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William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 July 29

  • Box 2, Folder 23, Item 9
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William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1877 October 1

  • Box 2, Folder 23, Item 10
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William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1871 July 30

  • Box 2, Folder 23, Item 11
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William T. Withers letter to J. B. Bowman, 1878 August 3

  • Box 2, Folder 23, Item 12
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General correspondence to William T. Withers, 1871-1879

R. Milligan letter to William T. Withers, 1872 June 10

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 1
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Brother Franklin letter to William T. Withers, 1871 November 6

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 2
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C. J. Washington letter to William T. Withers, 1871 November 4

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 3
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A. Steele letter to William T. Withers, 1877 June 20

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 4
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D. S. Gerald statement for William T. Withers, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 5
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Joseph Smith letter to William T. Withers, 1873 December 11

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 6
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Unidentified correspondent letter to William T. Withers, 1873 August 8

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 7
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W. T. Tibbs letter to William T. Withers, 1874 October 1

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 8
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J. B. Bowman, J. Shackleford, and others proposition to William T. Withers, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 9
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J. B. Grubbs letter to William T. Withers, 1875 June 15

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 10
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W. L. Williams letter to William T. Withers, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 11
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J. B. Grubbs letter to William T. Withers, 1875 October 27

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 12
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Unidentified correspondent letter to William T. Withers, 1874 July 18

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 13
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J. Lane Allen letter to William T. Withers, 1878 December 6

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 14
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J. Lane Allen letter to William T. Withers, 1878 August 4

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 15
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J. H. Hammond letter to William T. Withers, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 16
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D. M. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1878 August 20

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 17
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Unidentified correspondent letter to William T. Withers, 1878 Novemer 25

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 18
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David Cahill letter to William T. Withers, 1879 October 15

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 19
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James K. Patterson letter to William T. Withers, 1878 September 5

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 20
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William Mitchell letter to William T. Withers, 1878 August 20

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 21
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B. J. Peters letter to William T. Withers, 1878 October 23

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 22
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J. O. Harrison letter to William T. Withers, 1878 January 17

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 23
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R. C. Ricketts letter to William T. Withers, 1878 July 12

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 24
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Rob Peter letter to William T. Withers, 1878 September 9

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 25
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James B. Clay letter to William T. Withers, 1879 Octobe 16

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 26
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D. M. Bowman letter to William T. Withers, 1879 August 23

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 27
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W. T. Tibbs letter to William T. Withers, 1879 August 20

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 28
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R. Steel letter to William T. Withers, 1879 December 6

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 29
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J. S. Reppert letter to William T. Withers, 1879 July 18

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 30
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Bosworth letter to William T. Withers, 1879 December 15

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 31
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John A. Dane letter to William T. Withers, 1879 October 16

  • Box 2, Folder 24, Item 32
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General correspondence to William T. Withers, 1880-1882

Wood Springfield letter to William T. Withers, 1880 August 12

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 1
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William E. Singleton letter to William T. Withers, 1880 August 16

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 2
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W. H. Graham letter to William T. Withers, 1880 June 29

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 3
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A. S. Talbert letter to William T. Withers, 1880 August 16

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 4
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Morton & Packer letter to William T. Withers, 1880 July 7

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 5
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Morton & Packer letter to William T. Withers, 1880 August 18

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 6
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J. A. Tanner letter to William T. Withers, 1881 August 11

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 7
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A. Steel letter to William T. Withers, 1881 August 16

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 8
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E. F. Smith letter to William T. Withers, 1881 June 6

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 9
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W. S. Jones letter to William T. Withers, 1881 August 6

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 10
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W. T. Tibbs letter to William T. Withers, 1881 August 8

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 11
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W. B. Kinkead letter to William T. Withers, 1882 July 22

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 12
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L. M. letter to William T. Withers, 1882 june 7

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 13
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S. W. C. letter to William T. Withers, 1882 September 28

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 14
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C. L. Ford letter to William T. Withers, 1882 July 31

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 15
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James B. Clay letter to William T. Withers, 1882 April 29

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 16
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Unidentified correspondent letter to William T. Withers, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 25, Item 17
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General correspondence written by William T. Withers, 1874

William T. Withers letter to Joseph Smith, 1874 January 28

  • Box 2, Folder 26, Item 1
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William T. Withers letter to W. J. Moore, L. F. Smith, and W. T. Tibbs, 1874 December 31

  • Box 2, Folder 26, Item 2
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William T. Withers letter to Owsley & Co., 1874 June 3

  • Box 2, Folder 26, Item 3
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Kentucky University financial papers, 1860-1882

Geo Gist letter to William T. Withers, 1882 March 21

  • Box 2, Folder 27, Item 1
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Financial note, undated

  • Box 2, Folder 27, Item 2
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Sale of land, 1880 March 20

  • Box 2, Folder 27, Item 3
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List of securities, 1876 June

  • Box 2, Folder 27, Item 4
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Receipt from Austin Gold Mining Co., 1865 September 1

  • Box 2, Folder 27, Item 5
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Receipt, 1869 September 6

  • Box 2, Folder 27, Item 6
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Receipt to pay J. B. Bowman, 1860 September 7

  • Box 2, Folder 27, Item 7
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List of bonds, notes, and stock, 1880s

  • Box 2, Folder 27, Item 8
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Receipt to pay J. B. Bowman, 1860 September 7

  • Box 2, Folder 27, Item 9
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Kentucky University legal documents, 1873-1882

Agreement to establish, 1875

  • Box 3, Folder 1, Item 1
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Agreement, undated

  • Box 3, Folder 1, Item 2
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List of offenses, undated

  • Box 3, Folder 1, Item 3
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J. B. Bowman suspension, 1877 June

  • Box 3, Folder 1, Item 4
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Agreement on J. B. Bowman suit, undated

  • Box 3, Folder 1, Item 5
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Statement of C. B. Edgar, 1873 September 24

  • Box 3, Folder 1, Item 6
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Indenture, 1878 November 23

  • Box 3, Folder 1, Item 7
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Statement of G.W. William, 1873 September 26

  • Box 3, Folder 1, Item 8
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Sale of Ashland, 1882 May 13

  • Box 3, Folder 1, Item 9
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Court of Appeals order, 1878 October 22

  • Box 3, Folder 1, Item 10
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Memoranda, undated

  • Box 3, Folder 1, Item 11
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Court summons, 1879 March 14

  • Box 3, Folder 1, Item 12
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Statement of Mrs. Jack McBrayer, 1880 November 26

  • Box 3, Folder 1, Item 13
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Legal, 1839-1887

William T. Withers appointment, undated

  • Box 12, Folder 4
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Auditor documents, 1853-1872

  • Box 3, Folder 2
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Court documents, 1864-1877

  • Box 3, Folder 3
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Deeds and leases of William T. Withers, 1849-1876

  • Box 3, Folder 4
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Deeds of gift and trust, 1839-1876

  • Box 3, Folder 5
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Indenture, 1867

  • Box 3, Folder 6
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General legal documents from the Coleman, Britton, and Withers legal firm, 1858-1868

  • Box 3, Folder 7
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Legal agreements, 1855-1873

  • Box 3, Folder 8
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Legal documents between R. A. Edwards and the Coleman, Britton, and Withers legal firm, 1858-1866

  • Box 3, Folder 9
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Legal documents of William T. Withers as lawyer, 1857-1871

  • Box 3, Folder 10
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Memoranda of agreements, 1857-1871

  • Box 3, Folder 11
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Statement of William T. Withers, 1866

  • Box 3, Folder 12
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Mary Morrison, et al v. Martha S. Withers, et al Supreme Court case documents, 1883-1887

  • Box 3, Folder 13
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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.

Correspondence, 1873-1914

General business correspondence, 1898-1914

  • Box 3, Folder 14
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General legal correspondence, 1889-1898

  • Box 3, Folder 15
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T. E. Ashbrook letters to Martha S. Withers, 1895-1907

  • Box 3, Folder 16
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Martha S. Withers letters to Ida W. Harrison, 1898-1909

  • Box 4, Folder 1
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General personal correspondence, 1873-1913

  • Box 4, Folder 2